bmags

we don't jail cigarette smokers.

whatever, as long as it's not permanent. I'm more concerned with QE2 at the moment.

My fried just moved to Seoul. I'm very worried about this.

I didn't get to read the whole thread, it seems to have taken a different turn. But did anyone hear the election week this american life where they examined a tea party group in Michigan. It was very interesting. I'll try to look for it.

QUOTE (Quinarvy @ Nov 22, 2010 -> 06:20 AM) NIU is my second favorite college team (going to Mizzou next year, so it takes top spot, but both parents went to NIU and it was my fall back school). I was at the NIU - U of I game and NIU almost won that game, so I think they could beat U of I in a bowl game. If only they had a bigger stadium, the Big 12 might ask for them to join. no we wouldn't.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Nov 21, 2010 -> 06:40 PM) I'm like 2K5, I'm not into reading politicians' memoirs, even the ones I like. However there's a couple of exceptions - Al Franken's books (Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them and The Truth With Jokes) because he's hilarious and he wrote those before he became a senator, and Robert Wexler's Fire Breathing Liberal because it's actually pretty educational, and it's more "what it's like being a Democratic Congressman" than it is a polemic. You should read Grant's memoir.

why does the right talk about Obama so much? They are playing right into his hands

QUOTE (beckham15 @ Nov 16, 2010 -> 03:22 AM) privatizing social security would be nice but figuring out a successful way to do it w/out screwing over the people who have put into it all these years and are collecting it now would be the issue i would have with it oneway would be to move over their money to more secure bonds the closer they get to retirement age so they are less averse to risk.

Justin Bieber has a memoir.

stonewall jackson.

Aldon Smith is awesome.

Grants memoir was truly great.

pop punk is great.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Nov 5, 2010 -> 03:27 AM) i was trying to make a point and got carried away. I know...i just think the "you shouldn't worry about how much taxes are b/c it's not that much" thing is just way too personal. But perhaps my ways are way too wonky.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Nov 5, 2010 -> 02:17 AM) BTW I've gradually worked into the tax brackets where I really start to feel the pinch and here's my opinion on that... the truth is, if your taxes are killing your finances or otherwise putting a painful dent in your budget, you really suck at managing finances. Some people who make $120k or so need a reality check on what's essential to their life and what's really going to hurt if they didn't have it. They aren't as rich as they like to think they are but they probably live in a neighborhood in the suburbs next to someone who makes $1M or whatever, and their kids go to the same school, etc. Stuff that is essential to virtually everyone and most people struggle to pay month to month (in this order): Mortgage Car Payment Groceries Utilities Insurance (health, auto, homeowners etc) Phone/Internet/Cable Home security system (if it can be afforded) Stuff that some yuppies in my tax bracket think falls into the above category but the vast majority of people see as a luxury: Sending kids to private school Putting a significant amount into savings every month (like 20%. This is NOT an expense) 529 for kids' college Landscaper and/or maid Annual vacation Home improvement You get the idea but it's always like "if my taxes go up (like... a couple of percent) I won't be able to go to Europe next year while I do all these other things! Seriously now. None are as entitled as those who were born into privilege. Tell that to my parents 15 years ago when they were working just as hard but making 1/4 that, they'd have LOVED to have a problem like that. I think you are getting muddled down in an unwinnable argument. This was a little too micro.

what the hell are the numbers in this thread. Caulfield man, you throw like a billion arguments at once. I'll respond to NS72, i don't think Obama has to attack boehner or cooperate with boehner, I think obama should just get his damn fed appointments thru and focus on foreign policy.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Nov 4, 2010 -> 01:39 PM) I still actually don't mind the Senate having a gigantic that must be overcome for the biggest of the biggest of legislation on principle...I'd actually say that is somewhat consistent with the originalist idea of the Senate as a place where things go to slow down...but I despise the current version of the filibuster...where everything other than naming a post office is subject to it, the Senate can't get anything done, and there is zero effort required from the minority to use it. I understand they wanted the senate to cool down but i also understand they were giving a bunch of power to a largely illiterate and incredibly uneducated population. Even if i'm convinced that the bicameral legislature is fantastic, then i'd say that in itself is a huge check, and we don't need a gigantic supermajority in the second stage just to be a check on the first. If it's easier to create a bad idea, it's also easier to repeal it.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Nov 4, 2010 -> 06:35 PM) See my post in the other thread. Boehner has said nothing of the sort - that was McConnell. And at this point, I am not so sur they belong that/close together. I think another dynamic will play out here. See, if the GOP, or Obama for that matter, try the fighting route here, not only will they lose every effort, but they will lose support from a frustrated public who wanted something done. No one wins if these people just yell at each other over a brick wall, including them. Right, Boehner said "no compromise"

I think they should make a plan to phase out the filibuster at a date set in the future where they won't know what party's in power. (10 years.)

haha, that made my night.

pinky and the brain?

let's watch all the spending cuts!

QUOTE (danman31 @ Nov 1, 2010 -> 03:04 AM) Sure. I heard a rumor that he complained about it, but I haven't heard anything since so it's probably not true. Definitely a reasonable point. I find that ridiculous. It's completely blaming the victim, and not only are you asking him to stand up to his employer, but a employer of celebrity status in one of the most hyper-masculine contexts we can imagine.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Oct 28, 2010 -> 07:32 PM) link This whole "upper/lower body injury" thing in the NHL is pretty damn annoying. agreed. Even though they said it's not serious I'm still deeply cynical about injuries as vague as this. As a fan, the more mysterious quite often leads to more serious. BUT, I'm hoping this is just precautionary as it's early and they clearly need him the whole season.

damn.