yes, thanks to our journalist hosts for putting up with us! Awesome crown!

Nice crown Andy...

Coincidence?

Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL

So, the 'crown' has been polished and is waiting to be placed on top of the vulture capitalists impeccably groomed over inflated head!

Got it... lol

PS: Still waiting for someone to explain to me WHY after 5 years of campaigning Willard still is only at 39%.

#1 - Wed Jan 11, 2012 9:50 AM CST

Feisty, Could we please get some Giordano's stuffed pizza. I haven't had any since I moved away.

Hi Lisa

Could we please get some Giordano's stuffed pizza

Excellent choice - we had some on New Years Eve!

Mmmm Mmmm GOOD!

Beverly, Hi back at you. Glad to hear you will be spending time with your grandson You have a good weekend

It's good to be the King?

I thought this was an Interview with the President........

I posted this on the previous thread by mistake..

I don't know about anyone else, but I'm ready for some fun at the DDI, looking forward to a good fire to sit around, sipping a good bourbon and soda and visiting with my good friends.

To our great hosts, thank you for all your hard work, come join us if you have time for a respite. First round is on me.

Feisty, you might just be right about those two, birds of a feather indeed. Bring some of that great Chicago deep dish please. I have some of the best homemade salsa ready to go.

Everyone have a great weekend, some of us may cross paths or posts during the holiday weekend. If you are lucky enough to be off on Monday, take a moment to remember the great man we are honoring,Martin Luther King, he was for all Civil Rights, we are not there yet, but soon we will, we just have keep working at it.

Everyone have a safe and happy weekend.

I have some of the best homemade salsa ready to go.

You know the direct route to my ♥!

Everyone have a safe and happy weekend

You too lisa!

Definitely, ready for the weekend. Only one GOP debate, too. Happy Friday everyone! That pizza sounds perfect this cold, genuinely winter night.

Thanks again to our excellent FR hosts who provide us with lots to discuss a place to do just that.

GBM, I heard there will be a repeat of the MLK Memorial official ceremony.

Have a wonderful weekend! Time to head to the DDI, have some pizza, a gin & tonic--and join the fun.

Hey phine, if you're out there reading today, I'll be rooting for your boy tomorrow night!

Hoping he can pull out another miracle in New England!

Only one GOP debate, too.

Three...count them...THREE debates over the next week...

1/14 - College of Charleston, "Huckabee Forum 2" - Taped Broadcast on FOX News @ 8 PM

1/16 - Myrtle Beach, SC - Broadcast on FOX News @ 9 PM

1/19 - Charleston, SC - Broadcast on CNN @ 8 PM

Question for the Evangelicals out there...what do you watch tomorrow night? Do you watch the debate, moderated by Mike Huckabee or do you watch the the Denver Tebows play the Patriots?

WCA, I'll be rooting for them too along with the Giant's.

Just dropped by. Lisa & WCA - It's Tebow Time! (I hope). Sorry to Patriot fans, but I am tired of Tom "cutey boy" Brady. Also hope to see the G-Men take down GB!! I like both the 49er's and Saints so may the best team win there. Guess I will go for the Ravens. The Texans just leave me cold (and they always beat my Jags, so probably some sour grapes there too)

Amy B. Portland, ME

yes, thanks to our journalist hosts for putting up with us!

Amy we can be naughty. I do need to thank our hosts too.

Have a nice weekend Amy

Phinephancy, I couldn't agree more. Don't like Tom either and I don't like his big-mouthed wife. I know Denver doesn't have much of a chance but I'll be rooting for them anyway.

lisa,

For some reason this year, I am pulling for all the underdogs! I like to see a shake up in the NFL every now and then.

I am truly amazed how many people follow football. Are the Rams still around? What about the Raiders, are they back in Oakland?

That's all I got.

phinephancy, I like underdogs too. I'll check in with you Sunday.

phine, I'm rooting for the Texans because I think Yellowdog Mark is the most sane person on this site and he's in Texas.

How's that for a convoluted reason, eh?

With the Lions out I don't have a dog in the playoff fight anymore, so it will be Tebow time until the magic runs out.

Have a great weekend phine.

You too, WCA. Hope you have plenty of football munchies on hand!

thetotas,

I think football might be considered the national religion! LOL In the south, college football is, that's for sure!

Gingerbread Mama

Thanks for the cocktail. I do love appletinis. A toast to our hosts and all who post on FR.

The DDI is nice and toasty and the jokes are real funny and the wit lighting quick.

Will be doing some international polling next week about our upcoming election year.

The Canadians on the beach, the Mexican taxi drivers and the bar crowd overlooking a Huatulco bay late at night are always willing to offer their views on US politics.

Well, at least football brings you all together ... enjoy everyone, my hockey team sucks ... maybe there is some curling going on.

Ideology,

Believe it or not, I like curling. A must see during the Olympics! As an aside, in hockey, I saw the last game ever played by the USSR team on a New Year's Eve. The next day they became the Russian team. They played the USA in St. Petersburg, FL

ideology,...we play curling on the Wii. it is hysterically fun! Good luck finding a match on ESPN 68

Clara,

You can do curling on Wii? Cool!

maybe there is some curling going

Ideolog - I actually got to try my hand at curling on one of my trips to Montibello!

Had a blast!

You all should read Rick Reilly's article on Tebow today.

Absolutely incredible.

Curling ... the sport that old people play better than young people ... physical fitness not required ... people over 6 feet need not apply.

Spanky, Thanks for referring the article to us here on FR. It was really uplifting to read. He already had me rooting for him and now I'll be rooting even harder.

Yes, I think it is the Winter Olympics game. We have tournaments once a month or so. My favorite tournament games are the ski jumping on the wii board (which when we really get into it is hysterical because we often jump OFF the board) and the sand volleyball; but curling holds a special place in my laughter regiment.

.. and you need a brain to play it well ... chess on ice.

Ideology,

Are you a Habs fan by any chance?

Oh geez, not another Republican debate tomorrow night @ 8:00. Guess we'll all have to miss the football game and stop and listen to what the GOP candidates have to say. We wouldn't want to miss that! Right? haha

Pat,

Option 1) Watch Brady to Welker, Brady to Gronkowski, Brady to Hernandez, Brady to Branch, some yardage on the ground from the Law Firm, Ripley, and Woodhead, etc., and some surpisingly stingy defensive play,

OR,

Option 2) Watch a few yard birds peck at each other.

=Not a tough decision.

Go PATS!

Sorry to Patriot fans, but I am tired of Tom "cutey boy" Brady.

phinephancy, I know how you feel.

It's how I felt about Derek Jeter for years. And Peyton Manning. And Brett Favre.

comfortablynumb - haha. Can't wait!

OOPS--it's Ridley, not Ripley. My Bad!

Well, the other option is still a bunch of yard birds......

Pat: ditto about Jeter (Nomah's Bettah!), Peyton Manning, etc.

Nomah's Bettah!

Wow, does that ever bring back memories! A friend of mine had tee shirts made up with those words and he made a killing selling them outside of Fenway Park many many years ago.

Boy, what a great rivalry that was back then between the two teams and the two fan bases. The memories will stay with me for the rest of my life. Those were stressful years.

But I wouldn't have wanted it any other way.

Thanks for the RR Article tip Spanky. What a great Role Model.

Hope he can get past New England tomorrow.

Watch for the pig Blingrich to get nailed more for his anti-free-market attacks!! Oh god, how I dislike him!!

Damn the kid is smart!!!

Of course he is - look who he has as a Grama?

apple martini cocktail.

I'll join you... yummy!

Domenico every time I see you on TV I feel like I know you & Mark

Ain't that the truth!

It would be a wise move for NBC to replace gotcha Gregory with Mark Murray!

Let's not forget Dr King's birthday Monday.

I propose a toast to the man who had a dream...

one martini

two martinis

three martinis ... I see pink boobies flying!

One martini

two martinis

three martinis......floor

Bev and Feisty,

Pizza's good; but we are going out to celebrate my baby's 9th birthday! Last year I missed his birthday party because of the surgery, so THIS year is going to be GREAT! Last year his party was held at the local food bank and he didn't accept gifts; but rather asked people to donate food. I am so proud of him.

"Everybody can be great because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verbs agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love." -Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr

This is the basic tenet that Romney lacks understanding about,...people aren't envious of his wealth. They just want basic fairness. When politicians continue to stack the deck in the favor of corporations or venture capitalists or the monied few,...it does NOT represent American VALUES. It represents GREED. And the bastardization of the former idea of Free Market that we have seen for the recent two decades is an affront to anyone who built something from the ground up with sweat and toil. You simply can't socialize the losses and privatize the gains and expect that MOST Americans will buy into your BS.

Happy 3-day weekend, everyone!

Your grandson is indeed smart. How anyone can watch FOX is beyond me. Anyone who hires "consultants" like Palin and Beck does not deserve my time or attention. I'll stick to non-cable news, NPR, and online news sites.

It's a nice sunny day here in Texas! Hope everyone has a great weekend! I'll be having a margarita with my enchiladas and tomatillo sauce tonight!

Romney gets irritated very easily--see this segment in which he argues with a journalist about his involvement with lobbyists. He does NOT like to be questioned: www.youtube.com/watch?v=rephMjLmT9Y

Thank you Fiesty

Of course he is - look who he has as a Grama?

It would be a wise move for NBC to replace gotcha Gregory with Mark Murray!

Let's not forget Dr King's birthday Monday.

I propose a toast to the man who had a dream...

Sometimes, I forget or will the TV on when I think he's sleep just to catch the LIE of the day. It really hurts his little feelings to hear all that negativity which is why I truly I hope that phone scandal gets rid of FOX NOISE. They teach too much hate; and of course they LIE.

Hey some jerk is on that other loud mouth jerk, Dylan Ratigan, trying put some BS out about what the President said regarding war when he accepted his Nobel Prize. All these righties who accuse MSNBC of being in the tank for the President apparently don't watch morning Joke and this Dylan dude.

Yes, anybody but Gregory for MTP host both Mark and Domenico will be good.

I'll toast to Dr King's legacy and my son's birthday.

I see pink boobies flying!

(*) (*)

Now you can't say you have never been flashed! ☺

That grandson surely is a smart one, Beverly.

@ Clara - You give him a big Birthday {{{hug}}} from Auntie Feisty!

enchiladas and tomatillo sauce tonight!

YUM!

If you have any leftovers, you are welcome to join us @ The Dew Drop Inn's buffet!

Dylan Ratigan

I can't stand him GF - the only one Dylan is concerned about IS Dylan!

Clara enjoy your baby's birthday. Tell him I wish him a Happy birthday. He is the same age as my grandson. I'll have a drink for you.

Have a safe journey

Clara, Happy 9th Birthday to your cherub. Hard to believe that's been a year already.

Ideology,GBM, LOL.

Beverly, the glass is raised to the man who had the dream!

Bethie, I think Rick Perry might be headed back to Texas soon, you have our deepest sympathy.

Bethie from Texas & Jodie

I never once thought about news being toxic until last tear when my grandson looked at me with nearly tears in his asking me to turn that off. I know as a grandparent I have the option to turn if off or not watch it. My point is how can anyone let their child agree with the hatred FOX spews 24/7 365/6 days a year?

As a child my mother R.I.P and I watched the news together she never, never, ever said anything bad about Eisenhower; and she was a Democrat. In fact, to this day I have fond memories of those evenings. Perhaps, it may be because I had a loving mother or maybe it's because at the time I loved Ike's image.

I saw something last year; that was, when an eight yr old can see through FOX; why can't an adult? I mean I was truly astonished. I think I will live with that enlightening moment for the rest of my life.

Bethie send us some shine.

You and Jody have a good weekend.

Clara---the bark doesn't fall far from the tree!!! Hope you have a great birthday celebration. After the kiddos have gone to bed, come on down to the DDI---we'll keep a seat warm for you!

Steeler Fan-380417

From one Diva to another Diva

Have a happy weekend

Sorry , phine

I not going with Tebow; but you and your guys keep that fridge stocked anyhow. I'm sure you'll have fun watching Tebow play Jesus. (smiles)

See you @ the DDI.

Bev,

Be it Tebow or any other team, as long as the Pats lose I am happy!

I can't stand him GF - the only one Dylan is concerned about IS Dylan!

I couldn't agree more, Feisty!...2 minutes of his rants gives me a headache!

@ chilled - I am so glad you accepted the invitation!

I left you a little something over there to help you get settled in! ☺

Got it, Feisty!...I'm warmly settled in!

Like your picks, especially;

G-Men upset Packers...

With my Steelers out of the playoffs, I'll be rooting for the Texans! Our alternate team is the Giants since my husband is originally from NYC. Heard a stat on the radio today that no offense or defense that placed lower than 25th has ever won the Super Bowl. New England and the Packers were worse than 25th this year in defense so mabe they'll both be out!

Considering the way my Jags play, I may never see another playoff game at home again. Sorry about cheering against the Texans, Steeler, but they always beat us up so bad, my sour grapes force to pull for the Ravens (again, uck, but lesser of two evils..)

If the Ravens lose there will be so much whining you won't believe it. I actually won't mind if the Ravens win----they will draft lower that way and can still have their hearts broken later in the playoffs.

dangerfield you still there ... the new poll was on The Wall Street Journal

Steeler,

Yeah, I don't see the Ravens getting much farther than this round. What do you think about the Saints and 49er's? More of an AFC girl myself, but I rather like both of these teams and can't pick one.

Giants, Saints, Ravens and [I hope] the Broncos.

Then again, it's a good thing I'm not in Vegas, cause I suck at betting football.

Green Bay, 9er's Ravens and Bronco's, gotta go with the 9er's they just keep comin...

I remember the day of the Super Bowl like it was yesterday -

The place: ESPN -

Pundit after football player after ex-football player ALL DAY looking straight into the camera and saying - there is NO WAY that the Patriots are going to beat the GREATEST SHOW ON TURF and Kurt Warner.

The Patriots won.

I'm hearing the same thing today - there is NO WAY Tebow & Co. will beat the Patriots. Well, that remains to be seen. There is such a thing as an upset. Happens all the time.

Who will it be this weekend??

My picks - Patriots (what with them being my home team), Ravens, Giants & Saints.

Enjoy the games.

I'm rooting for your Patriots - Pat!

Who can evah forget the '85 Super Bowl! ;o)

Love the 49ers, but gotta go for the Saints..

I got family in New Orleans, and the Saints have such a comeback spirit, winning superbowl after the devastion and heartache of Katrina.

Aaaaah yes, the '85 Super Bowl. Great great team the Bears that year. I remember the Bears staging some sort of Super Bowl dance that week, complete with sunglasses. The shuffle. Too funny.

Our Super Bowl party back then was over before it began. I guess every football fan has had days like that. LoL.

Tebow is an awfully nice kid. With our defense {ugh}, he has a shot. It's soooooooooo windy & cold right now. Tomorrow nite it's going to be freezing. Game time temps start in the 20's and then the temps just keeps going down down down as the game goes on. Brrrrrrrrrr.

For me the only game tomorrow is New Orleans - San Fransisco.

GO 49ers!!!!!!!!!!

(A Denver - San Fransisco Super Bowl? Naw......but fun to consider!)

Mark, I haven't seen the 49ers play this year, but people who have seen them are telling me not to count them out. They surely have a tough road to get to the Super Bowl. All the teams in the NFC are capable of making it.

I would like to see Green Bay win this weekend because they had such a great season and I would hate to see their journey end. Plus I like Aaron Rodgers.

But there's something about Eli Manning that I wouldn't discount. I can't quite put my finger on it but I think the Giants just may beat the Packers.

Good luck with the 49ers. I'm looking forward to all the games.

{And the debate-tomorrow nite @ 8!} I wonder if anyone is going to watch it? The tweets here tomorrow night should be pretty funny.

Pat, I'm a hawk's fan saying go 9er's does that tell ya sumpin? ;-0

I am shocked, I mean absolutely SHOCKED that the Government would back a loan for a risky businesses that has even a slight possibility of saving our country from sending billions of dollars every day to foreign countries especially those that want us to fail or would prefer that we would be destroyed.

How dare our Government use any of the taxpayer’s money to help us become energy independent?

Please explain to us why the Government would ever provide Government backed loans to any industry. Can’t they just get the money needed for private investors, venture capitalists and banks? If not, why not?

First of all, if these were VIABLE business plans, they would attract private investment companies.

Second, what do all of these companies- and more not mentioned in this story- have in common?

Answer- big dollar Obama donors.

This is blatant corruption, Dennis. Obama set up a board within the Energy department- staffed by his donors, (Westly and Spinner are just two examples), to vet companies getting taxpayer dollars. Surprisingly, all of said companies were headed by, or heavily invested in by, big dollar Obama donors.

I'd be outraged if this were a republican president. That you are not because Obama is a democrat speaks to your inability to recognize wrongdoing based on who is doing wrong.

Now you understand why I refer to you as cult members, rather than party supporters.

[I'd be outraged if this were a republican president.]

LOL...you crack me up...

no joe, no bo,

You are so right.

The Congress now has the emails that prove Obama's top people wrote things like" don't let it out that Solyndra is going to fail until after the 2010 election". More infuriating even, the $500 million went to Solyndra AFTER they knew it would fail.

There is corruption at the highest level in this administration. Does anyone care?

Your obsession with government backed loans for startup energy alternative companies is as backwards as your obsession to not invest in rail systems.

One thing you are not is a “visionary”. You can’t see what some saw 60-70 years ago … the need for a bigger, faster transportation system or how in the 1940’s some saw the power of “digital electronics” when the first transistors were invented. Without the semiconductor there would be no Silicon Valley, no Steve Jobs. Who do you think provided the secure loans to these startup semiconductor companies? Who do you think funded the research dollars to develop digital electronics – mostly for potential Military use? Just look at the millions of jobs created from these small investments / loans.

No, Dennis, you're the one who is blind- by your obsessive dedication to a corrupt politician.

Does the government contract with companies to develope systems for the military? Of course they do. In fact, it is a legitimate function of the government.

Are there frequent scandals involving these military contractors? Yes, there are- and not infrequently, it is because said contractors have political ties to congressional representatives, senators, or political parties. These crimes need to be prosecuted, the perpetrators jailed- and fines assessed that return ill gotten gains to the Treasury.

Tell me, how often does that actually happen? The nine hundred dollar hammer, the outrageously priced toilet seat, form thirty years ago- who went to jail, who paid fines?

More recently, the GAO issued a report, (requested by Democratic Senator Sherrod Brown, by the way), that outlined defense contractors, who must certify that defense products are manufactured here, supplying the military with shoddy goods- including computer chips- manufactured in China. See anything about those contractors being prosecuted? I haven't.

But, these are Defense contracts, and, as I said, it is a legitimate area for government to expend tax funds. Other investments, however, are definitely NOT under the government's pervue.

I, like many other people, have made some bad investments in my lifetime. One was in a biotech firm, where I knew, and admired, the chief research chemist. I did not know the managers well enough to know that within five years, the company would go belly up. My fault, my loss.

Having learned my lesson, I would NEVER have put my money in any of the companies Obama so kindly invested my money in. That I am taking a loss on these companies is outrageous. That the people who invested their private money, like George Kaiser, will be getting their investments back is even MORE outrageous.

It was a fixed game, and I, a taxpayer, was its victim.

There is no justification for this- it is corruption at its most blatant. That you cannot see it, that you seek to justify it, bespeaks your religious fervor for one corrupt politician. There is nothing rational about your defense of this corruption- it is pure, unadulterated idol worship.

It's not contagious.

By the way, here is another example of the government taking money put of the pockets of people in pursuit of fairy dust solutions to energy production

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/10/business/energy-environment/companies-face-fines-for-not-using-unavailable-biofuel.html?_r=1

Now, who, exactly, do you suppose will be paying those fines? If you think the oil companies will be paying them, you don't understand how business works.

Those fines will be passed on to consumers at the pump.

By the way, who was the brain trust president who signed the legislation authorizing this?

Bush.

This is another example of things he did in his second term- like Medicare part D- that infuriated me, and that dumped his approval ratings below his base.

Bush gave in to the Pelosi / Reid regime.

Those 2 DemBATS controlled Congress from 2007 through 2010.

Pelosi and Reid need to go . We've seen enough of their incompetence.

Ah, the things you find when you read other sites

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0112/71431.html

I understand the Solyndra execs are asking the bankruptcy judge to award them their bonuses, as well. That's just peachy.

Think protestors will show up at their homes?

I don't disagree about Pelosi and Reid, Leona, but that takes nothing away from Bush actually signing this legislation. It was wrong, dumb, and costly to consumers.

That said, Solyndra got turned down by the board Bush set up to review loan applications. There was a price of the legislation that demanded that companies getting loan guarantees post bonds protecting the taxpayers in the event the company could not repay the loans. A company needs a healthy bottom line, and a good business plan, to get such a bond.

Solyndra could not get bonded.

Obama stripped that language out of the bill- I have posted the link to the Factcheck article more than once- and, three weeks after being denied government money, right after Obama's inauguration, got the cash.

We are expected to believe that Kaiser never discussed this with Obama, that they were discussing charities.

I guess we are also expected to believe in unicorns, flying pigs, and that elephants roost in trees.

no joe,

you are right.

[Those 2 DemBATS controlled Congress from 2007 through 2010.]

LOL...you, too crack me up...one parrot with two heads.

So LEONA...two no's, a joe, a bo, and an nj...

Who's your man? C'mon...cough it up...don't worry, I won't tell a soul. Which one of the current Insane Klown Posse will YOU two be voting for?

...and *POOF*...

The two parrots with tits fly away...

Public Law 108 - 173 - Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003

http://www.medicare.gov/medicarereform/108s1013.htm

Some of do other things than just sit in front of our computers, Mickey.

I'm backing Romney.

Happy now?

Dennis, Medicare Part D took effect January 1, 2006- that would be during Bush's SECOND term.

Never try to out nit pick a nit picker.

You'll lose every time.

Yes it took effect in 2006 but was passed by the Republican Congress in 2003 – FACT !!

And even in 2006 Republicans still had control – FACT !!

Now Romney – before he fell on his face you supported Perry

[I'm backing Romney. Happy now?]

Yes, I am happy that you finally stuck your neck out. So how about now we turn the conversation to Romney, instead of the tired old Obama talking points you love to regurgitate?

After all, Romney IS your man this week, right?

[Now Romney – before he fell on his face you supported Perry]

...and before Perry it was The Donald...before The Donald it was Michelle Bachmann...before Michelle Bachmann it was Sarah Palin...

Medicare part d is nothing more than corporate welfare, and benefits nobody but Big Pharma. The sooner it disappears, the better we all will be...well, except Big Pharma, that is...

Now Romney – before he fell on his face you supported Perry

Donna does have a nasty habit of picking REAL winners now don't she? lmao!

Whatever will she do when Willard loses to President Obama?

And, loses badly I might add...

I thought MITCH was her man,...lol

Klown Kar indeed!