1 First? Might as well get it said: Barack Obama is a stammering clusterfuck of a failure.

2 the president is a stuttering clusterfuck of a miserable failure

3 SCOAMF!

4 The markets went wild last week (supposedly) over news that Europe was fixing itself financially. Well, the DJIA shit the bed yesterday and Drudge is full of DOOM headlines about the European financial crisis.

It's only a matter of time.

The center cannot hold.

5 Just to keep the line going: Osama Obama is a stuttering clusterfuck of a miserable failure.

6 Greek debt in 2009: 127% of GDP. Greek debt in 2020 (projected, if the bailout works perfectly): 120% of GDP.

Better than us.  We aren't even bending the curve yet.

7 ...maybe it's time to invest in that bunker...

8 Sandbags: the oft-overlooked survival item.

9 Bunker?  Hell, I'm gonna find me an underwater grotto, and stock up on crunchy figs.

10 The center cannot hold.

If you think the desperation on display in Europe is (grimly) hilarious, then wait until our own day of reckoning comes due. All that has to happen is for interest rates to go up -- which they will. We can't get zero-percent financing on our debt forever. And even a 1% increase in interest on our debt translates into literally hundreds of billions of dollars in debt-service payments: money that cannot then be used for things like, oh, infrastructure, the military, and other stuff the government is responsible for.

What you're seeing in the politicians of today are signature traits of people with a gambling problem. Rather than admit they have a problem and go into treatment, they instead make ever-wilder and crazier bets, digging themselves in deeper, and transforming their debt-service from a difficult task into an impossible one. Politicians are desperate not to have to face the consequences of being broke -- it means reneging on decades of promises to their constituents, it means a lower standard of living for everyone, and (in some places) it might even mean revolt and violence and a very public execution.

11

To the EU, I would quote statesman Daniel Webster:

"A disordered currency is one of the greatest political evils."

Of course, to be fair, I then have to point to our own government and say the same damn thing.

12 You ever dance with the SCOAMF by the pale moonlight?

13

The democrats forced banks to make bad loans. Now - Democrats blame banks and bankers for making the very loans they were forced to make - by democrats. Cue the angry mob(D).

 

Democrats are economic illiterates.

 

14 Barack Obama is a stuttering clusterf*ck of a miserable failure.

15 Any good ammo sales around? 
Seems like the time to invest in commodity lead futures!
Thanks again to the 52% that didn't believe that Barky was a SCOAMF!

16
DOOM is a little crunchy this morning.

Posted by: Beefy Meatball at November 01, 2011 08:52 AM (bZ8J6)

Those are the malt balls left over from yesterday.

17 update: Cue the angry mob(OWS-D)

18 We predict a catastrophic contraction of GDP in Euroland in a combined monetary and real-economy event,"

The fact that we're even talking about 'Euroland' is part of the problem.  There is no Euroland.  There are reasons the Articles of Confederation didn't work out, and the EuroZone is even worse than those (which, on reading, aren't actually all that bad).

19 By the way, centuries of human "civilization" clearly demonstrate that without the iron rule of elites, civilization will fall apart.

20 In Local Economic News...

The Big Boo-Hoo o'the Day:

Endangered Spokane Department Down to One Employee

Got that?.. One employee

Weights and Measures is supported with about $35,000 from fees the state collects on scales and pumps specifically for that program. The rest of the departmentÂ’s $101,000 budget this year comes from the cityÂ’s pool of tax revenue.

I'll let you do the math.

I'll do the math on his "disappointment"

There are 1155 cubic inches in 5 gallons of gasoline... A 3 1/2 cubic inch shortage is three-tenths of one percent... Or, for every $10 worth of gasoline, an error of three cents.

At the end of the day, this guy collects $136,000 per year, to go around harassing people for a  Three Cent error.. And, acting as if he's doing you a favor.

21

You know, it's funny.  I went searching for that earlier Daniel Webster quote, and cruising through some of his other quotables it really is amazing how relevant so many of them are to today's trials and tribulations. 

“There is no nation on earth powerful enough to accomplish our overthrow. Our destruction, should it come at all, will be from another quarter. From the inattention of the people to the concerns of their government, from their carelessness and negligence.

"I must confess that I do apprehend some danger. I fear that they may place too implicit a confidence in their public servants, and fail properly to scrutinize their conduct; that in this way they may be made the dupes of designing men, and become the instruments of their own undoing.”

And one of my personal favorites:

"The Constitution was made to guard the people against the dangers of good intentions."

It just goes to show that true lovers of liberty could spot a lefty loser over a century ago as easily as they do today.

Okay, back to DOOM.  Speaking of which, no Chinese DOOM today?  I feel deprived.

22 By the way, centuries of human "civilization" clearly demonstrate that without the iron rule of elites, civilization will fall apart.

In fairness, they also clearly demonstrate that civilization will fall apart even with the iron rule of elites.  Basically, human history is a cycle of build/decline/demolish/build/decline/demolish.

At least without the "iron rule of elites," I don't have to pretend to believe that anyone is better than me.

23

MF Global appears to have taken customer funds and used them to support the firms trades. Almost a billion dollars missing (stolen) from customer accounts and Corzine was running 80 to 1 leverage, which is Madoff-like insanity.

This could be another Lehman Brothers in the making would freeze up credit markets.

Truly, we are so far beyond boned we couldn't catch a bus back to boned. 

 

24

I'm still waiting for Matt Lauer and the leftwinger ladies on "teh view" to mention Solyndra.

 

25

I remember seeing Chris Christie tell a story after he won election. He said that Corzine comepletely lied to him the morning he was going to be sworn it. He said that Corzine told him they had a current surplus for the year and some other bull shit. He also said that Corzine and his staff were working furiously to finalize union contracts before Christie got into office.

I'll have to look for the video, it was interesting that a man who was governor could be so dishonorable. I mean I know they are scumbags, but yeesh.   It looks like Corzine is just a crook.

26

This could be another Lehman Brothers in the making would freeze up credit markets.

Truly, we are so far beyond boned we couldn't catch a bus back to boned. 

Oy.  *rubs temples*

What exactly lies beyond "boned?"   Hosed? 

I'd better find my passport...

27 I'm still waiting for Matt Lauer and the leftwinger ladies on "teh view" to mention Solyndra.

Don't hold your breath.

28

By the way, centuries of human "civilization" clearly demonstrate that without the iron rule of elites, civilization will fall apart.

By the way, centuries of human "civilization" clearly demonstrate that the iron rule of elites, pretty much guarantees civilization will fall apart.

29 What exactly lies beyond "boned?"

Chapped? Abraded?  Contused?

30 What exactly lies beyond "boned?"

Here's a clue: don't melt down your last coin for bullets. You'll need it to pay the ferryman in order to get there. (hide the coin in your mouth)

31

By the way, centuries of human "civilization" clearly demonstrate that without the iron rule of elites, civilization will fall apart.

My issue is not with the notion of elites in charge, it's how those elites are determined. I have no problems with a meritocratic elite as those people have demonstrated their worthiness through their accomplishments, but it's important that we maintain a competitive framework that allows new blood to move in and old blood to be pushed out. This last point is where we have started to break down.

32 Beyond "boned" there be dragons, insolvent hobo dragons with a naked Helen Thomas riding them.

33

DOOM to the left of me

DOOM to the right

Here I am, stuck in the middle with you!

34

Beyond "boned" there be dragons, insolvent hobo dragons with a naked Helen Thomas riding them.

I just threw up a little in my mouth.

It was the Helen Thomas visual.  That'll do it everytime.

35 33 Beyond "boned" there be dragons, insolvent hobo dragons with a naked Helen Thomas riding them.

Posted by: Larsen E. Whipsnade at November 01, 2011 09:14 AM (6BgmB)

You are an evil, evil soul.  There will NEVER be enough brain bleach for this.

36 My issue is not with the notion of elites in charge, it's how those elites are determined. I have no problems with a meritocratic elite as those people have demonstrated their worthiness through their accomplishment

In some sense, 'elites' of one stripe or another will always 'be in charge.'  And the question only ever is regarding their selection.  On the other hand, the moment we allow the terminology to move to 'elites' instead of 'the accomplished,' we are ceding ground in the human psyche that says "those people are better than us."  That is ground we cannot/should not cede.

Also, there's the question of which "accomplishments" we should accept.  Because, certainly, there is some merit to being charismatic enough to be elected to office- but I doubt any here would consider that to be "enough" to qualify as one of the "elites."

37 Chapped? Abraded?  Contused?

Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) says 'No' to RINO Romney at November 01, 2011 09:07 AM (8y9MW)

Hmm, I like "Abraded."  It's got an unpleasant aura of salt water on skinned knees about it.  But is it strong enough?

What about "Bludgeoned?"

38 What about "Bludgeoned?"

Flayed?

39 Damn, Doom sneaked in here and hour ago!

40

My issue is not with the notion of elites in charge, it's how those elites are determined. I have no problems with a meritocratic elite as those people have demonstrated their worthiness through their accomplishment

Okay, seriously, last Daniel Webster quote.  But it fits.

"There are men in all ages who mean to govern well, but they mean to govern.  They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters."

41 Posted by: Ghost of Lee Atwater at November 01, 2011 09:13 AM (JxMoP)

To me, elites is a term reserved for those blessed by birth (a la the divine right) or circumstance (Harvard SCOAMF, etc.) not merit.  I may have misused the term, because it is clear that there can be a technical or merit based elite as well.

42 Flayed?

Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) says 'No' to RINO Romney at November 01, 2011 09:20 AM (8y9MW)

PERFECT.

43

Because, certainly, there is some merit to being charismatic enough to be elected to office- but I doubt any here would consider that to be "enough" to qualify as one of the "elites."

Yet that is the defintion today.

I deal with Congress-critters every single day in my job, 60% of these people are solid citizens.  They are people you'd like to have a beer with and listen to their opinions.  They're smart and you can see why they were elected.

But the other 40% are killing us, if not literally, then they will soon be doing it literally.  Most of their constituents would be shocked to learn what pathetic human beings they are.

 

44 Okay, seriously, last Daniel Webster quote.

Don't make promises you don't know that you can keep.

"There are men in all ages who mean to govern well, but they mean to govern.  They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters."

Alternate: "Anyone seeking office should be disqualified by the fact that they are seeking office."

45 We should send in the Panzers to Athens and bring those swine to heel.

46

We should send in the Panzers to Athens and bring those swine to heel.

When the Greece gig makes it to American soil I expect to hear the stirring battle cry of..."Wolverines!!"

47 Yet that is the defintion today.

Of course it is.  And, in any Republic with universal (or functionally universal) suffrage, it will eventually become the definition.  Most people are not up to the task of wielding the Franchise, and such duty should not be thrust upon them.  Once we have done so, elections will inevitably become nothing more than popularity contests.

48

Remember way back when the whole point of the American Experiment was supposed to be that class and rank didnÂ’t matter any more?

Any serious student of history knows that that is largely a myth anyway. America has always had a division of "classes" based on wealth. Its just that the classes were not based on the "nobility" as in Europe.

In the early days of the Republic it was the large landowners in the South and the large buisness owners in the North who were the "elite" that ran things.

49 ZURICH (Reuters) - Credit Suisse will cut another 1,500 jobs and scale back its capital-guzzling investment banking business as it seeks to meet tough new regulations ahead of other banks after the unit reported disappointing third-quarter results.

Banks are shedding jobs as strict capital rules aimed at shielding them from future financial crises and a tough third quarter for trading income take their toll on investment banking divisions in particular.


Didn't someone recently say that regulations create jobs?

50 Alternate: "Anyone seeking office should be disqualified by the fact that they are seeking office."

Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) says 'No' to RINO Romney at November 01, 2011 09:23 AM (8y9MW)

Precisely!

Who was it that quoted Douglas Adams yesterday?  No one who actually seeks higher office should ever be allowed anywhere near one.  Hence Zaphod Beeblebrox, elected to the Galactic Presidency because he didn't particularly want it and he was a crook already. 

Or, as the people of EcksEcksEcksEcks say in Terry Pratchett's Discworld:

"We put all our politicians in prison as soon as they're elected. Don't you?"

"Why?"

"It saves time."

51 And there's this bit of DOOM:
http://cnnmon.ie/vkKcmQ

52

Most people are not up to the task of wielding the Franchise, and such duty should not be thrust upon them. 

I agree, but let's face it, that's not the American way.  I'd personally work to remove the franchise from large blocs of people to stupid to wield a vote - but there's no return from that road.

The only solution is a solid edcuation.  Thus, requiring a wholesale breaking to teacher's unions.

And preferably the breaking of a few on the rack.

OK, OK.  A guy can dream though, can't he?

 

53 Any serious student of history knows that that is largely a myth anyway. America has always had a division of "classes" based on wealth.

The difference being that you can break into a "class" based on wealth simply by accumulating more wealth.  And it is the United States that first really made that possible.  Which is not to say that such a thing was frequent, then, but it did happen, and more frequently than someone breaking into any class based on birth or heritage.

54

THIS is what corruption looks like. Plus the death of American manufacturing.

 

55

Bankrupt a state; move on to high-paid job at a financial-sector firm. Bankrupt financial-sector firm; collect $12 million in severance pay. IÂ’m in the wrong line of work.

Hell look at the CEOs of F&F getting huge bonuses this year paid for with tax payer bailout money. All at the same time they are screaming they need more money.

We need to let them go belly-up.

56 Well, you have to let EVERYONE (dead, deadbeat, incompetent, and illegal) vote, because otherwise it just isn't fair!

57

In the early days of the Republic it was the large landowners in the South and the large buisness owners in the North who were the "elite" that ran things.

That's true, but they took their civic responsibilities seriously.  They believed it was their duty to wield power responsibly.

Today we have people who view the public as an ATM.

The majority of them happen to be Democrats.

58 I agree, but let's face it, that's not the American way.  I'd personally work to remove the franchise from large blocs of people to stupid to wield a vote - but there's no return from that road.

That's certainly true- which is part of why history is largely a cycle of "Build/Decline/Destroy/Rinse/Repeat"  Eventually civilization as we know it will come to an end- and something else will replace it.

Tyrannical civilizations fall because people eventually rise up against the tyrant.  Liberal civilizations fall because they become too trusting in the "inherent good" of people.

I'm just afraid that "eventually" is coming much more quickly than most realize.

59

Unions collect union dues from workers and then the union dues go directly to re-elect democrats. Is it any wonder democrats want "card check"? A union goon looks over your shoulder while you vote.

I think democrats would fancy a goon standing over your shoulder as you vote in national elections.

 

60

OT, but this is just peachy.  It's not just the girls who get raped at OWS.

Deaf Young Man Raped at OWS, Protesters Don't Report it to the Police

See, I was wondering how long it would take before we had a man get raped at one of these "protests."  When you have that many degenerates gathered in one place, everyone is endangered regardless of gender.  The fact that he's disabled is just icing on the hellfire cake for the sick bastards.

(Link is to WZ, story from Big Government)

61 That's true, but they took their civic responsibilities seriously.  They believed it was their duty to wield power responsibly.

They only did that because they were within living memory (or only a generation or so out) of the Revolution.  Eventually even that body of elites would have become corrupt (indeed, some were fairly early- just not enough to make too much of a difference) and we'd be facing DOOM for some other reason.

It really is true that the "Tree of Liberty must be refreshed, from time to time, with the blood of patriots and tyrants."  It is true because it is human nature to be selfish and put one's self first.

62 OT- I see thar the DOJ is now suing SC for their illegal immigration policies. Question: If this case is stalled, etc. until the next Admin. is sworn in can it just be "disappeared" and the SC law stands?

63 Speaking of DOOM:

AP Exclusive: New signs of Syria-Pakistan nuke tie

64 That's true, but they took their civic responsibilities seriously.  They believed it was their duty to wield power responsibly.

That is mostly true in the early days with men like Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and John Adams (although he would be considered a "big government liberal today). But they also had their "slugs" like Aaron Burr and John Marshall.

65

I think democrats would fancy a goon standing over your shoulder as you vote in national elections.

Posted by: Lemon Kitten at November 01, 2011 09:34 AM (O7ksG)

But think of the recount money it would save, plus we would save money not printing extra ballots and not paying for warehouse storage!

66 But think of the recount money it would save, plus we would save money not printing extra ballots and not paying for warehouse storage!

I really wish I didn't believe that they thought that way.

67 What about "Bludgeoned?" Flayed? Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) says 'No' to RINO Romney at November 01, 2011 09:20 AM (8y9MW) ------------------------------------------------------- Lanced. sliced?

68 I see thar the DOJ is now suing SC for their illegal immigration policies. Question: If this case is stalled, etc. until the next Admin. is sworn in can it just be "disappeared" and the SC law stands?

They are hoping for a court injunction. Too bad they will not have the 9th circuit this time.

69

Question: If this case is stalled, etc. until the next Admin. is sworn in can it just be "disappeared" and the SC law stands?

If Holder's DoJ can pull out of a case they've already won, I can't see why a Republican DoJ can't pull out of a case for similar bullshit reasons.

Of course, I am sure the headline the next day would read "Administration Hates Brown People, Lets SC Law Stand."

70

But think of the recount money it would save, plus we would save money not printing extra ballots and not paying for warehouse storage!

Posted by: Hrothgar at November 01, 2011 09:36 AM (i3+c5)

And not paying union overtime to our fellow union members to go through the obituaries to find out how many new union voters died in the past year.

71 Posted by: J. Carville at November 01, 2011 09:37 AM (jucos)

I think we're good with "Flayed."
Maybe "Impaled," but "Flayed" just sounds more painful.

72

I think democrats would fancy a goon standing over your shoulder as you vote in national elections.

 Posted by: Lemon Kitten at November 01, 2011 09:34 AM (O7ksG)

Would Black Panthers at the polling station suffice?

73 If Holder's DoJ can pull out of a case they've already won, I can't see why a Republican DoJ can't pull out of a case for similar bullshit reasons.

Can't?  Dunno.  But they wouldn't.  Because it wouldn't be fair, you see.

Sometimes I think the Republicans are rooting for the downfall of the US just as much as the Democrats, but are just too passive-aggressive to do anything about it.

74 Speaking of DOOM: AP Exclusive: New signs of Syria-Pakistan nuke tie Posted by: Kratos (Ghost of Sparta) at November 01, 2011 09:36 AM (9hSKh) Actually that is probably the least of our problems because I seriously doubt Israel will tolerate that for long. Something will probably go boom in the night again.

75

Sometimes I think the Republicans are rooting for the downfall of the US just as much as the Democrats, but are just too passive-aggressive to do anything about it.

Well, I can see I only have one choice left....

Find an armorer who can modify the sear pin on my AR-15.

76 Man this is all way too DOOM-y for All Saints Day.

77 I think we're good with "Flayed."
Maybe "Impaled," but "Flayed" just sounds more painful.

Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) says 'No' to RINO Romney at November 01, 2011 09:38 AM (8y9MW)

I like "Drawn and Quartered", but it does require you to remember three words.

78

Cute.

MoveOn.org organizing a run on banks with "Move Your Money" Pledge

...This week, in the lead-up to the November 5 Make Wall Street Pay day of action targeting the giant banks, we’ve set up a new “Move Your Money Pledge.” Our goal is to get as many people as possible pledging to close their accounts with the big banks.

Are you ready to show the Wall Street banks that we’re going to hold them accountable ourselves? If you’re ready to stop banking with Wall Street — or if you already have — click here to sign the Move Your Money pledge:...

BRILLIANT. 

(Safe link to WZ)

79 I wash my hands of this DOOM!

80 what's after 'boned'?- the tasty mcrib

81 Lets just cancel elections and let the democrats rule our lives. We need these dictators.

82 Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Hobbit at November 01, 2011 09:43 AM (4df7R)

Great.  Now, I don't actually think that will cause too many problems anymore- those "stress tests" the banks had to do may do some good after all- but what's their end-game there?  Correction: what's their middle game there?

1) Cause Major Financial Institutions to Fail
2) ???
3) Profit!

83 Another benefit:  Those few of us that still have jobs wouldn't to take time off from work to go vote if we just let our "betters" decide for us.

84 OT but of interest to MN Viking fan morons. Go into any MN area McDonalds and order a McNabb and the server will throw your order at your feet.

85 1) Cause Major Financial Institutions to Fail
2) ???
3) Profit!

Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) says 'No' to RINO Romney at November 01, 2011 09:46 AM (8y9MW)

It works for us!

86 Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Hobbit at November 01, 2011 09:43 AM (4df7R)

Isn't this the very definition of racketeering?

87 89 OT but of interest to MN Viking fan morons. Go into any MN area McDonalds and order a McNabb and the server will throw your order at your feet.

Posted by: Osama bin Truck Monkey, TEArrorist Son of a Bitch at November 01, 2011 09:47 AM (jucos)

Okay, I don't care who you are, that is funny right there.

88 order a mcenroe and they swear at you

89 Isn't this the very definition of racketeering?

I think you have to show actual gain for it to be racketeering.  This is just scorched-earth.

90

Call it the electric Edsel.

The Chevy Volt was to be a linchpin of President Obama's green technology plan and, er, a driving force behind his 2012 re-election campaign.

But The Daily Caller reports there are 3,370 Volts collecting dust on car lots across the nation. That's up from 2,600 as recently as Oct. 3.

A large reason for the accumulating inventory might be sticker shock. The Volt hybrid, powered by gasoline and electricity, costs $40,000 -- even after buyers receive a $7,500 federal tax-credit check for going green. That's about double the cost of a comparable Chevy Cruze.

U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Butler, has a Volt collecting dust at his Butler car dealership. He said he isn't surprised by the lack of interest in the vehicle.

"The American people are smarter than the government -- they're not buying that car," he said. "I just pay interest on it, insure it, and in another week or month we'll scrape snow off it."

91 Isn't this the very definition of racketeering?

Posted by: chemjeff at November 01, 2011 09:48 AM (x0nwN)

Only if you have an (R) after your name!

92 Actually if they want to instigate some "run on the banks" then that's fine, let them.  I don't think it will do any meaningful harm to the banks and will only make them out to look like fools.

93

A large reason for the accumulating inventory might be sticker shock

The deuce you say!

94 You see that flattened misshapen lump of metal lying at the side of the road?
 
That's the bucket. It don't look too good right now.

95 And why can't we conservatives decide not to support businesses that do left-wing SCOAMF-y things?  We don't have to be loud and obnoxious about it like the MoveOn dipshits, just quietly take our business elsewhere.

96

Maybe Corzine should check the pockets in his other suits.  And between/under the sofa cushions.  Also under the seats in the limo.

Very easy to lose a few 10's of millions in these places.  Happens all the time.

97 Oh good.  Dow is down 250 already.

98 97 Actually if they want to instigate some "run on the banks" then that's fine, let them.  I don't think it will do any meaningful harm to the banks and will only make them out to look like fools.

Posted by: chemjeff at November 01, 2011 09:51 AM (x0nwN)

Doesn't George Soros make scads of money off of institutional failure?  Just sayin'...

99 Actually that is probably the least of our problems because I seriously doubt Israel will tolerate that for long. Something will probably go boom in the night again.

That may happen sooner than we think.  I read something on Debka (insert obligatory "Debka is often more wrong than right") about rumors in Israel of a strike on Iran before the winter.  Makes sense, actually.

100

Doesn't George Soros make scads of money off of institutional failure?  Just sayin'...

eh - maybe.  What was the name of that investment device that you could buy that would pay off if the company did poorly?  It's not a "put", it was more like an insurance policy, can't think of the name now... 

anyway, if Soros has those, then probably lots of rich guys have those too. 

101 And why can't we conservatives decide not to support businesses that do left-wing SCOAMF-y things?

Because, unlike the OWS crowd, we like to bathe.

102
Oh good.  Dow is down 250 already.

Posted by: chemjeff at November 01, 2011 09:54 AM (x0nwN)

I hate to say I told you so, but

I told you so.

103 chemjeff at November 01, 2011 09:57 AM I think it's called selling short.

104

Hmm, racketeering is defined as:

The federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) (18 USC §§ 1961-196 prohibits (1) acquiring, establishing, or operating an enterprise with illegally derived income, (2) acquiring or maintaining an interest in or control of an enterprise through illegal activity, and (3) using an enterprise to commit illegal acts (Extortion, Blackmail, Etc. , 31A Am Jur 2d).

Is MoveOn.org a 501(C)3? 

(I know, I know.  I'm just daydreaming about how awesome it would be to takedown Soros on a RICO charge).

105 no, it's not "selling short"
it was some sort of investment device that was all the rage back in 2007 or so
basically, it was like buying an investment policy on a firm that paid off if the firm failed
I just can't remember the name of it now

106 er, insurance policy, not investment policy

107 Order a McCain and you'll get an extra meat pattie with cheese, in a feed bag.

108 102 Oh good.  Dow is down 250 already.

Posted by: chemjeff at November 01, 2011 09:54 AM (x0nwN)

But but....!   The economy came roaring back to life last week!  The Dow had its biggest October gains EVER!   WAAAAAAAH!!!

109 chemjeff at November 01, 2011 09:59 AM Any insurance company that would sell something like that would surely be bankrupt by now.

110 Any insurance company that would sell something like that would surely be bankrupt by now.

It wasn't sold by insurance companies, it was sold by investment banks
And, they got bailed out

111 112 Order a McCain and you'll get an extra meat pattie with cheese, in a feed bag.

Posted by: Titsie McCain at November 01, 2011 10:00 AM (/ZZCn)

Meggie Mac knows plenty about feed bags.

112 Yes, credit default swap!  That's it

113

Love the Escher cat pic.

BTW,  Greece's government has fallen.

114 Order a McCain and you'll get an extra meat pattie with cheese, in a feed bag. Posted by: Titsie McCain Order an Obama and they give your stuff to the next guy in line.

115

How will the banks survive the removal of $13.43 of assets from their balance sheets?

Posted by: Mallamutt, RINO President for Life at November 01, 2011 10:01 AM (OWjjx)

Dogs and cats living together!  Mass hysteria!

116 89 OT but of interest to MN Viking fan morons. Go into any MN area McDonalds and order a McNabb and the server will throw your order at your feet.

Posted by: Osama bin Truck Monkey, TEArrorist Son of a Bitch at November 01, 2011 09:47 AM (jucos)

Its a good thing he didn't lose his skills or his speed until AFTER he won me a couple Super Bowls.

Wait, I'm not dreaming anymore?

117 Order an Obama and they give your stuff to the next guy in line.

Posted by: Oldsailor's poet at November 01, 2011 10:03 AM (ZDUD4)

And they make you pay for the next five people who walk through the door, then call you a racist.

118 ANYWAY, if Soros has credit default swaps on BoA and Wells Fargo et al., then probably lots of other rich guys do too.  I just think it's a little tin-foil-hatty to think that Soros is organizing a run on the banks just so he can cash in his credit default swaps.

119 Order an Obama and they give your stuff to the next guy in line. Posted by: Oldsailor's poet at November 01, 2011 10:03 AM (ZDUD4) -------------------------------------------------------- Only after you pay for it.

120 Dan Snyder at November 01, 2011 10:03 AM Dan Snyder is the worst owner ever, he is consistantly three years behind the curve.

121

BTW,  Greece's government has fallen.

Posted by: icepick at November 01, 2011 10:03 AM (o0Uno)

Honestly, did they ever have a government worth calling a "government" to begin with? 

122 Order a Winehouse and they'll soak it in vodka and cover it with powder. (powdered sugar)

123 Dan Snyder is the worst owner ever, he is consistantly three years behind the curve. Posted by: Oldsailor's poet at November 01, 2011 10:05 AM (ZDUD4) ------------------------------------------------------------- He was good to me.

124 BTW,  Greece's government has fallen.

Is that a general statement, or something specific that I missed?

Are we in "Mediterranean Fall?"

125 BTW,  Greece's government has fallen.

linky?
I see where the government has called for a vote of confidence, but I don't see where the government has resigned

126 Dan Snyder is the worst owner ever, he is consistantly three years behind the curve. Posted by: Oldsailor's poet at November 01, 2011 10:05 AM (ZDUD4) ---------------------------------------------------------- I am still spending his money.

127 That's true, but they took their civic responsibilities seriously.  They believed it was their duty to wield power responsibly.

A plentiful supply of tar, feathers, and rope amongst the well-armed citizenry helps. 

128 Order a Kardashian and they give you a $2 million ring, a pre-nup and a complimentary venereal disease.

129 That talk about the elites is missing the point. The question isn't who is in charge. The question isn't how they get put in charge. The question is how much power they wield once in office. Those founding fathers were truly geniuses. It's too damned bad that our later forefathers turned their backs on what the founders gifted us.

130 41 Damn, Doom sneaked in here and hour ago!
________

Doom is like ceiling cat: always ready to pounce.

131 Greece's government has fallen., again

132 With the sudden inrush of deposits, won't the credit unions look to store some of their newfound excess assets in a larger financial institution?  Say like a big bank?

133 Any suicides yet over on ZH?

134
I see a big future in feudalism, and I'm investigating community college training to become a registered warlord.

135 Guess it really did. They have rejected the austerity measures per Fox News.

Posted by: Mallamutt, RINO President for Life at November 01, 2011 10:07 AM (OWjjx)

Oh.  Good.  Yeah, that'll show 'em, Greeks.

Are they ever going to realize that there isn't any more money?  Or will they all wake up one morning to discover that all the ouzo is gone and there's no money to buy the ingredients to make more?

136 MF Global misplaced 700 million in depositors money. MF is right.

137 146 With the sudden inrush of deposits, won't the credit unions look to store some of their newfound excess assets in a larger financial institution?  Say like a big bank?

see that is the funny part of these people who have no idea how modern banking works.

they must really think that they store all of their money in cash in a big bank vault in the basement

138 With the sudden inrush of deposits, won't the credit unions look to store some of their newfound excess assets in a larger financial institution?

Those aren't assets, by the way, they're liabilities (for a bank/CU).  And, yes, they will attempt to acquire assets to offset those liabilities in a variety of ways, including (possibly) making deposits with some larger financial institution.  But mostly they'll just make more loans and purchase more blue-chip stocks.

139 Your AR-15 didn't come with a manual?

Hey, somebody's gotta run Thunderdome.

140 149
I see a big future in feudalism, and I'm investigating community college training to become a registered warlord.

Posted by: Wodeshed at November 01, 2011 10:09 AM (LEcV+)

I always thought one of the benefits to being a warlord would be that registration wasn't required.  You just lopped off the heads of your primary opponents, drove your enemies before you and heard the lamentations of their women, and you were golden.

...Wait, that may be the community college Registered Warlord Certificate program curriculum. 

141 I see a big future in feudalism, and I'm investigating community college training to become a registered warlord. When SHTF, I doubt I'll make it even one year, but I hereby pledge that should SHTF, whatever time I have left will be spent in a lefty-free zone.

142 I see a big future in feudalism, and I'm investigating community college training to become a registered warlord.

heh

143 Heres something I have often wondered about. The FDIC insures 100K of your money. Is that 100K per institution or 100K per individual. In other words, if I had 100K in three different banks, would it all be insured?

144 "Sometimes I think the Republicans are rooting for the downfall of the US just as much as the Democrats, but are just too passive-aggressive to do anything about it."

Disagree. When it boils down, the most glaring and obvious difference between the parties is simple:  Democrats want everyone to have equal success by telling the successful and productive how and where to redistribute their money. Republicans want everyone to have the equal opportunity for success... period. 

The problem for Republicans is this includes the requirement for dedication, hard work and the ever-present potential for failure. This is why the Democrats kick ass. Party solutions diverge dramatically and the pervasive nature of identity politics makes a consensus virtually impossible (without a catastrophe stepping in to kick all our collective asses). Humans just aren't built for extended peace. We thrive on conflict. Look no further than your TV for proof.

If a downfall happens under Republican leadership, it won't be because the government ran us a ground. It's because the average American today is a spineless, irresponsible, entitled worm who wouldn't know "poor" if it punched him in the ovaries. He's a fat, stoner lacking marketable skills who doesn't care to learn any. And what's worse, his parent's pat him on the back and tell him it's OK, because they don't want to hurt his fragile ego, as they hand him a shiny new copy of COD for his X-Box knowing he makes more on unemployment for the next three years than he would working 40 hours a week. And that's better than nothing.

145 152 146 With the sudden inrush of deposits, won't the credit unions look to store some of their newfound excess assets in a larger financial institution?  Say like a big bank?

see that is the funny part of these people who have no idea how modern banking works.

they must really think that they store all of their money in cash in a big bank vault in the basement

Posted by: chemjeff at November 01, 2011 10:10 AM (x0nwN)

It's absurd.  Everybody knows they keep it stuffed in a giant mattress in a back room.

146 Those founding fathers were truly geniuses. It's too damned bad that our later forefathers turned their backs on what the founders gifted us.

Posted by: FRONT TOWARD LEFT at November 01, 2011 10:07 AM (p7SSh)

We'll see.  We like to kvetch about the Roman Republic and how it was doomed to collapse, but it did manage to survive about five centuries before it went to Monarchy.  If America keeps on this trend we won't make it that long.

147

Posted by: Oldsailor's poet at November 01, 2011 10:13 AM (ZDUD4)

Yes.  Per institution

148 I think it's $250K per account Now who is three years behind the curve, I thought it was still 100K.

149 they must really think that they store all of their money in cash in a big bank vault in the basement

You mean there isn't a big pile of gold coins in the vault that the bankers go play in like my kids and the neighbor's leaves?

150 " 159 Heres something I have often wondered about. The FDIC insures 100K of your money. Is that 100K per institution or 100K per individual. In other words, if I had 100K in three different banks, would it all be insured?"   Yes, the insurance is per bank.

151 When SHTF, I doubt I'll make it even one year, but I hereby pledge that should SHTF, whatever time I have left will be spent in a lefty-free zone.

Posted by: FRONT TOWARD LEFT at November 01, 2011 10:13 AM (p7SSh)

I think that's a given, ne?  Since all the lefties will be killed off in a wave of cholera caused by drinking water downstream from a pissing donkey. 

152 How will the banks survive the removal of $13.43 of assets from their balance sheets?

I thought all the 'I am the 99%' types were unemployed and couldn't pay their student loans. $13.43 is probably on the high side for their account balances.

These geniuses haven't thought this trough any better than they did starting an outdoor protest in NYC just as winter is coming on.

153 FDIC is $250,000 per individual per bank.

154 159 Heres something I have often wondered about. The FDIC insures 100K of your money. Is that 100K per institution or 100K per individual. In other words, if I had 100K in three different banks, would it all be insured?

Actually, it is $250K per depositor per bank.  So, essentially, yes.

http://www.fdic.gov/deposit/deposits/dis/index.html

155 149
I see a big future in feudalism, and I'm investigating community college training to become a registered warlord.

Posted by: Wodeshed at November 01, 2011 10:09 AM (LEcV+)

And in only two years you can transfer to the state warlord college of your choice! 

156 In other words, if I had 100K in three different banks, would it all be insured?

per account, spread it around money bags.  If you really have liquid assets near those limits you need some hobbies.

157 171 They raised it 3 years ago.

158 And in only two years you can transfer to the state warlord college of your choice! Posted by: Insomniac at November 01, 2011 10:17 AM Are the Ivy league War Lord graduates still snooty?

159 You mean there isn't a big pile of gold coins in the vault that the bankers go play in like my kids and the neighbor's leaves?

Posted by: Jean at November 01, 2011 10:16 AM (WkuV6)

Why yes.  Yes there is. 

160 The $250K FDIC limit was a "temporary" measure back during the liquidity crises of 2008 - 2009.  Not sure if it was extended or renewed.  Let's go to BING! and see what is says... (brb)

161 Morning all....get yer popcorn ready....from the WSJ:

President Barack Obama and his Republican rival will face off in three debates next October, once in New York and again in the battleground states of Florida and Colorado, the Commission on Presidential Debates announced Monday.

The first debate is set for Oct. 3 at the University of Denver, followed by one Oct. 16 at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y., and the final at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Fla., on Oct. 22 — about two weeks before Election Day.

Vice President Joe Biden will debate his GOP counterpart on Oct. 11 at Centre College in Danville, Ky. The Commission said it will announce debate formats during the first part of 2012 and moderators during the summer.

The condensed, and short, debate calendar for the general election is a marked contrast from the debate schedule for the GOP primary. On Nov. 9, the Republican field will meet for its ninth debate in Michigan with several more proposed before balloting even begins in Iowa on Jan. 3.

162 You mean there isn't a big pile of gold coins in the vault that the bankers go play in like my kids and the neighbor's leaves?

Posted by: Jean at November 01, 2011 10:16 AM (WkuV6)

Lesson #1 for the OWS morons:  Scrooge McDuck is a cartoon.

163 177 And in only two years you can transfer to the state warlord college of your choice!

Posted by: Insomniac at November 01, 2011 10:17 AM

Are the Ivy league War Lord graduates still snooty?

Posted by: Oldsailor's poet at November 01, 2011 10:18 AM (ZDUD4)

Snooty and pretentious.  Drinking hooch from the skull of your enemy just loses something when you extend your pinkies.

164 Any suicides yet over on ZH?

Posted by: Jean at November 01, 2011 10:09 AM (WkuV6)

Let's just say that their DOOMiness today makes Monty's thread seem like the pinnacle of optimism.

159 Heres something I have often wondered about. The FDIC insures 100K of your money. Is that 100K per institution or 100K per individual. In other words, if I had 100K in three different banks, would it all be insured?
 
Yes. It is per account. Also, the limit is now $250k, not $100k.

165 "Scrooge McDuck is a cartoon."


NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!

166 You mean there isn't a big pile of gold coins in the vault that the bankers go play in like my kids and the neighbor's leaves?

Of course not.  It's all in $100 bills that they set on fire lighting their cigars while they sip their brandy before their 2 PM tea time.

167 184 "Scrooge McDuck is a cartoon."


NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Denial at November 01, 2011 10:20 AM (niW49)

Poser.

168
Heres something I have often wondered about. The FDIC insures 100K of your money. Is that 100K per institution or 100K per individual. In other words, if I had 100K in three different banks, would it all be insured?

Posted by: Oldsailor's poet at November 01, 2011 10:13 AM (ZDUD4)

It's now 250K, and all of my life I've been told it's per account.

169 I see a big future in feudalism, and I'm investigating community college training to become a registered warlord.

Hey, not so fast kid.  I have a BA in that from The Citadel - you gotta be able to sweat the white whiskey out, while eating cockroaches to get that degree.  The community college prep is a little boys school at Ft Benning. 

170 You could have 3 accounts per bank I think. You, wife, and a joint account.

171 Did someone mention All Saints?

172

chemjeff, certified warlord, sure is quick and accurate on the draw!

173 Heres something I have often wondered about. The FDIC insures 100K of your money. Is that 100K per institution or 100K per individual. In other words, if I had 100K in three different banks, would it all be insured?

Oh, it's waaaaay more complicated than that.  And the number is 250, now, btw.

It is: "250K per depositor per qualified account per institution."  Back when the number was 100K, my dad knew how to insure up to about a million dollars all in one bank- and keep it relatively liquid.  It involves joint accounts, single accounts, trust accounts, and all sorts of things.  Basically, you should be able to have FDIC insurance on all of your money up to (WAG here) around $3M.

Only the absurdly rich really need multiple banks for FDIC Insurance purposes.

174 Insomniac at November 01, 2011 10:20 AM LOL I bet when they remove there enemies liver, they make a hell of a Pate.

175 Lesson #1 for the OWS morons:  Scrooge McDuck is a cartoon.

Typical OWSer: But I saw it on TV, it must be real!

176 You should not hold that much cash. Buy some utility stocks. Interest is next to zip these days.

177 Any insurance company that would sell something like that would surely be bankrupt by now.

*cough*

178 196 You should not hold that much cash. Buy some utility stocks. Interest is next to zip these days.

BUY GOLD BUY GOLD BUY GOLD BUY GOLD BUY GOLD

179

RE: the sidebar piece about NBA Commission Stern fining whatshisname for Tweets.

Does anyone here actually give a rat's ass about the lockout?  Seriously?  I realize there are people who genuinely love basketball, but...

180 there's no such thing as being absurdly rich......

181 Are the Ivy league War Lord graduates still snooty? Posted by: Oldsailor's poet at November 01, 2011 10:18 AM (ZDUD4) --------------------------------------------------------- Ivy league Warlords are effete beta male types who would never, you know, do that yucky warlording thing.

182 BUY GOLD BUY GOLD BUY GOLD BUY GOLD BUY GOLD

Buy receivers, uppers, lowers, barrels ...

183 I haven't watched an NBA game in close to 20 years anyway.

184 Corzine would wear handcuffs so well. I look forward to the perp walk.

185 MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Hobbit I havn't even noticed it missing. As far as I am concearned, college ball could take it's place.

186
Ivy League Warlords

187 Does anyone here actually give a rat's ass about the lockout?  Seriously?

Yes.  Every day those thugs are not in practice, or sequestered for a game is one more day they can be causing real trouble.

there's no such thing as being absurdly rich......

Disagree.  Absurd != bad.  Bill Gates and Warren Buffet (Steve Forbes, too, to pick one from 'our side') are absurdly rich.  I wish I were absurdly rich.

188 President Barack Obama and his Republican rival will face off in three debates next October, once in New York and again in the battleground states of Florida and Colorado, the Commission on Presidential Debates announced Monday. It's a trap. This hurts Perry. When next October gets here, Obama is going to duck the debates.

189 Seriously?  I realize there are people who genuinely love basketball, but...

The NBA is insane - they have several highly competitive products that will eat their lunch (college basketball and football, NFL) and can easily expand their respective offerings to fill the NBA void.  I won't even notice they're not one the air

190 As far as I am concearned, college ball could take it's place.

Basketball is about the only sport where the professional level is not significantly more fun to watch than the college level.

191
Ivy League Warlord II

192

Yes.  Every day those thugs are not in practice, or sequestered for a game is one more day they can be causing real trouble.

But actually having a season doesn't seem to deter them much from making trouble either, ala Artest, Ron.

193 New York and again in the battleground states of Florida and Colorado

There is some wishcasting by the Dims -- FL and CO as battlegrounds and not NY.

194 I forgot about Tank Girl Dukakis.

195 Yes. Every day those thugs are not in practice, or sequestered for a game is one more day they can be causing real trouble. And, it's one more day for each of them to buy himself a ticket to the graybar motel — where he belongs. The NBA is the perfect metaphor for everything wrong with this country today. The last few years, the NFL has been doing their best to steal that title.

196 I stopped watching the NBA when Michael Jordan had his sad second stint for the hapless Washington Wizards. I did enjoy some NBA when Larry Bird, Dr. J, and Magic's Johnson were playing.

197 But actually having a season doesn't seem to deter them much from making trouble either, ala Artest, Ron.

Well, yes, but they don't actually get sequestered for games every day, and sometimes they do short practices.  So even with a season they do have plenty of opportunity for mischief.  They just have more opportunity without the season.

198 We should have indentured servitude for college debt payoffs. Some of those gals in the Saturday cheerleader pix would make excellent servants.

You can just tell from looking, sometimes....

199 Don't forget Obama on the girl's bike warlord pic. I think every republican campaign ad should end with that pic. That would put an end to the whole "cool" meme.

200 Let them play in Ulan Bator.

201 When this election hits full stride, the whole country will be walking on potato chips, one hand on a bible and the other on a Black Rifle.

202 Not one bit. Love college hoops, despise the NBA. A bunch of overpaid, overfed Michelin Men lumbering up and down the court.

Posted by: Soap MacTavish at November 01, 2011 10:29 AM (vbh31)

This seems to be the opinion I'm hearing from most folks who have even a passing interest in basketball.  College hoops is where they invest their energies; the NBA is more like a bonus. 

I have a dream.  It's not a big dream, just a little dream.  My dream is that this lockout ends up canceling the entire season, and the NBA suffers the same crippling loss of fan interest that the NHL went through many years ago and is only now beginning to recover from.  And I like hockey (for a given amount of "like").

203 "The paper said that MF Global and Corzine had not been accused of doing anything wrong."

Depends on your definition of wrong.  Mine  includes  producing results that bankrupt your company.   

204
I live in the NC epicenter of college hoops, and as an ACC grad, I am as they say "ate up with college basketball."  But I gave up on the NBA after Bird, DJ, Parish, and McHale, when it went from being a team game to Jordan's one-on-one clearout stuff.

205

I'm more concerned about the big cricket scandal in England than the NBA.

Posted by: Mallamutt, RINO President for Life at November 01, 2011 10:33 AM (OWjjx)

Heh.  You should tweet that to ESPN and watch their heads explode.

206 Did he check between the couch cushions for the $700 million?

207 The paper said that MF Global and Corzine had not been accused of doing anything wrong. I can halfway feel sorry for Madoff's dupes, but anyone who sends a dime Corzine's way and expects ever to see it again is too fucking stupid to live.

208 MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Hobbit at November 01, 2011 10:33 Could you imagine NBA players on a triple A baseball players salary. Those big Chrome spinny wheels on their Ford Focus.

209 228 Did he check between the couch cushions for the $700 million?

Posted by: FlaviusJulius at November 01, 2011 10:36 AM (ieDPL)

And his car seats.  I bet he's got a half a million lodged behind the gear shift, easy.

210 It is about time they paid them much less.

211 "The paper said that MF Global and Corzine had not been accused of doing anything wrong."

I'm sure I heard "yet" at the end of that sentence.

212 What could go wrong?

213 I bet if I "lost" $700 million in depositors money I would be accused of wrong doing.

214 I think Allen Iverson was the beginning of the end of the NBA. Jordan made his whole team better just by the very fact that he was Michael Jordan. Iverson did nothing to make any of his team mates better. Plus he had all that thug, punk tats and cornrows and the shitty attitude to go with it. He was the proto type of the new, entitled NBA player.

215 I'll watch ghetto pro hoops when they raise the basket and lengthen the court. Right now it looks like giants playing on tricycles. Ridiculous

216 210 Seriously?  I realize there are people who genuinely love basketball, but...

The NBA is insane - they have several highly competitive products that will eat their lunch (college basketball and football, NFL) and can easily expand their respective offerings to fill the NBA void.  I won't even notice they're not one the air

Yeah, but by next year the NFL will be playing 2 hand touch.  I tuned in to several completely unwatchable games on Sunday.  The reason they started wearing helmets in the first place was because of all of the incidental head to head contact; now if you make a perfectly clean hit and your helmet touches the other guys it's 15 yards.  You can't breakup passes anymore by trying to jar the ball loose, from what I saw, it looks like they have to let the receiver catch the ball unless they can get in front of the pass and pick it off.  If you get your hands up to try and block a pass and your pinky grazes the QB's head it is 15 yards.  THIS IS COMPLETE UNWATCHABLE GARBAGE. 

College football is getting pretty bad too.  I think they shake a magic 8-ball on every tackle to determine if it was a personal foul.

217
Ivy League Warlord III

218 What could go wrong? Big Sis is reading this right now, Hi Big Sis, I was only kidding about that Militia stuff.

219 Could you imagine NBA players on a triple A baseball players salary. Those big Chrome spinny wheels on their Ford Focus.

Posted by: Oldsailor's poet at November 01, 2011 10:36 AM (ZDUD4)

*imagines*

...Kobe Bryant taking home leftover Chinese food from Yao Ming's retirement party...

...Lebron James wedged into a 2009 Elantra with his knees to his chin...

...Carmelo Anthony getting into a petty squabble with a woman at the DMV about the proper spelling of his first name on his driver's license...

Oh...  My heart just went pitter-pat.  

If only 'twere true.

220 PSST, Anyone wanna by some treasuries?

221 I think the NBA should go back to the shorts from the 1950's. That and they all should be required to wear Converse Allstars or Chuck Taylors.

222

I'm more concerned about the big cricket scandal in England than the NBA.

Posted by: Mallamutt, RINO President for Life at November 01, 2011 10:33 AM (OWjjx)

A long time ago I and my soon-to-be ex-girlfriend spent a rainy afternoon in a bar on the Sydney waterfront; getting hammered and watching cricket. The bartender did his best to explain what the hell was going on, but the combination of alcohol and his incomprehensible accent made it impossible to understand. It was fun though!

223 Lemmiwinks, i think they should go back to a soft, leather helmet style of head protection (see what some rugby guys wear).

224 234 What could go wrong?

Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) says 'No' to RINO Romney at November 01, 2011 10:39 AM (8y9MW)

It's like they took the lesson of Attackwatch, completely missed the point, and decided to do it again but without public input.  It would be fascinating from a cultural anthropology perspective if the stupid wasn't so thick.

225 I'll watch ghetto pro hoops when they raise the basket and lengthen the court. Right now it looks like giants playing on tricycles. Ridiculous

Seriously.  What kind of game is designed to allow 100+ "goals?"  (Yes, I know that's not the term, but I'm being generic here).  In Football, it's a high scoring game if points are scored 10 times (between the two teams).  In Baseball, about the same.  In soccer or hockey a high-scoring game is a combined 6 or 7 goals.  Basketball considers a game low scoring if there are 80 or fewer combined baskets.

And that's even true (to a lesser extent) of college ball.  Pro ball is far worse, with a "normal" game scoring 100+ times (combined).

Give me a game of defense, not offensive ping-pong.

226 CharlieBrown'sDildo (NJconservative) at November 01, 2011 10:44 AM Yep, I was in Jamaica watching cricket with the locals and a guy from the Isle of White. Same thing, got drunk, still clueless about the game, but had fun.

227 I think I need to finally pull the trigger and yank the remaining assets I have invested in stocks, bond and mutuals. My broker just sent out an email letter with the following subject line: News of Greek Debt Deal Drives Markets Upward Sheesh. Posted by: Soap MacTavish at November 01, 2011 10:45 AM (vbh31) -------------------------------------------------------- I am out of the stock market all together and I do not feel bad about it. Stock trading any more is a suckers bet.

228 244 And mandatory Michael Cooper Socks.

229 I am out of the stock market all together and I do not feel bad about it. Stock trading any more is a suckers bet. Posted by: Osama bin Truck Monkey, TEArrorist Son of a Bitch at November 01, 2011 10:46 AM Ditto

230 Posted by: Soap MacTavish at November 01, 2011 10:45 AM (vbh31)

Heh, news from Thursday. Is your broker a time-traveling neutrino?

231 My broker just sent out an email letter with the following subject line:

News of Greek Debt Deal Drives Markets Upward

You should reply with "If your this stupid, I'm getting a new broker."

232
I'd rather watch skeet shooting.

233

I think the NBA should go back to the shorts from the 1950's.

Does anyone really want to see that much pasty white Canadian thigh from Steve Nash?

234 It's like they took the lesson of Attackwatch, completely missed the point, and decided to do it again but without public input.  It would be fascinating from a cultural anthropology perspective if the stupid wasn't so thick.

I'm tempted to post that bit.ly link in some tweets.  Something like "F U #BigSis #FirstAmendment http://bit.ly/saOXFC"

But I probably won't because I haven't gotten around to setting up a feed for purely political stuff.

235 I have a lot of money right now sitting in cash. I have my share of PM's as well. I do not know where to go with that cash other than PM where I feel safe about it.

236 Is your broker a time-traveling neutrino? We don't serve neutrinos in this bar. I have told that joke a dozen times and have yet to meet someone that gets it.

237 My broker just sent out an email letter

If your broker can afford to pay someone to compose those emails then you might be paying too much for his services.

238 261, productive realestate - gas stations, commercially zoned corner lots, guns, beans, etc.

239

Heh, news from Thursday. Is your broker a time-traveling neutrino?

Not sure about that but he's definitely asleep at the wheel.

He probably wrote the email as events were breaking.  Then it forwarded it to compliance for approval ...

240 I live in the NC epicenter of college hoops, and as an ACC grad, I am as they say "ate up with college basketball." But I gave up on the NBA after Bird, DJ, Parish, and McHale, when it went from being a team game to Jordan's one-on-one clearout stuff. Posted by: Wodeshed at November 01, 2011 10:35 AM (LEcV+) Well I'm an ACC Fan from up North and and I gave up on the NBA after Jordan retired. Yes he might have heralded the age of clear out and one on one, but at least he did it well and with class.

241 My broker is E.F. Hutton.........

242 261, productive realestate - gas stations, commercially zoned corner lots, guns, beans, etc.

Also: utilities, brass, lead, and copper.

243 The time to buy gold is before it goes up.

244 246 Lemmiwinks, i think they should go back to a soft, leather helmet style of head protection (see what some rugby guys wear).

Posted by: Jean at November 01, 2011 10:45 AM (WkuV6)

There are many parallels between what the NFL has done to its product and what our government does to the people in the name of safety (i.e. going way overboard imposing rules they themselves don't understand).  Every ref and every player knows what a truly malicious hit looks like, instead of defining all head to head contact as a personal foul and giving them 15 yards, single out the true head hunters and suspend them for 2 games.

245 268 261, productive realestate - gas stations, commercially zoned corner lots, guns, beans, etc. Also: utilities, brass, lead, and copper. Don't forget water purification tools. Life stops without potable water.

246 Utilities. Power companies and Verizon.

247 The Dow is skyrocketing! It's only down 204 right now!

248
266

Well, that's true, but I'm a Duke fan.  And he kept beating the Celtics.

249 Well I'm an ACC Fan from up North and and I gave up on the NBA after Jordan retired. Yes he might have heralded the age of clear out and one on one, but at least he did it well and with class.

Posted by: nevergiveup at November 01, 2011 10:51 AM (i6RpT)

I've never been a huge basketball fan, but I could appreciate Jordan's ability.  He was a freak of nature. 

My problem is that they've been trying and trying to find the "next Jordan" since MJ's retirement, and the league has turned into a complete mess as a result.  When did the slamdunk become the staple of your average basketball game?  Three pointers from half-court are so much more interesting, and need even more skill.  If I wanted to watch Shaquille O'Neal lumber up and down the court like a constipated elephant to slam a little ball through a hoop, I'd go to the circus.

250 The NBA took a perfectly enjoyable sporting activity and turned it into a clown carnival. Kudos to David Stern!

251 Life stops without potable water.

What?

252 single out the true head hunters and suspend them for 2 games.

Better: first offense (season): 2 games.  second offense (in a season, but this only applies once): 8 games (yep, half the season).  third offense (or second if you've already used your 8 game suspension): black-balled from the league.

253 278 Life stops without potable water.

What?

Posted by: Entamoeba histolytica at November 01, 2011 10:55 AM (SDkq3)

Multi-cellular life.  You don't count.

254 Can you Morons say "BONED FLAYED"?!

Fixed to meet the updated AoSHQ Style Guide.

255 Entamoeba histolytica at November 01, 2011 10:55 AM I apologize my Amoebic friend, HUMAN life stops without potable water.

256

Ok so the retirement funds are in SEP's and IRA's with investment firms.

Is there anyway to take posession of those funds without losing 40% in taxes to secure them during a financial collapse?

257 BTW: Barack Obama is a stuttering clusterf*ck of a miserable failure.

And this thread is growing stale.  I know it's early for ace, but are any of the cobs around?

258 281 Can you Morons say "BONED FLAYED"?!

Fixed to meet the updated AoSHQ Style Guide.

Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) says 'No' to RINO Romney at November 01, 2011 10:57 AM (8y9MW)

Hah!  Beat me to it, AG!

259 http://moneycentral.msn.com/investor/invsub/insider/trans.asp?symbol=MF

260 Posted by: Oldsailor's poet at November 01, 2011 10:49 AM (ZDUD4)

You need to hang out with a different class of physicists!

261 Posted by: MrObvious at November 01, 2011 10:57 AM (qwhLZ)

IDK about the SEPs, but IRA's should be transferable to other IRA's without taking a hit.  And there are "self-managed" IRAs (they're not, really, but you do have more control) out there if you look hard enough.

Indeed, as I understand it, the IRA is really only a tax designation, and can be put on top of just about any kind of investment.

262 MrObvious at November 01, 2011 10:57 AM Nope, they sure have boned us with the inability to access our own 401k's. Once again, trying to protect people that are too undiciplined to save.

263

For the former Goldman Sachs chief, it was a setback to his efforts to turn MF Global around. He had just announced a plan for the bank to boost trading risk by holding more assets on its books, both to help customers and to bet on markets.

He needed his traders to step up their game, and he called a group of them into a conference room at its Manhattan headquarters to lay out the plan.

"He basically told us that it was up to us to drive the profits of the firm," said a former MF Global trader who was in the room.

The trading, particularly in debt from troubled euro zone nations in the past year, has instead driven the firm to the brink of collapse, making it possibly the most prominent U.S. casualty yet from the euro zone crisis. It has also badly hurt Corzine's business image, and reduced the former New Jersey governor's chances of ever making a political comeback.

Oh poor baby, he lost investors' money due to his recklessness and ego and jobs will be lost as a result and Reuters is crying over his chances of making a political comeback

264 If we're honest with ourselves, we'll admit that in reality, this country is too far gone to save.  Shit like this won't get fixed by the institution that is perpetrating it.

http://tinyurl.com/455o4qr

Twenty five fucking percent.  This country is o v e r.

If Occupy Wall Street was Occupy Washington, I'd be 100% behind them.

265 I'm a born and bred Celtics fan living in NC. Always been a Duke fan and it worked out great that Wake Forest plays it's games about 10 minutes from my house. I've been to more college games in the four years I've lived here than in 35 years in Mass.

266 Didn't they fix that third world banking problem last week?

267 You guys are just mean! Jack Tatum would have never made it through Ohio State under your rules.

268 Every ref and every player knows what a truly malicious hit looks like, instead of defining all head to head contact as a personal foul and giving them 15 yards, single out the true head hunters and suspend them for 2 games.

Or, players can keep their heads on a swivel, OC can stop flooding the linebacker coverage zones with little fast guys, and go back to keeping a sidecar or a TE in to protect the QBs vs putting 5 guys in patterns everydown ...

269 Sort of on the topic of doom/boned:  Did anyone else get the RNC fundraising survey that asked if the US military should take action to prevent North Korea for getting nuclear weapons?

Isn't that horse out of the barn already?

270

You guys are just mean! Jack Tatum would have never made it through Ohio State under your rules.

And Darryl Stingley would have appreciated that.

271 AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) says 'No' to RINO Romney at November 01, 2011 10:59 AM Yes, all of those things, but I was thinking about those who are currently working and have 401k's. You can't access them until you retire or quit your job.

272 It's all so easy -- just donate five bucks to Starbucks.

Here’s the idea they came up with: Americans themselves would start lending to small businesses, with Starbucks serving as the middleman. Starbucks would find financial institutions willing to loan to small businesses. Starbucks customers would be able to donate money to the effort when they bought their coffee. Those who gave $5 or more would get a red-white-and-blue wristband, which Schultz labeled “Indivisible.” “We are hoping it will bring back pride in the American dream,” he says. The tag line will read: “Americans Helping Americans.”

273 I hear the NFL is going to have the Quarterbacks 'flag belts' next year. Instead of 'hitting' the Quarterback like the bad ole days of NFL yesteryear, D Lineman will be able to grab one of the flags off of the 'flag belt' and be credited with a sack. If two or more D Lineman come away with a flag at the same time they will be credited with a 'partial' sack. Next rules to come out will be to protect the wide receivers.

274
Even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then:

ACLU: Obama “Authorizing Agencies to Lie”

While the Obama administrationÂ’s hostility to transparency is well known, its latest scheme would break new ground in government secrecy. The administrationÂ’s proposed changes to the Freedom of Information Act guidelines would allow the Department of Justice to deny the existence of documents and prevent judicial oversight.

275

OT but VERY appropriate.

The response to OWS, circa 1978.

 

276 Just remember this...

When the economy tanks, and you're holding a vast amount of Gold,

Who you gonna' SELL it to?

277 Yes, he probably would have. I often wondered how Tatum was able to get away with some of those hits in college since they were supposed to be so much more restrictive.

278
I've been to more college games in the four years I've lived here than in 35 years in Mass.

Nice!  Helps that you can get tickets to Wake games.  Cameron is tough.

279 257 I'd rather watch skeet shooting.
___________

How about skeet surfing?

280 ACLU: Obama “Authorizing Agencies to Lie” They are just goose stepping their way into facism, one EO at a time.

281 I've heard that the subject of a financial transaction tax has been discussed in the super committee - I would expect it to be biased against cash withdrawals.  Personally, with the exception of matched money - I am out of the non-dividend producing market (other then some small cap options that I'm hip deep in). 

282

Speaking of OWS...

Occupy Baltimore Rape Victim begs for protest to be shut down

(link to Breitbart TV)

Just like the Tea Party, y'know?

283 Just remember this... When the economy tanks, and you're holding a vast amount of Gold, Who you gonna' SELL it to? Posted by: franksalterego at November 01, 2011 11:05 AM (9XykO) ----------------------------------------------------------- People that horded cash?

284 Jim Rockford lays into an Occupy Wall Street type  [Moonbattery]

285 New post up.

286
303

Who you gonna SELL it to?

http://tinyurl.com/34hrkbh

287

ACLU: Obama “Authorizing Agencies to Lie”

When you've lost the ACLU...

But seriously, in what universe is this bullshit even considered conscionable, let alone implementable?  Well, besides the current universe, obviously.

288 I think Baltimore has the highest per capita number of IV drug users on the planet.

289 Speaking of spending, the shitty committee has 3 RINOs joining with the Dems to have common ground. Note that "common ground" is defined as a tax increase.

290
Who you gonna SELL it to?

See the little girl in the video above -- you're going to give it to her, it will be like trick or treating with less smiling.

291

Give me a game of defense, not offensive ping-pong.

Well obviously the team that has 121 "goals" is soooo much better than the one that has 119. It's just stupid.

I have to love Duke b-ball and Coach K or I'd be so down on my alma mater I'd send all their mail back postage due like my friend does who went to Yale. He couldn't get them to stop so he clipped off one of those return postage guarenteed things and mailed them a brick.

292
Just remember this...

When the economy tanks, and you're holding a vast amount of Gold,

Who you gonna' SELL it to?

Posted by: franksalterego at November 01, 2011 11:05 AM (9XykO)

When Argentina last shit the bed inflation got so bad that people insisted on getting paid daily or even twice a day. Shop keepers bought scales and most transactions were done with gold. People would carry 18k gold chains and cut off links to buy stuff. That's what happens when the S really hits the fan.

293 If Occupy Wall Street was Occupy Washington, I'd be 100% behind them.

Posted by: Hussein the Plumber at November 01, 2011 11:00 AM (jx2j9)

If OWS was in DC, it would be an indication that they weren't completely clueless. I wouldn't want to say I'd support them; these aren't exactly the people I want writing the next constitution.

294 Who you gonna SELL it to? 

I think you'll find that people will accept it has payment for water, food, shelter, weapons, . . . etc.

295 Even a blind squirrel finds a nut now and then: ACLU gets on board every once in a long while with going against whatever lefty shit is too heinous even to merit consideration. It does nothing to excuse the fact that should every last ACLUer and ACLU donor on earth be suddenly abducted by aliens, the world would be an immeasurably better place.

296 Buy canned Ravioli.

297 Coming soon to the Greek diet: A yard of shit.

298 B of A pawned.

299

In the early days of the Republic it was the large landowners in the South and the large buisness owners in the North who were the "elite" that ran things.

True, but then the "things" that they ran were a lot less comprehensive than the ambitions of our elites today.  Sure, the landowners might have energetically lobbied for tariffs or stuck their fingers into international treaties.  But you didn't have the local plantation owner riding into the farmyard of a small freehold farmer and peremptorily demanding an explanation for why he'd built chicken-coop on his land, and threatening to put him out of business with fines.  People were just left alone to do what they wanted in ways we can't even imagine today.

300 #136

There are some amazingly stupid and evil people who manage to strike it rich on a goofy idea.

Remember when people actually paid for screensavers, and the big seller was the one with the flying toasters? Well, the couple who did that are the founders of MoveOn.org. They just couldn't bear it when Clinton turned out to be exactly who his opposition tried to tell the country he was and decided it was just something for us all to ignore, because wasn't he just so swell otherwise? Ergo, the name of their organization.

Worst idle rich hobby ever.

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

The crash of big team sports as a major TV draw may be a good thing. Get rid of enough components of bread and circuses and perhaps the populace will start paying attention out of sheer boredom.

301

Lesson #1 for the OWS morons:  Scrooge McDuck is a cartoon.

Lesson #2 He's rich because he's right.

302 Yup and the Republicans help cause all that, by ripping out regulation that would have prevented all of it.

303 Obama is a stuttering clusterf*ck of a miserable failure.

304 Redneck precious metals:  Brass + Lead. 

Barry Soetoro = SCOAMF

305 Neal Stephenson on The West's Killer Apps, from Snow Crash: This is America. People do whatever the fuck they feel like doing, you got a problem with that? Because they have a right to. And because they have guns and no one can fucking stop them. As a result, this country has one of the worst economies in the world. When it gets down to it -- talking trade balances here -- once we've brain-drained all our technology into other countries, once things have evened out, they're making cars in Bolivia and microwave ovens in Tadzhikistan and selling them here -- once our edge in natural resources has been made irrelevant by giant Hong Kong ships and dirigibles that can ship North Dakota all the way to New Zealand for a nickel -- once the Invisible Hand has taken all those historical inequities and smeared them out into a broad global layer of what a Pakistani brickmaker would consider to be prosperity -- y'know what? There's only four things we do better than anyone else music movies microcode (software) high-speed pizza delivery - - - - - So in other words, I guess I'm a Cain supporter now.

306 I'm still waiting for Matt Lauer and the leftwinger ladies on "teh view" to mention Solyndra.

Look, the national debt goes up by $3 billion every day. Solyndra was only a half-billion bucks - about four hours of deficit spending. So what's the big deal? It's not like it's corruption-corruption.

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