Texsox

So SS, are you suggesting that Obama's executive order barring lobbyists is bad, or the waivers are bad? It would seem to me that this process is pretty good. This way at least someone, perhaps the President, is keeping a look out for this, while still allowing exceptionally qualified candidates to serve. Seems like an improvement over what we had, which was no gate at all. Now I respect the hell out of Mr. Gates® and prefer that he gets his man. So perhaps I'm looking at this wrong. But I would hate to see a well meaning directive derail an otherwise strong candidate.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 6, 2009 -> 02:09 PM) Here is the fine print... This change is toothless. http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=was...id=azVLk.22AkLI More at link. So qwas GS confused or will they still pay back the loan?

QUOTE (DukeNukeEm @ Feb 6, 2009 -> 02:19 PM) What kind of selfish b**** just goes off and dies of cancer like this? She didn't believe "Yes We Can!"

Most of the time, correct and slow beats almost correct and fast.

That does lead to a serious question, and one I had some experience with. Someone dies with unsecured debt *and* some money in which to pay off the balance. It seems like the estate should cover the deceased debts before dividing up the property.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Feb 6, 2009 -> 07:47 AM) Apparently, there were too many snickers about it. Gee, people should grow up and be mature like us here at Soxtalk

QUOTE (Alpha Dog @ Feb 2, 2009 -> 04:21 PM) Oh wait, I am sorry, it is OBAMA that leaves renditions on the table, even the possability of expanding the program. So I guess Obama now supports torture! Come on now, all you peeps who b****ed and moaned when this was still available under Bush, let's hear your disappointment at Obama not removing this as an option as well. Or is it now suddenly ok? With the closing of Gitmo we now have 3 options when dealing with enemy captures in regards to terrorists. 1. Shoot them on the spot. 2. Put them through the American civilian judicial system. 3. Hand them off to somebody else. Or, we can ship them off to stay with John Murtha. http://www.latimes.com/news/la-na-renditio...8176,full.story I CAN"T BELIEVE OBAMA IS DOING THAT!! I AM SO DISAPPOINTED!! I AM SICKENED AND OUTRAGED!! happy?

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 6, 2009 -> 07:36 AM) I got $900 billion that saids that isn't true. I have thirty years of GOP backed tax cuts while running deficits. They want to cut income, but never cut expenses. The Dems answer is always increase income (taxes). I'm waiting for someone that will cut taxes and spending. But that ain't going to happen.

QUOTE (mr_genius @ Feb 5, 2009 -> 03:06 PM) This is not normal for appointments or people in general from what I can tell. Obama just didn't vet anyone, and think back to all the ramblings about how McCain didn't vet Palin (teehee). Wealthy Democrats love to raises everyone elses taxes, but they feel they are the 'enlightened elite' therefore the rules do not apply to them. Yep. Democrats want to actually pay for what services the government provides. Republicans want to borrow the money today in hopes that down the road we will pay back the deficit (and the interest).

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 5, 2009 -> 08:24 AM) Interesingly enough, judging from my municipalities perspective, most of the projects I have seen proposed for stimulus spending, where things we were planning on doing anyway, but might not have been able to do because of cutbacks. Most of these things were going to happen anyway though. Has anyone else seen this happen on a local level? Exactly what I pointed. Shovels poised waiting on the money.

QUOTE (jasonxctf @ Feb 5, 2009 -> 02:56 PM) the moment you hold politicians, actors, athletes, etc to a higher standard than the normal person is the moment you get dissapointed. Phrased a different way. I hold the person being vetted to a higher standard than the investigator that has to prove what are lies and what are not. The nominee knows the truth. We should expect them to be truthful. That should be easier to expect than expect someone else to spot all the lies.

Folks, just a reminder, those cash advances are a rip off. Higher interest rates than taking a cash advance on a credit card and with direct deposit, you will have your money back in a couple weeks.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Feb 5, 2009 -> 02:39 PM) So, when does this go beyond just how bad the Obama vetting is (which it has been), and start worrying people that maybe there is just a large percentage of people out there who are avoiding taxes? I'm wondering what, if any, restrictions on personal privacy come into play when people are being vetted. It would seem like none. I believe they they could, and should, give investigators free access to everything. Taxes are a touchy issue. Like I've said before, I've had my share of struggles with the IRS and truly, you talk to three people at the IRS and you will get three different opinions. I understand that some people do cheat, and they should be punished. But when you have returns with may more than just W2s, life gets complicated. I've always been in favor of not considering spouses, kids, close friends, legal and tax issues when discussing someone.

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Feb 5, 2009 -> 01:37 PM) I swear wondering the samething myself. I kept thinking that I could never see his second foot being down. No one else mentioned it, so I thought it was my mind playing tricks on me. I kept saying his right foot is on his left. That's how it looked to me. But I figured it was just wishful thinking on my part.

http://www.mlive.com/news/bay-city/index.s...ze_left_60.html Sad point, if he didn't have any money, there would have been help available.

I've lost track, how much have we already committed and how much more is being proposed?

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Feb 5, 2009 -> 01:52 PM) Finally an answer, so the guy couldnt hear and MAY have had some dementia. Still wondering why people said he went grocery shopping and whatnot, but at least now there is an answer why he may have not known about his bill. Once again bringing up the problem of the lack of case workers for this type of situation at this power company. That power company even has a program to track senior citizens, but it is voluntary and the customer has to "opt in". Here we have electric choice and fill out credit aps with whomever you pick as your provider. They have birth dates and it seems easy enough to be proactive and tracking ages. There is a lot of blame to go around.

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Feb 5, 2009 -> 01:49 PM) buuuuuut, the guy didnt need public aid, he had plenty of money. Once again bringing up the question, why didnt he pay his power bill when he clearly was purchasing other goods and services? He had cash on his kitchen table clipped to the bills. The most probably answer is dementia. I doubt he was just trying to cheat the system.

http://www.mlive.com/news/bay-city/index.s...was_preven.html

QUOTE (StrangeSox @ Feb 5, 2009 -> 10:52 AM) Then donate to or start a charity that helps the poor pay for the services they use. Don't force every other user to cover their costs. Not asking you to. Just asking that we find a system that offers some protection from people dying. There are tens of thousands of able bodied people on public aid. This guy worked all his life, served his country, I would feel a hell of a lot better helping him than some of the other able bodied college students who receive government aid in the form of student financial aid. And several of the news stories have mentioned dementia. It seems reasonable for someone to show the homeowner the device and how to reset it if it trips. But we live in a society that if he had a dog and left it to freeze, he could have been prosecuted. But leave an old man to freeze, and that's ok. Seems like the wrong values to me.

SS, I'm puzzled. You generally believe the government should stay out, now your saying that the government can solve the problem. I have a difficult time believing that GS would hurt themselves to spite the government. Much like Chrysler paying back their loan early in the 1980s, it seems this is a positive sign of a rebound. And if GS is harming themselves to save them from some government oversight, what does that tell you?

Even caught early, it's about the worse you can have.

QUOTE (Jenks Heat @ Feb 4, 2009 -> 04:38 PM) Maybe if the nephew kept in better touch he could have been privy to the $600K....... Yep. I hope the man had a good will and is giving the money to someone or something that will appreciate it.

QUOTE (NorthSideSox72 @ Feb 4, 2009 -> 04:10 PM) Actually, a lot of transit projects fall into this category. Proposed, planned, approved and even some money ready to go, just waiting for enough funding to proceed. Those could get going pretty quickly. I did want to add that to the mix. It is probably unfair to debate the merits of projects based on a single line description.

Wow, his decision on which electricity provider to use was a "life and death" decision.