1
uh oh!

2
spaghettios!

3 Them lefties, they ain't too bright...

4 Amazon Tax.

5 Working and living in Chicago is a privilege. You should have to pay extra.

6 Damn corporate jets strike again.

7 It's like there's some sort of connection.

8 But Gov Quinn just signed the IL version of the DREAM Act, so surely all of that good will is going to result in a hiring spree! He cares dammit. He cares.

9
Don't worry.

Obama's new plan outline vision only taxes the rich.

10

Illinois Loses More Jobs Than Any Other State

I've ordered my top men to start looking for them. 

Top.  Men.

11 Fuck 'em.

12 Emanuel moves quick to blame Bush.  Threatens Republicans with murder for any criticism.  Suggests that if government spending is not increased, people will die.  Does not intend to let this crisis go to waste.

13
Krugman just called me and said,

"Illinois needs to spend more!"

14 When will the Dept. of Injustice open a case on the compilers of bad employment data?

15 "Let me be clear (yet again). I want all Americans to experience the Illinois experience, while Rick Perry wants you to suffer what Texas has gone through....Axelrod, why did you start screaming?

16 Congress better not let them have any money.

17 Oh, look.  More people moving to Texas.

That's right, Illinois, keep upping your taxes.  We'll take your business.

18 Also, wasn't Illinois recently struck by an earthquake?

Look, I don't know how you can expect me to overcome bumps in the road like that.  I'm just one man, yannow.

Now watch this drive.

*oops

Mulligan.  (heh)

Watch this drive!

*oops

19 Emanuel moves quick to blame Bush.  Threatens Republicans with murder for any criticism.  Suggests that if government spending is not increased, people will die.  Does not intend to let this crisis go to waste. Then lectures Republicans on keeping a civil tone to the debate.

FIFY

20 Early indications are that all Illinois politicians might be stuttering clusterfucks of miserable failures.

21 Oh, just great. Now all those FIBs will be headed north into WI to collect better benefits. Damn them to hell.

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

Apparently he's so bad that he can negatively affect his chosen home state without doing anything to it at all.

Well, except inflicting Rahm Emmanuel on it, but that's really only Chicago.

23 Back in the day we South Siders used to say "Chicago!  At least we ain't Detroit!".  Not sure that joke is as funny anymore.

24 Don't worry!  All we need is an Alien Invasion will give Illinois an economic boost.

Krugman and NASA told me so.

25 FIB

Acronym failure (on my part).  I'm sure I should recognize this, but I don't.  Enlighten me?

26 Oh, look.  More people moving to Texas.

That's right, Illinois, keep upping your taxes.  We'll take your business.

That's what Nevada used to say to us (Californians) why don't you ask them how that worked out.

27 Acronym failure (on my part).  I'm sure I should recognize this, but I don't.  Enlighten me?

Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) is tired beyond tired of the trolls at August 24, 2011 11:55 AM (8y9MW)

Me too.  I'm assuming Fucking Illinois _____

28 "Hope and Change: Destroying the Future to Bring Peace and Justice to All"

29 It's like there's some sort of connection.

We've run 1043 different economic computer models and found one that shows no correlation so that's the one we are going to use.

30 Democrats. Putting the "ill" into Illinois!

31 That's what Nevada used to say to us (Californians) why don't you ask them how that worked out.

Well, really, casinos are going to encourage an amount of liberalism anyway (money for nothing, and all that).

But, as far as that goes, we've been importing jobs from elsewhere for about a decade, now, and we've only gotten more red, so I'm not terribly concerned.  Yet.

32 Early indications are that all Illinois politicians might be stuttering clusterfucks of miserable failures.

Reagan was born and raised in Illinois.  Then got out as quick as he could.  Only exception I can think of.

33 Saw that over on Hillbuzz, which is from Chicago.  Good times.  Expose the bodies of crony Keynesianism.  BTW, didn't Nixon say we are all Keynesians now?  Fuck the GOP establishment (which is why if Romney's the man, I'm voting my party's nominee (Libertarian).

34 Illinois is genererating lots of prison guard jobs.  Gotta guard those exgovernors.

35 That chart showing employment going off a cliff shortly after our tax increase is based totally on coincidence...

36 Clearly the result of last night's earthquake.

37

This thread is absolutely wrong. As a resident of Illinois, I can tell you Pat QuinnÂ’s tax increases have created jobs.

 

In Wisconsin and Missouri and IowaÂ…Â….

 

Posted by: Mallamutt, RINO President for Life at August 24, 2011 11:59 AM (OWjjx)

Whereabouts in Illinois are you?  I'm about an hour east of St Louis.

38
brb, gettin another quote-gem^tm...

39 @18>37 This is what I get for not reading comments.

40 Obama is a stuttering clusterfuck of a miserable failure.

41 money for nothing, and all that

More like the vague chance to make money in some undetermined future is justification for continually losing losing money now. I'm surprised all the retired GM CEOs aren't there full time.

42
"Wait, wait... Did you know that the state of Lincoln gets $50 billion out of the stimulus? That's $50 billion for this state, sir."

--Susan Roesgen, CNN
April, 2009

43

When you're talking about the controversial voodoo-economist Art Laffer, You have to decide whether we're on the top or bottom part of the so-called "Laffer Curve."   It's been clear for many years that we're on the bottom side, and therefore, we need to raise marginal tax rates to maximize revenue.

 

Oh, AGW is real and Rick Perry is a potential rapist, unlike the current President.

44 And come on CA!

We're not gonna let Illinois beat us are we?

45 F* you SOCK!

46

That Bush Faultline runs through Illinois too, you know.

 

Reagan....the Great Communicator.

DivotBoy.....the Great Prevaricator.

47 It's not fair to judge based on the graph. It's all just been a matter of Bad Luck(tm). And Booooooooosh!!!!

48 The best part? The graph that accompanies the article:

Graphs are racist

49 The timing of the job losses and the tax hike just proves that you must mandate tax hikes in all other states - for fairness!

50 (Looking at graph) Ooooh! Looky the pretty mountain!

51
Here's the whole exchange. I love this because this event not only exposes the media as Obama-rump swabs, it marked the beginning of the Tea Party conservative reckoning that was about to sweep the nation.

SUSAN ROESGEN: (Reading some of the signs held by protesters) Uh, let's see... 'Drop the taxes,' 'Drop socialism.' OK. Let's see. You're here with your two-year-old and you're already in debt. Why are you here today, sir?

MAN: Because I hear a president say that he believed in what Lincoln stood for. Lincoln's primary thing was he believed that people had the right to liberty, and had the right...

ROESGEN: Sir, what does this have to do with taxes? What does this have to do with your taxes? Do you realize that you're eligible for a $400 credit...?

MAN: Let me finish my point. Lincoln, Lincoln believed that people had the right to share in the fruits of their own labor and that government should not take it. And we have clearly gotten to that point.

ROESGEN: Wait, wait... Did you know that the state of Lincoln gets $50 billion out of the stimulus? That's $50 billion for this state, sir.

52

One would think the pattern is becoming clear. Left-leaning, high-tax, big-regulation, big-government states and countries are suffering the most.

No no, RD, you don't understand.  Those states are suffering because they just aren't left-leaning, high-taxing, big-regulating, big-governing enough.  You'll see!  It'll be Utopia when they finally reach full state control!

[/sarc]

53
What does liberty have to do with taxes, she asks!!!

That stupid man doesn't understand 'free' money?

54

"Graphs are racist"

Racist, please

55 TEH JOB LOSSES COINCIDE WITH THE ENDING OF THE STIMULUS CASH!!!1111

WE NEEDS NEW STIMULUS!!!11111

56 The only jobs left are for paying people to go to Wrigley Field to sit through Cubs games.

57

No liberal is going to give any creedance to that graph.....

If you graph time v. GDP and plot the Carter administration and then the enactment of Reaganomics they'll tell you that the growth following was in NO way related to Reagan's Trickle Down to the Wealthy program.....

58

Oh, AGW is real and Rick Perry is a potential rapist, unlike the current President.

Posted by: David Brooks at August 24, 2011 12:03 PM (K2wpv)

...................

 

Does bestiality count?

Where's my pain stick?

59 Bad luck.

60

Hazarding a guess, I would have to say that this is because corporate taxes are too low, the top two percent arenÂ’t paying their fair share, some assholes have the audacity to actually own corporate jets and there simply arenÂ’t enough regulations across the board.

Best guess.

61 The report also said IllinoisÂ’s unemployment rate climbed to 9.5 percent. This marks the third consecutive month of increases in the unemployment rate.

But Texas's unemployment rate is 8.4%  That proves there are no jobs in Texas!

62 'Cuz - you can't pay anyone to sit through White Sox games.

63 Quick, put more people from IL in charge of the entire effin country!!

64 You think they'd be saying thank you, that's what you'd think.

65 Why are we not surprised......

66 Guess they aren't as smart as Rick Perry. Who knew? Bitches.

67 44  Rick Perry is a potential rapist, unlike the current President.

Posted by: David Brooks at August 24, 2011 12:03 PM (K2wpv)

True, true. The current occupant is no threat to anything but barnyard fowl.

68 Hey, Illinois business. Come on down the pike a bit. Visit lovely Oklahoma. Hell, we love business.

Hey, now, RD.  It's Texas's job to poach other states' jobs.

69 Imagine how bad the numbers would be without the miracle of food stamp stimulus

70

57 The only jobs left are for paying people to go to Wrigley Field to sit through Cubs games.

Good grief! One does not 'sit' through a Cubs game, one DRINKS through a Cubs game! Get with the program, Roy!

71

Good grief! One does not 'sit' through a Cubs game, one DRINKS through a Cubs game! Get with the program, Roy!

Posted by: Cicerokid

 

That's good. Is it true that if an opposing team hits a home run, the fans throw it back?

72 OT and re-posted from the previous thread (but we're past the time threshold for on-topic anyway):

 Any NH Morons care to comment on this story from Reuters?

Is it wish-casting?  A misreading of the electorate?  On the money?

73 That chart is clearly racist.

74 We'll take a short time out for a word from our sponsors:

Newly formed White House and State Department Vocal Chorus singing, “Look!  Squirrel!”

CDs and gift sets available wherever music is sold.  Wonderful way to commemorate religions of peace wherever they may be.

75

True, true. The current occupant is no threat to anything but barnyard fowl.

Posted by: Grey Fox. broke and unemployed at August 24, 2011 12:11 PM (nEMLy)

That is a damned lie! Have you not witnessed what I have done to the economy?

That, and I am also a threat to little boys.

76 Clearly, Illinois can benefit from a round of stimulus.

77
ROESGEN: Wait, wait... Did you know that the state of Lincoln gets $50 billion out of the stimulus? That's $50 billion for this state, sir.

Posted by: soothsayer at August 24, 2011 12:06 PM (sqkOB)

And it only cost $100B to get that $50B!

78 Yeah, but where's the graph of the Illinois ATM population? 

79 Clearly this is a failure of government regulation.  We need to prevent these companies from leaving the state.  But how to do it?  Hmmmmm.  I hear there are a lot of ex-Stasi looking for work. 

80 78
ROESGEN: Wait, wait... Did you know that the state of Lincoln gets $50 billion out of the stimulus? That's $50 billion for this state, sir.

Posted by: soothsayer at August 24, 2011 12:06 PM (sqkOB)

And it only cost $100B to get that $50B!

 

How much of that $50B is for HIGH SPEED TRAINS? Reinventing yesterday's technology: OBAMA 2012.

81 Is that a high speed train track?

82 Is that a high speed train track?

Yes, and it's destination is DOOM!

83 Is it wish-casting?  A misreading of the electorate?  On the money?

They Supported John McCain overwhelmingly remember? McCain won NH in 2000 against Bush.

If you loved John McCain, who in the current field is your best candidate?

84

Whoa!  WhatÂ’s this?  Government lawyer declares that the federal government is obliged to enforce immigration laws!  Someone will not be pleased.

85 Illinois is fine.

Ramadan is a quintessentially American holiday.

And Obama is not a stuttering clusterfuck of a miserable failure.

86 If you loved John McCain, who in the current field is your best candidate?

Fair.  I'm just trying to get a sense of the North East. 

Northeastern culture (cultures, really) are foreign to me.

87 Will this Japanese Tsunami terror ever come to an end???

88 Hope and Change
Despair and Decline

89 We're going to send the Libyan rebels $1.5 billion of GadhafiÂ’s frozen money.  What could possibly go wrong?

90 What could possibly go wrong?

Well, I like mustard.  Don't you?  An aerosol version of it would just be so much more convenient, wouldn't it?

91 Illinois Loses More Jobs Than Any Other State

I'll bet Kim du Toit is gloating right about now.

92

It's all because of that earthquake in Japan...

Oh, wait ... Caterpillar is in IL, and makes heavy construction equipment.

Never mind!!

93

ROESGEN: Sir, what does this have to do with taxes? What does this have to do with your taxes? Do you realize that you're eligible for a $400 credit...?

MAN: Let me finish my point. Lincoln, Lincoln believed that people had the right to share in the fruits of their own labor and that government should not take it. And we have clearly gotten to that point.

ROESGEN: Wait, wait... Did you know that the state of Lincoln gets $50 billion out of the stimulus? That's $50 billion for this state, sir.

MAN: Am I supposed to be happy that someone who stole $10 from my wallet decided to give me $1 back?  Is that the gist of your economic plan? Idiot.

Thats what you say to the a*holes that spout this crap.

94 This is all Rick Perry's fault!

95

One of the interesting things the Founders of our country did, was create a bunch of little 'experiments' in Government, called the States.  They gave them freedom to Govern as they will, knowing that people would vote with their feet.

Now, its even easier to 'vote' with your ECONOMIC feet than ever before...

Problem is that people do not understand this...

It would be an interesting project for the GOP to put Unemployment numbers, and economic gain, on a chart Juxtaposed with who has run those State Governments, and for how long....

Show the people which State models work better....

96

Early indications are that all Illinois politicians might be stuttering clusterfucks of miserable failures.

Oh I disagree.  Illinois politicians are spectacularly successful at lining their own pockets.

97 Fair.  I'm just trying to get a sense of the North East. 

Olympia Snowe?
Arlen Specter?
Susan Collins​?


They call(ed) them "Republicans"?

98 Way to rule Rham Emmanuel.

99

Show the people which State models work better....

Posted by: Stories you won't hear from the MSM at August 24, 2011 12:24 PM (NtXW4)

But that will upset the Democrats, so the Republicans won't do it.

100 The liberal looks at the graph and sees the July 2011 jobs number is higher than the January 2010 and concludes "Obama created jobs, stupid teabaggers." The conservative shamefacedly retorts "What... huh?... But I'm not a racist!" The AoSHQ moron wisely says nothing but merely urinates upon the liberal's Birkenstocks. Oddly the liberal seems to enjoy this.

101 Oh, wait ... Caterpillar is in IL, and makes heavy construction equipment. Caterpillar is cutting the dead union weight and will soon move to Texas. Rick Perry is still governor and YOU KNOW he is out kicking sum asssss.

102

In Indiana Mitch Daniels created a lot of enemies when he sold the rights to create a toll road, easing the traffic congestion in north west Indiana to Chicago, to a Chinese corporation. Democrats in the area of the new toll road eagerly renounced the toll road as a new tax on the area and used it to organize North West Indiana as a "Ditch Mitch" zone. The fees paid byt the Chinese balanced the Hoosier State's budget while getting a road built that Indiana couldn't afford to build. The Chinese are now fully invested and under construction.

Unfortunately it turns out that the traffic to Chicago has been.....overestimated. Leaving the Chinese Corporation hard pressed to make money on the project, and Mitch Daniels looking like a genius to the rest of the State of Indiana.

103 Business's in ILL see the handwriting on the wall.... Obama is dragging them down and people are leaving before Perry cuts them off in 2013.

104 They call(ed) them "Republicans"?

That speaks to their judgement.  Not to their culture.

Also, I was just looking at the RCP average (off a link from Drudge) and realized: it doesn't matter how bad we think it is for Barack Obama, who is a stuttering clusterf*ck of a miserable failure.  Even the Democracy Corps poll has him at -5.  If the Democracy Corps poll can't find good news for the President, good news doesn't exist.

105

Shows Illinois businesses at little leg.

106 As the saying goes, Illinois is a good place to be from.  I got out more than 10yrs ago and have never looked back.  Now I'm doing my part to get Virginia back to its normal red hue.  Even my dad, who I thought would die in IL in planning to GTFO as soon as he gets his house fixed up.  Of course, then he would have to find some poor sucker to actually buy it. 

107 O/T,
I'm thinking Axelrod is readying a list of Blue and swing districts thru the Mid-A and NE to shower with aid after the storm. In fact, I'm pretty sure fucking Maryland and DE and NY , CT, MA will be awash with Obama bucks and a few campaign visits, too.
They are sacrificing virgins to the storm god as we speak.

108 Four governors sent to prison in the last 40 years. The current gov is called Quinnochio, An ambulance chasing shyster as a senior senator The ballerina mayor of chicago promised no tax increases but now unexpectedly needs an increase

109

They are sacrificing virgins to the storm god as we speak.

Pffft, like libs know any virgins.

110 Unexpected!

111 Pffft, like libs know any virgins.

Posted by: alexthechick at August 24, 2011 12:29 PM (VtjlW)

Nobody said "maiden."  They could be talking about guys, you know.

112 NLRB will not allow Caterpillar to move.

113

Thats what you say to the a*holes that spout this crap.

Posted by: Old Texas Turkey at August 24, 2011 12:24 PM (lUwxR)

That, and they also spout that there is a $1.84 in spending stimulus for every Fed dollar spent (a very very questionable number).... but then leave out the COST of taking that dollar in a Tax, running it though a VERY inefficient government, and then spending it.... 

But, you'll note... THOSE figures... ie how much it costs the Goverment to SPEND a dollar, are not easily available.

114 The Northeast should just be ignored as a lost cause.

115 Here's a fun post from the Washington Examiner:

What If Obama Isn't So Smart?

116 Liberals pretend to care about humanity. And yet, when faced with the reality of what their policies do to real people, they want to continue those policies. Liberalism isn't about giving a shit about people, it's about control and inflicting their view of "fairness" on everyone. Their view of fairness is redistribution of wealth and social engineering. It doesn't matter that people have lost jobs, just give them handouts.

117 NLRB will not allow Caterpillar to move. Point One. All workers, wage earners and employees of any kind whatsoever shall henceforth be attached to their jobs and shall not leave nor be dismissed nor change employment, under penalty of a term in jail. The penalty shall be determined by the Unification Board, such Board to be appointed by the Bureau of Economic Planning and National Resources. All persons reaching the age of twenty-one shall report to the Unification Board, which shall assign them to where, in its opinion, their services will best serve the interests of the nation.

118 Point Two. All industrial, commercial, manufacturing and business establishments of any nature whatsoever shall henceforth remain in operation, and the owners of such establishments shall not quit nor leave nor retire, nor close, sell or transfer their business, under penalty of the nationalization of their establishment and of any and all of their property.

119 Companies are moving out of Chicago and Cook County to avoid taxes and the ballerina mayor has sued for the missing tax payments

120

Posted by: Directive 10-289 at August 24, 2011 12:33 PM (AZGON)

The technical Medieval term for this, is Serfdom... ie someone who is tied to the soil... and it included those, like Blacksmiths, who were tied to a Village Job as well.

121 I am thankful every day that I have a decent job in illinois. Some companies are thinking of leaving Illinois. They go to their congressmen and senators with letters FROM Rick Perry and ask: what are you going to do to get me to stay. This is why the tax code gets so screwed up.

122 I heard it was because they just started installing ATMs.

123 That speaks to their judgement.  Not to their culture.

It's where their bell curve lies. Everyone always notes the "Live Free or Die" motto of NH, but over the years they have transitioned away from libertarianism into a big government paradise like the bulk of the NE. Conservative means only growing government a little, where liberal means outright socialist, moderates, as they call them, would be good rank in file Dems anywhere in the West or Midwest.

Anyone even considering reducing government scope is an extremist. Like Chris Cristie, a moderate Republican anywhere else (Other than Ill, Calif) he is seen as a firebrand reactionary against the contrast of NJ politics.

124 California scoffs at your measly low unemployment numbers, 15% unemployment or bust!

125

NLRB will not allow Caterpillar to move.

How is that even possible?

126 Some companies are thinking of leaving Illinois. They go to their congressmen and senators with letters FROM Rick Perry and ask: what are you going to do to get me to stay. This is why the tax code gets so screwed up.

Ha!  See!  It really is Rick Perry's fault!

127

What If Obama Isn't So Smart?

Posted by: Johnny (John E.) at August 24, 2011 12:32 PM (nRTou)

Heresy!  Blasphemy!  Receder of oceans!  Healer of planets!  Teleprompter virtuoso!  Poser extraordinaire!  Shitty golfer!

128

NLRB will not allow Caterpillar to move.

How is that even possible?

Real simple. Try and move your G*damn plant and we'll revoke your corporate charter and throw your CEO and board in prison a**holes.

129 Also interestingly, some organization called something sd ready to work is advertising HARD on the AM radio for businesses to move to south dakota. Pretty interesting. http://www.sdreadytowork.com/

130 Posted by: E.M. August at August 24, 2011 12:40 PM (zeBNm)

Well of course they are.  Even if S. Dakota were a true libertarian paradise, who would want to live there?  Well, except people who live in N. Dakota.

131

Quinn's reaction to big companies threatening to leave the state is to give them tax breaks to stay. So big companies get breaks to offset the tax increase and small companies and individuals get stuck paying the increased taxes. Brilliant

132 @129 AllenG (Dedicated Tenther): You said it. One of our congress critters was talking about it on talk radio a few weeks ago. He said that companies weren't necessarily saying they wanted to leave, but that these sorts of solicitations become leverage - whoda thunk that in an environment of corruption, it can go both ways.

133 >>It's where their bell curve lies. Everyone always notes the "Live Free or Die" motto of NH, but over the years they have transitioned away from libertarianism into a big government paradise like the bulk of the NE. Conservative means only growing government a little, where liberal means outright socialist, moderates, as they call them, would be good rank in file Dems anywhere in the West or Midwest. How does that square with Rick Perry? Over the last decade when he has been governor, private sector job growth has grown 9% but government sector growth has gone up 19%. http://tinyurl.com/3zpkhkm You will see a lot more push back in the northeast to social issues. Perry's evangelical, creationism push may play in the south but it doesn't in the northeast.

134 Woo hoo! We're finally number one at something! Don't even get me started on the news article in one of the papers today trying to stir up OUTRAGE!!! at the fact that the airlines using O'Hare are buying their fuel from outside the city limits, thereby depriving the city of all that extra sales tax. (Not like every single car owner in Chicago doesn't do that if given the choice.)

135 "20 Early indications are that all Illinois politicians might be stuttering clusterfucks of miserable failures." Chicago/Illinois politicians are what they are, corruptocrats and thugs who milk political office for anything they can get out of it, and aren't even subtle about it. Blago's big sin was in coming right out and SAYING what all the rest IMPLY. So the liberal media and 52% of the population elected one of the corruptocrats president. And it's supposed to be surprising that he is milking his office for a luxurious lifestyle, and doesn't understand that he was actually expected to DO SOMETHING about the problems. You can see how Obama, coming from Chicago, is confused about why anyone is criticizing him.

136

Good grief! One does not 'sit' through a Cubs game, one DRINKS through a Cubs game! Get with the program, Roy!

Posted by: Cicerokid

That's good. Is it true that if an opposing team hits a home run, the fans throw it back?

Posted by: Blue Hen at August 24, 2011 12:12 PM (6rX0K)

 

It's true

137 If it wasn't so cold, and if jobs were not directly tied to owning large swaths of land, *I* would be interested in living in South Dakota. Tight Communities, still the sorta place you don't need to lock your doors... I imagine its a decent place to raise kids. Not all bad. Granted I am a digital marketing man so the prospect of me finding a job there is less than zero... but still.

138 What pray tell does the phrase "net job losses" mean?

139 On Chicago talk radio a couple years ago, some poor guy who was trying to run a small shop told about how you have to pay a fee to the city if you have an awning above your doorway. They can be pretty creative on coming up with new and exciting ways to generate revenue.

140 You will see a lot more push back in the northeast to social issues. Perry's evangelical, creationism push may play in the south but it doesn't in the northeast.

Posted by: JackStraw at August 24, 2011 12:43 PM (TMB3S)

Works the other way around too. A NE liberal R won't play that well in the south.

141

Some good listening to have in the background.  RubioÂ’s speech at the Reagan Library.

142 How does that square with Rick Perry? Over the last decade when he has been governor, private sector job growth has grown 9% but government sector growth has gone up 19%.

In which sectors of Government? Perry is only responsible for State. Yes you are right social issues don't play in the NE; But any reasonable conservative would disqualify Romney from the Republican ticket just because of Romneycare. The NE seems more than cool with it.

143 Look, just flip the ordinality of the y-axis and voilà... problem obfuscated.

144
MA just okayed 3 casinos and 1 slot-machine parlor.

Our problems are solved. Woo hoo!

145 Posted by: E.M. August at August 24, 2011 12:44 PM (zeBNm)

Digital Marketing?  Hang out your own shingle, as it were.  Then it doesn't matter where you live.

Over the last decade when he has been governor, private sector job growth has grown 9% but government sector growth has gone up 19%
Posted by: JackStraw at August 24, 2011 12:43 PM (TMB3S)

Population has also grown by some absurd number (I don't remember it off the top of my head) and we've expanded the State Troopers and some other such things.  I'm not sure that 19% is completely out of bounds (I'm not sure it isn't, either: there's just not enough context there to make a good call).

The thing about his Social positions: I haven't heard him mention those without explicit solicitation.  Are they such a big deal that they'll turn off voters even when he's not pushing them at all?

146 If it wasn't so cold, and if jobs were not directly tied to owning large swaths of land, *I* would be interested in living in South Dakota.

Tight Communities, still the sorta place you don't need to lock your doors... I imagine its a decent place to raise kids. Not all bad.

Granted I am a digital marketing man so the prospect of me finding a job there is less than zero... but still.

http://tinyurl.com/3kt758r

Louisville, CO
2nd time we've made #1.
I've lived here for 31 years.

147 Louisville, CO
2nd time we've made #1.
I've lived here for 31 years.

Yeah, but then I'd have to live in a Purple-turning-Blue state.

148 "35 Illinois is genererating lots of prison guard jobs. Gotta guard those exgovernors." Yep, two in a row. Wonder if the FBI's keeping an eye on the current one. I'm pretty sure, he's figured out that he should watch what he says on the phone.

149
Casinos are as lame-brained as high speed rail. For different reasons, of course.

One is a government boondoggle. The other is a cash-cow for government spendaholics as well as a bureaucratic haven for mischief.

150 But any reasonable conservative would disqualify Romney from the Republican ticket just because of Romneycare. The NE seems more than cool with it.

Romney's use of the 10th to defend Romneycare is wrought with problems. Just because it may be legal to do at the State level, doesn't make it any better of an idea. And certainly not conservative in any event. Romney continues to defend Romneycare as a good state policy despite the fact it is a huge power grab by government, just the State government. Again though that is the sort of Republican the NE wants.

Whereas Perry has admitted things he did were wrong. Such as HPV Vac.

FTRFD currently supporting Cain.

151 Per Capita Gov't Workers Declined as Perry's Texas Created 1M New Jobs, Says BLS Data   Since Rick Perry became governor of Texas, the number of government workers per capita has marginally declined in the state as private-sector employers created 73.5 percent of the more than 1 million additional jobs now found in the state, according to data published by the Census Bureau and Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics.   http://tinyurl.com/3zzqq2w  

152 Yeah, but then I'd have to live in a Purple-turning-Blue state.

Or, help head it back to RED.
Like what happened to Daschle a while back in SoDak.

153 Did anyone catch SCOAMFOTUS's presser?  Even if I could stream media at work, I avoid him like the plague.

Did he have any interesting twists on his "It's not my fault" meme?

154 >>Works the other way around too. A NE liberal R won't play that well in the south. Of course it does, as we hear every day on this blog and others about those no good northern Republicans. But if the question is why might there be push back to Perry in the north, that's one of the big reasons. >>But any reasonable conservative would disqualify Romney from the Republican ticket just because of Romneycare. Ok. Then why isn't any reasonable conservative disqualifying Perry for his staunch support for the Texas Dream Act he supported and signed? Because that's a federalism issue and the healthcare plan Romney supported isn't? I've always maintained that none of the candidates are perfect and the longer Perry is in the race the more that will become clear with his record as well. Reasonable conservatives, which make up only a portion of the Republican base and even less of any winning candidates ultimate base, can disagree on any candidate but there are no white knights. Well, maybe RoN PAuL!!

155 Posted by: robtr at August 24, 2011 12:52 PM (MtwBb)

See?  A rise of 19%, in that case, is not actually bad.

Lies, d*mn lies, and statistics, as they say.

156 Oy, just had a small tremblor here in the Bay Area.

157 Somebody inform the Martians that Chicago is ripe for the taking!

158 Ok. Then why isn't any reasonable conservative disqualifying Perry for his staunch support for the Texas Dream Act he supported and signed?

Off the top of my head, because one is an issue of a citizen's (or should I say, "subject's") relationship to his government and the other is a policy regarding how the then-minor-children of illegal immigrants are treated.

Also, because, on further review, the Texas Dream Act isn't nearly as bad as opponents would make it (I only learned this recently, myself- I'm a fairly knee-jerk immigration/closed borders guy):  One of its provisions is that it does require the applying student to apply for actual citizenship.  Presumably (I know it doesn't really work this way, but we work with what we've got), Federal Law would then kick in with any fines/penalties and any possibility of deportation.

159
Oy, just had a small tremblor here in the Bay Area.

/shake shake shake

Play golf.

160 136...
How does that square with Rick Perry? Over the last decade when he has been governor, private sector job growth has grown 9% but government sector growth has gone up 19%.

http://tinyurl.com/3zpkhkm

You will see a lot more push back in the northeast to social issues. Perry's evangelical, creationism push may play in the south but it doesn't in the northeast.

Posted by: JackStraw at August 24, 2011 12:43 PM (TMB3S)

Those "facts" are suspect. Seems the big influx of people moving to Texas has had a significant impact on that stat -- from the link: ...the number of people per government worker in Texas has increased by about a third of a person (0.313) since Perry became governor.

161 I don't know about you guys but in September when Dick Soetero releases his outline of a treatment of a draft of a sketch of a plan, I'm sure the economy will explode like an old Russian ICBM.

162 All we need is an Alien Invasion

I read Allen Iverson

163 It's where their bell curve lies. Everyone always notes the "Live Free or Die" motto of NH, but over the years they have transitioned away from libertarianism into a big government paradise like the bulk of the NE.

What happened to NH is that all the working people fleeing bad politicians and taxes in Massachusetts brought their shitty voting habits with them. People in this state are 'educated' but incredibly stupid in their political and voting culture. Everyone knows they are being treated like shit and taxed to death by Democrats but they've been so conditioned, like a battered wife, to not do anything about it.

You see the Ted Kennedy wannabe, sometimes quite literally, stealing your wallet and raping your wife and daughters, sometimes quite literally, is really protecting you from the mean republicans that want to enslave you or something. Oh and those union guys that get paid a lot out your pocket for doing nothing on state projects long stretches of the year are really there to protect your best interests. So what if the quality of their projects kill a few citizens each year and require more tax increases? Public school and the local MFM aren't biased at in advancing this view, nope not at all.

164 Oy, just had a small tremblor here in the Bay Area. Just Rick Perry rearranging his nutsack.

165 Posted by: George Orwell what knows Obama is a stuttering clusterfuck of a miserable failure at August 24, 2011 01:00 PM (AZGON)

No bet.

166 Who cares about the NE?  Seriously.. they are voting Obama.  I dont care what they think.

Unfortunately, those NE voters who will vote for Obama in the General may well vote in the Republican Primaries.  So they matter whether we like it or not.

167 I wish we could just fix the border and pass amnesty once and for all. I am one of those conservatives who see's a mass influx of illegal aliens as a short term boon for the democrats but a long term boon for the republicans. There are many reasons that 2nd and 3d gen latino's should trend red IMO. I think that will become clear once we get passed the polarizing immigration issue.

168 A careful examination of that graph will show that employment began to fall just as the teabaggers took over the house.  Coincidence or conspiracy? 

169 Posted by: E.M. August at August 24, 2011 01:03 PM (zeBNm)

Not the amnesty thing (not a fan- certainly not of "blanket" amnesty), but Texas is a good example of Hispanic immigrants trending Republican over time.  They do share a lot of our values, and they're not as tied to the race-baiters (note I said "not as tied" not "not tied") as the AA population.

170

Haven't elected a republican president from the NE since Coolidge.

171 TOTUS requires a printer attachment before a plan can actually be printed you wingnuts

172 Posted by: dagny at August 24, 2011 01:04 PM (+sP6K)

And how nice it would be to have "Silent" Cal back.  In some ways, at least.

173

Coming to a former superpower near you!

174 I am very stoked to have some brown skinned catholic brothers who believe in family, hard work and pride of home ownership, even if their number one political issue is education.. which R's do not seem to own at current...

175 169 143 You will see a lot more push back in the northeast to social issues. Perry's evangelical, creationism push may play in the south but it doesn't in the northeast.

Posted by: JackStraw at August 24, 2011 12:43 PM (TMB3S)

Works the other way around too. A NE liberal R won't play that well in the south.

Posted by: KG at August 24, 2011 12:47 PM (LD21B)

Bet the nation as a whole is more accepting of Jesus than Brokeback mountain as a wedding destination.

176 Stupid wingnuts, the problem isn't taxes and regulation, the problem is that there isn't enough taxes and regulation, dumbasses.

177 Yay! I'm a point on a graph!

That'll be me, February 2011; along with about 8,000 other poor schmoes.

We do have good pizza, though.

178 you act like there's a connection...haven't you heard of coinkydink?/

179 Cal was Reagan's favorite President.

180 even if their number one political issue is education.. which R's do not seem to own at current...

Yeah, I think that's changing, though.  Between Chris Christie in NJ and Scott Walker in WI, we're starting to win the funding argument.  If the TX/WI education comparison can get some more oxygen, we'll start winning the effectiveness argument, too.

181 What happened to NH is that all the working people fleeing bad politicians and taxes in Massachusetts brought their shitty voting habits with them. People in this state are 'educated' but incredibly stupid in their political and voting culture. Everyone knows they are being treated like shit and taxed to death by Democrats but they've been so conditioned, like a battered wife, to not do anything about it.

You see the Ted Kennedy wannabe, sometimes quite literally, stealing your wallet and raping your wife and daughters, sometimes quite literally, is really protecting you from the mean republicans that want to enslave you or something. Oh and those union guys that get paid a lot out your pocket for doing nothing on state projects long stretches of the year are really there to protect your best interests. So what if the quality of their projects kill a few citizens each year and require more tax increases? Public school and the local MFM aren't biased at in advancing this view, nope not at all.

When I lived in NH, it was interesting to watch national elections.  Migrating Massholes have certainly had a lot to do with its purple transition, but another thing I noticed was that the Mass Dems don't even do the GOTV work in Mass.  They assume (usually correctly) that the Dems will win Mass no matter what, so they send all their campaign workers over the border to NH.  The NH GOP had to contend not just with the NH Dems, but with the army of Mass Dems who flood the state.

That's tough to overcome.

182 You will see a lot more push back in the northeast to social issues. Perry's evangelical, creationism push may play in the south but it doesn't in the northeast.

Posted by: JackStraw at August 24, 2011 12:43 PM (TMB3S)

---

I think when push comes to shove, people will set aside regionalism and similar bigotries to vote for the right person in the general election.  It's anecdotal, of course, but I'm seeing plenty of northerners coming out for Perry. 

As for Perry's "creationism" issue, I confess it is one of my hot button issues because of my scientific background (and, to some extent, because my religion teaches me that the creation story is not meant to be taken literally).  Now I don't care if someone disbelieves in evolution because their Evangelical or Muslim or whatever, but I am bothered by the push by some have to teach a non-scientific theory next to a scientific one in a public school science class.  And I don't think the solution is to not teach modern evolutionary biology. 

Just take that as a given and let's not argue why I feel that way or whether I "should" feel that way.

But here's why I'm not worried about Perry and why I think it won't stop him from being elected. 

Perry is a guy who will most certainly weaken, not strengthen, the role of the Federal government in education.  And Texas has a great track-record of supporting scientific research, including in the life sciences. 

As long as Perry maintains that curriculum is a local issue and as long as he doesn't use his disbelief in evolution to try to stop animal testing in biomedical research (because studies on mice or monkeys would have no rational basis for human medicine if they are not related by a common ancestor evolutionarily), he can believe whatever he wants as far as I'm concerned.  

If Perry was wise, he'd come out hard and fast on the incredibly strong biomedical research environment in Texas, particularly in Houston (yay Texas Medical Center! woot, woot!) and Dallas, and show how spurious the charges that he's anti-science are.  

183 Over the last decade when he has been governor, private sector job growth has grown 9% but government sector growth has gone up 19%
Posted by: JackStraw at August 24, 2011 12:43 PM (TMB3S)

Our population increased 20.6% since last census, hence picking up 4 additional congressional seats. So the government job growth is not as out of control as you may think.

184 That giant sucking sound is self induced. You can't blame NAFTA on this one.

185

 I think that will become clear once we get passed the polarizing  ILLEGAL immigration issue.

That's not just a FIFY, it's the whole point.  It's not immigration that's the issue, it's the illegality that's the issue.  I don't give a crap about how many people from where want to come here legally.  I do give an Irish wolfhound size crap about those who come here illegally, who refuse to even bother attempting to learn minimal English and who then "borrow" social security numbers and demand social services from me, all while entering illegally and continuing to be here illegally.  The conflation of immigration and illegal immigration drives me insane.

186
Johnny, what's your next p-chop?

Might I suggest Obama (wearing one of those golf hats with the pom-pom on top) standing in front of a store with a big "Going Out Of Business" banner.

187 Yeah, i spelled dipshit wrong, so what? I'm a dipshit, what did you expect?

188 "147 MA just okayed 3 casinos and 1 slot-machine parlor. Our problems are solved. Woo hoo!" If they can use their welfare cards at the casinos like California welfare recipients were, those casinos will be rolling in money.

189 Might I suggest Obama (wearing one of those golf hats with the pom-pom on top) standing in front of a store with a big "Going Out Of Business" banner.

Posted by: Obama 8-Ball at August 24, 2011 01:12 PM (sqkOB)

And make it a golf store.

190 Oh, and Arnold put a stop to the welfare cards being used in casinos. The stick in the mud.

191 There's a reason why South Dakota and Indiana are running "move your business here" ads on Chicago sports stations.

And you know the really cool thing? While Quinn's tax increase is killing the economy, it's doing little or nothing to close the budget shortfall. Spending is still out of control, while the faltering economy means that the increase is yielding less revenue than projected. Win/win baby!

192 Anyone seen Perry?

193 Congratulations, JJS!  I'm sure you've made your shrimpy parents very proud!  :-)

194 Just Rick Perry rearranging his nutsack.

Posted by: George Orwell what knows Obama is a stuttering clusterfuck of a miserable failure at August 24, 2011 01:01 PM (AZGON)

Or Obama taking a huge divot.

195

Now, its even easier to 'vote' with your ECONOMIC feet than ever before...

[...]

Show the people which State models work better....

The only problem with this approach is that the Idiots that had a hand in the decline of their state (by voting for shitheads) are likely to end up contaminating and then eventually damaging the state they've migrated to as they increase in numbers.

Liberals that were formerly California residents are an excellent example.

196 VA QUAKE BREAKING NEWS!!! The USGS has determined that the epicenter of the VA earthquake was in a graveyard just outside of DC. The cause appears to be all of our Founding Fathers rolling over in their graves.

197
And make it a golf store.

Nice touch.

198 >>Off the top of my head, because one is an issue of a citizen's (or should I say, "subject's") relationship to his government and the other is a policy regarding how the then-minor-children of illegal immigrants are treated. Oh, so you must have been one of those people on this blog a couple years ago who was supporting the Graham/McCain/Bush amnesty push. Romney's plan, which is a state plan, was overwhelmingly supported by the citizens of MA when it passed. That includes the parents of minor children. Besides, I'm not sure Perry is the one to be talking about mandates on minor children. Ridiculous. The Dream Act is backdoor amnesty no matter how it is spun. I know you support Perry and he's acceptable to me but had Obama decided to make this a big issue in his first two years instead of healthcare and gotten it passed instead of trying to ram it through the lame duck session it would be hung around his neck as much as Romney's healthcare plan.

199 Johnny, what's your next p-chop?

Might I suggest Obama (wearing one of those golf hats with the pom-pom on top) standing in front of a store with a big "Going Out Of Business" banner.

I don't know, honestly.  I sent Ace a small library of them this past week and he posts them as he pleases.

Thanks for the suggestion, I'll see what I can dig up.

200 Posted by: Y-not at August 24, 2011 01:11 PM (5H6zj)

Okay, I have to ask (because you're the most likely person I've run into who might give me a real answer)- How does modern evolutionary biology square the circle that we have absolutely no evidence that life can arise from non-life?

Seriously.  I won't understand any technical terms, so you may have to dumb it down, but I'd like to know that answer.

201

If Perry was wise, he'd come out hard and fast on the incredibly strong biomedical research environment in Texas, particularly in Houston (yay Texas Medical Center! woot, woot!) and Dallas, and show how spurious the charges that he's anti-science are.  

Posted by: Y-not

Shorter answer:

Obama was supposedly pro-science. His legacy? A busted global warming conference, government studies undermining his precious global warming rants, pathetically inept reading and handling of the gulf oil slick from beginning to end and a painfully obvious double standard regarding oil exploration (US versus Brazil). And we're supposed to run for the hills because of Perry? Nope.

202 We're still here to cheer you up!

203
You're doing great work, Johnny.

204  Creationism and the theory of evolution are perfectly compatible in my view.

205 Illinois is a special place. They're the only state that had to build a separate prison just to house their former governors.

206

Obama was supposedly pro-science. His legacy? A busted global warming conference, government studies undermining his precious global warming rants, pathetically inept reading and handling of the gulf oil slick from beginning to end and a painfully obvious double standard regarding oil exploration (US versus Brazil). And we're supposed to run for the hills because of Perry? Nope.

But he did interface NASA with Islam!

207 Fellas.

Leggy Meggy s showing a surprising amount of skin today.

I just thought you'd like to know.

208 Btw, i've said it before but it apparently needs to be said again, don't buy into the hype that Rick Perry is some kind of ultra-religious person who's pushing creationism in schools and so on, he's not. I can count on one finger the number of times i've heard him talk about creationism in the ten years he's been guv. Yes, he is religious and yes, his faith does seem to be sincere, but Perry's style of governing is much more on the business side than the social conservative side.

209 Creationism and the theory of evolution are perfectly compatible in my view.

I agree.

210 You're doing great work, Johnny.

Thanks, I'm laughing my ass off as I'm working on them. 

211
Leggy Meggy s showing a surprising amount of skin today.

Original recipe or spicy?

212 No worries. Just more jobs for me to build. I'm a man with a plan.

213 Uh. On FNC in three minutes...

Pedophiles arguing to make pedophilia more acceptable. I CAN'T WAIT to see what Megyn does to them!

214 OT Well, I just watched a little livestream of Mitt taking questions at a townhall meeting in N.H. I'm a Perry guy, and I don't like what Mitt did with the mandate in Mass., but I must admit this guy says the right things and says them in the right way. I won't have any problem voting for him in the general election. Of course, my only other choice would be the stuttering clusterfuck of a miserable failure.

215 Posted by: JackStraw at August 24, 2011 01:14 PM (TMB3S)

Texas DREAM Act != National Dream Act.  And, no, I didn't support Grahmnesty's bill.  (I don't think I was actually here at the time, really, but still).  The difference you seem to be missing is that the Federal Bills both are saying that any Illegal Immigrant is able to get the amnesty, and the Texas Dream act doesn't feature Amnesty at all.

Since when do we hold minors responsible for the actions of their parents?  At any level, in any situation?  It's not like they had a choice about coming here.  And, by requiring them to apply for citizenship, we allow the Federal rules (which already include fines and such, if they stayed here illegally past their 18th birthday- since then they did have a choice, in the eyes of the law) to take affect.  You can't blame a Texas law for the failure of the Feds to enforce Federal law.

I'm still not a huge supporter of the Texas DREAM act.  I'd prefer it never passed.  However, now that I've dug into it more, it's not nearly as noxious to me as it once was.

216

Obama was supposedly pro-science. His legacy? A busted global warming conference, government studies undermining his precious global warming rants, pathetically inept reading and handling of the gulf oil slick from beginning to end and a painfully obvious double standard regarding oil exploration (US versus Brazil). And we're supposed to run for the hills because of Perry? Nope.

But he did interface NASA with Islam!

Posted by: The Robot Devil

 

And NASA pretty much crapped out on his watch, which I managed to forget. Thank heaven someone remembered.

217

i grew up and live in central illinois, outside of Chicago & East St. Louis most parts of this state are fairly conservative, but the Chicago Machine has literally hi-jacked the State government and we all suffer for it.

 

i think the down-staters should do a petition to have the Chicagoland metro area removed from the state, the rest of us would be much better off.

218 Have you guys noticed that when a R goes to a libtard blog he is deleted as soon as he posts, but when those fucktards go to a conservative blog they get laughed at.

219 Original recipe or spicy?

Original. No cleavage but a tiny little sundress. Very cute but I keep worrying about one of her straps slipping off her shoulder.

220

That's good. Is it true that if an opposing team hits a home run, the fans throw it back?

Posted by: Blue Hen at August 24, 2011 12:12 PM (6rX0K)

Naw.  You put a stunt ball in your pocket before the game.  If you happen to catch a home run, you throw the stunt ball back, and keep the home run ball.

221 Uh. On FNC in three minutes...

Pedophiles arguing to make pedophilia more acceptable. I CAN'T WAIT to see what Megyn does to them!

Posted by: As If!

 

Are you serious?

222 I have chunks of liberal NE republican politicians in my stool.

223

Btw, i've said it before but it apparently needs to be said again, don't buy into the hype that Rick Perry is some kind of ultra-religious person who's pushing creationism in schools and so on, he's not

Oh, we will talk about creationism long and hard if we have to.  Except if the subject is a job creator.

224 How does modern evolutionary biology square the circle that we have absolutely no evidence that life can arise from non-life?

---

Evolutionary biology does not address creation or even really the genesis of life.  Those are really other fields.  Evolutionary biology is simply about how life on this planet has diversified over time.  It pre-supposes DNA and all of the basics of cell-based life exist already. 

It is true that in the field (relatively new) of "chemical biology," scientists have looked at organic compounds and found ways that they mimic some of the qualities of living things, such as replication (ie: reproduction).  So you read about self-assembling molecules and some of that touches on the basics of how living things work. 

So they're apples and oranges.

225
Your worry is my hope.

226

Naw.  You put a stunt ball in your pocket before the game.  If you happen to catch a home run, you throw the stunt ball back, and keep the home run ball.

Posted by: CUS

Holy crap. my idea of advance planning at a game is trying to remember where I parked.

And i would have too, if it hadn't been for those pesky meddling beers!

227 @190 - You can rail all you want about the interchangeability of the terms immigration vs. illegal immigration, that is your prerogative. Regardless, there are the way you would like things to be, and the way things are. Semantics don't affect reality all that much. There are like 12 million ILLEGAL aliens in the U.S. and they aren't going away. And their kids are going to be citizens so generationally speaking, the argument is moot. The pragmatic approach in my estimation is to secure the border and then figure out how to handle the 12-25 million people who are already here. Rule of law arguments for deportation just won't get it done.

228 NPR giving Rahm a tongue bath yesterday, how he's actually introduced competitive bidding from outsiders into some of Chicago's operations.

He's so wonderful!

229 Are you serious?

Yep.

Kelly could barely contain herself announcing the segment.

Oh...here it comes.

And, guess what. It's mental health officials pushing it! Call them "minor attracted people".

puke

230 So they're apples and oranges.

Posted by: Y-not

 

I know the apple came from the garden of Eden, but where did you get the orange?

231 Posted by: Y-not at August 24, 2011 01:23 PM (5H6zj)

Okay.

Two more: I was taught in science (6th grade- so it was probably an over-simplification) that two different species (not sub-species) cannot breed true- that if they can breed at all, their offspring will be sterile.

One: is that correct?
Two: If that is correct, how does a new species actually arise (at the DNA level)?

232 Yep.

Kelly could barely contain herself announcing the segment.

Oh...here it comes.

And, guess what. It's mental health officials pushing it! Call them "minor attracted people".

puke

Posted by: As If!

So everyone should be cool about me and my neighbors' lawn gnome then?

233

my worry is not that Perry is too conservative, my worry is that he'll back down from the fight as soon as the MFM really digs it's claws in.

 

234 I know the apple came from the garden of Eden, but where did you get the orange?

Florida!

235 I just loooooove my state and its awesome economic ideas.

236 "Minor attracted people?" That wat you call dem? We jus call dem dead bitch!

237

And NASA pretty much crapped out on his watch, which I managed to forget. Thank heaven someone remembered.

Walter Mondale must be ecstatic, he been trying to kill NASA since the Seventies.

238 NPR giving Rahm a tongue bath yesterday, how he's actually introduced competitive bidding from outsiders into some of Chicago's operations.

He's so wonderful!

Posted by: I'm in a New York state of mind

 

I thought that NPR was opposed to forcing democracy upon foreign lands.

239 my worry is that he'll back down from the fight as soon as the MFM really digs it's claws in.

Unlikely.  His theory with the media seems to be to leave them weeping, wailing, and gnashing their teeth.

240 >>Texas DREAM Act != National Dream Act. And, no, I didn't support Grahmnesty's bill. (I don't think I was actually here at the time, really, but still). The difference you seem to be missing is that the Federal Bills both are saying that any Illegal Immigrant is able to get the amnesty, and the Texas Dream act doesn't feature Amnesty at all. Yea, that might be because states can't grant amnesty. Of course, Perry has come out on record as being for a "path to citizenship" for illegals as I'm sure you know. There are huge differences between the healthcare plan Romney proposed in MA, the one that is in place today and the one Obama pushed nationally. But that doesn't stop anyone with an agenda from saying they are the same thing. I get your point but to the original argument that no reasonable conservative could support Romney because he supported a state healthcare plan his constituents wanted it is no different from saying a reasonable conservative can't support Perry because of his stance on illegals. Both candidates have issues and lots of them can be attributed to regional issues, Romney in an overwhelmingly liberal state and Perry in a state with an enormous illegal problem where lots of businesses love them some illegal workers. Reasonable conservatives can decide during the campaign which candidate they think will best lead the country through the current problems, not which one was the best governor under completely different circumstances.

241 Blue Hen, that is some clever, funny shit right there @ 244. Thanks for the lol.

242

So everyone should be cool about me and my neighbors' lawn gnome then?

A man's gnome is his castle.

243 They'll cut off their jobs to spike their faces until the actual Progressive politicians begin to lose their jobs.  Then there will be a "jobs" priority from them.  Which will mean increasing unemployment compensation, reducing payroll deductions  (from the taxpayer only), and "investment in infrastructure" mandates.  If only they could print money, they would be just like their home-town hero, King Putt.

244

Walter Mondale must be ecstatic, he been trying to kill NASA since the Seventies.

Posted by: The Robot Devil

 

I find myself hoping for Obama to repeat Mondale's performance; Mr. 13 electoral votes.

245 i think the down-staters should do a petition to have the Chicagoland metro area removed from the state, the rest of us would be much better off.
Posted by: shoey at August 24, 2011 01:21 PM (jdOk/)

Chicago was almost part of WI when the original borders were being worked on. 
Could we give it away to WI?

246 So everyone should be cool about me and my neighbors' lawn gnome then?

Hell, that's positiviely tame! Have at it!

Well, wouldn't you know it. The mental health midgets didn't have the guts to show up in person. Shannon Bream reported the story. They are looking for "tolerance" and to remove criminalization of "minor attraction" (cuz, you know, it's a SICKNESS). Bream is set to meet with one of the psychologists today who has been accused of "treating" pedophiles and refusing to report them to police.

Yeah. This story isn't just going to go away quietly.

I'm disappointed that Megyn couldn't get her hands around their necks.

247 Posted by: JackStraw at August 24, 2011 01:27 PM (TMB3S)

Yes, he has come out on record for a "path to citizenship."  He has also come out on record saying there already is one: "get in line."  Often in the same speech.

On the other hand, one of the things most hated by Conservatives about RomneyCare is its individual mandate- a thing which functionally turns a once Sovereign Citizen into a mere subject of the State.  He still supports it.

My problem with RomneyCare is not that he would have implemented it on a national scale, it's what it represents re: his views on a citizen's relationship to their government.  Also that it was "the model" for ObamaCare, but that's not exactly Romney's fault, even though I would have liked him to be more forceful in denying that and pointing out the differences.

248 I drive I-55 north most every year for a Cubs-Cards series at Wrigley, and always wonder on the irony of the shittiest stretch of highway in one of the highest tax states in the nation. Maybe that's the fed's fault, but that highway needs some major upgrade. Of course, the Chicago population couldn't care less, and that population is apparently the only one that counts in Illinois.

249 New Rasmussen presidential match-up polls (likely voters):

Obama 43-Perry 40

Obama 46-Romney 38

Obama 43-Bachmann 39

250 if Romney's the man, I'm voting my party's nominee (Libertarian)

Go ahead, throw your vote away

251 Oh, goodness, AllenG -- you're testing my genetics here, bud.  ;-)

I learned the same thing you did.  I don't know of two different species that breed successfully (produce reproductively viable offspring).  But even if there are examples, I'd just conclude that their classification as different species was mistaken.  You have ot remember that before modern genetics, taxonomy (deciding what family, genus, species, etc something is) was based on anatomy, physiology, and other things.  To be honest, I'd have to look up how animals are classified nowadays. 

Two: If that is correct, how does a new species actually arise (at the DNA level)?

Very slowly!  (Over many generations.) 

Random mutations produce either bad qualities or good qualities.  If the good qualities give the animal a competitive advantage, they win out.  Don't forget that not all mutations are recessive.  Some are dominant, so you don't need to have two animals carrying the same mutation to have the gene expressed. 

252 and always wonder on the irony of the shittiest stretch of highway in one of the highest tax states in the nation.

Another win for "low-tax, low service" Texas.  Actual highways you can drive and not worry about the crevasses y'all call "pot holes."

253 @251 In case you haven't noticed, we've already got quite enough on our plate as it is.

254 Charlie Crist (or am I Jon Huntsman Jr?) sock off!

OK, I gotta go.  I'm learning how to can peaches today. Now that's a useful skill!

255 255, So, what's that mix of likely voters? I'm so sick of these lying polls.

256 260, Peaches might not like that.

257 Random mutations produce either bad qualities or good qualities.  If the good qualities give the animal a competitive advantage, they win out.  Don't forget that not all mutations are recessive.  Some are dominant, so you don't need to have two animals carrying the same mutation to have the gene expressed. 

Posted by: Charlie Crist (or am I Jon Huntsman Jr?) at August 24, 2011 01:33 PM (5H6zj)

Yea, but that's evolution, and says nothing about how new species arise.

258 Random mutations produce either bad qualities or good qualities.  If the good qualities give the animal a competitive advantage, they win out.  Don't forget that not all mutations are recessive.  Some are dominant, so you don't need to have two animals carrying the same mutation to have the gene expressed.

Okay, I'm sure we're boring other Morons, but it's like a sore tooth- I just have to keep prodding it...

Wouldn't that just change one species?  That is, assuming squirrels started mutating some new traits- say, polka-dot fur and a taste for concertina music, still just be squirrels with awfully bad taste?  At what point do we say, "These are no longer squirrels?"

259 New Rasmussen presidential match-uppolls (likely voters):

Obama 43-Perry 40

Obama 46-Romney 38

Obama 43-Bachmann 39

Posted by: Miss80sBaby has not read all the comments

 

Annnnnd its me by 5%. I assure you that my rule will be firm, just and memorable. Moronettes can expect the first and the third ones. The second, not so much.

260

Good grief! One does not 'sit' through a Cubs game, one DRINKS through a Cubs game! Get with the program, Roy!

Posted by: Cicerokid

 

That's good. Is it true that if an opposing team hits a home run, the fans throw it back?

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

Actually, the Cub fans try to throw it directly at the pitcher's head, who is usually Carlos Marmol.

261 261 255, So, what's that mix of likely voters? I'm so sick of these lying polls.

I know it's 1000 LV total but you have to pay to get the crosstabs, toplines, etc. Thanks, Ras.

262 Yep, two in a row. Wonder if the FBI's keeping an eye on the current one. I'm pretty sure, he's figured out that he should watch what he says on the phone.

Posted by: nerdygirl at August 24, 2011 12:52 PM (eMPxE)

Prison is Illinois' way of implementing term limits.

263 245my worry is that he'll back down from the fight as soon as the MFM really digs it's claws in.

Unlikely. His theory with the media seems to be to leave them weeping, wailing, and gnashing their teeth.

Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) is tired beyond tired of the trolls at August 24, 2011 01:27 PM (8y9MW)

 

Perry has yet to engage in the real fight... cutting entire departments out of the federal government & doing something major with SS, Medcaid/care, when that fight starts, you will see a New Press, a press 110% dedicated to destroying anyone who even talks about dismantling the Welfare State, not like now, new heights of dishonesty, deception and chicanery will be employed, the news cycle will become a non-stop, 24/7 whine-fest/grievance mongering session, they will pull out every single dirty trick they can think of and invent ones just for this occasion, none of us have seen what will take place when the useful idiots in the MFM finally realize that their Precious Progressive Welfare State is in real jeopardy.

always, always, always our so-called conservative leaders run away screaming from this fight, like frightened little girls (little girls probably have more guts than an establishment repub, so I apologize to any little girl who may read this.)

i am remain unconvinced as to Perry's anti-establishment cred.

actions not words are all that matter to me.

 

 

264 >>On the other hand, one of the things most hated by Conservatives about RomneyCare is its individual mandate- a thing which functionally turns a once Sovereign Citizen into a mere subject of the State. He still supports it. Yep, he does. On a state level. So did his electorate. And he has come out multiple times saying the first thing he would do if elected is grant all 50 states a waiver from Obamacare and support a repeal. And Perry still supports allowing illegal aliens to get in state tuition. He's also given speeches to La Raza. You can claim those things are popular in Texas and you don't have a problem with them but others will disagree. Reasonable conservatives can choose which candidates past bothers them most.

265

Funny how the West Coast calls them temblors, while the rest of the country calls them Frickin' Earthquakes.

Just like Illinoisians call them a state senator, while the rest of the country calls them a Stuttering Clusterfuck of a Miserable Failure. 

266

i am remain unconvinced as to Perry's anti-establishment cred.

actions not words are all that matter to me.

 Posted by: shoey

 

I'm a polling machine.  I trust that I have your vote?

267

nope "generic republician" does not get my vote, for the same reason i don't send money to the RNC anymore, I don't trust "generic republican"

"generic republican" can suck the lint from my asshole.

 

my vote is reserved for "anti-progressive, generic constitutionalist"

268 205 Posted by: Y-not at August 24, 2011 01:11 PM (5H6zj)

Okay, I have to ask (because you're the most likely person I've run into who might give me a real answer)- How does modern evolutionary biology square the circle that we have absolutely no evidence that life can arise from non-life?

Seriously.  I won't understand any technical terms, so you may have to dumb it down, but I'd like to know that answer.
    Dude, don't screw with the biologists, physicists, and TeeVee talk show hosts. They get upset when asked to defend an opinion. It requires things like data, facts, analysis, and those decision thingies. Just mellow out and let them run everything. Things will be so much better that way.

269 Wouldn't that just change one species?  That is, assuming squirrels started mutating some new traits- say, polka-dot fur and a taste for concertina music, still just be squirrels with awfully bad taste?  At what point do we say, "These are no longer squirrels?"

Posted by: AllenG (Dedicated Tenther) is tired beyond tired of the trolls at August 24, 2011 01:37 PM (8y9MW)

The usual theory of how speciation happens is that on the fringe of the range of a species small groups can form isolated breeding pools. This lets the mutations spread quickly through the group, and also tends to be a population that is 'under stress' - that is, they don't fit well in the current environment. For example, a deep water fish is for the most part happy in its place, but at the edge of the range in shallow waters a population evolves to adapt for warmer, saltier water. The two populations drift apart, but if conditions change radically to favor the small population, then they can explode out to become the new dominant species in a large range.

Also, you don't have to be genetically incompatible to form a separate species. You could just adopt different mating signals and such so that you don't interbreed in the wild. For instance, Serval cats and housecats were interbred to produce the base for the Savannah cat breed.  This is also how the Bengal cat breed initially was made - they bred in certain wildcat genes to get the patterns they liked.

270 Okay, I have to ask (because you're the most likely person I've run into who might give me a real answer)- How does modern evolutionary biology square the circle that we have absolutely no evidence that life can arise from non-life?

They did an experiment years ago where they ran sparks (like in lightning) through at atmosphere similar to what presumably was the air of pre-life earth and formed quite complex molecules in a reasonable time.

Continue that for a million years at a world scale and lots of interesting things could happen.

271 I need more details of that experiment, but I assume that was done under controlled conditions despite the similarity of the atmosphere to the pre-life atmosphere. Also, complex molecules != life. Oh well, I am of the opinion that evolutionary theory is not technically science since it can't really not test the hypotheses in an experiment. It's more like trying to figure out what caused something to happen after the event has already taken place. The similarities among species don't automatically point to evolution to me. It just means that there are similarities. Disclaimer: I am not a biologist. I do have a PhD in Chemical Engineering, and my research was in the bio field. I also currently work in a bio-related industry. But I have not studied evolution, so take the comment for what it's worth.

272

That explains all the cars with Illinois plates that have started popping up around town. Unfortunately they seem to be even worse drivers than the natives.

Michigan and Minnesota also seem to be coming quite a bit more common.

273 I notice that That SCOAMF O-bah-muhh doesn't vacation in his 'home' state, so while he is a SCOAMF, he might not be insane.

274 Obama is a stuttering clusterfuck of a miserable failure.