Gas Bandit's Political Thread III

[GasBandit]

The Earned Income Tax Credit and Illegal Immigration: A Study in Fraud, Abuse, and Liberal Activism

Barack Obama has modeled his plan to create green jobs after Spain's recent efforts create green jobs. But here are the ugly facts ... every "green job" that was funded by the Spanish government caused the loss of 2.2 regular jobs, or about 9 jobs lost for every 4 created.

Obama wants to end a government-subsidized student loan program and redirect billions of dollars in bank profits to scholarships for "needy" students. A lot of private student lenders as well as Congressmen are upset by the plan.

Finally, over a week later, the United Nations condemned North Korea's missile launch. The Security Council also said that it will expand sanctions and demanded the end of missile tests.

Obama eased restrictions allowing Americans to make unlimited trips to Cuba and transfer money to family on the island.

Are you really buying this line that work from the economic stimulus bill is coming in "ahead of schedule and under budget?" Yeah, I didn't think so.

A lot of people are upset that Barack Obama is considering boycotting the UN's international conference on racism.

Where are Gitmo detainees going to end up? Some think it may be Virginia.

A bloc of Islamic countries want to set up their own "independent human rights commission."

Howard Dean is back in action, and he is using the limelight to promote government healthcare.

Nancy Pelosi wants gun registration. Precursor to gun confiscation? Usually.

Gah, time to buy stock in pitchfork and torch makers, the CEO of Exxon got a 10% raise in '08.

Illegal aliens cost Florida state taxpayers more than $3.8 billion annually.

 

[Espy]

Finally, over a week later, the United Nations condemned North Korea's missile launch. The Security Council also said that it will expand sanctions and demanded the end of missile tests.

Oh, well if the UN is demanding and end to the tests I have no doubt that North Korea will end them. I mean, who isn't terrified of the UN and their demands? I mean, if you go up against them you might get some kind of strongly worded letter reprimanding you and no one wants that.

 

[Dieb]

I want real sugar in my Coke again...

The reason Coke and many other US products don't use sugar has nothing to do with Cuba. We could import sugar from many, many other countries for cheap if we wanted to. But there are very large tarrifs on imported sugar, as the sugar lobby in the South is quite powerful. Combine that with the large subsidies corn growers get in the US, it's simply much cheaper to use corn syrup than it is to use sugar. Stopping the embargo on Cuba wouldn't change that (although it would still probably be a really good idea).

Obama wants to end a government-subsidized student loan program and redirect billions of dollars in bank profits to scholarships for "needy" students. A lot of private student lenders as well as Congressmen are upset by the plan.

Why would you put "needy" in parenthases there? Government subsidised scholarships help many kids go to college who couldn't otherwise afford it. College is bloody expensive. Moreover, Obama's plan is a good one. Giving money to private companies to give to students is wasting billions of dollars per year. Cut out the middle man. It's just smart management.

Are you really buying this line that work from the economic stimulus bill is coming in "ahead of schedule and under budget?" Yeah, I didn't think so.

Yes, yes I do buy it. Do you have any actual evidence that the President is blatanly lying? Obviously not. Moreover, it makes perfect sense that the stiumulus is ahead of schedule and under budget. Construction companies are HURTING right now. Even more so than the wider economy. Stimulus projects are some of the only things they can work on right now. Therefore, there's going to be a lot of competition for them. Competition equals lower prices. Simple economics.

A lot of people are upset that Barack Obama is considering boycotting the UN's international conference on racism.

Hey, I'd think you'd be happy about this Gas (to be sure, it didn't sound like you were unhappy about it) These UN conferences on racism are often degenerate into barely hidden anti-semitism. I would hope the President would take a hard line against that.

Nancy Pelosi wants gun registration. Precursor to gun confiscation? Usually.

National gun registration would be a bad idea, true. Luckily, there is absolutly no chance that such a bill will be brought to a vote, much less pass. In fact, I promise you all that if such legislation is signed into law in, oh, let's say the next four years (Obama's first term) I will post a video on this site of me eating my own hat.

Oh, well if the UN is demanding and end to the tests I have no doubt that North Korea will end them. I mean, who isn't terrified of the UN and their demands? I mean, if you go up against them you might get some kind of strongly worded letter reprimanding you and no one wants that.

In this particular case, UN sanctions do mean something. Mostly because North Korea depends on China for pretty much everything. The UN could only tighten sanctions with China's approval (what with their veto and everything), and therefore those sanctions would be effective. Now, you could say this is because of China, not the UN, and you'd be right. I guess I'm just trying to say that this UN resolution DOES mean something, even if it's not because of the UN.

 

[GasBandit]

Obama wants to end a government-subsidized student loan program and redirect billions of dollars in bank profits to scholarships for "needy" students. A lot of private student lenders as well as Congressmen are upset by the plan.

Why would you put "needy" in parenthases there? Government subsidised scholarships help many kids go to college who couldn't otherwise afford it. College is bloody expensive. Moreover, Obama's plan is a good one. Giving money to private companies to give to students is wasting billions of dollars per year. Cut out the middle man. It's just smart management.

Because of who decides what constitutes "needy." Also, I disagree that taking the private sector OUT of the process will make it more efficient.

[quote:1l2tn3sm]Are you really buying this line that work from the economic stimulus bill is coming in "ahead of schedule and under budget?" Yeah, I didn't think so.

Yes, yes I do buy it. Do you have any actual evidence that the President is blatanly lying? Obviously not. Moreover, it makes perfect sense that the stiumulus is ahead of schedule and under budget. Construction companies are HURTING right now. Even more so than the wider economy. Stimulus projects are some of the only things they can work on right now. Therefore, there's going to be a lot of competition for them. Competition equals lower prices. Simple economics.[/quote:1l2tn3sm]While I'm a big advocate of competition in all things, I still don't buy that the stimulus is "ahead of schedule and under budget" when they've been constantly talking about the need for ANOTHER 700 billion because the first two weren't enough, and that none of the money from the stimulus would really have any effect until next year. Though, I guess at that rate, most anything would be ahead of schedule and under budget.

[quote:1l2tn3sm]A lot of people are upset that Barack Obama is considering boycotting the UN's international conference on racism.

Hey, I'd think you'd be happy about this Gas (to be sure, it didn't sound like you were unhappy about it) These UN conferences on racism are often degenerate into barely hidden anti-semitism. I would hope the President would take a hard line against that.[/quote:1l2tn3sm] I was actually using my "neutral" voice on that line. I was merely making note that a lot of people were upset about it. Perhaps it is the right people to upset, though. We'll see. For the moment, I'm reserving judgement on the matter.

[quote:1l2tn3sm]Nancy Pelosi wants gun registration. Precursor to gun confiscation? Usually.

National gun registration would be a bad idea, true. Luckily, there is absolutly no chance that such a bill will be brought to a vote, much less pass. In fact, I promise you all that if such legislation is signed into law in, oh, let's say the next four years (Obama's first term) I will post a video on this site of me eating my own hat.[/quote:1l2tn3sm]I hope you're right, both for all our sakes and the sake of your hat.

 

[Espy]

Oh, well if the UN is demanding and end to the tests I have no doubt that North Korea will end them. I mean, who isn't terrified of the UN and their demands? I mean, if you go up against them you might get some kind of strongly worded letter reprimanding you and no one wants that.

In this particular case, UN sanctions do mean something. Mostly because North Korea depends on China for pretty much everything. The UN could only tighten sanctions with China's approval (what with their veto and everything), and therefore those sanctions would be effective. Now, you could say this is because of China, not the UN, and you'd be right. I guess I'm just trying to say that this UN resolution DOES mean something, even if it's not because of the UN.

I hope your right. Otherwise someone should go find Hans Blix and get him the F out of North Korea. Kim Jong's sharks are hungry.

-- Tue Apr 14, 2009 5:36 pm --

Oh, well if the UN is demanding and end to the tests I have no doubt that North Korea will end them. I mean, who isn't terrified of the UN and their demands? I mean, if you go up against them you might get some kind of strongly worded letter reprimanding you and no one wants that.

In this particular case, UN sanctions do mean something. Mostly because North Korea depends on China for pretty much everything. The UN could only tighten sanctions with China's approval (what with their veto and everything), and therefore those sanctions would be effective. Now, you could say this is because of China, not the UN, and you'd be right. I guess I'm just trying to say that this UN resolution DOES mean something, even if it's not because of the UN.

I hope your right. Otherwise someone should go find Hans Blix and get him the F out of North Korea. Kim Jong's sharks are hungry.

 

[Krisken]

I can haz biased Opinion Piece too?

Homeland Security Report: Rising Right Wing Extremism.

This is my gust from the left to keep people from being blown off their feet by the windstorm on the right

 

[Espy]

I can haz biased Opinion Piece too?

Homeland Security Report: Rising Right Wing Extremism.

This is my gust from the left to keep people from being blown off their feet by the windstorm on the right

OMG reading the comments on that site just broke my brain. :bush:

 

[Krisken]

I can haz biased Opinion Piece too?

Homeland Security Report: Rising Right Wing Extremism.

This is my gust from the left to keep people from being blown off their feet by the windstorm on the right

OMG reading the comments on that site just broke my brain. :bush:

Yyyyeeaahhhh, I don't. They hurt me too. Just like reading from any site that supplies information of a political nature, honestly. I once read the comments on ABC News, and I was shocked by how much vitriol there was.

 

[Dieb]

Because of who decides what constitutes "needy." Also, I disagree that taking the private sector OUT of the process will make it more efficient.

The Federal Government will decide, based purely on the prospective student's and their parent's income, as they have done since the program was started in 1965. It's a pretty good system; not perfect, of course, I'm sure there are ways to game the system a bit, but truely many, MANY students have managed to go to college because of this program.

I would agree that the private sector is mostly more efficient than the Feds, but not always. This case falls under the "not always". You see, this program is a classic case of socializing the risks, privatizing the costs. The Feds subsidize the program by paying any remaining debt owed if a student defaults. So the private companies basically can't lose money - they get paid back one way or the other. Why should the government be engaging in corporate welfare of this type?

Moreover, the government also does directly loan some money to students. So we can compare direct loads to subsidized private loans. And it turns out, the CBO did a study that showed that administration costs of the direct loan program were actually LOWER (http://www.newamerica.net/blog/higher-e ... ffel-10775). The only argument I've heard against eliminating the subsidized loans and doing all direct loans is that some of these private companies are located in powerful Congresspeople's districts. Hardly a good argument. I would love to read an actual, numbers based argument for the current program, but I doubt it exists. All the evidence I've seen points to the subsidize loans simply being wasteful.

While I'm a big advocate of competition in all things, I still don't buy that the stimulus is "ahead of schedule and under budget" when they've been constantly talking about the need for ANOTHER 700 billion because the first two weren't enough, and that none of the money from the stimulus would really have any effect until next year. Though, I guess at that rate, most anything would be ahead of schedule and under budget.

While there were some rumblings about another stimulus program (from Nancy Pelosi amoung others) I haven't heard anything on that front in weeks, and I've never heard Obama propose it.

I hope you're right, both for all our sakes and the sake of your hat.

Oh don't worry too much, I don't wear it that often, I'm not much of a hat person

I hope your right. Otherwise someone should go find Hans Blix and get him the F out of North Korea. Kim Jong's sharks are hungry.

Kim Jon Il is just so roooooonely.

Homeland Security Report: Rising Right Wing Extremism.

Yea, that report has stirred up a hornet's nest of hilarity. First of all; I do no approve of the report. The Federal government needs to be keeping an eye on domestic terroism, this is true. It can come from either side of the political spectrum - Eco-terrorists and wannabe-McVeighs alike. But in both this report, and others like it about Left-wingers, they go far beyond the justified monitoring of dangerous people to shredding the Fourth Amendment rights of innocent American citizens - even if those citizens are on the fringes.

But the response of the Right to this report has been HIL-FUCKING-ARIOUS. After seven years of arguing the Executive Branch has unlimited authority to ignore the privacy of ordinary Americans - saying that if people have nothing to hide they have nothing to fear, amoung other things - they've gone apeshit after that authority has been used on people like them. And this report was written under Bush - it's not like this is a Left-wing conspiracy to demonize the Right.

No, it's simply the inevitable consequence of giving the government way too much power. Hopefully, finally, the party arguing for smaller government will finally realize that the ability to wiretap anyone's phone is not exactly "small government". I doubt it though. It looks like pure hypocracy. I mean, Michelle Malkin wrote a book saying that the internment of Japanese-Americans during WWII was great policy, and has obviously been a cheerleader for the worst excesses of the Bush administration - but suddenly is worried about the police state when it shreads the rights of people like her. Anyway, here's a good roundup of the response to the report: http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/ ... veillance/

 

[Shakey]

But the response of the Right to this report has been HIL-smurfing-ARIOUS. After seven years of arguing the Executive Branch has unlimited authority to ignore the privacy of ordinary Americans - saying that if people have nothing to hide they have nothing to fear, amoung other things - they've gone apeshit after that authority has been used on people like them. And this report was written under Bush - it's not like this is a Left-wing conspiracy to demonize the Right.

I've never understood this argument, especially when coming from the right. They argue about the slow erosion of our rights when it comes to gun ownership and gun control. They say that the loss of our right to bear arms can lead to a fascist government. They say the government is too lazy and corrupt to run systems like universal healthcare and social security. But yet the government can be trusted to not use the ability to spy on us without warrants or oversight for corrupt purposes?

 

[Futureking]

But the response of the Right to this report has been HIL-smurfing-ARIOUS. After seven years of arguing the Executive Branch has unlimited authority to ignore the privacy of ordinary Americans - saying that if people have nothing to hide they have nothing to fear, amoung other things - they've gone apeshit after that authority has been used on people like them. And this report was written under Bush - it's not like this is a Left-wing conspiracy to demonize the Right.

I've never understood this argument, especially when coming from the right. They argue about the slow erosion of our rights when it comes to gun ownership and gun control. They say that the loss of our right to bear arms can lead to a fascist government. They say the government is too lazy and corrupt to run systems like universal healthcare and social security. But yet the government can be trusted to not use the ability to spy on us without warrants or oversight for corrupt purposes?

Reasons For Not Caring About Wiretaps and Gun Control

Now, the control of the American government swings from one party to the next all the time. If there are signs that one party is planning to make the nation into a police state, it would be voted out before everything is implemented perfectly in all 50 states.

If a single party has been controlling the government for the past 20-50 years, then you will have reason to worry. Of course, it would be too late by then.

Yes. I suppose my post could be intepreted as
"America is almost incapable of being a police state because it is simply too inefficient."

 

[GasBandit]

I'd just like to stop for a moment for this bipartisan message:

Dennis Kucinich's wife is freakin' smokin' hot.

Thank you. Now, back to the regularly scheduled program.

The somali pirates attempted to attack another american ship but failed. Four other ships weren't as lucky.

Matt Lauer doesn't like the idea of Goldman Sachs paying back its bailout money just so government doesn't own and run it any more.

GM acknowledges the Chevy Volt is a financial loser.

What the UN does with US money

An oil chief has warned that US green policies are likely to turn American into "the world's cleanest third world country."

China says that thousands of dolphins blocked Somali pirate ships from attacking Chinese merchant ships passing the Gulf of Aden. rly:

 

[SpecialKO]

I'd just like to stop for a moment for this bipartisan message:

Dennis Kucinich's wife is freakin' smokin' hot.

I think this bill will pass quite easily, GB.

The somali pirates attempted to attack another american ship but failed. Four other ships weren't as lucky.

Good work on the Navy saving those people. Does anyone know what other countries have warships in the area like the article says? The US and French, obviously, but who are the others? (GB's last link seems to suggest China)

Matt Lauer doesn't like the idea of Goldman Sachs paying back its bailout money just so government doesn't own and run it any more.

Was Goldman one of the ones who helped cause the problem (like Lauer claims)? I was under the impression that they (more or less) kept their noses out of the risky securities in question. Even if you make the argument that they helped contribute to the Wall Street culture that created the meltdown (which is true enough IMHO), I don't see how their refusal to take public money to fix problems they don't have can possibly be a bad thing.

 

[Charlie Don't Surf]

so, gasbandit, are you planning on going to a tea party today?

 

[GasBandit]

so, gasbandit, are you planning on going to a tea party today?

No, for several reasons -

1) I have work to do, if I take a day off (even for valid reasons such as sickness) all that means is I have to work that much harder to catch up when I get back. Don't even get me started on what happened last time I took THREE DAYS off for vacation.
2) I believe it to be a futile gesture
3) I don't want to have to drive a lot to get there
4) I'd rather go home and play Warhammer Online with the little woman.

 

[Yoink]

Good work on the Navy saving those people. Does anyone know what other countries have warships in the area like the article says? The US and French, obviously, but who are the others? (GB's last link seems to suggest China)

There are warships from several european nations (Operation Atalanta), and ships from India, Russia, China and Japan as far as I know. It is ineffective nonetheless so far.

I may underestimate the effort, but why don´t they pass the area in convoys, guarded by the warships already present there? So far they have the choice of losing several weeks sailing around the Cape of Good Hope or losing the ship.

 

[Matt²]

Wish I'd heard of the Tea Party before it was over, I would have joined!

Gasbandit, you're slipping!

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent ... 48IO2.html
Perry says Texas can secede from the Union

 

[Krisken]

Maybe with the NSA wiretapping a Congressman without a warrent our representatives will take it seriously.

 

[Espy]

Maybe with the NSA wiretapping a Congressman without a warrent our representatives will take it seriously.

Couldn't Big "O" do something about this? NPR did a story tonight on how he's simply pushing harder down the Bush path for big intrusive government according to human rights/civil rights groups... seems like maybe the peeps who elected him need to get on the horn to Washington.

 

[Krisken]

Maybe with the NSA wiretapping a Congressman without a warrent our representatives will take it seriously.

Couldn't Big "O" do something about this? NPR did a story tonight on how he's simply pushing harder down the Bush path for big intrusive government according to human rights/civil rights groups... seems like maybe the peeps who elected him need to get on the horn to Washington.

This is one of those areas where Obama has been defending the Bush administration, much to my chagrin.

Hopefully enough people raise hell and get him to wake up on this issue.

 

[DarkAudit]

A woman at a protest here actually equated the volunteerism bill with the Hitler Youth.

I'll just say this, because I've had enough. FUCK THE RIGHT. You LOST THE FUCKING ELECTION. If you can't get over that, then just GTFO. For the love of God, GO! Just stop this sour grapes bullshit.

Texas, you want to secede? Then DO IT you fucking chickenshit! Show us you have the balls to actually back up the red meat you're flinging at "the base" instead of sending out some idiot flack to tell us what you "really meant". Otherwise you're just a fucking coward.

I am losing the ability to deal with these idiots anymore. I'm losing the ability to show any respect for anyone who willingly still supports the previous administration and what he represents.

 

[Matt²]

A woman at a protest here actually equated the volunteerism bill with the Hitler Youth.

I'll just say this, because I've had enough. smurf THE RIGHT. You LOST THE smurfing ELECTION. If you can't get over that, then just GTFO. For the love of God, GO! Just stop this sour grapes bullshit.

Texas, you want to secede? Then DO IT you smurfing chickenshit! Show us you have the balls to actually back up the red meat you're flinging at "the base" instead of sending out some idiot flack to tell us what you "really meant". Otherwise you're just a smurfing coward.

I am losing the ability to deal with these idiots anymore. I'm losing the ability to show any respect for anyone who willingly still supports the previous administration and what he represents.

So..what, no equal opportunity for Republicans from 8 years of "Bush lied/Bush stole the election" ?

That's just silly..

 

[Krisken]

So..what, no equal opportunity for Republicans from 8 years of "Bush lied/Bush stole the election" ?

That's just silly..

Do what you want. Just don't expect to be taken seriously.

I say good on the people protesting. If you don't like something, you should speak out. Whether I agree or not with the rhetoric is another story, of course. Maybe at least now the people protesting will realize that disagreeing with elected officials doesn't make you a terrorist or anti-American.

 

[DarkAudit]

A woman at a protest here actually equated the volunteerism bill with the Hitler Youth.

I'll just say this, because I've had enough. smurf THE RIGHT. You LOST THE smurfing ELECTION. If you can't get over that, then just GTFO. For the love of God, GO! Just stop this sour grapes bullshit.

Texas, you want to secede? Then DO IT you smurfing chickenshit! Show us you have the balls to actually back up the red meat you're flinging at "the base" instead of sending out some idiot flack to tell us what you "really meant". Otherwise you're just a smurfing coward.

I am losing the ability to deal with these idiots anymore. I'm losing the ability to show any respect for anyone who willingly still supports the previous administration and what he represents.

So..what, no equal opportunity for Republicans from 8 years of "Bush lied/Bush stole the election" ?

That's just silly..

No, no equal opportunity. Fuck 'em. If they want to start talking about violent revolution (Glenn Beck and Michelle Bachman), or "reeducation camps" (Bachman again), then they can just fuck right the fuck off. They LOST. And their behavior of late shows that the majority has every right to rub their fucking noses in it.

 

[Matt²]

..except you'd deny them their right to express an opinion that is DIFFERENT than yours. What are you, a Nazi?

oops, Godwin..

What are you, a Democrat?

damn.. again.. uhh.. Socialist?

Obama lover?

dang I just can't win here....

 

[Krisken]

..except you'd deny them their right to express an opinion that is DIFFERENT than yours. What are you, a Nazi?

oops, Godwin..

What are you, a Democrat?

damn.. again.. uhh.. Socialist?

Obama lover?

dang I just can't win here....

Ok, now you look like a fucking idiot.

 

[Matt²]

Meh, fuck me for having a different opinion.

 

[Krisken]

Meh, smurf me for having a different opinion.

No, fuck you for being an idiot. I'm happy with opinions that are based in reality, not in labeling and bumper sticker slogans. Try forming an opinion that doesn't make you look like a ditto-head once.

 

[Matt²]

Fine. I'm for small federal government, not the United Governance of America. Mine, I came up with that.

I'm against socialistic policies, no matter how disguised they may be, most commonly practiced by the Democratic party(ies).

And I'm FULLY against any sort of "secondary army" that Obama wants to start in lieu of the military!!

 

[Krisken]

Fine. I'm for small federal government, not the United Governance of America. Mine, I came up with that.

I'm against socialistic policies, no matter how disguised they may be, most commonly practiced by the Democratic party(ies).

And I'm FULLY against any sort of "secondary army" that Obama wants to start in lieu of the military!!

Yeah, honestly, you were able to supply an opinion in the first, then started in with the labeling, then went into crazy land that lost me.
Tell ya what- You start making sense, I'll start responding to you again. Deal?

 

[SpecialKO]

And I'm FULLY against any sort of "secondary army" that Obama wants to start in lieu of the military!!

Back up a second. What are you referring to here?

'Cause all they're doing is expanding Americorps.

 

[Matt²]

well.. in my defense.. I was honestly THINKING the Monty Python general or admiral or whatever he is... I was just too lazy to find a pic.

And the labels were honestly meant in jest.

I've had sugar tonight, I'm giddy as hell!

:aaahhh: :aaahhh: :aaahhh: :aaahhh: :aaahhh:

 

[Troll]

Wow Neon, nice job veering off the tracks there. Don't get me wrong, I acknowledge that DarkAudit's comments were rather incendiary... but damn. Way to fill a stereotype.

 

[Shakey]

Maybe with the NSA wiretapping a Congressman without a warrent our representatives will take it seriously.

Couldn't Big "O" do something about this? NPR did a story tonight on how he's simply pushing harder down the Bush path for big intrusive government according to human rights/civil rights groups... seems like maybe the peeps who elected him need to get on the horn to Washington.

I don't think Obama ever really spoke out against this stuff. When the shit hit the fan about ATT giving the Gov't anything they wanted he didn't speak out against giving telco's immunity, he didn't even show up for the vote to voice an opinion. But it's the governments responsibility to keep us safe, so we should be willing to let them do what they want to do that. Who cares if a few innocent people get caught in the cross fire, it will save a few other innocent people.

 

[Troll]

But it's the governments responsibility to keep us safe, so we should be willing to let them do what they want to do that. Who cares if a few innocent people get caught in the cross fire, it will save a few other innocent people.

:shock:

God bless your optimism, but I just don't think the world works that way. People have the keep their government in line, not the other way around. That's how it *should* work, anyway.