OT: Twilight Zone: Tax Cheats (and Obama Cabinet Members) Beware!

[93legendti]

Geithner Touts Tackling Tax Evaders After Failing to Pay Own Taxes
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner told the House Ways and Means Committee Tuesday that the Obama administration, which has been riddled with tax problems, is mounting plans to go after tax evaders.

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, who was forced to fork up $34,000 in unpaid back taxes, told the House Ways and Means Committee Tuesday that the Obama administration will be going after people who avoid and evade taxes.

In prepared remarks before Congress, he said the president is intent on "tackling tax shelters and other efforts to abuse our tax laws, including international tax evasion efforts."

Geithner himself never used a tax haven to avoid payment, but did neglect to pay Medicare and Social Security taxes while he was a self-employed staffer for the International Monetary Fund. He even hired an accountant for two of the years he forgot to file.

"Over the next several months," he said Tuesday, "the President will propose a series of legislative and enforcement measures to reduce such U.S. tax evasion and avoidance."

But the Treasury secretary might want to heed something of a caveat legislator: such a dragnet could quickly catch a handful of Obama's top appointees.

Tom Daschle, Obama's pick to be Secretary of Health and Human Services, had to bow out when it was disclosed that he had failed to pay $128,000 in back taxes. Nancy Killefer, who was appointed by Obama to scrutinize government spending for the OMB, also had to withdraw her nomination because of tax issues.

And just a day before Geithner's appearance in the House, Obama's designated Trade Representative, Ron Kirk, told the Senate Finance Committee that he owed some $10,000 in back taxes that he had agreed to pay.

Some of the administrations enforcement measures, put forth in good faith inside the president's proposed budget, might be hitting just a little too close to home.

[97CSI]

Far to the right, far to the left or anywhere in between..........I hope they go after all of them and let the chips fall where they may. Whether one supported Obama, or not, his staff has done a poor job of vetting his 'people' and it is a pretty sorry picture of personal responsibility.

[93legendti]

Yes, they should go after ALL tax cheats.

[William]

This is exactly the kind of crap thinking that stymies everything. Let’s not focus on the fact that they are going after all tax cheats, let’s focus on the fact that a couple of appointees had some tax issues of their own (and the dems in no way, shape, or form have the corner on that market). They got busted and they paid up…good. Now let’s get all the rest of them, republican and democrats alike.

It’s done, move on.



William

[93legendti]

They didn't pay fines and they only paid when they learned they would be appointed.

You move on.

I'll stay here and be outraged at the hypocrisy of a President who claims to be transparent and have the highest ethical standards. I'd like him to actually APPLY the standards, not just echo them as a mantra.

Normal people can go to jail and have their lives ruined for cheating on their taxes. Obama elevates them to Cabinet members.

You can move on.

[johnnymossville]

When you campaign/lie to the American people to win an election I have every right to call you out as a hypocrite and tell everyone I know exactly what you are.

Obama lied over and over and over to get into office and now we are supposed to just say,.. oh,.. everyone does it anyway it's ok, we have to look at the bigger picture?

I don't think so.

[97CSI]

I'm shocked, I tell you........shocked, to read that a politician may have lied to us, his unsuspecting public. But, nonetheless, could you point a couple of his 'lies' for us?

Definition: politician - one who lies to the public and then believes it when he reads it in the press. HLMencken

[Kirk007]

I'd like him to actually APPLY the standards, not just echo them as a mantra.



Well, its amazing how after just 6 weeks a number of the federal agencies we deal with are suddenly responding to Freedom of Information Act requests by actually complying with that law; quite a noticeable change from the past 8 years. Now my firm only has experience with a handful of agencies and DOJ attorneys so I can't say this increased transparency is everywhere, but in our field we are seeing application not mantra.

[zap]

Federal employees will lose their job if they fail to pay income taxes.

[avalonracing]

Normal people can go to jail and have their lives ruined for cheating on their taxes. Obama elevates them to Cabinet members.


Wow, next he'll be giving Presidential Medals of Freedom to people who took the fall for bad intelligence to support trillion dollar illegal wars... (See George Tenet)

[goonster]

Clearly, the answer is to create a cabinet position for every taxpayer.

Compliance will be amazing!

[ThirtyEast]

Why would one start a thread like this on this forum?

[aLexis]

Why would one start a thread like this on this forum?

Seriously. There is way too much of this crap.

[Blue Jays]

"...Why would one start a thread like this on this forum?..."There is a brilliant plan from a visionary Serotta Forums member for an off-topic subfolder.
It is being explored so these various items of interest can be discussed by bikeminded folks.
Why would folks not be inclusive about all topics?

[aLexis]

There is a brilliant plan at this time for an off-topic subfolder that is being explored so these various items of interest can be discussed by bikeminded folks.

How about just taking it elsewhere alltogether. I'm sure there are plenty of other forums for Adam to take his cut and pasted articles to. We all know where he and everyone else stand on political issues, there is no sense in dragging this forum into it.

[gdw]

same posters. :crap:

[William]

How about just taking it elsewhere alltogether. I'm sure there are plenty of other forums for Adam to take his cut and pasted articles to. We all know where he and everyone else stand on political issues, there is no sense in dragging this forum into it.


Agree. Pointless to add another area. Not interested, don't read it. It's very simple.



William

[Blue Jays]

"...How about just taking it elsewhere altogether..."All forumites are certainly free to lobby Serotta_Pete to end all political discussion and have an off-topic subfolder for all non-bicycle content.

[fiamme red]

There is a brilliant plan from a visionary Serotta Forums member for an off-topic subfolder.You're talking about me? :beer:

http://forums.thepaceline.net/showpost.php?p=642472&postcount=78

[bigdeal]

perhaps some of the 'same posters' should start posting these elsewhere:
http://forums.roadbikereview.com/forumdisplay.php?f=79

[bigdeal]

perhaps some of the 'same posters' should start posting these elsewhere:
http://forums.roadbikereview.com/forumdisplay.php?f=79

that said, it's easy enough to not click on threads marked 'OT'

[William]

that said, it's easy enough to not click on threads marked 'OT'


That's what I don't understand about the whole thing. We're all adults here.

The sub-folder has been done before and it failed...which is why we don't have one.



William

[92degrees]

I think we should change the name of the whole forum to "Serotta Political and Financial Forum" and then everyone will spend their time clogging the forum with talk of bikes.

[Blue Jays]

Yet we have a "bike fit" subforum that receives minimal traffic.
I'm puzzled at hostility displayed towards a fellow forumite about his choice of topics. The goal is to be inclusive, diverse, and welcoming to all. There are many walks-of-life here.

[sspielman]

.

[aLexis]

that said, it's easy enough to not click on threads marked 'OT'

Of course it is. But what happens when 50 forum members wake up one day and decide to start an off-topic thread about what they read in the paper that morning. Where do you draw the line? How about opening up the General Discussion page over morning coffee and seeing:

OT: Women sold into sexual slavery in Eastern Europe

OT: Gays denied the right to marry in California

OT: Somali warlords slaughtering thousands

Would any of these be any more or less approprate than any other political thread? Would you be annoyed if you had to see these headlines when you open up the bike forum? I like to read about bikes and racing here, I read my periodicals of choice for all the other stuff.

[ThirtyEast]

William, you're a good guy and I totally admire how chill you are.

It's not OT threads in general that bother me and it's certainly not the content. I guess it just seems audacious and rude to needlessly stir the pot by posting things like this on a cycling-related forum. Putting OT before a subject doesn't give one carte blanche to write whatever he or she wishes.

Otherwise, those porn guys from Russia should just start their posts with OT and it would be fine.

Time and place for everything I guess is all I'm saying...








That's what I don't understand about the whole thing. We're all adults here.

The sub-folder has been done before and it failed...which is why we don't have one.



William

[William]

William, you're a good guy and I totally admire how chill you are.

It's not OT threads in general that bother me and it's certainly not the content. I guess it just seems audacious and rude to needlessly stir the pot by posting things like this on a cycling-related forum. Putting OT before a subject doesn't give one carte blanche to write whatever he or she wishes.

Otherwise, those porn guys from Russia should just start their posts with OT and it would be fine.

Time and place for everything I guess is all I'm saying...


Thank you, and I don't totally disagree with you. :beer:



William

[Sandy]

How about just taking it elsewhere alltogether. I'm sure there are plenty of other forums for Adam to take his cut and pasted articles to. We all know where he and everyone else stand on political issues, there is no sense in dragging this forum into it.

You don't know where I stand. If I were president, dogs would rule. Communication would be direct and easy to understand. A few dog biscuits would keep the Government running. Fewer squabbles and they would last only for a short while. No special agendas, no social classes, no special interest groups, no perks, no lobbyists, no pork-barrel legislation, no private jets, no party affiliation,.....,no outlandish spending, no judgements based on your political thoughts, but just lots and lots of forgiveness for errors in judgement, an abundance of selfless love, an appreciation for who you with zero concern of what you do at your job, and most importantly- an abundance of happy swinging tails to greet you when you come home every day.

Do away with the present system, and let the dogs rule. Cats and other animals will be treated well.


Bow Wow Sandy

[Sandy]

Work with me, and Bruno and the hound with the big flappy ears will each get an important cabinet post, with unlimited biscuits. King will of course be the King in the hierarchy. :)


Sandy

[aLexis]

...Do away with the present system, and let the dogs rule. Cats and other animals will be treated well.

Bow Wow Sandy

sounds good to me. Although, I am not a cat person, but I suppose they deserve to be treated well too.

[Sandy]

sounds good to me. Although, I am not a cat person, but I suppose they deserve to be treated well too.

Well, but not too well!! :)


:) Siamese Sandy :)

[Steevo]

Seems like the Republicans receive better tax advice and the Democrats receive better constitutional law advice.

[Mikej]

This is exactly the kind of crap thinking that stymies everything. Let’s not focus on the fact that they are going after all tax cheats, let’s focus on the fact that a couple of appointees had some tax issues of their own (and the dems in no way, shape, or form have the corner on that market). They got busted and they paid up…good. Now let’s get all the rest of them, republican and democrats alike.

It’s done, move on.



William

They ONLY paid 'cuz they got busted. And its not about what everybody else does, when you are put in charge of something that you your self are guilty of, you should go back to stealing from us in the private sector.

[Ray]

They ONLY paid 'cuz they got busted. And its not about what everybody else does, when you are put in charge of something that you your self are guilty of, you should go back to stealing from us in the private sector.
Now wait just one minute. Are you saying that only those in the private sector should be allowed to steal from us and get away with it? That is truly crap thinking! We want to attract our best and brightest to public service, despite the relatively low pay, and NOW you're saying they can't even STEAL from us as those in the private sector can? What a horrible dis-incentive to public service. Who could dream something like this up?....












.....on the remote chance that anyone is not aware, this was a joke. It may not be a good one, but it is a joke. If you're gonna flame me, do it for my lame sense of humor, not for the opinion expressed. On account of it's not mine. The opinion. Its a joke.

-Ray

[93legendti]

They ONLY paid 'cuz they got busted. And its not about what everybody else does, when you are put in charge of something that you your self are guilty of, you should go back to stealing from us in the private sector.
And when you say you are raising taxes on the "rich", but the "rich" in the administration are tax cheats, it make the bile rise up in the stomach.

What was the quote? "I now know why Democrats are for tax increases, they never pay taxes".

[1centaur]

But what happens when 50 forum members wake up one day and decide to start an off-topic thread about what they read in the paper that morning. Where do you draw the line?

It's not wise to create policy around imaginary worlds. There are 37 threads on the front page of this forum. 2 of them are overtly political/financial. 3 others are OT and 2 of those have political elements in them. 86% bike related, oh the shame. That type of ratio is pretty common here. Yet there are a group of people who feel the need to open up these OT threads and whine about how they are ruining their pristine environment of bike discussion (for some reason they whine more in OT political discussions than OT digital camera or dog discussions). How easy is it to avoid fewer than 10% of the threads? How self-absorbed to be a busy body about threads that others enjoy because you don't? Why is there an inclination to control everybody else's world to fit your emotional comfort zone? People who participate in OT threads do it because they want to. Live and let live. There are plenty of bike-only forums out there, some of them stultifyingly dull because of that. Long live diversity and intellectual energy on a bike forum. Yes it would be swell if headlines from the wrong side of the aisle were not in topic lines so you never had to feel a bad emotion or the urge to get in there and correct the idiot, but that has not stopped a lot of those from being posted over the last 8 years. Somehow we survived and grew.

[aLexis]

It's not wise to create policy around imaginary worlds. There are 37 threads on the front page of this forum. 2 of them are overtly political/financial. 3 others are OT and 2 of those have political elements in them. 86% bike related, oh the shame. That type of ratio is pretty common here. Yet there are a group of people who feel the need to open up these OT threads and whine about how they are ruining their pristine environment of bike discussion (for some reason they whine more in OT political discussions than OT digital camera or dog discussions). How easy is it to avoid fewer than 10% of the threads? How self-absorbed to be a busy body about threads that others enjoy because you don't? Why is there an inclination to control everybody else's world to fit your emotional comfort zone? People who participate in OT threads do it because they want to. Live and let live. There are plenty of bike-only forums out there, some of them stultifyingly dull because of that. Long live diversity and intellectual energy on a bike forum. Yes it would be swell if headlines from the wrong side of the aisle were not in topic lines so you never had to feel a bad emotion or the urge to get in there and correct the idiot, but that has not stopped a lot of those from being posted over the last 8 years. Somehow we survived and grew.

Hey, it's no biggie. I'm not pm'ing the mods behind your back or anything. I didn't mean to get you worked up, sorry about that.

[gdw]

I don't mind and actually enjoy some of the OT posts but really have grown tired of the petty bickering and personal attacks that seem all too prevalent lately. Posts which could be interesting turn into pissing matches between the usual suspects. I know its winter but the fighting gets old quick.

[Elefantino]

Can somebody lock this thread so I can be the last post?

It would be an honor.

[Ray]

Can somebody lock this thread so I can be the last post?

It would be an honor.
If you want that honor, you have to wait until someone says something REALLY offensive and then post right after that. Or, alternatively, YOU can say something really offensive and hope that nobody else gets in before it gets locked. Its a tough thing to time, sort of like bidding on Ebay, but I've nailed it a couple of times, getting the last word in just before threads got locked. Completely infuriates the guy (not sexist, its pretty much all guys that get out of hand around here) you were responding to. Great fun.

Asking politely never works.

-Ray

[93legendti]

If you want that honor, you have to wait until someone says something REALLY offensive and then post right after that. Or, alternatively, YOU can say something really offensive and hope that nobody else gets in before it gets locked. Its a tough thing to time, sort of like bidding on Ebay, but I've nailed it a couple of times, getting the last word in just before threads got locked. Completely infuriates the guy (not sexist, its pretty much all guys that get out of hand around here) you were responding to. Great fun.

Asking politely never works.

-Ray

If you call Pres. Bush a boob or a moron, the thread won't get locked. Call Pres. Obama a boob or a moron and it will probably get locked ASAP. Calling Sen. McCain a putz, or making fun of Gov. Palin or her daughter is also ok. Posting abut Sen. Edwards and his love child warrants a premptive lock.

Oh, and post about the stock market going down every time Pres. Obama speaks and the thread gets locked after ~10 posts. So that might work.

[Climb01742]

If you call Pres. Bush a boob or a moron, the thread won't get locked. Call Pres. Obama a boob or a moron and it will probably get locked ASAP.

thing is, only one of those statements is true.*







*an attempt at levity, not a political statement. just trying to defuse some tension.

[zap]

Climb-you healthy again?

[93legendti]

thing is, only one of those statements is true.*







*an attempt at levity, not a political statement. just trying to defuse some tension.
I recognize the levity, but you get points off 'cuz it took you a few minutes to post it. Got to be quick! :)
How's the renovation? Ours is done in a few days. THANK G-D!

Do you have a heat pump in your house?

[Climb01742]

Climb-you healthy again?

hey, thanks for asking. about 80% there. feel much better but still fighting a little something in my lungs. on the bright side, it's easier being sick with a foot of snow out there than with sun and 80 degrees.

[Mikej]

Now wait just one minute. Are you saying that only those in the private sector should be allowed to steal from us and get away with it? That is truly crap thinking! We want to attract our best and brightest to public service, despite the relatively low pay, and NOW you're saying they can't even STEAL from us as those in the private sector can? What a horrible dis-incentive to public service. Who could dream something like this up?....













.....on the remote chance that anyone is not aware, this was a joke. It may not be a good one, but it is a joke. If you're gonna flame me, do it for my lame sense of humor, not for the opinion expressed. On account of it's not mine. The opinion. Its a joke.

-Ray

So you know what I'm sayin'

[Climb01742]

I recognize the levity, but you get points off 'cuz it took you a few minutes to post it. Got to be quick! :)
How's the renovation? Ours is done in a few days. THANK G-D!

Do you have a heat pump in your house?

we're 99% finished. just odds and ends left on the punch list. after a contractor gets his last big check, his motivation wanes. funny, that.

being finished with a renovation is sweet indeed. are you happy with how yours is turning out?

[93legendti]

we're 99% finished. just odds and ends left on the punch list. after a contractor gets his last big check, his motivation wanes. funny, that.

being finished with a renovation is sweet indeed. are you happy with how yours is turning out?


So far, but the floors are the last major item we are waiting on. My wife LOVES her new laundry room upstairs, which made the old laundry room/mud room into a roomy mud room.

My daughter got a larger bed room and her own bathroom which will pay dividends when her and her brother are in puberty. We took the kids' 2 old small bedrooms and knocked out the wall between them and now my son has a large bedroom. So that's 2 existing rooms that are radically different than before.

Lastly, we added a sitting room for my wife and I to relax in, with a NO TOYS ALLOWED rule.

In total it is ~700 sq. feet. The only surprises were mold in the attic and a new furnaces necessitated by venting issues.

The noise, dust and traffic were almost unbearable at times. But it was ~9 weeks and ~$125 per sq foot, so it worked ok.
How about you?

[Ozz]

...*an attempt at levity, not a political statement. just trying to defuse some tension.
"That is humor. I recognize that. I also recognize your brand of soldier."

:banana:

[avalonracing]

If you call Pres. Bush a boob or a moron, the thread won't get locked. Call Pres. Obama a boob or a moron and it will probably get locked ASAP. Calling Sen. McCain a putz, or making fun of Gov. Palin or her daughter is also ok.

That is because slander isn't allowed on the forum. The truth obviously gets a little more leeway.

[Blue Jays]

"...That is because slander isn't allowed on the forum. The truth obviously gets a little more leeway..."Slander is not encountered here at Serotta Forums.
It's libel about which one must be mindful.

[93legendti]

Yes. Pres. Obama is so smart, he thinks:

the "P" in P/E stands for profit;
the stock market going down 1500 points since he was sworn in and 3500 points since he was elected, is evidence of "fluctuations";
raising taxes in a recession is a good idea;
3 votes by Republicans is "bi-partisan support";
a massive spending bill with ~10% to be spent in 2009 and most in 2011 and 2012 is the way out of a recession;
mailing checks to people who do not pay federal taxes is a "tax cut";
sending checks to people is a stimulus - even though the same tactic in 2008 failed to stimulate anything;
all he has to do is "talk" to our enemies and that is diplomacy- Iran , N. Korea and Russia and have already showed him how naive he is;
people won't notice tax cheats in his transparent cabinet;
we won't notice that, although he said no earmarks, 9,000 earmarks in a bill is ok;
change is bringing in every 2nd and 3rd tier Clinton appointee;
we won't remember that the day after he doubles the deficit he talks about fiscal responsibility and cutting the deficit;
we won't realize that insulting Republicans is not post-partisanship;
we won't notice that his gas tax will be larger than his "tax cut";
we won't remember that tax cuts worked for JFK, Pres. Reagan and Pres. Clinton;
we won't figure out that he really does want to "spread the wealth around".

He sure reads nicely from the teleprompter.

[Big Dan]

suck it up buddy. At least 4 more years..............

:p

[93legendti]

Slander is not encountered here at Serotta Forums.
It's libel about which one must be mindful.
And saying that "truth" gets more leeway is not true. Otherwise, the preemptive strike on the posting about Sen. Edward's REAL love child would not have occurred.

Liberals get more leeway here. Conservatives do not. THAT IS THE TRUTH.

[avalonracing]

Yes. Pres. Obama is so smart, he thinks:

the "P" in P/E stands for profit;
the stock market going down 1500 points since he was sworn in and 3500 points since he was elected, is evidence of "fluctuations".....


Yes, it's true..., Obama in the past six weeks, has ruined everything. Things were going great after the last eight years. Bush is a genius and a true humanitarian. And you aren't a Rush Limbaugh loving Fox News quoting automaton.

Honestly, it is hard to take your rhetoric seriously. Hey wait... we don't. :D

[keno]

"slander" refers to a spoken communication. wink, nod, burp, drool (I am emoticonically challenged).

I give Barry and Timmy a pass on this one. They only said they were going to go after tax cheats.

keno

[mschol17]

Seriously, the politics forum hosted by Serotta is great and all, but the snow really needs to melt in Michigan so 93legendti can go ride his bike and stop listening to Limbaugh

[Blue Jays]

Lots of activity on this thread...it has proven very popular.

[93legendti]

we're 99% finished. just odds and ends left on the punch list. after a contractor gets his last big check, his motivation wanes. funny, that.

being finished with a renovation is sweet indeed. are you happy with how yours is turning out?

Read your contract. My contractor just agreed we were enitled to a $920 credit. HMM, I might have to call Jack Brunks's lbs and get another set of Extralight E-Bones Cranks.

[zap]

Do away with the present system, and let the dogs rule. Cats and other animals will be treated well.


Bow Wow Sandy

Hmmmmmm, our cat Rush would have something to say about that.

Sandy, you riding a bicycle this weekend. Lets hook up with :)


















By the way, neither of our cats is named Rush.

[Bruce K]

Wow, see what you miss when you have no on-line access at work, followed by a visit to the MD to figure out why my left hand basically doesn't function (and hasn't since Monday)?

Personally, I am getting VERY tired of the political stuff and I believe it is damaging the karma here.

There's got to be a better way and place to have these discussions where we don't get into name calling and the other BS that seems to follow these threads.

No lock yet :no: , but can we find more entertaining stuff to talk about?

PLEASE??? :crap: :rolleyes: ;) :D :confused: :fight: :beer:

BK

[keno]

I don't think that this compares with prior days of Karma Electra. Looks about average to me. BBDave once referred to me, yes, me, as being like eczema on a Serotta Open House ride in the good old days. I just kept coming back, he said, just like these forum cycles, he didn't say but I do. My own view is that neither you nor any of your compatriots will have much ultimate success in herding this bunch of cats (BTW, I don't know if bunch is applicable, but pride certainly isn't).

keno

[Elefantino]

Does anyone think Mr. Limbaugh could ride a carbon frame? Or, to ask it another way, could any carbon frame support Mr. Limbaugh, particularly when he bounces up and down as he did over the weekend?

Would Lou Dobbs only ride domestic steel?

Would Ann Coulter need a saddle, or would a seatpost be sufficient?

Boobs!

Morons!

Putzes!

Palin's daughter!

C'mon. I'm trying, here.

[97CSI]

+1. But you were too kind and left out many. I know........too many to list. :)

[Bud_E]

Now you did it. I think you owe Rush an apology. (http://www.dccc.org/content/sorry)

[keno]

I was able to get through Maureen Dowd's ramblings today.

BTW, William, I get hot when you show anger, 'cause I know that you could inflict mortal, bodily harm on the rest of most of us nerfballs.

keno

[avalonracing]

Now you did it. I think you owe Rush an apology. (http://www.dccc.org/content/sorry)

That's pretty funny.

I just read that Rush wants to debate Obama. Yeah, sure... That's a good use of OB's time.

[Bruce K]

I know Ken, it must be the late winter snow and cabin fever setting in, but OMG.... enough already!

And you are right on target, it is exactly like herding cats.

BK

[Flat Out]

Now that we're talking animals here. Did you guys see this vid of the sleepwalking dog? Good stuff.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2BgjH_CtIA

[rounder]

I care about taxes and paying them. I do not think about it too much until the w-2s and tax forms arrive each year. Then, i sit down and read the rules to see whether anything has changed. Then fill out the forms and then either send/receive money. I assume everyone does the same, because that is how it is supposed to work.

Then, when you read about all of the distinguished individuals, who are being nominated for an even more distinguished position, are going through a normal vetting process (sort of like applying to college or getting a drivers license) find that they are being held up because they have been found for underpaying their taxes and owe money. I feel like there is something wrong. I don't feel like i am a schmuck because i paid what was owed, which was more than some others did. Instead, i feel like i am being swindled by those who believe that...thanks to the vetting process...they are able to correct their innocent mistakes and pay the amounts they owed all along. Plus, it allows them to make things right and get the position that they rightfully deserve.

Obviously, it does not bother me that some of the nominees' clearances are being held up because of these matters.

[dannyg1]

And saying that "truth" gets more leeway is not true. Otherwise, the preemptive strike on the posting about Sen. Edward's REAL love child would not have occurred.

Liberals get more leeway here. Conservatives do not. THAT IS THE TRUTH.

MUST resist.

I'm picturing boobs :) I see boobs!

[Dekonick]

OK - just an observation

It is ok to trash talk conservative views, players, policies, etc... on this forum

It is not ok to do the same to liberal conterparts.

That is what I have seen here over the last 5 or so years...

Like it or not - it is the truth.

what do I know? I didn't vote for Obama or McCain...
















At least I ride a Serotta! :banana:

[dannyg1]

OK - just an observation

It is ok to trash talk conservative views, players, policies, etc... on this forum

It is not ok to do the same to liberal conterparts.

That is what I have seen here over the last 5 or so years...

Like it or not - it is the truth.

what do I know? I didn't vote for Obama or McCain...

At least I ride a Serotta! :banana:

An oxymoron. Show me a conservative viewpoint that isn't plainly destructive, hypocritically 'innocent' and responsibly posed and I'll show you conversational response.
Conservatives do not attract derision here: Parroting 'blowhard' buzz-phrases like 'the new Socialist' agenda and self-forgiving their own complicity and causation in the current state of the economy run amok whilst under their self-righteous dogma, they invite it. Add a touch of religion to make the attack harder to answer directly and wah-lah!

To then complain about the resultng response is the height of irresponsible, hypocritical and just plain doltish immaturity.

[Kirk007]

Oh my, tomorrow this thread will either be highly entertaining or very short lived.

[Dekonick]

An oxymoron. Show me a conservative viewpoint that isn't plainly destructive, hypocritically 'innocent' and responsibly posed and I'll show you conversational response.
Conservatives do not attract derision here: Parroting 'blowhard' buzz-phrases like 'the new Socialist' agenda and self-forgiving their own complicity and causation in the current state of the economy run amok whilst under their self-righteous dogma, they invite it. Add a touch of religion to make the attack harder to answer directly and wah-lah!

To then complain about the resultng response is the height of irresponsible, hypocritical and just plain doltish immaturity.


Ahem - I am not conservative or liberal. I am independant. My observation stands as that - an observation. Why does that bother you? Perhaps there is some grain of truth to it?

Again - if I had to take sides,

I am fiscally conservative. I am socially liberal.

so there. And I still ride a Serotta -

Nay -

I ride 3 Serotta's.

Perhaps you should! :banana:

[soulspinner]

Lets quit the political SLANTS of all types here-its gettin nice out-go ride.

[William]

Lets quit the political SLANTS of all types here-its gettin nice out-go ride.


http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/08/21/bike_2.jpg

http://stylecrave.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/500_obamabike_sideview_crank.jpg

http://pelotonjim.files.wordpress.com/2006/08/gavia-andy.jpg

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_7QzTivhVTs4/SC8x-QiIm6I/AAAAAAAAAOA/nXxtkbaLPb4/s400/Copy_of_BikeT.jpg

http://cahaly.net/gallery2/albums/07-New-Mexico-Paintings/New_Bike_Dream.sized.jpg

http://www.stltoday.com/blogzone/political-fix/files/2009/01/tour_of_missouri_cycling.jpg

http://www.quickrelease.tv/pix/fixiesmall.jpg

http://www.northernsun.com/images/thumb/5059.jpg

[Richard]

Wasn't it one of the tenets of a conservative icon that life isn's always fair. If this is so unbearable, don't try to part the clouds for forum users. Anecdotally, it must be satisfying enough because the viewpoints are made over and over. If the agenda is to educate, well, dream on. Seems the most prolific posters' views are cast in concrete. If the intent is to aggravate (oneself and the responders) and create opportunity to vent spleen, then this forum has been a great success for some. If it were not, then the process would die of own volition.

[fiamme red]

Now you did it. I think you owe Rush an apology. (http://www.dccc.org/content/sorry)Nice article about Rush on Timothy Egan's blog:

http://egan.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/04/fears-of-a-clown/

[93legendti]

Nice articles about our President's budget:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/03/opinion/03brooks.html
But the Obama budget is more than just the sum of its parts. There is, entailed in it, a promiscuous unwillingness to set priorities and accept trade-offs. There is evidence of a party swept up in its own revolutionary fervor — caught up in the self-flattering belief that history has called upon it to solve all problems at once.
So programs are piled on top of each other and we wind up with a gargantuan $3.6 trillion budget. We end up with deficits that, when considered realistically, are $1 trillion a year and stretch as far as the eye can see. We end up with an agenda that is unexceptional in its parts but that, when taken as a whole, represents a social-engineering experiment that is entirely new.

The U.S. has never been a society riven by class resentment. Yet the Obama budget is predicated on a class divide. The president issued a read-my-lips pledge that no new burdens will fall on 95 percent of the American people. All the costs will be borne by the rich and all benefits redistributed downward.

Nice articles about our President:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/04/opinion/04dowd.html

In one of his disturbing spells of passivity, President Obama decided not to fight Congress and live up to his own no-earmark pledge from the campaign.

He’s been lecturing us on the need to prune away frills while the economy fizzles. He was slated to make a speech on “wasteful spending” on Wednesday.

“You know, there are times where you can afford to redecorate your house and there are times where you need to focus on rebuilding its foundation,” he said recently about the “hard choices” we must make. Yet he did not ask Congress to sacrifice and make hard choices; he let it do a lot of frivolous redecorating in its budget.

He reckons he’ll need Congress for more ambitious projects, like health care, and when he goes back to wheedle more bailout billions, given that A.I.G. and G.M. and our other corporate protectorates are burning through our money faster than we can print it and borrow it from the ever-more-alarmed Chinese.

Team Obama sounds hollow, chanting that “the status quo is not acceptable,” even while conceding that the president is accepting the status quo by signing a budget festooned with pork.

Obama spinners insist it was “a leftover budget.” But Iraq was leftover, too, and the president’s trying to end that. This is the first pork-filled budget from a new president who promised to go through the budget “line by line” and cut pork.

On “Face the Nation” on Sunday, Obama’s chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, dismissed the bill as “last year’s business,” because most of it was written last year.

But given how angry Americans are, watching their future go up in smoke, the bloated bill counts as this year’s business.

It includes $38.4 million of earmarks sponsored or co-sponsored by President Obama’s labor secretary, Hilda Solis; $109 million Hillary Clinton signed on to; and $31.2 million in earmarks sought by Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood with colleagues.
(Even Barack Obama was listed as one of the co-sponsors of a $7.7 million pet project for Tribally Controlled Postsecondary Vocational Institutions until he got his name taken off last week.)
And then there are the 16 earmarks worth $8.5 million that Emanuel put into the bill when he was a congressman, including money for streets in Chicago suburbs and a Chicago planetarium.

Blame it on the stars, Rahm, or on old business. But as Shakespeare wrote in “Lear”: “This is the excellent foppery of the world, that, when we are sick in fortune — often the surfeits of our own behavior — we make guilty of our own disasters, the sun, the moon, and the stars.”

[fiamme red]

Nice articles about our President:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/04/opinion/04dowd.html93legendti quoting Maureen Dowd with approval? I'm stunned. :p

[93legendti]

Nice article about Europe and our President:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20090305/wl_time/08599188328100

Mr. President, how's that dog working out?

[Tobias]

Again - if I had to take sides,

I am fiscally conservative. I am socially liberal.IMHO that most likely puts you on the right side of the intelligence bell curve. ;)

[mschol17]

http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=220253&title=the-dow-knows-all

[keno]

what does the stick out tongue smilie imply? I don't use the buggers, and I'm just curious.

keno

[fiamme red]

what does the stick out tongue smilie imply? I don't use the buggers, and I'm just curious.

kenoI have no idea.

:) :rolleyes: :cool: :p ;) :D :confused: :beer: :banana: :bike:

[keno]

fiamme red. There seems to be a lot of that going on around here.

keno

[93legendti]

I think it means that with the stock market dropping another 281 points; with no sign of a recovery in sight and the President's charm not working on Iran, Russia or N.Korea, he is glad the White House is putting time and energy into attacking a radio personality.