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    Better posted here (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by jbindc on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 12:15:57 PM EST
    Moving on....

    Who wants to take bets on the truth to the rumor that John Roberts will be stepping down?

    That's why I deleted your first comment (5.00 / 1) (#2)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 12:19:09 PM EST
    and put up this Open Thread.

    As for the rumor, the chances are precisely ZERO.

    Parent

    Maybe, maybe not (none / 0) (#3)
    by jbindc on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 12:21:53 PM EST
    What if he has health issues we don't know about.

    Radaronline.com has been pretty reliable about other stories....

    Parent

    Ah , now they're backing off (5.00 / 1) (#7)
    by jbindc on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 12:41:02 PM EST
    Too bad - it would have been fun to talk about something else for a while.

    Parent
    If only because less than zero (none / 0) (#44)
    by andgarden on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 02:20:36 PM EST
    is impossible.

    Why else bother to issue this?

    His compatriots needed some ideological assurance.

    Parent

    I'm still waiting for Cheney to be indicted by (none / 0) (#8)
    by observed on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 12:41:12 PM EST
    Patrick Fitzgerald. I can't hold my breath on both.

    Parent
    I would supporting giving Cheney (none / 0) (#41)
    by andgarden on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 02:18:53 PM EST
    the Presidential Medal of Freedom if it meant a sudden and unexpected resignation by Roberts, Scalia, Kennedy, Alito, or Thomas.

    We don't get to make those trades in life, though.

    Parent

    Ok, then this (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by jbindc on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 12:23:59 PM EST
    Good move (5.00 / 1) (#5)
    by waldenpond on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 12:25:10 PM EST
    Seniority has it's benefits, but Stark?  Glad to see him gone.

    Parent
    Stark is seen as too much of a lightning rod (none / 0) (#6)
    by shoephone on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 12:28:38 PM EST
    Levin much more even-tempered. It's a good move.

    Parent
    Scott Brown delivers first floor speech (5.00 / 1) (#9)
    by jbindc on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 12:47:26 PM EST
    Whew Ellie is on a roll today (5.00 / 1) (#10)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 12:47:44 PM EST
    Braking like a Toyota Hybrid and locutus in the same sentence :)

    Why, MT ... I ... I don't know to say ... (5.00 / 2) (#38)
    by Ellie on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 02:13:05 PM EST
    I pretty much ran out of words in that one post.

    Right now, I got nuthin.

    Parent

    thats not a bad (none / 0) (#22)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 01:41:26 PM EST
    analogy actually

    Parent
    "No Fun" forces strike again... (5.00 / 1) (#42)
    by kdog on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 02:18:54 PM EST
    Sacha Baron Cohen was gonna do a skit based on Avatar at the Oscars...its been pulled, can't offend King of Hollywood James Cameron.  

    Lameness abounds...and knowing Cohen it woulda been hysterical too.

    Shoot... (5.00 / 1) (#48)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 02:25:15 PM EST
    ...you want lame?  I read yesterday that they're planning on making an "updated" Gilligan's Island full length feature movie.  

    You know that's going to s*ck bigtime.  Has Hollywood become so lazy that they can't come up with original ideas anymore?  Is nothing sacred?

    Parent

    Where is sarc... (none / 0) (#51)
    by kdog on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 02:34:39 PM EST
    we need to ask him whats up with Tinseltown using all this recycled tinsel....not another 60/70's sitcom converted to feature film...have any of these remakes been even halfway decent?  I'm drawing a blank...

    And to mess with Gilligan, Skipper, Mary Ann, Ginger, Professor, Mr. & Mrs. Thurston Howell III is truly beyond the pale...I'm right there with ya bro.

    Parent

    The Get Smart remake... (none / 0) (#53)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 02:40:36 PM EST
    ...wasn't terrible, but the original had all kinds of cool techie stuff to begin with, so I could suspend my disbelief enought to enjoy a "modern" version.  

    But Gilligan?  Updated?  Pleeeeze.  Besides, there will always be only one Mary Ann.

    Parent

    You thought so? (5.00 / 1) (#58)
    by kdog on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 02:56:15 PM EST
    I couldn't even make it through the Get Smart remake...dreadful, imo.

    Another Sherwood Schwartz jam, The Brady Bunch, was a sh*t-the-bed'er.

    Starsky & Hutch?  Not even my man Snoop could save that one.

    Parent

    I can be easily... (5.00 / 1) (#59)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 03:00:54 PM EST
    ...entertained and a real cheap date.

    Parent
    Production in most of the industry (none / 0) (#54)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 02:49:08 PM EST
    has been way down for over a year now. Lots people out of work. At this point I'd support a full-length production of an ED commercial as long as it kept people working.

    OK, what do you suppose the premise will be? The volcano erupting? Head hunters? Will Gilligan's bumbling ruin their escape plans but make him even more lovable?

    I'm on the edge of my seat!

    Parent

    Though if a Gilligan remake... (none / 0) (#57)
    by kdog on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 02:53:52 PM EST
    bomb loses money, wouldn't that hurt future projects and future employment opportunites?  Or is it so rough out there you just cross that bridge when you get to it?

    Whatever the plot (if any), I'm sure coconuts will be heavily involved:)

    Parent

    95 minutes of the enzyte smile (none / 0) (#62)
    by jeffinalabama on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 03:18:36 PM EST
    could lead to some seriously warped reactions... I might pay to see it!

    Parent
    The castaways (none / 0) (#68)
    by jondee on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 03:31:44 PM EST
    have "gone native" and degenerated into a quasi-pagan cult, ala Apocalypse Now (with the skipper as the Brando-esque cult leader) whose means of survival consists in waylaying other mariners for use cannibalistic rituals, pirating oil tankers and and maintaining a convenience store built entirely out of discarded coconut shells..

    With plenty of laughs thrown in.

    Parent

    If you write the script jondee... (none / 0) (#69)
    by kdog on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 03:36:05 PM EST
    I'll be there opening night!

    Can we get the Harlem Globetrotters a cameo?

    Parent

    I just gotta run the idea (none / 0) (#74)
    by jondee on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 03:44:28 PM EST
    up the flag pole and wait fer "the money" to salute, babe. We're talkin' box office simoleons here..

    Parent
    Yikes, talk about bad luck.... (5.00 / 1) (#46)
    by vml68 on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 02:20:54 PM EST
    Good info... (5.00 / 2) (#49)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 02:27:02 PM EST
    ...for anyone who has elderly friends or relatives.  I've talked with my Mom a bunch of times out these thiefs, but the lure of a free lunch is just too over-powering.  

    Hopefully she'll read this and have it sink in.

    O/t but I hope you will answer (none / 0) (#132)
    by MO Blue on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 05:54:55 PM EST
    my question.

    IIRC you work for an insurance regulatory agency in Colorado. Many of the provisions that would take effect immediately if any health insurance legislation is passed specify that they only apply to new policies. What exactly makes a health insurance policy a "new policy?"

    Parent

    And now it is time for the Clinton loving (5.00 / 1) (#105)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 04:50:07 PM EST
    Obama hating blog to help slap the big dog.  He's being a bad dog.  He may have to go to his crate for some solitary!

    this was totally (5.00 / 2) (#106)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 04:51:18 PM EST
    predictable.
    and unfortunate.

    I have already donated.  and will again.

    Parent

    Predictable? (5.00 / 2) (#152)
    by Yman on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 07:15:14 PM EST
    A Democratic leader supporting an incumbent Democratic Senator?

    Shocking!

    Parent

    Perhaps shooting big dog (none / 0) (#107)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 04:55:30 PM EST
    an email too :)  I am!     Dontcha love the subject line?  See, I can be an equal opportunity trasher :)

    Parent
    thats why (none / 0) (#108)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 04:56:45 PM EST
    I like you

    Parent
    MT, do what you need to do (none / 0) (#112)
    by shoephone on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 04:59:57 PM EST
    But please, try to break yourself of the Orange habit. The hypocrisy of that place stinks to high heaven.

    Parent
    I find that the hipocrisy (5.00 / 1) (#120)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 05:21:49 PM EST
    comes and goes around there.  There is a military wife there angelajean, who is really onto something with Glenn Beck and his SOWF association.  I am filing a complaint with the Army I.G.  This issue has real teeth.  We tend to talk about "hard stuff" around here though.  Don't you even feel a tiny little tickle showing up in some cheering diary and asking just one simple well informed question?  And then there is a huge pause, then everyone does that thing where they look up your I.D. number, and then they sit there asking themselves and every other newbie emailing commenter who the hell is this a$$?  It cracks me up.

    Parent
    And actually (none / 0) (#121)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 05:24:34 PM EST
    inclusiveheart can speak to the masses over there.  A gifted internet voice, patience, the whole nine yards.

    Parent
    To be honest, I never registered there (none / 0) (#129)
    by shoephone on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 05:39:39 PM EST
    I guess I never liked the place from the beginning. Although I respect McJoan, all of the other Seattle Orangies I've met are just insufferable -- they seem to exhibit equal parts arrogance and ignorance.

    Parent
    I have never been (none / 0) (#130)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 05:43:51 PM EST
    registered there.


    Parent
    I started there :) (none / 0) (#167)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Mar 05, 2010 at 08:37:00 AM EST
    "Totally predictable"? (none / 0) (#109)
    by shoephone on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 04:58:17 PM EST
    How so?

    Parent
    they (none / 0) (#113)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 05:00:30 PM EST
    have been telegraphing this for weeks.
    ever since there was a threat to primary her.

    they wont save her.  not this time.


    Parent

    Who's "they"? (none / 0) (#117)
    by shoephone on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 05:07:51 PM EST
    And what would Obama do if asked to campaign for her?

    (BTW, don't misinterpret that to mean that I support her in any way. I want her a$$ fired ASAP.)

    Parent

    the clintons (none / 0) (#126)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 05:33:41 PM EST
    or at least Bill.  he was talking about it as far back as thanksgiving when I was home.


    Parent
    Well (5.00 / 3) (#134)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 06:03:54 PM EST
    all this does is make me want to vote for Lincoln if I could. Can these people not constantly drag out the same old Nader/GOP talking points?

    PS I'm not a fan of Lincoln but I don't know why people at the big orange are complaning about her when it's really Obama that's the problem. I have noticed a distinct pattern with these guys.

    Parent

    Im tempted to ask (5.00 / 1) (#155)
    by jondee on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 07:41:40 PM EST
    what you'd do if a Clinton jumped off a high bridge somewhere.

    But really, I know you think Obama's the GOP..but now Nader is..or do I misread your meaning?

    Parent

    If you (none / 0) (#156)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 08:35:04 PM EST
    don't know what old Ralph has been up to then maybe you should start reading.

    Parent
    I've been following (5.00 / 2) (#159)
    by jondee on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 08:47:57 PM EST
    pretty closely for thirty years.

    If you dont know what Obama's up to, take another look at Bill in the nineties and where Hillary, Summers, Rahm, Geithner etc are now.

    Parent

    this (none / 0) (#164)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Mar 05, 2010 at 05:30:22 AM EST
    kind of stuff is what makes people laugh at you. Obama has these people but Obama is excused and bill is not. Ralph is an egomaniac who is only interested in himself. He lives in a mansion in CT and could care less that people like you are silly enough to follow him. There's a sucker born every day I guess.

    Parent
    Alright Rush (5.00 / 1) (#169)
    by jondee on Fri Mar 05, 2010 at 01:23:02 PM EST
    let me see if I've got this straight: Nader's forty plus years of front line work as a public interest attorney and activist, publicly standing up to and calling out by the name - while 99% of the pols in this country cowered - the most powerful corporations in this country and their enablers, was nothing but a self aggrandizing, vanity project..

    The most conniving right wing smear artist would be hard pressed to do better than that..you should really get hold of Limbaugh's people and see if they need any more substanceless attack dog types to write copy.

    Parent

    If (none / 0) (#171)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Mar 05, 2010 at 02:18:39 PM EST
    he's so wonderful then why didn't he run in the open instead of waiting for parties to just name him as the candidate? that's how egomaniacs behave. They really don't want to have to compete and want everything handed to them. And exactly how is he helping his supposed "causes" by running for President when he had zero chance of being elected? The truth of the matter is that he no longer cares about those causes.

    He could have run in the democratic primary. No one was stopping him. But he constantly chose the cowardly way never taking responsiblity for the havoc he wreaked.

    Parent

    Nobody said he's (5.00 / 1) (#175)
    by jondee on Fri Mar 05, 2010 at 02:48:34 PM EST
    "a wonderful man"..if you want wonderful men and women..who'll you'll never have to worry about living in mansions..get thee to a monastery in the Himalayas.

    I just have an infinite amount more respect for Nader's career, words and body of work than any of these other Machiavellian yuppies/"Democrats" that we're being served up now.

    Parent

    Yet (none / 0) (#165)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Mar 05, 2010 at 05:34:05 AM EST
    once again you silly little ones are blaming Obama's problems on Bill. Obama chose these people. Honestly, you guys sound just like the freepers. And you're making excuse after excuse for Bush too. In the end there seems to be little difference between an Obama apologist and a Bush apologist: they both say everything is Bill Clinton's fault.

    Parent
    Btw (5.00 / 1) (#170)
    by jondee on Fri Mar 05, 2010 at 01:30:40 PM EST
    Who's "excusing Obama"?

    Calling you on your charade of fetishizing one triangulating, center-right pol while falling all over yourself to condemn another one, isnt "excusing" Obama or anyone else..You need to look up the definition of "projection" in dictionary of psychological terms.

    Parent

    Nope (none / 0) (#172)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Mar 05, 2010 at 02:21:29 PM EST
    LOL. I'm not fetishizing anyone. I'm simply making the point that people at the orange act just like freepers. And people like you were hailing Obama as a "new kind of politician" the kind that "didnt triangulate" a year ago and now it's "everybody triangulates". Its just more aplogia.

    Parent
    Im tempted to use (5.00 / 1) (#174)
    by jondee on Fri Mar 05, 2010 at 02:40:51 PM EST
    couple of bad words, but I wont..

    You're just gonna have to take my word on this one: I never, ever, in my life talked about ANYONE being "a new kind of pol", "The One" or any of that other profoundly idiotic crap that flew around the blogoshere..

    I've got a couple of hundred that says you cant did up one post. Knock yourself out.

    Parent

    Rehabilitation (none / 0) (#176)
    by squeaky on Fri Mar 05, 2010 at 04:17:50 PM EST
    Very hard to break away from a cult; I think that in general the rehabilitation rate is quite low. If only they had landed somewhere else, I might have felt sorry for them.

    Parent
    Well (5.00 / 1) (#177)
    by jondee on Fri Mar 05, 2010 at 04:29:03 PM EST
    for some months around here the policy seemed to be throw-red meat-to-the p..(dont say the word, dont say the word)..now the avenging angels are here to stay, looks like.

    Parent
    No Change (none / 0) (#178)
    by squeaky on Fri Mar 05, 2010 at 04:57:53 PM EST
    They have a useful purpose, just like Canadian Geese who provide plenty of fertilizer. And who could complain, a little red meat and the threads fill up, otherwise tide over threads of kaffe klatch bonding over baking, gardening and the weather...

    Not so different then when the trolls were only R's. I remember when ppj and Peaches would yammer on about their favorite vegs plantings during periods of detente.

    Parent

    Sob. Gulp. Sob. :( (none / 0) (#180)
    by Dr Molly on Fri Mar 05, 2010 at 07:46:34 PM EST
    Really? (none / 0) (#179)
    by Yman on Fri Mar 05, 2010 at 05:37:55 PM EST
    What "cult" is it that you're referring to?

    Parent
    It's not "Bill's fault" (5.00 / 1) (#173)
    by jondee on Fri Mar 05, 2010 at 02:34:10 PM EST
    it's the fault EVERYONE who sees that a certain template has been laid down by the "too big to fail"- and the entire byzantine infrastructure branching out from it - that would-be-reformists and our elected representatives are allowed to tinker with, only -- and always, within certain parameters that dont threaten to alter in any radical way the status quo.

    This, among other reasons, is why the Summers and Geithners and Rahms and Hillarys and Baracks are the only ones allowed in..they understand and accept the rules of the game and wont ever go doing something crazy like talking out loud about how naked the emperor really is.  


    Parent

    Silly boy (none / 0) (#158)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 08:45:10 PM EST
    it's not Bill Clinton that makes me want to vote for Lincoln but the idiots at the Big Orange and their rantings. I know the Obama Apologist glasses blur your vision but yours are literally making you blind.

    Parent
    Who else is a republican? (5.00 / 3) (#160)
    by jondee on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 08:52:17 PM EST
    dont tell me, Jerry Brown and that bully that picked on Bill in third grade.

    Parent
    Now (none / 0) (#163)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Mar 05, 2010 at 05:26:58 AM EST
    you're even making less sense. It's not about bill you silly boy. It's about the rantings and apologia from people like you.

    Parent
    Did they slap Obama, too? (5.00 / 2) (#148)
    by Yman on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 06:44:18 PM EST
    I refuse to dip into the orange Koolaid, but I'm curious if they were so infuriated by Obama's endorsement of Lincoln?

    Parent
    Of course (none / 0) (#157)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 08:37:18 PM EST
    not. Orange stands for Obama apologia.

    Parent
    They say no (none / 0) (#161)
    by BackFromOhio on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 09:24:14 PM EST
    because Obama is more progressive than Bill, so Obama is excused.  And Bill is to blame for deregulation, Gore's loss of the election, the bank mess, etc.  Bills appointment of Sumners bad, Obama's, not.  Let's go no further.  But, did any of these orange people or whatever they are bother to check Bill's popularity polls, even during/after Lewinsky affair? It would be amusing if it weren't so sad.  And by the way, you can use Bill's support of Lincoln to dis Bill, but Obama's support not relevant to criticism of Bill.  

    Parent
    Sooo, .... same old, same old (none / 0) (#162)
    by Yman on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 10:43:55 PM EST
    But, hey ... at least they didn't blame him for the Bubonic Plague.

    Parent
    If you want to be part (none / 0) (#181)
    by jondee on Sat Mar 06, 2010 at 03:16:35 PM EST
    of a group that's on the same page at all times, join the Moonies or the Krishnas.

    Last time I looked, there's still quite a few people ripping Obama - and rightfully so - over at the dreaded "Orange".

    Parent

    Who wants to ... (none / 0) (#182)
    by Yman on Sat Mar 06, 2010 at 03:55:10 PM EST
    ... be part of a group like that?  Of course there are a few over at the Orange that criticize Obama now (albeit usually in mild terms), but I must have missed the diary where they attacked Obama for supporting Lincoln.  Could you provide a link?

    Oh, well .....guess it's just one more drop in their ocean of rank hypocrisy.

    BTW - I do like your analogy of religious cults to defend those who attack Clinton for doing what Obama's doing.

    Parent

    If it's freely acknowledeged (none / 0) (#183)
    by jondee on Sat Mar 06, 2010 at 04:01:18 PM EST
    that Clinton and Obama are similar, who's being "defended"?

    Parent
    Obama (none / 0) (#184)
    by Yman on Sat Mar 06, 2010 at 04:10:46 PM EST
    Why?

    Didn't you read the diary?

    Parent

    Well orangeman numero uno (none / 0) (#185)
    by jondee on Sat Mar 06, 2010 at 04:35:20 PM EST
    is on "the team" now -- and probably hungry for more -- so damage control posts rife with partial truths shouldnt come as TOO much of a shock to anyone..

    He's covering his tuckus, not that that makes it all o.k.

    Parent

    Markos is part of ... (none / 0) (#186)
    by Yman on Sat Mar 06, 2010 at 05:24:28 PM EST
    ... what "team"?  I don't drink the Orange Koolaid, so I don't know.  You mean he's critical of Obama, now?

    Not much of a surprise.

    Either way, I was refering to the author of the diary in question, as well as the general tone at the Orange.  If BC does X, he's the devil ... if Obama does it, well ...

    ... we may be a little disappointed, but he's still our guy.

    Parent

    some things just make you smile (4.66 / 3) (#11)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 01:07:39 PM EST
    I read this this morning (none / 0) (#12)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 01:09:55 PM EST
    but the novelty is sort of wearing off for me, wish all this self loathing would start wearing off for all the wingnuts.  But it ain't.

    Parent
    it is a sort of (none / 0) (#13)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 01:13:48 PM EST
    dog bites man story isnt it?

    Parent
    if we have not seen this (none / 0) (#14)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 01:15:17 PM EST
    Carrey does.. (none / 0) (#18)
    by kdog on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 01:34:45 PM EST
    one hell of a Reagan.

    I was giving that $50 bill thing some more thought, I'll be willing to go along as long as "In God We Trust" is replaced with "I Don't Recall" on the Ray-Gun fifty.

    Parent

    I would campaign for it (none / 0) (#19)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 01:37:30 PM EST
    if they use a picture of Carrey in that makeup.

    Parent
    I can't believe they suspended... (none / 0) (#15)
    by kdog on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 01:23:31 PM EST
    the air traffic controller who let his kids work the radio for a spell...was Bedwetter Lautenberg behind this?

    No planes were in any danger whatsoever, the pilots seemed to enjoy it, and I think its cool to bring your kids to work and teach them what you do to put food on the table.  I remember my old man taking me to the machine shop as a boy and letting me work the drill press...nowadays thats probably criminal.

    I propose a national chill the f*ck out month or something...we're losing it people.

    I disagree totally (5.00 / 1) (#17)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 01:32:49 PM EST
    I was an insanely stupid and irresponsible thing to do IMO.

    that is why the guy was suspended.  virtually everyone was horrified.

    Parent

    On this, I agree with you (none / 0) (#20)
    by Cream City on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 01:39:07 PM EST
    just because it didn't end in disaster doesn't excuse it.  I've got to fly again soon. . . .

    Some air controllers are a tad ticked, too, after pumping up the perception of them as incredibly stressed and expert sorts.  Doesn't look good to make it look like a kid can do the job.  (Of course, the kid was just relaying instructions -- but could have mispronounced them or something.)

    I would be suspended if I brought in a kid to do my job, even if I was whispering in the kid's ear.  

    Parent

    it was (none / 0) (#23)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 01:42:08 PM EST
    completely crazy

    Parent
    Seriously? (none / 0) (#27)
    by kdog on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 01:50:15 PM EST
    Even on bring your son or daughter to work day you'd be suspended from teaching?

    Things are worse than I thought!

    Parent

    try to put yourself (5.00 / 1) (#28)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 01:52:55 PM EST
    of someone you love on one of those planes being guided by that cute as a button moppet.

    its a pretty terrifying prospect if you are honest.


    Parent

    No bullsh*t... (none / 0) (#31)
    by kdog on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 01:55:15 PM EST
    the kid can bark out "clear for takeoff" for his old man on my takeoff from JFK on 3/25...I wish I could specifically request it after all this senseless hub-bub.  

    Parent
    note to self . . . (5.00 / 1) (#39)
    by nycstray on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 02:13:44 PM EST
    don't fly from JFK on 25th . . . .

    Parent
    Everyone? (none / 0) (#21)
    by kdog on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 01:40:35 PM EST
    not the pilots, not the people in air traffic control that day...just bedwetters as far as I can tell, no offense:)

    Like jb said, pops was standing right there.  Nothing stupid or irresponsible about it bro...now if pops had left them alone, thats a different story.

    Parent

    Cop-out answer... (none / 0) (#33)
    by kdog on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 02:00:08 PM EST
    thats what the bueracrats have to say...they aren't allowed to be honest and say "chill the f*ck out".

    It's not a no foul because there was no harm...its a no foul because there was no foul.  

    You guys are bumming me out...I thought I could count on you guys for some sanity here.  Even law-n-order jbindc is with me on this one!

    Parent

    So, I guess you haven't considered (5.00 / 1) (#135)
    by Anne on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 06:11:44 PM EST
    the possibility that while Dad was letting the kid play ATC, he could have allowed his attention to slip from the other however-many planes he was responsible for, to devastating effect?

    I liken it to Dad letting an elementary-school aged junior take the wheel on the interstate with traffic going 80 mph...sure Dad could tell him when to accelerate and when to brake, but, good god - the consequences for error are huge and potentially horrific.

    Parent

    I don't know man... (none / 0) (#119)
    by kdog on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 05:21:36 PM EST
    the skies over JFK are less "safe" now than they were when a couple kids briefly were on the radio with their dad by their side ensuring the safety of all flights, brightening the day of pilots and controllers alike...now the tower is down a veteran controller and a supervisor.

    But I guess you guys ain't seeing that no one was ever in any danger, outside standard dangers of course.  Fair enough.

    Parent

    No one was in danger? (5.00 / 1) (#142)
    by nycstray on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 06:33:24 PM EST
    hello, Dad paying attention to kid doing his job, not actually doing the job himself.

    Have you forgotten the 9 that recently died in the Hudson due to distracted ATC?

    Parent

    The key point... (none / 0) (#166)
    by kdog on Fri Mar 05, 2010 at 08:34:55 AM EST
    to me is the pilots' reaction...if they felt threatened they woulda said so...I gotta defer to their reaction as opposed to ours or bueracrats at the TSA and Controllers' Union, who are only concerned with pr damage control.

    Parent
    If it had happened at some (none / 0) (#35)
    by vml68 on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 02:04:07 PM EST
    small regional airport with a handful of flights during the day,I would not see a problem.
    Here we are talking about one of the busiest airports in the world,in my view highly irresponsible.
    If he is like most fathers out there, then his attention would have been on his kid and the attention his kid was getting, not on his job. There have been numerous reports of how close planes have come to colliding because of a combination of iattention on the air traffic controllers part and the extremely limited amount of time between take-off and landing of planes on runways at busy airports....sometimes, it is just a matter of seconds.

    Parent
    And remember, we are now down 1 (5.00 / 1) (#37)
    by nycstray on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 02:11:59 PM EST
    runway. I say cut the BS distractions before one of the flights ends in tragedy. We recently saw what distractions can cause, plane, copter, river, 9 lives lost . . . .

    Parent
    I'm gonna shut-up now... (none / 0) (#36)
    by kdog on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 02:09:46 PM EST
    before I get the poor guy arrested on terrorism charges or something...but I really think everybody is overreacting hardcore.

    Parent
    Obviously (5.00 / 1) (#138)
    by jondee on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 06:28:35 PM EST
    a lot of frequent fliers, many of whom might not fly at all if they didnt have to, were already slightly on edge - for any numbers of reasons - before this lapse in judgment on the part of one of the people they rely on. Obviously the question is going to occur to some people that if this guy's judgment is so lax that he'd, with minimal forethought, boneheadedly jeopardize his own job - and possibly the life and limb of others - than what other kinds of lapses might he be prone to?

    I think you're underrating how uptight a lot of people were about flying before this, k.

    Parent

    It's not healthy... (none / 0) (#168)
    by kdog on Fri Mar 05, 2010 at 08:37:35 AM EST
    to be so on edge all the time...thats why I suggested a national "chill the f*ck out" month...where gonna give ourselves a collective stroke with all this chicken-little worry-wort behavior.

    Parent
    Thanks, as you misstate the facts. (none / 0) (#137)
    by Cream City on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 06:26:53 PM EST
    I'm with Kdog on this one (none / 0) (#136)
    by esmense on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 06:20:45 PM EST
    If he had left the kids to direct air traffic that would have been "manifestly irresponsible." And insane. But he did no such thing.

    But what do I know, I'm of the generation that sat in my Dad's lap and thought I was driving.

    Dads would be busted for that now, I'm sure. In fact, my parents would probably be busted for my whole childhood -- which involved attending 42 schools in 30 states over 12 years.

    But I wouldn't trade it for some safe little suburban childhood for anything in the world.

    Parent

    When I was a child, I used to fly (none / 0) (#154)
    by vml68 on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 07:29:22 PM EST
    very frequently, mostly unaccompanied on international flights.
    I used to spend a large portion of my flight in the cockpit hanging out with the pilots. This was 25 years ago. Can you imagine any kid being allowed to do that now?

    Parent
    I didn't see what the deal was (none / 0) (#16)
    by jbindc on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 01:27:50 PM EST
    It's not like he left them alone at the controls to direct planes - he was right there.

    Parent
    I'm not kidding... (none / 0) (#29)
    by kdog on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 01:53:14 PM EST
    I don't think jb is either...don't tell me you've got a problem with it to Don, tell me you're kidding:)

    He let the kid use the radio, the kid wasn't directing air traffic.  

    You guys are nuts, but I still love ya:)

    Parent

    Kdog, he did let the kid use the radio (none / 0) (#40)
    by vml68 on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 02:15:33 PM EST
    to direct traffic. Granted, he was directing the kid on what to say but it was still an extremely irresposible thing to do.
    Not the greatest example but...
    My dad used to take me to work with him at the bank sometimes. I would sit in his chair and fiddle around with things on his desk. Suppose there was some paperwork that needed to be signed,if he had told me to sign it by forging his signature(assuming no one could tell the two apart), he would have been fired.

    Parent
    I can't make myself... (5.00 / 1) (#47)
    by kdog on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 02:24:52 PM EST
    have a problem with it vml, I'm sorry.

    But enough of my pals have chimed in to remind me how outside the loop I am:)

    Though I'm damn proud of jb...I'm finally wearing her down:)

    Parent

    The pilots didn't seem to care (none / 0) (#79)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 03:50:53 PM EST
    In other news retired aquaintance making $500,000.00 a year teaching Dubai residents how to fly.  He says he is using his entire military retirement pay to pay his taxes.  Whoever he works for flew the whole family to live there too and live for free.

    Parent
    I did not understand this... (none / 0) (#86)
    by vml68 on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 04:00:21 PM EST
    He says he is using his entire military retirement pay to pay his taxes.

    There is no income tax in Dubai.

    As for this....

    Whoever he works for flew the whole family to live there too and live for free.

    very common for most upper level positions. Don't be surprised if tickets for the whole family are covered on their vacations and also if there are young children, education is paid for.

    Parent
    He is paying U.S. taxes on his pay (none / 0) (#91)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 04:10:51 PM EST
    He's still a United States citizen.  And I wasn't surprised by what Dubai offered him.  Saudi Arabia will do just about the same thing for the same service provided, but I don't think the pay last I heard was that good. If it is dangerous though for some kid to repeat what his father tells him to say in a control tower, I would think it would also be "dangerous" to give possible terrorists flying lessons given that track record :)

    Parent
    Gotcha.... (none / 0) (#96)
    by vml68 on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 04:27:13 PM EST
    He is paying U.S. taxes on his pay

    Nobody (citizens/non-citizens) pays taxes in the UAE.
    Even without a pay differential there is a world of difference between living in Dubai and Saudi Arabia, especially if your family is going to be living with you.
    He will get used to living the easy/luxury life while he is there. He should make the most of it while he can.

    Parent
    Actually, he's not (none / 0) (#115)
    by Inspector Gadget on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 05:03:27 PM EST
    paying US Taxes on everything he makes. They only pay on the first [$XX,000] earned. I don't know what the current earnings number is, but the US gives huge tax breaks to those working overseas....as long as the worker doesn't spend more than a certain number of days in the US during the tax year. They can get around that by flying in via Canada and driving across the border where there's no direct record of travel.

    Parent
    I think he's making so much damned (none / 0) (#128)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 05:35:02 PM EST
    money, he is fine paying what he is paying :)  His retirement has to be around $45,000 a year.  That's pretty decent on a $500,000.00 paycheck.  My husband would never do something like this though, or at least I thought so.  I told him about it last night, and we have had other friends retire and then go earn the big bucks in the Middle East and he always said he'd never do that.  Last night though it sounded like he was having second thoughts about that.  Shocked me.

    Parent
    When you have friends, acquaintances (none / 0) (#131)
    by vml68 on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 05:52:51 PM EST
    telling you that you can earn a lifetimes worth of money in a few short years and live the good life at the same time, it is very hard not to be tempted.

    he always said he'd never do that.  Last night though it sounded like he was having second thoughts about that.  Shocked me.



    Parent
    Money has never been his primary issue (none / 0) (#139)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 06:29:12 PM EST
    about doing it, using his taxpayer military training for free market uses in the Middle East that could in any way be damaging to the military in the future was always why he said he would never do anything like that.  He seems to have a different take now on Dubai or maybe he was just tired.  I doubt he would have anything to do with Saudi Arabia though.  He will not instruct Saudi students at Fort Rucker or students from Egypt.  Active duty instructors don't have to instruct students from other countries if they don't want to.  He said that both countries use their helicopter fleets to control and kill their population and he will not train them.

    Parent
    Did you forget you (none / 0) (#141)
    by oculus on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 06:32:34 PM EST
    are flying in a few scant weeks. No thanks.

    Parent
    The upside (5.00 / 1) (#144)
    by nycstray on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 06:36:09 PM EST
    folks will be paying attention in the tower for at least the next couple weeks, so hopefully this crap won't be happening when I fly out of JFK :)

    Parent
    I beat you (none / 0) (#25)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 01:49:06 PM EST
    but isnt it wonderful?

    Well, there's more to the story... (none / 0) (#43)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 02:19:51 PM EST
    The manager of the night club where anti-gay California state Sen. Roy Ashburn was reportedly hanging out before his 2 a.m. DUI arrest Wednesday tells TPMmuckraker she didn't see him at the club that night.

    Tuesday night is Latin night at Faces, explained manager Laurie Bonifield in a phone interview. The club describes itself as "Sacramento's premier GLBTI Nightclub since 1985."

    "Tuesday nights are a very, very huge Latin crowd. We don't see a lot of white guys here on a Tuesday night," Bonifield said. "A white guy would stick out like a sore thumb."

    [...]

    Noting that there are other gay and straight clubs in the area, Bonifield speculated that Ashburn was at another club. She said she had not heard from the police, who did not immediately respond to our call seeking comment.

    It may well be true that he was at a gay bar, but it's not known for sure right now. But, maybe later on today...
    She [Bonifield] said she hasn't yet talked to her staff about the issue because they work late and are "sound asleep." The CBS13 story came out last night.


    Parent
    Let's See (5.00 / 2) (#50)
    by squeaky on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 02:28:56 PM EST
    Anti Gay Senator patronizes gay club. Said gay club owner says, never saw him.

    Question:

    Should gay club owner out closeted gay patron to the newspapers for the sake of public gossip, or should gay club owner think of his clientele and basically keep his mouth shut?

    Tough one, not.

    Parent

    Maybe so, but maybe not... (none / 0) (#52)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 02:37:52 PM EST
    Although, he is divorced. (none / 0) (#55)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 02:52:15 PM EST
    Doesn't look too good for him...

    Parent
    C'mon you guys (none / 0) (#72)
    by jbindc on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 03:41:48 PM EST
    I'm sure one of his constituents just called and needed a ride home and he was just helping a guy out.

    People are so cynical around here. ;)

    Parent

    Fair enough. (none / 0) (#125)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 05:30:27 PM EST
    Although, according to google, there are dozens of bars in the alpha numeric part of Sac...

    Parent
    Damn... (none / 0) (#45)
    by kdog on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 02:20:47 PM EST
    even Hawaii has undercovers patrolling the crappers?  I thought that was only a heartland  airport thang.

    Somebody warn Larry Craig.

    Parent

    Good advice Don... (none / 0) (#123)
    by kdog on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 05:25:18 PM EST
    I just can't down with chains for those who don't follow it...or undercover lovers in the stalls.

    And I'm amazed the bathroom in the pre-Guiliani NY Port Authority wasn't turned into a police station with all the homoerotica that went down in that john.

    Parent

    Oh, ick. I have to fly soon (none / 0) (#140)
    by Cream City on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 06:31:52 PM EST
    and now I not only have to cope with security to get on the plane, when I thought I would be past the worst.

    Now I also have to deal with kdog's kiddie air controllers just getting their kicks talking to my pilot, who ought to be focused on flying my plane.  (Remember the pilots not long ago who flew too far, distracted as they were with their laptops?!)

    And if the skies weren't getting all too friendly already with such ineptitude, so that I will have even more trouble getting to sleep, you now give me very good reason to stay wide awake -- lest some icky winger guy get the gropes.

    Really, why are we supposed to pay so much, in direct costs as well as opportunity costs, for air travel?  If I could drive to my next  destination, I would.  

    Parent

    This is hilarious (none / 0) (#32)
    by lilburro on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 01:57:04 PM EST
    oh my god (none / 0) (#61)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 03:10:42 PM EST
    is that true or what.  I have a new cat and I have banned him from the bedroom during sleeping hours.


    Parent
    Also hilarious (none / 0) (#124)
    by sj on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 05:27:04 PM EST
    are the comments

    Parent
    Bigwigs on hard-times may need another bailout (none / 0) (#56)
    by Ellie on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 02:53:07 PM EST
    This came down to me from the shark-infested waters in which my d!psh!t coodge swims. (His short CV: financial predator, Repug, major @sshole, when we were kids, he stole all of Cavity Sam's body parts and mailed them from Nuevo one by agonizing one.)

    Welcome to CAGNY [Consumer Analyst Group of New York] ....

    After battling through an extremely difficult year, we are pleased to announce that we have secured ... Better room rates for [the February 17, 2010] conference:

    in light of challenging economic conditions and with the goal of continuously working for our member base, we have secured lower absolute room rates ... Details of room rates are as follows:

    • Cloister Traditional: $299/night (previously $395)
    • Bungalow: $330/night (previously $395)
    • Cloister Deluxe: $350/night (previously $395)
    • Tower, Yacht and Bungalow Suite: $395/night (unchanged)
    • Beach with Ocean View: $425/night (unchanged)
    • Yacht with Commodore Club access: $570/night (unchanged)

    Guest meal policy: Also, please be mindful of the guest meal policy: in order to facilitate interaction between CAGNY members and presenting company management teams, the meal policy ... remains as follows:

    • Breakfast will continue to be open to members and all registered guests;
    • Lunch will be open to members only;
    • Dinner will be for members plus one guest.

    He wanted to know if I'd be his guest and get some of that bailout money back in table scraps. Need I say more?

    Well yeah. This can only mean that baseball season is on the horizon and this is how a Yankees Fan rolls.

    When someone's this good at p!ssing me off, I have to take a moment to admire the level of craftsmanship before letting my head explode.

    And another thing! (none / 0) (#60)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 03:06:51 PM EST
    He doesn't represent SoCal. More like the Central Valley, the Southern Sierras and such. We in SoCal have our standards... ;-)

    busy day in wacky land (none / 0) (#63)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 03:19:35 PM EST
    INDIANAPOLIS -- Fed up and fired up, an increasing number of Indiana residents who have lost confidence in the government are going to extreme measures to claim they are "sovereign citizens."

    By doing so, residents contend that they no longer have to pay taxes, claiming their homes as embassies and using identification cards that show them as diplomats, 6News' Rafael Sanchez reported.

    Indiana authorities call such proclamations both illegitimate and illegal. About 10 people every month ask the state to put a seal on a document so that they can claim freedom from taxes.

      Quantcast

    There are plenty of American flags draped on homes along U.S. 36, a road that leads to the home of Donald Moore, who claims to be a diplomatic agent and ambassador -- a mark of a so-called sovereign citizen.

    Moore, a father of seven, and his wife invited 6News to their home, but decided not to appear on camera.

    Moore is equipped with an official looking identification card and a badge, which he said means United States law doesn't apply to him.

    "It gives me diplomatic immunity," Moore said, referring to the ID card. "The way I understand it, the federal government is incorporated, and all the states are incorporated. This takes me out of the corporation."



    like I said: (5.00 / 1) (#65)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 03:22:04 PM EST
    Blanche Lincoln, despite her liberal primary challenge, tacks right in her first ad, bragging of her opposition to the public option, deriding Washington, and telling viewers, "I don't answer to my party. I answer to Arkansas."

    keep it up Blanch.  and dont let the door hit you in the a$$ on the way out.

    Parent

    I wish them luck... (none / 0) (#71)
    by kdog on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 03:41:08 PM EST
    I've often fantasized about declaring myself sovereign and opting out of this embarassment, but never had the b*lls.

    If this works for 'em, I'm printing myself a diplomat card...and I'll be happy to offer any of my TL friends political asylum in kdogonia, while couch and floor space lasts.

    Parent

    I'd prefer a Hawaiian birth certificate (5.00 / 1) (#143)
    by Cream City on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 06:34:42 PM EST
    if you could fix that for me, Don.  I understand that such birth certificates can take you far, and all you have to do is put them online. :-)

    Parent
    That and sexual reassignment (none / 0) (#145)
    by jondee on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 06:38:49 PM EST
    and he'd be completely home free. At this site anyway.

    Parent
    Big fail and punishment (none / 0) (#149)
    by oculus on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 06:47:38 PM EST
    will involve caging.

    Parent
    hmm (none / 0) (#76)
    by CST on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 03:45:30 PM EST
    I wonder who they'd call if someone tried to invade their country.

    And of course, I bet they don't show their passport everytime they leave the house.  Or you know, pay tarrifs or something on "imported goods"

    Oh people...

    Parent

    or who they call if their (none / 0) (#77)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 03:46:37 PM EST
    stupid house is on fire.  or need their stupid garbage picked up.


    Parent
    I've thought about some of those issues... (5.00 / 1) (#127)
    by kdog on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 05:34:50 PM EST
    I figured if I slip the garbageman a hundo a month he'd keep takin' the trash along with that of US/NY citizens...and a good bottle of scotch or two at Christmas would keep the volunteer fire dept. as friends of kdogonia.  Talkin' huge net savings.

    I'd be happy to handle national defense myself with the pooch, the roomies, and a Louisville Slugger...there isn't much for a foreign power to wish to plunder.  And its not like I would ever call the cops anyway, as a US citizen.  

    I could make this work, sh*t I could become a tax haven for US citizens (for a small fee) and quit my job:)

    Parent

    the list of things (none / 0) (#81)
    by CST on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 03:51:26 PM EST
    they didn't think about could go on forever.

    Parent
    Are Democrats seriously going to get rid (none / 0) (#64)
    by tigercourse on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 03:21:52 PM EST
    of the filibuster? I couldn't imagine that they actually have the votes to do that, but someone knew seems to sign on everyday. It's a really bad idea.

    its not a bad idea. (none / 0) (#66)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 03:22:37 PM EST
    its a good idea.

    Parent
    It's a good idea (5.00 / 1) (#70)
    by jbindc on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 03:39:54 PM EST
    until they need to threaten to use it when President Romney has a Republican Senate and there's an opening on the Supreme Court.

    Parent
    get back to me when (5.00 / 1) (#75)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 03:45:11 PM EST
    there is a president Romney.
    and the fact that a republican may someday be president is no reason to settle for permanent gridlock.
    things will get done.  if the republicans do things I suspect people will not like them and they will be voted out.


    Parent
    What's your number? (none / 0) (#78)
    by jbindc on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 03:49:17 PM EST
    I suspect if the economy is as bad as it is now, I'll be calling you on January 20, 2012 at around noon.

    Parent
    that's a hell of a qualifier (none / 0) (#80)
    by CST on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 03:50:55 PM EST
    since I don't think anyone expects the economy to remain completely stagnant for the next 2 years.

    Parent
    dont wake up (none / 0) (#82)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 03:52:40 PM EST
    a sleepwalker.

    Parent
    Oh there's some (none / 0) (#84)
    by jbindc on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 03:58:42 PM EST
    Link

    But what do they know?  They just study this stuff for a living....

    Since last spring, when fears of economic apocalypse began to ebb, we've been treated to an alphabet soup of predictions about the recovery. Various economists have suggested that it might look like a V (a strong and rapid rebound), a U (slower), a W (reflecting the possibility of a double-dip recession), or, most alarming, an L  (no recovery in demand or jobs for years: a lost decade). This summer, with all the good letters already taken, the former labor secretary Robert Reich wrote on his blog that the recovery might actually be shaped like an X (the imagery is elusive, but Reich's argument was that there can be no recovery until we find an entirely new model of economic growth).

    No one knows what shape the recovery will take. The economy grew at an annual rate of 2.2 percent in the third quarter of last year, the first increase since the second quarter of 2008. If economic growth continues to pick up, substantial job growth will eventually follow. But there are many reasons to doubt the durability of the economic turnaround, and the speed with which jobs will return.

    Historically, financial crises have spawned long periods of economic malaise, and this crisis, so far, has been true to form. Despite the bailouts, many banks' balance sheets remain weak; more than 140 banks failed in 2009. As a result, banks have kept lending standards tight, frustrating the efforts of small businesses--which have accounted for almost half of all job losses--to invest or rehire. Exports seem unlikely to provide much of a boost; although China, India, Brazil, and some other emerging markets are growing quickly again, Europe and Japan--both major markets for U.S. exports--remain weak. And in any case, exports make up only about 13 percent of total U.S. production; even if they were to grow quickly, the impact would be muted.

    Most recessions end when people start spending again, but for the foreseeable future, U.S. consumer demand is unlikely to propel strong economic growth. As of November, one in seven mortgages was delinquent, up from one in 10 a year earlier. As many as one in four houses may now be underwater, and the ratio of household debt to GDP, about 65 percent in the mid-1990s, is roughly 100 percent today. It is not merely animal spirits that are keeping people from spending freely (though those spirits are dour). Heavy debt and large losses of wealth have forced spending onto a lower path.

    So what is the engine that will pull the U.S. back onto a strong growth path? That turns out to be a hard question. The New York Times columnist Paul Krugman, who fears a lost decade, said in a lecture at the London School of Economics last summer that he has "no idea" how the economy could quickly return to strong, sustainable growth. Mark Zandi, the chief economist at Moody's Economy.com, told the Associated Press last fall, "I think the unemployment rate will be permanently higher, or at least higher for the foreseeable future. The collective psyche has changed as a result of what we've been through. And we're going to be different as a result."

    One big reason that the economy stabilized last summer and fall is the stimulus; the Congressional Budget Office estimates that without the stimulus, growth would have been anywhere from 1.2 to 3.2 percentage points lower in the third quarter of 2009. The stimulus will continue to trickle into the economy for the next couple of years, but as a concentrated force, it's largely spent. Christina Romer, the chair of President Obama's Council of Economic Advisers, said last fall, "By mid-2010, fiscal stimulus will likely be contributing little to further growth," adding that she didn't expect unemployment to fall significantly until 2011. That prediction has since been echoed, more or less, by the Federal Reserve and Goldman Sachs.

    The economy now sits in a hole more than 10 million jobs deep--that's the number required to get back to 5 percent unemployment, the rate we had before the recession started, and one that's been more or less typical for a generation. And because the population is growing and new people are continually coming onto the job market, we need to produce roughly 1.5 million new jobs a year--about 125,000 a month--just to keep from sinking deeper.

    Even if the economy were to immediately begin producing 600,000 jobs a month--more than double the pace of the mid-to-late 1990s, when job growth was strong--it would take roughly two years to dig ourselves out of the hole we're in. The economy could add jobs that fast, or even faster--job growth is theoretically limited only by labor supply, and a lot more labor is sitting idle today than usual. But the U.S. hasn't seen that pace of sustained employment growth in more than 30 years. And given the particulars of this recession, matching idle workers with new jobs--even once economic growth picks up--seems likely to be a particularly slow and challenging process.

    The construction and finance industries, bloated by a decade-long housing bubble, are unlikely to regain their former share of the economy, and as a result many out-of-work finance professionals and construction workers won't be able to simply pick up where they left off when growth returns--they'll need to retrain and find new careers. (For different reasons, the same might be said of many media professionals and auto workers.) And even within industries that are likely to bounce back smartly, temporary layoffs have generally given way to the permanent elimination of jobs, the result of workplace restructuring. Manufacturing jobs have of course been moving overseas for decades, and still are; but recently, the outsourcing of much white-collar work has become possible. Companies that have cut domestic payrolls to the bone in this recession may choose to rebuild them in Shanghai, Guangzhou, or Bangalore, accelerating off-shoring decisions that otherwise might have occurred over many years.



    Parent
    umm (none / 0) (#87)
    by CST on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 04:03:23 PM EST
    you do realize there is a world of difference between where we are now and 5% unemployment.  I'm pretty sure I didn't say anything about that.  Or even that we would be completely out of the recession.  I just said the economy wouldn't be stagnant for the next 2 years.


    Parent
    I was just in a company meeting (none / 0) (#89)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 04:05:56 PM EST
    about hiring.  companies are starting to hire again.
    everywhere.


    Parent
    If you read the whole article (none / 0) (#90)
    by jbindc on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 04:09:57 PM EST
    Which I know you didn't, because it's really long, is that the unemployment rate will probably stay stagnant for at least two years, and we may never see 5% unemployment again.  I had this disagreement with a co-worker yesterday (another Kool-Aid drinker) who told me that the economy is improving, and for evidence he pointed to the fact that the GNP is 5.7%.  Of course, he didn't want to hear that if people don't have jobs, it doesn't matter what the GNP is, or if talking heads say the economy is improving, or if the Tooth Fairy and  Santa are really real.  People will base the state on the economy on whether or not they and their family have income.  All the rest is BS.

    And when you have 29 million people out of work (and another 2 million underemployed - as we do right now), don't try and tell them "the economy is better".

    Unless of course, you disagree with economists and think were going to start creating 2 million new jobs every year for the next two years.

    Parent

    I read the whole thing (none / 0) (#94)
    by CST on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 04:20:24 PM EST
    that you posted - I know, I am a very fast reader :)

    And nowhere did it say that we wouldn't add ANY jobs in the next two years - you are the one who is making 2 mil a year the threshold, not me.

    I never tried saying the "economy is better" now.  I said it will not remain stagnant for the next 2 years.  But keep trying to put words in my mouth.

    Also, I hate kool-aid, way to sweet.

    Parent

    I overexaggerated (none / 0) (#99)
    by jbindc on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 04:37:47 PM EST
    Should have been 1.5 million each year - which is what it says.

    And try the sugar-free Kool Aid.  It's much better and doesn't leave the bad taste in your mouth that the original does.  :)

    Parent

    Meh (none / 0) (#83)
    by cawaltz on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 03:56:23 PM EST
    If you look back at the Bush years the Democrats rarely used the filibuster anyways. They were too busy keeping the powder dry.

    Parent
    Oh (none / 0) (#85)
    by jbindc on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 03:59:50 PM EST
    I didn't say they'd actually use it, just threaten to use it.  I'm not that crazy to believe they'd actually do it.

    Parent
    reading you comments (none / 0) (#88)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 04:04:55 PM EST
    sometimes I cant help think of the detective from Who Framed Roger Rabbit.

    did democrat kill your brother or something?


    Parent

    I guess we're even (5.00 / 3) (#92)
    by jbindc on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 04:12:35 PM EST
    Because reading your comments of late, I can't help but wonder if you had a hypnosis session gone bad.  You used to be thoughtful in your commenting and lately, well, you haven't been.

    Parent
    Im (none / 0) (#93)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 04:19:49 PM EST
    over rated
    :-)

    Parent
    dont tell anyone (none / 0) (#97)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 04:28:57 PM EST
    but I am really NOT myself.

    only a few people know this so keep it mum.


    Parent

    That would explain a great deal (5.00 / 1) (#98)
    by jbindc on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 04:35:54 PM EST
    The fact that Jeralyn has to come on these threads, where people are having discussions, and who may not agree, and ban certain words because adults use them to call names is pretty ludicrous.

    I hope the real you comes back soon because I really liked the real you and I enjoyed reading your comments.

    Parent

    waiting for the 5 (5.00 / 1) (#100)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 04:39:32 PM EST
    aannnnnnd here it is!

    Parent
    Im so relieved (none / 0) (#67)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 03:25:07 PM EST
    "No one was arrested..." (none / 0) (#73)
    by kdog on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 03:42:44 PM EST
    Good to hear, 3 cheers for the Tacoma PD laying off the chains!

    Parent
    this day just get better and better (none / 0) (#95)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 04:20:27 PM EST
    Talk about Preaching to the Choir! (plus linkfix) (none / 0) (#102)
    by Ellie on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 04:46:10 PM EST
    Here's the one I read at the Irish Times:

    "AT WHAT time does he have to be back in the seminary?" The question might seem innocent enough, were it not for the fact that the man asking it is a Papal Gentleman, Angelo Balducci, and the man of whom he is asking it is his pimp, Vatican chorister and Nigerian, Chinediu Thiomas Ehiem.

    If Italian media sources are to be believed, then the compromising shadow of a highly active gay prostitution ring currently hangs over both the Holy See and unnamed Rome seminary colleges.

    The first casualty of this potentially explosive scandal was Thiomas Ehiem, who yesterday was dismissed from the choir of the Cappella Giulia, the choir used in St Peter's for ceremonies which do not involve the pope.

    The Cappella Giulia comes under the auspices of Cardinal Angelo Comastri, arch-priest of St Peter's.

    Vatican sources pointed out that Mr Ehiem was neither a priest nor a seminary student, but a lay member of the choir.

    The revelations came to light during investigations into Angelo Balducci, former head of the Italian office of public works, who was arrested last month on suspicion of corruption. This related to the awarding of a series of public contracts for major events such as last year's G8 Summit ..., the 2009 World Swimming Championships, and next year's 150th anniversary celebrations of the Unity of Italy.

    Love the religious language, and hey, the Swimming Championships is where I'd trawl for new talent too. (Just sayin'.)

    Parent

    sorry about the link (none / 0) (#104)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 04:49:24 PM EST
    heres the correct one

    In later calls, Ehiem offered fewer details: "I have a situation in Naples."

    "I have a Cuban situation."

    "I have a German who just arrived from Germany."

    "I have two black guys."

    "I have the soccer player."

    "I have the dancer from RAI," the Italian TV network.



    Parent
    Even better; wiretap transcripts like this explain (none / 0) (#133)
    by Ellie on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 05:55:04 PM EST
    ... why some cut-and-dried investigations, esp. in the booty call area, "need" to drag on and on.

    Parent
    I think we may have a new star (none / 0) (#103)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 04:47:59 PM EST
    Kesah Rodgers for congress

    The victory in the 22nd Congressional District yesterday by LaRouche Democrat Kesha Rogers sent an unmistakable message to the White House, and its British imperial controllers: Your days are numbered. Kesha's campaign hit relentlessly at a single theme, that President Obama must go, that his attacks on this nation - with his dismantling of the manned space program, his efforts to ram through a fascist, killer "health care" policy, his endless bailouts for Wall Street swindlers, while demanding budget cuts which will increase the death rates among the poor, the sick, the elderly and the unemployed - are not acceptable, and will not be tolerated.


    personally (none / 0) (#114)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 05:01:32 PM EST
    I may donate.  just because I want to see how pi$$ed Michelle Bachman is to be outcrazied by a democrat.


    Parent
    They couldnt find (none / 0) (#150)
    by jondee on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 06:51:54 PM EST
    anyone better than a follower of the guy who blames everything on Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principal and the Gnomes of Zurich?

    Almost smells like a get-Bachman-in-at-all-costs set up..if I were conspiracy minded.

    Parent

    Though I could see (none / 0) (#151)
    by jondee on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 06:56:23 PM EST
    someone like Richard Mellon Scaife being completely head-over-heels in love with Michelle Bachman and trying to fix things so that she had an unimpeded shot..

    Parent
    Cactus League news: Cubs win (none / 0) (#147)
    by caseyOR on Thu Mar 04, 2010 at 06:39:46 PM EST
    In news from the spring training front, the Chicago Cubs started the pre-season with a 9-3 win over the Oakland Athletics today. Yea, team!

    A lifetime of Cubbie love has taught me that this will not last, but I have also learned to take a little happiness wherever I can find it. So, let me repeat, "Yea, team!" and add "Go, Cubs!"