Guard Dog

Or you can watch my Rays beat the bejesus out of your Red Sox.

Haha, I ****ing wish. The difference between you and them is they want to do it gradually, over time. You want it tomorrow, over dead American bodies.

Actually entrix, if you like Jack London I highly, highly reccomend The Sea Wolf. It is one of my all time favorite novels.

Brandon Sanderson has finished Towers of Midnight, the next to last WoT book. Check it out: http://www.brandonsanderson.com/blog/911/T...IDNIGHT-Is-Done

I just hope you're willing to accept that a Christian theocracy wouldn't be any better - that's the fundamental point that most people miss. No one is aking for one of those either.

Amazon has lots of self paced interative PC courses, most are more for high school level, I don't know how much help that would be for you. I'd suggest ChemTutor, I remember reading about it and I believe it is college level.

Here is an excellent article that is spot on for this topic. Read and become wise: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/conte...id=opinionsbox1

There was no alternative to the first bailout. TARP was another matter. But do not kid yourself Gorgon. This financial crisis was entirely caused by the incompetence of several Congresses, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, and George W Bush. If you want to find out why, search my posting history, I wrote a very detailed and dead on accurate explanation of just what happened and why in the next to last election thread in '08. But is you want to look it up on your own look up the Glass-Stengal Act, the Community Reinvestment Act, the Depository Institutions Deregulation and Monetary Control Act, the Gramm-Leach-Biliey Act, and the subsequent changes to the CRA under GW Bush and Clinton. Yes there were some bad acts by financial institution but none of it, none at all would have happened without the complicitcy of the US Government and politicians who care more about amassing power than remembering the lessons of 1929.

I had another lousy day, which was one of a long line of lousy days. I think I'm having my mid life crisis. I look back at my life, particularly my career and I'm really disappointed at how it's all turned out. So tonight I am going to do what I usally do when thouse thoughts come up. I'm going to drown them in really good bourbon and watch a ball game on TV. Ahhh sweet Knob Creek, wherever would I be without your rich, smoky tast that burns just a bit going down. At least at first it does. If you ever want to try some really good stuff, try this. If it wasn't for this I could honestly say nothing good ever came from Kentucky: http://www.knobcreek.com/lpa

Not correct my friend. The eight biggest banks (BOA, Citicorp, etc) and 14 of the smaller banks did repay with interest within the year. Without diving into the technical minutia that first bailout was "hold" money. It was taken not to use but to insure against emergency and insolvency. If you accepted a 100 billion dollar loan that you repaid with interest within the year, during as down economy I might add, would it be fair to say you probably did not need it to begin with? Now, the "bailout money" paid to Freddie Mac and Fannie May, GM, AIG, and several other names I could mention is a whole horse of another color. These institutions, particualrly GM, accepted the low interest loans back in '08 then recieved a second "bailout" in '09 under Obamas TARP program. They took taxpayer provided money from TARP and used it to pay back the taxpayer provided bailout loans. Of course, under the TARP the government took an ownership interest along with the money so really it never has to be paid back now because they would only be paying themselves anyway. It's called a Ponzi Scheme Krezack. In the US if a private citizen uses one to rip off investors we put him in prision for hundreds of years. But when politicians do it to save the jobs of union voters who donate millions of dollars to their campaigns they are lauded for it in the media and ignorant fools in internet message boards point out what a great thing it is. Of course the taxpayers still got royally screwed over but the upshot is since the media is backing the poiticians they never report the truth of it anyway so at least the taxpayers never have to hear how badly they've been screwed. But don't take my word for it. Do a little reading yourself. This wil get you started: http://politifi.com/news/GM-Repays-Bailout...ney-521292.html http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/04/22...-bailout-money/

There is nothing to be done now. It's over, inevitable. We are screwed. The only way to stop it now is to immediately freeze spending, then begin rolling it back by repealing these massive entitlement plans like Obamacare, Welfare, government workers benefits, etc. On top of that, tax cuts on the evil corporations is a must. It is not just about raising revenue, it's about spurring growth. The tax code needs to be altered so that the lower incomes also pay federal taxrs, not just the upper incomes. A national sales tax in lieu of income tax would accomplish this. Make welfare recipients take mandatory drug tests, no pass, no welfare check. Stop increasing their benefits evey time they have a child. If they get a minimum wage job, don't cut off their befefite all together, graduate it down until their pay increases. We need to reward folks for getting off welfare, not make it so they can't. We need to make military cuts as well. Close half of our foriegn bases and build new ones along the mexican border. No only do we maintain our high alert their very presence their aids the border patrol. Any one of our Carrier groups commands more firepower than the entire military of any other nation on earth save Russia and China. And we have seven of them. Retire one. But these thing will never happen because the republicans cannot do them and the democrats will not. All they are concerned with is their own political power and they will drive the country into collaps to preserve it, all along denying that it is happening. The only other hope is for those states that are financially solvent and self sustaining (Texas, Alabama, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Florida, Tennessee, Alaska, and Lousiana to secced from the union and form a new country before the whole thing falls to ruin. The folks in the Northeast and Pacific coast are going to vote for the democrats no matter what. And the democrats are going to continue trying to convert us to a Planned Economic model. There is no need for everyone to go with them. But that won't happen either. So the truth is, withing our lifetimes we will need to get used to the world without the United States in it. I for one find that frightening. But I have made preparations for myself if all of this does come to pass.

Uncontrolled spending, unamanageable debt, coupled with devaluation of currency. Every bad economic move GWB made, Obama has doubled down on it. The collapse is inevitable barring any major change. Why do you think gold, which has a real value between $700 & $800 per oz is now trading at over $1300? GD, you're simply making your own case worse. This is precisely the problem with basing curency on gold rather than the market. Gold itself is only worth whatever the market says. It's not a dichotomy. Wals, I've never said we should go BACK to gold, whats done is done. That ship sailed a long time ago. Had we never removed the dollar from gold it would have greatly stabilized it's worth and the volitility of gold prices. But, as Enoch correctly pointed out, it would be a limit on economic growth. Who could say whether things would be better or worse had that step never been taken. But no, there is no going back.

Uncontrolled spending, unamanageable debt, coupled with devaluation of currency. Every bad economic move GWB made, Obama has doubled down on it. The collapse is inevitable barring any major change. Why do you think gold, which has a real value between $700 & $800 per oz is now trading at over $1300? Unemployment is at 10%, it's climbed 3.5% since he took office but has improved a little. Most of those were temporary jobs for the census and thos folks are getting laid off right now. He signs a miniscule small business tax break for new hires, then signs a mammoth healthcare overhaul that does nothing at all to control the one thing thats wrong with healthcare, out of control costs. So not only are the plans becoming more expensive, everyone is now required by law (enforced by the IRS) to buy into one. So if a small business cannot afford to insure it's 100 employees they have to offer no insurance at all, leaving the emplyees to buy state care at their own expense(no Europe is in NOT free) or lay off enough employees to make the plan affordable. And don't even get me started on bailouts, TARP, VAT, and foriegn policy. Remeber when he promised unemployment would not go above 8% if we passed his "bailout", that turned out to be a big pork package to benefit democrat districts and had zero impact on the economy? This jackass is an absolute disaster. Its a Obamanation.

I kind of see a parable here with the Roman empire, it wasn't built in one day and it definitively wasn't destroyed in one. It took a succession of petty emperors, if the damage done by Bush isn't fixed I see the US losing its status as the world foremost superpower. You know what, never mind what I originally posted here. It's too late in the day, I'm still hungover from this morning, and I have a hell of a lot of work to do before tomorrow. I just do not have the time to argue.

Certainly doesn't appear that way. Nah, I don't. They have every right to build their mosque there, I just think everyone should see it for what it is. You know I just realized, I started this whole thread derailment back on page two by pointing out that Obama was stupid for involving himself in a local issue and turning it into a national, election year issue right when trust in him is at it's lowest ebb. I know Awesomness correctly pointed out that Obama did not actually endorse the project, just reaffirmed what nobody was disagreeing with, that they had the right to build it. Unfortuantely for the President that is a distinction without a difference. Obama needs to learn something that Clinton, and even GWB knew... do not involve yourself in things that do not concern the United States as a whole. This is the third time he's done it and he's come off the worse each time. The biggest problem with Obama is that he does not understand the role he is supposed to play as President. He is NOT a ruler, but I think he sees himself as one. He is NOT Americas moral voice, but he wants to be. He really does not understand what the POTUS is supposed to do so he overreaches on things where his power should be limited and is absent or clueless on his real responsibilities.

Actually no it's not like that at all. Pearl Harbor was not bombed for the glory of buddah or Shintoisim. The WTC was bombed for the glory of Islam. UBL himself wrapped himself in the Koran looking for a pretext. An no hurlie, the minaret thing was all me. AFAIK they are not putting minarets there. Like I said, I really have no strong feeling about this thing one way or another but I do want people to see it for what it is. A victory monument for Islam and a provocation for us. Because you can bet that is how it will be seen accross the world. The message will not be that we are free and tolerant, the message we are sending is that we are weak and defeated. I've actually served in Kuwaitt and Saudi Arabia back in '91. These people are so different from us they might as well be a different species.

Rauf has stated that islam does not condone murdering innocents ( a fact I can easily dispute by linking verses from te Koran), but in an interview wit ABC news this morning some months ago he flatly rufused to call Hamas a terrorist organization and while he could not condone Al-Quedas actions on 9-11, he could not condemn them either. I have a link to that video save on my PC at home. I'll link it up when I get home tomorrow, I'm in New Orleans today. No oneis dsiputing their right to put it where they want, but putting it there is just deliberately provacative. I am astounded how many people are willfully refusing to see that. And I am also appaled that everyone is bending over backwards to see this done but are utterly mute on NY telling the Greek Orthodox chruch to get lost. Also, we are coming up one nine years since 9-11, and to date, not one brick has been laide to rebuild. Don't you find that strange? Persoanlly I can't wait to see this grand seven story triute to the glories of Islam with it's minarets gleaming in the sun casting it's shadow over the place where 3000 people dies. I hope the brocast the call to prayer loud enough to be heard all hrough lower Manhatten. If Rauf and his ilk had any class what so ever they would respect the sentiments of his fellow New Yorkers and at least discussed moving it elsewhere. He has refused to even meet with the governor over that. He's making a point Hurlshot.

Let's remember here, no one is disputing their right to build the mosque. Many folks just don't want to see a seven story monument to islam built right where 3000 innocent people were murdered in the name of islam. I would remind you all tht Rauf has refused to denounce that act too. This is not about building bridges, it's a middle finger in the face. For all of that I still say let them build it. A seven story mosque next to two empty holes where two of our proudest buildings once stood speaks volums about the idiotd running this country into the ground.

Yeah, I meant to say in the block around the WTC plaza. From what I read the Cordoba house is planned to go in 600 yds from where the North tower stood.

You know somthing else that is really bothering me about Obama and the Dems, they are bending over backwards to publicly support and endorse the Cordoba project. For those who do not know that is a planned seven story Islamic Mosque and community center right near where the WTC once stood. The Imam spearheading the project is a radical who has publicly supported terror and blamed the US for 9-11. The project is being financed in large part with Saudi money. I don't have any strong feeling about it one way or another, I just wish everyone would acknowledge it for what it is, a giant middle finger in our faces. But Obama has publicly supported it. Now, on 9-11 when the south tower fell it destroyed St. Nicholas Greek Orthadox church. It was one of the oldest buildings on that block, older than the WTC and Manhatten grew up around it. it was very small and had a congregation of around 70 families. It was the only church on the island because it was built before the city decided they did not want churches on the island. Now, New York (which is run by the democrats) is refusing to allow St Nicholas to be rebuilt, while at the same time is going out of their way to ensure the cordoba mosque does get built. And Obama has nothing to say about the christian church. That bothers me. He really should not have involved himself at all, but now that he has, his favor to one and silence to the other is hard to dismiss.

I doubt that they could get away with being that broad-brushed. But, that said, I don't know of any case where FF&C has been used to force a state to recognize a marriage that it didn't want to. For example, before state laws against interracial marriage were declared unconstitutional, there were some cases where states refused to recognize out-of-state interracial marriages. Suits to force them to recognize the weddings under FF&C failed. Aha, that's why you told my that argurment would not win

Actually no, they cannot do that. Marriages are contracts, and enjoy the same protection as any other contract in the US.

All of that is true, which is why something like Nazi facisim will never take hold in the USA, it will just break apart. Which is exactly what will happen when the US dollar is worth zero. And that is absolutely and indisputably coming unless we do a major couse correction. We are not making one. Instead we are pressing the gas pedal to the floor on the road to ruin. Obama and the Dems are hell bent on transitioning to a hybrid of Keynsian/Planned economics and damn the costs. The Repubs do not have the stones or even the political ability to stop them. Hell, I think the Dems losing Congress will only delay the inevitable. It's not like the Repubs practiced any kind of fiscal responsibility when they controlled the White House and both houses of congress. The only ray of hope is that amonst the Repubs the neo-con faction is all but gone and the economic libertarians are on the rise. Funny, two years ago both Taks and I predicted that would happen. As far as the US economy being linked to the rest of the world, that will only be true so long as the dollar is the standard currency for international business. With a weak dollar, and the EU and China becoming the dominant economies in the world, how long will that be? Especially since the Obama admin is deliberatly trying to devaluate the dollar to monetise the debt. Without being backed by real assets (like gold, thank you Nixon you pice of s**t) currency is only worth what everyone else deems it to be worth. Thats why I have sold ALL of my stocks and bonds and bought gold and silver coins. 90% of my non real estate investments (not counting 401k) are now in Canadian Maple Leafs. I would not buy US bonds right now if they accepted dried dog poop for payment.

Ok, the state secession comment was hyperbole, but I do not think it is off limits for discussion. I just don't think it will or maybe should happen. The Weimar Republic comment had nothing what so ever to do with Hitler or Nazis. You guys put that there not me. Tne Nazis and their horrors were the reult of the countires collapse, not the cause of it. It was a purely economic comparison. I suggest you do a little research on what happened to it and why it collapsed. If you follow US econmics and politics you will see some scary parallels. Particulary the part about ramapant, out of control debt and the attempt to eliminate it by deliberately devaluating the currency. Exactly what Obamas "economic" team is trying to do here. Meanwhile he spends more and more and more and more and more..... And have some self respect Krezack & Awsemoness, do some real research, not wikipedia. edit please forgive my grammar and spelling. I'm typing this on a Blackberry.

I'm sitting at my computer wondering what to do next. I don't feel like playing a game. I'm too aggravated to revise my book, I've read all the news I can stand and there is nothing on ebay I want. I guess I really need to get laid but there is small chance of that happening. I think the best way to go is load up my Pink Floyd playlist in itunes and open a bottle of bourbon and get really, really drunk. Then watch the cartoon network until I pass out.