mr_genius

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 17, 2008 -> 02:35 PM) Whoever voted no....BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO to you. probably a Twins fan

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 17, 2008 -> 11:10 AM) There are probably a few dozen issues out there though that haven't been covered more than in a cursory way. I can come up with about 5 right off the top of my head that either deal with recent events or could at least provoke thoughtful responses. 1. Global warming (thanks to the coal industry's sponsorship of about 1/2 of the debates this term, I think that there's been basically 1 question asked of any candidate by a professional reporter, and 1 other asked by a snowman. In probably 30 some debates between the 2 sides) 2. China. How do you respond to the crackdown on Tibetan monks, and how can the U.S. put pressure on China to improve its human rights while at the same time needing China to support its currency and support its negotiating position on North Korea? 3. Torture. Not the "Are you in favor of it" question, but "I=What can be done with the American government to prevent another administration from authorizing the use of torture as a national policy in the future"? 4. Hamas. Mr. Obama recently said that while he was willing to negotiate with other leaders, he was unwilling to do the same with Hamas. If that is the case, how do you expect the middle east peace process to be moved forwards? 5. What are your reactions to the current mess in the aviation industry, and what steps will your administration take to prevent them in the future? Conversely, how will these steps be paid for and who will foot the bill? Yes, a lot of questions have been covered in a lot of detail, like Iraq, etc. But if we're going to have this many debates, let's actually hit some creative policy minutia questions. It's not like in a 3 trillion dollar government running 2 poorly executed wars there's not more than a few of them. 1) Exact fiscal policies. A taxation plan that includes more than 'no tax breaks for the wealthy' rhetoric. Exactly what will the tax brackets be? 2) A plan to cut the deficit and spending. 3) Universal health care cost. What is the exact cost of their plans, how do they plan on paying for it? How do they plan on lower costs in general? 4) How to build our economy. Detailed plans, not lame rhetoric. 5) What they plan to do about terrorist surveillance. 6) Education. How they plan on fixing this complete disaster which is our public education system. We spend the most and get horrible results. Students will not be ready for the future job market and economy.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 17, 2008 -> 12:35 PM) Despite all the reports you read on Drudge about how the globe stopped warming a decade ago, how this was the coldest winter in years, etc., the global data is now in for March. Thanks to what appears to be another big T spike over the big Eurasian continent mass, March comes in as the 2nd warmest March on record, and the warmest on land ever recorded. January to March comes in overall as the 11th warmest. this was linked on drudge today http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9...;show_article=1 i am familiar with the web site and he links articles that the earth is warming often. but you're right, he also does link articles that state it isn't.

QUOTE (Texsox @ Apr 17, 2008 -> 01:47 PM) So you agree the reason is the Arabs don't care about the Palistinians and do not like them? no. and i already told you i'm not getting into this with you. it's completely pointless.

QUOTE (Texsox @ Apr 17, 2008 -> 01:34 PM) Just placing the earlier comments in context. Alpha believes the reason they are not invited by other Arab countries is no one cares about them and they are not liked. I believe there are other reasons that are probably higher on the list. Using a familiar analogy usually makes that point easier and better. eh, not really a good analogy IMO. i would say the circumstances are vastly different. and i'm not arguing this, as I do not feel it is relevant to the thread.

QUOTE (Texsox @ Apr 17, 2008 -> 02:24 PM) Is that also why we are putting up a wall against Mexicans? We just don't care about them? And... the attempted thread hijack begins.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 16, 2008 -> 10:49 PM) Editor & Publisher's top guy Greg Mitchell is already on record calling out ABC and the candidates for going along with it. I didn't see that debate, but stupid questions and basically ignoring important issues seems to be the norm. The CNN and MSNBC GOP debates were horrible. A complete joke, actually.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 16, 2008 -> 08:12 PM) I keep thinking..."Maybe this will be the bottoming out that finally winds up making the media take steps to reform". Then they manage to throw themselves a shovel. A big article in the Sun-times about a new Obama endorsement http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obam...a041608.article this is important news, obviously.

It does suck that we only scored in the first inning. But I really like to see the sox win these low scoring games. It means so much to be able to hold a fairly small lead for 8 innings

YES!

QUOTE (Heads22 @ Apr 16, 2008 -> 06:38 PM) One word. Joementum.

trying to listen to this game on MLB.com audio. not even working. atleast they got the 'charge my credit card' part of the website to work

Sox Bears Illini Bulls Hawks ... a typical person form Illinois list

Political parties change through time, members of the party might leave. no big deal.

if it's raising costs, it's raising costs. why not cut the limits? if insurance companies are overreacting, tie tort reform to insurance costs. a reduction in premiums by 1/3 is huge on a side note, countries like Germany, which the program shows as a success, have people making 52,000 euros (or about $80,000) pay 42% income tax rates. The US would have to go with even higher rates than that, as our costs are higher. 50% income tax rates for a $80,000 salary could be necessary. There needs to be an honest discussion on universal health care and what it will actually cost. I'm not even against universal health care. i just don't think the Dems are being honest about things.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 15, 2008 -> 07:35 PM) I thought you guys were all about limiting malpractice settlements? totally for it. is that part of Obama's plan? it's the best way to lower cost.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 15, 2008 -> 05:43 PM) Frontline on PBS tonight is doing what you might consider "Sicko for Smarties", an intelligent comparison and look at the pros and cons of the various national health care systems out there. Not just a look at the positives, it also looks at the negatives of each system and tries to come up with an idea of how they come out on balance. I'm watching this and so far it's been very one sided, and simplistic. It almost completely ignores issues such as high taxes, the fact that malpractice is limited in these countries, ect. It's a pretty bad frontline special.

QUOTE (lostfan @ Apr 15, 2008 -> 07:15 PM) Orland Park? a gated community in Tinley Park i guess.

haha, did you guys know that Rev Wright is moving to an all white neighborhood? probably just so he can spy on the white devil.

yea i read that in the suntimes and i was wondering the same thing. that's really weird if a wild cougar just wondered into chicago

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Apr 15, 2008 -> 10:47 AM) Didn't someone say in one of the other threads that this election would prove once and for all which side the media is on, or something like that? yea i read that in the Washington Post. It's a total bs story. Kinda of like when i hear some far right winger b**** about how FOX news is liberal. that op-ed proves nothing. side note: Milbank is a fairly far left journalist. used to work for the New Republic

QUOTE (mreye @ Apr 15, 2008 -> 09:19 AM) I would, but I have to get my taxes done tonight.

QUOTE (FlaSoxxJim @ Apr 15, 2008 -> 09:00 AM) Well, I'm not suggesting you get a checkbox too.

QUOTE (FlaSoxxJim @ Apr 15, 2008 -> 09:46 AM) You're right, realistically it is only around 40%. I'd rather see the military portion of my tax money go to health care and education. I keep looking for that check box on the 1040, but no dice. 40% is still too high, even if you are talking all defense spending. Probably more like 22%. I think your check box would end up screwing you in the end. Think of all the things someone like me would be 'checking' out of. Especially if I filed my taxes after a few beers.

QUOTE (FlaSoxxJim @ Apr 15, 2008 -> 08:42 AM) I'd probably live in a place called Berzerkestan just because of the name. ^^ me too