Steve-505729

who cares what obama is doing. the longer he is out of the country . The better.

Better yet; why don't you leave since all do is b!Tch? You'd be a lot happier; unless you go to a country struggling for its independence.

Steve if you hurry you can catch up to Sarah on the "Rolling Blunder" bus tour.

That whole bus trip thing worries me. What if Bachmann and O'Donnell lay in wait at a stop up the line, and hijack the damned thing to Cuba??

We care Steve. Thank God for President Obama.

If I wanted to be mean I would suggest we all start texting the bus driver.

DBO

Why bewitching MAMA GRIZZLY. This is why SPANKY and PIM are always on your case.lol

As for you Steve, you better learn how behave yourself and respect our president or you'll be wire tapped. you good for nothing teabagger.

Forrest, you have a wicked sense of humor!

How's this for a bit of irony...

If (and that's a BIG if) Palin becomes COC, then Todd would be getting BJ's from the President...

Unless of course, he continues to opt for the soup....

I need to, it can be a wicked world

Oh, it'd be the soup, alright....

Oh, it'd be the soup, alright....

That's great news Buzz!

I've been worried she was knocked up again, with that fire in her belly and all!

Must just be gas - we all know how 'full of it' she is! ;o)

This is great. Now that Rick Santorum is running, we'll finally found out where the weapons of mass destruction are. He apparently knows, but has been sitting on it for the past five years.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XE2y3js2OQ4

Oh, maybe that means they were all in his mind.

This is a MUST SEE for anyone who still believes FOX has EVER cared a hill of beans about facts.

I dont listen to Racist Beverly,

And you are a Racist.............. a Pathetic Excuse for a Human. worse then Ed Shultz.

He might know something about weapons of massturbation.

Don't worry Steve. The liberals are just pissed because you were the first poster. They always think they should come first. Not only here, but in real life too.

Forrest Grump

He might know something about weapons of massturbation.

LOL dog masturbation.

Anna Molly

This is great. Now that Rick Santorum is running, we'll finally found out where the weapons of mass destruction are. He apparently knows, but has been sitting on it for the past five years.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XE2y3js2OQ4

Oh, maybe that means they were all in his mind.

This is a MUST SEE for anyone who still believes FOX has EVER cared a hill of beans about facts.

I'm no chemical expert; maybe someone on here is and can tell us. I would think lethal and degraded is not synonymous.

But, for sure FOX NOISE is an oxymoron as in fairly inaccurate.

Please Insult Me! Okay, you are a Rethuglican.

Hi Fiesty-- I hope those ants aren't Jumping Bulldog Fire Ants. I crossed paths with them in Australia and let me just say, not fun! Or are ants just another term for uninvited guests?

Or are ants just another term for uninvited guests?

SHHHH! Those be the ones! Good for nothing other than irritating! ;o)

Feisty- cover for me on the beat-box selections when you get rid of those pesky ants, will ya? I have to be on the road to the greatest Cherrio-Go-Kart race of 'em all in Indy this weekend.

Drop a quarter on.... oh- I don't know, maybe..... 'Its Too Late'-Caorle King, for the NY 26 repubs and the fab-40 that voted for Ryan's Folly?

Gonne be a relief to get out of these hip-waders and this hazmat jumpsuit after the week it's been on here, and get on some beer-goggles! (in case you-know-who wanders in...)

Look out Fiesty, there's another one. Splatt!! good move, you might want to wipe that off your shoe. Wow, those are pretty ugly. You sure make that look easy. I guess that's why the ants don't like you. LOL

I guess that's why the ants don't like you. LOL

First I find out the my annual Christmas Card from the Obama's is autosigned & now you're saying ants don't like me?

What IS this world coming too?

Buzz - hand me those beer goggles, I'm going starting crying in mine early this week!

Speaking of dedications - when you get back, could you play 'You're So Vain' for Stinky from me? ;o)

Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL

Happy Memorial Day!

Special SHOUT OUT to all the military families who also have forfeited so much for our freedoms!

Time to run on over to the Dew Drop in and spray for ants – we more than familiar with how much they enjoy marching in & ruining a liberal picnic! ;o)

L@@K there's one right above me *PSSST* take that stevie!

Gosh, I was thinking that same thing. I can assure you that will be other nasty bugs.

I'm so glad all the men in my family who served came in one peace.

See you in a little bit. I'm bringing the watermelon and chicken.

As always, thanks to our excellent FR hosts who provide us with things to talk about and the best place for it.

Take time from the family gatherings to remember that Memorial Day was established to honor and remember the sacrifices of our mililtary men and women, and especially those who gave their last full measure of devotion.

Have a great weekend. Now I'm heading over to the Dew Drop Inn for the picnic.

"Speaking of dedications - when you get back, could you play 'You're So Vain' for Stinky from me? ;o)"

Hell, I'll 'jigger' the machine so it plays it over and over and over....nonstop. Seems appropriate, somehow.

drive-by-observer

Drop a quarter on.... oh- I don't know, maybe..... 'Its Too Late'-Caorle King, for the NY 26 repubs and the fab-40 that voted for Ryan's Folly?

LOL! YES, it's too late; baby and they know it.

I hope you don't mind me calling you baby.

I'm bringing the watermelon

Hope it's soaked in Kettle One!

We can always toss the rinds to the ants - that would shut them up for awhile! ;o)

that's some pop corn love Bevy.......

Beverly- call me any thing you'd like, as long as it's not 'late-for-lunch'!

(or, maybe, a 'ME First conservative')

But she's right when it comes to the Republican Party these days: 'there's something wrong here, there can be no denyin'....

Saaayyyy..............Those pesky things aren't ants. They're CROTCH-CRICKETS!

YOW! No wonder they're so irritating.

Have a great holiday weekend, Feisty and everyone, and have a great time at the Dew Drop.

Feisty

LOVE it or HATE the new format – First Read remains thee best place onthe web for us political junkies!

Are you kidding the righties love it. Where else can they go on the web and not be censured for their anti- America rants?

See we libruls do practice what is in the Constitution in regards to the 1st.

Well said, June. The republicans weren't satisfied to hold the emergency relief funds for the people of Joplin, Oklahoma City and elsewhere hostage, it should be no surprise they're now resorting to blackmail. If they can't get their way on medicare, they'll just sacrifice the country!

McConnell's ticked because he was forced to vote Yea or Nay on his own party's much touted bold and courageous budget so now he's threatening to allow the country to default. Everyday, McConnell and his tea-publican pals prove they have no hearts and no brains either.

June, Fl

Thank you for yor fervent posts which are always informational and encouraging.

See, Mitch McConnell does not bother me much. He is just like the eccentric millionaire character always mumbling and never quite being able to see what lies ahead because he is so myopic . Chickens are coming home to roost for Mitch.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__7RJpmgwG50/S8abhXw2EtI/AAAAAAAABUA/dyF5ZKAC5kg/s320/Mitch_McConnell_600.jpg

http://c1.cleantechnica.com/files/2011/01/mitch-mcconnell.jpg

Good idea, but you have to admit, sometimes one side or the other does or says something silly and it lightens up the day. Not sure right now there's not enough information on what Russia is suggesting or offering. I caught a brief discussion of it on MSNBC but it sounds a bit vague. Maybe we'll learn more this weekend after the G8 is done.

You have a nice weekend, too.

Happy Memorial Day to all are service men and women. All you veterans too. Please keep the families of the eight servicemen killed in Afghanistan this week in thoughts

Good suggestion Groucho ... Perhaps the level of dialog will improve.

chilled

Happy Memorial Day to all.

You too chilled; talk to you Tuesday.

With my very own Gov'ner thinking (Bwah-HAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA...like he thinks) about jumping into the big boys races after this session in Austin is done

Would that be the same Governor who NOW wants to preside over the country of which he wants to secede? LMFAO!

One industrial can of Raid coming righ up for you...

Well said Missy! Have a good week-end.

Yeppers there, Fiesty. That be the one. Thanks for the industrial strength can. That's the only thing that works down here in these parts. Pssssst. SWAT! sLAP. Got him!

Terrific post, Missy, nice way to end the week. Perry kind of walks funny as it is what with so many of those secessionist meetings he's had to attend the past couple years.

I'll second that shout out to Groucho Marx and Frank "Grimey" Grimes--both make FR an even better place for politics!

Missy TX

I think I'll take some bug spray there Feisty. Don't wanna git skeeter bit. With my very own Gov'ner thinking (Bwah-HAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHA...like he thinks) about jumping into the big boys races after this session in Austin is done.

Now Missy, that is what I'd call the "audacity of hope". Better shot him with the bug spray before he runs. Too bad it couldn't have DDT in it.

He is the biggest pest in our nation. Your governor is whacked he wants the "Divided States" of America not the "United States" of America.

Have a Happy Memorial Day Weekend; do they still call it Declaration Day down south?

Your telling me he's whacked Bev. I live here. Believe me I know. He needs to have his head examined but he's not alone in that need down here. I am a stranger in a strange land in BIG SKY country. I finally figured out why they call the state that. 'Cause politicians can tell lies and BIG as the whole SKY and Texans will still believe them.

Looks like the ill-advised cuts in edcuation to "...balance the budget with spending cuts." will be Ricky's last pain to put on Texans. It will also guarantee that less learning will be accomplished and more Texans will be dumbed down enough to either not vote at all or they vote uninformed and for who they are told is the best for them by others through mass manipulation or wholesale misinformation.

He wants run the government he hates. For most of us this makes no sense at all if we remember the flag waving successionist lap he ran last year during the ruun-up to the election. He is vapid, arrogant, incompetent, and mean.

Good hair though, for his age.

Jody: No they don't still call it that. That died out with Granny's generation really and she died back in the 70's. Thank for asking. I think of her often.

Missy TX

I am a stranger in a strange land in BIG SKY country. I finally figured out why they call the state that. 'Cause politicians can tell lies and BIG as the whole SKY and Texans will still believe them.

Missy TX

I am a stranger in a strange land in BIG SKY country. I finally figured out why they call the state that. 'Cause politicians can tell lies and BIG as the whole SKY and Texans will still believe them.

LOL TALL TALES

“when in fact the Republicans are trying to SAVE Medicare.” It is your opinion – the majority of voters disagree.

“She won an election based on distortion and the majority of the people (43+10=53%) voted against her.” But you forget to tell us the Tea Party candidate that got the 10% ran as a Democrat the last 2 times he ran for office. So who really would have got those votes?

“Chrysler repaid a portion of it's taxpayer loan.” “And the Treasury reports it is unlikely we will ever recover $1.9 billion of the original loan amount.” It has made a profit even if none of the remaining funds are ever repaid.

“President Obamahas repeatedly assured the middle class citizenry that they will not see any tax increase of any kind.” Another non-truth! What he said was that no one making less than $200k/250k would see their income taxes increase. Key words "income Taxes"!!

Candice-

The Week Just Passed:

President Obama manages to alienate another ally. 67% of Israeli's believe our President is aligned with Palestine over Israel.

Zogby: Jews Will Vote for Obama Despite Israel Stance

[snip]

“I think [the Israel issue] will be raised by Republican candidates, but I think the lines are drawn fairly well, and I think it’s hard for it to not be a 75 to 25 split for Obama and the Democrats,” he says.

Zogby also predicts that the primary impact of Obama’s Middle East speech will be to generate “a bit more enthusiasm among liberal voters,” especially Muslim-Americans.

Zogby notes that Muslim-American sympathies shifted markedly during the presidency of George W. Bush. They broke 10-to-1 for the Democratic candidate, Sen. John Kerry. The Iraq war and the Patriot Act offended Muslim voters, according to Zogby. An estimated 2-3 million Muslims reside in the United States.

Don’t Make Us Choose

Most of us hoped that Netanyahu would have given a courageous, creative speech to move the process forward, safeguarding Israel’s security as he must, but also recognizing the cogent, entirely reasonable requests from the President of the United States.

You are making us choose, Mr. Prime Minister. Please don’t.

http://www.forward.com/articles/138114/#ixzz1NUrVibSI

Everything you said is either a distortion or LIE.

GE whether your claim is true or not, the fact is you hopeless righties wanted GE to go bankrupt. Now that jobs and the loans are being repaid it makes you turn red enough to fry an egg on your faces.

Keep telling big LIES and keep repeating them. Our President is not like that velcro President GW Bush where every LIE stuck.

Dennis, you have to agree that even though Ryan's idea is far from perfect, at least the Republicans acknowledge Medicare is reducing benefits, costing more, and will be unsustainable at the rate it's going. Even the Healthcare Act provisions cut Medicare benefits. The Democrats are having a hard time even acknowledging the problem (well, except for President Clinton....), let alone offer a solution.

Speculating the Tea Party candidate's voters would have gone to Hochul is pure speculation. In the end, the majority voted against her.

I'm unclear on your Chrysler comment. Who made a profit? The government? Or Chrysler? Have you found an article that explains that? I couldn't find one that made any of that crystal clear.

Regarding the key words "income taxes," I stand corrected. Maybe he didn't mean to, but he sure made it sound as if folks would be better off, or at least wouldn't be burdened further financially.

Keep telling big LIES and keep repeating them. Our President is not like that velcro President GW Bush where every LIE stuck.

Well, there you go, Bev, admitting that the rhetoric thrown at President Bush was LIES. Welcome to the other side, girlfriend!

By the way, none of my statements were lies. All true. (Except the one Dennis corrected me on).

Candice,

I believe that most Democrats believe that Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security cannot remain as currently structured and funded. But the only plan the Republicans are currently putting to the public is Ryan’s which has very limited options. There are several ways that we can address this. People I know that are familiar with Medicare say they would be willing to have an increase in their payroll taxes to keep it going. We can also raise the cutoff limit from $108k to perhaps $150k. Then there is the age limit. Why not tie it to the full SS age limit (soon to be 67). How about sliding scale for premiums or copays dependent on income? There is a better way than to turn the program over to a for-profit industry.

“Income Taxes” – I’m sure he knew what he said AND how it would be taken – that is politics. Done well by all good politicians.

The TARP has been paid back more money (+24 billion) than they loaned out. So even if the remaining billions are never repaid we the people have come out ahead in the deal. Even if the loan to the US was paid with borrowed money at least we are off the hook and Fiat is deeper in debt.

http://www.frumforum.com/profit-proves-tarp-was-the-right-call

Dennis,

Jan Schakowsky says there's nothing wrong with Social Security or Medicare. Both are completely funded.

Raising the cap to $150,000 is reasonable, but then if those who pay in more don't get more out, you run into a re-distribution of wealth issue. I'm okay with raising the payroll tax for the Medicare portion. Private insurance premiums have certainly gone up. When was the last time Medicare premiums were raised?

The Republican plan includes a sliding scale for premiums, copays and deductibles. Those that earn more would pay more.

Raising the age is an interesting idea - as long as people have enough time to plan. The changes in Ryan's plan only effect those under 55. I personally think the cut off age should be somewhat younger. Maybe 40 or 45.

Ryan's plan is just a start-- and they have to start getting serious about this issue soon - without the demagoguery and distortion.

Regarding Chrysler, I believe I read in Reuters: Chrysler was offered $12.5 billion through TARP. They repaid $5.1 billion. They said they didn't want or need the remaining $2.1 billion. The Treasury is unlikely to recover $1.9 billion. What happened to the other $3.4 billion? It doesn't add up.

Candice,

Jan Schakowsky is a politician and we know that they will frame things in a way that gives them an advantage in an election. I tend to look more at their body of work and how they voted in the past. That is one reason I won't vote for someone running for a higher office that has not held public office before. People like Trump and Cain may have been great at running a business but running a state or country is very different. Business is all about the profit while government is all about the citizens and defense.

Distribution of wealth is built into our tax system and is normal and accepted in most countries and societies. I don't have a problem with the distribution as long as the wealthy maintain an advantage, just like I don't mind conservatives and liberals because they help keep things in balance. But most agree that the divide between rich and poor is too wide currently, like it was in the early 1900's.

I also think that the Ryan plan should have allowed more time (years) to prepare. The ideas I
listed are only some that are being floated but some combination can be used to allow Medicare to continue without giving it to for-profit companies. Whether Ryan says it or not it is privatization of Medicare with financial support from the Government, not unlike Medicare Advantage and Part D. Also I believe that a
large majority of us trust our government more to care for our seniors than they trust businesses.

Think about it, a for-profit business has no interest in insuring people that are more likely to consume as much or more than they contribute (even with government support). If you add up all a person's
lifelong medical expenses, on average, 50% of those expenses occur in the final year.

"Ryan's plan is just a start" If it is just a start then why was it included, as is, in his budget that the House passed and 40 Senators voted for? Why wasn't it given more debate and allowed plenty of time to add amendments. This was worse than HCR in that HCR was debated in subcommittees and on the House
floor for months before it got a vote this budget bill only got a couple weeks to debate a program that has been around for decades and that most people like.

"What happened to the other $3.4 billion? It doesn't add up." I haven't followed the money, who got how much and when. All the funds went to institutions and businesses and must have been put
on their books and watched by not only the Feds but by the independent auditors. You have at least 4 sets of auditors involved (Internal company auditors, Independent auditors, TARP auditors and the GAO). Any money lost or misplaced I believe is just a conspiracy theory.

Candice,

“When was the last time Medicare premiums were raised?” While I haven’t been able to find any year to year increase data I did fine a couple of items. In 2005 and again in 2008 the Medicare premiums increased by 17% {see links}.

The standard Medicare Part B monthly premium will be $115.40 in 2011, which is a 4.5% increase over the 2010 premium. The Medicare Part B premium is increasing in 2011 due to possible increases in Part B costs. Some people will pay a higher premium based on their modified adjusted gross income (a). But most Medicare beneficiaries will continue to pay the same Part B premium amount in 2011 due in part to the fact the for the second year in a row there was no cost of living allowance (COLA) for SSA payments.

(a) Beneficiaries who currently have the Social Security Administration (SSA) withhold their Part B premium and have incomes of $85,000 or less (or $170,000 or less for joint filers) will not have an increase in their Part B premium for 2011.

http://www.seniorjournal.com/NEWS/Medicare/2007/7-02-13-SeniorCitizensToSee.htm

http://www.snopes.com/politics/bush/medicare.asp

http://www.medicare.gov/MedicareEligibility/home.asp?dest=NAV%7CHome%7CGeneralEnrollment%7CPremiumCostInfo&version=default&browser=IE%7C9%7CWindows+7&language=English

I am thinking that until there is an alternative plan proposed, this will only serve as a political football. One can speculate all day long. Until there is a credible alternative proposal to the Ryan budget, it shall remain in the realm of ugly politics.

Dennis,

Yes, just about every year the Medicare Part B premiums go up. This is the premium seniors pay for their supplemental insurance. It's sad and unfortunate for seniors on fixed income when their COLA adjustment gets wiped out by the premium increase.

I was asking about the withholding amounts and this is what I found: Of the 7.65% deducted from our paychecks (the employee portion), 6.2% goes towards Social Security and 1.45% goes to Medicare. The Medicare rate of 1.45% has been the same since 1987! Why not increase OASDI & HI withholding rates by a percent or 2? I wonder how much impact that would make.

ssa.gov/oact/progdata/taxRates.html

Of course, what would really save both Social Security and Medicare would be to get people working again.

Candice,

“This is the premium seniors pay for their supplemental insurance.” This is for Medicare part B and it is not a supplemental plan. Supplemental insurance is covered in Medicare Advantage (aka Part C). Part C and Part D both require additional premium payments each if you purchase them.

Increasing the Payroll tax withholding (6.2%) is what I was talking about but should be one of several options to consider to save Medicare, Medicaid and SS. I have no problem with a small tax increase but the Republicans will not consider any tax increases just ask Grover Norquest.

Getting people back to work is the best way to fix the revenue problem but don’t expect it to recover any time soon. The heart of our economy was manufacturing. In 1990 manufacturing accounted for 30% of all payrolls and in 2000 it was 20% where, as of April 2011 it is only 10%. The quick recovery from the 1980 recession was based on out export and manufacturing industries that were 3 times what they are today as a percent of GDP.

Dennis,

You're right. The Republicans are dead set against raising taxes of any kind. I would be more inclined to accept a "premium" increase over a blanket tax hike because with tax hikes, we just don't know if the money goes to where it's supposed to go. Medicare and Social Security are problems that need to be addressed. I wish our politicians would do it reasonably and straightforward - without the over-the-top rhetoric and posturing.

It was nice sharing thoughts and ideas with you. Enjoy this beautiful day. (It's stopped raining and looks to be sunny and hot and steamy!)

Also, it's no secret the Republican Prosecutor Fitzgerald is wasting tax payer dollars by insisting for this. All republicans have their intent on demonizing Chicago because the President is from here.

With all the potholes and other things those tax dollars could go towards improving Chicago shows what a crying shame the Republican are.

I really hope Patrick Fitzgerald gets egg all over his face.

Bev, Congressman Jackson didn't take the bait and didn't make the contribution. Good for him. Really.

Fitzgerald has been after Blagojevich since 2006 -- long before Obama even thought about running for President. You're not actually defending Blago, are you? You think his politics were just politics as usual? Well, maybe for Chicago. That doesn't make it right. And we wonder why our state is such a mess.

Alan - You saw it on "live tv?" What channel was that? MSNBC? If you read the article, it says she called someone in the organization to see if it was okay to ride. Unfortunately, she is a distraction, and thanks to the media obsessed with her, she runs the risk of taking attention away from the good cause of the event.

The point is, when there's so many other important issues to cover, MSNBC pounces on Palin. They, themselves, call stories like these "shiny objects." I wonder if they generate revenue based on posts. Over 2000 posts on two Palin stories. I think they run Palin stories for the sole purpose of riling everyone up. More posts, more money is my guess.