1 Huh??

2 What?

3

Sorry Christiebots; he still says no

4

One more Republican mulling over getting in the race

If this one does he will immediately jump to the top of my list.

5

Well the MFM has succeeded in their propaganda on the collapse

But only because the average American is stupid and believes everything they say.

6

Didn't Presidents in the past appoint people to the positions in Commerce who had experience in stuff like commerce?

Not so here. What we really needed was someone steeped in the AGW/Crap and Tax fraud for commerce secretary. This shit-weasel has long been an advocate of anti-commerce taxes and regulation. No problem there eh?  IÂ’m sure though confirmation will be quick and easy in the Senate.

7

NY Post shows/discusses other wiener babes on his twitter list

8

Weiner is not the only dried up old liberal shit who likes to rob the cradle

The happy couple

9 My Mac gets infected when i stop in at HQ here

10 Off to the races, back later

11 My Mac gets infected when i stop in at HQ here

It's the same Macdefender malware that's been dogging Macs lately. Scroll down the mainpage for more info or go over to the Apple help pages to find out how to remove it.

12

1.  Either the spambots are now writing the posts, or

2.  Huffing ether makes the common cold way less sucky.

13 Endeavor landed safely this morning.

14 We may be about to lose a nominal ally in the Middle East:

Cease-Fire Breaks Down in Yemen, Civil War Looms
/Yemen is one of these "we'll berate you publicly, but help you privately" allies . 

15 Each time it pops, I close Safari, then remove the cookies. Heck of a way to sell a product

16

Posted by: Vic at June 01, 2011 06:58 AM (M9Ie6)

I hate liberal shits as much as anyone (and more than most) but I figure that being an aged lecher is a condition that crosses all political lines.

17 I just watched the video of Dupnik's clowns murdering a citizen. The Keystone Cops could take lessons from these fuckers.

18

"My Mac gets infected when i stop in at HQ here." "Heck of a way to sell a product ..."

Again ... if Ace wants into the bigs, he will have to be in control of the advertising so it doesn't infect readers' machines (or try to convince them of that). This horribly undermines editorial credibility.

19 /Yemen is one of these "we'll berate you publicly, but help you privately" allies . 

Posted by: Kratos (Ghost of Sparta) at June 01, 2011 07:24 AM (9hSKh)

Huh.  A guy who works at my company is back in Yemen right now.  He was here on some kind of visa.  He went back several weeks ago to pick up a family member and bring her here, but got stuck there.    Last word was that the US wasn't letting anybody from there come back into the US at present.  I'd love to see that policy made permanent (and for all other muz dominated nations, as well).

Indeed, now would be a great time to send back all the other Yemeni here.  Any Syrians, Saudis, Palis, Joranians, etc. etc. 

20

Well the MFM has succeeded in their propaganda on the collapse

But only because the average American is stupid and believes everything they say.

Posted by: Vic at June 01, 2011 06:57 AM (M9Ie6)

Uhm.  They helped, didn't they?  And didn't exactly get their comeuppance.

21

Again ... if Ace wants into the bigs, he will have to be in control of the advertising so it doesn't infect readers' machines (or try to convince them of that). This horribly undermines editorial credibility.

Posted by: someguy at June 01, 2011 07:34 AM (iIQ0a)

Stop.  And.  Think.  Strategerically.  For.  Five.  Minutes.  And Stop Punching Down.  If They Hit Us, We Shoot Them In The Face.  It's A Zero-Sum Math Problem. 

22 Levin on Weinergate http://tinyurl.com/4x7ncn9

23 Not a headline comment, but it appears that one of the security issues floating around had a fix issued in the last few days. Make sure you scan well for malware.

The latest is a trojan called jorik.fraud. and it popped up on my system in the last few days. The only places I've visited are AOS, Twitter, Drudge, Fox News, and the links from each.

I just searched for info on it. Ad Aware and Kapersky now have fixes. I don't know about Norton or McAfee.

24 Uhm.  They helped, didn't they?  And didn't exactly get their comeuppance.

Not really. I would lay the root cause to Federal Regulation, primarily CRA and its implementing regulations. Contributing causes are the actions of F&F and their executive staff and the insurance agencies like AIG who helped the banks meet the obligations under the CRA regs.  The extremely low interest rates didn't cause it, but they made it worse.

25 #6  Wasn't Bill Ayers' father an executive for Edison Electric?  I believe I will go verify that.

26 Yes,  indeed.  Thomas Ayers,  Commonwealth Edison.

27 Don't ya just love the snooty fat-man pic of Christie posted over at Drudge? Am I the only one who hates that photo?

28 Weinergate!



What? Too much?

29 Oh, re my prior comment, I'm on a pc, not a Mac, so keep your eye out.

30 Wasn't Bill Ayers' father an executive for Edison Electric?  I believe I will go verify that.

Common Wealth Edison I believe. Edison Electric is a research/advisory industry group and not a utility. But it is not the same thing as Obama appointing an anti-commerce eco-tard in the commerce secretary position.

The things Obama has done this cycle simply cut entirely new ground in insane control. At some point you have to quit saying it is stupidity and incompetence and put it down to willful destruction and treason.

31 When dollar general "guides down"......

32 Not really. I would lay the root cause to Federal Regulation, primarily CRA and its implementing regulations. Contributing causes are the actions of F&F and their executive staff and the insurance agencies like AIG who helped the banks meet the obligations under the CRA regs.  The extremely low interest rates didn't cause it, but they made it worse.

Posted by: Vic at June 01, 2011 07:56 AM (M9Ie6)

And the banks had no influence on the federal regulations.  And they didn't go along merrily, handing out bad loans and passing them off to Fannie.  Poor, helpless banks.  You know, the too-big-to-fail ones who have haven't been downsized.

I'm not one to put all the blame on the banks, but they aren't exactly little lost lambs.

33 And the banks had no influence on the federal regulations.

Actually no on this score. They fought CRA tooth and nail. It started way back in the Carter years when the Dems had absolute control. During the first two Clinton years when they had total control back they expanded CRA and and write the awful implementing regs that caused this.

Let us not be too quick to jump on the populist bandwagon and demonize all of big buisness.

34 >>Uhm. They helped, didn't they? And didn't exactly get their comeuppance. They certainly helped but they did were not the root cause of the financial meltdown. And much of their helping was forced upon them by DC. It all started when the Dems started promoting the philosophy that home ownership was a right and not an earned privilege. There's a new book called Reckless Endangerment written by a NYT reporter of all people which really details the roots of this whole fiasco. Short version, all roads lead to DC and crooks like Barney Franks and Chris Dodd and James Johnson at Fannie. The large investment banks certainly deserve their share of the blame but it was liberals in the government who caused this mess though they are likely to pay no price as usual.

35 And lest you think that the government and its awful regs are not the real problem, I have seen stories many times since the collapse where the feds have gone in and shit all over banks because they were not lending enough to the "targeted areas" to satisfy CRA and its regs. IOW because of crooks in the commiecrat Party no real root cause analysis has been performed and the same problems that caused it are still there and still being enforced.

36
Actually no on this score. They fought CRA tooth and nail. It started way back in the Carter years when the Dems had absolute control. During the first two Clinton years when they had total control back they expanded CRA and and write the awful implementing regs that caused this.

Let us not be too quick to jump on the populist bandwagon and demonize all of big buisness.

Posted by: Vic at June 01, 2011 08:14 AM (M9Ie6)

Straw man killed - I just disclaimed laying all the blame on banks, and who said anything about big busines?  The CRA maybe not - maybe.  All the other regulations?  And there have been no bad actors at any of the banks?  Really?

Don't jump on the apologist bandwagon, huh?

37 And there have been no bad actors at any of the banks?  Really?

There are always individual bad actors in any buisness but isolated "bad actors" did not cause this problem.

38 IOW because of crooks in the commiecrat Party no real root cause analysis has been performed and the same problems that caused it are still there and still being enforced.

Posted by: Vic at June 01, 2011 08:18 AM (M9Ie6)

Exactly.  I am often stunned by the fact that people are still willing to invest in the major bank stocks for this very reason.  All this will happen again.  How interested will the public be in Bank Bailout 2:  The Suckening?  I'd hate to be the puke who has to go out and tell people that the banking system is in peril again and we gotta bail it out once more.  Next time I suspect that more will be allowed to take the gas pipe.  All thanks to the government thinking it's OK to flush more money down the poverty toilet.

39 There is one other cause that had a lot to do with the housing collapse, or at least the creation of the bubble, primarily in CA, NY, and NV.  That is the local regulations forced in by the liberal eco-tards for "green spaces" and limited development to halt the evil urban sprawl.

That is what provided the initial spark to force home prices higher by creating an artificial shortage. It is also why home prices in those areas will never go back to normal regardless of what the overall real estate market does.

40 In the end I blame the individual that bought a house they couldn't afford. I blame the individual that signed legal documents they didn't understand. I blame the individuals that cryed poverty when they gambled on the housing market and the prices went down instead of up. I bought my first house in 91, we decided we could afford between 175-200K. They offered us up to 350K. We looked at each other and laughed. I'm no more intelligent than anyone else. I get real tired of American consumers blaming gov and business for their stupidity. Gov and business gave the citizens what they wanted. Now the citizens have to clean it up.

41 I'd hate to be the puke who has to go out and tell people that the banking system is in peril again and we gotta bail it out once more.

The commies will just blame the Rethuglicans and "deregulation", the MFM will parrot it to the sky and the same 68% of the public in that Ras survey will eat it up and call for even more regulation and DIABLOs like Scott in MA will help the Dems get it.

42 A quick update and thanks to the Morons and "Nettes who donated towards my fundraising ride the the Hole In the Wall Camp Angel ride.  The 50 miler went well - a bit warm and very hilly.    It started out spectacturlarly - the 300 riders gathered at a large field at the camp and watched as a Black Hawk helicopter landed, courtesy of the Connecticut Army National Guard.

We thanked the crew (and they thanked us for the ride, as some had relatives who'd stayed at the camp).   Then there were a few short speeches honoring the riders who's served our country (and I don't mean as Community Organizers), followed by prayers for safety and the singing of the National Anthem by one of the riders with a kickass voice.

As we prepared to start, the helicopter hovered over the lake, giving us a nice spray of mist.

The ride itself was great - far too many hills, and a bit warm, but a scenic rout that mostly went along rural roads.  I repeatedly joked to riders around me that "they'd told me we'd each have a unicorn to pull us up the hills", but nobody got the reference (friggin liberals).

I finished in a little over 3 hours, and then went to a great barbecue hoasted by the Mohegan Sun organization. Unfortunately, they didn't have grilled hobo and valu-rite there.   But other than that, it definitely got a "10".

All in all, a great day - there were over 300 adult riders, close to a hundred kids who did either the 6 mile fund ride (for kids 7-10) or the 25 miler (the last half of the 50 miler, for 11-16 year olds).   It was extremely cool to come up on the 25-miler kids about 35 miles in and hear each of the adult riders cheering on the kids as we passed them. 

The ride raised about $430,000 so far, with more coming in.   Given the down economy, it's a phenomenal amount, and will go a ;long way towards helping them bring their program to sick hospital-bound kids.  Thanks all for your support.

43 I wouldn't buy Bank of America stock if you paid me to do so.   I had a credit card with them which I paid off a couple of years ago.  They still send me information on the account,  which I probably should close.  Get this:  now,  if you are late on a payment,  they are going to charge 39% interest.  That's right! 39%!!!

44 Unexpected. >>Companies in the U.S. private sector added only 38,000 jobs in May, according to Automatic Data Processing Inc's employment report released Wednesday. The reading was a shock to analysts, who expected a gain near 175,000. According to ADP, the goods-producing sector lost 10,000 jobs in May, including 9,000 lost in manufacturing. The service sector added 48,000 jobs

45 How to avoid Mac Defender virus: Don't own a Mac and feel all uppity about the superiority of your platform because it isn't superior, its merely different.

46 Posted by: Oldsailor's poet at June 01, 2011 08:27 AM (NtTkA)

When I bought my house in 81 I had to pay 20% down. I had to supply pay stubs showing how much I made. I had to provide documentation showing how much I "owed" total so that my total payments did not exceed a certain amount. I also had to sign a document allowing them to investigate by financial affairs.

Every bit of that shit was eliminated by CRA and its attendant regulations. The government told banks they MUST loan money to people with zero credit-worthiness. I don't blame the freeloaders that were targeted for ability to buy a home they couldn't afford. Most of them were too stupid to know aht was at issue and probably about half of them thought the it was just like the normal government "cheese", it was a "right" because they had been discriminated against by the evil white overlords.

47 Now that Apple has become such a commercial success, Mac owners should expect the hackers to target them a lot more now

48 I just bought one of our brats a laptop that is so damned fast it's a bit scary. It runs on some weird OS called "Windows 7." It works pretty well, and the whole thing was $600. She wanted a Mac; the equivalent screen size was about $1,500. I wonder if I should have bought her the Mac? They say it never gets viruses.

49 Get this:  now,  if you are late on a payment,  they are going to charge 39% interest.  That's right! 39%!!!

You can blame 100% of that on that latest financial regulation bill authored by Chrook Dodd and assisted by Scott of MA.

50 "I wouldn't buy Bank of America stock if you paid me to do so."  

Posted by: Miss Marple at June 01, 2011 08:30 AM (Fo83G)

I hope you don't do your own investment planning.

51 NYT has front page story today on HOT DOGs.  Coincidence?  I think this means Weiner is a dead dog.

52

NY Post shows/discussses othe wiener babes on his twitter list

I hope someone checks this guy out.  How many "babes" are on his staff (no pun intended)?  How many intern "babes"?   How many congressional page "babes" is he in contact with?  Sexting is one thing but how many "babes" are in striking distance of this letch?  Remember Chandra Levy and of course Monica Lewinsky?

53

 I don't blame the freeloaders that were targeted for ability to buy a home they couldn't afford. Most of them were too stupid to know aht was at issue and probably about half of them thought the it was just like the normal government "cheese", it was a "right" because they had been discriminated against by the evil white overlords.

Maybe, but not blame the freeloaders?  Let this be a teaching moment and let them learn a lesson.

54 Posted by: Vic at June 01, 2011 08:36 AM (M9Ie6)

Amazing that more regulation means higher costs. How could that be?

55 Note: Gabe has updated the post to include info on the Mac viruses.

56 Maybe, but not blame the freeloaders?  Let this be a teaching moment and let them learn a lesson.

Do you think the government when the dem-rats are in charge are going to let them learn a lesson. Hell, it is doubtful even if the Repubs were in charge.

This is why were are DOOMED!

57 or, I guess Andy updated it.

58 How to avoid Mac Defender virus: Don't own a Mac and feel all uppity about the superiority of your platform because it isn't superior, its merely different.

It's not a virus. It's non-self-propagating. Macs are in fact architecturally immune to anything extant that meets the computer-science definition of "virus," and their users can maintain their smugness about that. If they get infected with Defender, only their personal smugness needs to be notched down. It preys on dumbness.

But the problem here is Ace et al's slime-fuck ad serving company delivering the Trojan via their sites, not the individual chumps who let the thing in because they don't know how 'puters work. They shouldn't have to know, because friendly internet destinations shouldn't be trying to ass-fuck them in the face with AIDS (or allowing themselves to be used for to fuck them suchly).

59 Happy Hurricane Season!  Woot! 

60 The Inevitable Xtranormal Weinergate Animation (Video)
....

Krauthammer: It Makes No Sense For Sarah Palin to Run… “The Problem Is She Is Not Schooled” (Video)

61 Another sign Weiner is in trouble:

Google adds is running an ad for Bing which says "Find out the latest on Anthony Weiner on Bing.com."

62 Al-Qaeda operting in Kentucky.

63 They shouldn't have to know, because friendly internet destinations shouldn't be trying to ass-fuck them in the face with AIDS (or allowing themselves to be used for to fuck them suchly).

So, why in the hell are you here? Obviously you think this is a bad site so go to Kos or some other shitty little place.

64 Posted by: Jane D'oh at June 01, 2011 08:42 AM (UOM4

Very cool crying face.  How did you do that?  I only know how to do the smiling one.

PS- How is your boy?

65 47, The government told banks they MUST loan money to people with zero credit-worthiness. I don't blame the freeloaders that were targeted for ability to buy a home they couldn't afford. Most of them were too stupid to know aht was at issue and probably about half of them thought the it was just like the normal government "cheese", it was a "right" because they had been discriminated against by the evil white overlords. I agree totally, but these asshats didn't get into office without the votes of a disengaged citizenry. I guess I just look at it differently. I don't use anyones stupidity, including my own, as a defense. Once we take responsibilty as individuals we can fix this. The more we try to place blame, the more the politicians will try to duck their responsibilities. What's their answer for everything? Regulations. As you stated so well, that's what got us in this shit in the first place.

66 FUBAR, et al. The commercial banks were (mostly) forced to loan to uncreditworthy folks. Some banks were better (Wells, US Bank), and some banks played along (WAMU). The key fact remains that the 'regulators' determine the rules of the game, and the regulators chose to force bad decision making. Once the i-banks came along and started taking on these CDOs, there was really no hope for the economy. If the fraud was stopped at the front end, there would have been no financial crisis. The ibankers may be sons of bitches, but their only motivation is to make more money for themselves. The regulators created an environment where all of the incentives were fucked up.

67 Greg Cutfeild had a great idea for Rep. Weiner next carer.  He should be the new partner for Elliot Spitzer..."The Weiner & Spitzer Power Hour"!  Is that brilliant or what?

68

#44

The service sector added 48,000 jobs

That would be MacDonald's

69 Mac users aren't the only ones picking up bugs here.

70 Weinergate: Jon Stewart’s Take: ‘His D**k’s Just Not That Big’

71 Do you think the government when the dem-rats are in charge are going to let them learn a lesson. Hell, it is doubtful even if the Repubs were in charge.

This is why were are DOOMED!

Disappointingly, I don't expect the government to, whoever is in charge.  ...but I do expect you to.  ...I'm just yanking your chain a bit this morning; I know we are ultimately on the same side here.

 

72 65 Posted by: Jane D'oh at June 01, 2011 08:42 AM (UOM4

Very cool crying face.  How did you do that?  I only know how to do the smiling one.

PS- How is your boy?

Posted by: momma at June 01, 2011 08:44 AM (penCf)

*waves to momma*

Crying face: 

Boy is fine, thanks for asking.  Getting ready to begin training for deployment to Shitcanistan.

73 So about that cucumber ecoli outbreak in Europe...  there's got to be a hilarious salad/dildo/diarrhea joke in there somewhere.

74 Dammit.  Crying face FAIL.  Colon + cry + colon.

More coffee needed.

75 :'( ;*(

76 '( ;*(

77

 

:~:

78 LOL, can't get it to work

79 How do you do 'cry'?...colon-tilde-openbracket?

80 :'( ;*(:

81

Macs are in fact architecturally immune to anything extant that meets the computer-science definition of "virus,"

Unless you can guarantee that MAC software is 100% free of defects (which you can't), you also can't guarantee it is immune to a virus.

82

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Private employers added a scant 38,000 jobs in May, far below economists' expectations and the lowest level since September 2010, a report by a payrolls processor showed on Wednesday.

Economists surveyed by Reuters had forecast the ADP Employer Services report would show a gain of 175,000 jobs.

As well, April private payrolls were revised down to an increase of 177,000 from the previously reported 179,000.

 

How unexpected! Who are these economists any way? They've got to be the biggest bunch of kool aid drinkers in the world to expect better job numbers or should I say find worse job numbers to be "unexpected".

83 >>The service sector added 48,000 jobs >>That would be MacDonald's Yep, and that was only done with a bribe, releasing them from Obamacare. Given that we need a few hundred thousand jobs per month to see any growth we are now racing toward a double dip. This one promises to be even deeper and more painful. Anyone who looks at Obama's poll numbers and thinks he is unbeatable next year is not paying attention to what is happening in the economy.

84 Holy crap I just watched the video of the Weiner press conference and that was the douchiest douchebaggery I have ever seen. I figure that Dana Bash is going to get canned. Weiner figures that he'll get away with it he's a Dem. If you asked me and I had been hacked I would have said that picture isn't of me, I don't know who hacked my account to put it there but I will find out and they'll be sorry. Not calling the reporter a jackass.

85 @momma

http://smilies.mee.nu/

86 Make sure there's no space between the colons and the word "cry."

87

I hate liberal shits as much as anyone (and more than most) but I figure that being an aged lecher is a condition that crosses all political lines.

Yes, but we can all be assured that the unbiased MSM will hold Republicans accountable.  Dems, not so much.

88 :~(

89

90

91 *golf clap*

92

93 I'm back bitches. (I know...'You were gone?')  What'd I miss? 

94 LOL, finally, thanks to CBD

95

 

:'(

96 Tami, where ya been?

97 Gettin' a new hip....I'm bionic now.

98 :angry:

99 Heck.  Trying to figure out how Vic made HIS face.

100 96, How are you? Everything go OK?

101 100 Gettin' a new hip....I'm bionic now.

Jeebus.  Hope all's well.

Just to lift your spirits, wait till you go through airport security.  Be prepared for a gyno exam. 

102 Trying to figure out how Vic made HIS face.

http://smilies.mee.nu/

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo (NJConservative) at June 01, 2011 08:51 AM (LH6ir)

103 Well, I'll be damned. Ace has managed to pull Weinergate right out under the spotlight. The guy is a toasted weiner.

104 I'm doing pretty well Oldsailor's Poet...,one week post op.

I know Jane....let the fun begin.  Ugh!

105 I see Drudge is still ignoring Weinergate.  And check out the pic over there of Christie. 

106 New topic

NATO Extends Libya Military Campaign

The Repubs have allowed Obama to skate on this crap. If this was a republican President everyone from the congressional janitor to the SOH would be calling for impeachment and it would be the lead story in every news organization in the country every day.  

107 I'm certain everybody is on pins and needles wondering what Curious's friends think about the latest developments in Weinergate. Ain't we?

108 107, I use to do X-game type sports, My orthopedic surgeon still sends me Christmas cards. You know you get a good physical terrorist when you hate them, stick it out and they will make you better than new. It's all about the rehab.

109 Oh boy.  Beck's getting ready to have fun with his arch-enemy Weiner. 

110 I use to do X-game type sports, My orthopedic surgeon still sends me Christmas cards. You know you get a good physical terrorist when you hate them, stick it out and they will make you better than new. It's all about the rehab.

Posted by: Oldsailor's poet at June 01, 2011 09:06 AM (NtTkA)

LOL!  Yep...started therapy yesterday.  I'll be ok....I'm a personal trainer so I get all the exercises and how important they are.

111 Sum thoughts,

*Don't store passwords connected to your personal info on your computer!
*Don't marry a skank that will steal all your money and dignity more thoroughly then a hacker ever could. lol
*Years ago virus were focused on ego trips like crashing peoples computers and other outward behavior, new virus are meant to be like ninjas get in get your stored passwords without being detected.

Macs aren't much use for my primary use of gaming but I would happily buy one for my wife or mother.  That said,  all code has holes, and Apple doesn't have nearly the comparable infrastructure to monitor, respond, and update that Microsoft does.  Hopefully close calls like this will get Apple to step up their game before a more serious incident occurs.

Remember, AntiVirus software does two things.

*scans for known virus's it is specifically told to look for.
*scan and put up a warning if a program exhibits odd virus like behavior

There is a huge Swiss cheese area between that and a "clean" computer.  Websites like "Virustotal" or "Jotti" will scan a file with over a dozen  programs which you should do if you use software "cracks."

112 Thanks for the info guys. 

Jane - We were at the local store, and a local Church was selling yellow ribbons (construction paper cut outs that their kids made) which you could buy for $1 and put the name of service men/women on it (all money went to buy things for care packages for our Heroes).

Anyway, I bought two for my nephews and 1 for my cousin and my son said, 'Mom, you forgot D'Oh Boy' and that one woman's husband.'

Made me smile from ear to ear.

113 Haven't noticed any virus problems with this Ubuntu load - probably helps that I boot from a liveCD and am very careful what gets copied to my mounted filesystems. It is very good for its price, free.

114 Posted by: Tami at June 01, 2011 09:00 AM (X6akg)

Said a prayer for you in the hospital chapel when I was saying one for my hubby's successful surgery.

Glad to see you back.

115 117 Thanks for the info guys. 

Jane - We were at the local store, and a local Church was selling yellow ribbons (construction paper cut outs that their kids made) which you could buy for $1 and put the name of service men/women on it (all money went to buy things for care packages for our Heroes).

Anyway, I bought two for my nephews and 1 for my cousin and my son said, 'Mom, you forgot D'Oh Boy' and that one woman's husband.'

Made me smile from ear to ear.

Posted by: momma at June 01, 2011 09:11 AM (penCf)

Wow.  How sweet.  You give that boy a hug from me. 

116 Thanks momma!  How did hubby's surgery go?

117 This is sooooo wrong

Dad Drops Daughter To Catch A Foul Ball

118 122, OMG, my wife would beat me with a ball bat.

119 Posted by: Jane D'oh at June 01, 2011 09:15 AM (UOM4

My kid has an awesome memory.  He remembers everything.  It helps that he cracks up every time he says, 'DoOh Boy'.



Posted by: Tami at June 01, 2011 09:15 AM (X6akg)

A giant success.  He already has more strength in his shoulder than he did before the surgery. Thanks for asking.

You at home now?  How much physical therapy do you have to do?

120 Heh.  When D'oh Boy was four, my husband took him to a Braves game.  D'oh Boy was wearing his little baseball uniform and had his little glove.  The umpire tossed the ball to D'oh Boy (they were sitting on the front row).  Husband caught it and gave it to the boy, who promptly threw it back to the umpire....and it was all caught on the jumbo tron.  The crowd laughed, and the umpire walked over and handed the ball to my husband.  We still have the ball up in the boy's room.

121  ... I wonder what the Weiner is up to today ...

122 100 Gettin' a new hip....I'm bionic now.
Posted by: Tami at June 01, 2011 08:57 AM (X6akg)

Long as you're not one of those non-bathing hippie types I'm cool with it.
We've been having a Weiner roast, pull up a forked stick.   

123 Ooh, even the poli cartoonists have caught onto Weinergate now. 

I, who dismissed this before, hereby bow to Ace the Great and Terrible.  Put up the kill sticker, you earned it.

124 Martin Bashir: Sarah Palin's Bus Tour a 'Breach of Federal Law'And yet, even in her paid-for interview, she seems coy and almost confused about what she's doing. "This is not a campaign bus," she said on Fox News. "This is a bus to express to American how much we appreciate our foundation and to invite more people to be interested about all that is good about America." It all sounds like a wonderful commitment to American values and American history, but it's nothing of the kind. In fact, the whole thing could be in breach of a federal law because the United States Flag Code establishes important rules for the use and display of the stars and stripes, the flag of the United States. Under standards of respect and etiquette, it's made clear that the flag of the United States should never be used for any advertising purpose whatsoever. Yet that's precisely what Sarah Palin is doing. She's using the flag of the United States for her own financial purposes. She drapes herself in the stars and stripes and makes millions of dollars in the process. This has got nothing to do with the presidency and everything to do with filling her pockets. And by raising her profile, she raises her income. It is as simple as that. So she was right when she said that hers is not a campaign bus. It's a cash bus and she'll keep it rolling for as long as she can. Thanks so much for watching.





But, but but Obama wears a FLAG pin!

125

Anyone who looks at Obama's poll numbers and thinks he is unbeatable next year is not paying attention to what is happening in the economy.

Fortunately for him, more than half of people aren't paying attention.

126 I miss Monty's doom threads...

127 @ 85 My hubby was one of 'em those private hires in May.

Second week of funemployment he was hired by a company not looking to add, but saw his resume and felt they had to have him.

I suppose Barry O will claim this as a job 'created'.

(*& %^$ off, Barry. My husband got this job on his own merit.

128 That's great!

Yes, I'm home.  Surgery was last Tues., came home Friday.  Therapist comes to the house for now.  I just have a bunch of exercises to do once or twice a day.  Once they let me drive, I think I go somewhere for more therapy.

129 Posted by: Jane D'oh at June 01, 2011 09:20 AM (UOM4

That's awesome.

130 I don't trust Chrisite right now.  Too many things uncertain about him.  Besides can you imagine the reaction from conservatives if he is really pro illegal immigration or pro muslim or anti gun and someone in an audience somewhere protests to him and he climbs down their throats like he does on fiscal issues.

The guy has balls but will we like his "balls" on issues he's against and we're for?

131 What a shame:

Endeavour space shuttle lands after its final flight

132 No more Atlanta hockey, Thrashers moved to Winnipeg.  My niece will be most unhappy, she'd been a major fan.

For those three Morons, myself included, that care about hockey...

133 I had to supply pay stubs showing how much I made. I had to provide documentation showing how much I "owed" total so that my total payments did not exceed a certain amount. I also had to sign a document allowing them to investigate by financial affairs.

Every bit of that shit was eliminated by CRA and its attendant regulations.

We just provided two months of pay stubs, two months of bank/money market account statements, and three years of income tax returns -- and that's with sterling credit scores for a generic mortgage.  (The credit report showed the outstanding debt.) 

The feds are mumbling about requiring 20% down, but I'm not sure that'll pass and, frankly, I'm not sure that should pass.  There's nothing particularly magical about 20% down.  The more important thing is to have stable financial history, low debt load, and good source of income.   

134 Man oh man, is that Weiner taking it in the shorts or what?

135 Long as you're not one of those non-bathing hippie types I'm cool with it.
We've been having a Weiner roast, pull up a forked stick.   

Posted by: ontherocks at June 01, 2011 09:23 AM (HBqDo)

Well, someone is going to have to shave my right leg or I have to move to France.

136 I'm from Boston, and I don't care about hockey.

137 @Y-not: 20pct. down is important because it keeps folks from walking away (no matter what the financial situation). I know that Hong Kong is big on 95pct. mortgages (only 5 pct. down). The problem is in the US that folks will simply walk away once they go underwater, which leaves the bank in quite a bind.

138 Norah Jones (born Geethali Norah Jones Shankar (Bengal) on March 30, 1979) is an American singer-songwriter, pianist, keyboardist, guitarist, and occasional actress, of Anglo-American and Indian-Bengali descent. She is the daughter of sitarist Ravi Shankar.

Whatta babe

139 Mac Defender is a Trojan, not a virus. Just don't install the stupid thing and update the OS to the latest security patch. There are STILL no viruses in the wild for Mac. My wife's stupid Netbook running Winbloze was rendered useless from viruses, spyware, etc. in a matter of no time.

140 @141 I'm from Boston, and I don't care about hockey.


Satan begone!

_{^{*Tosses holy water on Truman North*}}

141 The Jews may have the last laugh:

IsraelÂ’s Coast May Be Gold Mine of Oil, Says Government Expert

142 138, I'm going to repectfully disagree. 20% down means you either have access to cash or you have the dicipline to save money. It is also a small sheild against a moderate drop in home value. This protects both the lender and the barrower.

143 Not to mention that lots of this mess was the result of 'thin-file' versus 'thick file' credit scores. Having a great payment history doesn't necessarily mean anything if you haven't really owed money before.

144 137, wonder whether they'll keep that silly "Thrashers" name.  And what division?  Probably won't change this year because scheduling already set.  But 2012-2013?

Go Blues.

145 @85

And yet the MFM repeats ad nauseam that Obama is unbeatable...

146 This Toobin sure is a classy guy/:

From Ben's sidebar link:

In 2008, when Greenfield became pregnant, and when she told Toobin the news, he offered her “money if she’d have an abortion,” says a source. He also allegedly offered to pay for her to have another child later via a sperm donor.

“When Casey wouldn’t have an abortion, Jeff told her she was going to regret it, that she shouldn’t expect any help from him,” claims another source.

147

Hi curious,

I enjoyed meeting up with you at happy hour last night.  I had a great time, and I'm glad you chose a sophisticated, compassionate liberal older man over that hobo in the alley.  I bet I gave you the best "New York Minute" of your life!  But what's with you making me wear those golden slacks?  You're kinky, girl!  Don't forget to vote for me!

Weeny

148 I just came from Newsbusters, and they're giving props to Ace of Spaces in regard to Weinergate.  Lol.

149

Lloyd Dobler: I don't want to sell anything, buy anything, or process anything as a career. I don't want to sell anything bought or processed, or buy anything sold or processed, or process anything sold, bought, or processed, or repair anything sold, bought, or processed. You know, as a career, I don't want to do that.

Welcome to the Lloyd Dobler economy

150

OH NO!  Ignore the above, I've been hacked again!  LOLZ those crazy wingnut hackers!

151 It used to be that if you put 20% down, you could "buy" a cheaper loan, i.e. your interest rate and/or closing costs were lower and you also had the added incentive of not having to pay the second "I" in PITI which is private mortgage insurance. Then the world went crazy, loans were handed out to anyone for any reason, then they started tightening back down. None of it makes sense anymore.

152 Y-not:

If they are doing all of that they are not in compliance with CRA and are subject to action by the regulators. I have heard rumblings though about a two-tiered system that some banks are using where customers who qualify under the old rules get much better interest rates, while those who go under the CRA, no money down no credit history rules pay exorbitant rates.

I figure that will last about as long as it takes for the current CBC or DOJ to get involved with it.

153 Anyway, I bought two for my nephews and 1 for my cousin and my son said, 'Mom, you forgot D'Oh Boy' and that one woman's husband.'




Awwwwwww.   This made me tear up a little. What a sweet kid.

154 142 @Y-not:

20pct. down is important because it keeps folks from walking away (no matter what the financial situation).

If your finances are in such a mess that you're walking away from a mortgage, 20% or 15% or 25% down isn't going to matter, imho. 

It's supposed to help you have skin in the game, but as we've seen in recent years, 20% depreciation (and much more) on a house is very possible.  So people in that situation either hunker down and stay the course in the house they're in or, if they have to move, they take the hit on the sale of their house or they default.  Whether they have 15% down on a house that depreciated 20% or 20% down on a house that depreciated 25% isn't going to matter.  That's what I meant by "magical." 

I agree with you that people should be able to put down a sizable down payment, but I also think that if people strip their cash reserves to get to that 20% down, only to have something happen to their finances that requires those reserves, they're still in a bind.  So to me it's all situational.  The lenders should look at each individual case and proceed from there. 

155 Not that we didn't already suspect this,  but a former Law Review Editor has some questions at AT:
And that is "how it works."  To be a law review editor-in-chief, a Chief Articles Editor, a Chief Comments Editor of a law review, it is a sine qua non that you publish something fabulous, a real scholarly piece of work.  Many dozens of America's finest law students do exactly that every year.  Those articles later become part of a vast searchable electronic library of legal scholarship.  
The thing is, I cannot find Barack Obama's great piece of work, the scholarship one would presume he researched, drafted, crafted, and honed, that earned him the presidency of the Harvard Law Review.  The name "Obama" is the kind of search term that should do the job.  But I cannot find any scholarship published by him that reveals the exceptional brilliance that paved the way to his achievement.

156 I see dagny referenced that above.

157

The media is either getting more tranparently corrupt or I'm older and have heard it all before. Today alone I have heard that Obama is unbeatable, there are going to be huge numbers of hurricanes Aug through Sep, the economy is improving, and Sarah Palin is stupid.

 

158 Posted by: Kratos (Ghost of Sparta) at June 01, 2011 09:34 AM (9hSKh)

There was an article in one of the Israeli papers a few months ago that cited the upper end estimate of 250 billion barrels of oil in the oil shale deposits. That's about the same as Saudi Arabia's total reserves.

That, coupled with the two large natural gas fields that will go on-line within several years, makes Israel a potentially significant player on the world energy stage.

159 Awesome article about Palin Power from one who hates her (thanks to Legal Insurrection):



Washington Monthly:  When Palin says she wants news organizations to “do a little bit of work,” what that means is she wants media outlets to simply follow her bus, wherever it might go. And wouldnÂ’t you know it, actual news organizations are doing just that.Right now, as PalinÂ’s bus travels to destinations unknown, itÂ’s being followed by an informal caravan of 15 or so vehicles — including a CNN bus — filled with reporters and producers. They donÂ’t know where theyÂ’re going, and they donÂ’t know what theyÂ’ll do when they get to where theyÂ’re going, but Sarah Palin is in a bus, and so they remain in pursuit....

The whole thing is just painfully stupid. The former half-term governor of Alaska has effectively told news organizations, “Catch me if you can!” To which the media responds, “We’ll be right behind you!”

160 160, Uh Oh, are we going to be Publishers now. You know , like birthers.

161 153 I just came from Newsbusters, and they're giving props to Ace of Spaces in regard to Weinergate.

That's better than Hot Air did. 

I'm glad ace got credit for this.  Personally, the story isn't that interesting to me, but it is important. 

162 Today is alovely Spring day here in Vermont and especially with Presadent Obama as our leader. What more could we ask for people, except four more years to fix Bush's Screw-ups !!!

163 The feds are mumbling about requiring 20% down, but I'm not sure that'll pass and, frankly, I'm not sure that should pass.  There's nothing particularly magical about 20% down.  The more important thing is to have stable financial history, low debt load, and good source of income.   

Not really. Source of income, savings, investments...all that can change in a heartbeat if you suffer a financial setback (which is an unfortunate possibility for a lot of people these days.)

20% down means you have more of a financial stake in the purchase and are more likely to make those payments if your financial health goes south.

164 The position of US Commerce Secretary is traditionally filled by a a big-donor pal of the newly-elected president.

 The next president should eliminate the Commerce Department because the business of American is business.

165 If they are doing all of that they are not in compliance with CRA and are subject to action by the regulators.

We went to two different lenders and both required that we release our income tax returns.  It was a standard form.  I seriously doubt that both of these lenders are in violation of some regulation.  Perhaps it's a Utah thing.  I'd have to dig up the form and see if I can tell. 

I wish I could say that we got some special rate, but I was tracking the rates and we were in the range of what was out there. 

166 Posted by: dagny at June 01, 2011 09:42 AM (Ox5Uz)

Don't forget that Palin is also breaking federal law by using images of the U.S. flag, according to that famous legal scholar Martin Bashir.

Does anyone know whether it is law, or just guidelines for the use and display of the flag? I can't imagine that there are any penalties for misuse.

167 The whole thing is just painfully stupid. The former half-term governor of Alaska has effectively told news organizations, “Catch me if you can!” To which the media responds, “We’ll be right behind you!”


Payback is a bitch, eh? The MFM treated Palin and her family like shit and now they're whining because she won't be nice to them.

168

20% down means you have more of a financial stake in the purchase and are more likely to make those payments if your financial health goes south.

Yeah, people are less likely to walk away from 20% than if they just kicked in 5%

 

However, I'm of the opinion that gov't should get the f out. Let the banks declare that they want 20% down or no loan. However they will never do that because that would cut off all the money they make on PMI

169 >>So to me it's all situational. The lenders should look at each individual case and proceed from there. Yea but that's the problem, the government has spent the last couple decades not only not encouraging banks to do that but passing regulations specifically penalizing them if they did. My governor, Deval Patrick who is an Obama clone spent a good chunk of his career as an Asst AG enforcing these ridiculous rules and penalizing banks who tried to act logically. Community activists, the Obama model, worked hand in glove with the poverty and race pimps in Congress to dismantle any semblance of sanity in the lending markets years ago. The used bogus reports like the famous redlining report from the Boston Fed as proof of unfair lending processes. Rogue agencies like Fannie put the whole thing into a higher gear and then exotic instruments like CDS made it appear to be foolproof. It wasn't. It was a house of cards and once things started going south in the housing markets it literally almost took down the US economy and the rest of the world with us. We learned shit from that mess and rewarded the very people who caused it. It will happen again unless we change course asap.

170 Don't forget that Palin is also breaking federal law by using images of the U.S. flag, according to that famous legal scholar Martin Bashir.

Does anyone know whether it is law, or just guidelines for the use and display of the flag? I can't imagine that there are any penalties for misuse.


It's ok to burn the flag, but not display it on the side of a bus?

171 If MacDefender is malware, why hasn't Ace removed their ads from his website? It more often than not appears every time I try to visit this site, not just a one-shot attempt.

172 I agree with Ben and JackStraw.  The key is over-regulation. 

Having the Feds set a requirement of 20% down is not the solution. 

173 Can somebody tell me if Mary Cokkinsucker is a genuine retard or a fig newton of somebodies imagination?

174 UNF*CKINGREAL:

Middle school yearbook groups Adolph Hitler, Osama Bin Laden, George W. Bush, Cheney 'Top 5 Worst People of All Time'
Open up the Russellville Middle School yearbook. You'll see the students' pictures, the administration, and a pretty controversial list that's supposed to be covered with a piece of black tape.

"My problem is the tape can be removed easily," said School Board Member Chris Cloud. Cloud has two kids in the Russellville School District and one brought home the yearbook.

"I'm furious as a parent and as a board member and as a tax payer and as a resident of Russellville," he said. "It's wrong."

The list is titled "Top 5 worst people of all time." The top three, in order, are Adolph Hitler, Osama Bin Laden, and Charles Manson. Numbers four and five are George W. Bush and Dick Cheney.

Superintendent Randall Williams calls the list "an oversight." Parents caught it after the yearbooks were printed. The district's solution was to cover the list with tape. It didn't work.

"Really?" said Williams when told the tape could be pulled off. "Well that's disappointing because the yearbook supplier told us this was a definite fix."

When asked if the yearbook sponsor, a paid teacher, thought that it was appropriate to include the list in the yearbook, Williams said no.

"I think it's just hard to explain, and I've talked to the sponsor and she is very very very upset about it. That she didn't pay any attention to that particular part of that particular page," he said. "I think she maybe just scanned the whole page and went on."

175

Anyone catch that story about GM dealers keeping the 7,500 tax credit on Chevy  Volts and then selling them as used cars?

176 Winning political lottery numbers: Perry/DeMint.

If you have this ticket, you are a winner, please step into the Rose Garden.

177 hacked - Ace doesn't put the ads on - he contracts with an adserver, that populates ads based on your browser's history. The adserver should be filtering an verifying their ads are clean.

178 I seriously doubt that both of these lenders are in violation of some regulation.

The request for info isn't the violation, its what they do with it that counts. In addition, what they do if the bank is found to not be in "compliance" is start harassing them on audits and limit their ability to expand by denying licensing.

So a bank can theoretically not be in compliance and still operate but it would be rare.  Those regulations are strange because they are patently unconstitutional and it requires a lot of gimmicks to give them a veneer of legality. 

179

 I agree with Ben and JackStraw.  The key is over-regulation. 

Having the Feds set a requirement of 20% down is not the solution. 

Y-Not, I haven't been in the market for two years and I know you just bought a house, what are the rates right now?

180 JackStraw,

Thanks for mentioning the book.  Looking at the page on Amazon, it looks like it's worth a go.

181 The lenders should look at each individual case and proceed from there. 


I work with sub prime lenders (auto loans) and they look at credit history and debt ratio and income and determine how much of a down payment they require. The worse your credit, the higher the down requirement. Yes, I know car loans are different from mortgages, but it seems that the same logic would apply.

And most people are clueless. We get applications in all the time where the person makes $1,500 a month, has shady credit and wants to buy a $15,000 car with $500 down. They don't understand why they can't have the 09 Ford Mustang. It's not fair!

182 @183
OK.  I think we're basically on the same page. 

183 Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo (NJConservative) at June 01, 2011 09:47 AM (LH6ir)


See link at #129.  NewsBusters explains the SC ruling.

184 178 It's a sock, a old used sock

185 Y-Not, I haven't been in the market for two years and I know you just bought a house, what are the rates right now?

Well under 5%. 

We were hoping to get into a 15 year loan - which would have put us into the ~4.25% rate (amazing!) - but we didn't want to strip our monthly income that much because we wanted to have the cash if something unexpected happened.  But even with a conventional 30-yr loan the loan servicing (or whatever it's called) was less than the loan, which I gather is not what usually happens. 

186 Thanks dagny.

187 "I think it's just hard to explain, and I've talked to the sponsor and she is very very very upset about it. That she didn't pay any attention to that particular part of that particular page," he said. "I think she maybe just scanned the whole page and went on."





My bullshit detector just pegged in the red zone.

188 Wienergate..  never heard of it?

189 Yes, I know car loans are different from mortgages, but it seems that the same logic would apply.

CRA is a federal regulation so logic does not apply. (That's snark). But truly CRA doesn't apply to car loans.......yet.

190 The banks should be able to "sell" anybody a loan. Don't have 20%? Then you pay a higher interest rate, pmi, and higher closing. It should be like any other marketable good where supply and demand work out the price.

191 I work with sub prime lenders (auto loans) and they look at credit history and debt ratio and income and determine how much of a down payment they require. The worse your credit, the higher the down requirement. Yes, I know car loans are different from mortgages, but it seems that the same logic would apply.

---

Yeah, you'd like to think that something as big as a home loan would put more ability into the hands of the lender to adjust to fit the circumstances, but it seems as if they have less control. 

When we moved here we needed a second car, but we still had the CA house payment so our debt load was higher than they usually like to see.  But the local lenders' debt load figure is in part based on the assumption (I think) that you have a large family to support (this is Utah), so they took a risk on us but required a slightly bigger down payment. 

192 CRA is a federal regulation so logic does not apply. (That's snark). But truly CRA doesn't apply to car loans.......yet.


We've got plenty of hoops to jump through as it is. Red Flag and OFAC are the two recent additions thanks to the PATRIOT Act.

193 Red Flag and OFAC

what are those?

194 When we moved here we needed a second car, but we still had the CA house payment so our debt load was higher than they usually like to see.  But the local lenders' debt load figure is in part based on the assumption (I think) that you have a large family to support (this is Utah), so they took a risk on us but required a slightly bigger down payment. 


More than likely when you explained that the house in CA was for sale, they took that into consideration and required the higher down because who knew when the house would actually sell. Car lenders have more flexibility and can pretty much loan money to who ever they want, based on their own criteria.

The regs have tightened up, even for car deals though. For example, if you're upside down on a car note, you can't roll the unpaid balance into a new car loan as you could before. And, you can only have one open car note in your name at a time.

195 Ok, whats Red Flag (a training program) and OFAC (a banking operation) have to do with car loans. (I only buy used cars - for cash, so I'm clueless here.)

196 @mpur,
That makes sense!

197 Obama Commerce Nominee: U.S. Has 'Obligation to Lead' on Climate Change Legislation


John Bryson, President Barack Obama's nominee to be secretary of commerce, said it was “incredibly important” that the United States pass cap and trade legislation and that America needed to be a global leader in combating man-made global warming.

“I regard it as incredibly important that the United States comes forth in this year with federal climate change legislation as a foundation for moving ahead,” Bryson told the U.N. International Energy Conference in late August 2009. “I think we in the U.S. have an obligation to assist in significant ways in providing leadership in this community of nations that you represent and addressing energy and climate change.”

198 200 Ok, whats Red Flag (a training program) and OFAC (a banking operation) have to do with car loans. (I only buy used cars - for cash, so I'm clueless here.)

Posted by: Jean at June 01, 2011 10:05 AM (WkuV6)

Wait a couple of years, you'll be able to buy a house for cash

199 Posted by: dagny at June 01, 2011 09:38 AM (Ox5Uz) Actually the last "I" in PITI is your HOI. Homeowners Insurance. If you get a conventional loan, non FHA, and put 20% down you have the option to escrow for taxes and insurance. MI, mortgage insurance, is applied when 20% down is not made. Also the interest rate is cheaper if you put 20% down, the brokers or lenders rate sheet has a matrix on the cost of the rate based on basis points. The higher the Loan to Value the lower the YSP (yieldspread), which means the borrower will have to be charged a higher rate for the broker/lender to achieve his profit level.

200 Just heard on Beck:

Number of federal limousines up 73% under Obama administration.

I'm just.....speechless.

201

“I regard it as incredibly important that the United States comes forth in this year with federal climate change legislation as a foundation for moving ahead,” Bryson told the U.N. International Energy Conference in late August 2009. “I think we in the U.S. have an obligation to assist in significant ways in providing leadership in this community of nations that you represent and addressing energy and climate change.”

Posted by: momma at June 01, 2011 10:06 AM (penCf)

So this idiot is setting legislative agenda? Who elected him? No one!

202 Red Flag and OFAC I get annual refresher training on OFAC, so I should be able to recite what it stands for. I think OFAC is a good thing, but, in theory, so is the SEC. Monkey spankers.

203 Half a dozen businessmen from Iowa, which holds the vital first nominating contest in the U.S. presidential race in February, met with Christie for about 2 1/2 hours over dinner at the governor's mansion to discuss entering the contest.

"I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for a term as your president. Unless Crispy Cremes are involved"

204 Red Flag and OFAC

what are those?


Red Flag is anti-identity theft. We have to verify the person is who they say they are.

OFAC is essentially a No Fly list, if the name pops on OFAC, they're either a terrorist and/or a drug cartel type. You have to verify that the person is not the person on that list. If you don't and you sell a car to them, you're in big trouble. Especially if that car goes boom in the middle of Times Square. (That's why terrorists are buying cars off of Craigslist from individuals, no OFAC check.)

Funny thing down here in Texas, is we get OFAC pops all the time on Hispanic surnames, and we have to ask "So you're not Guillermo Gonzalez, aka Jose Gonzalez, aka Fransicso Reyes-Gonzalez, from Bogata, right?"

205 OFAC It stuck in my head. That's a positive sign.

206 Wait a couple of years, you'll be able to buy a house for cash Posted by: The Robot Devil Can already do that, you can find well built homes in depressed rust belt towns for 30K. Location sucks and prospects for it getting better are slim - but if you can find work in those areas you can do very well.

207 From a commenter at Politico on Weinergate:

Remember when Weiner wanted an Obamacare Waiver for NYC? Now, Anthony want's a WEINER-WAIVER?

208 Warning: NYSlimes link

City's homeless program might have enticed people to leave their homes

209 (I only buy used cars - for cash, so I'm clueless here.)


You'd definitely be impacted by OFAC if you're a cash buyer. but, you may never know it, if your name doesn't pop on the list when the dealer puts your info into the government database. 

The days of staying off the grid by paying cash are going away.

210 If you don't and you sell a car to them, you're in big trouble.

From what I have heard of the "no-fly" list it is virtually worthless. So the feds make you determine if a potential buyer is a terrorist? Do they pay for this work?

IIANM the Supreme Court prohibited them from passing this kind of unfunded mandate to the States, how can they pass it on to car dealers?

211 77,000 feds paid more than governorsMore than 77,000 federal government employees throughout the country — including computer operators, more than 5,000 air traffic controllers, 22 librarians and one interior designer — earned more than the governors of the states in which they work.

212

Morning, all!

Heh.  When Weiner starts losing the Kos Kids, you know he's in trouble.

Safe link to Patterico.

The Kos part is at the bottom of the post.  Good stuff.

213 211 Wait a couple of years, you'll be able to buy a house for cash

Posted by: The Robot Devil

My sister in Atlanta did that.  $35,000 bought a completely rehabbed cottage (new bamboo flooring, granite counters, two new baths, etc.) that had been on the market for over $200,000.

Now if she could just find a job in her field (she's cleaning houses for now, to her credit).

214 I've heard you can buy a house in Detroit for less than $1,000. Of course the taxes on it will be higher than that and no sane person wants to live in Detroit.

215 I love the "Beyond Thunderdome" story with the "narco-tank". We live in "interesting times" indeed. Gotta go post it on FB.

216 Pie!

217 Pushing OFAC down to car loans is a stretch. Esp. since it is happening in the open -- it should be a backoffice report that goes to back to OFAC for action. You the lender don't need to know, nor should you be spending your time verifying compliance.

218

The DOOM doesn't go away just because Monty is on vacation!

219 YIKES!

220 Re the Patriot Act and home loans:  I do remember there was some sort of terrorist score that they assigned us during the loan process.  Ironically (stupidly) ours was close the edge and it turns out that happens if you change phone numbers (and maybe addresses, too)... which is what usually happens when you move (and buy a house)! 

221 From what I have heard of the "no-fly" list it is virtually worthless. So the feds make you determine if a potential buyer is a terrorist? Do they pay for this work?

IIANM the Supreme Court prohibited them from passing this kind of unfunded mandate to the States, how can they pass it on to car dealers?

We pay for the service that runs it, but in all fairness, it's an add-on to the credit report. However, if it's a cash buyer, we don't need the credit report, but still have to pay for the OFAC. There is also a big fine involved for non-compliance. But, if we show we did our due diligence, (i.e. ran OFAC and checked the ID), then they can't really do anything.

222 The days of staying off the grid by paying cash are going away. Are they trying to close the "gunshow loophole" on cars as well?

223 224

The DOOM doesn't go away just because Monty is on vacation!

Posted by: Vic at June 01, 2011 10:22 AM (M9Ie6)

Good DOOM link, needs a kitty. However, they are not printing money just assuming debt. In fact, there is less currency in circulation now then a year ago.

224 In my economy, if you like your 86 Dodge Caravan, you can keep your 86 Dodge Caravan.  As a matter of fact, you're going to HAVE to keep your 86 Dodge Caravan.

225 Pushing OFAC down to car loans is a stretch. Esp. since it is happening in the open -- it should be a backoffice report that goes to back to OFAC for action. You the lender don't need to know, nor should you be spending your time verifying compliance.



I agree. Especially since your dedicated terrorist will just buy from an individual. Of course, we know what the solution to that will be - no more private car sales by individuals.

But we have to show that we at least tried to keep the terrorist horseless.

226 160The thing is, I cannot find Barack Obama's great piece of work, the scholarship one would presume he researched, drafted, crafted, and honed, that earned him the presidency of the Harvard Law Review.
________

Makes me wonder about the editors immediately before and after him. Was he special, or was the Harvard Law Review going through a silly phase?

227 Are they trying to close the "gunshow loophole" on cars as well?


I figure that will be next, and will be about as successful.

228 If 2011 hurricane season lives up to the hype it will be the first one since 2004 and 2005. 

229 171 \Don't forget that Palin is also breaking federal law by using images of the U.S. flag, according to that famous legal scholar Martin Bashir.
__________

I wonder if he was upset about the stripes in Obama's campaign logo.

230 Re the Patriot Act and home loans:  I do remember there was some sort of terrorist score that they assigned us during the loan process.  Ironically (stupidly) ours was close the edge and it turns out that happens if you change phone numbers (and maybe addresses, too)... which is what usually happens when you move (and buy a house)! 


Are you sure that wasn't a Red Flag? The identity theft rates on matching names and SSN's to phone numbers and addresses.

Which is stupid because I get flags on phone numbers all the time because they're cell numbers and the credit reporting agencies are slow to report address changes.

231 231 In my economy, if you like your 86 Dodge Caravan, you can keep your 86 Dodge Caravan.  As a matter of fact, you're going to HAVE to keep your 86 Dodge Caravan.

Posted by: Barry at June 01, 2011 10:27 AM (/Mla1)

And if you like your 1984 Apple MacIntosh, you can keep it. BONUS: No one is writing virus code for the platform...

232 mpur - Especially since your dedicated terrorist will just buy from an individual or buy thru a straw man, rent a car, or just steal one.

233

This is why you should never trust a "non-partisan" government board. 

The Wisconsin Government Accountability Board has delayed action regarding the potential recalls of three Democrat State Senators. Since the GAB moved swiftly to certify the recalls of six Republican State Senators, some are reasonably raising the claim that the GAB is showing partisan favoritism.

Link to Big Government.

 

234 Especially since your dedicated terrorist will just buy from an individual or buy thru a straw man, rent a car, or just steal one.


Ding! Ding!

235 165>> 160, Uh Oh, are we going to be Publishers now. You know , like birthers.
Posted by: Oldsailor's poet at June 01, 2011 09:43 AM (NtTkA)

The piece is titled: Stop It Already -- He's Not So Smart

But don't get me started on publishing, because while I'm quite sure Barky was in fact birthed, published in his own words - not so much, (aside from the ditty about apes/figs/crunchies/caves).

If you haven't heard of Jack Cashill's book:
....it's worth a read.

236 New Apple security software update available now. As a proud AMIGA user, I don't have to worry about viruses, trojan horses, or performance. I'm like a computeral independent. Suck it, loserzz!!!11!!

237  Especially since your dedicated terrorist will just buy from an individual or buy thru a straw man, rent a car, or just steal one.

maybe the government should just make stealing cars illegal. That will put an end to that.

238 You know I was just sitting here thinking about trying to thwart a "terrorist" from buy a used car to transport a bomb and passing a law that has to be "enforced" by car dealers.

This is some more serious WTF shit. It is already against every law in every State in the union AND the feds with huge controls in place to buy explosive materials. We are "supposed" to have federal officers preventing these SOBs from entering the country and they are not.

We are supposed to have FBI who track these SOBs.

But in the end because the federals are incompetent or they want to not enforce border control it is left up to a damn used care dealer in Hoboken to block terrorist acts.

Where IS the damn media? This isn't an infringement of liberties, it is abjectly STUPID federal regulation that achieves NOTHING but shit.

239

>>Makes me wonder about the editors immediately before and after him. Was he special, or was the Harvard Law Review going through a silly phase?

Posted by: Anachronda at June 01, 2011 10:28 AM (6fER6)

Heh.

240 Have I mentioned ESET Smart Security, FF, and AdBlockPlus? I could swear I have.

To repeat it would only make me a jackass.
I can click on anything . I am impervious...or something.

241

What's happening to Australia?  One week they proclaim that there will be no observance of sharia law Down Under, and the next week they're reducing the sentence of a rapist with at least six victims -- including a 13 year old girl -- on the grounds that his Islamic sensibilities couldn't cope with the "culture shock" of how Western women dress.  They were asking to be raped, you see, because they weren't wearing burkas or something.

Come on, Oz.  Don't you start falling under the dhimmi bus, too!

242 For years I've been quietly chuckling over the Apple fanbois thinking they were secure from viruses because they used a Mac.  It has always been that viruses are written to attack Windows, because 90% of the targets are Windows.  Not because Macs were more secure.

Now I hear the same crap from Linux fanbois.

Ironically, Windows 7 properly configured is pretty much the most secure thing you can use, because it has been beaten on so much for the last 10 years.  The easy exploits have been found and removed.

243

Come on, Oz.  Don't you start falling under the dhimmi bus, too!

Posted by: MWR at June 01, 2011 10:44 AM (4df7R)

Ok, he's only been there a month, send him back!

244 Posted by: Dr. Cornell West at June 01, 2011 10:43 AM (OWjjx)

Speaking truth to power!

My sister sat next to West on a flight and chatted with him for most of it. She was shocked at how profoundly stupid he was.

245 If they are doing all of that they are not in compliance with CRA and are subject to action by the regulators.

Hmm Y-not's story is similar to mine - I had to provide pay stubs, tax returns, bank statements, proof of down payment money, etc..., and they ran my credit bureau history

246
My sister sat next to West on a flight and chatted with him for most of it. She was shocked at how profoundly stupid he was.

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo (NJConservative) at June 01, 2011 10:49 AM (LH6ir)

No, you're drunk...

247

Ok, he's only been there a month, send him back!

Posted by: The Robot Devil at June 01, 2011 10:48 AM (136wp)

And he's there on a scholarship.  Presumably that means he's one of the more, how shall we say, intelligent individuals the Muslim population in that area of the world has to offer. 

248 Morning Morons.  I just got invited to an appearance by James O'Keefe.  Should I attend or check to see if Hannah is coming too??

249 and the next week they're reducing the sentence of a rapist with at least six victims -- including a 13 year old girl -- on the grounds that his Islamic sensibilities couldn't cope with the "culture shock" of how Western women dress.  They were asking to be raped, you see, because they weren't wearing burkas or something.


They're animals. What do we do to animals who can't control their impulse to attack?

250 DOOM!

251 257 Morning Morons.  I just got invited to an appearance by James O'Keefe.  Should I attend or check to see if Hannah is coming too??

You should go anyway. 

252 Dave, how well will Win7 run on this P4/2.8Ghz I got for less then $50?

253 Hey, I'm a little late to the discussion on the banks and CRA, but let us not forget the people who continually sued the banks to make them give out those bad loans.

Ya know, people like Our President

http://tinyurl.com/528mhf

254

Ok, he's only been there a month, send him back!

Posted by: The Robot Devil at June 01, 2011 10:48 AM (136wp)

And he's there on a scholarship.  Presumably that means he's one of the more, how shall we say, intelligent individuals the Muslim population in that area of the world has to offer. 

Posted by: MWR at June 01, 2011 10:51 AM (4df7R)

This will only end in tears. This idiot gets a slap on the wrist - he'll wind up killing someone

255 What a shocker, Debbie Waterbuffalo Shultz caught lying by WaPo. (via weasel zipper link)

256 They're animals. What do we do to animals who can't control their impulse to attack?

Posted by: mpurinTexas (kicking Mexico's ass since 1836) at June 01, 2011 10:53 AM (5d6vv)

Elect them to Senate for 47 years until their brain rots?

257 260 257 Morning Morons.  I just got invited to an appearance by James O'Keefe.  Should I attend or check to see if Hannah is coming too??

You should go anyway. 

Posted by: Kratos (Ghost of Sparta) at June 01, 2011 10:54 AM (9hSKh)

It's $15 for general remarks and $50 for the VIP treatment, reception, etc.  Recommendations from Moron nation?

258 146 ... ummmm hell yes ... now those IDF chicks will be rich too!!

259 Remember that this “virus” is not something to panic over: it’s trying to get you to run some software, and unless you run it, you’re fine (just make sure you throw it out after it downloads). It’s just really annoying to get the fake alert. I have not seen the alert at all since adding adtechus.com to the JavaScript Blacklist (search for Drew Thaler JavaScript Blacklist). This has the unfortunate side effect of denying ace his vodka money, but I’m guessing they’ll announce here when the problem has been fixed. If you really feel like tilting at windmills, try complaining to browser makers that (a) they should not allow automatic downloads, and (b) they should not allow JavaScript to pop up alerts that block any other interaction until you click okay.

260 Where does Newbusters credit Ace? I see mention of Gawker and Breitbart's site, but not AOS.

261 Hmm Y-not's story is similar to mine - I had to provide pay stubs, tax returns, bank statements, proof of down payment money, etc..., and they ran my credit bureau history
Posted by: chemjeff at June 01, 2011 10:50 AM

Clearly, scientists are high-risk borrowers and must be investigated!  Eleventy!11!!!

Wanna join me in a lawsuit against the evil lenders?  ;-)

262 261 Dave, how well will Win7 run on this P4/2.8Ghz I got for less then $50?

If you have enough memory (4 Gb is usually enough) and a reasonably large hard drive, it will run on that processor quite well.  I have an older machine that has lower specs than that running Win7 as a media server.

The irony is I use it to serve iTunes up to Apple TV *grin*

263 Hedgehog, go for it - print yourself up a moronblogger "press" id and harass him into giving future scoops to Ace.

264

My sister sat next to West on a flight and chatted with him for most of it. She was shocked at how profoundly stupid he was.

 

Oh dear! I was about to make a remark about your sister when I scrolled up thread to your original comment which was about Cornell West, not Allen West.

 

Hoo! that was a close one!

265 USAToday asks:


When did college become about simply landing a fat job?

266 Does anyone know whether it is law, or just guidelines for the use and display of the flag? I can't imagine that there are any penalties for misuse.

Hope not- otherwise Walmart, Ralph Lauren, Old Navy, Harley Davidson, Chevrolet and assorted American car makers, most politicians that have run for office in America, and so on are in deep doo doo.

267

Clearly, scientists are high-risk borrowers and must be investigated!  Eleventy!11!!!

Actually, scientists are more likely to be tax cheats than lawyers, many other occupations. It's not a stretch to think they'd also be high-risk borrowers.

268 Say, speaking of viruses and so forth- someone put up a post a couple weeks or so ago about effective freeware that protected us troglodytes using Windows from all that stuff.

Can someone go over that again, quicklike? My norton appears to be expiring soon, looking for alternatives.

269 Man arrested for selling Obama condoms Even Though Court Ruled In His Favor
New York police arrested a man for a third time for selling condoms bearing President Obama's image despite a court ruling in his favor.

Jose Andujar, 43, was arrested Friday in Times Square for selling the Obama condoms, and police said it was his third arrest for unlicensed peddling in the past year, the New York Post reported Tuesday.

A State Supreme Court justice previously ruled Andujar does not need a vending license to sell the condoms, and his products are protected under his First Amendment right to free speech.

However, police said Andujar will continue to be subject to arrest pending the outcome of the city's appeal.

270 Does anyone know whether it is law, or just guidelines for the use and display of the flag? I can't imagine that there are any penalties for misuse.

The Flag Code is purely voluntary.  Observing it is a sign of respect for the flag, but there are no legal repercussions for not following one or more of the guidelines outlined by the code.

271 It's $15 for general remarks and $50 for the VIP treatment, reception, etc.  Recommendations from Moron nation?

If you're not hard-up for cash, go VIP!  Offer James a pudding cup when you see him, - I dunno if he has heard of Ace, but he may understand the reference. 

Follow Jean's advice. 

/And if fortune smiles upon you, you may see Hannah anyway and/or get the opportunity to ask James, or Hannah herself, for her contact info.  Just remember - flattery may get you everywhere, but don't act like a drooling moron (the bad type). 

272 Clearly, scientists are high-risk borrowers and must be investigated!  Eleventy!11!!!

Wanna join me in a lawsuit against the evil lenders?  ;-)

no, just the stupid ones.

actually I feel a little bad about my lending agent, I was asking him lots of questions about all the forms he was asking me to sign and he was like "umm I don't know, I'll have to check on that, nobody usually asks questions on this stuff, I'm a little rusty"

273 Did I mention that I am totally hawt ...

274 A tax cheat "study" huh? Obviously financed by the government because Democrat politicians didn't show up at all and they are the biggest cheats in history.

275 When did college become about simply landing a fat job?

I'll tell you when - when university presidents and other associated college administrators used the "big fat job" rationale on legislators in exchange for more state funding.  Universities have nobody to blame but themselves for pimping themselves out.

276 New York police arrested a man for a third time for selling condoms bearing President Obama's image despite a court ruling in his favor.

lolz now people can get fucked in the ass by Obama for real

277 279 Say, speaking of viruses and so forth- someone put up a post a couple weeks or so ago about effective freeware

AVG has a free version that is very good virus protection.  No need to buy their full version.  I have used (literally) every virus product on the market, and AVG is the best balance of protection, staying out of your way, and cost.  Kaspersky is marginally better protection, but I found it would cause some software to misbehave.

I have not been hit by a virus in over 3 years now.

278 Dave - I have 1Gb of RAM and run an Ubuntu LiveCD - took the HD out. We got rid of all of the Win installs at my office except for the Solidworks machine, a NI setup, an EDA machine, and the bosses laptop (all XP), rather then upgrade again. Everyone has a slightly modified LiveCD and a network drive for files. Problems and downtime are way down, and our IT "budget" got so small we stopped planning for it. We splurged on nice monitors, so people actually liked the change. The only thing I miss is Visio, but getting rid of Outlook felt so good.

279

June 1 (Bloomberg) -- Manufacturing in the U.S. expanded in May at the slowest pace in more than a year, reflecting higher costs of commodities and an interruption in the supply of parts after JapanÂ’s earthquake.

The Institute for Supply ManagementÂ’s factory index fell more than projected to 53.5 last month, the lowest level since September 2009, from 60.4 in April, the Tempe, Arizona-based group said today.

 

Housing is worse than expected. Job numbers are worse than expected and now manufacturing is worse than expected. It's a good thing we're in a "recovery" or we'd really be in trouble

280

Wondering if we could convince Sarah Palin to send us a picture of her nether-regions. 

Not skeevy, just want to compare the media outrage (TM).

Purely scientific, you see.

I'll be in my bunk.

281

While eating lunch I have sitting here thinking about that stupid terrorist no-fly check for buying a car. The thing is just too stupid to be something that normal people, even politicians dreamed up, to achieve a real safety purpose. The most likely reason for this regulation is that some industry group for car sales pushed for it in order to make small dealers less competitive. Just another regulation requiring extra work so that small dealers who canÂ’t afford the increased personnel to perform the checks will have to shutdown.

Cronyism and “The American System” at its finest. This shit most likely has NOTHING to do with terrorists and everything to do with corruption.

282 289 Unbuntu is a great Linux build, especially if you have an older machine with limited memory.  Of course, you bring up the major point that applies to Windows and Macs.  Everything is about the software you use on them.  If you can't run software you want, then it doesn't matter how sophisticated the OS is.

Of course Google will try to convince you to use their online software for everything, live on the cloud.  It's a fabulous concept, if you want to trust a corporation to properly protect and manage your personal file and other information.

Personally, I believe in "personal" computers, which is why my laptop is fully capable of running everything I care about without being connected to anything.

283 Stupid Republicans attending another meeting with Barky. When will they ever learn.

284
The White House budget conference today should be retitled Obama's Bullshit Feint to Fool Gullible Americans. It's not about reaching budget reduction numbers, but an opportunity for more preening and strutting by the Asshole-in-Chief.

285 Vic - the lets do everything we can attitude of bureaucrats is part of the problem, the worst part isn't that they are doing it - it's that they are making MPUR and ilk do it for free under coercion. Additionally, by making it an exclusionary pass/fail - they completely diminish the investigative value of the contact. I would want people on the OFAC to buy things I could track.

286 Meanwhile, how not to handle an annoying reclined airline seat.

287 294>> Stupid Republicans attending another meeting with Barky. When will they ever learn.
Posted by: Vic at June 01, 2011 11:21 AM (M9Ie6)

The GOP under the old eastern elites, RNC, and assorted RINOs, is running on fumes.
We may not get to a third party before this exhausted, corrupt entity expires.
Mitch McConnell? Bwahahahaha

288
Again ... if Ace wants into the bigs, he will have to be in control of the advertising so it doesn't infect readers' machines (or try to convince them of that). This horribly undermines editorial credibility.

Didn't seem to hurt the NYTimes when they got hit with bogus advertising that installed malware...but it is true there are malware flash ads on this here site. I came in via my laptop a couple of days ago, and it tried to snag me. But I'm running a Debian linux derivative, and it was patheticly attempting to show my my C: drive and tried to induce me to download a "fix". I had a good laugh.

There is no C: drive on a linux machine.

289 298 Meanwhile, how not to handle an annoying reclined airline seat.

Posted by: AoSHQ's *second* worst commenter, DarkLord© at June 01, 2011 11:26 AM (GBXon)

Ya, gotta punch down, PUNCH DOWN!

290
"We had a very productive meeting with the President this morning."

-John Boner

John, stop the fucking lying.

291 Vic - the lets do everything we can attitude of bureaucrats is part of the problem,....

But that regulation is just too stupid for even a politician to think it would do anything.

292
House Republicans are bull shitting their way to lunch on Fox News. 

Yeah, we fooled the rubes..again. 

293

While eating lunch I have sitting here thinking about that stupid terrorist no-fly check for buying a car. The thing is just too stupid to be something that normal people, even politicians dreamed up, to achieve a real safety purpose. The most likely reason for this regulation is that some industry group for car sales pushed for it in order to make small dealers less competitive. Just another regulation requiring extra work so that small dealers who canÂ’t afford the increased personnel to perform the checks will have to shutdown.

Cronyism and “The American System” at its finest. This shit most likely has NOTHING to do with terrorists and everything to do with corruption.

More likely pushed through by the companies that provide software services to car dealers. One more service they can provide and charge for.

294 How would one keep from being a drooling moron in the presence of the delightful Ms. Giles ?
I mean , come on.
 Didn't y'all see the legs on that girl ?
Yeeeeeooooowwwza !

295
The only thing I miss is Visio, but getting rid of Outlook felt so good.

As it does when you stop hitting your head with a ball-peen hammer.

;-)

I hates outlook, btw. On the other hand my 8 year old desktop running Debian unstable is...productive. It wouldn't be if it were running a Microsoft operating system.

296 Many thanks, Dave in FLA

297 I started using Firefox with Adblock because it is impossible for me to concentrate on reading if there is an animated whatzitz next to the text featuring vrooming cars, dancing chicks, etc. Install Adblock...no more distractions.

298

Say, speaking of viruses and so forth- someone put up a post a couple weeks or so ago about effective freeware that protected us troglodytes using Windows from all that stuff.

Can someone go over that again, quicklike? My norton appears to be expiring soon, looking for alternatives.

Two items I can recommend are CCleaner and Ad Aware. They have worked great and are free. As well, on the advice of several morons, I switched to Firefox from IE, last year, and haven't looked back.

299 Say, speaking of viruses and so forth- someone put up a post a couple weeks or so ago about effective freeware that protected us troglodytes using Windows from all that stuff.

Posted by: Chariots of Toast

Anti-Virus: Freeware:
AV-Comparatives.com is a group that regularly tests anti-virus programs. From these tests I've noticed that AVIRA has done well enough to recommend the free version. AVG is not as strong as AVIRA, and AVG has allowed some of my machines to become infected.

Microsoft's Security Essentials is doing ok as well.

Addition security:
Malwarebytes. It does not block malware, but you will need it to scan your system for problems that your main anti-virus might miss. Run it bi-weekly or more.

Browser:
Firefox is a bit bloated but it has the most add-ons. Adding Ad-Block will remove a lot of ads and potential malware exploits. Adding NoScript will turn off all scripts and lock FF down. However, this will disable a lot of website features, particularly of sites that use flash for interface. If you use NoScript you will have to manually un-block the scripts that you need for those sites.

Backup:
Get an external harddrive and backup regularly.

Second system: Linux
I'm beginning to believe the best setup for Windows users is to include a 2nd computer running Linux like Ubuntu. Use the 2nd computer for the tasks that really need to be protected like banking or filing taxes. OpenOffice running on Linux can read and write Office compatible files so transferring info isn't a problem, and by using a 2nd non Windows system you add another layer of security to tasks that need it.

At the very least create a LiveCD, as suggested above, and you can use that to boot up a Linux OS environment if your Windows OS is thoroughly compromised. From there you can d'l and run anti-malware scanners and backup data.

With any system, the best security is as weak as your habits allow. Turn off HTML in your email program, don't clink on links in email you receive, don't visit pr0n sites, and don't d'l from torrent sites. Backup, backup, backup!

300

FYI - an article of interest from GovExec.com. No surprises, but could be turned into an awesome campaign commercial. Read the whole thing.  http://tinyurl.com/3lk7ym4

 

Senior executives give low marks to Obama appointees

 

By Erin Dian Dumbacher May 27, 2011

 

A new survey shows strained relationships between senior career federal managers and executives and the political appointees they work with.

 

In the survey, respondents rated Obama appointees lower than those in previous administrations. Obama appointees earned a C average, or 2.0, compared with a 2.3 for those in the George W. Bush and Clinton administrations. More than 30 percent gave Obama appointees a D or an F for overall job performance, while only 20 percent awarded past appointees such low marks.

 

The study, conducted in April by Government Executive's research division, the Government Business Council, involved surveying 148 Senior Executive Service members and GS-15s about their attitudes toward current challenges and Obama administration initiatives.

 

The survey revealed skepticism about the ability of current political appointees to improve agency performance. One respondent said, "The role [of senior leadership] has increased, but the effectiveness, skill and knowledge has dramatically decreased."

 

Obama officials lack functional and agency-specific knowledge, according to survey respondents. Nearly 60 percent of respondents gave Obama appointees a grade of C or lower for their functional expertise, with less than 37 percent giving them A or B grades. Many believe appointees don't understand human resources and procurement rules, saying they presume the "institution is there as an obstruction" and attempt to "break organizations."

 

Appointees have "unbelievably poor communication with career employees," one respondent commented. Almost 40 percent of managers gave appointees Ds or Fs on collaboration and communication with their staffs. Some "have a divide-and-conquer strategy, and there are way too many industry fingers allowed in decision-making," a respondent noted. At another agency, a manager said the result has been "politicization of normal agency functions."

 

Further results of the survey will be featured in "The Chiefs," a June 15 special issue of Government Executive on challenges faced by government's chief officers.

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