Obama XVI: Muslin curtains in the White House!!!

[Old Pio]

Re: Obama XVI: Muslin curtains in the White House!!!

I thought France was our oldest ally since they supplied and helped us against Britain in our independence war of 1776 and the war of 1812. So Britain would be our oldest enemy and now our friend.

I guess I'm not totally comfortable with the French either as a friend or an ally. Case in point, General Gamelin, commander of French ground forces against the German invasion, selected as his headquarters a castle with no telephones and no radios. However, they did send dispatch riders out periodically to find out how many miles the Panzers had advanced since the last dispatch rider. I would think a student at Sandhurst could figure out how profoundly stupid that was. General Gamelin, his successors, and the French military, inspires no confidence in me. The last French commander I admire is Lafayette.

What is it Leno says: the French are there for surrender practice.

 

[Craig P.]

Re: Obama XVI: Muslin curtains in the White House!!!

On the financial front the banks are still doling out bonuses up the wazoo.

GS earned $1.78 billion and set aside $3.83 billion for bonuses. So basically the bonuses are 200% of the earnings. must be nice making all this money on the taxpayers backs without any "government interference". And I love how the writers have changed the word bonuses to "compensation".
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Goldm...5.html?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=7&asset=&ccode=

Speaking of banking matters... the outcome of signing-gate may bear watching. I just saw a report today that some MBS holders have given notice to the servicers that they may be in default, and if the default isn't cured, the terms of the contracts could force the issuers to buy them back at full price.

 

[LynahFan]

Re: Obama XVI: Muslin curtains in the White House!!!

On the financial front the banks are still doling out bonuses up the wazoo.

GS earned $1.78 billion and set aside $3.83 billion for bonuses. So basically the bonuses are 200% of the earnings. must be nice making all this money on the taxpayers backs without any "government interference". And I love how the writers have changed the word bonuses to "compensation".
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Goldm...5.html?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=7&asset=&ccode=

Nice spin.

Compensation totaled 43 percent of the company's revenue for the year so far, down from 47 percent last year.

Besides compensation, what expenses does GS have? Office space and computers, I suppose. If they hacked their compensation down to 25% of revenue, you'd probably be on here whining about how they were profiteering on the taxpayers' backs.

 

[unofan]

Re: Obama XVI: Muslin curtains in the White House!!!

Nice spin.

Besides compensation, what expenses does GS have? Office space and computers, I suppose. If they hacked their compensation down to 25% of revenue, you'd probably be on here whining about how they were profiteering on the taxpayers' backs.

Did GS pay back their TARP money, with interest, already? How much longer are people going to play the "taxpayer's back" card?

 

[Kepler]

Re: Obama XVI: Muslin curtains in the White House!!!

Did GS pay back their TARP money, with interest, already? How much longer are people going to play the "taxpayer's back" card?

Since it was the taxpayers who saved the company... forever?

 

[unofan]

Re: Obama XVI: Muslin curtains in the White House!!!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101019/ap_on_re_us/us_gays_in_military

This uncertainty is the predictable result of an activist pipsqueak federal judge and her world view. Let's recall that "don't ask, don't tell" was a compromise. Bill Clinton wanted to end all restrictions against gays in the military. Now we have the SecDef and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs both espousing that view. And a president who wants to eliminate the ban, too. So what's wrong with letting the military decide how it will accomplish this change? Note, the judge says it's okay for the services to come up with apppropriate training as the change is implemented. How generous of her! The appropriate way to end "Don't ask, don't tell" is through congressional action.

Our uniformed services are among our most important and respected institutions and in many ways the manifestation of our desire for a society based on merit. Why not give the service chiefs the opportunity to study the matter and figure out the best way to implement what I see as an inevitable and appropriate change in their culture? Let's give them and the services they lead some respect, and not treat them like Bull Connor.

It's not like the judge sat there thinking of things to do, someone had to bring a suit and raise the Constitutional issue - in this case, it was a group of Republicans. And civil rights issues are one thing never best left up to the populace or its primary representatives (the legislature). The entire point of civil rights are to protect minorities from the majority mob.

And the armed forces have been passing the buck on this one for 30 years at a minimum. How much more time do they need?

 

[unofan]

Re: Obama XVI: Muslin curtains in the White House!!!

Since it was the taxpayers who saved the company... forever?

So no matter what they do from here on out, people will ***** and complain. Nice.

 

[Kepler]

Re: Obama XVI: Muslin curtains in the White House!!!

So no matter what they do from here on out, people will ***** and complain. Nice.

The problem is it captured in one crystal clear image the inherent teenager-ness of that sector. They're all sharp elbows and "I need my freedom" until they're in trouble, and then it's cry to mom and dad. And the moment they're out of trouble they'll be lobbying that regulation is socialism and they owe nobody anything.

In a word, ef them.

 

[unofan]

Re: Obama XVI: Muslin curtains in the White House!!!

The problem is it captured in one crystal clear image the inherent teenager-ness of that sector. They're all sharp elbows and "I need my freedom" until they're in trouble, and then it's cry to mom and dad. And the moment they're out of trouble they'll be lobbying that regulation is socialism and they owe nobody anything.

In a word, ef them.

I agree that taking a bailout from the gov't and then denying they need gov't regulation is beyond asinine. But at the same point, *****ing about people's salaries 3 years later is just getting tiresome at best.

 

[Kepler]

Re: Obama XVI: Muslin curtains in the White House!!!

I agree that taking a bailout from the gov't and then denying they need gov't regulation is beyond asinine. But at the same point, *****ing about people's salaries 3 years later is just getting tiresome at best.

Beyond the hypocritical bailout, though, it's at least unsightly that people whose malfeasance ruined so many are left with their second homes in Aspen. The occasional Wat Tyler rebellion would go a ways towards keeping them honest.

 

[unofan]

Re: Obama XVI: Muslin curtains in the White House!!!

Beyond the hypocritical bailout, though, it's at least unsightly that people whose malfeasance ruined so many are left with their second homes in Aspen. The occasional Wat Tyler rebellion would go a ways towards keeping them honest.

Sure it's unsightly, but unsightly doesn't mean illegal nor does it require gov't intervention. It's simply envy rearing its ugly head at this point.

By all means regulate the hell out of them or else stop bailing them out. But for the love of god shut the **** up about the bonuses, salaries, whatever, especially in the aggregate, which is a completely meaningless number without any context.

 

[Rover]

Re: Obama XVI: Muslin curtains in the White House!!!

It's not like the judge sat there thinking of things to do, someone had to bring a suit and raise the Constitutional issue - in this case, it was a group of Republicans. And civil rights issues are one thing never best left up to the populace or its primary representatives (the legislature). The entire point of civil rights are to protect minorities from the majority mob.

And the armed forces have been passing the buck on this one for 30 years at a minimum. How much more time do they need?

Well thought out post. I don't have a dog in this particular fight but leaving it up for a study = code for "delay until it dies". Its not like you couldn't have seen this coming so the military you would think already has a plan for dealing with it.

 

[Kepler]

Re: Obama XVI: Muslin curtains in the White House!!!

Sure it's unsightly, but unsightly doesn't mean illegal nor does it require gov't intervention. It's simply envy rearing its ugly head at this point.

By all means regulate the hell out of them or else stop bailing them out. But for the love of god shut the **** up about the bonuses, salaries, whatever, especially in the aggregate, which is a completely meaningless number without any context.

Some of it's envy. Some of it's wondering why publicly traded companies with boards of directors allow these emperor's new clothes arguments about the alleged value of these guys, unless it's because all boards interlock and are gamed by the very people receiving the compensation -- a vast wealth redistribution engine run by and for a highly savy and cynical class. That's where the gibbets would be handy. But only now and then.

 

[LynahFan]

Re: Obama XVI: Muslin curtains in the White House!!!

Sure it's unsightly, but unsightly doesn't mean illegal nor does it require gov't intervention. It's simply envy rearing its ugly head at this point.

By all means regulate the hell out of them or else stop bailing them out. But for the love of god shut the **** up about the bonuses, salaries, whatever, especially in the aggregate, which is a completely meaningless number without any context.

Or, better yet, since what those guys do is apparently so easy and so profitable - go start your own investment bank and start pulling down your own bonuses.

 

[Kepler]

Re: Obama XVI: Muslin curtains in the White House!!!

Is there no criticism of "the one we've been waiting for," no matter how trivial, that won't bring some people running to the barricades?

I have yet to hear anybody here refer to Obama as "the one we've been waiting for." Rejecting R and voting D has for many of us simply become an instance of the Nero Wolfe adage, "when faced with a choice between the intolerable and the merely deplorable, I must choose the latter."

In a way, every attack on the Dems is linked with the rejoinder, "yes. The GOP is that bad that even this is better." The Republicans haven't shown any sign of learning any lessons from their defeat; really, all that's changed is now the Dems are the devil we know while for that portion of the electorate with a memory of less than 4 years, the GOP is the devil they don't.

 

[amherstblackbear]

Re: Obama XVI: Muslin curtains in the White House!!!

In a way, every attack on the Dems is linked with the rejoinder, "yes. The GOP is that bad that even this is better." The Republicans haven't shown any sign of learning any lessons from their defeat; really, all that's changed is now the Dems are the devil we know while for that portion of the electorate with a memory of less than 4 years, the GOP is the devil they don't.

I don't fault them for that, though. There comes a time in every successful job interview when it becomes evident to the applicant that the job is theirs for the taking. At that moment, the prudent thing to do is to smile and shut up. Don't give them more information than they need, because it only increases the chances that they'll change their mind. That's the GOP in 2010. To be blunt, I'm surprised they even bothered announcing a "Contract [preposition] America."

 

[Kepler]

Re: Obama XVI: Muslin curtains in the White House!!!

I don't fault them for that, though. There comes a time in every successful job interview when it becomes evident to the applicant that the job is theirs for the taking. At that moment, the prudent thing to do is to smile and shut up. Don't give them more information than they need, because it only increases the chances that they'll change their mind. That's the GOP in 2010. To be blunt, I'm surprised they even bothered announcing a "Contract [preposition] America."

That's fair, but I can't really imagine what post-2008 GOP governance even looks like. From 2001-2005 they were a nasty drunk in a brewery, and from 2005-2008 they flailed impotently like a Met hitter with the tying run on second. Neither option is attractive.

Assuming they win back Congress in November, which given the public mood they should in a walk, 2012 will be a faceoff between two devils we know, and under those circumstances an incumbent president nearly always wins. I guess their nomination could be captured be a true outsider, but then they have that weird dissonance problem of running against themselves. That's what leads me to believe that if they win both houses and inherit this, they will be toast in the general in 2012. They could still control Congress, though, so we could be looking at 6 years of gridlock.

OTOH, if they manage to screw up the Senate this year, that could give them a chance to repeat their Man with No Name Come to Clean Up the Town act and sweep all before them in 2012.

 

[unofan]

Re: Obama XVI: Muslin curtains in the White House!!!

Just curious, did the SCOTUS thread get "misplaced" in the transition to the new board? I can't find it anymore, even after skimming thread titles a few months old.

Edit: never mind, found it eventually. search function just didn't work, and i didn't go back far enough manually.

 

[Old Pio]

Re: Obama XVI: Muslin curtains in the White House!!!

I have yet to hear anybody here refer to Obama as "the one we've been waiting for." Rejecting R and voting D has for many of us simply become an instance of the Nero Wolfe adage, "when faced with a choice between the intolerable and the merely deplorable, I must choose the latter."

In a way, every attack on the Dems is linked with the rejoinder, "yes. The GOP is that bad that even this is better." The Republicans haven't shown any sign of learning any lessons from their defeat; really, all that's changed is now the Dems are the devil we know while for that portion of the electorate with a memory of less than 4 years, the GOP is the devil they don't.

That's how he referred to himself, no doubt in a spasm of modesty. And your response is no answer to the proposition that any criticism, no matter how trivial, brings the faithful out with their pitchforks and lighted torches. Evidently this dude is perfect, eh?

 

[Old Pio]

Re: Obama XVI: Muslin curtains in the White House!!!

It's not like the judge sat there thinking of things to do, someone had to bring a suit and raise the Constitutional issue - in this case, it was a group of Republicans. And civil rights issues are one thing never best left up to the populace or its primary representatives (the legislature). The entire point of civil rights are to protect minorities from the majority mob.

And the armed forces have been passing the buck on this one for 30 years at a minimum. How much more time do they need?

Blah, blah, blah--lawyer bull s**t. Yeah, gays need "protection" from the DOD "mob." All those lynchings. Lawyers will argue any side of a proposition, if the money's right. Besides public and congressional debate is so messy, much easier to accomplish your goals through judicial fiat.