HuskyCaucasian

Greed is the ultimate positive and negative of capitalism.

QUOTE (CanOfCorn @ Mar 24, 2010 -> 10:02 AM) Wow...what do you say to that? I could have tried, but it wasnt worth the effort. I've learned to know when people are stuck in there opinions and wont budge. She's a HUGE Palin fan... that's all you really need to know. QUOTE (CanOfCorn @ Mar 24, 2010 -> 10:02 AM) And honestly, our generation has a good chance of being screwed out of Social Security benefits that we've paid into our whole working lives. She mentioned that too. I could have gone on about how the GOP has spent more time trying to destroy SS rather than fix it, but I just let it go.

I really like the new overtime rules. It's not perfect, but it's a good solution. I do hope they adopt it for the regular season, but I am ok if it ends in a tie. No need to go until someone wins.

A quote from my Grandma yesterday: "He (Obama) is just going to let me die... not get me the medicine I need. I dont worry about me. I worry about you and your parents when you are my age" Nothing like old fashioned "scare the elderly" tactics.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Mar 24, 2010 -> 08:32 AM) I thought he basically decided that everything Jacob had told him was a lie and that the MIB was the one telling the truth. That is, until Hurley and Isabella showed up. I think Hurley made up that last part about Isabella. Remember, Hurley is on Jacob's side.

QUOTE (mmmmmbeeer @ Mar 23, 2010 -> 10:49 PM) I found it interesting/odd that Jacob couldn't bring Ricardo's wife back, couldn't forgive Ricardo's sins, but WAS able to grant him eternal life. If he was, in fact, the devil then this would make sense assuming his wife went to heaven when she died (she was christian and wore the cross, died with a bible on her lap). Last night furthered my belief that Jacob is either the devil or a representative for the devil and Smokey is God or a representative of God.

Last night was awesome. It did not disappointed me at all. Was it the best none premier/finale episode, I dont think so. but I left very satisfied.

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Mar 23, 2010 -> 12:58 PM) Wait, I thought Pirates was meant to be a trilogy. they are doing another? From what I have heard rumors about, it looks like they want to do another trilogy with a separate story line.

QUOTE (bmags @ Mar 23, 2010 -> 12:54 PM) My guess is this: "not bloody likely" Seriously, it's really hot right now, but in 2 years, they would be repealing really popular things. Exactly. There is a reason people, with the exception of the far right, are not in favor of scrapping Medicare or social security... they are popular and liked. They just need to be cleaned up and modernized. What the GOP needs to do is come up with a VERY solid and robust alternative to those options and maybe... just MAYBE you can make massive changes. But it has to be a REAL solid and well documented and well supported plan.

QUOTE (bmags @ Mar 23, 2010 -> 12:47 PM) yglesias.thinkprogress.org So, what do you think of this: "The End of Big Government Liberalism For the past 65-70 years—and especially for the past 30 years since the end of the civil rights argument—American politics has been dominated by controversy over the size and scope of the welfare state. Today, that argument is largely over with liberals having largely won. The size of the US public sector is still going to look low by international standards, but this will be a bit misleading since the way the structure of the Affordable Care Act works is to use public money and public regulation to leverage a lot of formally private money. In practice, the United States will still be a small government country compared to Sweden or Denmark or France (which combines Danish-style taxes with a below-the-waterline iceberg of hidden state-directed economic activity), but not compared to the United Kingdom or Spain. Due to the bill’s almost comically delayed implementation, for several years we’re still going to have a lot of political tussling over it. And even once it’s in place, the system will continue to be debated and tweaked for years to come. But over time, I think American politics will come to look quite different and we’ll look back on this day as a turning point. The crux of the matter is that progressive efforts to expand the size of the welfare state are basically done. There are big items still on the progressive agenda. But they don’t really involve substantial new expenditures. Instead, you’re looking at carbon pricing, financial regulatory reform, and immigration reform as the medium-term agenda. Most broadly, questions about how to boost growth, how to deliver public services effectively, and about the appropriate balance of social investment between children and the elderly will take center stage. This will probably lead to some realigning of political coalitions. Liberal proponents of reduced trade barriers and increased immigration flows will likely feel emboldened about pushing that agenda, since the policy environment is getting substantially more redistributive and does much more to mitigate risk. Advocates of things like more and better preschooling are going to find themselves competing for funds primarily with the claims made by seniors." Well stated

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Mar 23, 2010 -> 12:37 PM) Open letter to conservatives (Republicans, really): http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/...e.php?ref=recdc There is a reason I call myself an independent: I really want to support some portions of the GOP, but they have done NOTHING since 2001 that has endeared me to them. In a period of my life when I was a political "jump ball", the Dems went up to get me while the GOP stood on the ground and said "no".

QUOTE (bmags @ Mar 23, 2010 -> 12:20 PM) Um, I think Obama realizes you don't want to tap any more people out of the senate. I really don't think it matters to replace Biden. I guess he could look for a southern personality, but f*** the south. They've had overrepresentation in the exec branch for too many years. I'm thinking more along the lines of finding the next president that can run having been the VP for the last 4 years. I know that guy out in Montana was well received at the convention.

For just pure debate purposes: Should Biden run again as VP, or should Obama look for another person? I dont say this because Biden is bad at his job. I am fairly sure he was picked to "balance" the ticket (age, experience). But with the passing of health care, and their next efforts of Environment and Financial reform, i am wondering if he needs Biden the next time around.

Fake Boobs Need Not Apply for Pirates 4:

Vice President Joe Biden, perhaps overcome with excitement during his speech congratulating President Obama at the health care reform signing ceremony, dropped the F-bomb on live television when he introduced the president on Tuesday. Leaning in to shake Obama's hand, he says what clearly sounds like, "This is a big f***ing deal."

Best comment of the day.... Pro-life doesn't end at birth. This bill will save untold thousands of lives.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Mar 23, 2010 -> 09:24 AM) I'm talking about the fact that not only does the bill prohibit it... federal law already prohibits it as well... AND the Prez signed a needless XO to affirm said law, just to make it very clear. And yet, people STILL think this is some sort of baby killing initiative. This means that they either spouted off knowing absolutely nothing, or knew something and are being intentionally false. Either way... ignorant. The official statement from the organization I work with:

QUOTE (kev211 @ Mar 23, 2010 -> 11:27 AM) Tonight with it being Richard has the potential to be the greatest Lost non-finale episode ever. agreed

QUOTE (bmags @ Mar 23, 2010 -> 11:26 AM) your dick, huh. as odd as it sounds, yes. My baby making days are over. 2 is enough.

QUOTE (bmags @ Mar 23, 2010 -> 11:11 AM) edit: to clarify to ahb, my response would be that they would be saving money after 5 years by not shelling out for contacts/glasses/eye exams. No doubt there. I will say this though: Personally, there are 3 body organs I dont want a doctor to poke around in unless my life is on the line... my heart, brain, and eyes. Everything else is negotiable.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Mar 23, 2010 -> 10:54 AM) Tonight better be a good one. There are very high expectations for a Richard Alpert episode. I am a LOST defender, but I too have extremely high expectations about tonight. I will not be happy if I am let down.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Mar 23, 2010 -> 11:13 AM) Odd trivia about laser surgery... for federal jobs that have vision requirements (i.e. USSS and other law enforcement agencies), havign had laser eye surgery is an automatic disqualification. I had a friend who wanted to fly planes for the air force, but couldnt because of his glasses... and laser surgery also disqualified him. So, he went into Air Force IT.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Mar 23, 2010 -> 11:10 AM) Being able to see is pretty important in my book. Why cover only certain things for better vision and not all options? Obviously seeing is important. but I choose to wear glasses. I dont need to have a surgery to fix my vision. I am just playing devils advocate here.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Mar 23, 2010 -> 11:05 AM) I'm still confused how things like Lasik are not covered by all plans. You could make an argument that it is an elective surgery. You dont NEED it to have good health.

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Mar 23, 2010 -> 10:57 AM) I had never seen it before. My first thought was that Boehner laid out a bunch of non-functioning pens. LMAO! It's been done for a long time. 20 seems like a lot. but i've seen 5-10 before. 2 seems completely fine: one for the Library, one to give away.