In challenging times, the past is a seductive distraction
My New Years Day column for the AJC:
A mere five years ago, the man who is now president was just an obscure freshman senator from Illinois; our governor was some congressman from Gainesville whose name nine out of 10 Georgians would not recognize. The national unemployment rate was 4.4 percent and your house was probably worth 40 percent more than it’s worth today.
Things change — they always have — but these days the pace of change has seemed to quicken. Maybe it’s the consequence of technology that compresses a generation’s worth of evolution into a few years of revolution. Or maybe it just feels that way, just as all of those who came before us felt buffeted by change in their own time. As participants rather than disinterested observers, we lack the perspective to really know.
Certainly, the world that many of us thought we knew and understood has been transformed in the last few years. In recent polls, only a third of Americans still say that our country’s best days are yet to come, and a majority have lost faith that our children will live better lives than we do. The economic affluence enjoyed by this country after World War II —- and the military dominance that flowed from it — feels strangely fragile and threatened.
To those who lived through the Great Depression and the horrors of a world war, that post-war affluence came as a pleasant surprise, and many knew better than to take it for granted. They had seen how it comes and goes and they didn’t trust it. As a result, they had a more accurate perspective than those of us who were raised on the idea that success was our natural birthright as Americans.
We are now faced with the realization that what we understood to be a permanent state of affairs may instead have been an aberration, a temporary product of temporary conditions. Faced with such circumstances, it is natural to seek out villains and to entertain doubts. If our affluence was testament to our nation’s strength, wisdom and goodness, as we were taught, what does its diminishment tell us? Does it mean that we have become less wise and less good? And if so, can we regain what was lost by trying to return to what we were, or what we thought we were?
Personally, it’s foolish to think in terms of “taking back America.” The path ahead is not behind us. If we are not the country that we used to be, good. We can be the country that we are going to be.
Although some may wish otherwise, the demographic, cultural, technological and economic changes of the past generation cannot be undone, and the worst thing we can do is waste time and energy trying to undo them anyway. The answers of the past apply to the problems of the past.
It is hard in a time of rapid, disorienting change to continue looking forward, to focus on what we plan to become rather than on what we used to be. As we jump from ice floe to ice floe, testing our agility, we may yearn for the days when we felt firm ground under our feet.
But that firm ground wasn’t all that firm after all.
– Jay Bookman
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611 comments Add your comment
Bruno
December 30th, 2011
2:43 pm
The bottom line on the so-called dispute is that scientists have come to some clear consensus conclusions, and those conclusions have been denied by the right. Those conclusions are the following, and are fact:
Your “bottom line” is incorrect, Adam. Though many, possible a large majority, of scientist find the AGW arguments to be persuasive, there are a substantial number who don’t. But in the end, truth shouldn’t be, and in fact can’t, be decided “by consensus”. Persuasiveness isn’t a strong enough standard by which to declare something “truth”, which is where the problem comes in. Right now, all of the “science” of climatology is based on computer models, models which haven’t been shown to be very reliable yet.
Per your individual points:
1) CO2 is a greenhouse gas (i.e. one that causes further overall climate warming when more of it is in the atmosphere)
CO2 is one of several greenhouse gases, whose roles in the temperature regulation cycle are not completely understood as of the present. Methane gas and water vapor are some others.
2) Humans have been producing CO2 since the industrial revolution, adding to the effect of existing CO2
That is true. I don’t know anyone who thinks otherwise.
3) CO2 is not being removed at anywhere close to the same rate as it is being put into the atmosphere
That appears to be true at present. However, when you look at the long-term temperature/CO2 cycles as revealed by ice core analysis, CO2 levels fluctuate over time naturally, without any input from man. The “resorption rate” is not constant, in other words.
4) The levels of CO2 in the atmosphere today are MUCH HIGHER than historical evidence shows at high points over the past 40,000 years.
And that too is true. No one disputes that. What it means remains in question, however. Nothing you have presented here changes that.
That Black guy
December 30th, 2011
2:43 pm
Adam
December 30th, 2011
12:30 pm
How do you screen a potential employee to determine whether or not he will change his work habits after being hired? In 25 years I have not been able to do it, neither has anyone I know that has to deal with that issue.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
December 30th, 2011
2:43 pm
the unspoken theme here is “Don’t blame Obama for our problems…”
Have to agree. Most of the problems that this country has have been years in the making. I don’t agree with everything Obama has done and would love some strong progressivism but averting an almost depression has been priority one. Its too bad that Republicans have a single political agenda.
Granny Godzilla
December 30th, 2011
2:45 pm
Broken Pope
No charges then, eh.
Obama is Over
IRS and The Godzilla’s are on friendly terms. Always have been always will be.
You got problems with the IRS? Did you make some poor personal choices?
Erwin's cat
December 30th, 2011
2:45 pm
Bruno – Diffy Q’s…Love it, have fun
Back Seater
December 30th, 2011
2:46 pm
Granny Godzilla
December 30th, 2011
2:16 pm
Back Seater
ANd how did those hearings turn out?
Oh Issa again was it?
He’s ferocious! He’ll get to the bottom and heads will roll.
Right?
Are you referring to the part where he said he didn’t know anything about it, after being sent many e mails on the subject. If he didn’t he should be fired for not knowing what is going on in his department. But oif course, a liberal as yourslf would not want to agree with that. In your opinion, if O’Bama hired him, he is great…………..
Disgusted
December 30th, 2011
2:49 pm
Leave here with 2 comments from the great Thomas Sowell.
Anyone who studies the history of ideas should notice how much more often people on the political left, more so than others, denigrate and demonize those who disagree with them — instead of answering their arguments.
Can you imagine a man who had never run any kind of organization, large or small, taking it upon himself to fundamentally change all kinds of organizations in a huge and complex economy? Yet that is what Barack Obama did when he said, “We are going to change the United States of America!” This was not “The Audacity of Hope.” It was the audacity of hype.
All you stinking hippies with your Birkenstocks enjoy these next few months. We will never see a more pompous, arrogant, out-of-touch president then the one we have now. Good riddance to him and Ma-Belle Michelle.
Bruno
December 30th, 2011
2:51 pm
Bruno: Oh man, I so want that. However, that is rather expensive
I have never seen this site before and suspect my entire afternoon will be sucked into it. I give you a heartfelt thank you in all seriousness
Adam–The way The Great Course site works is that they put each of the courses “on sale” throughout the year. The Differential Equations course is, I believe, $70 when on sale. Over Christmas, they also knocked off another 15% and threw in free shipping. I dropped $600 and got a huge box of courses for 2012 including several math course (geometry, calculus, discret math, differential equations, and topology) along with a comprehensive physics course. I got PB a course on Russian Literature and the Great Masters Music series.
Keep Up the Good Fight!
December 30th, 2011
2:54 pm
All you stinking hippies with your Birkenstocks enjoy these next few months.
So many temper tantrums for the New Year.
I really laughed the other day when I heard Ted Nugent yipped about hippies….. I can’t imagine he was ever called a stinkin hippie in his youth 
Granny Godzilla
December 30th, 2011
2:55 pm
Back Seater
I’m talking about the part where illegal activity was found and charges were filed.
You know the part that makes all the GOP swooning over either set of hearings worth the effort?
Or just more money down the tubes like the 70 million for Whitewater?
Mr. Silly Pants.
GT/MIT
December 30th, 2011
2:55 pm
HERE’S TO A HAPPIER NEW YEAR TO ALL, even Bookman……….
Welcome to the Occupation
December 30th, 2011
3:01 pm
Stevie Ray: “So the 1%’ers have lower rates of domestic violence, addiction, emotional disorders than the rest? ”
Well, without devolving into debates over prevalence of social ills across class divides, I think we can agree that there’s evidence that social ills increase during times of economic hardship, and naturally economic hardship affects those further down from the top of the wealth totem pole.
“That’s a stretch at best. I’m confused as to what socialist/revoltionary developed government has successfully spread the wealth and eliminated the above the law ruling class to your favor?”
The fact that something has yet to exist in practice does not mean that the effort to bring it about is in vain.
Bruno
December 30th, 2011
3:03 pm
Bruno – Diffy Q’s…Love it, have fun
Erwin’s Cat–When I took Diffy Q’s while at Harvey Mudd, I was a little dissatisfied due to, as the course description states “the rote memorization of a vast “cookbook” of formulas and specialized tricks needed to find explicit solutions. Even then, most problems involving differential equations had to be simplified, often in unrealistic ways; and a huge number of equations defied solution at all using these techniques.”
Now, by using numerical techniques, computers can generate visual models of the solutions. I’m looking forward to seeing this new approach.
I’m already half way through the Discrete Math course done by Art Benjamin, who teaches at Harvey Mudd College now. He loves combinatorics, and gets off on Fibonacci numbers and Pascal’s Triangle, etc. Number Theory and Graph Theory are covered as well. What I like about Art is that he embraces his nerdiness and turns it into entertainment.
Bruno
December 30th, 2011
3:06 pm
I can’t imagine he was ever called a stinkin hippie in his youth
Ted claims he’s never taken drugs. Hard to tell from his days with the Amboy Dukes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2WXszKpDLQ
Disgusted
December 30th, 2011
3:11 pm
The problem with ‘Granny Godzilla’ and others is that they are blinded by the ‘charisma’ of this guy to look past his teleprompter and see the BS this clown squeezes out. For some, they support him because he is black. Folks who have never been involved and politics, still aren’t involved in politics, and will never be involved in politics, will support him no matter what. Debt ceiling, what is that? Unemployment, what you talking about? Fast and Furious…oh, the movie? Put Obama on a ballot, and they fall from the sky running to the polls like they are after the new Air Jordans.
And for the Fast and Furious investigation that Darrell Issa is investigating, he has asked repeatedly for documents for the Fast and Furious, and Mr. Holder has refused to turn them over. Mr. Holder said the other day that this case has ‘racial overtones’ to it, and he is not going to co-operate. The truth will come out after the election when the dear leader has left, and drug his minions back to Chicago.
Smokey
December 30th, 2011
3:12 pm
Since we’re reminiscing and if you haven’t seen it before, here is OBL’s burial at sea:
http://www.military.com/video/operations-and-strategy/terrorism/osamas-sea-burial-caught-on-tape/941551903001/
That Black guy
December 30th, 2011
3:13 pm
Adam
December 30th, 2011
1:24 pm
That Black Guy: Some people put wants ahead of needs.
Addiction is a powerful and sad thing. I would bet most people put some wants ahead of some needs, but I wager plenty of people have a set of priorities that a lot of other people don’t agree with, but they are doing fine anyway.
Adam, we are talking about weed here, not crack or heroin. Did you read the whole story? What does your statement have to do with the fact that she decided to spend her money on food, drink, and weed for her party instead of pay her car note (PLEASE PLEASE note I said FOR HER PARTY).
Granny Godzilla
December 30th, 2011
3:16 pm
Disgusted
Oh piffle, I am no more blinded by President Obama’s charisma that I am by yours.
No need to be childishly petulant because you don’t agree with me.
MrLiberty
December 30th, 2011
3:17 pm
Sound principals helped make us the greatest nation on earth. Included among those were sound money (backed by metals and untainted by political whim or banker greed), non-interventionism (keeping our noses and our troops out of other people’s business), limited government (somewhere close to within our means), a respect and protection of civil liberties, property rights, and income. We abandoned those principles (mostly in the 20th century, and mostly with the help of the progressive wings of both the republican and democratic parties. We have been in rapid decline ever since.
Saying that we should never look back implies that our past was horrible and it was not. There were issues that we addressed (slavery, civil rights, etc.) but plenty of right things that if back in place today would turn us once again into the beacon the world wish to emulate rather than the empire the world nearly universally hates.
So often those who wish to deny the positives of the past usually just don’t want anyone criticizing the horrors of the present (especially when they have contributed to the horrors). Sound like anyone you might have voted for Jay?
That Black guy
December 30th, 2011
3:22 pm
Adam
December 30th, 2011
1:24 pm
That Black Guy: Some people put wants ahead of needs.
Addiction is a powerful and sad thing. I would bet most people put some wants ahead of some needs,
And, that is exactly what md was saying in the origional post.
Disgusted
December 30th, 2011
3:23 pm
@ Granny
In the words of Thomas Sowell
Anyone who studies the history of ideas should notice how much more often people on the political left, more so than others, denigrate and demonize those who disagree with them — instead of answering their arguments.
Granny Godzilla
December 30th, 2011
3:27 pm
Disgusted
In the words of Granny Godzilla:
You can dish it out, but can’t take it.
Man up.
Jay
December 30th, 2011
3:29 pm
Anyone who studies the history of ideas should notice how much more often people on the political left, more so than others, denigrate and demonize those who disagree with them — instead of answering their arguments.
Which itself constitutes an attempt to denigrate and demonize those who disagree with Sowell.
Unapprove | Spam | Delete | Edit | Quick Edit | Reply
Disgusted
December 30th, 2011
3:30 pm
@Granny Godzilla
Thank you for proving my point.
Have a nice day.
Disgusted
December 30th, 2011
3:32 pm
@ Jay
Thank you as well for proving my point. I would think a writer for the AJC would have something better then that.
Granny Godzilla
December 30th, 2011
3:37 pm
Disgusted
Thanks for proving mine!
…the problem with….
Funny.
td
December 30th, 2011
3:38 pm
Jay
December 30th, 2011
3:29 pm
Sorry Jay but I have witnessed this myself for the past couple of years on the AJC blogs and it is very true. You can go back and read every post I have ever made (Probably more than 1000) and you may find a dozen when I have attacked a person but for the vast majority I have argued philosophy. I have probably had over 1000 personal attacks towards me by posters from the left. Some of them have gotten very ugly and have been taken down by the moderator.
That Black guy
December 30th, 2011
3:41 pm
getalife
December 30th, 2011
2:02 pm
“Yes he is pushing 20 billion of our money into green technology.”
Thank you President Obama.
I am for our planet over money because we only have one planet.
How is sinking billions into FAILED ventures “saving the planet”?
Obama is over
December 30th, 2011
3:41 pm
Doggone- Your series of nonsequiturs proves only that you need to read more.
Sure the EPA has been around, but the agency’s mission was not designed to destroy American business.
You apparantly believe that it is o.k for taxpayers to bail out banks. If banks are not designed to lend money, please tell us what role they should serve. Borrowing low and investing high implies that they have become hedge funds supported by taxpayer guarantees- pretty bad idea in my mind. Bank track records for investments have been pitiful since the demise of Glass-Stegall.
Why would anyone hire long term employees without knowing what the healthcare costs are going to be?
Fannie/Freddie- How about doing anything? All we hear from Washington about Fannie/Freddie is another round of bailout money and Obama thinks we need a private solution. Unfortunately, Obama is too busy bashing banks and Wall Street to be in a position to ask for help and it would remove a revenue source like the fees he is adding to pay for the payroll tax cut.
Sure Washington has made poor energy investments in the past, but not on the scale we are going to see in 2012. Rather than investing in R & D from higher education, Obama thought he was a VC and picked and chose winners based on campaign contributions.
I didn’t even bring up his NLRB appointments. While it is fine to appoint people who share the same point of view, Obama should never have appointed actual employees of the unions. The NLRB has done tremendous damage to manufacturing growth in the U.S.
Just as I enjoyed the insanity of the OWS movement, I look forward to more of your frustration behavior i.e. frivilous arguments with no point.
MrLiberty
December 30th, 2011
3:43 pm
And just exactly what great, new, unproven, untried ideas should we be adopting? In 1917 Marx had some new ideas. Tens of millions of innocent citizens died during the 20th century in countries that embraced his ideas (all at the hands of their own governments). Fascism was a novel idea that swept through europe during the 20s. A few countries that adopted it ended up exterminating millions of citizens, attacking many other countries and you know most of the rest. Meanwhile in the US, FDR and those that followed him embraced most of the same novel ideas, called them the “welfare state” to soften the blow, and look at where that has taken us.
I don’t know about you, but careful analysis of history, not tainted by the ramblings of those with a vested interest in their “new” ideas, will reveal that plenty of sound economic and foreign policy ideas have been the foundation for prosperity and liberty the world over, but mostly in the US.
We once had a republic. Bush and Obama completed the transition to empire. Personally I yearn for the past.
That Black guy
December 30th, 2011
3:47 pm
Adam
December 30th, 2011
2:11 pm
That is an argument based in emotion, whereas the point I am making is backed by actual evidence
You do realize you argue against oposing views that is ALSO backed by “actual evidence”? I.E. my neice chosing weed over her car payment.
ODD OWL
December 30th, 2011
3:47 pm
@ AquaGirl 9:27 post…. We babyboomers were not THAT bad… When i marched with Dr. King in civil rights marches, i would like to think that i was doing something positive. Although i must admit that i indulged in sex, drugs, rhythm/blues and rock/roll with great enthusiasm… It was the best of times.
Granny Godzilla
December 30th, 2011
3:50 pm
td
all us kenyan muslim anti american socialist facist trailer park living 300 pound liberals know how you feel….
That Black guy
December 30th, 2011
4:02 pm
Bruno
December 30th, 2011
3:03 pm
Mommy, Bruno’s scaring me. Make him stop.
Brosephus
December 30th, 2011
4:09 pm
Bruno
If you’re still here…
getalife, SC, and liberalefty–The reason we are “dependent” on oil is that it still remains the cheapest source of energy. No corporate conspiracies or lack of government intervention are at fault. It’s simply the pace of scientific advancement and the realities of economics at work.
I don’t necessarily agree with that. If ALL subsidies were removed, I think it would level the playing field to the point where solar, hydrogen, Nat gas, and others would gain considerable market share in a short time span.
Thulsa Doom
December 30th, 2011
4:10 pm
“I can show you plenty of examples of how austerity measures led DIRECTLY to economic problems, and plenty of examples of how supply side led DIRECTLY to economic problems”
I see that Adam is at it again with his usual emotional nonsense. Adam, austerity is supposed to be painful. And yes. It is going to and hurt the economy in the very short term.
Your mind is terribly confused as to the purpose of austerity measures. The purpose is to bring the economy in line with conditions that will then make it favorable for growth.
Here’s a good example. Paul Volcker induced a bad recession in 81-82 for the sole purpose of bringing double digit inflation and interest rates down to a level from where the economy could then grow. So yes. There was a lot of pain for 1-2 years but after that the economy went on near 20 year economic run of success with barely a blip- the very slight Bush 1 recession, on the radar screen.
If you don’t bring austerity measures then you simply delaying the inevitable depression of 10 years and total collapse of society. Look at Greece for example. If they don’t take the bitter austerity pill and simply continue on their path they were on their their civilization would simply collapse a couple of years from now. The nation would default on its debt, it wouldn’t be able to borrow from anyone, and there would be zero money in the treasury to pay for pensions and the other aspects of their welfare state. Their civilization would be reduced to begging for food aid. Your ignorance on economics and on austerity alone is nothing short of mind boggling.
MrLiberty
December 30th, 2011
4:16 pm
ODD OWL – If there is criticism worthy of any generation it is against “The Greatest Generation” as they are called. Everyone gives them credit for keeping the world safe from the scourge of Fascism, but before they went off to fight the fascists, their parents were allowing Hoover, FDR, and Truman to embrace Fascist economic policies at home. When they came back from the war, and when the policies of FDR finally ended when he did and the economy finally recovered from the Depression (no, it was NOT the war that ended the Depression), they merrily went about rebuilding their lives rather than worrying about tearing down the fascist/corporatist/government apparatus that married big government to big business at the detriment of our future.
Their kids, the Baby Boomers, benefitted so much from the prosperity that came after the war that they too missed all the clues of our declining country and its economic and personal freedoms. Far too many bought into the collective guilt over segregation, etc. and embraced the war on poverty welfare state mentality that now imprisons hundreds of thousands of minorities. Rather than stepping up and opposing their parents, they blindly accepted the permanent warfare mentality that sprung from the cold war, etc. and allowed Vietnam to migrate to Cuba, Afghanistan, Yugoslavia, Panama, Grenada, Lebanon, and ultimately the middle east. They continued to blindly believe that democrats would cure all the world’s ills and bring peace while the likes of Johnson, Clinton, and Obama ended up waging war and killing easily as many as their republican counterparts.
They began their decade of the 60’s with love in their hearts and an embrace of peaceful non-violent resistance and abandoned it during the 80’s for profits, going-along to get-along and “the american dream.”
How’s that working out for you all? Many don’t think they will ever be able to afford to retire, meanwhile their parents are sucking up more SS and Medicare dollars than ever before and fighting any kind of reform tooth and nail.
The youth of today meanwhile is coming out in mass numbers all over america’s college campuses for Ron Paul, a 71 year old congressman with idea’s that were likely the inspiration for Jay’s piece today. Hey, even these kids know a great idea when they see one. And as Ron constantly reminds folks, the ideas of freedom and liberty are NEW ones. The ideas of big government, statism, totalitarianism, etc. are as old as mankind and have been the source of all of its suffering and pain.
Brosephus
December 30th, 2011
4:18 pm
Also,
In relation to the better now than 3 yrs ago, I’m better off now than I was 3 yrs ago. My TSP is up pretty well as I lost less than $2k in 2008 and have been increasing contributions since then. I’m driving a newer used car than I was then, and the lady is driving a newer suv. My daughter is older and healther, and I still have a job. My bills are paid up, and my credit is almost spotless. Add the fact that I now have a 1963 Impala in the garage, and damn right I’m better off than I was 3 yrs ago.
Kamchak
December 30th, 2011
4:26 pm
Leave here with 2 comments from the great Thomas Sowell.
The only thing Sowell can tell me is where he gets his supply of Ayn Rand blow-up dolls.
md
December 30th, 2011
4:33 pm
That Black Guy,
“I asked her if she was ok, she said she was depressed becausr her car had been repo’ed overnight. The first thought in my mind was “you don’t have money to pay your car note, but you have enough to buy weed and liqour?”. ”
I was totally shocked by Adam’s response……I just knew he was going to tell you that folks like your niece are given their weed and booze………
But I hear you……I see it every time I go back and visit the outlaws……..bunch of wasted space.
David
December 30th, 2011
4:34 pm
I’m all for taking back the past if it means that each individual is free to pursue happiness and doesn’t have to check with Jay to see if it’s OK. In the past, we didn’t have all these progressives deciding what is best for the common good.
MrLiberty
December 30th, 2011
4:37 pm
Brosephus – plenty of folks are doing very well versus 3 years ago. Most of them are friends of Obama, Bush, and company who work on Wall Street or for some major Bank (both foreign and domestic). But by every other measure, things are so much worse than 3 years ago and certainly way worse than 11 years ago before Bush began this recent decline. But fundamentally ever since Nixon took us off the gold standard, Johnson thought we could have both guns and butter for everyone, and before nearly every other president of the 20th century, this country was unbelievably prosperous. The Federal Reserve (who continues to destroy this nation to the benefit of the banking cartel), the income tax (which robs every american in one way or another to the benefit of government and our debtors (the banks)), and the massive increase in government size, have all contributed to an economy that exports dollars and jobs because it has nothing else to trade.
Be happy with your success. But please only credit Obama if you are one of the folks living off his largess and his freedom with other people’s money. His economic policies, nor those of Bush, have done anything to make america more prosperous overall.
MrLiberty
December 30th, 2011
4:41 pm
Sorry David, Jay, like most in the media, has been self-appointed to tell us what is ok to think and believe. Your freedom is dependent on his approval. And that’s just the way far too many people like it. And I give you AMERICA in the 21st century.
That Black guy
December 30th, 2011
4:47 pm
md
December 30th, 2011
4:33 pm
But I hear you……I see it every time I go back and visit the outlaws……..bunch of wasted space
Sad part is, she is a really bright person. Sometimes people have to learn from their decisions.
Oops, Wrong Planet
December 30th, 2011
4:47 pm
That’s funny… This song just played from my shuffled playlist:
“Everything Changes” by Matthew Sweet
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RH1DEmxsy9A
Erwin's cat
December 30th, 2011
4:49 pm
Bro – congrats on the chevy….402?
I have a couple builds I hope to finish this year
65 Cobra kit (FFR)…needs @100 hrs more.
71 Olds 442 drop top…75% restored at the moment
75 Cosworth Vega…waiting to begin resto
md
December 30th, 2011
4:53 pm
“but what is wrong is any idea that people are LESS poor because of what they are seen to possess from an outside observer. That is an argument based in emotion, whereas the point I am making is backed by actual evidence.”
No Adam, what is wrong is for folks to have those wants and then ask others to supplement them……
That is the mindset that is wrong. As I said, been there, done that…….but sold damn near everything I could get money for BEFORE looking for help………that is the difference.
md
December 30th, 2011
4:56 pm
“Sad part is, she is a really bright person. Sometimes people have to learn from their decisions.”
Know that situation too…….fairly bright outlaw that is bright enough to game the system and has no intention of bettering herself since she doesn’t have to. Has made it for 15+ years living off others in the family and is quite content to do so.
md
December 30th, 2011
5:03 pm
Should make our prior discussion pale in comparison……..if Scott Peterson is any precedent, these Docs may be looking at jail time.
http://news.yahoo.com/authorities-abortion-doctors-charged-murder-150817922.html
Atlien052
December 30th, 2011
5:17 pm
Ironic to hear you admit that times were beteer under Bush than Obama (4.4%unemployment and my house valued 40% higher sounds much better than today). Why would anyone vote for the “man-child” Barack when you have clearly illustrated that times were so much better before he was elected. Bookman, thanks for pointing out the poor job the President is doing.
Brosephus
December 30th, 2011
5:33 pm
But please only credit Obama if you are one of the folks living off his largess and his freedom with other people’s money.
Actually, I credit most all Americans, especially the right. If it were not for the neverending chatter and stuff about securing the borders, I might not have a job. However, since we’re a country of immigrants and immigration will forever be a part of our country’s fabric, I will have a job until I decide to no longer work towards keeping our country as secure as I possibly can. It has nothing to do with Obama at all. I give him the same respect as I gave Bush when I served under him.
Erwin
327 w/2 speed Powerglide. Just a nice little 4-door sedan.
Brosephus
December 30th, 2011
5:40 pm
Erwin
I know people tripping over themselves trying to get ahold any 442 to rebuild. I think if I had one, that would be like an instant ticket waiting to happen. I was debating on upgrading my Impala, but since it’s pretty much 100% original w/matching numbers, I’m gonna try to bring it back to showroom condition.
Vast Right Wing Conspiracy
December 30th, 2011
5:47 pm
What a bunch of gobbledegook. Nice try – is this part of the Democrat talking points to try to reelect the Dear (I’m sorry, now its “Supreme”) Leader? I could get more sense out of a billy goat.
Erwin's cat
December 30th, 2011
5:47 pm
oooo…powerglide, a drag racers dream
don’t know what the scope of the project, but if you need a good pro engine builder let me know….he’s really worth the extra $’s
have fun and a great ‘12
Brosephus
December 30th, 2011
5:54 pm
I’ll keep that in mind. I’ve got a shop down in Hampton that I’m gonna check out to see how good they are with body work, but they don’t do engines. I’m just hoping to survive ‘12. If I succeed in that, then it will be a great one. Come April, I will be a ghost for most of the year with the new terminal opening at the airport. I can already see a huge clusterf**k coming on.
Erwin's cat
December 30th, 2011
5:56 pm
Bro – I take my time on the “2″ the more I procrastinate the more it’s worth….the Cobra is the priority of the moment, it’s been draggin’ on too long and will be a fun street/track car….and the Vega…rare car that refuses to go up in value….I’m trying to get a bigger carbon footprint than Al Gore
Erwin's cat
December 30th, 2011
5:59 pm
I’ll be going thru that Terminal 4-5 times in 12..looking forward to it
timbo
December 30th, 2011
6:05 pm
I woke up the other day to the news that the dear leader had passed away. I was about to take the day off and go out and have a few drinks till I found out they were talking about Kim Jung Ill.
Brosephus
December 30th, 2011
6:09 pm
The terminal’s looking nice from what I’ve seen, but I don’t think that’s gonna equate to working conditions. It should be a great thing for travelers though.
As far as carbon footprints, I generate carbon to feed the vegetation. If they want less CO2 in the air, quit cutting down the trees and stuff.
Pay attention to what I'm saying than how I'm saying it
December 30th, 2011
7:40 pm
There are millions of us who were NOT raised on the idea that success was our natural birthright as Americans.
To believe that is naive.
What we do believe is that no firm ground exist as long as man is IN CHARGE!
.
ODD OWL
December 30th, 2011
8:37 pm
@ Atlien 052 517 post…. What planet have you been living on ?? If you dropped the “T” from your nick name, then your asinine and totally rediculous post would make sense. You’re a cronic scape goater who are attempting to project the Bush/Cheney failed economic policies onto President Barack “The Hawk” Obama. Americans are not buying into that tea party Republican reverse psychology and subliminal subjectivity B.S. anymore. Prediction; The Democrats will gain 100 seats in the House and half dozen seats in the Senate. President Obama, the apex ace of asymmetrical warfare will be re-elected in a historical landslide.
td
December 30th, 2011
9:03 pm
ODD OWL
December 30th, 2011
8:37 pm
I do not think you have room to talk about living on another planet my friend. 100 seats in the house. Really? The most optimistic liberial is saying they may take back the house in barely and those people are rare. If you want to see what is really going to happen then just look at the official retirement list and what positions these people could have held if they took back the house. High ranking Dems are retiring in droves so they think they will not take back the house. Even Nancy wants to retire. The Senate is the same.
With redistricting and retirements my prediction is the Republicans lose a few seats but maintain control of the house and they take back the Senate by one or two votes. It is way to early to tell if Obama is re elected or not but it does not look good today.
Thulsa Doom
December 30th, 2011
9:24 pm
Odd Owl,
100 house seats and 6 more senate seats for the Dems in 2012. That statement alone certifies you as possibly insane, delusional, or just plain dumb. You just lose the Nebraska senator and pundits on both sides think his Dem. senate seat absolutely goes to the Republicans. But 100 House seats? Somebody get a straitjacket for the owl.
bman
December 30th, 2011
9:34 pm
“President Obama, the apex ace of asymmetrical warfare will be re-elected in a historical landslide”
he may win re-election, but i seriously doubt any historical landslide …good grief man!
bluecoat
December 30th, 2011
10:03 pm
All that,and giving aid to China with money borrowed from China.
bluecoat
December 30th, 2011
10:09 pm
Atlien is from another planet.A fiery chariot brought him here,and will return him,when he desires to leave.
bluecoat
December 30th, 2011
11:00 pm
Now Newt.crying.must be catching.Hope epidemic election day.
ld
December 31st, 2011
1:10 am
Those folk wanting the good ‘ol days are women who want to be taken care of and their Men who fear losing control and/or those w/selective memory.
What we had then and have now is too much fear and need and greed.
What we need now (and always have and always will need) is:
individual integrity
individual responsibility
individual liberty
equal voice in government
equal right under law
(and some semblence of equal opportunity as our objective–though true equal opportunity is impossible because even if all assets were divided evenly, people are born w/different mental and physical traits/abilities–but we should certainly strive toward a more level playing field–even golf has ‘handicaps’)
FOR ALL PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD
= peace on earth.
Happy New Year.
ODD OWL
December 31st, 2011
1:16 am
What America needs is a House, a Senate, the White House and the Supreme Court controlled by DEMOCRATS… Happy Kwanzaa !!!
Tom Middleton
December 31st, 2011
1:58 am
And what about the great contradiction of an avowed materialist, Jay, that the more and more things one needs to be happy, the smaller the mental and physical space he or she can live and do so? One has to be where their stuff is, right, or at have constant access?
And while that kind of self-imposed isolation might seem like the “good ol’ days” to some, it wouldn’t be to someone who actually lived that dream successfully and learned first hand of its dark-side reality.
Ever wonder why Howard Hughes died an insane man, or why Warren Buffett refuses to leave his children his wealth? “They don’t need it,” he said, and neither do we, not for the kind of happiness we all say we want.
Only the materially inexperienced might look longingly to the past, for they have yet to learn the lessons others already know.
But were they to stop and realize the magical gift that they’ve been given – the need to find their happiness through spiritual being or becoming, instead of their acquiring as the purpose of life itself – they might develop a whole new take on what it’s all about!
Tom Middleton
December 31st, 2011
2:02 am
least <- put it where it goes..lol
trz
December 31st, 2011
2:13 am
Very well said! Lots and lots of people need to read this and really think about what it means!
Joel Edge
December 31st, 2011
5:21 am
We’re always being educated by the left that ‘them days weren’t that great’.
“But that firm ground wasn’t all that firm after all.”
You’re the same age as me, Bookman. I remember the ground was a lot firmer than it is now. You could have condensed this whole article into four words. The tune ‘Don’t worry, be happy’.
Michael
December 31st, 2011
8:09 am
As more and more people see how poorly the present economy works for them, I think what is happening is that people are finding ways to slip into the underground economy–the economy of cash under the table. Because our leadership, at all levels, is so immobilized, so completely invested in protecting itself [most often by inciting a herd of factotums to form a wall (street) around it] and preening itself, no one seems to be paying much attention to the fact that more people are looking to find ways of living under the radar. I suppose it makes sense that, in evaluating the changes happening all around us and to us, few people are talking about the implications of mass numbers of people opting out. The times, indeed, are a-changin’.
GT
December 31st, 2011
9:48 am
Cigarettes, martinet lunches, men beating their wives and children,chemical pollution,drunk driving and segregation. Fat dumb and happy is not a way to go through life. Maybe we don’t have the material things of the 50s and 60s but I would say people are smarter, hard to believe, healthier, they live much longer, safer, the Red Scare was actually a standing army not a ghost in your closet. I think most of the superficial was there back in that time that we see today only no one was reporting on it. Blacks lived in ghettos, the wealthy went to Ivy League no matter how dumb and smart white, black or indifferent at best, the best of the rest made it to the middle class. One of the reasons they had such a strong middle class was because that was where the talent of America went. Now if you are smart no matter your background someone will find you and you will crowd the 1% with the inherited rich. The middle class now days are really the ones whose talent holds them back. There is much more clarity, so if you are faking with work habits or talent even in the middle class there are no free rides, you may go down to the poor. There use to be yuppies, now there are duppies that have lived the life of a middle class going down to the poor. That is the real discontent of the Tea Party and the conservative right. They don’t believe in education, science and they want the world to stand still for them. They want to win the world by might instead of outsmarting and out hustling it. They want to set the moral standards instead of living them. America will be great again once it finds its real leaders which is happening right now. We will lead with our best punch and not our weaker hand that use to work just as well.
zeke
December 31st, 2011
11:32 am
Thing is, yes, things have changed and not for the better. Leftist, indeed commies, in our government! The constant race to destroy the defense department! Immorality gone amok! The sanctioning of “unwed or single”mothers as great , and, absent sperm donors, excuse me fathers, as the sole problem! The leftist perversion of our culture and social dynamics! The scourge of multiculturalism! The idiocy of bestowing Constitutional rights to illegals, non citizens, terrorists and animals! The constant rant and desire to implement “social justice, economic justice” or whatever the current leftist agenda is today! And, class warfare led by of all people the President! No need to say more! But, Americans, to put it correct, U S citizens are exceptional, the country is exceptional and we need to promote that instead of deploring the fact! No other country, no other people compare to US! NO ONE! You leftist need to get over yourselves!!
liberalefty
December 31st, 2011
1:10 pm
ZEKE
sorry dude but YOUR racist utopia that u long for is gone….thank god
bluecoat
December 31st, 2011
2:05 pm
Zeke Destroy our defense dept.If used for defense you could have a point.When last used as defense?WE spend more on defense than anyone.Police the world(If not any size)on matters that do not threaten us.We are bullies.The president leads no class warfare.Most that oppose him are racist.That I truly cannot understand.If being part black bothers you.Only look at the white.When I see him I only see a man.I don’t think we leftist need get over ourselves.Think hipocrites need be themselves,and quit pretending.
Thulsa Doom
December 31st, 2011
2:31 pm
“Most that oppose him are racist”- bluecoat
Not intended to be a factual statement. The libs do loves their race card they do.
Welcome to the Occupation
December 31st, 2011
2:36 pm
The constant race to destroy the defense department!
Pure, blithering idiocy and delusion.
Are you SERIOUS? Do you really think we’re destroying the defense under the current bellicose president whose administration is currently rattling sabers to Iran?
If you think so, you are seriously misinformed indeed.
“The constant rant and desire to implement “social justice, economic justice” or whatever the current leftist agenda is today”
So does that mean that the conservative side doesn’t care about ‘justice’ in any form? Hmm, interesting admission. That says a lot.
“But, Americans, to put it correct, U S citizens are exceptional, the country is exceptional”
Which means ..what exactly? That we aren’t bound by an obligation to uphold pinko bed-wetting ideals like justice? Or the rule of law?
Again, interesting confession.
bluecoat
December 31st, 2011
3:42 pm
Democrats’ claims just don’t add up against Mitt Romney.Duh! you mean this biased AJC would say that against the Dems.Hope Centrist don’t see this,cause him to have a biggie.
ken
December 31st, 2011
4:39 pm
bluecoat, What country do you want to police the world ?
Adam
December 31st, 2011
6:17 pm
ken: policing the world should be a multiple country consensus and effort.
bluecoat
December 31st, 2011
6:54 pm
vast right You could probably get more milk out of a billy goat,
bluecoat
December 31st, 2011
6:58 pm
Adam I agree.At times it’s portrayed as that,but $,lives,wounded most come from USA taxpayer.
ken
December 31st, 2011
7:22 pm
Adam, and how has that worked for the last 60 years ?
ken
December 31st, 2011
7:23 pm
Adam, what countries would you use ? Answer please.
Rwanda
December 31st, 2011
8:50 pm
Adam
December 31st, 2011
6:17 pm
“ken: policing the world should be a multiple country consensus and effort.”- Adam
800,000 dead Tutsis would say different if they were alive to tell you Adam. So would countless other oppressed peoples for whom the UN or other organizations did absolutely nothing.
Prophet
December 31st, 2011
10:26 pm
It’s ALL about GOD!
bluecoat
January 1st, 2012
2:05 am
Stalin/Truman had it working pretty good,Then tear down that wall.Unified,rearmed Germany on top shelf in europe now.——-Be glad when these pugs nominate someone,so I can decide who to vote for.
redneckbluedog
January 1st, 2012
9:19 am
The President and Vice-President should be competitive in SC, GA, and TN, given a Romney/Santorum ticket…….especially with Gary Johnson/Ron Paul on a Libertarian ticket….
Also, Arizona, Nevada, and Montana should be in play…..
Obama/Biden should easily win Virginia, Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Missouri, Arkansas, Iowa, Michigan, Wisconsin….etc, etc…
Indiana, Texas, Kentucky, Utah, Wyoming, and Idaho will still go to the Tbaggers…..
Obama Sucks
January 1st, 2012
11:32 am
Democrats are so corrupt and the Obama presidency is the worst. Eric Holder AG should be in jail.
GT
January 1st, 2012
11:58 am
The country will elect Obama by a landslide. He will run against a congress that has allowed far more power to a few and now have to live with their choices. I could see even in this late 2011 employment tax issue a lot of wise Republicans trying to back away from the flamethrowers of their party. You can carry the red states yelling revolution but the purple which the red call libs and the blue are sick of it.
The Republican enhanced by a party of confused patriots and religious zealots will time and time again find themselves in a fight with misinformation as their weapons. Wander the streets of America and you will hear stories from all corners that rival the witch hunts of Salem days. It is the nature of a percent of the human population to travel these dark paths. They call anyone that is not right of JB Stoner a liberal, like southern people of my parent’s generation called anyone educated a damn Yankee. It took a dark personality in Richard Nixon to discover the gold in this part of the world. Instead of taking the high ground play to their ignorance. Their politicians were crooks, like Talmadge and Thurman and could be bought off, over 50% at that time believed in real ghost. Don’t change a thing in the south and the Republicans would have a strong hold for generations to come. Bush overplayed his hand, a Yale man that was a moron, a rich man that was a man of the common man, a family man that let people die in wars for causes unclear, that were fathers and mothers of family. A man who never served in the service himself. Who losing war on drugs allowed more fathers to be locked up, families destroyed and violence we face today to continue.
The country knows the limits of Obama, what they don’t know is the limits of insanity in the Republican Party. This is a Goldwater party not a Reagan crowd, they all try to frame themselves in to being. Reagan’s own son says Reagan wouldn’t be caught dead in this crowd, yet they try to rewrite his history even as he lays in his grave. Very similar to how they run a campaign.
middleground
January 1st, 2012
3:51 pm
Jay and all the Obama supporters would just like everyone to forget the last few years. Especially Eric Holder and the DOJ gun scandal, Solyndra, Obamacare, etc.
Lubie
January 1st, 2012
5:06 pm
Jay, your column is just more nonsense with a little racist slander thrown in for good measure.
The progressives for four years have controlled the agenda of this country. The US is not a leftist nation, its a center/right nation. We need to “take America back” becasue the left is hell bent to drive us into a ditch. The progressive vision of a centrally planned nanny state is not who this nation has been, who it is or who it will be in the future ( if we make it).
Cynthia Tucker used to say, with Michelle Obama, that she was not proud of the American that actually exists, only of the nation that her ideology could create. We have see that progressive, statist vision of America and No Thank You. While we never believed our nation was perfect, we liked the old USA a lot better than what Jimmy Carter II is producing.
In the end, this is not about race or gender or class or any of the other group thinking that progressives are so fond of. It’s about a vison of the role of the government, the importance of individuals and the liberty that our nation was founded on.
Adam
January 1st, 2012
5:32 pm
ken: It has worked out pretty well, whenever the US doesn’t try to do everything on its own with nothing more than symbolic UN votes. Any countries capable of chipping in should, and it would be foolish to think the US is the only country capable.
Adam
January 1st, 2012
5:34 pm
Rwanda: so because the UN did not step in every time you thought they should, you are saying future efforts should be US only, ignoring any sort of coalition possibility?
Welcome to the Occupation
January 1st, 2012
7:14 pm
Lubie: ‘In the end, this is not about race or gender or class or any of the other group thinking that progressives are so fond of. It’s about a vison of the role of the government, the importance of individuals and the liberty that our nation was founded on.’
Nope. It MIGHT be about those things — but the bankers and corporatists in our ruling class are in the process of wrecking this nation, like locusts feasting on the nation’s marrow from the inside out.
Welcome to the Occupation
January 1st, 2012
7:17 pm
So, Lubie, as a result of the bankruptcy of the ruling corporatist class, the oligarchists, it most certainly is about class. Namely, the class war that is being waged by the 1% against the 99%.
That’s why there are people like me working tirelessly to bring the entire nation into that class war, the war that’s already being waged.
bluecoat
January 1st, 2012
7:37 pm
In the end it this not about race,gender,class.About vision that only the right/center possess.Like during pappa Bush and baby Bush days.And you gonna believe that.Hang on Lubie hang on.