Fred Thompson explains the economy ' situation' .
POSTED BY: AURaptor
UPDATED: Monday, December 8, 2008 18:54
VIEWED: 4846
PAGE 1 of 1
The man nails it, spot on. Damn, I wish I could have voted for him instead of McCain. 
It is not those who use the term "Islamo-Fascism" who are sullying the name of Islam; it is the Islamo-Fascists. - Dennis Prager
" They don't like it when you shoot at 'em. I worked that out myself. "
NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Yeah, it would have been cool if he got the nom. So that after he lost, I could chuckle every time and old Law & Order came on.
"I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet place and kill him."
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Hey story, that was really relevant to the issue at hand, and worth while for the reading. Seriously, keep up the witty, on target replies. We're all better for it. Honest.
It is not those who use the term "Islamo-Fascism" who are sullying the name of Islam; it is the Islamo-Fascists. - Dennis Prager
" They don't like it when you shoot at 'em. I worked that out myself. "
NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Way to go Fred. This is great.
"And for all you nay-sayers out there who say that we could never pay off these new trillions of dollars of obligations when we already have a 30-40 trillon dollar shortfall, and our medicare, medicaid, and social security programs which are on the path to bankrupcy; I can only say...........
YES WE CAN!!"
HA!
Thanks rap
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Hello,
Is there a transcript of this? I can't watch videos from my current location.
--Anthony
"Liberty must not be purchased at the cost of Humanity." --Captain Robert Henner
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Quote:
Originally posted by AnthonyT:
Is there a transcript of this? I can't watch videos from my current location.
Here you go. You don't want to know how hard I worked to transcibe it since I couldn't find it online.
Hello, I’m Fred Thompson, and I’m bringing you a little holiday cheer.
No..No..I’m not talking about that kind of cheer. I’m talking about some good news regarding the economy! You see, I’ve been with the government in Washington so I’ve come to understand the complexities of the economy that may be over the head of the average person who only applies common sense to these matters. So what’s the good news? Well, first a little history:
How did we get into this economic mess? Well…spending. We spent our way here. No generation of Americans have ever spent more than we have. Now, you’ve heard all the talk about people (with the governments encouragement) buying houses that they couldn’t afford, and wall street re-packaging those risky mortgages into riskier instruments and selling them to even bigger fools than they were all based upon the notion that housing prices would go up forever. They were doing all this with unsecured borrowed money. If you work in tall buildings in New York and make millions of dollars every year that’s called “leverage”. If you work just about anywhere else its called “living above your means”. But housing was just the tip of the iceberg. For a good while there, it seemed like we were all on a national borrowing-spending-consuming binge. We saved very little. And of course the bubble burst. But, here’s the good news. The government has figured out what we should do:
More borrowing. More spending and consuming.
That’s right. We can spend our way to prosperity! The floodgates are now officially open. On borrowed money, we can bail out and reward irresponsible home buyers, greedy Wall Street executives, and big businesses that can’t cut it in the marketplace. And the rest of us can just buy more stuff. You know? To save the economy.
Now you may have noticed that the bailout plan changes every few days in Washington but it’s not like they don’t know what they’re doing. Government officials assure us that things will be much worse without their plan. Whatever that plan turns out to be. But it’s not as if they’re throwing money around indiscriminately. No. Not just everyone can qualify for this bailout money. There are strict criteria in order to qualify for a bailout. Recipients must have screwed up on a monumental scale. No little screwups will be rewarded.
Now the government has just assumed this last year almost 8 trillion dollars in obligations. That’s about half the size of our entire economy. So we’re really getting on top of this thing. But our government alone can’t spend all of this money. You have to help! You will be required to spend more money too! This brings us to the miracle of the stimulus package.
The government plans to borrow additional billions of dollars so they can send it to us and we can turn around and spend it. We’ll be encouraged not to save it, but to spend it. Immediately. Thereby reviving the economy. Of course this didn’t work out to well in the great depression but we’re told by reputable economists that it was because we didn’t spend enough. We’re not going to make that mistake again!
Now, there have been a lot of good ideas about to get this money into peoples hands quickly. Some have suggested for example that we drop it by airplane. But that leaves something to be desired, some people will have bigger rakes than others. It won’t be distributed equitably. My favorite stimulus idea is to give everybody who needs a job a shovel. We’ll put half the people to work digging holes, and get the other half to fill them up. Everybody gets a check and the unemployment problem is solved. And there is no limit to the number of holes we can get Americans to dig and fill. Of course severe penalties would have to be imposed on anyone caught saving.
There
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Hello,
Thank you very much. I really appreciate it.
--Anthony
"Liberty must not be purchased at the cost of Humanity." --Captain Robert Henner
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Ha!
This speech is great. Five stars to this man.
--Anthony
"Liberty must not be purchased at the cost of Humanity." --Captain Robert Henner
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Heh... that was great. He's starting to sound a lot more like Ron Paul now that he's no longer running for office.
SergeantX
"Dream a little dream or you can live a little dream. I'd rather live it, cause dreamers always chase but never get it." Aesop Rock
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Hmmm, hafta look into this guy.
He might be worth somethin after all.
-F
NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Quote:
Originally posted by Fremdfirma:
Hmmm, hafta look into this guy.
He might be worth somethin after all.
-F
It really is sad that our system basically punishes them if they speak with this kind of candor in the campaign. I saw nothing like this from him in the campaign. In fact, it looked like he was severely stifled in the primary debates (probably by 'handlers').
SergeantX
"Dream a little dream or you can live a little dream. I'd rather live it, cause dreamers always chase but never get it." Aesop Rock
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Of course he couldn't speak this way in the campaign. That would prompt the follow-up question "And which party blew all this money on subsidies, wars, big business, etc, etc?"
Still, I'm glad he was putting forward an excellent alternative plan rather than just moaning about the state of affairs his party led us to.
NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Quote:
Originally posted by SimonWho:
Of course he couldn't speak this way in the campaign. That would prompt the follow-up question "And which party blew all this money on subsidies, wars, big business, etc, etc?"
Still, I'm glad he was putting forward an excellent alternative plan rather than just moaning about the state of affairs his party led us to.
Actually, he did speak that way, per the illegal immigration issue. And if you paid attention, Fred wasn't talking only about HIS party.
The Dems had the greater part in this, by far.
It is not those who use the term "Islamo-Fascism" who are sullying the name of Islam; it is the Islamo-Fascists. - Dennis Prager
" They don't like it when you shoot at 'em. I worked that out myself. "
NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
How about right vs. wrong, rather than the stale and pointless right/left, republican/democrat nonsense, for a change? There's precious little difference between the two parties. Look at the way both sides are teaming up on the bailout scam.
SergeantX
"Dream a little dream or you can live a little dream. I'd rather live it, cause dreamers always chase but never get it." Aesop Rock
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Quote:
Originally posted by AURaptor:
The Dems had the greater part in this, by far.
Sorry, did something happen during the 8 years of control of all three branches of Government by Republicans that I missed?
NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Barney Frank and Chris Dodd.
It is not those who use the term "Islamo-Fascism" who are sullying the name of Islam; it is the Islamo-Fascists. - Dennis Prager
" They don't like it when you shoot at 'em. I worked that out myself. "
NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Hello, I’m Fred Thompson, and I’m bringing you a little holiday cheer.
No..No..I’m not talking about that kind of cheer. I’m talking about some good news regarding the economy! You see, I’ve been with the government in Washington so I know how to skate by on an image and a few buzz words and phrases. Not only that, I’ve come to understand the complexities of the economy that may be over the head of the average person who only applies common sense to these matters. After all, it's just like brain surgery or anything complicated. So what’s the good news? Well, first a little history:
How did we get into this economic mess? Well…spending, and tax cuts. We spent our way here and cut our income. And not only that, we tried to hide the bills by keeping them out of the budget and pay for them by borrowing from the Chinese. But I digress ... No generation of Americans have ever spent more than we have. No administration has ever spent so recklessly, either.
Now, you’ve heard all the talk about people (with the banking industry's encouragement) buying houses that they couldn’t afford, and a de-regulated wall street re-packaging those risky mortgages into riskier instruments and selling them to even bigger fools than they were all based upon the notion that housing prices would go up forever. They were doing all this with unsecured borrowed money, only backed by the value of the property itself, which as we all know, is completely worthless. If you work in tall buildings in New York and make millions of dollars every year that’s called “leverage”. If you work in industry, it's called "investment." If you work just about anywhere else its called “living above your means”. But housing was just the tip of the iceberg. For a good while there, roughly the last nearly 8 years it seemed like we were all on a national borrowing-spending-consuming binge. We saved very little. And of course the bubble burst. But, here’s the good news. The government has figured out what we should do:
More borrowing. More spending and consuming.
That’s right. Throw money on investors to cover their losses ! Don't account for it ! We can squander our way to prosperity! The floodgates are now officially open. On borrowed money, we can bail out and reward irresponsible home buyers, deceptive lenders, greedy Wall Street executives, and big businesses that can’t cut it in the marketplace. And the rest of us can just buy more stuff. At Wal-Mart service economy prices on service economy salaries ! You know? To save the Chinese economy.
Now you may have noticed that the bailout plan changes every few days in Washington but it’s not like they don’t know what they’re doing. Bush has a firm grasp of every nuance and detail, unknotting the knot he made over all these years. Government officials assure us that things will be much worse without their plan. Whatever that plan turns out to be. But it’s not as if they’re throwing money around indiscriminately. No. Not just everyone can qualify for this bailout money. There are strict criteria in order to qualify for a bailout. Recipients must have screwed up on a monumental scale. No little screwups will be rewarded. Only Wall-Street need apply.
Now the government has just assumed this last year almost 8 trillion dollars in obligations. That’s about half the size of our entire economy. So we’re really getting on top of this thing. Because, after all, there's no difference between investing for the future, paying for needed services or throwing money away. It's ALL equally good, or bad !
But our government alone can’t spend all of this money. You have to help! You will be required to spend more money too! Assuming, of course that you will get enough that you might actually try to save some and not just pay down your debt. This brings us to the miracle of the stimulus package.
The government plans to borrow additional billions of dollars so they can send it to us and
NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Quote:He did?
Still, I'm glad he was putting forward an excellent alternative plan rather than just moaning about the state of affairs his party led us to.
Where???
---------------------------------
Let's party like its 1929.
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Quote:
Originally posted by AURaptor:
George W. Bush, Ben Bernanke, and Hank Paulson
It is not those who use the term "Islamo-Fascism" who are sullying the name of Islam; it is the Islamo-Fascists. - Dennis Prager
" They don't like it when you shoot at 'em. I worked that out myself. "
There. Fixed that for ya.
Mike
"It is complete now; the hands of time are neatly tied."
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Quote:
Originally posted by SignyM:Quote:He did?
Still, I'm glad he was putting forward an excellent alternative plan rather than just moaning about the state of affairs his party led us to.
Where???
---------------------------------
Let's party like its 1929.
Kinda what I was wondering.
Mike
"It is complete now; the hands of time are neatly tied."
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Hello Rue,
Your edit of the speech was amusing. Though, I have to say he was fairly critical of his own party in his speech. I don't *think* he was trying to absolve his party of responsibility. If he was, it didn't work on this listener.
I noted that you inserted references to investing in infrastructure and energy. I hope this ends up being the case, because then at least we will have some tangible gains. So far, I've seen money shoveled into open furnaces as fast as we can manage it.
--Anthony
"Liberty must not be purchased at the cost of Humanity." --Captain Robert Henner
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
"So far, I've seen money shoveled into open furnaces as fast as we can manage it."
And that worries me.
***************************************************************
Silence is consent.
NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Me too. I don't mind shoveling money, but it needs to be shoveled from the top back down, not from the taxpayers to the top.
BTW, it's not a question of growth OR income inequality. The Federal Reserve of Dallas has an interesting chart of growth versus the GINI index (a measure of income inequality) which seems to show that nations with more equal income distribution generally have HIGHER growth rates. for example, the nation with the most equal income distribution (China) has one of the highest growth rates, while the nation with the most unequal distribution (Peru) has one of the lowest.
I'm not sure I would draw that conclusion, but there is enough scatter in the data to show that fostering a very wealthy minority does NOT create growth. So much for "supply side" economics.
www.dallasfed.org/research/eclett/2008/el0801.html
------------------------------
Let's party like its 1929.
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Quote:
Originally posted by Kwicko:Quote:
Originally posted by SignyM:Quote:He did?
Still, I'm glad he was putting forward an excellent alternative plan rather than just moaning about the state of affairs his party led us to.
Where???
---------------------------------
Let's party like its 1929.
Kinda what I was wondering.
Mike
I'm afraid that was sarcasm - sitting and doing nothing didn't work out well for America during the depression either. What did help was the second World War, blowing billions without anything to show for it made the economy soar. Keynes did know a thing or too; Thompson just reads lines very well.
NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Thank you Rue. I was looking for a transcript of this.
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Oh - I hope you realize I fiddled with it a bit. The italics are my additions. The real version is near the top, from BlueSunCompanyMan.
***************************************************************
Silence is consent.
NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Quote:
Originally posted by AnthonyT:
Hello Rue,
Your edit of the speech was amusing. Though, I have to say he was fairly critical of his own party in his speech. I don't *think* he was trying to absolve his party of responsibility. If he was, it didn't work on this listener.
I think the key is "listening". Some folks just wanna team up and go at it. Fred's one of the "others", and nothing posted by Auraptor could possible have merit so it must be attacked. The most important thing is that your side wins.
Or so says Karl Rove.
and a few others around here...
SergeantX
"Dream a little dream or you can live a little dream. I'd rather live it, cause dreamers always chase but never get it." Aesop Rock
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
also,
Those of you who are blindly assuming this was an attack on the Democrats might want to keep in mind who led the charge on bailouts.
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
triple post????
stop me, before I post again
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
SergeantX
I was trying to point out - in what I hoped was an amusing way - some of the flaws with Thompson's performance.
1) A folksy persona is the same as 'common wisdom'.
2) Common wisdom is wise, and not just common.
3) A national economy is the same as a family economy is the same as a corporate economy, and they can all be understood exactly the same way.
4) Any government spending is bad, and there is no distinction to be made between spending for necessary services and investment which doesn't fit into the business model of short-term profit OR fraud and waste.
5) The New Deal didn't work.
6) Spending more and taxing less works well.
7) Regulation is a bad thing and deregulation - like with the S&L's, electricity & Enron, and commercial banking - is a good thing.
There are a few other little details I disagree with, but in general, I thought it was silly, at best - and misleading at worst.
***************************************************************
Silence is consent.
NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
fair enough rue.
I wasn't really responding to your post so much as the overall tendencies around here. Storymark's post was the kind of kneejerk reaction that I was thinking of. It just gets old watching every potentially fruitful discussion turned into the same old pissing matches between partisans (But Clinton!!!, But Bush!!!)
That said, I do think the overall points made in the video were dead on, despite your contentions. Sure, the folksy humor gave him license to gloss over important details so I certainly wouldn't take it as a policy proposal. But, in the same vein as Jon Stewart, he was able to point out some of the glaring idiocies of our currently leadership in a very effective way. I'd certainly like to see more politicians on both sides of the aisle calling bullshit on the "popular consensus" that's mindlessly echoed by the media.
SergeantX
"Dream a little dream or you can live a little dream. I'd rather live it, cause dreamers always chase but never get it." Aesop Rock
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Wearing 'almost homeless' sign, ex-executive seeks work
NEW YORK (CNN) -- Paul Nawrocki says he's beyond the point where he cares about humiliation.
That's why he weekly takes a 90-minute train ride to New York, where he walks the streets wearing a sandwich board that advertises his plight: The former toy-industry executive needs a job.
"Almost homeless," reads the sign. "Looking for employment. Very experienced operations and administration manager."
Wearing a suit and tie under the sign, Nawrocki -- who was in the toy industry 36 years before being laid off in February -- stands on Manhattan corners for hours, hoping to pass resumes to interested passers-by.
"When you're out of work and you face having nothing -- I mean, having no income -- pride doesn't mean anything," Nawrocki said. "You need to find work. I have to take care of my family."
People look but don't often stop. A woman in the jewelry business paused as Nawrocki stood with his sign outside Grand Central Station recently.
"I feel sorry for him. I wish I could help him," she said. "I'll pray for him. I'll give him a prayer card."
Nawrocki will take the prayers. His wife is partially disabled and on 15 medications, his daughter has student loans, and he's running out of money, he says.
He tried more traditional approaches at looking for work, but nothing came through. His daughter eventually suggested handing out résumés on the street.
"We started talking, and she actually came up with the suggestion of putting on the sign board. I thought, 'That's not a bad idea.' So, here I am," he said.
Getting the right person's attention is tough. Competing with him for the eyes of passers-by are charity groups and homeless people seeking donations.
But there was one hopeful moment as CNN was interviewing him. A man identifying himself as the head of a New York executive recruiting firm took one of Nawrocki's résumés.
The man, Steve Warren, was asked whether employers are looking for people with Nawrocki's expertise.
"It's very difficult," Warren said. "The operations pieces are all exported to overseas, and the problem that we face is, guys like Mr. Nawrocki have a problem finding work here."
Warren was asked whether someone could find a job using Nawrocki's walking-the-streets tactic.
"Well, I found his résumé here, so I'm going to try to find him [something]," he said.
Nawrocki has plenty of competition. The U.S. government said 533,000 jobs in the country were lost in November, and more than 1.9 million jobs have been lost in 2008.
But he retains hope that he and his sign will attract the right opportunity.
"There has got to be a job out there, and hopefully there's one for me," he said.
***************************************************************
My heart aches for him and people like him. Here's a guy who did all the right things - got a job, worked steadily for nearly 4 decades, saved up money, supported his family, educated his daughter. Now, thanks to outsourcing, he's out of a job.
I've been poor and I've been desperate for work - but I've never had to support people who needed me under those circumstances.
THIS is the Bush economy. Not numbers - people.
THANKS ! Bush, your administration, and your supporters.
***************************************************************
Silence is consent.
NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Quote:Oh - gotcha. No, I haven't gotten around to reading it yet. I tried to watch it, but got too bored. Short attention span!
Originally posted by rue:
Oh - I hope you realize I fiddled with it a bit. The italics are my additions. The real version is near the top, from BlueSunCompanyMan.
***************************************************************
Silence is consent.
ETA: I do very much agree with some of the things Fred says, and I don't at all see it as an attack of the Dems or approval of Bush (maybe I'll change my mind when I read the whole thing). My impression so far is that Fred says a lot of the obvious. That's nice and all, but what's the big deal? Besides a politician actually saying the obvious. I guess that in itself is pretty novel. But then, he's no longer running for office, so there's none of the usual need to obfuscate.
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Quote:
Originally posted by SergeantX:Quote:
Originally posted by AnthonyT:
Hello Rue,
Your edit of the speech was amusing. Though, I have to say he was fairly critical of his own party in his speech. I don't *think* he was trying to absolve his party of responsibility. If he was, it didn't work on this listener.
I think the key is "listening". Some folks just wanna team up and go at it. Fred's one of the "others", and nothing posted by Auraptor could possible have merit so it must be attacked. The most important thing is that your side wins.
Or so says Karl Rove.
and a few others around here...
SergeantX
"Dream a little dream or you can live a little dream. I'd rather live it, cause dreamers always chase but never get it." Aesop Rock
I'm starting to think what the US needs politically is the Dems to go further left, and the republicans to push further right...
Full on Socialist vs Fascist action
and have the muzzled moderates of both parties as well as the independents break away to form a party of the center.
It may inspire less ideology and more proactive, solve the damn problem solutions.
Lets party like its 1939
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
OK, I finally read it all the way through - thank you bluesuncompanyman for making the transcript. Must have been a lot of work indeed!
My first impression: some actor spends a little time "with the government in Washington", running a rather half-assed campaign, and suddenly he's an economist? Does this seem a little... lame to anyone else?
That said, on many points I do agree with him. Maybe because he and I have the save level of economical smarts (not much). Like Thompson, I dislike these theory of spend-to-rescue-the-economy and save-the-companies-even-if-they-failed-because-they're-idiots. The idea of getting stimulus money and *spending* it is truly ridiculous, and I'm glad he's calling Bush on it. (Yes, I say Bush. What did Bush tell us after 9-11? SPEND! Don't save - spend! Idiot.)
The "shovel in every hand" idea, though surely Thompson meant it sarcastically, isn't so bad. Of course, I don't mean shovels exactly. I mean that instead of handing billions to the investment banks and automobile CEOs, how about the govt fund some infrastructure work? Let's get going fixing bridges and roads, building better schools, improving the energy grid, and even funding research and the arts which have been drying up over the past decade? That could take care of a chunk of the unemployed, get money into the economy at all levels, and improve our future at the same time.
Guess the CEOs would pocket less that way. In the end, it's all about saving the CEO types, right? 
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Quote:
Originally posted by GinoBiffaroni:
I'm starting to think what the US needs politically is the Dems to go further left, and the republicans to push further right...
I totally agree. My biggest beef with Clinton was the he wasn't liberal enough, even though I'd be considered to his right on many issues. I'd like liberals to be good liberals (fight for minorities, the underpriveleged and look out for civil liberties) and have the conservatives be good conservatives (strong defense, pro-free market and for smaller government), but it seems those are outmoded notions of both parties. Now we've got neo-cons and neo-libs which are little more than cynical echoes of the earlier ideals, mostly both sides just want to be in charge.
Quote:
It may inspire less ideology and more proactive, solve the damn problem solutions.
I hear you, but I think it's unfortunate that ideology has such a bad rap. It's ideologues who are the problem, not ideologies. A clear cut ideology is vital if we're to know how a candidate will govern. Otherwise it's just a mixed bag of platform planks that are usually dropped as soon as the dust has cleared. I prefer candidates to have a clear philosophy of government - its purpose, its constraints, its strengths and weaknesses. All we seem to get lately is vague promises to solve all our problems.
SergeantX
"Dream a little dream or you can live a little dream. I'd rather live it, cause dreamers always chase but never get it." Aesop Rock
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Ahem --- if I may intrude --- "Otherwise it's just a mixed bag of platform planks that are usually dropped as soon as the dust has cleared."
I really wish the US had a parliamentary system. I think the threat of being voted out of office at any time (Canada excepted - it looks like they need to do a patch job on their constitution) keeps the campaigns more on target and keeps the politicians more diligent about fulfilling their platforms.
***************************************************************
Silence is consent.
NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Quote:
Originally posted by rue:
Ahem --- if I may intrude --- "Otherwise it's just a mixed bag of platform planks that are usually dropped as soon as the dust has cleared."
I really wish the US had a parliamentary system. I think the threat of being voted out of office at any time (Canada excepted - it looks like they need to do a patch job on their constitution) keeps the campaigns more on target and keeps the politicians more diligent about fulfilling their platforms.
***************************************************************
Silence is consent.
Rue,
Patch job? After those in "power" suspended Parliment?
How the fuck are you for gun control when even Canada (the bastion of Lib wet dreams) shows its tyranny?
IF I were Canadian...I'd be heading to whatever capitol they call home right now with all the firepower I could muster...
We need to all be together on this.
As Twisted Sister (before my time I'm afraid) screamed...
WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE!
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Quote:
Originally posted by Wulfenstar:Quote:
Originally posted by rue:
Ahem --- if I may intrude --- "Otherwise it's just a mixed bag of platform planks that are usually dropped as soon as the dust has cleared."
I really wish the US had a parliamentary system. I think the threat of being voted out of office at any time (Canada excepted - it looks like they need to do a patch job on their constitution) keeps the campaigns more on target and keeps the politicians more diligent about fulfilling their platforms.
***************************************************************
Silence is consent.
Rue,
Patch job? After those in "power" suspended Parliment?
How the fuck are you for gun control when even Canada (the bastion of Lib wet dreams) shows its tyranny?
IF I were Canadian...I'd be heading to whatever capitol they call home right now with all the firepower I could muster...
We need to all be together on this.
As Twisted Sister (before my time I'm afraid) screamed...
WE'RE NOT GOING TO TAKE IT ANYMORE!
Actually the situation in Canada, with a minority government, any budget motion is considered a confidence vote.
As the party in power did not control %50 of the seats in the house of commons, it requires the support of whatever percentage they lack from the seats held by other parties.
Typically if they fail to do this, they do not have the confidence of Parliament and an election is called...
With the recent events a third option ( only used once in the 1920's ) was pressed. If the opposition parties band together with over %50 of the seats in the house of commons they can by law petition the governor general to allow them to form the government instead of forcing an election.
With the suspension of parliament by the governor general, it only postpones the non confidence vote until January, at which point if the situation remains the same, and the ruling party does not have the support of parliament, then she has to decide to either allow the combined opposition parties to form government or more likely dismiss parliament and call an election.
Not really sure what Rue means by a patch job,
and not sure what you mean by tyranny Wulf
the law has been followed here, democracy has prevailed.
Lets party like its 1939
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Wulf, this might amuse you.
One of the funniest vidclips I have on an old PC around here is a section of Dee Snyder (lead singer for Twisted Sister) explaining what an SMF is to Al Gore in a hearing during the PMRC bullshit started by his lunatic "for your own good" wife.
The look on Al's face when it finally sank in was priceless.
Imma big fan of the old school hair bands, to the point of finding White Lion especially inspirational, which strikes some folk as strange.
In fact, I was just thinkin about how RWED's theme song oughta be Krokus - "Ballroom Blitz" last night.
Works even better if you've seen the video.
(2:40+ this is why you don't annoy a sorceress, folks.)
-Frem
It cannot be said enough, those who do not learn from history, are doomed to endlessly repeat it
NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Quote:
In fact, I was just thinkin about how RWED's theme song oughta be Krokus - "Ballroom Blitz" last night.
BITE YOUR TONGUE! That song was written & performed by Sweet way before Krokus mangled it! It was one of two hits on the album "Desolation Boulevard" - the other was the seminal 70s mega-hit "Fox On The Run".
What can I say? I owned the 8-track, and listend to it in my Chevy Vega...
I did enjoy Dee Snyder's appearance before Congress back in the day. Although I wasn't a fan of Twisted Sister, I came away somewhat impressed by how well-spoken he could be. More impressive was Frank Zappa's testimony.
BTW, Frem, I'm just bustin' yer balls a bit.
Mike
"It is complete now; the hands of time are neatly tied."
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Heheh, I like the Krokus version, that whole album rocked it hard, and the tune "Eat the Rich" just amused the hell out of me.
Actually I think the best ever cover of "Ballroom Blitz" was The Damned, when they got ole Lemmy from Motorhead on the drums and just gave it hell.
Another hard-hittin fav would be KIX, who I got to see off and on when they where just a club band called The Generators, and when they scored Hammerjacks I bought a round there that night - was always fond of them and Sidewinder, so when KIX made it big I was ecstatic, then of course they got shafted six ways to sunday by the recording industry which lead to my hatred of the RIAA which in fact pre-dates their asinine copyright lunacy.
As a rule, I do not care for loud music, but their Blow My Fuse album, especially the title track, just begs for it, especially since although I'll not give details, but I *know* Rosie, heh heh heh.
Still got an awesome mix track around here of Def Leppard, Ratt, KIX and Poison that's over an hours work of pure rippin tuneage.
The true height of hilarity is my nieces and nephews fondness of Guitar Hero, and just how much of the tunes in it are well known to me.
It's just kinda weird, and seems to violate the natural law that you must hate the music of the former generation - watching the nieces duo Heart's "Barracuda" on Guitar Hero was enough to send me into a giggling fit, I tellya.
-Frem
PS, Oh lordy, this is one of those "don't get me started" things, innit ? 
NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Quote:Thanks guys. Now this is stuck in my head!
Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah
And the man at the back said
Everyone attack and it turned into a ballroom blitz
And the girl in the corner said
Boy, I wanna warn ya, it'll turn into a ballroom blitz
Ballroom blitz, ballroom blitz, ballroom blitz
Ballroom blitz
---------------------------------
Let's party like its 1929.
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Quote:I am vexed...I sorta liked Thompson, but if AU likes him, then I can't....
Originally posted by AURaptor:
Damn, I wish I could have voted for him instead of McCain.
The immature Chrisisall
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
But it's EVER so appropriate for RWED, Siggy, innit ?
-F
NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
HAHAHAHA!!!!!! Yep! Sure is!
---------------------------------
Let's party like its 1929.
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Quote:
Originally posted by swish:
OK, I finally read it all the way through - thank you bluesuncompanyman for making the transcript. Must have been a lot of work indeed!
Yes it was. Although as I listen to it and read my transcript I see little errors throughout, but nothing that changes the intent of the message. I was a little rushed you see, AnthonyT made his request at 14:27 on the time stamp and I was trying to get it done within an hour. I made it by 1 minute.
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:Quote:I am vexed...I sorta liked Thompson, but if AU likes him, then I can't....
Originally posted by AURaptor:
Damn, I wish I could have voted for him instead of McCain.
The immature Chrisisall
Let go the hatred , come over to the Light side of the Force. I feel the goodness with in you.
It is not those who use the term "Islamo-Fascism" who are sullying the name of Islam; it is the Islamo-Fascists. - Dennis Prager
" They don't like it when you shoot at 'em. I worked that out myself. "
NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Quote:
Originally posted by AURaptor:Quote:
Originally posted by chrisisall:Quote:I am vexed...I sorta liked Thompson, but if AU likes him, then I can't....
Originally posted by AURaptor:
Damn, I wish I could have voted for him instead of McCain.
The immature Chrisisall
Let go the hatred , come over to the Light side of the Force. I feel the goodness with in you.
It is not those who use the term "Islamo-Fascism" who are sullying the name of Islam; it is the Islamo-Fascists. - Dennis Prager
" They don't like it when you shoot at 'em. I worked that out myself. "
Kinda ironical, since Cheney said he was working the Dark Side...
Mike
"It is complete now; the hands of time are neatly tied."
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME