StrangeSox

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Aug 12, 2011 -> 01:17 PM) Why? Are you seriously not seeing the risks associated with the massive deficits we are running? I mean, I am not in favor of huge cuts to discretionary spending right now, but I am also not going to bury my head in the sand and not see the risks to our future associated with it. I think there's a bigger risk of prolonged high unemployment rates and a sustained cycle, which of course leads to higher deficits thanks to reduced revenues. There's also the self-imposed debt ceiling risks.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Aug 12, 2011 -> 01:12 PM) And more damaging to the environment, and to people's health. But I'd still be willing to do it, if we made real investment in the long term sustainable energy plans as well. Maybe a trade? Give the oil industry virtually every permit and clearance they want for now, in exchange for them investing equal amounts into the more long term solutions. Well as you already said, they've got plenty of permits they're not utilizing. U.S. Shale Gas: Less Abundance, Higher Cost I like to pop by that site from time to time.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Aug 12, 2011 -> 01:10 PM) IMO, that is one of a couple models the Stimulus bill should have followed, but didn't. At this point, another stimulus bill seems impossible and a bad idea, but you can certainly use some of the major cuts to push money that way. And a re-write of the business tax code could help as well. Why? Interest rates are basically at "free money" or "we'll pay you to take our money" levels, and even using conservatives' models with the revised GDP numbers the stimulus had a strong multiplier effect. We're not going to be able to cut ourselves into serious alternative energy research.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 12, 2011 -> 01:07 PM) Half? Uh, ok. The broaders were down 10%ish. You can make that point, without making s*** up. Little bit of hyperbole there but economic extremism (reject 10:1 cuts/revenue offer) seems to be the popular thing in the GOP.

Also I'm pretty sure most of the domestic untapped reserves are higher-cost oil both for extraction and refining.

His solution is to stop relying on an energy source that's reached a production plateau by researching and investing, massively and stimulatively while interest rates are zero or negative, in alternatives.

"Michele Bachmann's first answer, Mark Halperin, was "I wish the federal government had defaulted." Had defaulted, a week after Americans had lost--some of them perhaps lost half of their pensions. Lost half of their 401(k)s, when trillions of dollars went down the drain [pounds the table] with Americans suffering, she said that and got applause, and if anybody thinks that guys like my dad are going to be voting that way when this rolls out of Iowa and New Hampshire and South Carolina, in the early stages, and really gets going, they are out of their mind and they are too stupid not only to prognosticate, they are too stupid to run Slurpee machines in Des Moines. I'll let you go now. I got it off my chest. Michele Bachmann is a joke. She is a joke. And now I will pass it on to you. Her answer is a joke, her candidacy is a joke, and anybody that sits here and says she has any chance of winning anything is out of their mind. Take your straw poll, take your caucus, but Iowa, if you let her win, you prove your irrelevance once again," - Joe Scarborough.

Wait, doesn't that completely support what Balta's been saying for a while? That we're growth-limited by energy availability?

You missed the second link to the City of Dearborn's website. Some Christian groups go there without issue. Others are arrested for generally being assholes. What's your point? Look, it's not like I think Islam is a better religion than Christianity, that there aren't extremists, that there aren't social and moral tenets I find abhorrent in many sects and that there aren't assholes. But what you see as "ass-kissing" is just pushback against religious and cultural bigotry.

QUOTE (Alpha Dog @ Aug 12, 2011 -> 12:25 PM) And I do denounce death threats. They only serve to make whatever side is making them look bad. Well you're just not doing it enough. When will you take back your religion from these radicals?

QUOTE (Soxy @ Aug 12, 2011 -> 12:24 PM) Look ya'll, I disagree with Alpha as much as everyone else about why Islam is the worst. But what point is this serving now? Do you think you're going to change his mind? 'Cause it feels like you're just ganging up on him. He's not going to change his mind any more than you are (and by ganging up on him you're making other people more sympathetic to his beliefs because you seem unreasonable). This ceased being a productive discussion, oh, months ago. I challenge myself to see how fast I can find how badly he's distorted a story I've never heard of.

Well the point is the situation is still substantially different from what you presented. A group of assholes were harassing and insulting people. They were arrested for being assholes, as demonstrated by the fact that the same festival had five other Christian groups registered and attending without issue. And actually the point is that's still completely irrelevant to making all Muslims responsible for the actions of a few.

12 senators got a total of $3M over the last 5 years? That's surprising low, honestly.

Also re terry jones, idiot extraordinaire, I'm pretty sure if someone who went around promoting the burning of Bibles went to deeply religious areas in America, they might get threatened. Hell, Fox News' facebook page had to be temporarily shut down after they had an atheist on because there were so many death threats. Why aren't you out there denouncing this, alpha?!?! Is this how all Christians are?! When do you worry? 12? 49 1/2?"!!!

Wait, what does xenophobic Evangelicals harassing Arabs have to do with the validity of making all Muslims responsible for the actions of a few? lol also

GOP economic adviser accidentally shows that the stimulus worked, multiplier of around 4

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 12, 2011 -> 11:13 AM) In other words, why is everyone pounding on Alpha for this, because it's ignorant xenophobia. feel free to pound on others if you see irrational fear in other instances.

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Aug 12, 2011 -> 10:56 AM) I tend to think that you have some unreasonable fears concerning the downfall of America if the tea party (which you always tend to equate to all conservatives) take control. No, I'm pretty sure I've never equated the tea party to all conservatives. But yes, if the tea party had been in complete control of the government recently, I'm pretty sure they would have let the debt ceiling stay where it is and have the country default (possibly because they don't understand what the debt ceiling is, as demonstrated by Bachmann last night). That'd be pretty disastrous. QUOTE (Alpha Dog @ Aug 12, 2011 -> 10:59 AM) And you claim to know my views from an avitar? Must be a detective. I've never claimed that. I base my understanding of your views based on numerous posts over the years.

Dr. Coffee on the Daily Show Wednesday had a good analogy of how S&P and other ratings agencies work: random source that sums up the analogy better than I could remember

QUOTE (Jenksismyb**** @ Aug 12, 2011 -> 10:33 AM) So, basically your concern over the Tea Party right? No, that's a pretty bad attempt at excusing alpha's views of Muslims. But please feel free to flesh out this great comparison.

If by "become concerned" you mean adopt your position of rabid xenophobia and religious hatred based on ignorance and fear, never.

Klein on the GOP debate: Fallows on Bachmann: Bachmann on incoherent rambling:

QUOTE (Alpha Dog @ Aug 12, 2011 -> 10:10 AM) Keep bowing down to the alter of multi-culturalism and your head will get chopped off. lol Is a tiny minority of one religion, with most of the more radical adherents located halfway around the world. but don't let that stop you from painting a billion people with your broad brush of ignorance.

context for the question: So by submit she means do as her husband says, even though she doesn't want to. In other words, respect.

Yeah and money=speech, what a stupid system.