Texsox

I'm not certain if this comment is pro or con towards Blackwater and the like, but why is anybody running a private business in a war zone? I can't imagine the logistics, even with all the official and no doubt unofficial help they get from our government.

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Sep 27, 2007 -> 02:28 PM) John Edwards will make Jimmy Carter a good president. That's all I'll say. And Ford and Nixon as well. Great point.

Are you certain it was Greek? I was thinkning perhaps Democritus, but searching through his famous quotes reveiled nothing. Perhaps Socrates? I wish I had more time to help you but I have to get to a meeting.

Keith Olbermann for those inquiring minds

I don't see the Dems winning the White House with any of their big three. Unless Rudy G. gets nominated. That's the only match up I leave as a toss up or slight edge to the Dems.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Sep 27, 2007 -> 01:33 PM) And what happens when both of those are vetoed? First off, let's see if the GOP can talk some sense and avoid that. Then we'll see if the cooperation can extend a little further and over ride. But this is a step in the right direction. As Dems all we can ask is an honest effort at compromise, and based on what I'm reading, that honest effort has happened.

I wish I shared y'all's optimism that something like this could really happen. It's almost too perfect. We've had independent candidates win, it's how, and why, they would link together. It seems more likely we would have a big enough single issue (environment, immigration, defense, taxes?) that the public would pull them together. Not the more optimistic scenario, but more likely in my book. I'm usually the optimistic, elected officials are good, one here. Y'all are scaring me with the rosy outlook. But I like it. Don't stop thinking about tomorrow As I was going to hit send, I trhought of a way that SS vision could come true with a centralist party. Enough mainstream voters become disallusioned with the Big Two and the left of the right and the right of the left band together and find candidates that share that philosophy.

I love seeing this levelk of compromise. We're all better for it.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Sep 27, 2007 -> 12:44 PM) I think the best possible strategy for a 3rd party wanting to make real inroads, would have priorities something like this: --Solid, simple platform (i.e. small government, socially liberal) - you can't have a 3rd party that is just "not like them" --Start narrow and deep - pick a few Congressional seats that meet specific criteria (record of recent poor representatives, no big candidates lined up, not a big money area), and target those few places to spend all your money, just to get a foot in the door. --Find a few candidates that are known names, and not necessarily nationally - could be local or regionally famous folks, that would garner loyalty That would be great, and easily the best for us, but would the public donate enough money to make them viable? I don't see corporations and special interest groups backing them with enough cash. And to borrow a Watergate era phrase, follow the money. That is one thing I loved about Newt's announcement. Straight to the money. Smart and practical. A combination of your plan and Balta's and a pinch of SS vision and optimism would be awesome.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Sep 27, 2007 -> 12:44 PM) You're right, why would we want to encourage compromise and moderation, when we can have extremism and gridlock! More pork? LMAO. Because watching these guys just doesn't inspire any confidence that it would change.

I wonder if centralist could envoke enough support to actually get elected in high enough numbers. I think a third party needs an almost cult like core and average doesn't necessarily do it, but it would be the best possible world. But then still, Balta's point that they would still need to join together to get anything done is the problem point. So it's a centralist third party needing the outer fringe to help. I still fear a pork fest of the highest calling.

From what I have seen, y'all are correct. Which is both a problem and a cure. Each local United Way is fairly autonomous and run by a volunteer board. Some of the volunteer boards are really hung up on accountability and direct service by UW, they tend to have larger staffs. Others push more back on the organizations to self police, those have fewer admin staff. I guess both have their place, I would guess Kap and I have about the same feeling on that. Fewer direct staff and more money to the charities themselves, perhaps at the expense of some oversight. BTW, most UW admin staff has a personal fund raising goal, in essense they raise their own salary. As far as the direct check off, you are right, you are probably better off donating directly. The way the check off works is it guarantees a certain amount will be donated to that agency, it is not in addition to. So if, for example, Comfort House was budgeted to receive $25,000 in UW funding and you pledge $500 and check off Comfort House, they will not necessarily receive $25,500. But they will receive a guarantee of $500. If enough people check off it makes a difference, but for the most part, the groups were already going to receive more than your check off. The check offs do help in deciding who gets funded, it is a popular vote when applied.

I would love to be the third party that everyone had to come to to get anything passed. Oh how the pork would fly. Far better to fix the existing parties than have a three way split of power where everything would take coalition building.

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Sep 27, 2007 -> 08:54 AM) I don't think many of us disagree with Ron Paul. But you just like to see yourself type, anyway. Then I have no idea who you are talking about? I thought it was the rino

QUOTE(Steve9347 @ Sep 26, 2007 -> 05:42 PM) Perhaps, I do know that I said that when I was certain the Bears would do the smart thing and downgrade him to #3. EDIT: i had the disclaimer "unless Griese gets injured" on there, which actually takes most of the finality of the statement out of there. anyway, does everyone here realize that Brian Griese has the 17th best career QB rating of all time? just a little number that doesnt mean much but it means something. HoF credentials.

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Sep 27, 2007 -> 06:48 AM) What happened to the Republican party, you know, the one that always says there's a place for everyone, until you disagree with them? I think you posted in the wrong thread. Isn't this about Ron Paul?

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Sep 27, 2007 -> 08:06 AM) I am as well. I think the government should be as small as possible, and stay out of our lives.

The troop question was poorly worded. I hope were there in 2013 rebuilding the country after *they* get *their* s*** together. I even see a military base or two. But I would not want field operations, moving neighborhood to neighborhood.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Sep 27, 2007 -> 07:53 AM) You told me that a ton of automotive companies were located on the other side of the border. What is the difference between people on one side of the river and the other? The automotive plants here all make sub assemblies. Plastic molded, radios, seat belts, windshield wipers, electric motors, wiring harnesses, etc. The economic development agencies in the area have pushed hard for an auto plant but so far have come up empty. San Antonio is the closest, IIRC. Keeping all those robots and automated equipment going takes a higher degree of sophistication. Basically this labor market, until recently, has been agriculture based. Lots of field work, packing sheds, etc. The manufacturing was very low skilled, textiles for example, running a sewing machine. To sustain an auto plant you need tool and die workers, journeymen industrial maintenance workers, engineers, and a lot of them. Interestingly the University of Texas - Pan American and the University of Texas Brownsville graduates hundreds of qualified students yearly. (Same with bi-lingual teachers). Then we watch as they accept better paying jobs "up north" with nice sign on bonuses. Tough to keep the homemade talent at home. The Department of Labor, through a H1B grant, provided millions of dollars for training in Industrial Maintenance and Tool and Die through the So Tx Manufacturers Assoc and South Texas College. Basically a company could have any of their employees trained to Journeyman status for free. All they had to do is commit to a wage plan that increases as the students skilled increased. The wage was below what most companies were already paying. We still had a hard time getting students signed up. Companies feared after their employee was "credentialed" they would leave for better paying jobs elsewhere. It was so frustrating. The path that many companies take is moving old, antiquated manufacturing lines to Mexico or across here in the United States. These are more manual type processes that do not demand higher skilled workers. Those are not in operation at an auto plant. And whether they will admit it here or not, companies relocate here to reduce their direct labor costs. So there is pressure to keep salaries low. Probably more than you wanted to know.

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Sep 26, 2007 -> 10:41 PM) What is it in Webb Co.? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lowest-income...e_United_States 47 Webb $10,759 Interesting that South Dakota has so many. I assume, like here, it is all the agriculture jobs that are really seasonal. Also in Hidalgo we have most of out highest paying jobs across the river in Mexico, and most of our new investments are Mexican Nationals starting businesses here.

So blank check and as many body bags as it takes? I remember how communists were going to be marching in Mayberry if we let Vietnam fall. Sorry Kap, there needs to be a limit. Look at the scorched earth we'd be leaving behind, I believe that will be enough of a deterrent. When they get *their* s*** together, and can guarantee some safety, we'll be back to rebuild. We got rid of the evil dictator and wmd. Until then, keep killing each other. You wimpy conservatives think that our government has to solve everyone's problems. What the hell happened to personal responsibility.

Pass all your pulp to me. When I sold my house I knew I would miss that orange tree the most.

QUOTE(kapkomet @ Sep 26, 2007 -> 08:23 PM) Uh huh... and it is all starting to come back around full circle: the Democrats know, if we leave, that THEY have blood on their hands. That's why the meaningless amendments and empty threats. It's all about showing the kook fringes that they are "serious" with this, and they are not. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?...H.DTL&tsp=1 My DemocratIC (feel better, Chet), you've been duped. Instead of playing this political power game, if everyone would decide to get on board, the troops would be home TWICE as fast because the dirtbag inusrgents over there would have nothing left to fight for if they know our resolve is not shaken. But apparently, that's too much to ask. The bottom line is, we're there, even if it is for the "wrong" reasons. So why do we have to play this political pandering bulls***? Let's come together, get something done, and get our people back home where they belong. I know part of it is the Democrats know they have to be "anti-war" to have a prayer at the White House, but I think you would find that if they were just straight with the American people and got something done over there, they would have just as good a chance... BUT WAIT, then Bush and the Republicans would get credit, and we CAN'T have THAT! What a f***ed up situation. One more thought: how much do you all want to bet that the "bring the troops home" s*** TOTALLY stops if a Democrat (Mrs. Bill Clinton) gets elected? Think about it. Is there any point where we have spent enough money, had enough soldiers killed? Will we ever need Troops in other ereas of the world? You make it seem like you would give Iraq a blank check and as many body bags as necessary.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Sep 26, 2007 -> 03:23 PM) The county I live in actually falls in a list of the 200 poorest counties in the USA. The average wage is $27k. A job starting at $12 an hour would be a raise for lots of people here. The counties around me, for comparison Starr 3rd poorest $7,069 12th Willacy $9,421 22nd Hidalgo $9,899 Problem is the skill set necessary to effectively run an automobile plant is not here.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Sep 26, 2007 -> 03:04 PM) How do you expect people to show anything but disdain for you, when you make posts like that? You think every priest and pastor are racist jerks looking for money? His post was over the top, but there are parallels. Pastors and Priests are selling something to get the cash register to ring. I believe homosexuals replaced communists as the boogie man of choice. A common "enemy" that needs to be overcome. There is a "follow me and go to heaven" follow them and go to hell component. Again, not defending the original post, I just looked past the hyperbole and saw a grain of truth in there. Their behavior could seem "racist" against other religions.