1 Who's our babysitter this morning?

2 Haven't found any interesting news yet

3 Vic, the Ehrlich aides indictment seems pretty interesting to me.

nickless, I find I rarely have to babysit the Top Headlines post, as it is intentionally devoid of controversial content. I try and swing through a couple times a day to delete spam and that's about it.

4 Who's our babysitter this morning? Posted by: nickless at June 17, 2011 07:12 AM (MMC8r) I was kinda busy yesterday. What was going on that made Ace so mad?

5 Is there always a slow downward spiral in all aspects of life (and blogs)?

6 Good morning all. I see I missed the cyber slugfest yeterday damnit.Looks like it was a bruiser.

7

Another fine example of why federal bureaucrats should all be fired

And their regulator agencies disbanded.

The SEC is not going to go after rating agencies over the housing collapse. When are they going to go after F&F and all the Dems that created the mess to begin with?

8 Vic, the Ehrlich aides indictment seems pretty interesting to me.

I haven't seen that yet. Since I just hit the last newspaper I'll hunt for it.

9 Norah O'Donnell.

Eeewwww!

Now that she is in the WH press corps, she can slobber at His feet. 

Wonder if she'll quit if The One is not there after January 2013?

10 Hrothgar, the word you're looking for is Entropy. With a capital E.

nevergiveup, a very, very few commenters poked the Ewok with a stick until he snapped. They got what they deserved. Unfortunately, the majority of commenters, and of course all the readers, had to live through it. Please don't abuse the head Ewok.

11 Don't poke the ewok!

12

Is it safe? 

(peeks thru crack in the door)

 

 

13 1--one more crack out of you mister, and I'm turning you in.

14 From WaPO
"The National Security Agency is working with Internet service providers to deploy a new generation of tools to scan e-mail and other digital traffic with the goal of thwarting cyberattacks against defense firms by foreign adversaries, senior defense and industry officials say."
Maybe Ace isn't paranoid after all. 
What you write on the intertubes is there for ever, and since ex post facto laws are only covered in the 100 year old Constitution, you can be convicted years from now when the Total Authority Party takes control.

15

Md. robo-calls: Ehrlich aide, consultant accused of trying to suppress black vote

One of former Maryland governor Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.Â’s most trusted aides and a campaign consultant were accused Thursday of orchestrating tens of thousands of anonymous election-night robo-calls last year that prosecutors said were part of a larger attempt to suppress the black vote.

With the polls still open, an unidentified woman’s voice told voters who answered to “relax” because Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) had already been “successful” in his rematch against Ehrlich.

IsnÂ’t this the same kind of “dirty tricks” that the Dems do all the time?  When did this become illegal?  My feeling here is that what they want to do when Dems “own a State” is make illegal to be a Republican.

16 Posted by: Gabriel Malor at June 17, 2011 07:31 AM (XVaFd)

My position on this was "Stay off Ace's lawn!"

17 If the Continuum has told you once, it's told you a thousand times: DON'T PROVOKE THE BORG

18 The SEC is NOW going to go after rating agencies over the housing collapse

FTFM

19 1 Who's our babysitter this morning?

I happen to know of an ex-congressman who's looking for work.  Though this might be a case of fixing one problem and creating another, whole new problem. 

20 nevergiveup, a very, very few commenters poked the Ewok with a stick until he snapped. They got what they deserved. Unfortunately, the majority of commenters, and of course all the readers, had to live through it. Please don't abuse the head Ewok. Posted by: Gabriel Malor at June 17, 2011 07:31 AM (XVaFd) I guess some people's mommas didn't bring them up proper and all. My momma taught me not to chew with my mouth open and don't piss at someone else's dinner table.

21 Yikes, strict.
...

She at least let you piss at your own table, right?

22 nickless, I find I rarely have to babysit the Top Headlines post, as it is intentionally devoid of controversial content. I try and swing through a couple times a day to delete spam and that's about it.



Mom said we could stay up late and watch scary movies.

23

Kind of glad the weiner thing is all cleaned up and over with. I've had my head in the gutter for 3 weeks now and ready to move on to something above being a 6th grader again. (heh... I said "weiner thing cleaned up")

See what I mean.

24   16 Posted by: Gabriel Malor at June 17, 2011 07:31 AM (XVaFd)

My position on this was "Stay off Ace's lawn!"
So did Ace ban the 20-30 couch pissers?  

25 Seems  some of our glorious elected elites canceled the ethanol subsidy, but did not defund the EPA regulation to mix that crap in with gasoline. 
If I thought the Repubs had any brains, I could begin to believe that when the added cost of the ethanol mandate shows up at the pump, the citizenry would raise holy hell and put an end to the mandate itself.  Sort of like if you had to write the entire income tax check on April 15.  But they aren't that smart, so I think it is all for show, and it will go quietly into the night.
Grover Norquist (RINO establishment tool) was claiming the elimination of the subsidy was a tax increase.  To me it is elimination of one of many special interest alternative energy payoffs and skews the energy market.
I hates them all!

26 FnF did a very short segment on operation Fast n Furious--very short, with lots of talking over.  Weak. This is a major story begging for real journalists. Not all that long ago, a story like this could topple a Presidency.  Ah, the good ol days.

27 I don't blame Ace. That Gloria Alred has always seemed like a real ball-breaker to me. I wouldn't want to have to deal with that scr**t, or anyone like her.

28

Posted by: Speedy Gonzalez at June 17, 2011 07:45 AM (+kznc)

Agreed. I think there's something to this. I've been watching it from the sidelines and can see some dots getting connected however slowly.

29 Is this where we share headlines at?

I don't to tinyurl (Others have told me how, but I'm too stupid to grasp it), but here are some local headlines....

"COCKEYSVILLE, Md. (WJZ)—The owner of a child care center who is also the president and CEO of a well known pool and club has been arrested on child pornography charges. "

This one hits really close to home.

and

"BALTIMORE (WJZ)–A brazen act of violence in the middle of the day leaves one person dead and five others in injured after a gunman opened fire on a group of people sitting on a front porch."

And you guys are already discussing the Ehrlich robo-call case from here.

30 Did Gloria Allwrong threaten Ace? 

31 5 Is there always a slow downward spiral in all aspects of life (and blogs)?   Chaos and entropy claim everything in time...

32 White House donor order [DISCLOSE] becomes flashpoint in Congress


Rep. Cantor hints at bill as early as next week to defund US mission to Libya

33 Todays the anniversary of the infamous white bronco slow speed chase. Ahhh.... the good ole days when journalist followed the real stories.

34 Obama on GMA this morning.  (I am reporting from Mark Knoller's tweets,  as it is too early for me to deal with heavy policy statements such as these):

No more childrn.  Michelle says they are done.
Michelle repeatedly reminds him that he didn't carry 10 pounds in his belly.
The Secret Service is an incentive for re-election,  because he is glad to have men with guns protecting the girls.
Also, the Secret Service won't let them get in a car with a boy with a beer.

There you have it.  We are supposed to think it's charming and cute that his interest in the presidency is for having men with guns looking after his daughters.  Nevermind the collapse of the country.

35 She at least let you piss at your own table, right? Posted by: AlexC at June 17, 2011 07:40 AM (CTA7I) Depended on her mood and the wine

36 We are supposed to think it's charming and cute that his interest in the presidency is for having men with guns looking after his daughters. Nevermind the collapse of the country. Posted by: Miss Marple at June 17, 2011 07:52 AM (Fo83G) Then the "President" should have joined the Military and lived on Base

37

We've had quite a variety of weather here lately.

Several days of 102° and pretty dry (18-20% humidity).

Then we had 101 and humid. That's always fun.

Then yesterday it hit 103 and was windy.

Can't wait til summer starts!

38 Can't wait til summer starts! Posted by: Mama AJ, who majored in psych and did quite well, thank you at June 17, 2011 07:57 AM (XdlcF) Going to Parris Island SC for a few glorious weeks. I guess it will be summer down there?

39

Mom said we could stay up late and watch scary movies.

<steals nickless's pudding because Gabe isn't watching>

40 So am I banned yet? Well, I guess not... To lighten the mood around here, Who's up for an extended group discussion of the theological and cultural implications of Eat, Pray, Love? I'll start out by throwing out a theme: Embrace Your Inner Queef!

41 #30. Ace said some of Weiner's women have lawyerd-up. He mentioned Alred. He don't want us to go there. (talk about them)

42 Embrace Your Inner Queef! Posted by: CoolCzech at June 17, 2011 07:59 AM (kUaEF) Is that like your "G" spot?

43 Going to Parris Island SC for a few glorious weeks. I guess it will be summer down there?

It hasn't been that bad here, and Parris Island will be even cooler being on the ocean. We have been running in the mid to low 90s so far this month.

44 It hasn't been that bad here, and Parris Island will be even cooler being on the ocean. We have been running in the mid to low 90s so far this month. Posted by: Vic at June 17, 2011 08:00 AM (M9Ie6) Thanks. Good to know

45 Posted by: Hrothgar
...........
The regulations they need to revise are the goofy ass regs for all the different gasoline mixes for different areas and times of year.

I heard an oil company guy on the radio recently saying that would reduce the price of gas some.

Right now, if there is a distribution problem, they cannot simply re-route gas from one are to another.. different mixes.  He said if we could get it down to just a few different mixes for the whole country, the refineries would have an easier time and prices would drop.

46

Hmmmm...

More on Pentagon suspicious device: Suspect taken into custody; one or two others flee scene on foot - NBC http://on.msnbc.com/klhSuq

47 OK...who's Ace's spy this morning?

48

43 Going to Parris Island SC for a few glorious weeks. I guess it will be summer down there?

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

I went there for 12 "glorious" weeks back in 1982.  Just had a fantastic time! 

49 He still gets Secret Security after we retire him.

50
This Gunwalker fiasco has the potential to bring down some big names.
Question? How do you ask what is perhaps the most corrupt Justice Department in modern history to police itself?

51 I went there for 12 "glorious" weeks back in 1982. Just had a fantastic time! Posted by: Larry Dickman at June 17, 2011 08:08 AM (u2rWt) Well being a Navy Doc, I get better digs and hours

52 Posted by: Chi-Town Jerry at June 17, 2011 08:06 AM (qsodE)
That too--IIRC, California had its own special set of blend regulations.  The refineries should just have stopped selling to CA.
Of course, if we built more refineries--oh wait

53 Joe Scarborough is being unusually douchy today. Why did he ever run as a Republican, again? He loves to pick on Republican hyperbole, but I just can't seem to recall him doing the same with Democratic Mediscare rhetoric, etc. Speaking of Queef, he qualifies as a particularly pungent one.

54 Ace's banhammer is - sort of - like the Rapture in Reverse. -

55 40 So....are Long Bows still verboten?

56 Posted by: De' Debil Hisself at June 17, 2011 08:09 AM (j5CHE)

The media is trying to bury this. None of them have mentioned it.

Is Ace awake yet....

Mr. O'Spades...your mission should you choose to accept it....

57 Then the "President" should have joined the Military and lived on Base

Posted by: nevergiveup at June 17, 2011 07:56 AM (i6RpT)

What a novel concept, a President participating in the active defense of his country.

58 Ace said some of Weiner's women have lawyerd-up. He mentioned Alred. He don't want us to go there. (talk about them) Posted by: Case
........
Alred was on WLS-AM radio here yesterday.  She says she's not suing anyone at this point.  She's representing Ginger Lee, and believes Ginger should be compensated for her lost wages, etc..  The hosts of the show, however, pointed out to Gloria that places like the Pink Pony in Atlanta are featuring Weiner on ads about Ginger's upcoming strip show, and if anything, she's probably gonna make big bucks out of the deal..

Here's the ad:
http://tinyurl.com/3vpwssb

So.. who knows?  I think Ace got a bit too caught up in this whole affair and believes this blog has way more to do with keeping the thing alive than it did.  Sounds like he needs a vacation.

59 What a novel concept, a President participating in the active defense of his country. Posted by: Hrothgar at June 17, 2011 08:14 AM (yrGif) Well it beats what obama is doing: ripping it apart piece by piece. Oh where for art my F-22s

60 Oh, so it's okay for men with guns to protect his own girls, but he doesn't want the rest of us to own guns to protect ourselves? Got it. Oh, and I thought GUNS KILL PEOPLE!!!eleventy1!!! I hope that statement is used against him.

61 They got what they deserved. Unfortunately, the majority of commenters, and of course all the readers, had to live through it.

Too bad it annoys you guys and take up valuable blog time.  Some of the beat-down is tragically funny.  The utter refusal to get a clue and stop digging of some people amazes me.  I also hadn't thought of AoSHQ as a business before or noticed the no Ads on comments. 

 Please don't abuse the head Ewok.

It's also been a lesson in cheap jokes.

62 Let's just take Ace at his word and stop talking Weiner AT ALL. Let's see how long he can go Weinerless cold turkey.

63 Here's the odd newsstory of the day:

http://tinyurl.com/3hq3sb6

Bald Eagle 1, Deer 0.

64 If you'd like a snapshot look at why we have trillion dollar deficits, take a look at this one benefits fraud case:
 
The government alleged $474,000 in food-stamp fraud.

It also said Mohamed and his family wrong received $46,605 in SNAP benefits; $4,313 in Women, Infant and Children benefits; $44,873 in rent subsidies; $57,963 in Medicaid benefits; $300 in emergency heating assistance; and $24,678 in Pell Grants.
 
The article also mentions a nice $15k family vacation to Mecca. Is there anything we don't fund any more? Sounds like the shoe shine assistance program isn't up and running yet. Congress, go fetch your fucking shinebox.

65 55 40 So....are Long Bows still verboten?

Posted by: De' Debil Hisself at June 17, 2011 08:12 AM (j5CHE)

You better recognize!

66 Posted by: Speedy Gonzalez at June 17, 2011 07:45 AM (+kznc)
FWIW, I watched a smidgen of Issa's hearing and watched the admin spokesman stonewall the elected Representatives about an operation that is so flawed and illegal in concept that it is truly breath-taking.  It even lead directly (IMO) to the death of at least one Federal agent.  Will DoJ put anyone in jail over this--I don't intend to hold my breath on this one, but it stinks to high heaven. 
Where are Woodward and Bernstein when you really need them?
I called my Congressman and the staffer said they were getting a tremendous call volume from other people upset with DoJ and BATFE on this.  Nonetheless, I fear it will vanish into the mist. 
beedubya I agree, this might be another good windmill for Ace to tilt at, but I can't blame him if he doesn't touch this because of the DoJ adversary he would face (funded with our tax dollars).

67 I'll start out by throwing out a theme: Embrace Your Inner Queef!

Posted by: CoolCzech at June 17, 2011 07:59 AM (kUaEF)

 

That's disgusting!

68 Rep. Ryan reaffirmed Thurs. that he is willing to accept an option in which seniors choose between premium support and Medicare

The Hill reports this as if he's changed his plan (which he's not), as he's more referring to what the Rs could achieve this election cycle. While the Dems still favor premium support over vouchers, leaving Medicare as an option alongside premium support (e.g., Rivlin-Domenici) is something that would garner more immediate support from them. (An advantage of such a system is that they could speed-up the phase-in rate, though it doesn't produce as much in savings.) Regardless, the bottom-line is that his preference is still vouchers and rebates (his Roadmap) but he's willing to accept this option this cycle. 

69

So....are Long Bows still verboten?

Ace was actually laughing at the real discussion going on about them.

The take-away from yesterday is to hit the tip jar. He's earned it and we like having a place to play.

70 a very, very few commenters poked the Ewok with a stick until he snapped.

And completely ruined our chances of getting an epic Ewok Endzone Dance thread.

As others noted, this is why we can't have nice things.  Because of the weiners.

71 Oh, and I thought GUNS KILL PEOPLE!!!eleventy1!!!

I hope that statement is used against him.

Posted by: chique d'afrique (the artist formerly known as african chick) at June 17, 2011 08:17 AM (sG+Bw)

Chique--it is OK in liberal land when the guns are used to kill the "right" people.  Not so much when the proles are defending themselves.

MFM comment: "What statement?"

72 #58.  I don't know what was said because by the time I logged on everything had been taken down.  I read what Ace said in a later thread.  He knows more about this blog business than I do so I'll just go by what he says.  I like it here and don't want to make any trouble for Ace.

73 63 Let's just take Ace at his word and stop talking Weiner AT ALL.

Let's see how long he can go Weinerless cold turkey.

Posted by: CoolCzech at June 17, 2011 08:18 AM (kUaEF)

 

All Weiner has been banned?  Well there goes my social life.

74 How do you ask what is perhaps the most corrupt Justice Department in modern history to police itself?

As I posted yesterday, it is time for the House to end their "investigation" and name a Special Prosecutor. We have moved from the political arena in showing stupid to the legal arena is showing actual criminal acts were committed and the "bigs" told their workers to shutup and soldier on and to cover it up.

Some people need to go to jail here. People have died over this illegal activity by the ATF and DOJ.

75

Oh, so it's okay for men with guns to protect his own girls, but he doesn't want the rest of us to own guns to protect ourselves? Got it.

Nice.

I can't see this new joking-about-everything-schtick he's got going turning out all that well for him.

76 Posted by: Vic at June 17, 2011 08:26 AM (M9Ie6)
Where is Ken Starr when you really need him?

77 Joe Scarborough is being unusually douchy today.

He's ALWAYS douchey.

He has self-esteem issues. There is a boycott by much of the GOP in DC of his clown show that cartoon network.

A while back, he wanted Boner to come on, but Boner told him to fuck off, so Joey went on for days insinuating that Boner was a drunk

78 I made a comment the other day about how Issa had blustered and postured about sending out supoenas and cleaning things up. So far I haven't seen much. He can have all of the hearings he wants but I'm not going to give him any credit till some one lands in the gray bar hotel. This should not be difficult, he is in a target rich enviroment.

79 Prince Harry likely to return to active frontline service in Afghanistan

80 Damn. I was hoping nickless got banned.

81

I can't see this new joking-about-everything-schtick he's got going turning out all that well for him.

Posted by: Mama AJ at June 17, 2011 08:27 AM (XdlcF)

 

No shit. What's next, a few one-liners at his next hispanic-targeted fundrasier about the dead border patrol agents to 'lighten the mood' around the gunrunner scandal?

82 Some people need to go to jail here. People have died over this illegal activity by the ATF and DOJ.

What a dreamer.

83

Posted by: Vic at June 17, 2011 08:26 AM (M9Ie6)

Vic, I believe (fingers crossed) that Issa is building a case on this one. IF this goes to a special prosecutor then this thing will really start to heat up. There's too much underlying BS to not show up on the radar screen eventually. One other thing here is the ATF guys at the working level were adamently against this op. So much so that they put it in writing ona dicumented email. Thats unusual as hell so there must have been some very heated discussion around the table with management before doing so.

84 aww crap "documented" vs dicumented. still have weiner on the brain.

85 Posted by: Oldsailor's poet at June 17, 2011 08:29 AM (NtTkA)
This seems to be  a Cloward-Pivin aspect of this in that even if we had competent Congresspersons willing to risk their cushy jobs for principle, there is so much pure evil and illegality sponsored and approved by this administration, they wouldn't know where to start.
We're two+ years in and none of the Administration (except maybe Weiner)  are even under investigation!
Hearings, schmearings, I want perp walks!

86

I was hoping nickless got banned.

Hope is the first step on the road to disappointment. 

btw, should we let the Russkies have Afghanistan?

Russia eyes bigger role in Afghanistan, wants to rebuild: envoy

87 Coming soon: A bigger, costlier Obamacare
(By Sen. Johnson, R-WI and Dr. Douglas Holtz-Eakin)

88 Posted by: Kratos (Ghost of Sparta) at June 17, 2011 08:34 AM (9hSKh)
Why do they think there is something worth "winning" in Afghanistan?
I forgot, Czar in Russia still means something!

89

 If you follow his restrictions, then he should make more money from ads and not need your money.

I thought he said swearing and such in the comments was the reason for lack of ads there. And he didn't ask us to stop that shit...

90

So, I see from the side bar that we will never see classic Star Wars in 3D.  Cuz nobody is going to see Phantom Menace again.  I tried to like it - I tried hard.  But it's so horrible...  I'll make a deal with Lucas.  If he makes a "special edition" of ep 1 where JarJar is CGI'ed out of existence, I'll go see it.  Twice.  Short of that - no deal!

It's kind of a shame.  Some of the space battles would look cool in 3D.  I'm imagining the part where the A-Wing crashes into the bridge of the Executor in Jedi.  Flying down the trench might also look more interesting.  Or even the space battle at the start of RotS.

91

I also hadn't thought of AoSHQ as a business before or noticed the no Ads on comments. 

I'd never noticed the no ads on comments either.  I'll toss in with all the other people who mentioned putting in an amazon affiliate link and maybe also see what it would take to get the HQ listed in the blog subscriptions for the kindle.  I read here on my kindle all the time and I'd be happy to toss a few bucks towards that.

Also, can anyone, Bueller, Bueller, tell me what the hell the Gunrunner thing was supposed to accomplish?  I'm just a unfrozen cavewoman blog commenter but I cannot for the life of me figure out what the hell the point was. 

 

92

People have been yelling at Ace to put the Amazon links in for years.  He always says it's not worth the effort and people think he's crazy not to at least put up a Kindle link on the main page.

Maybe it's more work than we realize...nah, I don't even buy that...

93

Why do they think there is something worth "winning" in Afghanistan?
I forgot, Czar in Russia still means something!

Afghanistan has rich deposits of several rare-earth minerals.  There was a big story about this a few months ago (can't find it at the moment - sorry). 

94 I could write an Ace Twilight Zone episode quite easily, starring a young William Shatner as Ace. Ace posts thread after thread about Weiner. He gleefully pounces on Weiner tweeting girls, being the very first moron to hint darkly at immoral going-ons. Then he climbs on his high dudgeon and berates his fellow morons for picking up on his themes and chatting openly about the themes HE brought up and lovingly repeated ad nauseum. Then, the news breaks that Weiner truly sexted some underaged octomom in Jersey City. Rod Serling comes on and assures us we are approaching the intersection of self-righteousness and irony, in some place called... The Twilight Zone. After the commercial, Young Shatner/"Ace" posts a thread decrying the underaged sext. And no one comments.. An increasingly panicked Ace posts thread after thread, begging for comments. None come. Hysterical, Ace runs out from his Mom's basement, searching for morons. He sees a figure out on the street. "Sir! Are you a moron?!," he pats the figure's shoulder butnit falls over. It's just a manequine! Running around town, he realizes it's just a toy village, full of pretend people and buildings. Suddenly, a giant hand comes down from above and grabs him. "Silly Earthling! At ladt he realizes you can't constantly bitch at your own audience!" a voice booms. The camera pulls back, showing the titan holding Ace. It's Charles Johnson. The ending credits begin to roll.

95 May: Obama Says He Will Open Alaska to Oil Drilling — June: Obama Goes After Alaska’s Oil and Gas Development Bill

Not that surprising, obviously, but still infuriating.

96

If the guy has been here since 1988, he should definitely be able to testify in a committee hearing in English. 

http://tinyurl.com/3bdox74

97 >>Actually, the take away was the opposite. ace said that his costs are the reason for the restrictions, so if you pay him, then you should have no such restrictions. If you follow his restrictions, then he should make more money from ads and not need your money. At least that's how his logic about it would develop. Er, no. Ace said pretty clearly that he made the choice to allow his place to be a little bluer than is acceptable to the majority of the advertising community. His call, because this is the type of place he wanted. The problem comes in when people either can't understand the boundaries or refuse to accept them, the latter being the more troublesome. It's the nature of this place that prevents ace from making the sweet blog money. It's the people who go over the line who threaten to turn this place into something he doesn't want or in the case of Weiner, something he believes puts his business at risk. I'm pretty sure ace appreciates any and all tips.

98 Mt takeaway from yesterday is that like it or not we live in the litigious land of the perpetually offended. many of us are capable of some of the most insensitive displays of writing whether the subject of our rants are true or not. I think many of these rants are alcohol fueled. Ace will occasionally issue a kind of BUI, (Blogging under the influence) and he is dismissed. Ace deserves respect for what he has given us. If some of us don't want to give it, it is his right to take it.

99 Also, can anyone, Bueller, Bueller, tell me what the hell the Gunrunner thing was supposed to accomplish?  I'm just a unfrozen cavewoman blog commenter but I cannot for the life of me figure out what the hell the point was.

Posted by: alexthechick at June 17, 2011 08:37 AM (VtjlW)

Simple answer: an effort to locate the sources in the US and MEX that were providing weapons to the cartels by releasing documented weapons to distributors and then see where they show up. I'm sure at the begining this sounded like a good idea.

100

Also, can anyone, Bueller, Bueller, tell me what the hell the Gunrunner thing was supposed to accomplish?  I'm just a unfrozen cavewoman blog commenter but I cannot for the life of me figure out what the hell the point was. 

Posted by: alexthechick at June 17, 2011 08:37 AM (VtjlW)

The goal was to have weapons traceable to a US supplier that showed up in old Mexico to justify even more onerous regulation of US gun dealers and assist in rewriting the 2nd Amendment.

101

Bonehead Barry relinquishes American sovereignty to the U.N.

Flaming skull worthy.

102 Barky should be in jail just from that ... and there are over 30 other such examples that everyone is aware of that Congress should have investigated and impeached over, already.

Posted by: progressoverpeace at June 17, 2011 08:28 AM (G/MYk)

 

Amen.  The fact that the Republicans just let this crap slide is the proof that we're boned.  They won't stand up for the law.  Since honor and tradition mean nothing to the Leftist pukes, law was our last line of defense against their innate tendency toward evil behavior.  Now even the threat of legal sanction has been removed.  They're going to just keep on steam-rolling us, with fraudulent elections, refusal to obey laws or respect our rights, and shamelessly doing whatever it is they want.  Frankly, I'm amazed that you-know-who is resigning.  At this point, why should he?  Heck - Obie could go out every morning and shoot a conservative on the White House lawn, and nothing would be done except perhaps a few folk would say how it was "in bad taste" or some such.

103 Also, can anyone, Bueller, Bueller, tell me what the hell the Gunrunner thing was supposed to accomplish?  I'm just a unfrozen cavewoman blog commenter but I cannot for the life of me figure out what the hell the point was.  To prove that the Mexican drug cartels are receiving thousands of illegally obtained firearms from the US. By illegally GIVING the drug cartels thousands of firearms. It's so simple, even a cavewoman could understand it.

104 #99  Obama just says whatever will make people happy at the time.  He has no intention of doing any of it.  The sole purpose is to keep his poll numbers from completely tanking (which by the way,  they are beginning to do now).

Poll numbers heading towards the cellar? "My administration will guarantee free ice cream weekly for all Americans!"  Dairy farmers think this is swell as do the Baskin-Robbins people.   Poll numbers inch upward.

Two months later:  Too much fat in ice cream.  No ice cream in schools or military bases. Doctors ordered to warn people about dangers of ice cream.  Fat tax on ice cream sales.

105 88 This seems to be  a Cloward-Pivin aspect of this in that even if we had competent Congresspersons willing to risk their cushy jobs for principle, there is so much pure evil and illegality sponsored and approved by this administration, they wouldn't know where to start.
We're two+ years in and none of the Administration (except maybe Weiner)  are even under investigation!
Hearings, schmearings, I want perp walks!

They've been/are being investigated, just not marched off to jail. Today's hearing is on the NLRB.

106

I just hope the printing presses can handle this.  TheyÂ’ve been worked awfully hard recently.  Ben will know what to do.

107 So as I asked yesterday afternoon during the carnage- seems a few days ago folks were talking on the morning headlines thread about the new tech being put in cars that allows for tracking, monitoring, clocking your mileage, etc.

At some point, the conversation turned to when that began, so if one bought a car older than that they'd be good. Anyone on this thread remember that chat, and if so what was the general year when all this crap started?

Lookin' to buy a previously enjoyed vehicle, might as well have it be nanny tech free.

Bueller....Bueller....anyone?

108

Simple answer: an effort to locate the sources in the US and MEX that were providing weapons to the cartels by releasing documented weapons to distributors and then see where they show up. I'm sure at the begining this sounded like a good idea.

Well, yes, I got that part.  It was the part where the ATF was telling dealers who were all ummm this is a Bad Thing to go ahead and do it anyway where I got a bit confused.  I mean, it's really damn easy to trace where the guns are coming from when you tell the dealer where to sell it. 

To prove that the Mexican drug cartels are receiving thousands of illegally obtained firearms from the US.


By illegally GIVING the drug cartels thousands of firearms.

I hate to think that but that's what all the evidence says.  And if (since) that's the case, people need to do hard time.

109
I was hoping nickless got banned.

Posted by: Empire of Jeff at June 17, 2011 08:30 AM (lbo6/)

Mom likes me best.

110

Afghanistan has rich deposits of several rare-earth minerals. There was a big story about this a few months ago (can't find it at the moment - sorry).

Posted by: Kratos (Ghost of Sparta) at June 17, 2011 08:40 AM (9hSKh)

 

This is true.  However, they have to be mined out, and then trucked over land along roads.  It's a wealth of soft targets, and while the Talibaners hate us, I suspect they remember that the Russians were no friends, either.  I hope the Russians do go in there.  If it works out, everybody wins to some degree.  I don't think wet have much to gain from keeping the Russians in destitution.  If it doesn't work out, well, we get to watch the Russians and Muz fight and kill each other.  Also perfectly nice.

111 FnF did a very short segment on operation Fast n Furious--very short, with lots of talking over.  Weak.

Saw it and agree.  Very brief.  And that dizbo on the far right of the couch was only interested in talking about the needed gun control here.  She could have cared less about the explosive scandal that may be unfolding.

112

Afghanistan has rich deposits of several rare-earth minerals.  There was a big story about this a few months ago (can't find it at the moment - sorry). 

Posted by: Kratos (Ghost of Sparta) at June 17, 2011 08:40 AM (9hSKh)

I was being a bit sarcastic--the Ruskies will actually exploit this for ...profit!  We, on the other hand, will spend our dollars, waste American lives, leave with inconclusive results (and no path to  rare-earth mining by American corporations), and look like the buffoons Obama is!

113 80 I'm not going to give him any credit till some one lands in the gray bar hotel. This should not be difficult, he is in a target rich enviroment. Not gonna happen. Don't like the optics.

114 Well on to the next "declared" candidate in the CFG list.

Ron Paul Cap and Trade/AGW

A quick check shows that it look like Ron Paul has always been against Cap and Trade calling it a huge regressive tax that would drive away business. On the AGW scam itself in 2008 he said that there may be some human impact in global warming but felt like it wasnÂ’t much. Also, he felt that evidence for continued warming was mixed. He felt like we should do “common sense” solutions like ending oil company “subsidies” to allow the price of oil to go up. That kinda sounds like BS to me.  In 2009 after the climate-gate e-mail thing he called the global panic a huge hoax. 

IÂ’ll give him a positive on this one.

Gun Control

He has always been a strong advocate of the 2^nd amendment and supporting the right to keep and bear arms. He did, however, vote against the two bills that would shield gun makers from lawsuits by the gun grabbers.  He is rated “A” by the NRA.

I would still give him a positive on this.

Small government in general (spending and regulation)

On taxes he is so far into reducing taxes it becomes somewhat questionable. He wants to totally eliminate the income tax and replace it with nothing.  Here is a statement from his site from a 2008 interview:

“I want to abolish the income tax, but I don’t want to replace it with anything. About 45 percent of all federal revenue comes from the personal income tax. That means that about 55 percent — over half of all revenue — comes from other sources, like excise taxes, fees, and corporate taxes.

We could eliminate the income tax, replace it with nothing, and still fund the same level of big government we had in the late 1990s. We don’t need to “replace” the income tax at all. I see a consumption tax as being a little better than the personal income tax, and I would vote for the Fair-Tax if it came up in the House of Representatives, but it is not my goal. We can do better.”

On spending it is evident from that statement that he would reduce spending as well. He was one of the few Republicans that voted against the spending bills this years as well. So his record is good there.

On regulations he said this after the bailout bill.

Since the bailout bill passed, I have been frequently disturbed to hear “experts” wrongly blaming the free market for our recent economic problems and calling for more regulation. In fact, further regulation can only make things worse.

Looking at some of the hits I got on a simple search it looks like he has consistently spoke out against government regulation.

I thought this interview with NBC was funny as hell.

They tried to get him to say we did need more regulations in the SEC etc to prevent the collapse. He basically told them that their regulations is what caused it and that if anything needed more regulation it was the Federal Reserve.

Overall he gets a plus in this category

Socialized Healthcare

He has consistently spoke out against socialized medicine in all forms and voted against it when it came up. He voted against BushÂ’s program on drugs.

He gets a positive here.

Border control/Amnesty

Unlike most libertarians he has been an outspoken opponent of illegals and amnesty. Although he said that fences wouldnÂ’t do much good he did vote for the border fence in 2006. He opposes amnesty in all forms and wants and amendment to end the anchor baby loophole.

He gets a plus here.

Abortion

He has a strong record on being pro-life in both rhetoric and deeds. He believes that Roe v Wade was bad law and that the question of abortion should be returned to the States.

He gets a positive here.

Summary

Wow, strongest review yet! Positives on all 6.  So why is Ron Paul so hated by conservatives? There are two issues that are not in the 6 chosen categories that hurt him with conservatives. The most troubling one is foreign policy. He is basically an isolationist and wants to decrease the military. His policy towards Israel is also antagonistic.

The other issue that hurts him is support for decriminalizing drugs and ending the war on drugs. Personally I agree with him here, provided we can do some other stuff that makes drug use the sole responsibility of the “user” and the public will not support them in ANY manner, including medical care.

115 Damn, formatting fail. Sorry it got chewed up but it is not too bad.

116 On the Issa "investigation" he did say he was going to issue contempt charges if the DOJ did not respond by next week.

117 They've been/are being investigated, just not marched off to jail. Today's hearing is on the NLRB.

Posted by: Miss'80sBaby at June 17, 2011 08:48 AM (ITYRW)

My Engrish may be off, but I meant a criminal investigation by a law enforcement agency, not Congressional kabuki theater.

118 114, The truth is more weapons come from south of mexico and overseas than ever came from the US. It is my firm belief that this is part of a plan that is a continued assault on the 2nd amendment. I don't know how it all fits together but Obama and Holder want our guns.

119 113 Chariots of Toast
Lookin' to buy a previously enjoyed vehicle, might as well have it be nanny tech free.

If you are trying to avoid being tracked, an old car won't help unless you have old tires too - all new tires have tracking devices in them now.

120 The hearing on the NLRB is being held in SC.

121 Guy arrested at Arlington Cemetery after road closures all around Pentagon. "Suspicious vehicle." Contains backpack with packages of ammonium nitrate and spent 9mm shells (this is what they said on the radio - I suspect they are not spent but rather the bullets removed and primer still live, but that is just me...) Oh, and notes that say "Al Qaeda and Taliban rule!" (seriously, what they said on the radio.) That said arrested individual may be of Ethiopian descent. Countdown until FBI declares no link to terrorism....3....2...

122

Lookin' to buy a previously enjoyed vehicle, might as well have it be nanny tech free.

Bueller....Bueller....anyone?

Posted by: Chariots of Toast at June 17, 2011 08:50 AM (XyjRQ)

 

I'm no expert on the subject, but I believe the main thing is to avoid anything with OnStar.  That is a true tool of totalitarianism.  It can be used to listen in on you at any time.  As for the more subtle things, like the black box recorders, that's harder to be sure about.  I can't get the formatting/link bar to work, so giving you a link is hard - hopefully my comment doesn't get trashed.  But try this:

http://   media.mgnetwork.com    /blackbox/

123 Since Vic can't find any interesting news, I'll relate something that's been on my mind recently. I live the next town over from New London, CT. It's the home of the infamous Kelo case and was recently in the news again. In an effort to beautify the downtown area, the town got a grant to redo the parade (basically a n open space in the middle of town). The final touch was a fountain depicting a whale's tail with sheets of water running off the flukes honoring the city's whaling history. The final pricetag was about $11 million, most of it in federal and state money. The fountain was turned on a month or so ago to much fanfare with a lottery for the honor of turning the valve on and the local paper had a pic of kids frolicking in the water. Within two weeks a drunken hobo shat himself and was discovered cleaning up his mess in the fountain. Other unconfimed reports had drunks pissing in the fountain as well. The fountain recirculates about 100 gallons of water. Well, the story made Drudge and other national outlets and suddenly the local leaders are whining about how the whole thing is overblown sensationalism. Perhaps, but after some thought, I see the incident as an appropriate metaphor for New London. Because after all these years, the neighborhood that was torn down after Kelo remains a dustbowl. The only residents are feral cats and the homeless. Meanwhile the center of downtown becomes an $11 million toilet.

124 Learned a valuable lesson from the discussion yesterday on banning.  There are 20-30 posters you should not buy a couch or table from.

125 I see that Ace was on his twitter again last night.  His tweets are great but I'm worried it might be a big time sink for him.

126 125 My Engrish may be off, but I meant a criminal investigation by a law enforcement agency, not Congressional kabuki theater.

I think you're right about that, though I'd have to check. Issa has opened a number of investigations but he hasn't finished many, IIRC. He absolutely needs to act on Fast and Furious. No threats about threats of subpoenas or more, just do it. 

127 Why doesn't Ace ever go on Red Eye? I think we should mount a call campaign. He would be better than some of those "B" list comics they trot out.

128

Extremist Quakers no doubt.

129 Its no wonder Obama got elected and won FL in 2008. Fox just showed the crowd outside the "Casey Anthony" trial. People actually fighting over available seats!

They showed some bimbo punching a guy in the face with her fist trying to get in front of the line.

Insane I tells you. I'll be glad when this stupid case is over.

130

Ever notice how quickly the carrion eaters start to circle when they get that first whiff of death?

131 Why doesn't Ace ever go on Red Eye?

I am starting to suspect Ace is Andy Levy. Levy had a pretty strong opinion on how hard the panel was on Ginger Lee Thursday morning.

132

I can't see this new joking-about-everything-schtick he's got going turning out all that well for him.

Posted by: Mama AJ

Yeah, it hasn't worked very well here either.

133 I am starting to suspect Ace is Andy Levy. Levy had a pretty strong opinion on how hard the panel was on Ginger Lee Thursday morning. Posted by: Buzzsaw at June 17, 2011 09:11 AM (tf9Ne) Were they riding her pretty hard?

134 /sock.

135 5 Is there always a slow downward spiral in all aspects of life (and blogs)?
__________

Yes. It's called "entropy".

136 Women are usually rough on other women that are better looking than they are. I think that's why Bill and the Bimbo De Jour were attacking her.

137

The Bloomberg gauge of economic expectations dropped to minus 31 this month, the lowest level since March 2009, from minus 16 in May

Economy continues to be named nation's top problem

Americans' satisfaction with the way things are going in the country fell to 20% in early June from 26% at the start of May. Seventy-eight percent of Americans are now dissatisfied with the nation's direction, according to a June 9-12 Gallup poll.

 

Bad economic polls are racist

138 If Ace wanted to keep his anonymity, I'm sure we could scrape up a few dollars for an EWOK costume.

139 @143: I'm not sure Ginger Lee is all that pretty. Her schtick seems to be passing for jailbait in her videos. I wonder which major Hollywood studio is anonymously producing her vids... was that a pair of Mouse ears tattooed on her ass in her latest opus?

140 Fox going on and on about T-Paw not attacking Romney. They roll out old Larry Sabato who I think had his AH sewed shut years ago.

141 Larry Sabato? WTF, that stoned Skinner chick wasn't available for comment?

142 @130 Next west or east of New London?

I grew up in the area and still have family there, and New London has always been a weird little pocket ghetto.  A little touch of New Haven in southeastern Connecticut.

143 Fox is pushing Romney hard.

144 147 Fox going on and on about T-Paw not attacking Romney. They roll out old Larry Sabato who I think had his AH sewed shut years ago. Posted by: Vic at June 17, 2011 09:18 AM (M9Ie6) It's for better personal hygiene, OK? Works pretty good, though I've been feeling a little itchy lately.

145 Now see, I said AH because I promised Ace yesterday I would clean up my language here.

146 Larry should have to wear a sign saying "Macaca!" every time he appears in public.  Tool.

147 @152: We live in a world where little kids drop the A-word in major PG-rated motion pictures ("Meet the Fockers"). Worrying about that sort of language is sort of like worrying about Paris Hilton's virginity...

148 Vic, just say "ass."  That is how that phrase is supposed to be written anyways-not AH.

Speaking of which, my four year old daughter brought home a new phrase she learned from one her friends, "Shut up your ass," which I assume was "Shut your ass up" when her friend's parent said to her.

149 152 Now see, I said AH because I promised Ace yesterday I would clean up my language here.

So, so you think he really wants that?  I know he said in the mega LGF post that it cost him money in ad revenue, but I thought he had concluded he wanted the edginess. 

I'll clean up my language, too, but only if he really wants that.  Otherwise... well, frankly, living here in Utah AoSHQ is pretty much the only outlet I have for blue language.  If I have to cut it out here, I'll have to resort to locking myself in a sound-proof room and smashing my thumb with a hammer.



Oh and Good Morning, all!  It's breezy here today.  Big dust storms yesterday when I was driving "home" from home (new house).  Naturally, I had the top down so I was eating sand much of the way! 

150 155, I'd be having a discussion with a Parent.

151 So, so you think he really wants that?  I know he said in the mega LGF post that it cost him money in ad revenue, but I thought he had concluded he wanted the edginess.

If I remember correctly from a couple of years ago he wanted us to dial it back. Especially using the F word, the C word, and a couple of other ones.

But in the post yesterday he said we didn't dial it back and it cost him money.

152 It's the people who go over the line who threaten to turn this place into something he doesn't want or in the case of Weiner, something he believes puts his business at risk. Posted by: JackStraw at June 17, 2011 08:42 AM (TMB3S)

Yeah, but Jack, he blogged hell out of Wiener for 3 weeks. Sometimes the blog seems a bit schitzy.

153 Speaking of which, my four year old daughter brought home a new phrase she learned from one her friends, "Shut up your ass," which I assume was "Shut your ass up" when her friend's parent said to her. Posted by: A Balrog of Morgoth at June 17, 2011 09:27 AM (agD4m) Oh, no... we had covered anal sex in class that day. Sorry about the confusion!

154 Language was just Exhibit A in the case he was making that "Hey, some edgy things are generally OK, because my vision of what I want my blog to be > my desire for a few pennies from the make-a-gazillion-dollars-a-day-from-home ads; while other edgy things are NOT OK because my anonymity and not getting sued into bankruptcy > your* vision of what you want my blog to be.

*I don't mean any of "you" specifically.

155 Yeah, but Jack, he blogged hell out of Wiener for 3 weeks. Sometimes the blog seems a bit schitzy. Posted by: in before the dolt at June 17, 2011 09:31 AM (K/USr) You don't say? If I remember exactly - and I do - that whole story suddenly became verboten as soon as Weiner resigned. The same exact day, in fact. Hmmm....

156

Ace's own words on the subject. I'm bolding it so that you can still see his italics.

There are few rules here. I lost advertising on the comments pages due to salty language. Rather than simply ban all salty language, I decided that, for now at least, I'd simply take in less money.

I'd continue letting people curse... despite the fact it was costing me genuine money, and a fair amount of it, too.

Did you know that? No, you probably didn't, because I haven't made an issue of it.

But check the comments pages. No ads. No revenue.

So I am in fact willing, in the spirit of creating a special community, incur some losses of income here. This blog has always had a limited revenue potential, due to the simple fact that I decided, early on, this would be a different kind of conservative blog, for the other kind of conservative.

No big conservative organizations are going to buy this blog.

Because this isn't exactly G-rated.

That was my decision. I did that. I'm not blaming anyone. That's my decision. I own that.

But there are problems, and heat, and diminishments of opportunity I am willing to undertake, and there are probems, and heat, and diminishmetns of opportunity I am not willing to undertake.

157 @157 I was unclear-the parent said that to her own kid, who garbled it and passed it on to mine.  And given that my little angel repeats and sometimes garbles things she hears us say-like when her daddy expressed his opinion about the gentleman who was doing 80 in a 35 and almost T-boned the Balrogmobile, I am loath to play language cop with the other parents.

158 Sabata, the one who all of a sudden 'remembered; that Allen had made some derogatory remarks, right before the 2006 elections. that Sabato.

159 Isn't that what I just said, Mama?  Though, come to think of it, my version was pithier.  He's a wordy fellow sometimes, ain't he?

160

Yeah, but Jack, he blogged hell out of Wiener for 3 weeks. Sometimes the blog seems a bit schitzy.

Yes, about Weiner. The line in the sand for him was speculating about the women, esp. underage ones.

I can see that line clearly, whether or not I agree with it. Even if it wasn't there the first week or two...

161 Fox=Faux=RINO=NE establishment=Rove ≈ conservative (in the total absence of a baseline).
All you need to know.

162 Larry Sabato is a non-partisan truth teller.  Just ask him, he will tell you.

163 Please, please, PLEASE for the LOVE OF GOD let's just drop the Weiner thing. I feel like I'm back in ROTC, watching my fellow cadets fall all over each other correcting each other's position in formation (hand on hip, shoving the guy next to them with their elbow), fretting over who the Bus Commander is, and reproaching each other over whether or not they follows the Captain's orders exactly enough. Cut it out!!

164 If you are trying to avoid being tracked, an old car won't help unless you have old tires too - all new tires have tracking devices in them now.
Posted by: lan sing

Krep. Where'd you hear that?

165 169 Larry Sabato is a non-partisan truth teller. Just ask him, he will tell you. Posted by: A Balrog of Morgoth at June 17, 2011 09:41 AM (agD4m) Agreed.

166 Okay, what writer wrote this: So what if a Soros-backed “watchdog” group coordinated the publicizing of the initial, not-that-damaging-but-suggestive email between Rep. Foley and a page? That’s allowed. You’re even allowed to wait until it’s too late for the GOPs to take Foley off the ballot. The gambit only worked because Foley was guilty.

167

He's a wordy fellow sometimes, ain't he?

Sometimes??

Yeh, I wasn't disagreeing, I was just flashing back on the scene from The Right Stuff where 4 different people are saying "what Gus means is..." and I decided to quote the source.

168

I can see that line clearly, whether or not I agree with it. Even if it wasn't there the first week or two...

Posted by: Mama AJ at June 17, 2011 09:40 AM (XdlcF)

It wasn't there earlier except as pure speculation,  When it became real, and actual underage people and families were included in the comment fest, that's when it became problematic.  Ace made a reasonable decision (not universally respected, but reasonable in my opinion) and he owns the space.

169 ~ tap tap tap tap tap ~ Hello! You can Hear? Yes! It is I, Hadji, the Comic from Muslimylvania - and I will now rock you like the scirocco. ace of the spades headquarters has asked Hadji to show the dimmies here how to make the racial humor according to the fatwas that ace has made. and, so, here is how to get your humor on like the Donkey Kong: Why did the Irishman use only 239 beans in the making of his potage? Because he was informed that adding one more bean would be an offense to Allah......bitches. It is funny because it is true. Thank you Thank you Thank you! -

170

drop the Weiner

That's what she said.

171 Posted by: Mama AJ, trying to get it out of her system...FIGURATIVELY at June 17, 2011 09:46 AM (XdlcF) Careful... you want to avoid premature withdrawal. Great way to ruin a fresh set of sheets.

172 Posted by: Reactionary at June 17, 2011 08:56 AM (xUM1Q)

thank you sir.

173 Well, if this "legion of the thirty damned posters" thing doesn't work out, I can always try to recast my brand as Cliffnotes: ace.

174 What is the price on Hadji's head now?  Last I heard it was twenty dollars.

175 171 If you are trying to avoid being tracked, an old car won't help unless you have old tires too - all new tires have tracking devices in them now.
Posted by: lan sing

Krep. Where'd you hear that?
________

There's a particularly paranoid person that occasionally pops up on Coast to Coast AM that is convinced that RFID chips used for inventory control are the mark of the beast.

Theory being that everything these days has embedded RFID chips and the man could covertly install RFID readers at the entrances to parking lots to track your movements.

176 if any moron has pchop skillz, http://www.petermaher.ca/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/raft_of_the_medusa.jpg -

177

Yeah, but Jack, he blogged hell out of Wiener for 3 weeks. Sometimes the blog seems a bit schitzy.

Posted by: in before the dolt at June 17, 2011 09:31 AM (K/USr)

Doesn't matter what the subject matter was or how often Ace blogged about it. The fact of the matter is that Ace put up a crystal clear warning on the now deleted post to leave the collateral damage out of the conversation. A very small minority of idiots ignored that warning and proceeded to comment on private citizens and, in some cases, under-aged girls with vulgar and crude remarks. In other words, they did exactly what Ace had asked them not to do.

It wasn't an arbitrary change of rules. Ace said stay away from it, and apparently some people read that as a challenge. He was up front about it and then asked several more times, trying to explain his position, in the comments section itself. Finally, out of pure frustration, he deleted the thread and forbade any further discussion of Wiener.

178 I know this has already been posted, but some people only read the first/last few comments, so I will post it again (plus it is a CNSNews link so the lettering is big)

Someone upthread said this is the sort of thing that ends a Presidency.  I agree:

ATF Gun-Tracking Probe Approved at ‘Highest Levels of Justice Department,’ Congressional Report Says

179 Someone upthread said this is the sort of thing that ends a Presidency.  I agree:


Heads should roll, for sure.

I remember watching the Iran-Contra hearings. The only mistake the administration made there was trying to keep it a secret. Hell, they should've been bragging about it.

But this....no, this is sheer incompetency. Dangerous incompetency.

180 Just got a call from an old friend of mine in CA.  Things are very bad in her area for the housing market still. They would like to move but are so far underwater it is out of the question.

181 Someone upthread said this is the sort of thing that ends a Presidency.  I agree:

That rule does not apply to Democrats.

182 Jack,

What you said, and if I may expand on it a bit.  That was actually the 2nd time he did that recently.  Even the slowfoots like me should have caught a clue the first time he put up the Danger:High Voltage red letters. 

183 GOP Seeks Bidders on Amtrak Rail Lines

"House Republicans called Wednesday for the breakup of Amtrak's de facto monopoly on U.S. intercity passenger-rail service, proposing to open up the government-controlled company's Northeast Corridor and other lines to bidding by private investors."


Sheriff Joe hardest hit.

184 @187
Is there any chance they can rent it out, move somewhere cheap, and live in a rental there until the house value rebounds? 

I think we got out of CA just in time.  It's not just the housing market - it's everything.  It's $400/month water bills (for a two person household and a partially xeriscaped yard).  It's gas prices.  It's job losses and instability.  It's electric bills.  Every. G-D. Thing. 

185

re: Gov Brown vetoing the budget.

the veto will be over-ridden

and Brown will be able to crow about his fiscal responsibility.

It's Kabuki.

 

186 @ JimPethokoukis:  "IMF cuts US GDP forecast to 2.5 percent this year and 2.7 percent in 2012| Bad news for job growth"

187 Apparently, we have two reasonable candidates (potl) for the NY special election.  Link to NRO Corner (I denounce my RINOy ways!). 

188 "House Republicans called Wednesday for the breakup of Amtrak's de facto monopoly on U.S. intercity passenger-rail service, proposing to open up the government-controlled company's Northeast Corridor and other lines to bidding by private investors."

Are they going to eliminate the billions in subsidies?

I doubt seriously if they get any bidders because who wants to buy a company that is designed to lose money?

The only way the passenger rail system in this country will ever recover is to totally eliminate all government involvement except for minimum safety standards.

That will never happen until after the collapse.

189 Sheriff Joe likes choo choo.  Don't hurt the choo choo.

190 I don't have a quarter, would a shotgun blast do instead?

http://tinyurl.com/44gef8y

191 Is there any chance they can rent it out, move somewhere cheap, and live in a rental there until the house value rebounds?

I don't think so. The problems she described was that the local market is currently flooded with repos.

192 A New Slogan

Yesterday, while answering questions from a group of business executives in Washington, the presidentÂ’s second chief of staff, William Daley, may have inadvertently offered up a slogan for the administrationÂ’s second two years[...]:
Daley said he did not have many good answers, appearing to throw up his hands in frustration at what he called “bureaucratic stuff thatÂ’s hard to defend.”   “Sometimes you canÂ’t defend the indefensible,” he said.

193 Hi there, I just like to say. I'm NOT A.

194 She and a friend have a business going around "cleaning up" repo houses. What she described though was the things needed were so involved it was more like remodeling than cleaning because of how badly trashed the houses were.

She described one 5,000 sq ft house they did where they had to replace the carpet and refinish all the hardwood floors, besides all the "cleaning".

She said afterwards that it sold for $400K. That's less than $100/sq ft in CA (Northern CA away from the Bay)

195 That will never happen until after the collapse.


After the collapse, I don't think I'll want to voluntarily ride any government run choo-choos.

196

This is Obamanomics:  You have to file a lawsuit and hope, just to avoid being shaken down by bullying thugs at work

This whole NLRB versus Boeing (and free enterprise) is going up me sideways like you would not believe.  I don't know why this, rather than something else, is getting to me so, but it really is.

197 That union thug that Obama bypassed the Senate to appoint is going to get his ass handed to him in SC.

198 204 That union thug that Obama bypassed the Senate to appoint is going to get his ass handed to him in SC.

Posted by: Vic at June 17, 2011 10:23 AM (M9Ie6)

At some point, I'd like to see the Congress step-up and do their job instead of cowering in the Dome.

199 195 Are they going to eliminate the billions in subsidies?

I doubt seriously if they get any bidders because who wants to buy a company that is designed to lose money?

The only way the passenger rail system in this country will ever recover is to totally eliminate all government involvement except for minimum safety standards.

That will never happen until after the collapse.


They've made a number of attempts with regards to Amtrak and have achieved some cuts but nothing beyond that. The Dems and some Rs simply won't allow it. As for what they're trying to accomplish, the sponsor (Transportation & Infrastructure Comm. Chairman John Mica)  states that he wants to bring high-speed rail to the Northeast in 10 years instead of Amtrak's 30. Here is what else he wishes to do:

The high-speed rail envisioned by Mica would provide faster service for passengers traveling to locations between Washington and Boston than the Acela line operated by Amtrak. The proposal would remove Amtrak from control of the federally-designated northeast rail corridor and transfer it to the Department of Transportation. A newly-created Northeast Corridor Executive Committee would oversee bidding process for rail projects in the northeast.

Unsurprisingly, the Dems had a hissy fit, claiming the Rs were "taking a play out of President BushÂ’s book" and could potentially "cripple Main Street by auctioning off AmtrakÂ’s assets to Wall Street". In short, the usual B.S.

200 The real aggravating thing about it is that he is using public tax money to prosecute a civil suit that has zero chance of winning.

If should be made to pay all the legal costs out of his own pocket if he loses (which he will).

201 Meanwhile in NJ:

“It took World War II to get rid of the last Adolf Hitler — it’s gonna take World War III to get rid of Adolf Christie!” shouted Communications Workers of America vice president Chris Shelton at a rally outside the statehouse in Trenton.

202 201 She and a friend have a business going around "cleaning up" repo houses. What she described though was the things needed were so involved it was more like remodeling than cleaning because of how badly trashed the houses were.

Yeah, they tend to be trashed. 

Disclaimer: the following is not based on any real-life principles under which banks/lenders operate, but purely based on emotion. 

When we were looking at houses, we saw several bank-owned homes.  They were trashed or unsellable.  We walked into one gorgeous home, probably 3 or 4 years old in a great area of custom homes, and loved what we saw on the main floor... but as we walked around, we picked up a smell.  Sure enough, we go into the master bed/bath and see carpet removed from clear signs of some sort of water damage.  OK, we think, maybe we could handle that.  But, gee, the smell of mold was horrible.  Husband continues down to the (mostly beautifully finished) basement and we see the source of the problems.  Whatever had happened upstairs, continued down to the basement.  The mold stench was unbelievable (and I'm sure quite unhealthy) and the damage was way beyond what most people could handle. 

So there are all these bank-owned homes and they are not being maintained, so they are not just depreciating assets because of the market, they are literally falling apart.  If the banks put some effort into them up front so they'd be livable, people could buy them and maintain/upgrade them.  But instead they sit there empty, ruining the whole friggin' neighborhood. 

It was so stressful looking for a home that was right for us in terms of size and quality, but also that was in an area that we thought (hoped!) was stable enough to buy.

203 So there are all these bank-owned homes and they are not being maintained, so they are not just depreciating assets because of the market, they are literally falling apart.  If the banks put some effort into them up front so they'd be livable, people could buy them and maintain/upgrade them.  But instead they sit there empty, ruining the whole friggin' neighborhood.

They should just bulldoze them into the ground.

204 The mold stench was unbelievable (and I'm sure quite unhealthy) and the damage was way beyond what most people could handle.

Most pubic health department will condemn a home with bad mold damage because it is hugely unhealthy.

205

Let me propose that Congress adopt the following rule: No institution receiving government funds should be able to name itself (or any part of itself) after any government official who had a hand in providing those funds.

206 the Dems had a hissy fit, claiming the Rs were "taking a play out of President BushÂ’s book" and could potentially "cripple Main Street by auctioning off AmtrakÂ’s assets to Wall Street"

That's funny given Obama is holding fundraisers in the White House with big-money Wall Street types.  Someone needs to make an ad juxtaposing those stories.

207 Most pubic health department will condemn a home with bad mold damage because it is hugely unhealthy.

Yeah, we really felt like they should have had a warning posted. 

208 Glenn Beck just did an awesome takedown of Weiner, emphasizing something that almost no-one brought up--Weiner's outrageous abuse of authority to try to destroy an upstanding business enterprise (Goldline) for the simple reason they advertise with Beck. For that alone Weiner deserved to be sh!t-canned...but this way was sooooo much more fun.

209 205 204 At some point, I'd like to see the Congress step-up and do their job instead of cowering in the Dome.

These days, the Senate isn't even spending much time there. When they actually set-about to do their jobs, it's mostly Kabuki Theatre with the Dems spending more time trying to get the upper-hand over the Rs than on actual legislation. On the House side, they've been attacking Obama far more often but they've only rebuked him a handful of times. Cantor said yesterday there might be a bill RE Libya (most assume funding) next week but we'll obviously have to wait-and-see. Regardless, it's obvious Congress is mostly frightened of Obama.

210 They should just bulldoze them into the ground.

I kinda agree.  As long as they maintain the lot afterward. 

I don't understand the banking industry, but I'm starting to hate it.  They must be phenomenally bad with money, 'cause they ain't giving us interest but they can't make the decision to do $10,000 worth of preventative maintenance to preserve the value of a $300,000 home. 

211 213 That's funny given Obama is holding fundraisers in the White House with big-money Wall Street types.  Someone needs to make an ad juxtaposing those stories.

The Rs have a wealth of material which they use on social media but they won't put it into ads. I find that incredibly frustrating because they craft some excellent fact sheets, editorials, etc.

212 2011: Golden Age?

213 How did I miss this story ...

When Weiner (D-Queens, Brooklyn) was photographed by the Daily News fleeing the Capitol in his Nissan Pathfinder, it was clear the July 2007 registration sticker in his window was expired, and there was no inspection sticker to be seen. Weiner, through a staffer, said the 1988 Nissan Pathfinder was registered in New York State.
Not so, said the state Department of Motor Vehicles.
The New York license plate bolted on Weiner's Pathfinder - US Congress 9 - had expired as of 2006, according to the DMV.

More of this law for thy and not for me

214 212

Let me propose that Congress adopt the following rule: No institution receiving government funds should be able to name itself (or any part of itself) after any government official who had a hand in providing those funds.

Posted by: Truman North at June 17, 2011 10:32 AM (K2wpv)

I'd add no Navy ship should be named after a politician. One exception would be the USS Obama - garbage scow.

215

Glenn Beck just did an awesome takedown of Weiner, emphasizing something that almost no-one brought up--Weiner's outrageous abuse of authority to try to destroy an upstanding business enterprise (Goldline) for the simple reason they advertise with Beck.

Not just Goldline-- the entire business model for talk radio.

This was not a coincidence.

216 Holding our fire until we see the whites of their eyes, as we pull a rope-a-dope to get inside their OODA loop.

217

Oh Jesus.  The RI Gen Assembly is considering a bill to go to allocating its EVs to the winner of the national popoular vote for president.

RI?  Really?  Jesus.  Why the hell would a small state want to silute itself like that?

Additionally, I don't think it and bills like it in oher states will pass Constitutional muster.

218 Weiner the Tease

Strip him of any Congressional benefits!

219 225

Oh Jesus.  The RI Gen Assembly is considering a bill to go to allocating its EVs to the winner of the national popoular vote for president.

RI?  Really?  Jesus.  Why the hell would a small state want to silute itself like that?

Additionally, I don't think it and bills like it in oher states will pass Constitutional muster.

Posted by: Truman North at June 17, 2011 11:02 AM (K2wpv)

There are states the split EVs based on Congressional District but it is a stupid move. Why not bind your Senators to majority Senate party votes. Kills your leverage.

220

They should just bulldoze them into the ground.

That's what I used to do when I played SimCity.  Converted all of the vacant Residential areas into Farmland.  Little did I know I created Detroit. 

That is encouraging about the Bank-owned homes--I'm looking to sell my albatross in a market with 35% of the homes under duress.  I poured a fair amount of cash into it and am going to have it shine like a zinc penny when it goes on the market.  I still haven't ruled out strategic default/emigrating to Chile, but am still hopeful for a buyer.

Are realtors flexible on the 6% commission right now?  I'd actually like to incrementalize it based on the selling price....

221 Belleview family sues FBI for raiding their year long home to arrest a 2-years-ago previous resident.

Denise Adams, 58, said seeing the red dots from the officers' targeting lasers crawl across her children's faces also has cost her faith in law enforcement.

"Qualified immunity"

QUALIFIED would imply that the authorities are fully competent, having thoroughly researched current updated residencies, to prevent attacking the wrong people before SWAT breaks down your door at all hours. 

It's the FBI. As if they don't have ACCESS to information.

222 It seems that mostly "blue" states are pulling those EV tricks. It will be funny when states like RI and MD have to give their EVs to the Generic Republican next year.

223 That is encouraging about the Bank-owned homes--I'm looking to sell my albatross in a market with 35% of the homes under duress. 

I dunno if it's encouraging or not.  I guess it depends on what the presence of homes on the market does to the appraisal when you go to sell.  There are bank-owned homes at very reduced prices that are literally unsellable - except to investors/contractor types who can make them livable again.  But I don't know that the appraisers take that into consideration.  So they bring the cost/sqft way down... how does that affect neighboring homes that are livable? 

The other phenomenon is that if a buyer (which we were recently; pre-qualified perfect buyers with no contingencies) sees a wonderful home in a neighborhood full of foreclosures... will they buy into that neighborhood?  We chose to avoid that. We got less of a "deal" but on a home in an area we felt was stable. 

I'm not trying to depress you, btw, just sharing our psychology as buyers.

I poured a fair amount of cash into it and am going to have it shine like a zinc penny when it goes on the market.

We had our home really perfect in California before we put it on the market.  It was in much better shape than any of the comparable homes.  It really didn't help on either price or time on market, imho.  We still took a hit.  So I guess make your home look nice, but don't spend much on it in terms of time or money. 

Are realtors flexible on the 6% commission right now?  I'd actually like to incrementalize it based on the selling price....

Some are, some aren't.  Last year we did get 1% cut off of commission in SoCal, but they can kind of afford it because even the depressed prices there are so high.  Here in Utah it seems like many people are trying FSBO.  I would say you could try that route at first, but be explicit in your ad that you are willing to work with agents for qualified buyers.  We would have been willing to pay 3% commission for our realtor (buyers agent) for the perfect home in this most recent purchase because a good realtor can negotiate the purchase in a way that saves you money. 

224 Whatever you do, do not look at the photo on the main page at Lucianne.com.

225

Most pubic health department will condemn a home with bad mold damage because it is hugely unhealthy.

99 percent of molds are the stuff you clean out of your bathroom. Even in heavy doses they are likely only to irritate your breathing. There are companies now dedicated to only mold abatement. This is good because they can handle large mold problems but they exist because of the mold scare created by the newsmedia and Lawyers who want you to believe that all mold will kill you.

 

It won't. I have done some abatement myself and used companies to treat mold. If it has not destroyed the wood in a home and isn't the tiny percent of mold that is dangerous, it is an investment opportunity.

226 I'd add no Navy ship should be named after a politician. One exception would be the USS Obama - garbage scow.

I didn't mean to say that the Obama should be hauling garbage.  I meant to say that it should be hauled away AS garbage.

227 Have to dash and this is my only chance to post for a while. Mea culpa if this has already been posted: Why Pelosi Finally Caved on Weiner (via Lame Cherry).

228

Thank you, Y-not!  Our neighborhood's in good shape--a more sophisticated buyer (i.e., not me in 2005) would take note of the high elderly ratio in my cul-de-sac.  Our thinking has been that when the grim reaper makes his way thru Little Scottsdale, the heirs are going to be looking to sell quickly, so we'd like to get out now.

I appreciate the insight.

229 DJIA straight up at the open, then sideways.  Short covering again?

230

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