1 Please....a pic of James Carville this early in the morning?

You're just cruel.

2

Cat...or bat?

I'm surprised Monty bothered with a DOOM thread today. I'm all DOOMED out from the awesome Shutdown Crisis cum Winning Deal _TM kabuki this weekend.  Faux News totally shot its collective wad this weekend, hyping the Shutdown all week, then with the Crisis Countdown Friday night, followed by the  Celebratory Reading of Victory Talking Points Saturday and Sunday. They must be hung over this morning.

3 To borrow a metaphor from the recent tragedy in Japan,

I see a red tidal wave of debt heading my way and there's no where to run...

4 Drudge: Obama -- Strongly Approve: 19% (new low)

5 I think I'm going to get one of those cats. ADORABLE

6 Always an inspiration Monty. Thank you.

7 Ragin' Cajun Kitty. Gross.

8 Drudge: Obama -- Strongly Approve: 19% (new low) Posted by: USA at April 11, 2011 09:11 AM (YZISw) And those are mostly dead people in Chicago cemetaries

9 The Tea Party did a very smart thing last year: They kicked out a few independents who didnÂ’t support them politically.

Now wait a minute. For the first year of Obama, we heard an unending chorus of "establishment Republicans" and Democrats giving the Republican party lots of advise on how they needed to be more like Democrats in order to win in Washington.

Now here is proof-positive that all of that advise was crap.

10 Tami beat me to it, but proves I'm not the only one to see Carville in that cat.

11 Regarding the Roth IRA's, they are supposed to be after-tax which means you've already paid the gov taxes on your income that you're putting away for retirement.  Now they want another tax on it?  Double taxation?  Fuck you fuckers!  I'll see you in Thunderdome with my chainsaw and a full tank of gas.

12

DOOM!....Just like Mom used to make.  (Before they finally took Mom away)

13 The Doom will continue until we run out of pictures of these fucking hideous cats...

14 That 'cat' is uglier than the budget deficit. Almost.
 
Good round-up Monty. Even the JEF is now climbing aboard deficit reduction (through increased taxes, natch) and admitting that his submitted 2012 budget was a bad joke.
 
Progress.

15 Iceland, England, and the Netherlands are falling down the shithole, and vow to fight with each other all the way to the bottom. Heh.

16 What stuns me about the stupidity of our overlords is that they don't understand even the most basic laws of economics. But hopefully this will be the impetus for a Republican landslide in 2012.

Poor people, at least in the beginning of an inflationary cycle, are hurt more than the wealthy. Unless Obama (pbuh) indexes everything to inflation, and increases the bribe transfer payments often (once/month), his captive voters will get angry. Maybe they won't be so energized to vote for the same old shit. But some of them aren't sucking on the government teat as much, and they will get even more screwed, because private sector salaries will lag too.

17 Yes the idiots want to talk about SS cuts now after the long fake fight over a non-existent cut in spending. From the link:

WASHINGTON, April 7 (Reuters) - In 1983, a civil servant named Robert Ball worked a political miracle: he convinced Republican Ronald Reagan to raise taxes and Democrat Tip O'Neill to accept trims to Social Security.

That was the second "fix" for SS. And like the first fix the Dems turned around and spent every nickle of the fix plus some. The Repubs just folded to avoid a fake shutdown over a fake cut and called it a victory.

Now do we actually think they are going to fix SS again?

The real fight will occur when you and your neighbors are fighting over who will get to eat the stray dog wandering through your block.

18 We are not likely to run out of ugly kittys any time soon. Here is one you might like Monty.

19 EC: That's why the op-ed is so dumb. You do pay taxes on your Roth contributions; you just pay them up front rather than on the back-end. The writer's main objection is that you don't pay taxes on capital gains when you withdraw on retirement -- which of course in his mind is tantamount to stealing bread from the mouths of starving children, or something.

20 Posted by: Vic at April 11, 2011 09:24 AM (M9Ie6)

The only question is whether the Republicans will make it worse more quickly or less quickly than the Democrats.

21 And like the first fix the Dems turned around and spent every nickle of the fix plus some. That's the main defect of any tax-increase to "fix" SS/Medicare. These are "pay as you go" programs, which means that any additional revenue collected via taxation would not go to pay down debt, but would simply be immediately spent and only add to the future shortfalls. A tax-increase, in short, would make the problem worse at all levels -- increasing spending now without doing a thing to improve solvency in the longer term.

22 CHARLES BLOW:  . . . Every time someone allows Donald Trump to come on the air and talk about this issue, they're being exploited by Donald Trump. We know that this is not true. Every time we mention his name in relation to this issue, we're being exploited.

I know the Prophet is the one and true messenger from Allah.
I know that I am happy that my dog is finally getting cheese.
I know that Barney Frank did everything possible to cause the financial collapse of 2008.
I know that there is always a big future in computer maintenance.
I know that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone to shoot JFK.

... but all I know is that Barack Obama has a certificate of live birth that in no way proves he is a natural born US citizen.
Every Kenyan knows this to be true.

23 Posted by: Monty at April 11, 2011 09:25 AM (4Pleu)

From a state filled with stupid people, a newspaper that caters to the stupidest of them still has the capacity to produce an op-ed that is stunning in its ignorance of pretty much everything.

And you say that innovation is dead in California?

24 That's why the op-ed is so dumb. You do pay taxes on your Roth contributions; you just pay them up front rather than on the back-end. The writer's main objection is that you don't pay taxes on capital gains when you withdraw on retirement -- which of course in his mind is tantamount to stealing bread from the mouths of starving children, or something.

BUST A DEAL!  FACE THE WHEEL!

I've never heard of the writer of the op-ed before, but he sounds like the kind of guy who I'd like to push off a cliff.

25 Does anyone keep a list of US banks that are in deep to the PIGS,  the ECB, and/or the various banks that are in deep to the PIGS?   or is going to go like a house of cards and nothing will be left standing?

26 Ending Roth IRA's because of the "War on the Rich?"

 
If I remember rightly, if you make over a certain amount, you can't enter into a Roth..

It was set up so lower to medium income types can invest for retirement..

27 Laurent Gbagbo (must be a D. because he won't leave office even though he lost an election, Ivory Coast), has apparently been captured by French Special Forces, who are suddenly the world's greatest fighting force (in the sense that their government allows them to, you know, actually fight their enemies), and handed over to the "rebels" (who for some reason are called such despite representing the side that won the election).

The rebels will either kill Gbagbo, put him on trial for crimes against the nation, or hand him over to the much-feared international community, where he will serve house arrest in the south of France drinking wine and watching porn.

28 27 House of cards methinks. 

29

Obama: "I just miss--I miss being anonymous."

Don't worry. Soon you will be.

30 re the Chinese buying up America -- good. How'd that work out for Japan in the 80s? Oh yeah, they have a debt to GDP ratio of 220% or so.

31 The economy.  It went down there?

32

28 Indeed it was, and indeed that is where my family has habitually invested -- but liquidating Roth's was something you just knew was going to come up over a year ago.  At least that's when my family started pulling their money out of them.

Anyone who didn't think that this administration would make it so the lower/middle income bracket would be utterly dependent upon government for anything (and thus the scapegoats of the upper middle and the somewhat wealthy, who will see them as "parasites") should have read their history a bit more closely.

This is how you develop a caste society from what once was the whole of the middle class, and have them at each other's throats all the time...and thus much more easily manipulated.

 

33 I don't understand what happened.  With Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, and Barack Obama, we have three of the biggest brains in the world running the country.

Where are the unicorns?

34 re the Chinese buying up America -- good. How'd that work out for Japan in the 80s? Oh yeah, they have a debt to GDP ratio of 220% or so.

Posted by: GnuBreed at April 11, 2011 09:38 AM (ENKCw)

I don't mind when foreigners buy up US real estate.  It's not like it's a moveable asset.  Let them help prop up property values.  If they get uppity we can always nationalize it right back. 

35 Icelandic Thunderdome:  Three nations enter!

We're still working on the 'x nations leave!' part.  Frankly we're not clear anyone does.

36 ...that piss-smelling bum down by the bus-stop...

whut?

37

Did VDH invent a new genre?  Pre-apocalyptic? 

Way to go VDH.

 

38  monty seems to have it:  "How did Trump get to be so popular in certain political circles? HereÂ’s my take: when all we have to choose from are fools, ceteris paribus, Americans tend to choose the most entertaining fool."

What's interesting is that you guys wholly chastised me for liking rudy.  Rudy, being a New Yorker, behaves similar to trump, you can't help it, it's the environment.  Yet, last time around you had a wonderful time taking Rudy out cause he wore a dress on SNL and for other stupid reasons.  Now, in the face of donald, rudy is lookin pretty damned good, isn't he?

39 Begone, you smelly sockpuppet.

40 If I remember rightly, if you make over a certain amount, you can't enter into a Roth..

Yes, there are income limits to Roth IRA's that prevent wealthy people from participating.  $177k for married filing jointly.  $120k for single, head of household.  As your start to approach those limits, your contribution limits are reduced.

I really don't see what this op-ed guy's fucking problem is.  These were made for middle-income people to shelter money away (after taxes!).  God help anyone who invests for their future.

41

Isn't that something?  Some people in Illinois still think they still have a chance!

They're so cute.

42

I don't mind when foreigners buy up US real estate.  It's not like it's a moveable asset.  Let them help prop up property values.  If they get uppity we can always nationalize it right back. 

Posted by: Reactionary at April 11, 2011 09:43 AM (xUM1Q)

In many countries you can't buy land or a nice company unless you are a natural born citizen with proof.

43 VDH = VP, please

44 Check out this story on the inevitable gigantic housing bubble bursting The Chinese are notoriously frugal savers (they have to be since they don't have a welfare-state like we do). But there as here there is an almost magical belief that real-estate -- land -- is a magical engine of prosperity somehow. You have people investing their savings in housing projects they can't even afford to live in themselves. There are entire "ghost cities" in China full of brand-new and completely empty buildings. Block after block, mile after mile. It's like the huge subdivisions here that remain empty even years after the bubble popped -- everyone realizes that the loss on the investment has to be taken by somebody, but no one wants to step up and take the hit. And for the Chinese it's even worse because the secretive ChiCom government can, by fiat, hide a lot of shitty loans and non-performant assets from the international investing community.

45 14That 'cat' is uglier than the budget deficit. Almost.

Posted by: GnuBreed at April 11, 2011 09:20 AM (ENKCw)

The ugly on that cat is the budget deficit.

46 Trump is P.T. Barnum. And I am not a big enough fool to take him seriously. Though 52% of us cannot make that same claim. He is a bomb thrower, and we need those bombs thrown, but I would not be surprised to find out, after the elections, that Trump gave the Zero campaign big bucks.

47 46 Think of IL as a microcosm of the world...at least the developed world.  There's your doom right there.  It should be interesting to see what happens here in the next few years (says an Illinoisian with few doubts as to how it's likely to end).

48 Empty city = easy way to pay off a division or two of troops when the break up comes.  The local warlord will be in a good position; wonder who in the PLA signed off on the city's construction.

49 George Will on why it's stupid for municipalities to finance sports franchises.

50

Here's a little more anecdotal evidence that more people are getting onto the DOOM!^tm wagon.  One of the companies from which I buy food for long-term storeage just sent me an email informing me that they are running 2 to 3 weeks behind schedule in shipping orders due to increased demand because of "world events."

I also read a news report on-line in which the reporter was shocked to discover that food prices are going up and package sizes getting smaller.  However, this dipshit just couldn't make the connection between increased energy prices resulting in increased production costs.  A quick scan of the comments showed that the majority of the imbeciles blamed Wall Street.  The stupidity of some of my fellow citizens fills me with dispare, sometimes.  I guess this leaves more prey wandering the Wasteland, looking for an up-side on this.

51 There are entire "ghost cities" in China full of brand-new and completely empty buildings. Block after block, mile after mile.

That's what the video was about.

52

Why is Trump so popular?

I can't figure it out either.  Why would a guy who goes around saying what we schlubs are not allowed to even think about, and shoving it in the face of faux-intellectual harridans on The View, and fatuous DNC-shills in the MFM... I mean, why would such a guy be popular?  It's a regular mystery, within an enigma, within one of those wachamacallits!

53 >>That's what the video was about. That's actually been around for a while now. The only person who still thinks China is some sort of economic dream is Tom Friedman. But then, he is a big gov't, central planning dope so not too much of a surprise.

54 In all honesty, I don't think the ghost cities will go unused.  I think China didn't build them for the chinese, they built them for the fleeing foreigners.

55 60 Somehow I don't think it would be all that wise to flee to China, but that may be a biased mistake on my part.

56 So other than calling for tax hikes and bashing Republicans as being evil, I wonder what Obama is going to say in this speech of his. Politico has a new article about his strategy for discussing health care costs, which is to borrow from Erskine-Bowles. Says David Nather, "President Barack Obama is promising to lay out his long-awaited ideas on how to restrain Medicare and Medicaid spending this week — just in time to take the spotlight away from Paul Ryan". So the day before the House takes-up the budget bill, he's going to suddenly endorse Erskine-Bowles just to help him win the election. What leadership.

57 Roth IRA's a similar to all the "programs" out there to help people.  You know they are there but when you actually go around searching for anyone who has used them, you can't find anyone.

58 You know they are there but when you actually go around searching for anyone who has used them, you can't find anyone. Buh? I have one; have had it for years. Most of my friends and associates have one. Most use it to augment the 401(k)/403(b) they have at work. Roth IRAs are very popular indeed.

59 VDH = VP, please

?

60 Well I just finished reading Nobel House and I learned all about how the Chinese who are able to participate in real capitalism react.

Now I am going to re-read "Dies The Fire" so I can reacquaint myself with how to survive the inevitable doom we are about to have because neither Party in this country believes in capitalism. 

61 You know they are there but when you actually go around searching for anyone who has used them, you can't find anyone.

Hardly.  I have one.

62 A perfect target for President Obama?

“'The Ryan proposal could be the foil Obama needs,' said former Bill Clinton adviser Paul Begala, who could not sound happier at the prospect. 'I hope every vulnerable Republican in Congress signs on to the Ryan plan to kill Medicare, because we will beat ’em like a bad piece of meat.'”

I'm so glad that the Dems care more about us than a presidential election-- so glad.
/

63 Most use it to augment the 401(k)/403(b) they have at work. Roth IRAs are very popular indeed.

Posted by: Monty at April 11, 2011 10:06 AM (4Pleu)

I thought the Roth IRA was similar to the old IRA, in that if you had a tax deferred IRA at work you were not eligible for the IRA at all.

64 So what is the difference between a "Obamized Roth" IRA with taxes at both ends and regular investment account. As far as i can see, its only the extra regulations and reduced choices many IRAs offer.

If you are only making $20 - 35,000 per year, the fact that you don't pay taxes into a traditional IRA was never that attractive - you just don't save that much on taxes if you sock a thousand bucks away.

If the left thinks this means we'll be opening traditional IRAs now, or passively accepting a government edict to cash out our Roths, pay the taxes, and then roll over the money into a traditional IRA, they really must be on crack. You'll see a rush of small IRAs cashing out and moving to regular investment accounts, where you have more freedom to invest in a larger array of stocks, funds, etc.

Which makes me think this is all a bright idea being floated by an unholy alliance investment houses, leftist money-grabbers and whackjob "economists."

We'll all be storing our spending money under our mattresses and buying gold and silver and physical objects like ammo and food to keep these fools out of our pockets if they have any success with their plans.

65

♫ W'all, I ain't gonna work on Maggie's Farm, no more ÂÃ´

Doing his part for the trade deficit.

66 At the root of this Doom is the income tax. Get rid of it.

67

There are entire "ghost cities" in China full of brand-new and completely empty buildings. Block after block, mile after mile.

It's breathtaking how beautiful those cities are!

68 The idea of tax deferred 401K or a tax deferred IRA has always been that you would not pay taxes on the money until after you retired and were theoretically in a "lower tax bracket".

The problem though has been that with inflation and it being only partially offset by indexing the tax tables due to government shenanigans, you wind up not being in a lower bracket at retirement (assuming you have actually set aside enough money to retire).

As I built my own retirement assets I began to see that right away and started sticking money into non-tax deferred accounts/stocks.

69 I thought the Roth IRA was similar to the old IRA, in that if you had a tax deferred IRA at work you were not eligible for the IRA at all. Nope. That might have been true of the traditional IRA, but a Roth doesn't have that restriction. That's why I've got both: a 403(b) *and* a Roth. The 403(b) is tax-deferred; the Roth isn't. Also, the Roth allows me a far more flexible investing profile than the 403(b) does -- I actually have some of my precious-metals stuff in my Roth. I bought physical gold, and deposited it in a trust that is held by my Roth IRA fund. There are income caps, as someone else said already. For me, a single guy, it's $120K per year.

70

A perfect target for President Obama?

What is Kal Penn's Corn?

71 Then, too, Roths could be a drag on the U.S. economy. Since no withdrawals are required, assets can lie idle indefinitely.

What?

God, liberals are stupid. They think the only positive outcome of investment is to create a taxable profit?

The assets aren't lying idle. These are investments (the Roth IRA is just the vehicle) that provide working capital to businesses.

Here's something that the clowns on the left never consider. If no one had "extra" assets lying around, we'd all live in mud houses at subsistence level.

You need someone to provide the capital in order to invest and grow.
 
This is simple enough that a fifth grader could understand it, but a leftist? No. Too complicated.

72 Yahoo has a story up about the personal safes washing up in Japan full of cash.  It amazing so much Yen didn't circulate and those old folks didn't sell it for gold.

73 jesus aren't there any photos of cute cats on the internets

74 I have a request for some moron advice: Last year I was laid off from work due to a plant closing. I got a $40000 severance payment but the Feds decided to steal about $15000 of it in "taxes". So what I want to do is put my son on SS disability due to his autism and get that money back, with interest. I don't know anything about child SSI, but I think it is somewhat need-based. Frankly, I've reached my limit on the Feds stealing my money. They are theives plain and simple, the more people that come to that conclusion the better. It really hit home with Reid complaining about cuts to cowboy poetry and PP.

75

Here's something that the clowns on the left never consider. If no one had "extra" assets lying around, we'd all live in mud houses at subsistence level.

Comrade!

76

Yahoo has a story up about the personal safes washing up in Japan full of cash.  It amazing so much Yen didn't circulate and those old folks didn't sell it for gold.

it's not that suprising.  The older generation in America is the same way, or was.

Many great depression survivors have cash stowed away in their home somewhere.

77 Posted by: Warden at April 11, 2011 10:22 AM (fVIlG) Yes. It is some form of arrested development.

78

“'The Ryan proposal could be the foil Obama needs,' said former Bill Clinton adviser Paul Begala, who could not sound happier at the prospect. 'I hope every vulnerable Republican in Congress signs on to the Ryan plan to kill Medicare, because we will beat ’em like a bad piece of meat.'”

Such a petty, angry little man he is but so typical of the left. They lash out with rage because of the world's "refusal" to be reshaped into what they see in their dreams.

79 I don't know anything about child SSI, but I think it is somewhat need-based.

Someone posted a link here a few months ago to a Detroit welfare queen who was pulling in 80K a year based on SSDI payments and other welfare scams for her children. All it takes is a "good" doctor.

80 Also I found a job before I was laid off, so I took precisely 0 dollars in unemployment. In fact, I've never taken unemployment since I've entered the workforce 25 years ago.

81

jesus aren't there any photos of cute cats on the internets

 

No.

 DOOM! kittehs are not cute.

82 Nope. That might have been true of the traditional IRA, but a Roth doesn't have that restriction. That's why I've got both: a 403(b) *and* a Roth. The 403(b) is tax-deferred; the Roth isn't. Also, the Roth allows me a far more flexible investing profile than the 403(b) does -- I actually have some of my precious-metals stuff in my Roth. I bought physical gold, and deposited it in a trust that is held by my Roth IRA fund.

Can someone have an SEP-IRA and a Roth IRA?

83 I have a request for some moron advice: Last year I was laid off from work due to a plant closing. I got a $40000 severance payment but the Feds decided to steal about $15000 of it in "taxes". So what I want to do is put my son on SS disability due to his autism and get that money back, with interest. I don't know anything about child SSI, but I think it is somewhat need-based. Frankly, I've reached my limit on the Feds stealing my money. They are theives plain and simple, the more people that come to that conclusion the better. It really hit home with Reid complaining about cuts to cowboy poetry and PP. Posted by: Dr. Heinz Doofensmirtz at April 11, 2011 10:25 AM (YLWP6) You would be putting your son on Welfare.

84 Obama: "I just miss--I miss being anonymous."

Well it is a lot easier than being infamous

85

Many great depression survivors have cash stowed away in their home somewhere.

Used to find a lot of cash and guns stashed in walls and under floorboards when I was doing demo / remodel work on the East Coast.

86

In all honesty, I don't think the ghost cities will go unused.  I think China didn't build them for the chinese, they built them for the fleeing foreigners.

They're all still better than Detroit/

87 Vic, I'm 100% absolutely sure my son would qualify medically, no scam needed. Not that your saying it was, but I just want to clarify. My basic question was whether I could with my income, mid-80s.

88

Many great depression survivors have cash stowed away in their home somewhere.

Used to find a lot of cash and guns stashed in walls and under floorboards when I was doing demo / remodel work on the East Coast.

yeah, the best part about finding that stuff, is most of the time the money is real old and more valuable than the simple face value.

89

They're all still better than Detroit/

 It's China. 

There's no packs of feral dogs.  None.

90 Sage advice from advocates of the moron lifestyle

Sometime this year, we taxpayers will again receive another 'Economic Stimulus' payment.
This is indeed a very exciting program,  and I'll explain it by using a Q & A format:
Q. What is an 'Economic Stimulus' payment?
A. It is money that the federal government will send to taxpayers.
Q. Where will the government get this money?
A. From taxpayers.
Q.  So the government is giving me back my own money ?
A.  Only a smidgen of it.
Q. What is the purpose of this payment?
A. The plan is for you to use the money to purchase a  high-definition TV set,  thus stimulating the economy.
Q. But isn't that stimulating the economy of China ?
A. Shut up.
Below is some helpful advice on how to best help the U.S. economy by  spending your stimulus check wisely:  
If you spend the stimulus money at Wal-Mart, the money will  go to China or Sri Lanka .
If you spend it on gasoline,  your money will go to the  Arabs.
If you purchase a computer,  it will go to India , Taiwan or  China.
If you purchase fruit and vegetables,  it will go to Mexico ,  Honduras and Guatemala .
If you buy an efficient  car,  it will go to Japan or Korea .
If  you purchase useless stuff,  it will go to Taiwan .
If you pay your credit cards off, or buy stock,  it will go  to management bonuses and they will hide it offshore.
Instead,  keep the money in America by:
Spending it at yard sales,  or
Going to ball games,  or
Spending it on prostitutes,  or
Beer or
Tattoos.
(These are the only American businesses still operating in the US )
Conclusion:
Go to a ball game with a tattooed prostitute that you met at a yard  sale and drink beer all day !
 
No need to thank me, I'm just glad I could be of help.

91

yeah, the best part about finding that stuff, is most of the time the money is real old and more valuable than the simple face value.

I wonder if all that old  porn was worth anything...found more of that than either of the other.

92 Ok, financial wizards, what say you about an after-tax,  set of whole life insurance plans that at age 65 pays a death benefit (~ 2M), and will have a cash value that allows a monthly payout of ~4K indefinitely.  If I croak before 65; current cash value plus a death benefit of about ~1M (slowly increasing) is paid out to family trust.  If inflation goes nuts, then the cash value should accumulate faster - but will it keep pace (it is invested in basket index funds,e tc.)

My own little pension; I didn't like the SEP options, assuming of course the black swan doesn't crap on my head - I have other plans for that. 

93 Here's the other thing--Roth IRAs are one of the few breaks our government gives to people who save and invest.

The whole system is designed to fuck the responsible and the productive while rewarding the lazy and irresponsible.

So the middle class gets this ONE thing--a break on long term capital gains when saving and investing for retirement--and this fucking snotty leftist can't deal with it?

Yeah, take it. Take it away! Some big, fact illegal immigrant welfare momma with six snot-nosed kids from three different absentee baby-daddies needs it. Fairness, see?

94

The idea of tax deferred 401K or a tax deferred IRA has always been that you would not pay taxes on the money until after you retired and were theoretically in a "lower tax bracket".

Yeh, I've always been conerned about that. Esp. with military pay being a bit different.

With a deployment to a "combat area" or whatever the exact term is for "dangerous place so we don't tax you", I think putting money into a Roth makes much more sense than a traditional IRA.

95 Barack Obama not serious on budget-cutting

NRO contributor breaks-down Obama's latest attempt to sound serious about the looming economic catastrophe. Excerpt:


"[White House Adviser David] Plouffe has just given us a new definition of 'chutzpah.' After two years of runaway spending and after proposing even more borrowing as recently as his February $3.7 trillion budget proposal -- Obama now wants us to think that he's seen the light and is serious about getting the country's financial house in order.
Please. This is all about 1) the 2012 election and 2) blunting any GOP momentum toward serious budgetary reform -- nothing more."

96 Used to find a lot of cash and guns stashed in walls and under floorboards when I was doing demo / remodel work on the East Coast.

Sure that was from older folks...?

97
 It's nice to have a certain amount of what my parents called "mattress money" handy. For those odd times when only cash will suffice.

  Also, IMO, the final defense against the gov't grabbing every last bit of your money.

98

I'm not the only one to see Carville in that cat.

The resemblance is uncanny.  Except for the ears, which are definitely mine.

99

Sure that was from older folks...?

Yes.  Never found drugs. 

Most of the stashes were in the walls of nicer apartments and old brownstones and the attics and floors of lower-middle income remodels. 

 

100 Doom Link QOTD

page down a few clicks

101   Also, IMO, the final defense against the gov't grabbing every last bit of your money.

Why hello there!

102 It's nice to have a certain amount of what my parents called "mattress money" handy. For those odd times when only cash will suffice

Your "mattress money" should be gold and silver coins.

Don't keep them at a bank. The government can lock the doors and steal it. Hide it where you can get to it.

In case of a total meltdown, a couple ounces of gold might get you out of the country. Or feed your family for a few weeks.

103 Posted by: Additional Blond Agent at April 11, 2011 10:07 AM (uehxp)

wow i don't know a single person that has one.

104 garret - so whats the market for pre-license Colt revolver like?

105 85 In related news;  Paul Begala is still beating his meat.

106

In case of a total meltdown, a couple ounces of gold might get you out of the country. Or feed your family for a few weeks.

You are better off with ammo and food stores.  

Where would you be moving to in this DOOM scenario?

 

107 114 The GOP refuses to ever say that the Indonesian is a bald-faced liar (and the one time Joe WIlson said it, the GOP jumped all over him and he collapsed like a wet rag) so the Indonesian is given free license to conitnue lying.  It doesn't matter what the INdonesian says ... he can just turn around and claim the opposite the next day and our retarded, cowardly GOP will let it pass right by without a comment.

I'm wondering whether things might be different this time. To me, it depends on how many of them are willing to pretend they actually care about entitlement reform and cutting spending. I do think a limited number of them actually care, but the pretenders are prone to bolting at the 1st sign of trouble. So I'm hoping that the GOP calls him out on this but that obviously isn't a guarantee.

108 I know families who don't qualify for the Roth IRA.  It really discriminates against regular families in areas where you need to make over $250 grand, just to live, no savings whatsoever, just living.

109 O/T:  hahahha beck and the prez were supposed to be in Williamsburgh at exactly the same time?  Wonder if it was one of those "not in the WH so it won't be on the visitor's log" meetings?

110 Just bought my fourth insurance policy:  Here it is.

111 so whats the market for pre-license Colt revolver like?

Posted by: Jean at April 11, 2011 10:43 AM (WkuV6)

Any Colt pistol in good shape will range from $800 to over $3,000 depending on model. Some if rare have no upper limit.

112 Warden, you been peeking, or something?  Do we have to have a chat?

 Actually, I'm approaching the age where it'll be mandatory for me to withdraw some of  my IRA funds, or face a penalty. Aside from being infuriated by some cocksucker telling me what I must do with MY money, I haven't reached a firm  conclusion of what, really, TO do. I'm aware of most of the options, and for discussion purposes would be interested in what you guys think. Anyone?

113 The GOP refuses to ever say that the Indonesian is a bald-faced liar

Well, the last time the GOP as a whole pointed out that the President was a bald-faced liar, his popularity improved dramatically(see also: Clinton, William J.).  Now, correlation is not causation, but I can see why they might be a little gun-shy.

On the other hand, you're right- these lies are not the "I did not have sex with that woman," lies that can be spun into "consenting adults."  Obama's lies are issues of grave concern to the Nation.

114

garret - so whats the market for pre-license Colt revolver like?

I believe that corner of the market is strong. I am mostly into long guns.  Pistolas are not my bag, and my neighbor (who was my go to source for old Colts) died last year or I'd call him and ask specifics.

 The 'Traditional' shooting sports in addition to the collectors help that segment of the Gun market, though.  Lots of peoples doing the 'Cowboy' shoots.

115 Mood!

MOOD!

116

hahahha beck and the prez were supposed to be in Williamsburgh at exactly the same time?

Fixie race!

 

117 Memo to Ben:  It's "Jim Crow," not "Jim Crowe."  Also, quit it with the superfluous apostrophes!

118 109 Doom Link QOTD page down a few clicks
_______

Dick Morris talking about purifying the Republican party? Dick Morris???

119 You can't help but notice that Beck announced he is going off fox at exactly the same time Soros decided to take over the world.

120 I would like to move to Iceland after the collapse, but I don't know if I can afford to buy that many vowels.

121 A word of advice. Stop this continuous 'DOOM' titling.

It's not funny, it's just depressing, it's an immediate turn off and it makes me not read this blog.

I'm not saying don't write about the financial crises, just find a more clever and less depressing way to describe it and make your points or you will certainly lose readers.

Not many people would want to read a blog called DOOM or GLOOM or LETS JUST ALL KILL OURSELVES or whatever.

122 #122 "My dad is going to give me his old army .45.  I love that gun."

I tried shooting a Glock, and found I can't hit a damn thing with one, except by accident.

It has to do with not having to pull the trigger halfway back and guessing where the release point is.   Give me an M1911 or better yet a revolver, and I don't have that problem.

123 I'm aware of most of the options, and for discussion purposes would be interested in what you guys think. Anyone? Much depends on your style and quality of life. Do you travel a lot? Do you have have any outstanding debt? Do you own your home? Do you have lots of miscellaneous "expenses" that aren't recurring? (I.e., do you "help out" your children or grandchildren on a regular basis?) And what are your goals going forward? How long do you (realistically) expect to live? It helps to create a spreadsheet (or have an advisor help you create one) and just run various scenarios through it to come up with a basic monthly budget number. Then you figure out your asset and investment mix to help you hit that number. Also: you need to think about your legacy. What do you want to leave to your family after you've crossed the Great Divide? This has tax implications for them, so think carefully about it. Estate-planning is vital -- if you don't have a will, get one made posthaste. Remember: your wealth is a means to an end, not an end in itself. It's just as bad to die with a bunch of unused wealth just sitting around as it is to die broke, in my opinion.

124 >>You can't help but notice that Beck announced he is going off fox at exactly the same time Soros decided to take over the world. Soros decided to take over the world approximately 30 years ago and has been working to that end for decades. The fact that most are just recognizing it now is a coincidence.

125 I won my ebay auction yesterday. I got 40 pounds of DOOM lead headed my way.

126 Posted by: dbr1 at April 11, 2011 10:58 AM (yRZeX)

I believe it is a joke?   The problem is, people refuse to see what is right in front of their faces, they mostly inhabit the political elite class and by being in complete denial, they are impacting all of us, in not such a good way.

Monty's articles are tame, you should read some sites where they just tell it like it is and don't find a damned thing funny about any of it.  At lease Monty gives you a spoonful of sugar with the medicine.

127 Posted by: dbr1 at April 11, 2011 10:58 AM (yRZeX) Come to the Dark Side. It is the only way.

128 Wood!

WOOD!

129 I'm aware of most of the options, and for discussion purposes would be interested in what you guys think. Anyone?

Something to think about, depending upon your family and progeny, is the old fashioned silver and gold coins.  Sure these may go up and/or down with volatility, but they are easy to transfer, store and hide, if you get what I'm saying.

Then again, ya know that bucket list?  scratch a few.

130 129 109 Dick Morris talking about purifying the Republican party? Dick Morris???

I was surprised too but his rationale was rather lacking. From some comments on Facebook, he also gave some people the wrong impression about what exactly was his complaint.

131 "Frankly, I've reached my limit on the Feds stealing my money. They are theives plain and simple, the more people that come to that conclusion the better. It really hit home with Reid complaining about cuts to cowboy poetry and PP." This is where the real DOOM lies. Fifteen years ago, I would have been disgusted with what you just said and given you an unsolicited earful. Ten years ago, I would have been just as disgusted but would have STFU out of politeness. Today, I am hoping like hell that you find the angle you need to tap that flow of sweet gubbamint cash. The only reason I follow the rules anymore is because I don't want to go to prison.

132 At lease Monty gives you a spoonful of sugar with the medicine.

Sometimes. That kitteh is more like a spoonful of lemon juice.

I'll take DOOM!; just please put that thing out of my misery.

133 Posted by: dbr1 at April 11, 2011 10:58 AM (yRZeX)

Accompanying literature to Monty's DOOM

with Monty, if you are going to shit your pants it's cause you are laughing....with the link above, with those guys, if you are going to shit your pants, it's cause they are giving you the truth, straight up, no sugar.

134 Monty, thanks--you just reaffirmed my belief that we have the world's sharpest financial advisor--this guy's earned a spot in the Compound, post Apocalypse.

135 Another big problem with a Glock if you're used to shooting a M1911 is that the grip angle is noticeably different.

The .45 angle is so programmed into me at this point that it's very hard to point shoot the Glock.

136 OT: this is good news and bad news:

At his public school, Little Village Academy on Chicago's West Side, students are not allowed to pack lunches from home. Unless they have a medical excuse, they must eat the food served in the cafeteria.

The bad news is of course is more stupid overbearing govt, the good news is the more crap like this they do, the closer we get to vouchers.

from a link at drudge.

137 On "too much DOOM!": I venerate Mark Steyn as my master, and he's been doing DOOM! for a lot longer than I have. He uses humor to leaven the disastrous news, as I try to do -- because sometimes, man, you gotta laugh to keep from crying. If you really want down-in-the-dumps DOOM-mongering, head on over to ZeroHedge or MarketTicker. My posts will seem like fairy-glitter and rainbows in comparison. On a related note: I've been thinking of doing a "DOOM 101" series for the Morons to explain some of the basic economics principles in more plain language. I often throw terms like "fiat currency" and "broken-window fallacy" out there and just assume that people know what I mean, but maybe not. You tell me, folks: would you enjoy a series of "Professor Monty's Econ 101" from DOOM U? If not, what else would you like to see?

138

Posted by: dbr1 at April 11, 2011 10:58 AM (yRZeX)

I dunno.  Once you embrace the gallows humor it makes the whole situation feel a little better.  After all, we aren't all REALLY gonna die over this.  It'll just suck for a while.  Maybe a long while.  A little over-the-top hyperbole is more of a tonic than a true downer.

139
If not, what else would you like to see?

Posted by: Monty at April 11, 2011 11:19 AM (4Pleu)

Firstly, all Moronette's tits, and then we discuss the issues.

140 A word of advice. Stop this continuous 'DOOM' titling.

If you like your DOOM! posts, you can keep your DOOM! posts.

141

 You tell me, folks: would you enjoy a series of "Professor Monty's Econ 101" from DOOM U? If not, what else would you like to see?

- Yes.

- Boobies!

142

I think I'm the only moron who doesn't care about guns one way or another.

I've tried; I just can't get sxcited about owning and shooting them.

More power to you gun guys, though.  Someone's gotta shoot the bastards when the revolution comes.

143

Monty,

 

You've seemed kind of pessimistic lately. Is there a problem?

144

Posted by: Monty at April 11, 2011 11:19 AM (4Pleu)

Yes, Monty. Put some edumocation on me.

145 Posted by: Monty at April 11, 2011 11:19 AM (4Pleu)

I'd love some DOOM! 101.  I've picked up a lot- here and there- but I don't know enough of the specific details / underlying theory to communicate it properly with people in my circle.

146

When you have low hanging fruit like this to go after the corrupt fucks, the incompetence, and the patronage in the Ogabe adminsistration...

...don't go to Hot Air and that fat idiot Poppin' Fresh for analysis\

Why is this stupid fucking web site the most highly trafficked conseravtive one?

 

147 >> On "too much DOOM!": I venerate Mark Steyn as my master

I heard a radio interview with Steyn a couple of weeks ago where he said a reviewer of America Alone credited him with creating the new genre of "Apocalyptic Stand-up".

He is indeed a funny, smart dude who knows a thing or two about DOOM!

148 ‎"Obama's do-over budget"

Senator Conrad still hasn't released his.

149 Posted by: CDR M at April 11, 2011 11:25 AM (5I8G0)

With bacon?

150 Posted by: CDR M at April 11, 2011 11:24 AM (5I8G0)

well, if you are in the thick of it, and you have stuff you want to get out there, where are you going to put it and be anonymous?  On sites like market ticker and zero hedge and prophecies.us.  Places where you figure you can be called a nut

151 Zerohedge has some good articles, and I read some of them, but man the tin foil hat people in the comments section is off the wall.
Not to mention the jew hatred that goes on over there.

152 well maybe we caught the president doing what he says he's going to do, we're not proud, we're the democrats, we'll "take ideas from anyone"

153 I like doom.  Doom keeps me alert.  Doom invites mental vitality.  Doom enhances situational awareness. 

154 Yes on the Doom 101, but keep in mind that o lecture on economics is complete without coverage of "The Law" by Frederick Bastiat where he explains how socialism inevitably leads to communism and how the law is perverted to allow the "plunderers" to succeed until society is ultimately destroyed.

That is where we are at now.

155 Posted by: MarkC at April 11, 2011 11:28 AM (yPPVC)

I think people put certain kinds of comments in the comments to bring down the site, to make it seem like the site agrees with the comment, when, in actuality, they are just a mirror of the whole world. 

Here we yell "cleanup aisle and then give the comment #", over there they don't seem to clean it up, they leave it so you can shake your head and realize that yes, there are some not so nice people wholly swallowing the propaganda out there.

156

Why is this stupid fucking web site the most highly trafficked conseravtive one?

 

Posted by: beedubya at April 11, 2011 11:24 AM (AnTyA)

Because they opened registration just before the 2010 election. That's also why they have such a high idiot quotient.

157

Boehner just passed the Obama budget. The left canÂ’t see that theyÂ’re winning.

158 I don't know if anybody read the Chicago school banning bagged lunches story but if any of you know the commentor peaceWillWin punch them in the throat for me thanks.

159 Regarding Update 3, it struck me long ago that having the government do something just means that people will be pissed at the government.

I mean, if your insurance company pisses you off, what do you do? Change to another insurance company. When the government is your insurance company, all you can do is simmer and plot revolution in the coffeehouses.

The way to ensure that people like the government is to make certain it doesn't do very much.

Why do Democrat politicians want people to hate the government?

160

You tell me, folks: would you enjoy a series of "Professor Monty's Econ 101" from DOOM U? If not, what else would you like to see?

Would be good, esp. if you always included a link to it or something so we could look up definitions and such.

I've mentioned before, I think in a book thread, that I'm still trying to learn more about personal finance issues. Like beyond the basics of "should I re-finance"; not just understanding points, but comparing how much of a dent you are making in the principal, for example. Or playing out different scenarios to see if a Roth IRA is a good idea.

Don't know if there are enough military folk for specific issues, but would love to see something aimed slightly higher than the usual "you should pay your bills on time" level stuff aimed at military families.

161 >>Why is this stupid fucking web site the most highly trafficked conseravtive one? As lame as some of the "analysis" is, the comments are a whole new level of stupid. Although it is fun to watch Allah toss out a Palin thread and watch the carnage. Like poking a caged ferret with a stick.

162

Memo to Ben:  It's "Jim Crow," not "Jim Crowe."  Also, quit it with the superfluous apostrophes!

I'm related to to Stephen P. Apostrophe, who owns the copy right. So everytime i use them, he gets a little extra scratch.

Also, I prefer it with an e and the end, but i will make the correction.

163 133 A word of advice. Stop this continuous 'DOOM' titling.

It's not funny, it's just depressing, it's an immediate turn off and it makes me not read this blog.
__________

Killjoy.

164 Regarding the Euro, it never fails to amaze me that not even the slimmest understanding of human nature informed the decision for all these countries to abandon the freedom to set their own monetary policies. I understand the psychology behind it - like so many things European, it stemmed from jealousy, fear and hatred of the United States, which only intensified since the end of the Cold War, when the U.S. became the sole world superpower and the fiction that NATO was necessary became obvious. Resentful of American hegemony, yet envious of its wealth and influence, the Europeans did the only thing they could think of to show up the U.S. on the world stage - they banded together. On its face, totally understandable and rational in its own way. HOWEVER. The devil is always in the details. Suppose I want to show up my rich neighbor. His house is bigger, his lawn is greener, his wife's breasts are fuller, and I am haunted by the sight of his uniformed staff buffing his Bentley to an eye-watering shine with the pelts of freshly-clubbed baby harp seals. Pelts which they use once and then discard. Meanwhile, I'm hosing bits of roadkill out of the grill of my 1979 Le Car. Suddenly, inspiration strikes! I need to team up with some other people! I'll never outearn my rich neighbor on my own, but with enough of us teaming up, Together We'll Thrive! Fortunately, a group of 30 Mexicans just started squatting in the vacant house down the street. I've gone to my bank and added all of them to my checking account. With 31 of us combining our resources, we'll be on lighting $50 cigars with $100 bills in no time! OK, maybe that wasn't such a great idea. It turns out that every time I made a deposit, those 30 Mexicans made a withdrawal. 0maybe I need more partners. Oh, look! Some Haitians!

165 Definite yes to the Econ 101. And +1 on the Boobies of course. Also +1 on Vics idea on Frederick Bastiat.

166

>>Why is this stupid fucking web site the most highly trafficked conseravtive one?

As lame as some of the "analysis" is, the comments are a whole new level of stupid. Although it is fun to watch Allah toss out a Palin thread and watch the carnage. Like poking a caged ferret with a stick.

also they have corporate backing.  Town Hall, HA, etc all do incestious linking. So they feed off each other.

 

167

DOOM!!  Cheerleaders!

Given the scary cats he finds, I'm not sure you should ask for that...

168 I like the DOOM threads. They don't depress me because I'm not a little girl. Tell it like it is Monty and don't worry about the hand wringers. I even love the ugly kitty pictures.

169 173 well maybe we caught the president doing what he says he's going to do, we're not proud, we're the democrats, we'll "take ideas from anyone"

Finally endorsing some of the ideas from Bowles-Simpson while decrying Republicans as radicals is hardly presidential. If he was serious about this issue, he would have endorsed the commission's  findings in December or in his 2012 budget. No-- this is all about his reelection campaign, he's playing catch-up, and his plan is to show that he's the moderate one because the Republicans are "extreme". If only they had endorsed a plan to be more extreme!

170 Re: China trade deficit.

This does not mean what people think it means.  People have the mistaken belief that a trade deficit is a sign of weakness, it isn't.  It means two things:

1.  China, for the first time, is affluent enough to purchase more than it produces.
2.  China is experiencing a net investment surplus.  They are seeing a net inflow of capital and investment that is equal to the amount of the trade deficit.  Likely they have seen a reduction in their savings rate with people purchasing more goods and services.

The only time a country runs a trade surplus is when they are in hard times except for special circumstances such as the US was in post WWII where we were practically the only major industrial manufacturing economy on the planet that hadn't been destroyed by war. 

A trade surplus means "your people are poor and can not afford to buy all that they produce".

A trade deficit means "your people are able to to purchase more than they produce".

There are some very good articles on exactly what trade deficits mean over at Cato.  I suggest you read them. 

171 Posted by: Mama AJ at April 11, 2011 11:42 AM (XdlcF) - You may be on to something there.

172

A word of advice. Stop this continuous 'DOOM' titling.

It's not funny, it's just depressing, it's an immediate turn off and it makes me not read this blog.

I'm not saying don't write about the financial crises, just find a more clever and less depressing way to describe it and make your points or you will certainly lose readers.

Not many people would want to read a blog called DOOM or GLOOM or LETS JUST ALL KILL OURSELVES or whatever.

 

reality sucks doesn't it, but if you do kill yourself, can i get your boom box?

173 Posted by: Ben at April 11, 2011 11:42 AM (wuv1c)

YEAH, as soon as anything has "corporate" or "government" backing it seems to go down the drain.  The "backer" soon becomes the "overseer" and the list of the "not alloweds" becomes way longer than the list of "alloweds".  Which may explain why Ace remains independent and Beck is "leaving" fox.

174 I think ZH has some excellent analysis, I have seen stuff there that you would see nowhere else, especially about insider trading, crony capitalism, etc, but yes, the commenters there are frequently nuttier than the outhouse at a peanut festival.  (saw that line here somewhere)

175

reality sucks doesn't it, but if you do kill yourself, can i get your boom box?

Posted by: Ben at April 11, 2011 11:45 AM (wuv1c)

I'd call dibs on the revolver but I expect that one would use sleeping pills.

176 The more I think about the comment to stop with the doom the more I think it was a "nice thread you have there, shame if something were to happen to it" meme

177 Posted by: maddogg at April 11, 2011 11:47 AM (OlN4e)

No, I bet he'd even botch that.  Try to OD on marijuana, maybe.

(Hint: It requires a bong.)

178 Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) at April 11, 2011 11:49 AM (8y9MW)

or an overzealous brownie maker

179 Posted by: curious at April 11, 2011 11:49 AM (k1rwm)

I mostly think it was some idiot who thinks we're like the semi-sentients over at LGF- all obliged to agree unconditionally with whatever the Bloggers post.

180 I like the DOOM threads.

If I want to know how gloriously wonderful things currently are, I'll go to Kos or LGF to see them vigorously defended (and "proven", even).

181

I think I'm the only moron who doesn't care about guns one way or another.

I've tried; I just can't get excited about owning and shooting them.

Good. Goooooood.

182 Question.....

Since Boston has banned soda, sweet tea, and sports drinks from City property, what do street vendors do? It's a private start-up but on City property.

I wonder if they're exempt.

Oh wait, I'm sure I know the answer......

183 Posted by: jwb7605 at April 11, 2011 11:51 AM (Qxe/p)

Actually, if you go to those sites, you'll need a flea dipping, you only have to go to MSNBC or CNN to find out how there is no doom at all and everything is rainbows, skittles and ice cream.

As regards guns, I feel the same way, can't get excited about them but I love when they breakout in gun talk, it makes the libs so uncomfortable and they email me telling me how terrible that site I read is cause those people own and discuss guns.

184

Firstly, all Moronette's tits, and then we discuss the issues.

Posted by: Fish the Impaler

 

^^^WHS^^^

185 I'd call dibs on the revolver but I expect that one would use sleeping pills. Posted by: maddogg at April 11, 2011 11:47 AM That would preferable, because I had some Weekend at Bernie's type hijinks in mind, and it would be a lot harder to pull off if dude had a gaping hole in his skull.

186 Since Boston has banned soda, sweet tea, and sports drinks from City property, what do street vendors do? It's a private start-up but on City property.

Some places have city property and some have public property, some they are the same and others they are distinct.  I would guess in MA they are probably the same.  but you know what will win out in the end? vendor fees and taxes to the city.

187 Guns.....yes, I do like them. I own many. I've made several. I reload my ammo. I shoot them. I kill animals with them. EEEEEKKKK!!!!

188 After all, we aren't all REALLY gonna die over this.  It'll just suck for a while.  Maybe a long while.  A little over-the-top hyperbole is more of a tonic than a true downer.

Posted by: Reactionary at April 11, 2011 11:20 AM (xUM1Q)

damn it, now you guyz tell me. I've been digging up my beautiful bulbs and roses to plant ugly ass veggies for two years! also wth am i going to do with all these tarps and duct tape.

189 I mostly think it was some idiot who thinks we're like the semi-sentients over at LGF- all obliged to agree unconditionally with whatever the Bloggers post.

Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) at April 11, 2011 11:50 AM (8y9MW)

 

My first warning shot of the dictatorial reign of Chucks at LGF was how people would drool profusely over his pics of ratshit on bicycle seats.

190

My first warning shot of the dictatorial reign of Chucks at LGF was how people would drool profusely over his pics of ratshit on bicycle seats.

Posted by: Soona Dooma at April 11, 2011 11:57 AM (aD9cw)

Oh Charles! Thats such a beautiful shot of that fence post! And those bicycle spoles, so breathaking original, awesome. When can I order my calendar?

/jesus

191 #204 Curious "As regards guns, I feel the same way, can't get excited about them but I love when they breakout in gun talk, it makes the libs so uncomfortable and they email me telling me how terrible that site I read is cause those people own and discuss guns."

Me too, kinda sorta.  I have a .44 Magnum (long barrel) which I inherited, a model 870 Wingmaster 12 gauge (which I used to kill food with), a .22 single shot target rifle, and a nice assortment of black powder guns.  I like the black powder the best.

I've built the black powder stuff from scratch.  Helped me weed out unsuitable suitors for my daughter.  The suitable one owns the Glock.

192 174 I like doom.  Doom keeps me alert.  Doom invites mental vitality.  Doom enhances situational awareness. 

Posted by: Soona Dooma at April 11, 2011 11:30 AM (aD9cw)

Doom gives me wood!

193

Posted by: jwb7605 at April 11, 2011 12:00 PM (Qxe/p)

I shoot BP, but it has the disconcerting habit of advertising your location.

194 If you want to know if the Tea Party had any impact at all on the Democrats, wonder no longer.

Oh, crap.

195 Me too, kinda sorta.  I have a .44 Magnum (long barrel) which I inherited, a model 870 Wingmaster 12 gauge (which I used to kill food with), a .22 single shot target rifle, and a nice assortment of black powder guns.  I like the black powder the best.

I used to do that too, but now I'm not allowed back into Costco.

196 Jesus Monty, warn a gal before a pic like that comes up.

197

“The difference between death and taxes is death doesn't get worse every time Congress meets.”

Will Rogers,

198 I've been digging up my beautiful bulbs and roses to plant ugly ass veggies for two years! also wth am i going to do with all these tarps and duct tape.

Posted by: willow at April 11, 2011 11:57 AM (h+qn

What?!  Digging up fine flower specimens to plant rabbit food seems like crazy talk. 

As for the tarps and duct tape, I have some ideas.  But they're best not shared over the intertoobs.

199

 I've been digging up my beautiful bulbs and roses to plant ugly ass veggies for two years! also wth am i going to do with all these tarps and duct tape

eh, even if there isn't an apocolypse, planting veggies saves you a ton of cash, especially because all prices are going up.

200 "I shoot BP, but it has the disconcerting habit of advertising your location."

I somehow cannot imagine myself using a 5' 6" tall .50 or .36 cal Pennsylvania caplock rifle for either home defense or as a sniper weapon, either.

Kids LOVE to shoot them empty with just a cap on, though.

201 What?! Digging up fine flower specimens to plant rabbit food seems like crazy talk. Posted by: Reactionary at April 11, 2011 12:04 PM (xUM1Q) Tried planting a pork chop, all it grew were rats. Which are okay, but harder to clean than bunnies.

202

Ben, what I have found out  is my family does not have a tatse for artichokes (except me) but they do make a gorgeous flower from the un-eaten product.

so it's not all an ugly experience.

203

Ain't this just a kick in the pants?? Remember Bart Stupak who supposedly led the Jackassocrat pro-life delegation to stand up against Nazi Pelosi, and that they would not vote for Ogabe-care if it funded child murder?

...and then, in the most laughable Kabuki theater, they capitulated when that farcical Ogabe signing statement against it was produced??

Well, Bartie has now joined the law firm/lobby group of Venable LLP...one of whose biggest clients is Palnned Parenthood.

Venable is scraping the bottom of the barrel with this fucking retard. he'll get laughed out of all GOP congressional office...and a good portion of the Jackassorats'.

He's toxic as hell...and did I mention he's fucking retarded?

204 Obama: "I will slow our development of future combat systems"

Then, we elected him.  What makes anyone think 2012 will be different?

205 That's a lie!  I don't fuck the retarded. I just put in the tip.

206

For those digging up all your flowers: you can plant veggies, flowers, and herbs together -- it actually makes for a healthier garden, and a prettier one (and also a way to keep the neighborhood housing police off your butt).

Doom? Meh...sometimes it does get tedious as it isn't suprising at all.

Guns? Meh, they are handy and practical; I don't really get the obsession with them though.  I suppose it's like cars (another thing I don't really get the obsession for).

207

Ben, what I have found out  is my family does not have a tatse for artichokes (except me) but they do make a gorgeous flower from the un-eaten product.

so it's not all an ugly experience.

I enjoy artichokes, maybe if you pour melted butter on the artichoke heart you family will be more amenable.to eating them.

I think tomato plants are a good investment. either you buy them as seeds for 1-2 dollars a package, or buy partially grown plants for 5-6 bucks. They each produce 40+ pounds of tomatoes, which would cost a fortune at grocery store.

I grow yellow and red tomatoes, bell peppers, spicy peppers, cukes and onions. I tried pumpkin, watermellon and grapes but I had terrible results last year.  I am not going to try them again, but instead try peas.

I do all of this in a 10x10 area. It makes so much food that I provide tomatoes to my immediate family living in the area and a select few nice neighbors.

I think it's a good investment and enjoyable.

208 I traded in my car for a horse.  No fossil fuels. 

209 BTW why the fuck is Gabby Gifffords still my fucking representative?

She can barely be wheeled out to give a  thumbs up to her hubby as he commands the last Shuttle mission.

How is this fair?

What if I want to bitch to my local Congress Critter?

Getting shot in the face doesn't automatically make you more right!

I'm getting pretty tired of having to deal with her fucking staffers.

210 So happy that Rush seems to agree with me that the republicans DID NOT eat the dems' lunch.  Well, when you are dealing with virtual numbers, it must be so tough to pretend it's real.

Wow, they really take care of you don't they.  Planned Parenthood is their biggest client?  Wow, well that's only coincidental right? 

rush is saying "it's going to take years, hope we have the time"....but libs would say he's wrong, you can default overnight rush.

211 idea for making the economy more "fair": ending Roth IRA's.

Right because anybody who can now afford to put few bucks away in a personal account for retirement is in the la-te-da echelon. Well those rich F*CKS need to get theirs! Just wait, we said tax now, not later, just think of the looks on all those fatcat faces when we tax em' later anyway!!!!

212 229 I take it you have moved to the Amish community down the road from me; wilkommen!

213

 <i>Pretty soon that piss-smelling bum down by the bus-stop will be considered "rich" because he has an actual la-di-dah belt to hold up his pants rather than a frayed length of clothesline like the rest of us.</i>

The bum on the corner likely has no debt, and some change in his pocket - giving him a positive net worth.  His is therefore more wealthy than most Americans, and by the liberal mindset needs to be taxed.

 

214 Posted by: iknowtheleft at April 11, 2011 12:24 PM (G/MYk)

Did you even know who he was really until he claimed he was going to save us and thus gave a lot of time to the dems to wear everyone out?

Yeah he's an x whatever but seriously that firm would not have touched him were it not for his part in the conspiracy.

215

Editorial column in today's Calgary Herald on California...even we've noticed it's boned!(emphasis mine)

"If it were constitutionally allowed, California would likely be bankrupt.

How did a state with the eighth largest GDP in the world, and an absolutely spectacular, resource-rich land mass larger than most countries, take such a mighty fall to wear the worst economy in the U. S.? It's a test tube of economic analysis that think-tanks are tripping over themselves to explain.

Here are the buzz words: liberal economics, draconian environmental policies, over-taxing corporations, no affordable housing, schools that score among the worst in the country.

The Golden State has become the textbook case for what not to do."

216 How did a state with the eighth largest GDP in the world, and an absolutely spectacular, resource-rich land mass larger than most countries, take such a mighty fall to wear the worst economy in the U. S.? It's a test tube of economic analysis that think-tanks are tripping over themselves to explain.

Posted by: balticdave at April 11, 2011 12:28 PM (b+8zj)

well according to devin nunes it is very simple.  Turn off the water to the most fertile valley in the country, maybe the world and watch the farmers go bankrupt one by one, but, make sure some stupid fish lives.

Hannity went after this.  Got a free trip to CA.  But, like everything else hannity does, he never followed through.  When things get too tough, unlike beck who started his own company, hannity just tows the line again.

217 In fucking Texas!

Did I mention that?

Prolly not.

Yeah, since February, Gabby Giffords has been a resident of a hospital in fucking Houston!

218

Posted by: iknowtheleft at April 11, 2011 12:24 PM (G/MYk)

Wow...I just called Bart Stupak on the number listed for him at the Venable LLP web site..

...and they answer by saying "Good afternoon, Congressman Stupak's office"

219 RE FY '11, I think Rep. Hensarling said it best and I've heard similar sentiment from other lawmakers:

Hensarling: Congress deserves medals or should be tarred and feathered

It's a "On the one hand; on the other hand" type of statement.

220 We'll know pretty soon if a single republican has balls.  If they raise the debt ceiling and usher in QE 3, many people smarter than me are saying "get your wheelbarrows"

221 I enjoy artichokes, maybe if you pour melted butter on the artichoke heart you family will be more amenable.to eating them.

I make stuffed artichokes.  They are my favorite.

222 I love artichokes.  I just chop everything up with a little garlic and olive oil and braise them until they are tender.  Add some salt and they are delicious. 

223

What's all this about hoarding gold and silver?  You can't eat gold.

It will be worthless in the coming apocalypse unless you can use it as cookware, ammo, fuel, medicine, or shelter.  No thug worth his salt would take silver in exchange for gasoline.  Mad Max anyone?

224 I don't even take out the "choke" part.  I tell them it's not wise to eat it but I know people who actually do eat it but they are the same people who take dendelion flowers from the road side and fry them.

225 He's toxic as hell...and did I mention he's fucking retarded?

Yes.  Yes you did.

Do it again!

226 ...and they answer by saying "Good afternoon, Congressman Stupak's office"

That's a joke, right???

227 I think people are buying gold and silver cause they want to protect their savings which are in dollars.  I've been thinking lately that it is a very unpatriotic act since it means everything is going to hell.

228

And the definition of "rich" keeps sliding downward, have you noticed? Pretty soon that piss-smelling bum down by the bus-stop will be considered "rich" because he has an actual la-di-dah belt to hold up his pants rather than a frayed length of clothesline like the rest of us.)

Clothesline? From 1951?

229 That's a joke, right???

Posted by: laceyunderalls at April 11, 2011 12:37 PM (pLTLS)

No...call it. I went off on the poor woman who answered.

...lots and lots of F-bombs

230 Posted by: laceyunderalls at April 11, 2011 12:37 PM (pLTLS)\

when something is that blatant they are challenging you to make him give up the job so they can say "see, you went along with us and got a stupendous job in big law, we lived up to our end of the bargain, it was those ruthless republicans that took you down, not us"

231 Ben - have you tried Jerusalem Artichokes (Sunchokes) in PA?

232

On a related note: I've been thinking of doing a "DOOM 101" series for the Morons to explain some of the basic economics principles in more plain language. I often throw terms like "fiat currency" and "broken-window fallacy" out there and just assume that people know what I mean, but maybe not. You tell me, folks: would you enjoy a series of "Professor Monty's Econ 101" from DOOM U? If not, what else would you like to see?

--------------------------------------------------

I would LOVE this.

------------------------------------------

On guns: I love my 9mm Sig Sauer more than I should. I love the look and feel of a Ruger but couldn't hit the wide side of a barn with one. Bought a S&W without shooting it first and sold it a few weeks later. Just didn't like the feel and was not a good shot with it.

-------------------------------------------

Boobies -  ( * ) ( * )

233 "I hope every vulnerable Republican in Congress signs on to the Ryan plan to kill Medicare, because we will beat Â’em like a bad piece of meat." I thought "bad piece of meat" was another name for Billy Jeff Clinton's smelly cheesedick.

234 No...call it.

Unreal. I'll take your word for it. I've already hit my quota of f-bombs for the week and it's only Monday

*sobs*

235 "I hope every vulnerable Republican in Congress signs on to the Ryan plan to kill Medicare, because we will beat Â’em like a bad piece of meat."

The vulnerable Republicans aren't even going to survive the primary's. 

236

Ben - have you tried Jerusalem Artichokes (Sunchokes) in PA?

no , i just googled them. they kinda look like ginger roots

237 Trump is the only guy considering running that has the money to blow away Soros' "investment" in the social experiment known as the Democratic Party. I wouldn't give the GOP a cent!!

238 mom may have made doom....but i always knew she loved me.....these people hate me and everyone else in the USA

239 The bum on the corner likely has no debt, and some change in his pocket - giving him a positive net worth.  His is therefore more wealthy than most Americans, and by the liberal mindset needs to be taxed

You should be posting your comments on The Atlantic!

240 Posted by: dbr1 at April 11, 2011 10:58 AM (yRZeX)

Did the coffee maker break down on ya this morning?

241 Me tinks we aught to have the "debt clock" on the side bar. Only labeled Monty's Clock of Doom.

242 Obama Puts Taxes on the Table

"In his speech Wednesday, Mr. Obama will use himself as an example to make the case for raising taxes on the wealthy, while preserving those for the middle class. 'People like him, as he'll say, who've been very fortunate in life, have the ability to pay a little bit more,' Mr. Plouffe said."

243
George Will on why it's stupid for municipalities to finance sports franchises.

Posted by: Monty at April 11, 2011 09:56 AM (4Pleu)

I didn't read the link, but let me guess, sports franchises cause people to wear blue jeans out in public.

244 Posted by: Mallamutt, All my fantasy baseball pitchers are named at April 11, 2011 12:52 PM (OWjjx)

well i'm so glad you know that trump "isn't that wealthy".  Where do you get your information please?

245 Wow, did you guys read what McCain said in that George Will article? Holy shit, and he was our candidate in 2008??

246 Posted by: Mallamutt, All my fantasy baseball pitchers are named at April 11, 2011 12:52 PM (OWjjx)

You have no way of knowing if maybe trump isn't the face out in front of the crowd for a consortium of mega wealthy people who love their country and don't want to see it go down the drain, soros style.

In many ways I feel sorry for the dems.  When people are on the republican team or an independent they generally have moral scruples.  But if you are with the dems, and their ends justifies the means ideas, well then you can pretend to be in their court, sprinkle them with a little cash and all the while be playing for the other team.  And they wouldn't realize it until it was too late for them to do anything about it.

247 Monty, on the other thread they are saying you are single.  No one as interesting as you has the right to remain single.  You need to go out and find your soul mate for gosh sakes. 

(from curious who saw company at lincoln center this weekend with Neil Patrick Harris, Stephen Colbert and Patti Lupone plus the plimpton girl from the goonies who is on one of her favorite shows, when she can watch, "raising hope"....)

248 +Posted by: Mallamutt at April 11, 2011 01:24 PM (OWjjx)

trumps money is his outright.  The other guy has a couple of governments that would like his back.

249 Posted by: Mallamutt at April 11, 2011 01:29 PM (OWjjx)

yeah I realized I can't say what I know on a blog on the internet. 

250 Only 2 billion? And it's not all in cash? What a wannabe.

251 280

yeah I realized I can't say what I don't know on a blog on the internet. 

FIFY

Posted by: Mallamutt at April 11, 2011 01:37 PM (OWjjx)

If it makes you feel better and smarter than me go ahead have at it, I'll pray for you

I've forgotten more than you know about this stuff.

252 mallamutt, you seem to be in the Rovian crowd.  Look where following Rove has gotten the republicans, in a total mess as his method neuters the republicans. 

All of you folks are going to have a hissy fit if an old white guy isn't the republican candidate, one who has his turn coming.  But you keep following the Rovian method of politics and in 2012 you'll be watching BO's second inauguration.

253 248 Fried dandelions and their greens, if done up properly, are delicious.

254

Doom 101 would be very helpful and appreciated. As it is, I have a DOOM folder and Books to Read folder where I save some of the best stuff for future reference. I'm busy now but should I ever settle down preparing for DOOM world, I'd like to read.

DOOM titles: Awesome! To the point. No sugar coating. Very motivating. Again, when there's stuff I have to finish but hesitate, I remind myself that I'll be happy I did the work once DOOM comes.

Someone mentioned DOOM cheerleaders....maybe pictures of really ugly cheerleaders might break up the monotony yet still keep the DOOM flavor.

/back to work...

255 The future sucks.

256 Monty,I think you should name these daily posts THE DRUMBEAT OF DOOM!