1

The folks over at NRO are reporting that the Unions have reached a deal with the Commie-D’s in those closed door meetings that will exempt the Unions from the 40% tax on “Cadillac Plans”. Note that I posted yesterday that there is nothing in the current Senate Bill for such an exemption and there still isn’t. This is in the closed door bill that nobody but the commiecrats have seen yet.

 

NRO says that they intend to try to disguise the exemption inside some kind of verbiage about the middle class that will keep the public in the dark about the exemption.  They also intend to increase taxes in other areas to make up for the loss of revenue. One proposal is a first time ever Medicare tax assessment on capital gains.  These people truly hate capitalism and are going all out to destroy it and the economy.

 

If they go ahead with this plan the State Attorney Generals truly will have cause for a suit, in addition to all of the other unconstitutional stuff in this POS bill.  

2 POS doesn't begin to describe this.  This is more like Zombie POS.

3

New economic news. And guess what? It's all unexpected.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Sales at U.S. retailers unexpectedly fell in December as consumer spent less on vehicles and an array of other goods during the holiday shopping month, data showed on Thursday, raising concerns about the durability of the economy's recovery.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The number of newly laid-off workers requesting unemployment benefits rose more than expected last week as jobs remain scarce amid a sluggish economic recovery.

The Labor Department said Thursday new claims for unemployment insurance rose by 11,000 to a seasonally adjusted 444,000. Wall Street economists polled by Thomson Reuters expected an increase of only 3,000.

It's unprecendented how unexpected bad economic new is to the experts.

4
hahaha, now the Coakley supporters are calling in the radio station to complain about having Gerald Amirault on the show to tell his story and how Martha Coakley, DA of Middlesex County, extended his prison stay an extra 3 years.

5

Headline with picture over at CBS:

 

It Sucked My Soul To Watch This Spectacle

What Is It About Bankers That They Can't Understand Why People Hate Them?

Yep, no bias there. The picture showed the bankers testifying at the committee hearings televised witch hunt and propaganda parade. I watched some of those hearings on F&F this morning and it made me want to puke. When are the CEOs of these large institutions going to learn that sucking up and “admitting mistakes” is not going to improve their fate when dealing with the committed communists now running the government.

 

For once I would like to see somebody go in there and tell those buffoons like it is.

 

Il Douche wants to level a new tax on the banks.  Hahahahahaha, continuing with his plan to destroy everything supporting capitalism in this country.

6 I like that headline on Drudge right now, "Jobless claims rise MORE THAN EXPECTED".  Really?  I think they need to take their thumb out of their mouth and stop believing that the recession is over and then change their expectations and then it won't be shocking every time a new report comes out.  Jeez, a  more accurate headline would be "More than a year later, no American's have received their Skittle shitting Unicorns as Promised from Obama".

7

What is truly unprecedented about the news of the economy is the large number of people who know both the administration and the press are both lying.

8

It's unprecendented how unexpected bad economic new is to the experts.

It's only unexpected because the pool boy feels it before they do.

9
It's rumored that Obama might come to MA and campaign for Coakley.

If Obama does come here and Coakley loses, it will be a huge blow to his prestige and clout, so that's nice. Obama already took hits in Copenhagen and Virginia and in New Jersey.

10 Vic, agree.  They are so getting raked over the coals and I would love for them to launch an attack on the congress critters that are at the epicenter of this debacle.  This is like watching McCain during the debates where he missed opportunity after opportunity to attack Obama and do some damage with FACTS but he never did.

11 Headlines. Didn't see them.

12

Why are you taxing (extorting) the banks, Obama?

Barack 'Willie Sutton' Obama: Because that's where the money is.

13
Is Kasich running for governor in Ohio, or what?

And why isn't Ken Blackwell throwing his hat in a race, any race?

14 that picture yesteday of Martha right there when the guy was knocked down, after she said she didn't see anything, was priceless.

15 I hope Obama goes to Mass. and burns what little political capital he has left. Honestly, he would probably be better off going to Haiti - he could use the distraction.

16

For once I would like to see somebody go in there and tell those buffoons like it is.

Uh, Vic--that room was filled with buffoons...including the bankers.  Let's be clear on this--the financial genius sector of the economy is filled with fail.

Elsewhere:  Victor Davis Hanson--he's smart.

 

17 Well someone just said on the radio that they have to tax the banks, they have to get the tarp money back and some places like GMAC either have no intention of paying it back or just can't.

18

For once I would like to see somebody go in there and tell those buffoons like it is.

Don't hold your breath, Vic. And don't feel sorry for them because these are the same people who donate heavily to the Democrats.

^{haha, good ol' Vic and his damned non-conformist font}

19 Medicare tax assessment on capital gains

Christ, China encourages capital investment more than these assholes.

20 curious - she was watching her political career hit the sidewalk and knew it.

21

Sad News:

Jan Gabriel, Pioneering Drag Radio Ad Voice and Racing Announcer Passes at Age 69

 

I hear the funeral will be held on SUNDAY!! SUNDAY!! SUNDAY!!!!!

22 Honestly, he would probably be better off going to Haiti - he could use the distraction.

Haitians need water, food, and medical supplies; they don't need--and really don't deserve--to be used as a backdrop for Barry preening for paprazzi.  It's going to be months before anybody's ready for him to come down and hang curtains.

23 that picture yesteday of Martha right there when the guy was knocked down, after she said she didn't see anything, was priceless.

Posted by: curious at January 14, 2010 09:33 AM (p302b)

That picture yesterday of me right there? Didn't see it.

24 "It's Official: Obama Set To Tax 50 Big Banks $90 Billion Over The Next 10 Years"

25 1 The folks over at NRO are reporting that the Unions have reached a deal with the Commie-D’s in those closed door meetings that will exempt the Unions from the 40% tax on “Cadillac Plans”.

If true and it comes to reality, then it will be revolution time.

26
Valerie Jarrett said this morning they wanted to tax only the 'large' banks, even the ones who have paid back their govt bailout loans.

She said this tax pays back the taxpayer. Her reasoning was convoluted. And since when does the Obama care about the taxpayers or the deficit?

This whole bank-tax scheme is very Chavez-esque. But again, the banks can go f-themsleves because they got in bed with and support the Democrats.

27 #3, what happened to those robust holiday sales figures I heard about on the news.

#24 Hey, NY has a legally blind gov--why not a MA Senator who is blind, too?

28 the world really has to go in and help Haiti.  The Chinese should go in their and build roads, develop and infrastructure and build housing.  They can do it and it is the right thing to do, why does the US always have to do everything and then take all the world's hatred at the same time?

29

Well someone just said on the radio that they have to tax the banks, they have to get the tarp money back and some places like GMAC either have no intention of paying it back or just can't.

That someone had to be an agent of the commiecrat party.  Banks don't pay taxes, customers do.

Don't hold your breath, Vic. And don't feel sorry for them because these are the same people who donate heavily to the Democrats.

I don't feel sorry for them. If I was on the BOD I would fire every one of them that got in bed with the Dems.

 

30 Headlines. Didn't see them.

Posted by: Martha Coakley at January 14, 2010 09:30 AM (VtC6V)

Wow Martha. I never really noticed before but you are pretty hot.

31 "Time to move my money." like "time to make the doughnuts".

32 Heh. Blank Stare Blanche is in trouble here in Arkansas because according to Rasmussen, 60% of Arkansans oppose Zerocare.

33

They can do it and it is the right thing to do, why does the US always have to do everything and then take all the world's hatred at the same time?

A.  We're Americans. 

B.  We're Americans.

C.  We're Americans.

D.  All of the above.

We have plenty to gripe about apart from helping Haitians, so bury yourself in those topics.

34

"Time to move my money." like "time to make the doughnuts".

I have a huge pile of my retirement assets being held by BOA. I wonder if it is time to move them and close all my accounts, then find a "small bank".

 

35
That seals it. The best thing for us is for ObamaCare to pass.

It will kill the Democrats in 2010 and the bill will be held up in courts for the next decade. It is clearly un-Constitutional and discriminatory and wholly unfair; it will never be enacted.

And Rush said yesterday: "The dirty little secret is if it doesn't pass, the Democrats are safe."

We NEED this thing to pass in its most awful form if we want to stop the Obama, Pelosi and Reid Chimera.

36 We NEED this thing to pass in its most awful form if we want to stop the Obama, Pelosi and Reid Chimera.

Yes. Much like I NEED a severed artery in order to be my healthiest.

37

Wow Martha. I never really noticed before but you are pretty hot.

Posted by: Charles Gibson at January 14, 2010 09:41 AM (OOgDc)

Well, gee. Thanks, Frank.

38

Foreclosures up? Unemployment up? Retail sales down?

It's all BULLISH baby! BUY!!!!!11!!!

39

We NEED this thing to pass in its most awful form if we want to stop the Obama, Pelosi and Reid Chimera.

That is not the right strategy. If it passes we will NEVER get rid of it. The commie-D's have already sealed their fate for this election provided the R's don't go into teh stupid and snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.

40

"We NEED this thing to pass in its most awful form if we want to stop the Obama, Pelosi and Reid Chimera."

Hahhahahah God that was funny. Really it was, I did notice however you missed your sarc/ tag though.

41 Here's a headline for ya:
Obama, Top Democrats, Organized Labor Spend All Day in Private Meetings Cutting Deals.


Transparency!

42 You can't materially help Haiti. Haiti is like helping African countries. Corruption is the cancer that keeps the country from ever getting better. No amount of aid has helped Haiti. And like O'Reilly says, after all the aid money is sent to Haiti, with most of it stolen, Haiti will still be Haiti. A hell hole of corruption and poverty.

43

And Rush said yesterday: "The dirty little secret is if it doesn't pass, the Democrats are safe."

No party is safe with double digit unemployment.

44

"Based on very, very back of the envelope math, if you figure 60% of $90 billion will be paid by 10 banks over 10 years, that works out to, on average, an additional $540 million for each of those banks. Obviously, since the fee will be levied based on the size of each institution's liabilities, that will very significantly by firm.

This part is really weird:

The taxed firms are expected to pay the cost of bailout money that went to General Motors and Chrysler, which are exempt from the tax.  The administration official defended the omission by  contending that U.S . automakers collapsed in part because of a financial crisis of the banks' making."

45
updates on health care corruption at "the corner"

Update: It is easy to see why the excise tax will need a pro-union makeover before a House-Senate reconciliation. AFL-CIO and SEIU officials have spent the week hitting key Democrat offices on Capitol Hill, and AFL-CIO president Richard Trumka was at the National Press Club on Monday making threats,  warning Democrats that if the final version of Obamacare doesn't make organized labor happy, 2010 could be 1994 all over again, since it would be dificult to "persuade enough working Americans to go to the polls."

"A bad bill could have that kind of effect," Trumka told reporters. "People could stay home. It could suppress votes."

House Dems seem to be getting the message. Reps. Joe Courtney (D., Conn.) and Sander Levin (D., Mich.) have already rounded up more than 190 of their caucus-mates to sign a letter opposing the tax.

Update II: Look for Obama and Congressional Democrats to the expand the union carve-out to cover a  swath of the "middle-class" (the universal solvent of American politics), so they can camouflage this massive giveaway to a pet constituency.

One House Democrat is already saying a "consensus" could be built around such a scheme by further increasing the Medicare payroll tax and applying it to capital gains to make up for lost revenue.

This would amount to nothing less than a bill of attainder against on all constituencies that are not especially useful to the president and his party.

46 Life TKO!

47 It is clearly un-Constitutional and discriminatory and wholly unfair; it will never be enacted.

Just like me, eh?

48

You can't materially help Haiti.

Aid programs and disaster relief are two different things.  Americans do not ignore a place where the hospitals are destroyed and schools collapsed on kids.

49 Wow, drudge says BO hasn't had a press conference since July?  

50 60% of Arkansans oppose Zerocare.

Do the rest think they're going to get "free" healthcare? Not picking on AR; those people are in every state.

Does Rasmussen break it down by race/income/education level?

51

Aid programs and disaster relief are two different things.  Americans do not ignore a place where the hospitals are destroyed and schools collapsed on kids.

Thats real nice. But from what I've seen, what they need is heavy equipment. But you see none there. By the time it gets shipped there, it will be a body recovery effort.

52 So, Barry is going to tax big banks for TARP (our money), who will in turn, pass the tax (fee) down to us.  We'll be taxed on the money that we lent.  Got it.

53

Wow, drudge says BO hasn't had a press conference since July?

As I recall, the last one did not go well.

Connect the dot.  (Singular.)

54

Posted by: Mallamutt at January 14, 2010 09:50 AM (V9SYy)

Well that would be nice except that I am living off of those assets right now and not drawing a dime in SS.

I guess I could sell everything in this bear market, buy all that stuff, and move to Wyoming like I have been wanting to do but......

wifey will not agree to it. I admit it....I'm PW.

 

55

53 Wow, drudge says BO hasn't had a press conference since July? "

Well yeah and he comes out late to every statement he makes so when its over he can run away and not answer questions. They learned that after the Gates fiasco.

56 "Mortgage Default Is A Patriotic Duty"“My data show that between 1890 and 1990 real home prices actually didn’t increase,” said Robert Shiller, in Newsweek (Dec 30, 2009), Why We’ll Always Have More Money than Sense."

57

Thats real nice. But from what I've seen, what they need is heavy equipment. But you see none there. By the time it gets shipped there, it will be a body recovery effort.

Maddog--they need field hospitals and running water.  Both are on the way. 

I'm a conservative, I'm not a ghoul. 

58
You guys just don't get it. You don't see the big picture and see how it will play out. Hear me out.

If it fails in its current form and it's shelved, Democrats maintain control of Congress. Republicans won't win shit in 2010. So the Democrats will try again, this time they'll pass a bill that's slightly less radical and this time they'll Republican support.

Where does that leave us? It leaves us in the minority and saddled with a massive expansion of government control of our health care. We lose. We have no chance at all in killing it. And we are forever in the minority and Obama gets reelected. What Nelson did, what Landrieu did,  etc., will be forgotten and go unpunished.

But if it passes, we win BIG in 2010 and not only have a good shot of killing it before it takes effect in 2013, it will be challenged in the courts for years. The bill they want to pass is insane and when the people learn of all 2000 pages of it evil, there will be hell to pay in 2012 for Obama and the Democrats.

59

Wow, drudge says BO hasn't had a press conference since July?

The jug-eared asshole has been on TV for the press every week since he got elected and sometimes 2 or 3 times a week. What more do they want?

Personally I am sick of seeing and hearing him. I turn it off everytime he comes on now. It is stupid to listen to him because you have to know everytime he opens his mouth a lie spews out.

60 Haitians need water, food, and medical supplies; they don't need--and really don't deserve--to be used as a backdrop for Barry preening for paprazzi.  It's going to be months before anybody's ready for him to come down and hang curtains.

While the Haitians haven't done anything to deserve being part of the Obama show, this is his Katrina (yes, I remember the Kentucky ice storms, I mean from his worldview), and I really can't see him resisting the impulse to draw attention to how much better he is at managing disaster than Bush was.

61 Does Rasmussen break it down by race/income/education level?

Posted by: HeatherRadish at January 14, 2010 09:53 AM (mR7mk)

Not that I saw.

62 Heather@ 23 -- I didn't say it would be good for the Haitians.

63 http://tinyurl.com/ydzdken

"Former New York Fed President and current Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner is being castigated for paying off AIG's counterparties - Goldman foremost among them - 100 cents on the dollar and then keeping these payments secret. But it seems likely that Goldman actually got much more than 100%."

Totally overlooked by MSM, is this scandal. Giether should be crab-walked out of his office building for this crap.

64

"In a credit bubble, the smart economist makes the highest goal a true reckoning with phony debt. The common man now has a chance to play the smart economist.

Let the house go back to the lenders. The bank will throw the mortgage in the garbage. Reality will return. Prices will fall – perhaps dramatically. Systemic mortgage debt in the United States will be reduced.

Default is now a patriotic duty. It is a courageous intelligent act. Take the right steps so we can beat the Chinese. We need the jobs. We need to get back to work. We donÂ’t need the phony debt issued to buy a bubble.

The government has screwed up management of the financial crisis by granting debt assets special status. What the owners of debt assets deserve are losses. ItÂ’s time for the people to fix the financial crisis."

65 and not only have a good shot of killing it

Little early to be that drunk, isn't it?  GOP couldn't even tweak Social Security with a two-house majority and a POTUS who suggested it, how are they going to repeal anything with one house and a violently-opposed POTUS?

66

The jug-eared asshole has been on TV for the press every week since he got elected and sometimes 2 or 3 times a week. What more do they want?"

Dude there is a big difference between being on TV giving fluff interviews and statements and actually answering questions. Wouldn't  you like to hear him asked "Mr. President you promised to televise the conference and healthcare debates on Cspan, now we find out that you and your party are holding them behind closed doors. What changed?" or something to that effect?

67

While the Haitians haven't done anything to deserve being part of the Obama show, this is his Katrina (yes, I remember the Kentucky ice storms, I mean from his worldview), and I really can't see him resisting the impulse to draw attention to how much better he is at managing disaster than Bush was.

Yes B.O. this morning was talking about Bush and Katrina and I just wanted to scream. Then later on F&F they had a reporter on the ground there waxing elequent about the slowness in getting help to them while he stood in front of people laying in the road wirth a camera crew filming him.

I am just waiting for Fox to send in Shep to start screaming about how bad the response is and how people are eating each other.

68 Vic, a press conference in which he has to answer unscripted questions not his usual burlesque show in front of a hand picked audience.

69

Ahem:

Those of you wanting this monstrosity of a THING^tm to pass are insane.

That is all.

You may now resume your normal moronory.

70

No party is safe with double digit unemployment.

As of today, the Democrats are winning the PR war. The Republicans haven't won anything significant since 2004 except last November in NJ.

The GOP will not win in 2010 unless people see a stark difference between (R)'s and (D)'s. Right now, there's none. I'm talking about the general public, now, not political junkies such as ourselves.

71 re Al Qaeda's Air Force. 727s? Transatlantic? Really? Maybe from Guinea or Sierra Leone to Brazil, but otherwise that sounds retarded. A 727 is a short-haul aircraft with a 5,000 km range, tops. Yes, that will get you across the Atlantic for several routes, but it's just not something 727s are intended to do. The Jihadists are crazy and evil, but not stupid.

And if it is true, shoot them down (after making damn sure you have the right target.) What are the camel-humpers going to do? Complain?

72 Jean @66, Crap, I'm sorry, didn't mean to sound like I was picking on you.   My inner Erzulie Dantor has been in overdrive this morning.

73 Umm, I don't seem to remember TARP being interest free. Isn't the interest the cost of the loan? Why is a tax needed too? A tax that will never be collected of course because banks have more than enough losses to override these taxes.
GHW Bush just called and said" Wow, I never really understood Voodoo Economics till now."

74

Dude there is a big difference between being on TV giving fluff interviews and statements and actually answering questions. Wouldn't  you like to hear him asked "Mr. President you promised to televise the conference and healthcare debates on Cspan, now we find out that you and your party are holding them behind closed doors. What changed?" or something to that effect?

Who will ask him that? CBS, NBC, ABC??? Not even Fox has ever really held is feet to the fire. The press conferences like the other are nothing more than fluff themsleves.

75

The GOP will not win in 2010 unless people see a stark difference between (R)'s and (D)'s. Right now, there's none.

Are you paying attention to Massachusettes at all?

Indies are fleeing the dems en masse and it's not just about health care.

76
Again, if this fails they're just going to try again.

If it fails, the GOP does not win control of Congress.

If it fails, the Democrats will pass something after the elections while they still have a super majority.

We need to take control of at least the House to stop ObamaCare. We cannot stop anything in our current state. At least after we win big in November, we have a chance to stop Obama's agenda.

77 Posted by: Rocks at January 14, 2010 10:03 AM (OOgDc)

Shhhhhush....we want to collect the money from our depositors...

78 after all the aid money is sent to Haiti, with most of it stolen, Haiti will still be Haiti. A hell hole of corruption and poverty.

Many Haitians hope the Americans will return someday  and cure their governmental problems.  One of the problems is there's something like 50 or 60 different political parties in Haiti. 

79

>You can't materially help Haiti.

>Aid programs and disaster relief are two different things.  Americans do not ignore a place where the hospitals are destroyed and schools collapsed on kids.

Kindly tell that to Bill Clinton who was on one of the FNC shows last night talking about how this was an opportunity to rebuild Haiti as a modern country.  Don't let a crisis go to waste and all that.

80 As of today, the Democrats are winning the PR war.

Seriously.  Up your meds.

81

Are you paying attention to Massachusettes at all?

Are you serious? I've been talking about the race since September, when no one here gave a shit. Now everyone is on the Brown bandwagon.

Brown hasn't won yet and you're already counting it as a victory. That's not wise.

82

The greatest movie ever, Aliens, was on AMC last night. I managed to catch most of it before I passed out drunk. The people advocating for this to pass so America can "learn it's lesson" would be like wanting the Alien to impregnate the little girl so she would learn to hold on to her freakin coat instead of falling down a cooling shaft.

BTW the so called "purity republicans" remind me of my favorite character in that movie, Hudson. The entire movie he bitches "game over man" or "they are going to come up here and kill us!" and wants to off  his own LT Gorman for fucking up.

83 Bill Clinton who was on one of the FNC shows last night talking about how this was an opportunity to rebuild Haiti as a modern country.

Dude had his chance in the 90s and blew it.

84 I guess I could sell everything in this bear market, buy all that stuff, and move to Wyoming like I have been wanting to

Get your wife in the Winnebago and drive her out to Lander, WY.  Beautiful little town, cheap real estate, and miles and miles of nothing but miles and miles.  I'd love to retire there.

85 I intend to save or create ten million Haitians.

86

What the hell is going on here today?

Seriously--people who think the THING^tm should pass based on some magical STRATEGERY reasons--words fail me.

And others who think it's fine to turn our backs on the poorest country in the hemisphere when it gets hit....wait for it...with an earthquake.  What the hell?  You guys decide Pat Robertson is right or something?

 

87

@82 - Staring at the flip side of the coin, it could also encourage the grass-roots activism on the right that we've been seeing for the last year, by giving everyone an example of what happens when the electorate doesn't hold the politicians it elects accountable for their votes.

BO's polls dropping, and a few choice polls of the more noteworthy conservative candidates running right now, suggest you are being a little dismissive of our chances.

Also, assuming we don't lose any seats in the upcoming election, to say the D's will try this again in the future and pass something watered down is a stretch.  They have the ability right now to pass anything they want - and can't / won't do it.  To say they'll be able to do it after getting clobbered in the polls in 2010 precisely because they tried to ram  unpopular legislation down our throat when they had a supermajority is...stupid.

Quit with the nay-saying.  It makes you look timid, and it pisses me off.

88

Circa it is one person suggesting that.

89

Get your wife in the Winnebago and drive her out to Lander, WY. 

I had been looking at Worland but if it is going to fall apart may need to get in the actual sticks.

90 @ 82

Big programs like Obamacare Never. Die. If it passes, we are stuck with it forever. Even if you're right, which you're not, I won't sacrifice the country to get a party win.

91

Brown hasn't won yet and you're already counting it as a victory. That's not wise.

I am not counting it as a victory, but that seat should be the safest seat for the Dems in the country.  It's not.  It's obvious the voters there can tell the difference between R and D, which I believe is exactly the distinction you say cannot be made without the very real tragedy of the THINGtm becoming law.  If that's wisdom, I'll just sit here and play with my tinker toys...okay? 

92

Circa it is one person suggesting that.

No offense intended to those of you who still have gray material and a sense of decency still operating.

Sorry for the shrillness.

93 Does Rasmussen break it down by race/income/education level?

Posted by: HeatherRadish at January 14, 2010 09:53 AM (mR7mk)

Not that I saw.

Posted by: maddogg at January 14, 2010 09:58 AM (OlN4e)

Me neither.

94
One more dose of reality before I go.

You know how Rush astutely asks if these are the actions one would take if one was trying to help the economy when Rush is talking about Obama's economic policies?

Well, look at the Republican party and what they have done so far to win in 2010. Are these the actions a party would take to win elections? Don't count on the Republicans winning while the Republican establishment is doing nothing to win and doing a lot to hamstring itself in November.

Where are the townhalls on the economy and on the 2000 page health care bill that's gonna take over 1/6 of our economy? These people are on vacation and right now they don't really care about winning.



2010 is our last stand and we're doing nothing to remedy our fundamental problems with our leadership and direction of our opposition party, the GOP, except wishful thinking for Scott Brown to win in MA and for wins to magically happen in Novemember.

95

Apply Butter's logic to Iraq="Let's hope Obama withdraws now and the country ignites into a huge civil war that spreads to the entire ME. That will learn those stupid Americans that vote D! We should be hoping he does that."

96

Barry asks the root of all evil to help with Haiti?

WASHINGTON (AFP) – Former US president George W. Bush will join former president Bill Clinton to help lead the US relief effort in response to the earthquake that devastated Haiti, an official close to Bush said Thursday.

The White House declined to comment on the request to Bush and Clinton, but said that Obama would make a new statement on the unfolding US relief effort for Haiti later on Thursday.

I'm surprised that they haven't blamed the earthquake on Bush.

97 Well, look at the Republican party and what they have done so far to win in 2010.

From where I sit, they have been strongly involved in the act of not interrupting the enemy when he's making a mistake.

98 talking about how this was an opportunity to rebuild Haiti as a modern country.

I think this is entirely possible, but it won't be done with the usual "maintenance level aid" which in reality just locks in the current corruption and levels of poverty.  The Haitians are industrious enough and willing to do the heavy lifting themselves. 

What they'll need most is markets for exports.  Geographically, Haiti is perfectly located to become a "mini-China" with short trips to our eastern seaports, Europe, West Africa, and South America.  Cargo container shipping costs from Haiti to the east coast are about 1/3 that from China to the US west coast.

Electricity is an issue as are viable roads.  The north and east of Port Au Prince  are pretty mountainous, but the southern peninsula  less so. 

99 Bill Clinton who was on one of the FNC shows last night talking about how this was an opportunity to rebuild Haiti as a modern country.

Dude had his chance in the 90s and blew it.

Posted by: HeatherRadish at January 14, 2010 10:11 AM (mR7mk)

He was concentrating on other blowing back then.

100 o is grandstanding now on the radio abt. all HE is doing to help in Haiti. he is trying to showcase his decisive leadership qualities. it's always abt. him.

101

2010 is our last stand and we're doing nothing to remedy our fundamental problems with our leadership and direction of our opposition party, the GOP, except wishful thinking for Scott Brown to win in MA and for wins to magically happen in Novemember.

And your advice to the Republicans is...let it pass and watch the victories roll in in November.  We should put you in charge of Afghanistan policy and I'll even let you do my taxes. 

102 American's will not send support to Haiti because they are dark-skinned and have a heavy negro dialect.

103 Butters parenting advice="Let your 16 year old daughter go out until 3 am with the 20 year old tattooed drop out. He will treat her like shit, knock her up, and probably offer her a plethora of drugs, but at the end of the day she will learn you were right about him and be all the better for it. That will learn her good!"

104 You know how Rush astutely asks if these are the actions one would take if one was trying to help the economy when Rush is talking about Obama's economic policies?

Wow.  No comment, and that should be comment enough.

Well, look at the Republican party and what they have done so far to win in 2010. Are these the actions a party would take to win elections? Don't count on the Republicans winning while the Republican establishment is doing nothing to win and doing a lot to hamstring itself in November.

Because the party's actions dictate how all of our votes are cast.  I must have missed the memo.

Where are the townhalls on the economy and on the 2000 page health care bill that's gonna take over 1/6 of our economy? These people are on vacation and right now they don't really care about winning.

You were in a coma, you say?  People getting beat down at townhall meetings for opposing Obamacare at a Democrats town hall meeting?  SEIU thugs enforcing security?  Shall I continue?]

2010 is our last stand and we're doing nothing to remedy our fundamental problems with our leadership and direction of our opposition party, the GOP, except wishful thinking for Scott Brown to win in MA and for wins to magically happen in Novemember.

You obviously aren't doing much.  Shitting on a campaign that, even in a loss, has the chance to define the choice for the whole of the 2010 midterms is statement enough from you.

105

The economy will be giving the 52 the lesson they deserve good and hard between now and November no matter what anyone does.

How can things possibly get better with these jackasses in charge?

The concrete impact of inflation and unemployment far outweighs the abstract impact of HCR--especially with the delayed implementation planned.

106 Circa, I'm not suggesting we leave the the Haitians to rot in the rubble-anyone who can spare some money and feels sympathetic should donate towards the immediate recovery effort and such rebuilding as is necessary to restore approximately the status quo.  I'm not going to be supportive of borrowing money from the Chinese (or anyone else) in order to rebuild the island in Obama/Clinton's image, however, given the condition we are in right now.

And I have no idea whether Pat Robertson was right.  While he's not particularly credible, there is a lesson to be learned here about how we all dangle in this world by a thread. 

107 Brown hasn't won yet and you're already counting it as a victory.

Even if he loses, its still a win. 

108
Crap.  Sock off.

I forgot to state my point:  There is very little for the party to gain and very much for the country to lose if HCR is signed into law.

109 Butters - victory also emboldens the base and discourages the opposition. A victory by Brown will make Democrat fund raising and candidate recruitment going into the 2010 races much harder. In fact, just by making it a close race and requiring so much Democrat/Union money to be spent there makes 2010 harder for them nationwide. The same applies to Obamacare, stop it, and it will be like the smell of napalm in the morning and the leftys will be eating their own for weeks.

110

And I have no idea whether Pat Robertson was right.

Then you are an idiot.  Am I clear enough on that point?

111 Just saw the president yacking on tv about stuff over his pay grade. One quote(he stole and paraphrased without credit).

"There but for the grace of God, go we".

Isn't that the same thing Pat Robertson said yesterday?

112

"There but for the grace of God, go we".

Yes, that's what Robertson said.  But unlike when Obama said it, he was not referring to himself in the Third Person.

P.S. Fuck Pat Robertson. 

113 Let me reiterate a point I expounded upon at some length last evening:
Pat Robertson is a fucking douchebag.

114 Michelle Malkin's article on Michelle O's fake produce in the Iron Chief episode is awesome.  Chalk up another fake but accurate example of what Democrats will do to stage a story.

115

>And I have no idea whether Pat Robertson was right.

>Then you are an idiot.  Am I clear enough on that point?

You're clear enough that your emotional state makes you a fool on this topic.  I said immediately following that he's not particularly credible.  Absent an angelic visitation, there's no way to know for certain whether this the active will of God or the permissive will of God at work.  But at some point after an earthquake that levels a place overrun with witchcraft, or a hurricane drowns a city that revels in wickedness, or a tsunami wipes out a wide swath of practicing muslims, or repeated earthquakes take out tribes of muslims in Iran and Pakistan, one might reasonalby conclude that these are not all random events.  If San Francisco or Las Vegas is next, you might want to consider that.

But by all means, save who can be saved now.  Maybe they'll learn from it even if you're too stubborn to.

116 Pat Robertson is dead to me.  You cannot say what he said and be regarded as anything but a douchebag.

117 Try and keep up here.
The entire island of Hispaniola has been subject to exactly the same natural disasters since the beginning of time. The suffering and destitution of Haiti is not shared by the Eastern half of the island in Dominican Republic. The reason for this disparity of equality has nothing whatsoever to do with the physical differences between the two states, they are on the same island. 100% of the reason the suffering is greater in Haiti is because of the social/political/spiritual beliefs of the people who inhabit that half of the island.

118

@121 - Using natural disasters as an indicator that God punishes the evil in the world is not helpful for your cause, dude.  If eternal salvation, or damnation, awaits you as a result of the choices you make because of free will, the fact that God could Earthquake you or Lottery you in the interim for being super duper good or bad seems to somewhat contradict that.  But hey, I've got no skin in that game. Unless God is punishing me for moving to Atlanta by making it 10 degrees for the last two weeks.

Hmmmm.....

119 But at some point after an earthquake that levels a place overrun with witchcraft, or a hurricane drowns a city that revels in wickedness, or a tsunami wipes out a wide swath of practicing muslims, or repeated earthquakes take out tribes of muslims in Iran and Pakistan, one might reasonalby conclude that these are not all random events. 

One might "reasonably conclude" no such thing. Is there a place on Earth where the people are so righteous that no one could possibly say "They invited it?"

120 In 1790 what was Haiti was the richest state in the new world. After the uprising in August 1791 the state that became Haiti became the first in the Western hemisphere to abolish slavery, and has since then been the poorest, most miserible existence, while just over the border, they continued to enjoy what might be called the good life, even to this day. It could be social, it could be political, but you have to consider the fact that Haiti is and always has been the center of vudou since 1791. Coincidence?

121 Oops, that's spelled Vodou.

122 Wasn't Job beloved of God?

123 One might "reasonably conclude" no such thing. Is there a place on Earth where the people are so righteous that no one could possibly say "They invited it?"

I previously said:
there is a lesson to be learned here about how we all dangle in this world by a thread. 

So in answer to your question, no, there is no place on earth that is so righteous.  I'm talking about time running out for the world.  And to ATaLien, I would say this is not about any 'cause.'  It is a matter of fact that God asserts that he is control of everything ultimately, the only question was whether any given disaster was a result of Him pulling strings at just this instant, or if it was something that was going to happen as a consequence of other factors that He choose not to intervene and stop.  Asserting one or the other with no direct knowledge is foolish and that's why Robertson was wrong.  As for 'not helping the cause' because the comments upset people, the fact is that the people who are upset by any discussion of the consequences of sin are the ones who most need to hear it.

124 Wasn't Job beloved of God?

Yes, people who are in good standing with God are also tested in order to strengthen their faith for future needs.  Which is why noone should be flat out asserting either way, short of some divine insight.

125 Yes, people who are in good standing with God are also tested in order to strengthen their faith for future needs.  Which is why noone should be flat out asserting either way, short of some divine insight.

Of course, there's also the possibility that there is no god, and earthquakes happen because tectonic pressure is being released on fault lines, and has nothing to do with human behavior, other than the fact that some humans are living along the fault lines.

Just sayin'.

126

As for 'not helping the cause' because the comments upset people, the fact is that the people who are upset by any discussion of the consequences of sin are the ones who most need to hear it.

Look, asshole--I do not need you to tell me about my relationship with God.  Ever.  Get that?  We talk every day and he didn't mention you.  Ever.

Your theology is fucked up beyond all recognition if you think God drops school houses on kids.

127

@129 - I don't really need to hear anything.  By your logic, God hates Haitain vodou more than he hates Islamic extremists who kill innocent people.  Have fun with that.

Haiti sits on a fault line, or God chose to smack teh evil art of vodou and make orphans out of thousands of  children.  I'm going to have to tank for a bit on this one.

128 Wait, no I'm not.  I'll take natural disasters for $400, Trebek.

129 Your theology is fucked up beyond all recognition if you think God drops school houses on kids.

I think I've clearly stated a couple of times that there is a question as to whether any given disaster is because God directed it to happen or He allowed it to happen.  And I've stated as clearly as I can that I don't know which.  You however seem to want to assume I mean whichever position you are most upset at, which makes discussion the matter with you less than useless.

In either case, any kids that were meant to be saved are with Him now and happier for it.

If you think God was impotent in this matter, or nonexistent to begin with, I feel quite safe dismissing your opinion out of hand.

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131

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