Search Results for 'tM'

[JoB]

regardless of what oil companies profit margins are.. they are still making record profits… and receiving government handouts.

i think suggesting we are penalizing them is probably a gross exaggeration.

Go to a third world country and repeat the corn/soy rationalization… they are calling it the tortilla wars in Mexico.. because peasants can no longer even afford the grain to make tortillas… i don’t think the rationalizations will go over so well there.

The research for pharmacuetical companies is subsidized by the american taxpayer… yet the american consumer absorbs all of the cost… while those in other countries with governments that regulate drug costs actually pay less for brand name drugs produced in the same manufacturing facilities that produce the drugs we buy.

I guess they have to recoup their advertising costs somehow…

shareholder prices and and profits have always been public companies first concerns, but it is only somewhat recently that the expectations of shareholder profits and profiteering on wall street have become more important than the expectation that those same companies would reinvest in future development.

When the question of how much profit can you generate today becomes more important than the question of how long you can generate any profit at all, you have fiasco like our current mortgage and insurance bailouts..

which, by the way, the taxpayer will pay for whether the company bankrupts the individual taxpayer’s personal assets or not.

here’s the thing.. supply side economics didn’t really get popular until Reagan.. and with him we got massive deregulation..

there is a chance that it could have ultimately worked for the United States economy if the market had been confined to the United States… tho i am skeptical.

But of course, it isn’t. Supply side economics has only worked for those who look at business globally. In other words, global businesses are doing well..

but if the economy of the united states includes the economic health of it’s citizens.. not so much.

oh.. and apparantly those citizens who aren’t doing as well economically as they were a decade or two ago.. are expected to pick up the tax burden for bailing the companies that failed due to poor business practices.

How can anyone justify that? I understand it was necessary to forestall the kind of crash that created the great depression.. but bailouts won’t eliminate another great depression, they will only forestall it.

regulation came as a result of the lessons learned in previous economic disasters… how many times will we have to relearn them?

seems to me like we should put supply side economics back in the universities and go back to demand side economic policies..

those which most americans think we are following when they say.. let the market place work.

American’s are being sold a real bill of goods… and aren’t getting much in return for their investment.

[RainyDay1235]

Sarah Palin Baby Name Generator

http://politsk.blogspot.com/2008/09/sarah_13.html

[JoB]

this came to my inbox from Charlabob…

It seems she and I share a love of Anne Lamont…

what she wrote for Salon has relevance to this thread, i think.. and reminds us we are not alone… a Christian woman’s perspective…

“I had to leave church Sunday morning when it turned out that the sermon was not about bearing up under desperate circumstances, when you feel like you’re going crazy because something is being perpetrated upon you and your country that is so obscene that it simply cannot be happening.

I sat outside a 7-Eleven and had a sacramental Dove chocolate bar. Jeez: Here we are again. A man and a woman whose values we loathe and despise — lying, rageful and incompetent, so dangerous to children and old people, to innocent people in every part of the world — are being worshiped, exalted by the media, in a position to take a swing at all that is loveliest about this earth and what’s left of our precious freedoms.

When I got home from church, I drank a bunch of water to metabolize the Dove bar and called my Jesuit friend, who I know hates these people, too. I asked, “Don’t you think God finds these smug egomaniacs morally repellent? Recoils from their smugness as from hot flame?”

And he said, “Absolutely. They are everything He or She hates in a Christian.” “

read the rest at:

“http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/2008/09/16/anne_lamott/print.html

[hellonwheels206]

Either I don’t get it or I am missing something….where is the press coverage period.

Yesterday all Chris Matthews could complain about was that Obama lacked passion in his attack on McCains economic policy. I heard Obama’s speech and I thought he presented it very well…the media wants sensationlism and drama and Obama isn’t into that. He is too intelligent for most people ….and especially some of these “yahoos” in the media. It’s refreshng to me to hear someone speak intelligently and actually answer a question….what a concept.

Ok everyone….now is the time to read Naomi Klien’s book “Shock Doctrine” seriously….if you want to understand the impact of our economic policies this book will “grip” you…..

I want to hear one more time how the Republicans are so against regulatory laws…….and then explain the benefits of that theory….would be interesting…..

[flowerpetal]

Have you queried the parks department about this? Do you know that the bags aren’t biodegradeable? Do you have an alternative solution for removing large amounts of garbage from these containers in a safe and cost effective way?

[FullTilt]

The problem with Tedd Tripp and his church is that media feeds them. This new breed of the American Taliban get all riled up when they feel they are being persecuted by the media. It feeds the self righteousness that they are suffering just like Jesus did.

I fyou do some searching on youtube, for tedd trip, there are some great speaches that he gives advocating similar treatment for wives as he does children. Bring on the Jesus Burka.

[flowerpetal]

Can we set the record straight on the City and the use of plastic garbage bags in City buildings? It seems that assumptions are being made. I work in a City building. Plastic liners are not replaced daily, unless necessary i.e. in lunch rooms. Individual wastebaskets are dumped into one larger container. Every floor has glass, plastic, and aluminum recycle containers. Of course there is also paper recycling and reduction (City Departments are reaching a 30% paper reduction goal set in 2004).

Lastly, beginning in 2009, the City will no longer allow the use of City dollars for the purchase of water in plastic bottles (with a very few exceptions).

[Gina]

How do you do the tiny url thing? Ah, well.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/126521_jugum13.html

[rs261]

I hardly think we’ll have a depression…recession is definitely possible, depending on your definition, we are already in one now. There are really 3 things to blame for our current financial crisis.

1. The banks/financial institutions that over leveraged themselves in hopes of a quick profit

2. Greenspan (yes greenspan from Clinton times as well) slashing the interest rate, and all for deregulation of the financial institutions.

3. Congress/senate and Bush for passing all the laws so that fiancial institutions could “self regulate” come on now….we all know thats not going to happen.

For more information…read http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/17/stiglitz.crisis/index.html

[charlabob]

From a great internet blog:

http://la-the-sage.diaryland.com/

8:37 p.m. – 2008-09-15

Had enough dumb yet?

Things you never hear:

“Actually my mechanic doesn’t know any more about my car’s fuel injection system than I do, that’s why I go to his garage!”

“You’re using that architect for your house? But he graduated near the top of his class! How elitist! Me? I hired Joe Gobnik, he did a correspondence school course he saw on a matchbook cover. My kids’ bedroom ceiling fell in, but I could really relate to him.”

“My dentist? No experience whatsoever, but damn she has great hair!”

“That wedding caterer made pancakes at the firehouse breakfast four times? Wow, gotta go with her! That Gourmet editor chick can take a hike. Huh. Miss Fancy Pants with all her degrees from the Cordon Bleu. For my wedding I want firehouse

flapjacks!”

“My doctor grew up near Johns Hopkins so I know he must be the best surgeon ever!”

“Billy’s teacher keeps changing her answer about what 5+5 equals, but boy howdy she’s so smiley! My kid’s future is in great hands.”

“I had to fire my investment manager, with all his talk about ‘options’ and ‘margin calls’ and ‘growth potential’ he made me feel like I didn’t know as much about the stock market as he did! Not going to stand for that.”

I don’t need the people I hire to run my government to be folks I can ‘relate’ to. In fact I want them to be out of my league, off the chart with brilliance. That’s why I’d want to hire them, to handle the things I’d be lousy at. I want them to outclass me in areas like diplomacy and trade and the environment and understanding the delicate dance between sovereign nations. I want them to be able to solve problems, not just hit stuff with heavy things. I want the people I hire to be intellectually curious and computer literate. I figure if you have to know how to use a computer to apply for a job at Target shouldn’t the President of the United States be at least as tech savvy as a Target applicant? If you couldn’t get hired at Target you shouldn’t be allowed to be hired to run the country.

If I want a drinking buddy then I will go to the local booze house and find one. If I want someone to be my proxy in Washington and do a great job looking out for my interests then I’m going to find the brightest most able person I can. Preferably someone who has a firm grasp of the Constitution since, you know, our nation’s laws and policies are supposed to be based on it.

Smart. Able. Law abiding. Well traveled. Understands the importance of surrounding himself with other smart able people, folks well versed in their own areas of expertise and can offer a different view. I want someone who understands good government involves a bit more than hunkering down with loyal dingbats who think cows are cute.

Call me crazy but among all the skills I expect from my elected officials gutting a moose hasn’t ever been on the list. Very little call for moose gutting in D.C., whereas there’s a whopping need for competency and brain power.

[Anonymous]

Interesting website on the subject. Note this is NOT the same organization as stop the Seattle bag tax. This is a non-profit that focuses on economics and public policy. A very reasoned argument against the bag fee (Letter to Seattle City Council), as well as information from other states and countries that have addressed this issue.

Northwest Economic Policy Seminar

http://www.seattlebagtax.org/index.html

[JoB]

Obama/Hillary was a guaranteed winning ticket .. according to Nancy Pelosi…

and still Nancy Pelosi didn’t want that ticket for a score of political reasons that had far more to do with the democratic party than with the election..

That is what Biden was referring to when he stopped a heckler for bashing Hillary.

That.. and maybe party unity.

not that he wasn’t prepared for the job.

where’s hillary?

I know she has been speaking. where’s the press coverage of her?

[WSB]

The city explained it when they started painting them more than a year ago:

http://www.seattlechannel.org/news/detail.asp?ID=7589&Dept=19

Here’s the current city webpage re: sharrows. The line is to separate “shared travel” (bikes/vehicles) lane from parking lane.

http://www.seattle.gov/Transportation/sharrows.htm

[hammerhead]

I am in appointments till 1 pm up by admiral safeway. So I can do something then. Try and call before 10:30 am. I don’t care about AKC crap. Don’t get me started on that stuff. I CAN and WILL find her an appropiate home. I require the new owner to own a home/condo. References and DOG OBEDIENCE classes within 2 weeks of adoptions.

[inactive]

OK – once again, my official stance of not participating in political discussions still stands. However, I wanted to show this link to Jenny. Take a look-see Jenny – this is the link to the National Federation of Republication Women. All you other folks, just bear with me.

http://www.nfrw.org/republicans/women/20.htm

Jenny – scroll through the listing of current Republican Women in office right now. Go in to each and read the bio’s and CV’s of these accomplished women.

Then, please, for the love of all that is sane and rational, tell me why McCain chose Sarah Palin? I am utterly and completely baffled by his choice, given his copious other options.

THANKS! And, I’ll be looking forward to your feedback and reply.

I realize it will probably take you some time to read everything about everyone, but I encourage you to take a good look.

[andrea]

my husband may not appreciate me offering us up like this, but I would be willing to foster the chihuahua for a time if need be. They are truly great and funloving dogs. We have an altered 3 year old boy chihuahua already, as well as a 2 year old shephard mix and a 8 year old siberian husky, who all get along famously…another one added to the bunch wouldnt be that big of strain at this point. Let me know what you think/need/hope for this lil gal you have Mel and I will try and comply. I can be reached at akdevry at hotmail dot com.

[WSMom]

Sorry Jenny, you’ve got your facts wrong.

http://www.factcheck.org/elections-2008/off_base_on_sex_ed.html

“Off Base on Sex Ed

September 10, 2008

A McCain campaign ad claims Obama’s “one accomplishment” was a bill to teach sex ed to kindergarten kids. Don’t believe it.

Summary

A McCain-Palin campaign ad claims Obama’s “one accomplishment” in the area of education was “legislation to teach ‘comprehensive sex education’ to kindergarteners.” But the claim is simply false, and it dates back to Alan Keyes’ failed race against Obama for an open Senate seat in 2004.

Obama, contrary to the ad’s insinuation, does not support explicit sex education for kindergarteners. And the bill, which would have allowed only “age appropriate” material and a no-questions-asked opt-out policy for parents, was not his accomplishment to claim in any case, since he was not even a cosponsor – and the bill never left the state Senate.

In addition, the ad quotes unflattering assessments of the Illinois senator’s record on education but leaves out sometimes equally harsh criticism directed at McCain in the same forums.”

[mellaw6565]

On Sunday, one of the neighborhood kids who play with our dogs showed up at our doorstep with a young female chihuahua that a neighbor 2 blocks away had just given up to the kids, stating she couldn’t take care of the dog. I confirmed with the woman that she in fact gave the dog away because she is dying of cancer, etc… and I did politely counsel her about giving dogs away on the street to kids.

In the meantime, the kids can’t keep a pet in their apartment (they knew that when they took the dog) but thought that we would “keep” the dog for them so they could come by and play every day with it. I rescue dogs, but we have 3 plus 1 cat and 1 bird, so it’s not possible for us to have her in the house (my dogs are not very friendly)

The dog was obviously freaked out by little kids and we quickly took the dog from the kids (gave them a lecture about taking dogs from strangers) and took her into the house where we found her covered in fleas. Gave her a bath, trimmed her nails, and checked her over. She appears to be in good health, young and unaltered. The woman also confirmed she has not had any shots because she couldn’t afford it.

In any event, I contacted a poster who has lost their chihuahua and asked this individual to foster the dog for a few days until we can find another place for her. The lady, Joyce (see “Taz” under the lost pets section)has been more than gracious as a foster parent these last couple of days, but not only is she hoping to recover her own dog before she returns to Arkansas, but says that she also cannot afford on her limited income to spay her and get her shots before taking her on a plane. She confirms that the dog is sweet and trained.

I hate to uproot this little dog again, but we can’t take her in our house and Joyce will need to leave soon and won’t be able to adopt her. She has offered to foster another couple of days, but I’m hoping someone on this blog needs a new companion or knows someone who can foster this sweet little dog until a new home can be found. I’m not a rescue placement person, so my only remedy in a few days if no one comes forward is to take the dog to a rescue group or no-kill shelter. I REALLY hate to do that!

If you can foster or adopt this cute little dog, please email me at sitstaynplay08@yahoo.com

[andrea]

RainyDay, I read the Times article by Westneat too and thought it pretty revealing…he pretty much says what everyone has said of the McCain of yore and the McCain of today.

There is also a great article today by my fav political writer, Tom Freidman:

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2008182445_friedman16.html

[acemotel]

yes, WHERE is Hillary?

[Zenguy]

Here is a Salon article on the true cost (not just monetarily) of plastic and paper bags.

http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2007/08/10/plastic_bags/index1.html

[JanS]

speaks for itself, I believe…

http://www.brasschecktv.com/page/325.html

[walfredo]

Two polls today have Obama +4. Rasmussen and Gallup that showed the biggest McCain bounce have him +1 which is in effect a statistical tie…

http://www.diageohotlinepoll.com/documents/diageohotlinepoll/DiageoHotlineTracker091608release.pdf

http://www.dailykos.com/trendlines

It is obviously very close, but those who doom and gloomers should at least take some pride in knowing this thing is a long way from over.

And in probably the best news of the day, Governor Palin’s meteroic rise to popularity seems to be fading just as quicly. Her favorability ratings dropping close to 16 points in one week!

http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2008/09/palins-favorability-numbers-eroding.html

[Diane]

Excellent points JT; totally agree; thanks for the input

~

Fantastic article today re the biggest waste producer

~

We recycle cans and bottles, why not buildings?

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2008182437_peterop16.html

~

plastic bags are but a drip in the vast waste bucket, and a great distraction from the biggest culprits of preventable waste that ends up in landfills; developers who dump construction and demolition debris

~

why not penalize developers for dumping all that waste

~

and provide incentives for developers that reuse, recycle demolition and building waste

~

that would make a HUGE difference

[charlabob]

Good thread — please change headline to Disappointments while you can edit :-)

#4 – Unleash Hillary directly against Palin. She can say “She’s no me,” better than any of the rest of us. NOW figured out that issues are more important than body parts — it’s OK to attack incompetent right wing women.