Back to deliver inspiration from the wilderness
Good morning, everybody!
Well, like Moses I have been to the mountaintop. And while Moses returned to his people with the Ten Commandments, I have come back bearing the secret to a new national health-care plan that I’m sure will be effective and also immensely popular politically.
It works like this:
Everyone in the country gets an extra week of paid vacation with all expenses tax deductible, but only under the condition that the week be spent in strenuous outdoor activity in a setting of great beauty and with no Internet or cell phone connections.
We’d be a much healthier nation, mentally as well as physically.
I guess that’s another way of saying, yes I had a good vacation. Thanks for asking.
Meanwhile, 2,100 comments on a “gone fishin’” post? You’re quite a bunch of Chatty Cathys.
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© 2009 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
275 comments Add your comment
Finn McCool
August 3rd, 2009
7:59 am
no fish pictures?
USinUK
August 3rd, 2009
8:01 am
Jay, it just wasn’t the same without you … and we did pretty much wreck the joint Friday night doing our own traveling music. Glad you had a good time!
Me, I think the US would benefit from the standard British vacation package of 25 days/year … 10 “personal” days that also incorporate sick days just ain’t right. Talk about being in the HOV lane to Burnout Land!!!
Mrs. Godzilla
August 3rd, 2009
8:06 am
Jay,
I’m with ya’ on that.
Life’s little complications seem to melt away when you have to dig your own latrine!
stands for decibels
August 3rd, 2009
8:08 am
Meanwhile, 2,100 comments on a “gone fishin’” post?
We love you, man!
stands for decibels
August 3rd, 2009
8:11 am
10 “personal” days that also incorporate sick days just ain’t right.
You’re just trying to flush out Swampy Dave, aren’t you?
Redneck Convert (R--and proud of it)
August 3rd, 2009
8:13 am
Well, I was halfway expecting a story about the 75-lb. trout that got away, and this is all we get from Bookman after we worked so hard to keep his blog going? Young people just got no gradatude anymore.
I’m all for more paid vacation but some of us got to work. Half the people on this blog would come down with the DTs if I stopped hauling beer for a extra week.
I see the sales of hearses have went way up ever since they leaked details about this Obama health plan. You can’t just stack old people like cordwood after they go into the hospitle and dump them in pickup trucks.
Have a good day everybody.
stands for decibels
August 3rd, 2009
8:18 am
I coulda sworn that Kyle Wingfield’s blog used to say he’d start allowing comments the first week of august, but now it says “Kyle Wingfield will begin blogging daily laer this month. Commenting on this blog will open then.”
whatever. I’m wondering, though–who, do you think, would be Kyle’s go-to guy at the AJC for advice on how to handle all the losers and wanna-be columnists and assorted master baiters who’ll be doing their best to make his life miserable?
think think think…
stands for decibels
August 3rd, 2009
8:19 am
I see the sales of hearses have went way up ever since they leaked details about this Obama health plan.
Come on, Jay, you know you want to do a Deather post. Let yer love flow…
USinUK
August 3rd, 2009
8:19 am
“You’re just trying to flush out Swampy Dave, aren’t you?”
flush being the operative term.
(meOW!!!)
I Report :-) You Whine :-(
August 3rd, 2009
8:19 am
Welcome back, glad you had a good time.
Catch anything?
Paul
August 3rd, 2009
8:31 am
Jay
I read about a university prof, challenged a class to go three days without a cell phone. No calls. No texting.
Number who made it? Zero.
So much for mental health with the upcoming generation.
Welcome back.
Oh, and your health care plan? Note to the Pres: it answers the ‘what’s in it for me?” question!
PS – don’t ask Bosch if he likes trees…. or the indoors becoming the outdoors…
USinUK
August 3rd, 2009
8:32 am
Paul –
“PS – don’t ask Bosch if he likes trees…. or the indoors becoming the outdoors…”
I didn’t see much of him on Friday, then I wasn’t around over the weekend – how’s he doing? what’s the story on his house? it’s not gong to be condemned, is it??
Bosch
August 3rd, 2009
8:33 am
Welcome back Jay!
USinUK
August 3rd, 2009
8:35 am
oh, and for the students, I wonder how many of them don’t have a landline …
“Millions of cost-cutting Americans are asking: Ditch the land-line phone and go completely wireless, or keep paying two bills for dependability and peace of mind?
Many have already clipped the cord, and wireless-only households have surpassed those solely dependent on land lines, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which tracks the information.”
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/073009dnbusphonelines.3709d9b.html
Bosch
August 3rd, 2009
8:35 am
Paul,
Actually, I do like trees. Just not in my bedroom.
USinUK,
Things are going well for us. We have worked hard the past few days to get some kind of normalcy back, so all is good. Not perfect, but good. I mean, ya’ know is life ever perfect? Not in my world.
USinUK
August 3rd, 2009
8:36 am
wow, Paul … that is some kind of superhero talent you have …
you summoned Bosch just by mentioning his name … (or maybe it was the word “trees”)
hey Bosch – how ya holding up??? what’s the latest??
Gale
August 3rd, 2009
8:37 am
I vote with USinUK for the vacation plan. With a couple more weeks, I would happily make one of them Jay’s plan of disconnected outdoor physical activity. I actually managed to squeeze half a week doing that this year. Americans work to much while accomplishing too little. Tired, dispirited people are not productive people. American business leaders have got the formula wrong. Add a nasty commute to that and it is a formula for disaster.
Swami Dave
August 3rd, 2009
8:37 am
Wow! I guess you know you have really arrived when you get your own stalkers.
Welcome back Jay, glad to hear you had a good vacation.
-SD
USinUK
August 3rd, 2009
8:39 am
Bosch –
“We have worked hard the past few days to get some kind of normalcy back, so all is good. Not perfect, but good. I mean, ya’ know is life ever perfect? Not in my world.”
glad to hear it … you guys have definitely earned a good August with no trauma!!
Paul
August 3rd, 2009
8:39 am
Hey Bosch!
How’re you doing? Followed your exploits as I cruised through the posts. Glad you realized there are people you can pay to do some jobs they are really good at…. chainsaws and highwire balancing and all that.
Sometime you may want to pick up a copy of Kuschner’s “When Bad Things Happen to Good People.” Thoughtful read. People who want to see Cause and Effect and You Get What You Deserve in Life won’t get it, though.
TnGelding
August 3rd, 2009
8:40 am
The order in the new world order has been restored.
Paul
August 3rd, 2009
8:41 am
USinUK
[[that is some kind of superhero talent you have ]]
Nope.
’tis simple magic, is all -
USinUK
August 3rd, 2009
8:43 am
Gale –
hey you!! hope you had a good weekend
“Americans work to much while accomplishing too little. Tired, dispirited people are not productive people. American business leaders have got the formula wrong. Add a nasty commute to that and it is a formula for disaster.”
exactly … it’s good for personal health, it’s good for morale, it’s good “family values” …
(hey, I’d just be happy by reintroducing “sick days” back into the benefits package – the whole idea that you can get knocked out by swine flu and therefore lose all your sanctioned days off because of it is a sign that we have gone WAY too far on the “marketplace is always right” scale)
USinUK
August 3rd, 2009
8:45 am
Paul –
““When Bad Things Happen to Good People.” Thoughtful read”
catholics have a term for that: vicarious atonement. the theory that good people pay for bad people’s sins …
yet another reason why I’m no longer affiliated with that organization
TnGelding
August 3rd, 2009
8:50 am
“Ask AP: Income taxes, states without budget woes”
“Have any states managed to avoid this sort of budgetary mess – and, if so, how?”
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation/AP/story/1165535.html
(Apologies for the erroneous link before.)
jt
August 3rd, 2009
8:52 am
Hey J-Book-
Did you get harrassed by any federal, state, or local officials?
Brad Steal
August 3rd, 2009
8:55 am
“the week be spent in strenuous outdoor activity”
i don’t like the sound of that. we’ll end up a as a nation with herniated disks.
getalife
August 3rd, 2009
8:55 am
Or take off the month of August like Congress and other countries.
Gale
August 3rd, 2009
8:57 am
Mornin’ USinUK. Ok, weekend in Atlanta. My cat got stitches removed, so he can now scratch his own chin. It’s lovely to not have that collar bumping against me while he begs for his ears to be scratched.
Bosch
August 3rd, 2009
8:58 am
When bad things happen to good people? Thanks Paul – glad you think I’m “good people” – my family sure is – that’s for sure.
So, did anything fun happen last week? I haven’t paid attention to news since last Tuesday.
Kayaker 71
August 3rd, 2009
8:59 am
Well, it looks like Timothy has finally said the inevitable….. the middle class will probably be taxed for paying for this health care fiasco. “No new taxes on those making less than 250K/yr….. not a dime”. Yeah, right.
Bosch
August 3rd, 2009
8:59 am
USinUK,
On that vicarious atonement thing – I’ve got some folks covered for a while – ya’ know if any of you want to howl it up, you can be covered for at least one good romp. It’s on me, really.
Kamchak
August 3rd, 2009
9:01 am
USinUK
Also in that article—There were also health differences between those with and without land lines. Wireless-only adults are more likely to smoke, binge drink, have no health insurance and not wear a seat belt, according to Blumberg.
Most if not all wireless contracts come with free long distance and enough minutes and roll-over options to make land lines dinosaurs. I get my internet services via an air card which is bundled with my cell phone getting me a good deal on both.
Paul
August 3rd, 2009
9:02 am
Back to Reality
Should look like a flashback for many here with their daily posts a few years back. Just switch a noun.
July 2009: 42 Americans die in Afghanistan. Highest number since the invasion in 2001. ‘Nary a peep from the major news organizations, let alone any questioning of the mission.
August 2, 2009 – two days into the month and 9 Americans are dead.
Thanks, Pres. Obama.
Gale
August 3rd, 2009
9:06 am
Kamchak, how reliable and fast is that aircard bundled with your cell phone for internet?
Turd Ferguson
August 3rd, 2009
9:08 am
Next vacation you might visit the local court house and go shark fishing.
Gale
August 3rd, 2009
9:08 am
Seems like the super powers will never learn that outsiders will never control Afganistan.
USinUK
August 3rd, 2009
9:10 am
Gale –
“It’s lovely to not have that collar bumping against me while he begs for his ears to be scratched.”
I always feel so bad for cats who have to wear those collars … you just know they’re mortified … give him a scratch behind the ears for me (although, my sweet cat used to love having his face rubbed more than his ears scratched)
Bosch -
“ya’ know if any of you want to howl it up, you can be covered for at least one good romp. It’s on me, really.”
now THAT’S what I call a random act of kindness …
Who You Gonna Call
August 3rd, 2009
9:11 am
“Eat More Trout” and “Four Day Work Weeks” should be the bumper sticker slogans of the moment.
Bosch
August 3rd, 2009
9:12 am
Paul,
I heard Gates in an interview about two months ago stating that he would not recommend any additional troops than the 20,000 or so committed. Has that changed?
Curious Observer
August 3rd, 2009
9:13 am
So what’s your point, Paul? You want to drag Obama through the mud, while excusing the 4,000 deaths that occurred on your Republican president’s watch? Nice objectivity you have.
Paul
August 3rd, 2009
9:13 am
Bosch
[[So, did anything fun happen last week? I haven’t paid attention to news since last Tuesday.]]
See my prior post. Not fun. That, plus the Dems (Axelrod) finally figured out that on health care they’ll have to explain what it means for Average Joe.
Some said the recession’s bottomed out. If the stim package was meant to restore confidence, it may have had its effect. Even though only a trickle has hit. Pelosi & Company won’t pull back the unspent.
Geithner & Summers have broached the topic of tax increases on middle class. Prepare for all the Dems who lambasted Bush I over changing on ‘no new taxes’ to go after Pres Obama with equal fervor. (I thought you could use a laugh).
Some here questioned why Cash for Clunkers cars have to be destroyed, rather than finding new homes for poor folks. Seems that’s at the behest of the Climate Change lobby. Old gas guzzlers contribute more carbon emissions and getting them out of circulation is more important than mobility for poor folks.
Prof Gates is continuing appearances addressing the ‘incident’. Book sales are up. Go figure. Money and Power, remember?
And we have a new phrase for “I apologize’ or “I made a mistake.” It’s “I could have calibrated those words differently.” Kinda like when he told foreign audiences “America could have calibrated its actions differently.”
You asked….
Kamchak
August 3rd, 2009
9:14 am
‘Nary a peep from the major news organizations, let alone any questioning of the mission.
Only speaking for myself—I never questioned Pres. Bush’s mission in Afghanistan because that is where the bad guys are/were.
Turd Ferguson
August 3rd, 2009
9:16 am
Ya…interesting how the media once again sidesteps that July was the deadliest month in afghanistan thereby giving Obama yet another pass. When Bush was in office we had to hear daily screaming, whining and crying.
Dems…where is the outrage?
Dr. Watson
August 3rd, 2009
9:18 am
I work for a company that gives five days paid vacation after a year of work. After a second year of work, they reward you with five days paid vacation. If you haven’t died of a heart attack by the end of the third year, they reward you with … wait for it … just kidding – 10 days paid vacation.
At least they’re still matching 401-K contributions.
Who You Gonna Call
August 3rd, 2009
9:18 am
Old gas guzzlers contribute more carbon emissions and getting them out of circulation is more important than mobility for poor folks
Right. Like they’re going to trade in their shopping carts for a clunker that is too heavy to push and require insurance and gas and a license to operate — things that poor people just don’t seem to have in abundance.
Paul
August 3rd, 2009
9:19 am
Bosch 9:12
[[I heard Gates in an interview about two months ago stating that he would not recommend any additional troops than the 20,000 or so committed. Has that changed?]]
Not from the SecDef. But the generals are rumbling –
Curious Observer
[[that occurred on your Republican president’s watch? Nice objectivity you have.]]
I take it you’re not an American? As he was obviously not the leader of your country?
So because Pres Bush blew it in Iraq (at the beginning/midpoint) you think that should insulate Pres Obama on any criticism in Afg?
Fascinating….
Angry Black Man
August 3rd, 2009
9:19 am
Welcome back Jay. over 2100 posts with only a fish to muse on… I wouldn’t tell management about that. They might smell blood in the water with all the cutbacks and all.
Glad to know we have a pilot back at the wheel. I’ll check back with everyone later. Gotta kick someone out of the country
Turd Ferguson
August 3rd, 2009
9:19 am
Obama officials: Taxes may rise to pay health care
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090803/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_economy
Whats this…? After increased taxes on smokes, alcohol etc now we get more from Mister Tax and spend? How can this be. PELOSI!! deliver us from the hands of this Evil Genius!!
stands for decibels
August 3rd, 2009
9:20 am
Some here questioned why Cash for Clunkers cars have to be destroyed
Pretty sure the drive trains (the things that are actually responsible for the gas-guzzling) have to be rendered inoperable, but that other salvageable parts of the clunkers can be resold.
Paul
August 3rd, 2009
9:22 am
Kamchak 9:14
Haven’t you noticed? Some posit Pres Obama’s on a different mission in Afg (compare mission objectives for the invasion with what’s happening now).
Care to guess what the objectives are, now?
Ummm, you’re not saying there weren’t bad guys in Iran? Or elsewhere in the world where we engaged them?
Who you gonna call
Poor people don’t own vehicles.
Got it -
RW-(the original)
August 3rd, 2009
9:23 am
Remember how the leftists used to shriek that we needed to see the flag draped caskets coming home so we could understand the cost of war? Obama lifted the ban, you know, so where are all the photographers?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Welcome back, Jay B. If you go back and release the moderated comments you might have 2500.
Who You Gonna Call
August 3rd, 2009
9:27 am
We need a fast food fee and a sugar VAT to start paying for increased obesity, heart problems, diabetes, etc. And, we need tax deductions and credits given to people that eliminate such bad habits as smoking and increase good habits such as regular exercise. Also, Obama does not really need to add new taxes. He just needs to let the old ones expire, as originally intended by Bush, in 2011, and to add fees and cut military waste from its currently outrageous levels.
USinUK
August 3rd, 2009
9:27 am
“I heard Gates in an interview about two months ago stating that he would not recommend any additional troops than the 20,000 or so committed. Has that changed?”
I don’t know about there, but I can tell you that the media has been all over the death toll here …
additionally, I think there are rumblings about sending add’l British troops, as well.
frankly, it’s about effing time. had we not had a CiC that got distracted by shiney objects, we could have accomplished what needed to be done a couple of years ago and be downsizing our troop size …
but no … someone had to go after the man who wanted to shoot his pa (or some such)
and why isn’t there outrage, you ask??? because Afghanistan (and Pakistan) is where the bad guys are – and where they WERE back in 2003.
and Paul, Al Quaeda wasn’t IN Iraq until we decided to invade it – report after report has confirmed that.
Kamchak
August 3rd, 2009
9:28 am
Gale
My internet experience is relatively new and up til now limited to using another’s computer with dial up, so I have little to compare it to. My air card is much faster than dial up especially with a 3G signal—alas I am spending most of the summer tending my father’s garden in the Mtns. of N.C. while he undergoes treatment in Atlanta—and there is no 3G signal here. According to my carrier there is no plan to expand 3G in this area either. Sigh
Finn McCool
August 3rd, 2009
9:28 am
Some here questioned why Cash for Clunkers cars have to be destroyed
They are trying to help out the auto manufacturers by getting the glut of used cars off the market. If a used car trades hands 4 times then those are 4 missed sale on 4 brand new cars.
Bosch
August 3rd, 2009
9:30 am
Paul,
Explaining healthcare to the average Joe? It seems they need to explain it to each other first, then the average Joe. Obama needs to quit worrying about making everyone happy and get done what he was elected to do on this issue.
Taxes – I think if you thought your taxes weren’t going to increase – you were obviously living in a fantasy world. Now, the problem will be whether or not it applies to everyone.
Ya’ know what I thought was really stupid – another tax fee weekend. The state can’t pay teachers yet we have a tax free weekend. Sigh. I don’t know when people are gonna get through their heads that we have to pay taxes. That’s just the way things go.
Not sure what ya’ mean about the relationship to clunkers and poor folks. My brain is still a little scrambled (hahaha – like that is any different). I heard a woman this weekend talk about how the clunkers program was a failure because it ran out of money – and I told her that on the contrary, I think that proves the program successful. Apparently Chrysler was having problem keeping cars in stock (heard that on NPR this morning, I think).
The Gates thing is still going on? Well, I do think the whole beer summit was a little ridiculous.
Okay, “I could have calibrated those words differently.” Got it for the next time I need to pry my foot out of my mouth.
Here’s a laugh for you: Wednesday morning, tree falls, we scramble to safety, realize we are all alive, etc. etc. Few minutes later, I go back upstairs (where tree is) and look around with flashlight and first thing that pops into my head (no lie) – “I need to get my Harry Potter books out of here in case it starts raining again – they could get wet.”
Who You Gonna Call
August 3rd, 2009
9:30 am
Paul
Poor people don’t own vehicles.
Got it -
Many do not. Glad you got it.
USinUK
August 3rd, 2009
9:36 am
honoring the dead:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/19/world/europe/19wootton.html?scp=5&sq=wooten%20basset&st=cse
USinUK
August 3rd, 2009
9:36 am
warning – you might need a kleenex
Kamchak
August 3rd, 2009
9:36 am
Ummm, you’re not saying there weren’t bad guys in Iran
Are you saying that Iran had something to do with the attacks on 9/11?
Who You Gonna Call
August 3rd, 2009
9:36 am
A contentious issue in the federal health care reform debate focuses on whether consumers should have the option of enrolling in a new public insurance plan. But an existing real-world model offers a possible compromise for a public plan that would compete fairly with private insurers by not relying on subsidies from the federal treasury to maintain artificially low premiums or using its public status to force providers to accept low payment rates.
Such a plan might achieve some key goals of public plan advocates while avoiding the problems envisioned by critics. The model is Medibank Private, Australia’s largest private health insurer. Though it exists outside of Australia’s universal health care program, it is owned by the Australian government. …detnews
TnGelding
August 3rd, 2009
9:38 am
Kayaker 71
August 3rd, 2009
8:59 am
Most of us aren’t paying our fair share.
Curious Observer
August 3rd, 2009
9:41 am
And, we need tax deductions and credits given to people that eliminate such bad habits as smoking and increase good habits such as regular exercise.
And let’s give a shiny new $5 bill to anyone who buys bottled water. And I’m warning you entrepreneurs to get cracking on printing up those “I don’t smoke and I exercise” bumper stickers so that we can get rid of those Mary Kay Cosmetics stickers used by the tax cheats to advertise to the world that they run a non-existent business.
TnGelding
August 3rd, 2009
9:41 am
Paul
August 3rd, 2009
9:02 am
The media and very few of us have ever questioned the mission in Afghanistan.
Bosch
August 3rd, 2009
9:45 am
Not sure why my post is in moderation, but I’ll break it up and see if it helps:
Paul,
Explaining healthcare to the average Joe? It seems they need to explain it to each other first, then the average Joe. Obama needs to quit worrying about making everyone happy and get done what he was elected to do on this issue.
Taxes – I think if you thought your taxes weren’t going to increase – you were obviously living in a fantasy world. Now, the problem will be whether or not it applies to everyone.
Ya’ know what I thought was really stupid – another tax fee weekend. The state can’t pay teachers yet we have a tax free weekend. Sigh. I don’t know when people are gonna get through their heads that we have to pay taxes. That’s just the way things go.
Continued……..
Bosch
August 3rd, 2009
9:46 am
Not sure what ya’ mean about the relationship to clunkers and poor folks. My brain is still a little scrambled (hahaha – like that is any different). I heard a woman this weekend talk about how the clunkers program was a failure because it ran out of money – and I told her that on the contrary, I think that proves the program successful. Apparently Chrysler was having problem keeping cars in stock (heard that on NPR this morning, I think).
The Gates thing is still going on? Well, I do think the whole beer summit was a little ridiculous.
Okay, “I could have calibrated those words differently.” Got it for the next time I need to pry my foot out of my mouth.
Who You Gonna Call
August 3rd, 2009
9:47 am
Bottled water bad — well water good. Also, there should be a law against pink Cadillacs.
TnGelding
August 3rd, 2009
9:47 am
Finn McCool
August 3rd, 2009
9:28 am
Isn’t it to protect the environment?
Finn McCool
August 3rd, 2009
9:48 am
…seven mostly Southern House Democrats have been threatening to use their Commerce Committee votes to gut any health care bill, regardless of what the American majority wants.
This, however, isn’t about the majority. These lawmakers, hailing mostly from small states and rural areas, together represent only 13 million people, meaning those speaking for just 4 percent of America are maneuvering to impose their health care will on the other 96 percent of us.
Census figures show that the poverty rates are far higher and per-capita incomes far lower in the 13 legislators’ specific districts than in the nation as a whole. Put another way, these politicians represent exactly the kinds of districts whose constituents would most benefit from universal health care. So why are they leading the fight to stop – rather than pass – reform?
Because when tyranny mixes with legalized bribery, constituents’ economic concerns stop mattering.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/07/31/EDLK191IT3.DTL
Paul
August 3rd, 2009
9:49 am
USinUK
My point wasn’t if AQ was in Iraq before we invaded – they weren’t – it’s that they went where we went and threatened to go wherever else we said we’d go.
Don’t need to rehash again, but if Iraq had never happened: that’s no guarantee things would be winding down in Afg now. In fact, it could have been worse.
You’re correct about the Brits – and now the Brit gov’t is criticizing NATO (for the lack of strategy and shifting strategy, Kamchak) and the Europeans.
[[and why isn’t there outrage, you ask??? because Afghanistan (and Pakistan) is where the bad guys are - and where they WERE back in 2003.]]
I will offer if we’re there ANOTHER eight years the bad guys will still be there. And eight years past that. See the point?
Who You Gonna Call
Isn’t that what being poor means? They don’t have all the ‘things’? But many do have vehicles – they don’t maintain them or have insurance. Or they have a really lousy car but another clunker is better than what they now have (my daughter just sold her 12-yr old car to a poor young guy who said it was better than the other old ones he’d looked at. Her now-10 year old car is better than the 12-yr old one she sold.
Got it?
But it still gets back to the idea: the Climate Change lobby puts a higher value on getting rid of old vehicles than they do on marginally improving the lives of the poor.
Kamchak 9:36
See my response above to USinUK – and specifically to answer your question – which is not at all what I wrote or implied – the answer is… are you nuts?!!? Of course not!
Bosch
August 3rd, 2009
9:49 am
Paul,
Here’s a laugh for you: Wednesday morning, tree falls, we scramble to safety, realize we are all alive, etc. etc. Few minutes later, I go back upstairs (where tree is) and look around with flashlight and first thing that pops into my head (no lie) – “I need to get my Harry Potter books out of here in case it starts raining again – they could get wet.”
Normal
August 3rd, 2009
9:50 am
Finn McCool
August 3rd, 2009
9:28 am
Finn, I haven’t bought a new car since 1973 and a new American car since 1970. The ‘72 car was the little Honda 600. It had a 600cc motorcycle engine. It wasn’t fast, but it gave me 55mph and you might remember the gas lines of that time. Plus, it only cost around 1800 dollars. The ‘70 car was the Ford Maveric. Also under 2000 dollars.
Since then, I haven’t been able to afford new cars like everything else I used to like to do. Just got too expensive. I save my money and go to Car Max when I have to. When you work for the same money you made back in ‘91, you have to sacrifice. It’s just the way it is. I’m saving right now for a ship’s re-union at New Orleans in 2011. Barring
an emergency, that will be the first vacation I will have taken in eight years.
Who You Gonna Call
August 3rd, 2009
9:51 am
I just cannot stop thinking about that poor ignorant old man that stood up to his Congressman and told him to keep the government out of his Medicare.
Turd Ferguson
August 3rd, 2009
9:52 am
Finn McCool
August 3rd, 2009
9:28 am
Interesting…I would imagine most purchases are for Toyota, Acura, Lexus, BMW etc. Once again the GM, Fords, Dodge get the well deserved shaft. HA!
Bosch
August 3rd, 2009
9:55 am
So are some people mad ’cause we aren’t giving the “Clunkers” to the poor?
TnGelding
August 3rd, 2009
9:56 am
Turd Ferguson
August 3rd, 2009
9:52 am
“Shares of Ford were up 7 percent at $8.58 before the bell after senior company executives said the automaker was on track to post its first monthly sales increase in two years.”
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090803/bs_nm/us_markets_stocks_3
Doggone/GA
August 3rd, 2009
9:56 am
“Don’t need to rehash again, but if Iraq had never happened: that’s no guarantee things would be winding down in Afg now”
Maybe not…but there also wouldn’t be several hundred THOUSAND Iraqi civlians dead because of OUR bombs.
Paul
August 3rd, 2009
9:56 am
TnGelding 9:41
[[The media and very few of us have ever questioned the mission in Afghanistan.]]
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Bosch
[[Explaining healthcare to the average Joe? It seems they need to explain it to each other first, then the average Joe.]]
That’s an excellent point. So many Liberal Lobbies had wildly different objectives with health care. Just look at those monstrosities in the House and the divergent views in the Senate. A root mistake of the Pres’s was to just lay out broad objectives and seek to limit it to those.
Taxes – yeah, I agree, they were living in a fantasy (believing what a candidate said) but the fact is, over and over and over again Candidate Obama flat-out said “taxes will NOT increase for 95 percent of you.”
Paying taxes. If you want something, you should pay for it. I don’t understand why conservatives don’t understand this.
And 2009 is not 2001. And what we’re doing in 2009 is not the same as what we were doing in 2001.
If the Left doesn’t question it, who will?
And the dead soldiers continue -
TnGelding
August 3rd, 2009
9:59 am
Bosch
August 3rd, 2009
9:55 am
You wouldn’t be doing them any favors. It’s expensive to keep them running. Not to mention the insurance requirement. They’d end up on the side of the road or in a junk yard soon enough anyway. It’s the drive trains that have to be crushed.
Kamchak
August 3rd, 2009
9:59 am
-which is not at all what I wrote or implied-
That is precisely what you implied.
Who You Gonna Call
August 3rd, 2009
10:00 am
Isn’t that what being poor means? They don’t have all the ‘things’? But many do have vehicles – they don’t maintain them or have insurance. Or they have a really lousy car but another clunker is better than what they now have (my daughter just sold her 12-yr old car to a poor young guy who said it was better than the other old ones he’d looked at. Her now-10 year old car is better than the 12-yr old one she sold.
Got it?
But it still gets back to the idea: the Climate Change lobby puts a higher value on getting rid of old vehicles than they do on marginally improving the lives of the poor.
Like I said, many of them have vehicles. Some even need them to get to work. So what! As for your claims that they ‘afford’ them by simply not buying insurance, I’m sure you will give me yet another example in order to demonstrate existence proof. Further, treat your daughter a little better. Give her a newer car that does not pollute so bad and that gets better gas mileage. You’ll be helping the environment out at the same time. Further, I hardly consider the cost of an F-22 spent on cash for clunkers such a terrible thing for us. In fact, I am in favor of much more Draconian steps.
TnGelding
August 3rd, 2009
10:02 am
Paul
August 3rd, 2009
9:56 am
…but not for long before the media and the peaceniks start grumbling; I’d say 6 months to a year. But hopefully they’ll have UBL by then and can start winding down.
Who You Gonna Call
August 3rd, 2009
10:04 am
I think some people are more likely mad because they can no longer write off an exaggerated value for their clunker by giving it to a charity. Awwwww. Anyone got a spare violin.
Paul
August 3rd, 2009
10:05 am
Bosch 9:49
You’re right that was good for a laugh! I just saw the latest movie – if you haven’t, take a break for a few hours and go.
Oh, you did get the Twilight series, didn’t you?
And the Battlestar DVDs. Gotta save the Battlestar DVDs.
9:46 [[Not sure what ya’ mean about the relationship to clunkers and poor folks.]]
It started last week when @@ was ticked because her husband wanted to trade in his clunker for the $$$$. She wanted him to donate it to a poor person and forget the $$$. The gov’t program mandated they get rendered inoperable.
[[Okay, “I could have calibrated those words differently.” Got it for the next time I need to pry my foot out of my mouth.]]
Just don’t try it on the Other Bosch. Then a tree WILL fall on you!
Doggone/GA 9:56
So how many Afghan civilians have to die before we call it quits?
http://www.star-telegram.com/468/story/1512979.html
Doggone/GA
August 3rd, 2009
10:07 am
“So how many Afghan civilians have to die before we call it quits?”
You’ll have to ask Bush that question. He’s the one that depended on bribed Afghan warlords to catch OBL – who then let him escape.
Paul
August 3rd, 2009
10:08 am
Kamchak
[[Are you saying that Iran had something to do with the attacks on 9/11?] and [[which is not at all what I wrote or implied-]][[That is precisely what you implied.]]
Rather than making an assertion (That is precisely what you implied) would you care to actually reference where I implied Iran had something to do with 9/11?
Note: this is where you’re supposed to say “I could have calibrated my words differently”
MorningStar
August 3rd, 2009
10:08 am
Bosch 9:30 am Obama needs to quit worrying about making everyone happy and get done what he was elected to do on this issue.
Bosch, you can say that again (and again, and again). I’m getting tired of the Dem’s lack of backbone. They need to get it (Single Payer) done!!!
getalife
August 3rd, 2009
10:09 am
Yes, a well behaved and civil 2100 comments.
Who da thunk it?
Anyhoo, now they are talking raising taxes on the middle class to pay for corporate welfare.
I guess Obama does not want a second term and the dems like the minority.
Both parties do not represent the people so a combined tea party is a good idea.
RW-(the original)
August 3rd, 2009
10:10 am
Paul,
At this point it doesn’t seem to matter what they pass.
The goal is to get to single payer any way they can.
Paul
August 3rd, 2009
10:11 am
Who you gonna call
[[Further, treat your daughter a little better. Give her a newer car that does not pollute so bad and that gets better gas mileage.]]
Full of assumptions, aren’t you?
At what age do you think parents should continue to fund their offspring’s lifestyles?
She’s 26.
And her old car did not qualify for the clunkers program. Mileage was too good. So’s her newer car.
She likes doing it on her own, with noncash guidance. Told me it was better for her self respect.
Peadawg
August 3rd, 2009
10:17 am
You weren’t missed.
J/k
Your liberal rants make me laugh at work.
Paul
August 3rd, 2009
10:18 am
Doggone/GA 10:07
You really don’t know a whole lot of the details other than what some websites repeat, do you? There were two warlords. You don’t get anything done over there without $$$. We had CIA and Special Ops forces directing ops. They didn’t ‘let’ anything happen.
But if ‘blame Bush’ makes you feel better….
RW-(the original)
YouTube scoops the NYTimes and Newsweek. Who’da’ thunk?
getalife 10:09
I’m really, really starting to consistently like your posts…. scary….
MorningStar
August 3rd, 2009
10:20 am
Gonna Call @ 9:51am – I just cannot stop thinking about that poor ignorant old man that stood up to his Congressman and told him to keep the government out of his Medicare.
Ha! Ha! Sounds like that poor fellow had a Joe The Not-a-Plumber mentality! Another one of those who need no means of transportation, police protection, an education system that insures that everyone at least gets somewhat of an education, military protection and zillions of other services.
Oh! I know! Any state may secede and set up their own form of government similar to that which Oglethorpe set up in coastal Ga….
and all our commodities can be brought in on ox carts, ‘ cause who needs decent roads……….
Paul
August 3rd, 2009
10:20 am
Who You Gonna Call
[[I think some people are more likely mad because they can no longer write off an exaggerated value for their clunker by giving it to a charity. Awwwww. Anyone got a spare violin.]]
the law on that changed some years back – fair market value, documented.
TnGelding
August 3rd, 2009
10:22 am
Paul
August 3rd, 2009
10:18 am
And the CIA and Special Ops weren’t working for Bush?
Paul
August 3rd, 2009
10:24 am
Doggone/GA
I didn’t mean to sound so harsh in my prior post. I just get tired of hearing repeated how officials ‘let’ stuff happen without considering all the other factors in play.
I could have calibrated my words differently…
Paul
August 3rd, 2009
10:28 am
TnGelding
It’s the whole idea of ‘let’ as if it’s a deliberate decision. Not saying Doggone/GA said it was deliberate but other have.
Sometimes in war, in spite of what you want and in spite of your best efforts, things just don’t work out.
Who You Gonna Call
August 3rd, 2009
10:32 am
Full of assumptions, aren’t you?
As are you, dude. I just did not bother to call you out on your hyperbole. Take the following for example:
Isn’t that what being poor means? They don’t have all the ‘things’? But many do have vehicles – they don’t maintain them or have insurance. Or they have a really lousy car but another clunker is better than what they now have (my daughter just sold her 12-yr old car to a poor young guy who said it was better than the other old ones he’d looked at. Her now-10 year old car is better than the 12-yr old one she sold.
Come on. You are rife with assumptions. Not to mention extrapolating out the wazoo.
Besides, I think my 10:04 likely sums up the real ‘issue’ for many folks out there. They just lost out on a good tax deduction and they do not want to trade in their clunker under a new program and spend money on a better vehicle and meet all those new rules and regulations. They wanted things to stay as they were. They wanted to get their tax cut so they could call it a charitable contribution and also claim that their method did not result in an added expenditure of tax dollars. That is just so clever, isn’t it.
Bubba
August 3rd, 2009
10:34 am
I’m shocked! SHOCKED! that Obama officials say a middle class tax increase may be necessary to pay for health care “reform.”
http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/white-house-adviser-106356.html