Jenksismyhero

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Aug 2, 2011 -> 05:02 PM) I've not said it explicitly but the problem there (from my perspective) is that lack of advocacy for a liberal position. I'm no political science expert, but I generally accept the theory behind the Overton Window. When Obama immediately caves to the conservative economic narrative, it means the entire mainstream political discourse in the country gets shifted to the right. Since this is already a center-right country, it only makes it that much harder to make a case against austerity packages or for universal healthcare or any other liberal positions that have been thrown under the bus by Obama. But he started with universal healthcare and ended up coming back to the middle, "pulling" his position more to the left than what the country wanted, which was no additional government coverage. Honestly I think you're just upset that more people don't think like you. Yeah, you might not have nearly as many "liberal" politicians as you'd like, but I think you're pretty extreme. There's not a single conservative policy you agree with. It's not easy to get voted in with a "let's change everything radically from what it is now!" campaign.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 2, 2011 -> 04:47 PM) You can actually see the impact of it in polling data. Which do you think should be a higher priority for the government: creating jobs or cutting the deficit? The people wanted jobs. They got convinced because both parties agreed the real problem was the deficit. Now we have a deficit reduction bill that will reduce jobs by 1.9 million next year. An alternative theory: since our government is so f***ed up, and we can't possibly handle more than one issue at a time, the timing of the debt ceiling made it convenient for the GOP to hammer at the deficit problem, which is a problem that can actually be addressed, as opposed to job creation, which is throwing darts at a wall and hoping something sticks. Plus, you just had a President sell the American people on a gigantic stimulus spending bill that was supposed to fix the problems ...except that it didn't. You can't really fault GOP leaders for taking advantage of the timing. As bmags points out, that's politics that the GOP has mastered whereas the Dem party just sits back and expects their message to translate into actual governance. I'd also add that while I find your guys' view interesting, seems to me you're ignoring the part where the majority of the country considers itself moderate. To a certain extent Obama HAS to be moderate to gain reelection. A small minority of people want the government to be progressive, a small minority wants the country to be ubber conservative. In reality the vast majority want business as usual with little to know change in their personal lives.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 2, 2011 -> 11:55 AM) But global demand had recovered to mostly where it was pre-crash by 2009. So you mean to say a weak economy coupled with lowered demand causes gas prices to drop, not just a weak economy. Since we're still in a weak economy despite an increase in demand.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 2, 2011 -> 09:37 AM) Yeah. The economy collapsed in 2008 and by December 2008 I was paying $1.75 a gallon. The price of oil moves a lot more based on expected demand than on the dollar. And by mid 2009 you're back up to pre-crash levels. It was a temporary drop. We're still in a depressed economy and are now paying more for gas than at anytime in the last decade.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 2, 2011 -> 09:31 AM) Weaken the economy and gas prices fall also. Um, have you been alive from 2008-2011?

QUOTE (bmags @ Aug 2, 2011 -> 09:31 AM) Poll Tests! Everyone should be able to vote. I know this board doesn't think poor people should be allowed to vote without severe restrictions, but just because they have low access to information doesn't mean they shouldn't be allowed to vote. proving who you are is really such a difficult restriction.

Cost of doing business overseas is laughable compared to here, regardless of the "cheap" quality.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 2, 2011 -> 09:01 AM) You already are paying for it. Right, but now we get to pay even more, that's my point. Premiums are going to go up for everyone, whether you/your wife take birth control or not.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Aug 2, 2011 -> 08:53 AM) Where were we given a choice in the question? Pretty sure conservatives voted in an entire new wave of candidates that have no loyalties, either to government or big business. It can happen, though I agree that's it's incredibly difficult, and the Dems/Reps have rigged the system. Douche and a turd sandwich. In 50 years we'll look at South Park as being genius for telling it like it is.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Aug 2, 2011 -> 08:56 AM) I was poking fun, obviously, but doesn't it make sense from the "don't have children until you're financially stable" perspective? I suppose, if you ignore the fact that now middle america gets to pay for that "free" mandate for everyone.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Aug 2, 2011 -> 08:50 AM) Quality over quantity, though sometimes its unavoidable. I generally follow the same practice, but as you say, it's damn near unavoidable these days.

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Aug 2, 2011 -> 08:53 AM) Shouldn't you be applauding this since you don't think anyone should have kids until they gross over $100k? I see what you did there.

Who's ready for higher insurance premiums that will cost more in the long run? Me! Me! http://yourlife.usatoday.com/health/medica...trol/49755156/1

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Aug 2, 2011 -> 07:39 AM) I don't shop at Walmart and buy American-made and locally grown whenever possible. Heh, so you don't buy much anymore eh?

So, is it just me or did pretty much everyone in this default debate get screwed? This thing they passed is pretty worthless after all this time. Less than a trillion in cuts, over a decade, starting in 2014. Some panel that's gonna come up with 2 trillion more by November. And all the "cuts" aren't really "cuts" but are decisions not to spend money they already thought they were going to spend. Pretty f***ing typical. God I hate our government.

I had the same issue with the linebacker always jumping up and swatting the ball away. Try not throwing the bullet pass. I think that's what causes that to happen.

Pretty awesome read on how the whole operation went down. http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/08...a_fact_schmidle

QUOTE (BigSqwert @ Aug 1, 2011 -> 11:20 AM) I take it those who were all for intervening in Libya will be vocal about now engaging in Syria: via This has been going on for months. The gov't just starts shooting at any group of people demonstrating.

QUOTE (Steve9347 @ Aug 1, 2011 -> 09:05 AM) Jerry Angelo needs to take PR courses or something. You don't say "this isn't a wake, no one died". It's so easy, just say "Olin has been a Hall of Fame player for the Bears for over a decade, but it was time to move in another direction and we thank him for everything he contributed to the Bears." To me, Olin Kreutz, clearly enjoyed the lockout and wanted to retire, you don't leave $4 million on the table if you want to play. Jeff Saturday makes $2.5 million for crying out loud. The Bears did everything right in this situation save sending that blowhard Angelo out there to make it seem worse than it is. To be fair to JA, he DID say that, like 4 times during the press conference. I'd imagine the 5th time he got tired of answering the same way, and wanted to make a point that the entire franchise isn't dead just because they didn't bring back one guy. I think his line was something like, "years from now you'll remember the name Olin Kreutz and you won't remember mine, and that's the way it's supposed to be."

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 1, 2011 -> 08:32 AM) Nobody hit this yet with all of the Duke haters around here? http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/men...tm?csp=obinsite Another story said it was "between events." Either way, i'm sure nothing will come of it. Duke/Krzyzewski are basically untouchable at this point.

QUOTE (He_Gawn @ Aug 1, 2011 -> 08:33 AM) "Brooklyn Decker isn't that hot" Hell, you should have just started a new thread and came out of the closet. In what world is she not hot?

QUOTE (Dick Allen @ Jul 31, 2011 -> 07:52 PM) Kruetz may retire, says it wasn't about the money with the Bears. Seems to me he was hoping for a little more and wanted the Bears to enter a bidding war with themselves. Wasn't the difference like 500k? Why's a guy that's made tens of millions quibbling over half a million?

Saw a couple movies this weekend... Adjustment Bureau....a big MEH. Could have been better. It's like they thought "oh! we have this cool idea" and then started filming the movie without thinking about how it all fit together. Kinda disappointed actually because the first 45 min or so were great. Just Go With It....figured it would be terrible, and it was. At least I got to see a lot of skin from Aniston (so f***ing hot) and Decker (ditto). The cameo by Dave Matthews was also a plus. Otherwise a waste of 1.5 hours.

QUOTE (Rex Kicka** @ Jul 29, 2011 -> 04:41 PM) I will point out that before the 2001 tax cuts, the federal government was looking at a roughly 2 trillion dollar surplus today. Just gonna gloss over that whole 9/11 thing huh?

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Jul 29, 2011 -> 03:15 PM) They want larger cuts and a balanced budget amendment first, or in some cases are happy to let a default happen. edit: what are you specifically referring to as the "timing issue"? the 6 month versus 2 year plans. And Balta didn't Reid already say he/they wouldn't pass any short term deal (short term being the pre-election cycle plan)