America 2012: ‘In Nothing We Trust’?

Ron Fournier and Sophie Quinton, writing in National Journal, have produced a thoughtful piece about the current state of affairs in the American culture, using Muncie, Indiana as their prime illustration:

Here’s what journalists call the “nut graf” of the piece:

“Muncie is a microcosm of a nation whose motto could be, “In Nothing We Trust.” Seven in 10 Americans believe that the country is on the wrong track; eight in 10 are dissatisfied with the way the nation is being governed. Only 23 percent have confidence in banks, and just 19 percent have confidence in big business. Less than half the population expresses “a great deal” of confidence in the public-school system or organized religion. “We have lost our gods,” says Laura Hansen, an assistant professor of sociology at Western New England University in Springfield, Mass. “We lost [faith] in the media: Remember Walter Cronkite? We lost it in our culture: You can’t point to a movie star who might inspire us, because we know too much about them. We lost it in politics, because we know too much about politicians’ lives. We’ve lost it—that basic sense of trust and confidence—in everything.”

399 comments Add your comment

Paul

April 20th, 2012
9:27 am

There seems to be an inherent argument that if we’ve ‘lost’ faith in media, bank,s government, schools, etc. that we at one time had it. One can make the case a level of ignorance breeds a complacent sense of everything being okay. So then we learn of negative things about the people and institutions and become disenchanted.

A politician has one hiccup and we’re convinced he’s evil incarnate. People in an institution behave dishonorably and suddenly it’s the entire institution that’s rotten. A politician’s personal life (or members of his family’) don’t measure up and he’s unfit.

What’s next? Maybe a couple of things. First a more mature attitude to recognize nonperfection is part of the human condition and to stop being so rigidly judgmental. Second, within government, media, education – have it peopled by those who truly put service before self. What I see are a lot of self-serving people who enter these institutions and use them to serve their own welfare. Many are just a variation on tv evangelists.

Then, get real with political philosophy and reality. Corporations exist to maximize profitability. It’s naive to think they’re going to incur heavy costs they don’t have to in order to do ‘nice’ stuff. They’ll exploit every means to lower costs and increase return. So stop with all the ‘forget regulations and get off their backs and watch us thrive” nonsense.

(ir)Rational

April 20th, 2012
9:27 am

Butch – From my experience, the larger the houses are, or the farther into the suburbs they are, the less likely you are to know your neighbors. In the smaller (old) in-town neighborhoods (at least in Atlanta), most people know their neighbors and stop and chat on the streets. That is one of the things I’ve been adjusting to since I moved out of the suburbs. There, I knew the people in the two houses directly adjacent and the one across the street, but that was it. Here, I know everyone on my street and quite a few people that live on other streets around.

ByteMe - Political thug for sale

April 20th, 2012
9:27 am

I lay a large part of the blame on developers.

Can’t disagree with that. Zero lot lines, HOA requirements that you keep the front of your house clear of clutter, no front porch… all to make developers a few more $$. But we keep buying it, so maybe it’s what enough people wanted.

I can only speculaet., I live in a high rise on the lower east side,

As Curly would say: “Oohhhh, a speculaeter!”

Joseph

April 20th, 2012
9:28 am

rightwing troll:

Why did it even matter what our thoughts were? We could do nothing for two years. He had complete controll of Congress. He could have passed anything he wanted. Fortunatly for the American people there were still a few democrats left at the time that stood up to his left wing ideas….

Joe Hussein Mama

April 20th, 2012
9:28 am

Joseph — “So in other words Zimmerman should have just let Martin beat him to a pulp and done nothing?”

No, Zimmerman should have stayed in his truck like the 911 operator TOLD him to do.

barking frog

April 20th, 2012
9:29 am

I trust everyone,
but not too much.

Mick

April 20th, 2012
9:29 am

sink

If the shoe fits – wear it.

Paul

April 20th, 2012
9:29 am

Becky

“They are a fund raiser for the library to be able to extend the hours of operation!!!

WTF?”

Welcome to what happens when politicians pledge “no new taxes” and people want someone else to pay for their benefits.

ty webb

April 20th, 2012
9:30 am

“Jay, what is it about your blog that draws such a large number of not very bright middle and high school students? It’s really depressing to post intelligent blogs here and get large numbers of mindless responses.”

oh the irony!…it burns!

Joe Hussein Mama

April 20th, 2012
9:30 am

Mick — “What galled myself and others was five deferment “I had other priorities during the vietnam war” dick cheney was calling the shots. He is and always will be, a stain in our history books….”

Agreed. If VP Cheney was on fire, I wouldn’t pee on him to put the fire out.

St Simons - we're on Island time

April 20th, 2012
9:30 am

Didn’t their guy from Muncie/Bloomington already address this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPgxay8p8TQ

eddy

April 20th, 2012
9:31 am

Now if you want a symbol of the Obama administration and one that the Dems can really support, look no further than Jeff Neely…..sitting in a hottub, attired in neck chains with two glasses of wine or champagne in the background. “My administration will be the most transparent in the history of our republic”. Ol’ Jeff was really transparent on the taxpayers’ dimes. Guess it is about time to fire up the jets (Air Force #1 and #2)….time for another vacation and of course Mooch will go first to ensure that everything meets with her approval and then the president will follow at a later time….thus doubling the costs. But of course it is only the taxpayers’ money and we don’t sweat the little people.

Butch Cassidy

April 20th, 2012
9:31 am

ByteMe – “As Curly would say: “Oohhhh, a speculaeter!”

LOL, obviously I meant “SPECULATE! And as to (ir) if you really want to get to know your neighbors, try riding down in the elevator with them EVERY day. :)

Becky

April 20th, 2012
9:32 am

JHM-and we just paid to have a heart inserted into the SOB. May he rot slowly and painfully.

Joe Hussein Mama

April 20th, 2012
9:32 am

0311, thank you very much for the apology yesterday.

We don’t agree on things very often, but you proved by deed that servicemen/women and veterans are, more often than not, people of character.

Well-done, sir. :)

ZoSo

April 20th, 2012
9:33 am

Classy Becky. Real classy.

Butch Cassidy

April 20th, 2012
9:33 am

JHM – “Agreed. If VP Cheney was on fire, I wouldn’t pee on him to put the fire out.”

I concur with the caveat that if he wasn’t on fire, I would gladly pee on him.

(ir)Rational

April 20th, 2012
9:33 am

ByteMe – I would argue that people keep buying it because of 65 years of marketing that has them convinced that is what they’re supposed to want. Also, that is what is available and affordable. In Atlanta, a lot of people in their 20s and 30s want to buy houses, or did at one time. Most of these people can’t afford the older, in-town neighborhoods, or wouldn’t feel safe in the ones they could afford. They’re left with three options, wait, live in a small condo, or move to the suburbs. Most choose the third option, not knowing what they’re giving up. Hopefully there will be developers that were woken-up by the current economy and will start focusing more on smart development as opposed to easy development and they can open up some options for these people in town.

Oscar

April 20th, 2012
9:34 am

rking frog

April 20th, 2012
9:29 am

_____

Trust everybody, but make them cut the cards.

Joe Hussein Mama

April 20th, 2012
9:34 am

F. SInkiewicz — “So Mick says it’s Bush’s fault. That didn’t take long, did it?”

You must have missed the anti-Obama rant in the first third of Page 1.

barking frog

April 20th, 2012
9:34 am

o.k. , go after the high
schoolers when faux
intellectualism abounds…

Jefferson

April 20th, 2012
9:34 am

Paul 927, put me down with that.

Paul

April 20th, 2012
9:35 am

Hey Normal!

Here’s something to make you feel better!

http://tinyurl.com/7hs5bh7

Joe Hussein Mama

April 20th, 2012
9:36 am

Becky — “JHM-and we just paid to have a heart inserted into the SOB. May he rot slowly and painfully.”

I make it a point to not wish pain, misfortune, sickness or death on anyone, but I’d sure like to know how he got that heart. A physician friend of mine tells me that it is highly unusual for someone over 70 to even be considered for a donor heart, let alone actually receive one. I strongly suspect that many strings were pulled to get Mr. Cheney his new heart.

Oscar

April 20th, 2012
9:37 am

April 20th, 2012
9:28 am
Joseph — “So in other words Zimmerman should have just let Martin beat him to a pulp and done nothing?”

No, Zimmerman should have stayed in his truck like the 911 operator TOLD him to do.

_______

We are way past going back to the truck. Too late for that. You might as well say Martin should have done what his girl friend told him to do and run. Both are beside the point.

Nobody knows the facts. Jury will have to decide if killing was justified or not.

Becky

April 20th, 2012
9:38 am

JHM-I wouldn’t put it past Cheney having someone knocked off for a heart. Conspirary theory anyone? Should be good for a Friday funny.

td

April 20th, 2012
9:38 am

How about the MSM spouting day after day that Zimmerman just went up to the poor black kid and shot him down in the streets like a dog. This was done either because they were incompetent, have a political agenda or for ratings (money) for the present and future. You had so called journalist come out and say that Zimmerman said used racial slurs everyday on the 911 tapes and now that has been disproven by an investagation. You have so called journalist saying there was no way Zimmerman was attacked and now today evidence comes out with these new pictures.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/george-zimmerman-case-exclusive-photo-shows-bloodied-back/story?id=16177849#.T5Fe-Nm3LF9

The so called MSM media has the African American community so fired up that if Zimmerman is found not guilty then the trust in the judicial system is going to continue to go down or we are going to have so much anger that it will cause civil unrest and it will all be the media’s fault.

(ir)Rational

April 20th, 2012
9:39 am

Butch – I feel like riding an elevator with your neighbors every day would be a great way to get to know people. The only opportunity I had for that, was in college, and I typically took the stairs. Although, I did know everyone in the building, but that was mostly due to the fact that my roommate knew EVERYONE. Literally he was friends with about half the campus.

Normal, plain and simple

April 20th, 2012
9:39 am

“He had complete controll of Congress.”

That is simply not true. He never had the super majority to stop filibusters and it took three Independents to help him pass his healthcare bill.
———————

Joseph,
I have to ask you…why do you not even consider any views other that right wing? Why is your mind so made up? Why can’t you see that the GOP is no longer looking out after the health of this country, but is willing to sell it out to business over the common citizen? Unless you are a millionaire, you have no business in the GOP. There is too much evidence out there that the GOP wants a Theocratic Corporate Government that wants third world wages for the American public. They care nothing for this country and their true God is the Almighty Dollar. I truly despise what the “Grand Old Party” has become or is trying to become.

JamVet

April 20th, 2012
9:40 am

We had eight years of incompetency of the previous guy, way worse than the malaise era…

MUCH, MUCH worse, Mick.

And to a huge percentage of Americans – scholars, historians and otherwise – the (W)orst ever…

Recon 0311 2533

April 20th, 2012
9:40 am

“Seven in 10 Americans believe that the country is on the wrong track; eight in 10 are dissatisfied with the way the nation is being governed.”

Evidently, the country will be saying goodbye to Obama and the Democrat controlled Senate this November.

td

April 20th, 2012
9:40 am

Becky

April 20th, 2012
9:38 am

Like Hilary did not have her lover Vince Foster killed because his conscience would not allow him to keep lying about being the father of her child.

Normal, plain and simple

April 20th, 2012
9:41 am

Paul,
Good one! Thanks!!!

(ir)Rational

April 20th, 2012
9:41 am

JHM – I strongly suspect that in medicine, as in most things, it isn’t a matter of how old you are, it is a matter of WHO you are. You may not be able to get a heart if you were over 70, but if you happened to have been the Vice President, I suspect you could probably get a heart no problems if you wanted to.

Mick

April 20th, 2012
9:42 am

recon

Fortunately, that is just your opinion…romney hasn’t even come close to closing the deal…

Joe Hussein Mama

April 20th, 2012
9:43 am

td — “You have so called journalist saying there was no way Zimmerman was attacked and now today evidence comes out with these new pictures.”

I see nothing in those pictures to indicate that Zimmerman was attacked *first* or without provocation.

I still think he disregarded what the 911 operator told him and that he then pursued Martin.

Had Zimmerman done as he was told and stayed in his truck, we would not be discussing the matter.

Becky

April 20th, 2012
9:43 am

td-good one, never heard that one but which child? I only know about Chelsea.

Joe Hussein Mama

April 20th, 2012
9:44 am

Recon — “Evidently, the country will be saying goodbye to Obama and the Democrat controlled Senate this November.”

Evidently not. ;)

http://www.electoral-vote.com/

ByteMe - Political thug for sale

April 20th, 2012
9:44 am

td-good one, never heard that one but which child? I only know about Chelsea.

You know her as Monica Lewinsky, of course.

And then it gets weird….

Ayn Rant

April 20th, 2012
9:45 am

While we’re, more or less, on the subject of trust can anyone explain the meaning of “In God We Trust”. We stamp the slogan on our money, some people paste it on their license plates, and our modified pledge of allegiance bandies God’s name in the slogan “under God”.

Who trusts in God? What do they trust God for? Does God live in the sky above us? Is any of this meaningful, or just a case of taking God’s name in vain?

Becky

April 20th, 2012
9:45 am

Byteme-coke on screen. Thanks!

Joe The Plumber Too

April 20th, 2012
9:46 am

carlos: “It’s really depressing to post intelligent blogs here and get large numbers of mindless responses.”………………………
That about made me spit out my coffee laughing………………..that is like saying carlos contributes intelligent comments, more often than not they are just mindless rants against big business, big money or any conservative poster. Perhaps urklecare can get you some meds for your depression……….hahahahahahahahaha

Recon 0311 2533

April 20th, 2012
9:47 am

mick, well then unfortunately for you it’s not just my opinion if you read Jay’s post.

td

April 20th, 2012
9:47 am

Becky

April 20th, 2012
9:43 am

td-good one, never heard that one but which child? I only know about Chelsea.

It was Chelsea and it had legs because I had a lot of women tell me that there was no way Bill could have had a child that ugly.

Mick

April 20th, 2012
9:48 am

joe

Hey man! How’s business? Is urkle still protecting the joint?

Joe Hussein Mama

April 20th, 2012
9:48 am

A. Rant — “Who trusts in God? What do they trust God for? Does God live in the sky above us? Is any of this meaningful, or just a case of taking God’s name in vain?”

Some atheists get really worked up about that, others (like me) don’t care about it.

That said, they guy selling the ATHEIST MONEY rubber stamps at the Godless Americans’ March on Washington was doing a brisk trade with his wares.

Becky

April 20th, 2012
9:48 am

Chelsea had legs? Well of course she does, I’m not following……

Doggone/GA

April 20th, 2012
9:48 am

“I strongly suspect that many strings were pulled to get Mr. Cheney his new heart”
Yep, this one:
$
$
$
$
$
$
$

Recon 0311 2533

April 20th, 2012
9:49 am

“Evidently not.”

Joe, you can of course hope for change but I’m sure you too read Jay’s post.

massachusetts refugee thug

April 20th, 2012
9:49 am

while there may be lots of candiates for #1 boogeyman in our country’s current state, my vote goes to the media (sorry, JB). the utterly insatiable need to fill the 24/7/365 news cycle with the smallest of trivialities, and the millions who sit mindlessly absorbing it, has led to our present condition. i see my dad, a former marine sniper, spending his day watching msnbc, shaking his head up and down and screaming (metaphorically, of course) “yeah, those republicans are bast**ds..!!”. and my mother-in-law, equally inert, watching fox, and yelling “yeah, those democrats are bast**ds!!” and as others have more eloquently put it, it’s all about the money.

oh, and becky, your comments make me sad and a more than little ashamed to sit on the left side of the aisle…

Paul

April 20th, 2012
9:49 am

Ayn Rant 9:45

There are numerous books out about the Founding Fathers and how they saw what they were doing.

Note: many of them did not have the caricature ideas that many here portray here as religion.

And they were humble enough to believe they weren’t the ultimate ‘its’ of the Universe.

Mick

April 20th, 2012
9:51 am

recon

You are too easy, unabashed obama disliker on all points. Doesn’t matter to you just keep on pounding but the reality is that romney will not be handed the brass ring without convincing the electorate. Before he starts measuring the drapes, let’s see his veep choice, then he still has to sell himself. This is a guy who had been losing to rick santorum!

ByteMe - Political thug for sale

April 20th, 2012
9:51 am

And they were humble enough to believe they weren’t the ultimate ‘its’ of the Universe.

You mean they didn’t believe in “Prosperity for Christ”?? :shock:

td

April 20th, 2012
9:52 am

Joe Hussein Mama

April 20th, 2012
9:43 am

That picture is going to be blown up and posted on put on a board for the jury to look at for how ever many days the trail last. I can very well see how this one picture would cause reasonable doubt.

This was not my point for the post to rehash this case but to point out a recent example of why trust is being lost in America.

Becky

April 20th, 2012
9:52 am

oh, and becky, your comments make me sad and a more than little ashamed to sit on the left side of the aisle…

Um, really? Me speaking the truth about an evil person makes you ashamed? give me a break and cry me a river.

Generation$crewed

April 20th, 2012
9:52 am

Joe Hussein Mama
April 20th, 2012
9:26 am

So you are saying you would have attacked Zimmerman but worse than what Trayvon Martain is accussed of doing so?

Wait how does that make you any better than what u accuse Zimmerman of, since u are advocating (actually claiming what u would have done YOU big tuffy YOU) violence without any physicality taken place first, just questions?

Wow, simply wow

td

April 20th, 2012
9:53 am

Mick

April 20th, 2012
9:51 am

Yes and if Obama had not rigged the caucus states Hilary would be President right now.

Joseph

April 20th, 2012
9:53 am

Wonder if Obama is going to start being honest with the American people about our oil reserves now?

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/04/19/republicans-say-new-study-belies-obama-claim-us-has-2-percent-world-oil/?test=latestnews

ByteMe - Political thug for sale

April 20th, 2012
9:54 am

Before he starts measuring the drapes, let’s see his veep choice, then he still has to sell himself

The problem is that he has no idea who he is any more. Daily Show did a piece on him last night that showed him first saying that he was really funny… and then another clip from a few months ago saying he had trouble being funny. So why can’t he make up his mind who he is?? And when that 3 a.m. call comes… which version of “Romney” will pick up the phone?

massachusetts refugee thug

April 20th, 2012
9:54 am

honestly becky, calm yourself, and get some help…

Simple Truths

April 20th, 2012
9:55 am

A Friday Haiku On This Topic:

In nothing we trust
The Press is not without fault
I do not trust Jay

Normal, plain and simple

April 20th, 2012
9:55 am

Headed to the Docs…gonna find out if my kidneys are gonna make it. Fun times at by all! :)

Paul

April 20th, 2012
9:55 am

ByteMe

Like I said in my first post about some politicians who act more like tv evangelists, telling people what they want to hear to feel good so the money keeps rolling in ……

Becky

April 20th, 2012
9:56 am

mass thug-i am always calm. Have a lovely if out of touch with reality day.

Joe The Plumber Too

April 20th, 2012
9:56 am

mick, business is good, never a shortage of leaks or stoppages. I don’t get a chance to stop by often but I like to try to stir the pudding a little. Yeah, urkle still stands guard and still makes a few of my more radical employees mad but it’s all in good fun. I am looking more forward to this election cycle being over than ever before no matter the outcome. There are too many unhinged people on both sides of the fence. How is Florida my friend? The wife and I are hoping to sneak down to Tampa for a few weeks in May, visit some friends and catch a few ballgames.

Recon 0311 2533

April 20th, 2012
9:56 am

mick, me thinks you’re trying harder to convince yourself than you are me.

They BOTH suck

April 20th, 2012
9:56 am

“Yes and if Obama had not rigged the caucus states Hilary would be President right now.”

Not sure about that, but at least you have enough sense to know that McCain / Palin wouldn’t have won against Hillary either

F. Sinkwich

April 20th, 2012
9:56 am

Most telling clip from Jay’s blog:

” Seven in 10 Americans believe that the country is on the wrong track; eight in 10 are dissatisfied with the way the nation is being governed.”

Is this what O’bozo plans to run on?

td

April 20th, 2012
9:57 am

Becky

April 20th, 2012
9:48 am

The rumor was believable (had legs) to some women because they did not believe Chelsea could have been Bill’s child.

ByteMe - Political thug for sale

April 20th, 2012
9:57 am

There are too many unhinged people on both sides of the fence.

+1

Road Scholar

April 20th, 2012
9:57 am

Some comments to the posts above:

I was soooooo surprised that Joseph stated that only the Dems are wrong! And that Fox news was good and CNN,NBC, and ABC are wrong and conspiring to undermine the nation. Isn’t it a citizen’s responsibility (there’s that nasty word “responsibility” and a “liberal” is using it!) to seek out different views (that front porch use-actually talk to people) and to glean out the BS and formulate their views? Once done , then define strategies to fix the problems? To actually do some long term planning?

Today’s world is full of good info as well as contrived BS- on BOTH SIDES- but I fear that people can no longer be objective, thoughtful, can use deductive reasoning, problem solve and articulate their views w/o insults and emotion. Look at the posts with many beating their chest and dismissing and insulting others because they do not agree.

Oscar @ 9:19: You hit the nail on the head. I was home sick that day and watch Powell’s presentation. From other speeches I have seen him make, he was not whole heartedly supporting the words he was saying. He appeared very uncomfortable, which for him was a quite unusual situation.

ByteMe - Political thug for sale

April 20th, 2012
9:58 am

The rumor was believable (had legs) to some women because they did not believe Chelsea could have been Bill’s child.

And here I thought that when Chelsea was younger she looked a lot more like her dad than her mom.

Joe Hussein Mama

April 20th, 2012
9:58 am

Recon — “Joe, you can of course hope for change but I’m sure you too read Jay’s post.”

No need to hope. That site bakes in all the major polls to determine how each individual state is likely to fall (and yes, Rasmussen and Gallup are *included* in the polls they use), and right now, the electoral math looks awfully daunting for Romney.

It’s like this. Even if Romney takes every state that’s even a *little* bit red, he’s only at 180 EVs, which is 90 short.

If he takes all those states *plus* all the ones that are leaning to Obama, he still loses, having only 253 EVs.

Obama can take the states that are *strongly* in his column (253 EVs) — then keep just half the states that are moderately in his column (say, VA and NH; they’d put him right at 270) and he would STILL WIN.

Let me say that again. Obama can lose every state that is leaning to him, and half the states that are moderately strong for him and STILL WIN.

I know y’all like to look at the popularity polls, but that’s what we did back in 2004, and we lost. If y’all keep looking at the popularity polls and don’t start looking at the electoral map, it’s going to be 2004 all over again — but with the parties reversed.

JamVet

April 20th, 2012
9:59 am

As for the numbers of Americans who think this country is in decline?

Back in 2007 that figure was 90%.

I know that makes you doom and gloom boys happy.

But me? I do not believe that this nation is in decline.

For everything negative thing you can come up with over the past fifty years, I can name a positive one.

Normal, plain and simple

April 20th, 2012
9:59 am

Republicans are not trustful
the press is muffled and bought
I do not trust Fox.

ZoSo

April 20th, 2012
9:59 am

Becky, wishing someone (anyone) a slow and painful death is not telling the truth. It’s a sign of sickness. Get some therapy.

ByteMe - Political thug for sale

April 20th, 2012
10:01 am

it’s going to be 2004 all over again — but with the parties reversed.

I thought it was… the Republicans are running a liberal flip-flopper from Massachusetts. What could be more deja vu than that??

BlahBlahBlah

April 20th, 2012
10:01 am

This is all obviously George W. Bush’s fault.

Road Scholar

April 20th, 2012
10:01 am

Becky: “td-good one,…” My point exactly!

Paul

April 20th, 2012
10:01 am

Sinkwich

“Is this what O’bozo plans to run on?”

Key point is, do the populace see Romney as able to do better, especially as it affects them personally?

If the calculation is ‘no’ and if the President’s team attributes much of that discontent to Congressional self-servers,it’s not a bad plank in the platform to run on.

Joe Hussein Mama

April 20th, 2012
10:02 am

td — “That picture is going to be blown up and posted on put on a board for the jury to look at for how ever many days the trail last. I can very well see how this one picture would cause reasonable doubt.”

The only doubt it creates in my mind is doubt for Zimmerman’s story. He’s going to have to plausibly explain how he got from ’stay in the car and wait for the cops’ to getting an injury on his head. And if the injury is a result of hin *precipitating* the confrontation by *pursuing* Martin, then Zimmerman loses the protection of FL’s Stand Your Ground law.

Recon 0311 2533

April 20th, 2012
10:02 am

Joe, like poor mick it sounds like you’re trying harder to convince yourself than you are me.

Mick

April 20th, 2012
10:02 am

Joe

Yes, I agree, get it over with and I think in a way urkle is a back handed compliment! The weather has been cherry, not so hot days and mild evenings. That’s not gonna last, the mean hot season approaches. I went to usf in tampa, know it well…

recon

You are fishing with stale bait, obama will be re-elected to your dismay..

Joseph

April 20th, 2012
10:03 am

Normal, plain and simple:
“He had complete controll of Congress.”
That is simply not true. He never had the super majority to stop filibusters and it took three Independents to help him pass his healthcare bill.

I take it you don’t follow poltics much? I think you may need to do a Google search….

ByteMe - Political thug for sale

April 20th, 2012
10:03 am

I do not believe that this nation is in decline.

I don’t either. The future is so bright I gotta wear shades….

By 2020, we’ll be in the early stages of the next bull market.

By 2030, we’ll be energy independent and it won’t be carbon-based energy.

By 2040, most forms of cancer will be a bad memory.

The more you know about what’s coming, the more optimistic you get. Hopefully, I’m around to see it.

Joe Hussein Mama

April 20th, 2012
10:05 am

G$ — “So you are saying you would have attacked Zimmerman but worse than what Trayvon Martain is accussed of doing so?”

I’m saying that if I belonged there and you tried to detain and question me, then you’d better have a badge and a good reason. Zimmerman had neither.

“Wait how does that make you any better than what u accuse Zimmerman of, since u are advocating (actually claiming what u would have done YOU big tuffy YOU) violence”

I’ve done no such thing. Maybe *you* should ask more questions instead of jumping to conclusions

“without any physicality taken place first, just questions?”

If you’re not a cop, I don’t owe you any answers. And Trayvon Martin didn’t owe George Zimmerman any answers, either

“Wow, simply wow”

Yup, wow. You appear to be saying that I’m supposed to stop for every Tom, Dick and Harry who confronts me in my neighborhood after dark, whether they’re a cop or not. After all, they just want to ask me QUESTIONS. :roll:

Oscar

April 20th, 2012
10:06 am

ByteMe – Political thug for sale

April 20th, 2012
9:58 am
The rumor was believable (had legs) to some women because they did not believe Chelsea could have been Bill’s child.

And here I thought that when Chelsea was younger she looked a lot more like her dad than her mom.

__________

One women who had sex with Bill say he told he could not get her pregnant because a lack of sperm count or some other reason I don’t remember. But his statement gives support to the rumor. Not much chance of a DNA test I don’t think.

godless heathen©

April 20th, 2012
10:07 am

carlosgv, What the hell you attacking me for? I just used you as example of someone who is frightened out his wits by what he’s seen on the TV. It’s not your fault, so calm down.

Joe Hussein Mama

April 20th, 2012
10:07 am

F. Sinkiewicz — “Most telling clip from Jay’s blog: ” Seven in 10 Americans believe that the country is on the wrong track; eight in 10 are dissatisfied with the way the nation is being governed.” Is this what O’bozo plans to run on?”

Isn’t that the sum total of Romney’s campaign message?

JamVet

April 20th, 2012
10:08 am

This is all obviously George W. Bush’s fault.

For the umpteenth time, obviously nothing is his fault.

RB from Gwinnett

April 20th, 2012
10:08 am

I’m going to guess that Trayvon didn’t extend a handshake and say “hi, I’m Trayvon. My dads gf lives right up here. I just went to the store for some skittles and am headed back to her house. It’s good to meet you (smiling)”

I wonder if things might have turned out differently if he had…

Joe Hussein Mama

April 20th, 2012
10:08 am

ByteMe — “I thought it was… the Republicans are running a liberal flip-flopper from Massachusetts. What could be more deja vu than that??”

Hehehe. I LOVE it when people point that out. :D

Recon 0311 2533

April 20th, 2012
10:09 am

The negative we’ve had over the past three years is high unemployment and a fragile economy trying to recover but barely treading water. The Obama administrations policies just haven’t worked and that fact is what it is. The public is dissatisfied as evidenced in Jay’s post.

stands for decibels

April 20th, 2012
10:09 am

For everything negative thing you can come up with over the past fifty years, I can name a positive one.

in something like the same vein…

Am I the only one sick and tired of that dopey “failing schools!” business repeated ad nauseum and rarely attached to any meaningful metric for support? (As, I should point out, it was in the article Jay linked.)

I think it’s more honest and accurate to state that our expectations of education somehow making everything better for everyone, and blaming public education for anything that hasn’t turned out so great, have increased exponentially over the past few decades, and – duh – the institution doesn’t live up to this ridiculous expectation.

Joe Hussein Mama

April 20th, 2012
10:10 am

Recon — “Joe, like poor mick it sounds like you’re trying harder to convince yourself than you are me.”

That’s the beauty of it, Recon. If I convince you to look at that, then it’s a win for me, because you’ve recognized that there’s some value in what I’m saying.

If I can’t convince you (and by extension, conservatives) to look at it, then I still win, because y’all lose.

Win-win for me. ;)

ByteMe - Political thug for sale

April 20th, 2012
10:10 am

One women who had sex with Bill say he told he could not get her pregnant because a lack of sperm count or some other reason I don’t remember.

I was once told the same thing by the fertility doctor.

I have two really cute kids now… and my son looks very much like I did growing up. No technology required. Turns out the report was wrong.

Doggone/GA

April 20th, 2012
10:11 am

“Turns out the report was wrong”

And it may very well be one of the oldest lines in the book.

Jefferson

April 20th, 2012
10:12 am

The president can run on the turn around as much as the GOP hates it. Profits, jobs, dead terrorists, banks, auto makers, actually working for americans — wake up sour pussies just because you don’t want to see it because your eyes are closed. Oh yea, actions cost money get of the fold and help pay for it, fat cats.

Oscar

April 20th, 2012
10:12 am

from Gwinnett

April 20th, 2012
10:08 am
______

Good point. Believe that might have saved his life. Lot of what ifs in this case. Fear, suspision and lack of trust on both sides led to a bad result.

Joe Hussein Mama

April 20th, 2012
10:12 am

RB — “I’m going to guess that Trayvon didn’t extend a handshake and say “hi, I’m Trayvon. My dads gf lives right up here. I just went to the store for some skittles and am headed back to her house. It’s good to meet you (smiling)” I wonder if things might have turned out differently if he had…”

Just out of curiosity, how do *you* greet people who are chasing you after dark in your neighborhood? :roll:

Trayvon Martin’s actions are not on trial here. George Zimmerman’s are.