There’s a lot of fodder for thought and debate in the latest Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll. But I’ll pick three questions in particular to start the evening conversation. The first involves the attitudes of President Obama and the Republican Party regarding business.

The second addresses the federal deficit and how it might be reduced. It’s easy to criticize our political leaders for refusing to tackle the issue seriously, but these poll results suggest that they’re merely reflecting the lack of seriousness among their constituents they represent. Mathematically, the only way to make serious progress on the spending side of the ledger is to start hacking at entitlements and defense, but 70 percent say they’re uncomfortable with that approach.
The other half of the equation is of course revenue. Fifty-nine percent say they’re uncomfortable with trying to close the deficit by increasing taxes. If you’re a politician, the message from the folks back home is that you can’t cut spending and you can’t raise taxes but you better cut the deficit.
Which is why, I suppose, we get treated to political grandstanding on an earmark ban, which will save a total of $16 billion a year. The public demands that something be done, and that nothing be done, which leaves theater the only option.
As U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper, D-Tenn., points out, ”Our problems are worsening at a rate of $8 billion a day — so earmarks represent basically two days of our problem. It’s almost impossible for people to comprehend. When I talk even to sophisticated audiences and try to clue them in, they react like kids being told a bedtime story. They want to know, ‘Where’s the happy ending?’ ”

In the third question, Americans are asked about their feelings toward various political figures and institutions. The results suggest that the intense animosity directed at the president from the right is largely contained there, bouncing around in the conservative echo chamber. Overall, Obama’s approval rating in the poll matches his disapproval rating, at 47 percent.

321 comments Add your comment
Lil' Barry Bailout
November 18th, 2010
8:31 pm
Both parties were guilty of what? Parasite borrowers not paying their bills?
Matti
November 18th, 2010
8:31 pm
Re: “The Messiah,” it’s funny how wingnuts are always accusing Democrats of assigning Messiah status to our current President, when the ONLY people I’ve ever heard refer to Obama in that way are the wingnuts themselves. Perhaps they are the ones who secretly hoped he’d ride in on a white horse (or black Escalade) and save the day. Perhaps “Lil’ Barry Bailout” is the one … Waiting for Superman.
Hillbilly Deluxe
November 18th, 2010
8:32 pm
I been hulling peanuts. Did I miss anything?
TnGelding
November 18th, 2010
8:32 pm
Mary Elizabeth
November 18th, 2010
8:27 pm
…and under the Gypper, aka as Ronald Wilson Reagan.
Lil' Barry Bailout
November 18th, 2010
8:32 pm
Mary Elizabeth: Go ahead and call him what you want, Barry. It says more about you than him.
——————-
OK. Not that I needed your permission.
Mary Elizabeth
November 18th, 2010
8:33 pm
md
There are so many theories as to why the Great Recession occurred but the fact stands that 1929 happened after a decade of small government – pull in – policies of Republicans. The Great Recession occurred in 2008 after little government regulation of Republicans. Those are facts that stand. Argue it any way you want. The facts remain as is.
Lil' Barry Bailout
November 18th, 2010
8:35 pm
Matti, check out the next Newsweek cover. They call the Idiot Messiah “God of all things”. Too fkn funny!
Doggone/GA
November 18th, 2010
8:35 pm
“The arrogance on this blog blows my mind sometimes”
then you’re in the wrong place
Mick
November 18th, 2010
8:35 pm
Hey you braves fans, the marlins are continuing their great tradition of getting rid of good players so they can have the lowest payroll in baseball. Dan uggla will add power to your bench.
TnGelding
November 18th, 2010
8:35 pm
Don’t confuse anyone with facts! There blind faith trumps them, anyway.
Lil' Barry Bailout
November 18th, 2010
8:36 pm
The Great Recession of 2008 occurred because parasites stopped paying their mortgages.
Mary Elizabeth
November 18th, 2010
8:36 pm
I find it very interesting that no one is addressing corporations moving money outside of our nation especially in transportation and energy. Money is leaving this country by droves month by month. This is what the focus should be on. Keeping money here and policies here for transportation and energy will create jobs. That is the important point of my postings tonight.
josef nix
November 18th, 2010
8:37 pm
PAULO
@ 8:27
Nyanh! Reckon?
For those of y’all who question whether or not we give. Yes, we do and our charity knows no artificial boundaries of philosophical and political viewpoint.
An example from my own experience. At my school there was a young couple who had four children in our school. They were strangers in a strange land. He came down with cancer and died rather quickly. The parents “made up a collection” to help the young widow out. I won’t give the figures here, but it was substantial. The two largest contributors were from our wealthier families who cut four figure checks. One was one of the more conservative GOP types, the other a liberal of the Democrat type. From a few dollars from the poorest to those contributions I mentioned, all came to her aid. It’s one of the reasons I still have faith in the better nature of my fellow human beings.
TnGelding
November 18th, 2010
8:37 pm
Make that their. That and your instead of you’re are my pet peeves. I can’t believe I did that. But I’m sure it’s small potatoes compared to other errors I’ve made today.
md
November 18th, 2010
8:38 pm
OK Mary, I see you have convinced yourself of that fact. So be it for you.
Never mind all the decisions that went into the equation from all parties involved…..we’ll just ignore them.
The only way you “theory” works is if we throw out all incoming policies every time we get a new President………….yet we didn’t do that did we??
Southern Comfort
November 18th, 2010
8:39 pm
Mick
I saw that this morning. Thanks for your contribution. We appreciate it.
TnGelding
November 18th, 2010
8:39 pm
And the parasites that issued those mortgages and pocketed a huge commission didn’t have anything to do with it? Think ownership society!
Matti
November 18th, 2010
8:39 pm
I want a piece of Mick’s key lime pie.
AmVet
November 18th, 2010
8:40 pm
Yippee!
All those lazy Republican parasites out in the suburbs and exurbs are gonna get their unemployment checks cut off!
Karma, baby. Sometimes, it’s a real b*tch…
josef nix
November 18th, 2010
8:41 pm
Hillbilly
You HULL peanuts, too! I said something about hulling pecans at work the other day and most of them looked at me with that “hunh?” look…
Doggone/GA
November 18th, 2010
8:41 pm
“And the parasites that issued those mortgages and pocketed a huge commission didn’t have anything to do with it?”
And then bundled and sold them so that it wasn’t THEY who lost their money when those so-called “top rated” investment packages tanked.
TnGelding
November 18th, 2010
8:41 pm
Looks like a few SUVs will be on the auction block.
Lil' Barry Bailout
November 18th, 2010
8:42 pm
Mary Elizabeth: Money is leaving this country by droves month by month.
————————
Well yeah, because the Idiot Messiah and the Fed are debasing the currency. Investors are looking for someplace safe to keep their money.
Assuming your statement is true, why do YOU think this is happening?
josef nix
November 18th, 2010
8:42 pm
Matti
“I want a piece of Mick’s key lime pie.”
Now, THAT ought to put a smile on your face!
Southern Comfort
November 18th, 2010
8:42 pm
The Great Recession of 2008 occurred because parasites stopped paying their mortgages.
Are you talking about these parasites?
Whether it is their residence, a second home or a house bought as an investment, the rich have stopped paying the mortgage at a rate that greatly exceeds the rest of the population.
More than one in seven homeowners with loans in excess of a million dollars are seriously delinquent, according to data compiled for The New York Times by the real estate analytics firm CoreLogic.
By contrast, homeowners with less lavish housing are much more likely to keep writing checks to their lender. About one in 12 mortgages below the million-dollar mark is delinquent.
Doggone/GA
November 18th, 2010
8:43 pm
“You HULL peanuts, too! I said something about hulling pecans at work the other day and most of them looked at me with that “hunh?” look”
I hull peanuts and shell pecans
md
November 18th, 2010
8:43 pm
“Money is leaving this country by droves month by month. This is what the focus should be on. Keeping money here and policies here for transportation and energy will create jobs. ”
Last I checked, Cap and Trade was one of those policies, yet many believe that will drive more companies out……………………….
TnGelding
November 18th, 2010
8:43 pm
Yeah, the credit rating agencies played a huge part.
Mary Elizabeth
November 18th, 2010
8:43 pm
md @ 8:38
Please refer to my post at 8:36.
Mick
November 18th, 2010
8:43 pm
mary elizabeth
The truth of the matter is that with both the majority of dems and repubs, we don’t have representative gov’t of the people but rather the united corporate states of america. The wealth and power they wield is all but insurmountable. Sure, there are some good politicians but they are far and few in between. They are essentially just voices shouting into the wind while the others go about their corrupting business.
TnGelding
November 18th, 2010
8:45 pm
Southern Comfort
November 18th, 2010
8:42 pm
Thanks for that.
Lil' Barry Bailout
November 18th, 2010
8:45 pm
Yeah, I’m talking about those parasites. You don’t pay your mortgage, you’re a parasite. Particularly if you then go looking for a politician to help keep you in a house you’re not paying for.
md
November 18th, 2010
8:47 pm
“All those lazy Republican parasites out in the suburbs and exurbs are gonna get their unemployment checks cut off!”
Actually, many never got them to start with. How many self-employed went belly up?? Tons in the construction industry…………..haven’t gotten a dime…………..
@@
November 18th, 2010
8:47 pm
jay:
Last poll (Gallup) I looked at was back in August. Seems only 25% of the populace have confidence in the media (news AND print). Confidence, but not a whole lotta.
What do you think Americans want when it comes to the media?
Mary Elizabeth
November 18th, 2010
8:47 pm
md 8:43
I am just saying that we need to start getting away from “hating” one political party or the other and start – all of us together – focusing on how to keep our corporations caring about the financial solvency of our nation, instead of caring only about individual corporate profits that come from elsewhere in the world, even though this nation gave birth to them.
Mick
November 18th, 2010
8:47 pm
southern comfort
**Mick
I saw that this morning. Thanks for your contribution. We appreciate it**
Remind me – what contribution?
josef nix
November 18th, 2010
8:48 pm
L’il Barry
Look, not to get into yours and ME’s squabble, but you weaken the case by calling him the “Idiot” Messiah…I’ve been known to use the term Messiah for him myself in reference to that segment of his minions who think he can do no wrong and in reference to that Evita show which was his campaign, but whatever else I may think of Fierce Advocate, he’s no “idiot.”
Lil' Barry Bailout
November 18th, 2010
8:50 pm
Not an idiot? You mean he’s doing this on purpose?
Hillbilly Deluxe
November 18th, 2010
8:50 pm
Josef
Well, I just can’t imagine eatin’ the hulls.
Disgusted
November 18th, 2010
8:50 pm
Now we know why Republicans are having trouble finding people to serve on the Appropriations Committee. Given public sentiment, the cure is as bad as the disease. No one wants to be identified as voting for a tax increase, but no one wants to be viewed as the person who voted for cutting Social Security, Medicare, and defense. But the alternative–doing nothing–will also get members of Congress voted out of office. A turnover every two years appears as far as the eye can see. Maybe Sonny Perdue can gather his group of preachers and pray for a miracle on the steps of the U.S. Capitol.
And this poll’s results demonstrate that Republicans aren’t viewed any more favorably by the public than Democrats. You may stop congratulating yourselves now. Two years from now, it’s see ya’.
md
November 18th, 2010
8:51 pm
Yes Mary, I saw it, and your other posts. Yet you fall victim to your own philosophy. You claim that this and that happened on Bush’s watch, and then in the next sentence say that Obama inherited from Bush. You can’t have it both ways……………..
Mick
November 18th, 2010
8:52 pm
SC
Ok – dan uggla, when he’s hot he’s hot.
md
I agree with that, there are many unemployed who have not received one dime of unemployment while others keep getting extended – tough call.
josef nix
November 18th, 2010
8:53 pm
hillbilly, doggone
Do y’all “grub potatoes?”
Hillbilly Deluxe
November 18th, 2010
8:53 pm
What do you think Americans want when it comes to the media?
What I want is, just tell me what happened. I’ll figure out what it means. It’s like when the President gives a speech. Then the talking heads sit around for 30 minutes, telling us what we just heard. I just heard the speech, spare me your bloviating.
Doggone/GA
November 18th, 2010
8:53 pm
“Do y’all “grub potatoes?””
I do, yes – but I pull carrots
Southern Comfort
November 18th, 2010
8:54 pm
TnGel
No problem. I have that one saved in my favorites for every time I hear the argument about poor people causing the housing crisis or the CRA stuff.
Mick
I was talking about Dan Uggla. I’m a die-hard Braves fan. My lil girl was doing the Chop before she turned one.
Mary Elizabeth
November 18th, 2010
8:55 pm
Mick
And so many of the politician are “owned” by the corporations because they can donate so much more than individuals to their continuing in Congress. We really have a problem and the Right wing media under the direction of Rupert Murdoch, and Roger Ailes is simply creating a diversion from our real problem with corporations. Corporations of course can help this nation, but something must be done legislatively, I think, to control the outpouring of American wealth and jobs.
Speaking of Ailes and his speech that Jay had on video earlier. I was struck by how unrefined – dare I say – brutal his sensibilites seemed to me. Is this the kind of America and Americans we want? The kind that call our president such malicious names and are proud of themselves for doing so? That is not the kind of America I want. It is not the kind of America from “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.”
Lil' Barry Bailout
November 18th, 2010
8:55 pm
Why are health care costs still going up? Did we not bend that cost curve…down?
md
November 18th, 2010
8:56 pm
“focusing on how to keep our corporations caring about the financial solvency of our nation, instead of caring only about individual corporate profits that come from elsewhere in the world, even though this nation gave birth to them.”
Totally agree, but then we as a country talk out both sides of our mouth by demanding that these very same corporations maximize profits for our 401k’s………………
Southern Comfort
November 18th, 2010
8:56 pm
What I want is, just tell me what happened. I’ll figure out what it means. It’s like when the President gives a speech. Then the talking heads sit around for 30 minutes, telling us what we just heard. I just heard the speech, spare me your bloviating.
That died with Walter Cronkite. It’s all about ratings now. To hell with the news.
I agree with you though. That’s all I ask for myself.
BeattheBushes
November 18th, 2010
8:56 pm
Unemployment under Bush the Lesser was not increasing rapidly, BUT UNDEREMPLOYMENT was. The shrinking wages of the lower and middle classes created a state where people started falling behind on their payments (houses, cars, etc) with no relief. And NO not everyone was living way above their means.
If your wages are cut in half as many were (permanent employment vs contract) your spending capacity went down.
The middle class lost thousands of workers to offshoring. If they were able to get a job it was for a hell of a lot less than they had been making (less income less taxes paid). These figures were hidden in the unemployment numbers and the less tax revenues were hidden because of the deficits being run.
I have yet to find a full accounting of the wages reported on 1099’s and how much taxes were paid on that number.
Even if the unemployment numbers come down to what they were under Bush the USA has lost so much tax revenue throughout his presidency we might not ever recover.
Spending MUST be cut along with higher taxes on those that do not CREATE US jobs.
How much difference in taxes are paid between 10 families with 2 children making $100,000 and 1 person making $1,000,000 with 2 children?
How much do those 10 families contribute to the economy weekly vs the 1 family. just asking?
Lil' Barry Bailout
November 18th, 2010
8:56 pm
ROFL…now calling the president “malicious names” is a BAD thing?
Fkn hypocrite.
Hillbilly Deluxe
November 18th, 2010
8:56 pm
josef
I dig potatoes. If I had more, I would “turn ‘em up” with a plow. And with potatoes and peanuts both, “hill ‘em up” with a plow, to keep them producing. We hill up corn and stuff too, but that’s done with a hoe. We’re all separated by a common language.
AmVet
November 18th, 2010
8:56 pm
md, millions of hard-working, play by the rules, innocent people, of all stripes, colors and ideologies have been devastated by the corporate destruction of capitalism, aka that “sustained orgy of greed and reckless behavior”.
And this debacle is going to go on for a long time.
After BushCorp left office in disgrace, I said it would take a decade, minimum, to undo the trillions of dollars of thievery and damage.
But its hard to feel sorry for the “tons in the construction industry”, if they profited illegally by using “undocumented” Mexicalis instead of American citizens.
They should in fact be prosecuted and held accountable to the rule of law and justice…
Lil' Barry Bailout
November 18th, 2010
8:58 pm
BeattheBushes: Even if the unemployment numbers come down to what they were under Bush the USA has lost so much tax revenue throughout his presidency we might not ever recover.
————————-
Cry me a river…we’ll NEVER recover from having the government take less from its citizens for a few years? Idiot.
Matti
November 18th, 2010
8:59 pm
What Mick said at 8:43!!
I pledge allegiance, to the Plutocracy, of the Corporate States of America! And to the Republicans, who for themselves stand, two nations, under suspicion, with doctors and good schools for some. Amen. Not all politicians are owned, but those who aren’t are small in number, have little money, and few allies. Shouting into the wind, indeed.
(Mick, I’m not just agreeing with you because I want pie.)
md
November 18th, 2010
8:59 pm
“I agree with that, there are many unemployed who have not received one dime of unemployment while others keep getting extended – tough call.”
If you look at the numbers, roughly 20 million unemployed and less than 5 mill getting benefits, yet nary a mention of the other 15 mill………….
AmVet
November 18th, 2010
8:59 pm
Tick, tick, tick…
Lil' Barry Bailout
November 18th, 2010
9:00 pm
BeattheBushes: higher taxes on those that do not CREATE US jobs.
——————
Hmm, how many US jobs are you creating this year?
Oh, once again, expecting someone else to do what you are not doing, eh?
Hillbilly Deluxe
November 18th, 2010
9:00 pm
SoCo
I never really watched Cronkite. Most everybody who grew up in the Atlanta TV market, grew up in Huntley-Brinkley households. WSB was an NBC affiliate until late 70’s, I think it was. They had the strongest signal of any of the 3 stations in Atlanta at the time, so they got most of the viewers.
josef nix
November 18th, 2010
9:00 pm
Doggone
I pull carrots and turnips and, I think, all the other root crops…I only “grub” potatoes, though–both the “Arsh” ones and the “sweet tater” ones…
And another one, does anyone else “scotch” the door (prop it open with a door stop/”scotch” ?
And do y’all “roast” or “parch” nuts?
Southern Comfort
November 18th, 2010
9:00 pm
Totally agree, but then we as a country talk out both sides of our mouth by demanding that these very same corporations maximize profits for our 401k’s
That’s because we allowed the companies to pull the wool over our eyes and yank the rug from under our feet when we moved away from company pensions. The original intent of the 401(k) was not to be a vehicle to fund retirement. I think it was originally designed as a tax shelter of sorts for those with ample funds to take advantage of it. We’re stuck in a no-win situation now. To maximize our retirement, we have to allow our jobs to be outsourced.
Mick
November 18th, 2010
9:01 pm
mary e
**but something must be done legislatively, I think, to control the outpouring of American wealth and jobs**
See what happened after the supreme court ruling regarding political donations? Did our legislators do anything to fix it? They won’t because now that money is wide open to both parties and the people get left in the dust.
Mary Elizabeth
November 18th, 2010
9:01 pm
I have not even eaten dinner. Good night all. God bless.
md
November 18th, 2010
9:01 pm
“What I want is, just tell me what happened. I’ll figure out what it means. ”
I concur……………
barking frog
November 18th, 2010
9:02 pm
Americans want it all. Now.
Doggone/GA
November 18th, 2010
9:04 pm
“And another one, does anyone else “scotch” the door (prop it open with a door stop/”scotch” ? ”
That one I’ve never heard. In my world we “prop” them
“And do y’all “roast” or “parch” nuts?”
roast
Hillbilly Deluxe
November 18th, 2010
9:05 pm
I parch my peanuts. I also scotch the door, and I scotch the wheel on a car or truck, when I’m jacking it up.
Do y’all know what “hog-penning” means?
Southern Comfort
November 18th, 2010
9:06 pm
HD
You know I was knee high to an ant around that time
I remember him somewhat, but not much. The earliest news story I can honestly remember was the Iranian hostage crisis and the hijackings back in the late 70’s and early 80’s. I think the credibility of most news journalists have been on a steady decline, not because of anything of their doing. It’s more because the news agencies care more about ratings and sensationalizing the news instead of just reporting facts. I grew up in NE AL, and we alternated between WSB and some of the stations out of Birmingham.
Matti
November 18th, 2010
9:07 pm
And do y’all “roast” or “parch” nuts?
Hahaha! Stop it! I’m not answering that. Hahahaha!
Southern Comfort
November 18th, 2010
9:07 pm
Roast nuts here… although I’ve seen people sell parched nuts.
AmVet
November 18th, 2010
9:09 pm
I pledge allegiance, to the Plutocracy, of the Corporate States of America!
Humorous story, about a year ago, over at Wooten’s, I used the relatively (at the time) unheard of word, plutocracy.
And man, one of the regular rabid right wingers there went ballistic!
How could I call this country a plutocracy. I must be a commie.
I posted the definition and as usual, the only thing that resulted was more insults but nothing whatsoever to countermand my assertion.
And it was obvious that the offended was pretty much toast.
And now that the term is used widely in this country, I am once again vindicated!
Doggone/GA
November 18th, 2010
9:09 pm
SoCo – ” It’s more because the news agencies care more about ratings and sensationalizing the news instead of just reporting facts”
I can’t remember where I read it anymore, but I’ve got a book around here somewhere and the author’s opinion is that it was the assassination of Kennedy that started the “rot” in news reporting. The idea is that up until that time news was a loss the networks had to endure in order to keep their broadcast license, but after Kennedy was shot new shows made a profit for the first time.
md
November 18th, 2010
9:09 pm
soco,
It was a no win either way……..look at CA, loaded with pensions they can’t afford, same with companies that still have them………many going into bankruptcy and dumping them on us (pbgc).
But yeh, we are at the mercy of the monster we created…………we either keep feeding the monster or we starve it………lose, lose proposition.
Doggone/GA
November 18th, 2010
9:10 pm
“Roast nuts here… although I’ve seen people sell parched nuts.”
I live not too far from the mountains, and while I roast them…the folks around me parch them
Hillbilly Deluxe
November 18th, 2010
9:10 pm
SoCo
The trend towards the “talking head” analysis, after speeches, goes back a long way. The first time I really remember it was around the early 70’s. It may have been around before that and I just wasn’t paying attention.
md
November 18th, 2010
9:10 pm
Shell? Hull? peanuts.
I boil them and then “open” them……………….
Mick
November 18th, 2010
9:11 pm
hd
I once was flying out of DC and david brinkley was on the flight. I watched his show every sunday morning and was a fan. I went up to him to say hi but he really didn’t want to converse…no problem so I let him be. He died shortly after and I read that his net worth was around 15 million yet, he flew coach….many people from the depression era remained frugal.
Del
November 18th, 2010
9:12 pm
The only poll that counts is the one taken when people go and actually vote. This parody of opinion polling can best be hung in a public toilet stall for all its importance. I think its time to suck it up and just accept what the voters said two weeks ago because it can’t be changed until the next time.
josef nix
November 18th, 2010
9:13 pm
Hillbilly
I’ve heard “hog penning” but I can’t recall in what context or how it was used. As for nuts, I parch them, too. And I’m glad to hear somebody else says “scotch.” It must be a Southern Appalachian dialect one…I won’t ever forget one night at the Seder when I said something about “scotching the door for Elijah!” The reaction from some of the outlander MOTs was interesting. I painted a canvas right after that of Elijah comes to Tennessee–the prophet standing looking toward a cabin with a scotched door and the seder table inside!
Southern Comfort
November 18th, 2010
9:17 pm
Doggone
Didn’t know the “rot” began that far back. I would have thought it was Watergate or something that started the decline. I can remember growing up that the news wasn’t so sensational at all. The Dow numbers were something they flashed at the end of the newscast with almost no commentary to go along with them. My, how times have changed, and that’s in a period of 30 yrs or so. Back at home, boiled nuts are the norm.
md
Can’t disagree with you on that. I’ve wondered if a type of co-op program would work where you earn shares of the company you work for as long as you’re employed, kinda like the stock options given to CEO’s. Instead of some monstrous hourly wage, augment the hourly pay with stock. When you perform well and the company prospers, you make more. If you don’t produce and the company does likewise, you don’t earn your pay. Haven’t really thought of a way to handle retirement, though.
Hillbilly Deluxe
November 18th, 2010
9:19 pm
I’ll try to explain hog-penning, it’d be easy with a visual. Let’s say you’ve jacked something up, and you have no stands, so you have to sit it on 4 x 4’s or something. Hog-penning is the most stable way to do it. you lay 2 -4x’s parallel on the ground, then you lay two more on top of those crossways, (or perpendicular, if you prefer), then just keep repeating the process. That’s hog-penning.
Daddy taught me that principle when I was about 3 years old or so. I had some toy farm animals and one day he brought me a sack of corn cobs. I asked him what they were for and he said, “To build a pen for your hogs”. He showed me how to stack ‘em and the rest is history.
Southern Comfort
November 18th, 2010
9:19 pm
Del
In the South, there are only two “polls” that are important. One involves fishing, and the other requires a nekkid dancer, a stage, mirrors, and neon lights.
Doggone/GA
November 18th, 2010
9:20 pm
“Didn’t know the “rot” began that far back”
well, beginnnings aren’t always spectacular. My own opinion is that it started then, but it was the advent of the 24 hours news channels that propelled it to what we have now.
TnGelding
November 18th, 2010
9:22 pm
Medical care costs continue to go up. Health care is free; rest, diet, exercise. But you do have to spend a little time.
Congress knew the deficit would explode. That’s why the changes are scheduled to expire. Now it doesn’t have the guts to let it happen
Southern Comfort
November 18th, 2010
9:23 pm
it was the advent of the 24 hours news channels that propelled it to what we have now.
Couldn’t agree more. (even though I love me some Soledad O’Brien)
Doggone/GA
November 18th, 2010
9:23 pm
“I’ll try to explain hog-penning”
Ahhh…I know that one by the same term house movers use: cribbing
Mick
November 18th, 2010
9:24 pm
Anybody out there got a score on the dolphins/bears game tonite?
AmVet
November 18th, 2010
9:26 pm
Mick,
6 – 0 Bears, with about 6 left in the first half…
Mick
November 18th, 2010
9:28 pm
amvet
Thanks – I’m proctoring an ASE test, no live stream, blocked. Fins will find a way to pull it out.
md
November 18th, 2010
9:29 pm
soco,
Don’t like the stock options idea……….been there, done that. In the end, the company is now gone, but I still have a drawer full of stock options.
Be happy to sell you some…………..
josef nix
November 18th, 2010
9:29 pm
Hillbilly
Thanks….
Well, gotta go get ready for tomorrow…g’night….
Southern Comfort
November 18th, 2010
9:31 pm
Be happy to sell you some
For pennies on the dollar, right?
Gonna call it a night. Bama’s cruising, and I’ll be cranky if I don’t get some sleep. I’d hate to show up at work tomorrow ABM style. See y’all…
TnGelding
November 18th, 2010
9:31 pm
Either the Dolphins swam circles around the Bears or the Bears consuumed the Dolphins. What about ‘Bama and GSU?
TnGelding
November 18th, 2010
9:34 pm
You can always use those stock options as wallpaper.
Mick
November 18th, 2010
9:38 pm
Wallpaper hanging – now there’s a lost art.
Doggone/GA
November 18th, 2010
9:41 pm
“Wallpaper hanging – now there’s a lost art”
can’t be that lost – I’ve got a cousing who makes her living doing just that.
Mick
November 18th, 2010
9:42 pm
We don’t have the money yet this goes on and on and……….
“In fact, the war is costing on the order of $7 billion a month, a sum that is still being borrowed and adding nearly $100 billion a year to the already-burgeoning national debt. Yet in all the talk in all the campaigns in the hustings about the dangers of the federal budget deficit, hardly any candidates fingered the war as economically unsustainable.
The American public cannot have a debate on the war if it is not even mentioned in public. The extreme invisibility of the Afghanistan war is apparent from a Lexis Nexis search I did for “Kandahar” (again, the site of a major military campaign) for the period from Oct. 15 to Nov. 15. I got only a few dozen hits, from all American news sources (National Public Radio was among the few media outlets that devoted substantial airtime to the campaign).
The campaign in the outskirts of Kandahar had been modeled on last winter’s attack on the farming area of Marjah in Helmand Province. Marjah was a demonstration project, intended to show that the U.S., NATO and Afghanistan security forces could “take, clear, hold and build.”
Doggone/GA
November 18th, 2010
9:43 pm
“cousing” – darn! My second most common typing mistake…adding a “g”
My first most common is “user” for “use”!
Mick
November 18th, 2010
9:44 pm
Doggone/GA
You mean “cousin”? There are many pretenders but very few craftsmen, that’s what I meant.