It is being reported this morning here in IL - turnout was at a record low!

Guess even though it was 85 degrees yesterday, people couldn't get excited enough to get off their butts and vote for Willard! lol

Poor Willard - still can't hit the 50% mark!

In other news, my girl Tammy Duckworth will face off against dead beat daddy Joe Walsh in November.

Imagine a decorated Iraqi war veteran versus a hot head who can't support his own children? ;o)

Judging by the news, it seems a lot of my male counterparts know everything there is to know about women. They understand them, inside and out. Not me.

There was a time in the distant past, when one fine day those girls who used to be such an annoyance, suddenly caught my eye in a whole new way. Oh, they were still a bother, but in a very different fashion. You wanted to please them, to make them like you, because you sure liked them.

You were going to be just a bit smarter than the other guys. You heard they liked flowers. Why give them cut flowers when you could give them a living rose that would give them flowers for years to come? Made sense to me, but nope they liked those cut and very dead roses. So, I learned to take them roses, knowing full well they were going to wilt, but by jippies, when you presented them with that bouquet, they'd give you that smile that made you melt. I sure liked that, but I couldn't understand their thinking.

You'd take them to a movie, a good exciting shoot 'em up. You liked that kind of stuff, surely they would too. But nope, they wanted to see some soppy love story that would make 'em cry. They'd sniffle and hold your hand, and they'd smile through their tears. It would make you melt. I liked it when they hugged me after a movie like that, but I couldn't understand it.

Then one day, you found one who was way more special than the rest. She made you want to laugh. She could make you angry. Oh, the feelings she could bring out in you. She could make you do all kinds of crazy things, including making you want to buy a ring and ask her if she would marry you.

After some years, you realized you didn't marry a girl. That was a woman you called a full partner. You actually needed to tell her you loved her. You'd make her your own special cards, because those store-bought cards didn't cut it. You'd write your own sentiments, some corny words, and you'd give her some of those dead flowers, and she'd get that really great smile. Then her eyes would well up with tears. You'd hug her and love her so much. Go figure, smiling and crying at the same time. I never could understand that.

She thought I was a real, honest-to-goodness man, with a capital "M". She thought I was strong and tough and smart. But I never could understand how she could stand the pain of childbirth. I couldn't understand how she managed to keep a pretty darned good check on her emotions while she was experiencing incredible physical changes far beyond anything I would ever know. I couldn't understand her vast reservoir of patience.

As it turns out, there's a lot about women I don't understand. I know I want to protect them, and the funniest thing is, these days I know that they have been protecting me in their own way, all the way from the day I was born, right up until now. I never understood how very strong they are. That package of sugar and spice and everything nice sure can fool you.

What's really strange is that the woman I call my wife loves me. Imagine that, she actually loves me, a complete idiot, and that's something I really can't understand.

Fact is, I'm not smart enough to make decisions for women. They're more than smart enough to do that for themselves. Now, that's something I understand about women.

Curious.

If it was Classified, how did Yahoo get it?

Romney won Illinois. On Morning Joe, Chuck Todd described Mitt's win as the wheels are down for landing and Joe S or someone said, yes, then come Louisiana, the wheels go up and they circle the airport. Sounds about right to me.

IR, excellent. I find it frustrating and disturbing that the GOP candidates and elected legislators seem determined to start one more dumb war without consideration for the blood of our military, the sacrifice of their families let alone the cost to taxpayers which would mean we don't invest in this country for another decade. As far as I'm concerned, if Israel wants to bomb Iran--they're on their own; good luck, have a nice war but you're on your own.

David Walker--you brought tears to my eyes! So beautifully said.

Politico is fact-checking Joe “Gaffe” Biden’s claim that Barry’s OK of the military plan to get bin Laden is the “biggest f’ing deal in 500 years”. They start with a little plan Gaffe probably never heard of called "D-Day”:

10 more 'audacious' plans for Biden
By: Tim Mak
March 20, 2012 03:44 PM EDT

Vice President Joe Biden on Monday night hailed President Barack Obama’s decision to raid Osama bin Laden’s Abbottabad compound as the most “audacious” plan in 500 years. “You can go back 500 years. You cannot find a more audacious plan,” Biden said at a fundraiser in New Jersey. Well, POLITICO has put together a list of 10 military plans that were arguably at least as “audacious” and some perhaps more so.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0312/74250.html

Damaged asked:

"David- You're hetero???????????"

Oh yes, absolutely. If you can find a female who can tolerate you, try it. You might like the change.

Beautiful post, David. You & your wife are lucky to have each other and to be partners. And thank you for understanding that we don't need any help making our health decisions. When we need a partner or advice, we are smart enough to seek one out.

What cracks me up is when people say "if Israel and Iran go to war, it would destabilize the Middle East." That's like saying "hey Michael Moore, don't eat that cheeseburger...it might make you fat."

When the hell has the Middle East ever been stable? Wheter or not we join in on a war with Iran is entirely up to Obama, isn't it? Will he be called a "war monger" by you people? Doubt it. What if Iran turns out to have NO WMDs? Oops! Does that mean Obama lied?

I’m looking forward to a day filled with entertaining laughs as the FR lefty liberals put their Obamabot spin on yesterday’s primary results.

I'm looking forward to the GOP rule changes and fuzzy math that inexplicably always seem to follow a Republican primary this year. Perhaps you should be a little more concerned with that.

David,

Ditto what nurse said - your thoughts are a thing of beauty & awe!

When the hell has the Middle East ever been stable?

It might have been had we let Iran have democracy way back in the '50s. Too bad Ike threw a spanner in the works when we overthrew Mosaddegh.

David W, nicely said. One of the last paragraphs reminds me of the ending of "Pretty Woman", one of those Cinderella-type movies we women love when he asks what happens after he climbs the tower to rescue her and she says "she rescues him right back."

Hey IR, why don't you follow Walkers advice and try to Comprehend the article.

The New York Times assumes that the excercise was an Israeli strike on Iran. There is no confirmation of that. In fact the article states that it may be nothing more than a test of readiness for an Iranian attack on a US Battleship.

But hey IR, Don't let the facts get in the way of your Fictional post for the day.

Between you and Walker, I figure you were both up late last night writing and re-writng your dispositions for First Thoughts this morning.

Fact is, I'm not smart enough to make decisions for women. They're more than smart enough to do that for themselves. Now, that's something I understand about women.

Couldn't agree more, however, the argument is not on what your 'ol lady wants to do with her vajayjay, it's who's responsible for PAYING for it.

The looney libs know this and their propping it as a "Womans Issue".

Get the debate straight.

IR,

That was a great post. You couldn't be more right. We could solve the economic problems in this country in a minute by cutting the Pentagon's budget in half. But we won't. Americans have been fooled into thinking that our survival is at stake if we don't maintain a presence all over the world and if we don't exercise our military might at every turn. Meanwhile, the lobbyists and defense contractors get richer, and people in Congress get re-elected for bringing home the bacon.

David,

As always, a great post. Add to it digging a garden in the shape of a heart and planting flowers inside. Forget about Damage; he's still dragging women about by the hair with a club in his other hand.

Sure Jack, Democrats have the market cornered on Romance.

Sometimes I wonder how you folks make it through the day.

DaNoid, speaking of Ike, I learned something on Rachel's show the other night. She did an excellent show on the removal of nuclear grade materials from Mexico along with an update of President Obama's Nuclear Security Summit in 2010.

It was President Eisenhower who in 1953 delivered his Atoms for Peace speech. It established the atoms for peace initiative where the US released the nuclear technology and uranium stockpiles that only the US had to other countries thus unleashing the race for nuclear weapons and the Cold War.

I always liked President Eisenhower even though I was too young to remember much beyond the "I Like Ike" buttons but the Atoms for Peace speech and initiative was really a dumb move. We Americans are far too trusting, too often. Thank you "Ike" for turning the world upside down. No doubt other countries would have eventually developed nuclear technology and nuclear weapons but did we really have to hand them the "how to" book along with the uranium to do it?

White Collar Auto, your green eyes are showing and your hair is smoldering. Really bugs the heck out of you that liberals take the time to prepare comments on things that others might not have read or thought about. David W's post is quite appropriate considering the GOPers War on Women; and IR, he doesn't misread anything!

Thanks Jack. I think that you will find going forward when these candidates have to answer questions about going forward instead of playing in the echo chamber that is constructing a President that they want to run against and have to run against the President we've got that these answers will get to be less and less palatable to the electorate.

WCA,

Sure Jack, Democrats have the market cornered on Romance.

You're so one-dimensional you missed the point of David's post. Somehow I'm not surprised.

We could solve the economic problems in this country in a minute by cutting the Pentagon's budget in half.

The Defense budget is around $650 billion. Cutting it in half brings it to $325 billion. The deficit this year is $1.3 trillion, the Defense cuts would bring it to around $1 trillion. And somehow you think this would solve the economics problem.

That's the problem with you Jack. You're too busy cheer-leading and too lazy to think any thoughts you might have through to a conclusion.

No Jack, I didn't.

David need 1000 words to say he doesn't understand women.

I need about 5.

David thinks that writing a dissertation that he thinks is deep and thought provoking will gain him validation by the followers here.

In fact, it appears, that is what he lives for.

Again, this whole Non-troversy about contraception was started by George Stephanopolous in a Debate in January for the Obama Campaign.

There is no "war on Women" unless you want to count the Democrats making it harder and harder for them to afford to get to work or drive their Kids to school with a POS Energy Program.

Couldn't agree more, however, the argument is not on what your 'ol lady wants to do with her vajayjay, it's who's responsible for PAYING for it.

The looney libs know this and their propping it as a "Womans Issue".

Get the debate straight

Ironic since you don't even know what the debate is, or even the facts.

Can you imagine Willard in this situation?

That idiot can't even articulate verbally...

As first reported on Distriction, Stephon, a student at Prince George Community College, was standing in line after an event on energy policy with President Obama and Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, waiting for a chance to shake hands with the president. As the president was shaking hands and making his way through the crowd, he met up with Stephon, who was born deaf.

"I am proud of you," Stephon signed to the president.

Not missing a beat, President Obama signed back: "Thank you

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/21/deaf-student-obama-sign-language_n_1369118.html

Joe, since the woman was from Florida and I personaly know Rev. Sharpton is heavily involved in the issue, I think it was highly likely she was talking about the Trayvon Martin case. Which whether or not you think it is important it is important to me. I do not know 'for certain' if that young boy was killed because of a race, but there is more than enough evidence for me to support a viable opinion that it was.

It scares me, the idea, that just as easily it could have been me who was harrassed and followed by a larger older male on my way home from a seven eleven. Who knows what I would have said. Who knows how I would have reacted. Who knows if out of fear maybe it would have been me who threw the first blow. The one thing is for certain just like Trayvon I would have been unarmed and most likely suffered the same fate. Again, I have no idea for certain what was going through Zimmerman's head but I think this case again makes us have to take a serious look at race relations in the United States. Too many times I have been told 'racism is no longer a problem' 'stop playing the victim' 'don't play the race card'. Well I hope you are happy, Joe, atleast Trayvon won't be able to play it anymore. One less right? Keep on laughing at the pain of a mourning family on your television screen.

David -

Great post and insight. As men, we have no idea, or right to tell women what's good for them or what they need to do. Who do we think we are? God? Here we have a group of OLD MEN, (Republicans mainly), telling women what they should. or MUST do, with their bodies. Unbelievable.

OLD MEN, mind your own business.

Obama in 2012.

Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL

It is being reported this morning here in IL - turnout was at a record low!

Yes. I don't know why the MSNBC headline hyped it as a "big" win without mentioning that the main thing of note is how poor the turnout was. That's the biased liberal media for you. It seems that most voters decided not to waste their time voting when the only choices the Republican Party is offering are a flip flopper, a fanatic, and philanderer.

IR -- On OutFront last night, Erin Burnett and guests, discussed that war game. What was pretty surprising was that one guest stated the likelihood of a war to be sixty percent!

Hi David,

Today in America, any woman that would vote for a Republican is a fool.

David -- You are gifted, friend. Beautifully said and very thoughtful!

Jody - I enjoyed that segment of Rachel's show too. Like you and Rachel, I've always had a fond place in my heart for Eisenhower. I hadn't known about the Atoms for Peace initiative. Explains a lot. But don't be too harsh on Ike. He did the best he could. He was trying to turn an impossible situation into something positive. It's very easy with hindsight, but as the Commander in Chief - they are often faced with no-win situations and they will get blamed no matter which way it falls.

I don't know why the MSNBC headline hyped it as a "big" win without mentioning that the main thing of note is how poor the turnout was.

Houston,

Me either - when only 25% of registered voters show up for a Presidential primary with NO snow on the ground there is a problem!

As long as we're on the subject - I found MSNBC's coverage last night of our election disappointing at best!

The coverage was better coming from our local affiliates!

Smiff,

And somehow you think this would solve the economics problem. That's the problem with you Jack.

Are you really so simple-minded? You are? Okay. That's what I thought.

WCA.

There is no "war on Women"

Yeah, you just go right on believing that. People who don't believe human activity has anything to do with global warming don't want to believe it. Ditto your ignorant comment above. As I said, your worldview is one-dimensional. And you prove it with every word you write.

Geez, WCA, you really ran off the rails and pull the Karl Rove trick of blaming the other side for what they themselves did. The contraception issue was started in the GOP controlled state houses across the country with hundreds of pieces of legislation stripping away women's rights, passing "personhood" amendments that eliminate contraception. Don't forget the Federal GOP controlled House's many bills designed to eliminate Planned Parenthood and Title 10, etc. No, it wasn't democrats who started the War on Women, it was the GOPTP and their zealot gang of freedom lovers whose version of freedom is whatever they believe and to heck with the rest. No, it wasn't democrats who started the War on Women but democrats are standing up and fighting for women's reproductive rights.

Sure Jack, Democrats have the market cornered on Romance.

And you have the market cornered on smug and snide. You belong on ignore WCA, like Damage the rest of the non-thinging trolls on here. Have you ever had a creative idea, or do you just spend your life deriding others?

On the murder in Florida:

If you want to get rid of someone you don't like in that state, make sure there are no witnesses when you kill your victim, and you can claim self-defense. That works, at least if your victim is black. I doubt a black guy could get away with a "self defense" claim that easily, especially if the victim was white. It looks like some parts of Florida are still living in the '60s (the 1860s).

x

WCA --Over 200+ pieces of legislation have been introduced or enacted concerning women's health issues to prove you wrong. Now tell me, how many bills have been introduced on men's health issues?

Jody - I would also add the GOP/TP efforts to redefine rape. But of course the WCA crowd wouldn't understand that for it is their group that relies upon roofies for successful procreation.

reya, apparently you do not realize that in the 1990's republicans and democrats passed legislation that required all insurance companies to include contraception, along with Viagra type medications, in their coverage of prescription meds. The only change the Obama Administration ACA made was to eliminate the Co-Pay; the rest of the cost was already covered by insurance so we're talking about $10 to $25 copays, that's all.

Akeem, terrific post, well said. As for Albany Joe, he lacks the compassion and comprehension genes; his daily comments are efforts to elicit attention.

Jackie-Boy: Are you really so simple-minded? You are? Okay. That's what I thought.

Please Jackie-Boy, explain your theory on how cutting the military budget in half solves the economic problems of the country. You can use big words too, you know, three syllables or more in you explanation.

This ought to be a riot to watch Jackie-Boy try to explain his way out of.

Jody:

No, it wasn't democrats who started the War on Women, it was the GOPTP and their zealot gang of freedom lovers whose version of freedom is whatever they believe and to heck with the rest.

A writer in the Houston Chronicle pointed out one thing that tends to get overlooked: The ultrasound law that was ridiculed to death in Virginia passed some time ago in Texas. State rape is the law of the land here. If you don't want government intruding in your personal life, you don't want clowns like Slick Rick Perry running things.

that's the easy, brainless way to go.

Sorry IR, you're off the reservation – again. No one wants a war, especially those who would be called upon to fight it. You above all people should understand that. And the notion that evil Republicans are just itching for a fight is flat out left wing trash talk, and thoroughly irresponsible trash talk at that.

But let's get passed that and address your notion of the "brainless" aspect of a potential conflict with Iran. I daresay what would be "brainless" from an Israeli perspective is to ignore the threat a nuclear armed Iran would pose to them. Fifty years ago we freaked out when the Soviets deployed missiles to Cuba, and for good reason. It was absolutely intolerable for us to accept a hostile nuclear presence in our own backyard and JFK's approach to that crisis showed some steel. But his approach did not come without considerable risk, because preserving freedom oftentimes requires taking great risk.

The Israelis face a similar situation today. Iran has made no secret about its hostility to Israel, and the Israeli leadership would be irresponsible beyond belief if they ignored the threat of a nuclear Iran. Increasingly more stringent economic sanctions do not seem to have dissuaded Iran from pursuing technology that could be used to develop a nuke. Instead, to date Iran has continued its pursuit despite a series of negative impacts sanctions have had on their economy. So while the Iranian man on the street takes a hit, their nuclear program proceeds apace. Doesn't that tell you something about the mindset of this regime?

Appeasing Iran on the nuclear issue is not an option for Israel, nor is it an option for anyone who takes an objective look at the consequences a nuclear armed Iran would have on the entire region. Yet war could easily be avoided if Iran terminated their nuclear program – they have lots of oil, and don't need to pursue nuclear technology for "peaceful" purposes. So when it comes to saber rattling in this matter, look to the Iranian saber, the only one that is actually being rattled here. And don't blame freedom loving people for preparing to take the defensive steps that may be necessary to preserve their freedom – risky and distasteful though those steps may be.

That's the responsible way to go, and the thoughtful way as well. Any other approach would be hazardous to the health of millions of innocents.

And he's also trying to combine the businessman narrative with a values argument against the president that pays homage to an issue elite conservatives care a lot about: American exceptionalism.

Romney needs to get out more. Americans comprise less than 5 percent of the Earth's population, so more than 95% of consumers and workers are beyond our political control. The world outside our borders is growing increasingly more competitive and influential, which is apparent in the rise of China, India and Brazil. The Global Competitiveness Report for 2011-2012 published by the World Economic Forum lists the U.S. fifth, behind Switzerland, Finland, Singapore and Sweden. We've slipped a place in line since their previous report.

We are slipping in almost every measure of basic education. Our health care system is the most expensive in the world but places us near the middle in terms of health and longevity.

Romney and his rich friends can hide their heads in the sand, but that won't help America pull out of the slump we're in. Exceptionalism is the same as arrogance, my friends.

Please Amused put me on Ignore so I don't have to read you sanctomonious replies to my posts.

Funny that you mention "Creative" writing. Seems "Creative" is the only way that you Libs can justify the Obama administration.

Cuz reality sure doesn't work for you.

Silly comments abound

If the Republicans want a chance at winning the election, from the pool of people left, they pick Romney. Well, I say that because nobody wants to pick Ron Paul, still.....

Santorum can't win anyone but the fringers and the psychotics. They just happen to have a large percentage of the low turnout and that is why they are getting the far too many delegates they have. Gingrich can take Santorum's advice now and drop, since he can't win a state that doesn't touch Georgia. But you know who should also take Santorum's advice? Santorum.

Drop out, Santorum, you misogynist, knuckleheaded, pro-big Christian government that invades people's lives. Drop out and move to Iran.

David Walker: very well written.

I hope your wife appreciates you, I know you appreciate her.

Exactly Derek. This primary has honestly done nothing but confuse me. I wont speak of inevitability or any of the other media labels, but with the hate that the Republican voters show towards President Obama you would think the crazies would keep at bay, vote Rommney, the current leader by far, and set their guns for the president.

They are somehow blinded by their zeal and simply do not care the fact their actions are helping the president. I know that it is their primary and they should vote for the candidate they want, but with the whole anybody but Obama campaign you would think they would at least make an effort to pursue the main objective.

Smiff,

First of all, the Defense budget is closer to $700B. But who's counting, right?

Second, our defense budget equals the combined defense budgets of the following countries: U.K., France, Germany, Italy, Canada, China, Japan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, India, Brazil, S. Korea, Australia and Turkey. There are better ways to spend $350B (or even half that amount) that would have a major impact on the economic vitality of this country, not to mention the welfare of its citizens.

Third, when I say that the problem will be "solved in a minute", it does not literally mean 60 seconds from now. Hello! Anyone else would have understood that. It's a question of priorities and where we're heading over the next decade.

But I don't expect you to understand any of that. You talk because you can. Not because you have anything to say.

Bill Fairfax,

the notion that evil Republicans are just itching for a fight is flat out left wing trash talk

You just keep believing that. Cheney went to war to bolster Haliburton. No bid contracts were the order of the day. Wonder who Romney will award them to.

Back to Politics:

Romney won amoung the smart, wealthy, moderates.

Santorum won with the less educated, poorer, ultra-conservatives.

Since the ambition of the country is to have our children be wealthier, more educated than we are, why is the GOP pandering to the rwnj's supporting the Tea Party and Rick Santorum ?

Hey, Joe,

do you know so much about Gibsontown from wintering there yourself? Or is that where you go to pick up chicks?

couldn't resist, buddy!

Jackie-Boy: There are better ways to spend $350B (or even half that amount) that would have a major impact on the economic vitality of this country, not to mention the welfare of its citizens.

No surprise here, you can't answer the question. You have no clue. You just babbled something off, got called on it, and now you look like an idiot trying to explain yourself. "Oh, the economy will get better because there are better ways to spend the money". That's your theory Jackie-Boy? That's your plan? My gosh you are shallow.

Go back to cheer-leading Jackie. At least you're good at that.

reya, apparently you do not realize that in the 1990's republicans and democrats passed legislation that required all insurance companies to include contraception, along with Viagra type medications, in their coverage of prescription meds.The only change the Obama Administration ACA made was to eliminate the Co-Pay; the rest of the cost was already covered by insurance so we're talking about $10 to $25 copays, that's all.

_____________________________________________

Close, but, no exploding clown cigar, Jody. (Do I have your attention now?? LOL!!!)

Most large employers, including Catholic universities and hospitals, are self insured and, under the federal ERISA law that governs self insured plans, are EXEMPT the state contraception mandates you reference above. These self insured Catholic plans never covered contraceptives.

Barry's ClunkerCare has ELIMINATED that federal exemption and replaced it with a federal mandate forcing self insured Catholic organizations to provide and pay for benefits they believe violate their fundmental religious beliefs.

"The copay is the only change" mantra is just a lefty liberal talking point that has been swallowed whole by the Obamabots.

A big concern of engaging in a war to stop nukes from getting into the hands of bad actors is that a war would, at best, delay that possibility by a few years. This is according to experts I listened to last night on OutFront. Let there be no doubt we will back our ally and friend should we be forced to. But in my opinion, every non-military action must be taken first. That isn't appeasement, it's being wise.

Jody - don't forget the GA House bill proposed by Rep.Bobby Franklin that redefines victims of rape,stalking,and domestic violence as "accusers" instead of victims of abuse until the defendant is charged. Mind you, burglary,fraud, and assault will all remain victims - it is only WOMEN to whom this bill is targeted.

And they say there is no War Against Women by Republicans. They've just decided to move the battleground to the states. But women are still upset and these types of legislation stand a very good chance of tainting the Republican Party on a national level. (particularly among younger women)

And yet some Republicans on these boards still try to downplay the significance rather than stand up against such actions against women.

do you know so much about Gibsontown from wintering there yourself? Or is that where you go to pick up chicks?

______________________________________________

Sorry Clara Belle, my only knowledge of your birthplace is from an old X-Files episode (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humbug_(The_X-Files)). Sounds like you met your husband in one of the bars in town. :~)

More of what WCA doesn't get:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/soraya-chemaly/womens-reproductive-rights_b_1345214.html?ref=fb&src=sp&comm_ref=false

*** Gingrich approaches dangerous territory: Meanwhile, Newt Gingrich is getting close to dangerous territory: the embarrassment line.

I think that ship has sailed long time ago...

Smiff,

"Oh, the economy will get better because there are better ways to spend the money".

Everyone has tried to explain this to you--David was the last one to do so. When you use quotation marks, you are saying that the person said those exact words in that exact order. The last time you did this you attributed words to President Obama that he never said. You have a right to paraphrase me, but not a right to put quotation marks around words I didn't say.

But, yeah, it is my theory. Spending money on education and health care and alternative sources of energy and the environment and the retraining of the workforce and decent affordable housing and infrastructure will reap more economic and social benefits than spending it on bombs. Yep, that's my theory. If you don't like it, go suck on a lollipop.

Self Insured companies are NOT independent of the Insurance process. Insurance is NOT Federally regulated,...there is a National Association of Insurance Commissioners (each state has a Commissioner) - that organization is headquartered here in KC, MO. My husband worked there for years and we know many of the managers there.

Implying that Self Insured's are INDEPENDENT of the laws is BS. Just like you can't contract with someone to pay LESS than Minimum Wage,...you can't contract with insurance to cover LESS than the LEGAL requirement.

But carry on with your nonsense. It's comical to watch the ignorance spew forth.

TO: Damage123 who wrote:

"...When the hell has the Middle East ever been stable? Whether or not we join in on a war with Iran is entirely up to Obama, isn't it? Will he be called a "war monger" by you people? Doubt it. What if Iran turns out to have NO WMDs? Oops! Does that mean Obama lied?"

You just proved my theory: If Republicans understood the truth, they'd be Democrats, which is no doubt why Republican Politicians make it a common practice to lie to their followers, and lie often.

Obama / Biden 2012

Joe - These self insured Catholic plans never covered contraceptives.

Actually a fair number of these Catholic-run institutions did include contraceptive coverage in their plans. I could not find any statistics on the exact number, probably due to the fact that a lot of them would rather not talk about it - since they have been quietly doing it for years.

I do know for a fact that The University of Dayton, a large Catholic university here in Ohio, included contraceptive coverage in their insurance. The included it both because it made medical sense and because a large majority of their employees and students were NOT Catholic.

Imagine that, letting people decide of their own free will whether they will follow religous doctrine!

why is the GOP pandering to the rwnj's supporting the Tea Party and Rick Santorum ?

Because they need them to win and deep down that is how most GOPers think and feel.

Jackie-Boy: But, yeah, it is my theory. Spending money on education and health care and alternative sources of energy and the environment and the retraining of the workforce and decent affordable housing and infrastructure will reap more economic and social benefits than spending it on bombs. Yep, that's my theory. If you don't like it, go suck on a lollipop.

You're going to do that with $350 billion dollars? Wow. You are quite the budget manager. And what about the deficit Jackie? Got any plans for that?

Listen Jackie-Boy, face some facts, you don't have a clue. Not even a notion of a clue. You're like these other dopes around with pie-in-the-sky ideas that are nothing more than band-aids to the real problems, the entitlements. So Jackie-Boy, don't try to lecture anyone on things you know nothing about, and that list is extensive.

Now you go have a nice day Jackie-Boy.

But let's get passed that and address your notion of the "brainless" aspect of a potential conflict with Iran. I daresay what would be "brainless" from an Israeli perspective is to ignore the threat a nuclear armed Iran would pose to them.

A nuclear armed Iran poses no bigger threat to Israel than Iran currently does. First, the Iranians aren't anywhere close to having enough fuel for a nuclear reactor, let alone a nuclear bomb. Secondly, even if they were able to create a nuclear bomb, it would be a fission device. Israel has nuclear devices that use this kind of fission devices as a FUSE - devices that are literally 100s of time more powerful than anything Iran can hope to have any time this century.

This is not about any threat that Iran poses. This is to make sure that Israel can explain to anyone in the middle east that they are the baddest MFs around. It is not about threat. It is about arrogance.

Should the US be used as a pawn in order to shore up Israeli PM Netanyahu's ego? He thinks so. Should we? We don't like Iran. We don't have to. But they pose no significant threat to us, nor to their neighbors. It is in our best interests to mind our own business.

TNSEVOL

My husband currently works for a division of Ascension Health (actual name of the company, I am NOT making that up). They employ over 100K people. And guess what? Oral contraceptives are included in their benefit structure.

More nontroversy from those claiming the "moral" authority on topics they know nothing about. Priceless, no?

"I didn't know Rickety was still in the Race"

Same old lame paid Democratic Party loggers without a clue what they are talking about. In 2008 the Democratic Party averaged 19.3% turnout while the Republican Party averaged 10.8% average of all primaries.

So it would seem that a 25% turnout for the Illinois primary would signal an upward trend for a Republican Primary. It in fact if it was a 25% voter turnout it would trump the current record of 23.8% for the largest ever turnout for a Democratic Primary in that state.

http://www.american.edu/spa/cdem/upload/csae080519.pdf

It is so tempting to rebut the conservative arguments here.

But then one realizes that they are only posting to bait the question. Underneath, there is not only no argument, there is often misunderstanding and misrepresntation of the subject.

Sad.

Bill old buddy I didn’t know they were classifying the Hill as a reservation nor that I was off it. Think maybe I could get some Gubmint Money for that?

As far as nobody wanting War maybe you should talk to your candidates about that. Apparently they haven’t got the memo.

Yes Israel has a problem. Bears watching. My advice for Israel would be the same that I would give the U.S. Take it as far as you need to till all other possibilities are exhausted. Then take the lead in committing troops to the war that will ensue. We owe as an ally to support them. But if they take a unilateral action and hope that we are going to support it I’m tired of it. Iraq should teach us all a lesson in the Go It Alone Cowboy School of Diplomacy.

Quite frankly I’m tired unto death of watching Body Bags of young men and women come home because you’ll can’t figure a way to make things work without beating your chests and threatening War. We’ve already paid to high a price for being the World’s Policeman. Quit taking the easy way out that costs so few so much.

Hey Rick 3416939, check your Newsvine earnings--we all earn money for posting and that includes you, Damage, No Joe, Alan, Albany Joe, Smiff and other conservative posters not just liberal ones.

that are nothing more than band-aids to the real problems, the entitlements

Entitlements? Expand them, baby, expand them. Single payer health care system all the way. One difference (among many, many, many) between you and me is that I've lived and worked in foreign countries. And I've seen the beneficial effects on a society when it invests its money in the people's welfare instead of the military.

Clara -

I agree. My concern is that this will cause some rational organizations to have to explain their policies to higher-ups in the church. The Uiversity of Dayton had to publically come out and say they were reconsidering their policy. Fortunately a couple of days later they (quietly) proposed no changes.

I have been pleased with the words and actions of my local Catholic church and various other organizations, so hopefully cooler heads will prevail.

Comment on the original post:

Did twenty years in the Navy retired 09. That war game has been played with and without US/UN involvement many many times. If Iran gets nukes they (Israel ) will take it out.... just look at Iraq... early 80's it think.

Self Insured companies are NOT independent of the Insurance process. Insurance is NOT Federally regulated,...there is a National Association of Insurance Commissioners (each state has a Commissioner)

Implying that Self Insured's are INDEPENDENT of the laws is BS.

_____________________________________

NAIC is an "association", not a regulatory body. It may make recommendations to the state insurance commissioners, but, they only become enforceable if enacted into state law by each individual state. The term "self insured" is a bit misleading in that there is no insurance contract with a licensed health insurance company. The only contract with an insurance company is for the purely administrative task of processing claims. The responsibility for providing the cash to pay the claims rests solely with the employer. Given that there is no insurance contract and all financial responsibility rests with the employer, these "self-insured" companies are very DEFINITELY outside of "the Insurance process". Many states have sued thes employers in federal courts to try to force them to comply with state mandates and they lose every time due to the federal ERISA law that preempts state law:

I. ERISA PREEMPTION

A. Statutory Framework

1. Section 514 of ERISA provides that ERISA supersedes any and all

state laws insofar as they relate to any employee benefit plan.

ERISA § 514(a).

http://apps.americanbar.org/labor/lel-aba-annual/papers/2000/paris.pdf

So Clara, carry on with your nonsense. It's comical to watch the ignorance spew forth.

David Walker,

You remind me of my husband and that is the greatest compliment I could give a man! Thank you for sharing your appreciation for, not only your wife, but all of woman-kind. We like you a lot too! My only wish is that there were more men like you and my husband in this world. We'd get a whole lot more accomplished and it would just be a more pleasant place all around!

Man the righties are out today and with a chip on their shoulder! Sorry you were the target of their attack David but immature people usually insult what they're jealous of.

Jody, you get paid for this? Where do I sign up!?

For the vine: Bank on Santorum winning LA. I grew up there and I know the people, especially the Catholics. I know that all the priests insert something in their homilies about how everyone should vote for Rick Santorum for the moral fate of the country and therefore the world. Trust me, there will be no surprise victory for Romney in LA.

Jack in portsmouth...

You just keep believing that. Cheney went to war to bolster Haliburton. No bid contracts were the order of the day. Wonder who Romney will award them to.

You do realize that, as a fast fact on bloombergTV, that no bid federal contracts went up from about $34 billion in 2010 to about $36 billion in 2011. I think you will find that cheney's promoting his no bid contracts is chump change with regards to obama and company's no bid contracts since 2009.

MGates73:

Yes, you do get paid. I have no idea how the earnings are computed, but they put them up from time to time and you may keep the money or send it to designated charities.

My favorite charity isn't listed, but you can have the money transferred to PayPal and send it to whomever you choose. Mine goes to Planned Parenthood.

To find out how much you have in your account, just go to Newvine's home, and click on "earnings". You'll need a password and such, but that's all there is to it.

BTW, thanks for the kind words. As far as being a target of the right, well we bring our wits to these threads, and I've yet to see a righty bring more than half.

even if they were able to create a nuclear bomb, it would be a fission device. Israel has nuclear devices that use this kind of fission devices as a FUSE - devices that are literally 100s of time more powerful than anything Iran can hope to have any time this century.

OK, so Iran's firecracker could only take out half of Tel Aviv instead of half the country. Gee, that's comforting. Your comments are irrelevant.

Think maybe I could get some Gubmint Money for that?

My friend, in Obamaland all sentient beings are eligible for handouts. Have at it if you choose.

Cheney went to war to bolster Haliburton

And your proof of that unspeakably slanderous comment would be where? Oh I forgot, to the left such truths are self evident and require no proof. Which is one reason why JoAnna can make mincemeat of you without breaking a sweat.

American,

I think you will find that cheney's promoting his no bid contracts is chump change with regards to obama and company's no bid contracts since 2009.

Oh, phew! It's okay that Cheney did it then. That had me worried.

Really, WAC, there isn't a war on women? Well, maybe not a war, but the GOP is for sure expoliting some of the ridiculous fears and biases held by those on the fringe end of their party.

They're deliberately twisting issues to fear monger to their base, and the consequence is a party that is actively throwing women under the bus.

Which I find highly stupid, seeing as we make up the majority of the electorate.

American,

BTW - You really should supply the source so people can click on it and read for themselves. I've read your posts before and I'm deeply skeptical.

For my part, I've been involved in overseeing the expenditure of stimulus funds, and I can categorically state that everything was carefully bid and monitored. And I know from talking to others across this country that they have gone through the same process.

Amen sister Sarah and all my ladies on the vine! It is ridiculous to say that this war on women is a "nontroversy"! Women everywhere (not just liberals) are outraged by the sudden reintroduction of a question of our rights as women. There is no excuse for the lack of equal wages for men and women (especially in the Southern states) coming from the right (one of many issues in the WOW). Is it that conservatives have ABSOLUTELY no way of debunking the argument? I've heard no arguement about how this can be justified. Now the health care issue is more obvious. Conservatives want to remove all of the health care options of second class citizens, why should women be any different?

Sarah, using words like 'Highly stupid,' I mean, how unladylike of you!

:D

Dang Bill you need to make an appointment with your Doc man. You've become delusional in your dotage and it may lead to complications. Must be so if you think JAS1 has a point and consistantly makes it. All I see are the wanderings of somebody trying to make a point and don't know how or why she's trying to make it.

Derek,

Not when you consider what I really wanted to say was, "Highly fu**ing stupid, you dumb bunch of a** clowns".

I've been practicing my curtsy as well.

:o

You just made me drop the aspirin I was holding between my knees.

Meh, that doesn't work anyway. But it was a great workout, especially for the legs. You should have seen me trying to go for my morning jog.

Sarah,

Check out today's Non Sequiter comic

Lol, that about says it all.

http://www.gocomics.com/nonsequitur

The neosporin the GOP goes through from constantly scraping their knuckles accross the ground must cost a fortune.

Did Joe in Albany get dropped on the head as a child or something? And what gives with the comment diarrhea?

Kateryn @ 1.59. Victims of abuse do need services, support after their ordeal. I've been there, done that personally. However, I think you're off-base in your claim that using "accuser" instead of "victim" is part of some war on women.

Legally, to have a victim, you have to have somebody found guilty of a crime. An accused person is innocent until proven guilty. If you've ever watched a murder trial, they don't refer to the deceased as a "victim"; they're "the deceased" or referred to by name.

There have been studies showing the use of the word "victim" to describe a plaintiff implants in a jury's minds that the defendant is already guilty. Sadly, there are also those who for vindictive reasons lie about the abuse. They sit in the courtroom being called a "victim" and then evidence comes out it wasn't at all true. So, it's really a matter of protecting people's rights and holding to the standard "innocent until proven guilty".

JAS,

You should also add in what the Defense budget really is. You could really be saving a lot more than $350 billion by cutting in half.

I may have left out items that should have been included—the federal budget is a gargantuan, complex, and confusing collection of documents. If I have done so, however, the left-out items are not likely to be relatively large ones. (I have deliberately ignored some minor items, such as the outlays of the Selective Service System and the National Defense Stockpile and the Treasury’s program to block financial flows to terrorists.) Therefore, I propose that in considering future defense budgetary costs, a well-founded rule of thumb is to take the Pentagon’s (always well publicized) basic budget total and double it. We may overstate the truth, but if so, we’ll not do so by much.

Just in 2006:

National Security Outlays in Fiscal Year 2006
(billions of dollars)

Department of Defense

499.4

Department of Energy (nuclear weapons & environ. cleanup)

16.6

Department of State

25.3

Department of Veterans Affairs

69.8

Department of Homeland Security

69.1

Department of Justice (1/3 of FBI)

1.9

Department of the Treasury (for Military Retirement Fund)

38.5

National Aeronautics & Space Administration (1/2 of total)

7.6

Net interest attributable to past debt-financed defense outlays

206.7

Total

934.9

three-quarters of the $3.5 trillion

How in the world did the idiot from Albany miss that one? lol

After all, Political is his bible...

Dennis:

The G.O.P. appeal is to the simple-minded voters who cannot grasp numbers. These people couldn't read a pie chart on their best day. They can't spell "statistics" much less understand them. They are totally dependent on sound bites, slogans, and talking points.

There's only one way to wipe out these ignoramuses. Educate their kids.

Dennis: added red ink can be explained by what is still a rich diet of tax breaks (Bush tax cuts) continued by the president.

This just keeps getting funnier. I guess Obama signing the bill to extend the cuts never permeated your mind. Of course it didn't, it doesn't fit the narrative. It doesn't fit the joy you get out of kissing Obama's butt everyday.

No, to the Obama Dumb Fux followers, Obama is responsible for absolutely nothing. It's all Bush's fault! It's all Limbaugh's fault! It's all the Tea Parties fault!! Yadda, yadda, yadda.

You people are hysterical.

DW: They are totally dependent on sound bites, slogans, and talking points.

Obama 2008 - "Yes We Can!"

Except they didn't.

And yet the Ryan budget yesterday, as well as Romney's tax proposals, want to lower rates on the wealthiest because somehow (they don't even bother explaining how), it will create more revenue as the economy improves. We've tried that for 30 years and it JUST DOESN"T WORK.

SF: And yet the Ryan budget yesterday, as well as Romney's tax proposals, want to lower rates on the wealthiest because somehow (they don't even bother explaining how), it will create more revenue as the economy improves. We've tried that for 30 years and it JUST DOESN"T WORK.

And what we have now does?

Until we see the Democrats plan, quit the whining.

JS1 said - [I guess Obama signing the bill to extend the cuts never permeated your mind.]

And “continued by the President” doesn’t address what you said … is it too early for your reading comprehension to be engaged?

Duly noted:

do note that the Obama campaign continues to keep overall STAFF salaries down, at least compared to what other campaigns pay, including Romney. In fact, Romney has at least five staffers who make more than Obama’s campaign manager.

Dennis: And “continued by the President” doesn’t address what you said … is it too early for your reading comprehension to be engaged?

They're engaged just fine Dennis. Just keep on with your excuses for this pathetic, unaccountable, disengaged, blowhard goof of a president we have today.

There are no dashes in the word "statistics".

Funny thing Damage, I turned on WJR here in Detroit a little after noon yesterday and Rush was still broadcasting.

In fact, he too, was wondering how the Left had the balls to criticize Ryan's bill when the Democrats haven't produced a budget in over three years. Unless of course you want to count Obama's budget which not even the Democrats take seriously.

What happened to all that "Hit him where it hurts" and the myriad of spam postings of all of Rush's Sponsors to Boycott?

Epic Fail.

I never accused these Republicans of being the smart ones in the class, because they are showing signs of short term memory. I myself remember how bad the economy and unemployment were under President Bush and getting worst up to his last days in office.

So actually the truth is, President Obama inherited this incredible brink of depression mess from President Bush and President Obama has done a good job of turning the country around.

I honestly have to say anyone that doesn’t recognize this fact is pretty out of touch with reality and living in “Rush World.”

That's a beautiful post, David, you really get it.

My favorite romantic movie is House Sitter with Steve Martin and Goldie Hawn. Goldie plays an inveterate liar, who can't stop making up stories, who Steve Martin decides to have pretend to be his fiance to make another woman jealous. At the end of the movie, it's Steve Martin who makes up a big, outlandish story, about a man who has himself delivered in a box to a woman to whom he presents a note. "What did the note say?" Goldie asks. "Marry me," Steve says, "I cannot live without you." :)

Jobless: So actually the truth is, President Obama inherited this incredible brink of depression mess from President Bush and President Obama has done a good job of turning the country around.

Yup, back to Talking Point #16. The excuses never end.

The country isn't looking for a whiny President that continues to blame the problems of the world on everyone but himself. If Obama isn't up to the job, he should quit and go on permanent vacation. Continually finding fault in others is not a characteristic a President should have. Either he has solutions to the problems or he should let someone else have a go at it.

Jobless: President Obama has done a good job of turning the country around.

Funny. Your polishing a turd and then trying to convince everyone how shiny it is.

I love these 'The Democrats haven't put forth a budget in years, stop complaining about Rep. Ryan's budget!' arguments.

Thats like saying you may not like his methods, but that fox sure is addressing the hen problem, unlike that farmer who just ignores it.

I remember also, Democrats wanting to remove the tax cuts and then the Republicans screaming murder on the unbelievable ramifications it would cause the economy. I am not happy that they continued but rather than point fingers I look as to the reason why the decision was made. I do not know what would have worked out better, however I will not say the EXTENSION was the fault of one side or another as there was a viable case either way.

Republicans understanding facts, now there is the real joke.

I love these 'The Democrats haven't put forth a budget in years, stop complaining about Rep. Ryan's budget!' arguments.

No way to Ryan AKA Eddie Monster Also, a fact for you, President Obama has put a budget forward.

The country isn't looking for a whiny President that continues to blame the problems of the world on everyone but himself

One idiot's whiny is another person's reality. The fact is Republicans live with their heads where the sun never shines making it possible to completely ignore reality and create their own little world. David is right, the only way our country ever overcomes the ignorance of today's Republican party is to educate your children somewhere other than your money temples. Once they learn how to care about something other than themselves our country will be well on it's way to prosperity again, but it will never go there as long as half the country believe Me Me Me, Mine Mine Mine is some sort of religion. It's not individualism, it is greed and selfishness and today's Republican cannot tell the difference. Sad.

Actually, I like to listen to Rush for the comedy factor. It's so funny and entertaining. For example one of his callers called in yesterday and talked about what a great person Sarah Palin is.

This caller believes that Palin is smart and that the movie, "Game Change" is wrong.

I wish they would put his show on the comedy channel.

One idiot's whiny is another person's reality. The fact is Republicans live with their heads where the sun never shines making it possible to completely ignore reality and create their own little world.

At least the GOP House is serious about producing a budget. That's the world they live in.

Perhaps the Democrats should keep talking about contraception. That seems to be their level of "reality".

JoAnnaSmith1

The country isn't looking for a whiny President that continues to blame the problems of the world on everyone but himself.

So, now you've gone for blaming Obama for the disasters Bush caused to blaming him for "the problems of the world." That could be an ominous symptom that your Obama Derangement Syndrome has progressed closer to the terminal stages.

JAS1:

At least the GOP House is serious about producing a budget.

Ryan's "budget" is a shabby joke that would dramatically increase the deficit with more tax cuts for the wealthy and another weapons buildup, while cutting programs that assist the poor and middle class. But it did have a pretty blue cover.

Houston what color was the the cover for the Democrats budget?

President Obama has provided Congress with a proposed budget every year; democrats add and delete, republicans say NO NO NO and yell the democrats haven't passed a budget. Then along comes Paul Ryan in 2011 who presents his Path to Prosperity 1.0 which he calls a budget only it really isn't; the GOP House passes it; the Senate votes it down (including republicans voting NO) and the republicans yell the democrats haven't pass a budget.

Meanwhile President Obama's budget and the democrats amended versions of it are filibustered in the Senate and the GOP House refuses to vote on it and the republicans yell the democrats haven't passed a budget.

In 2012, President Obama provided another budget and the GOP cried NO NO NO and ignore it; then along comes Paul Ryan with his Path to Prosperity, 2.0 which is actually a Path to Disaster.

My money says the GOP House will pass the 2012 Ryan Plan to Disaster which will add trillions to the deficit and debt, gut discretionary spending including education, kill medicare, do it's best to move toward privatizing social security, add billions to the Defense budget; the Senate will vote it down and the GOP will once again cry "the democrats haven't passed a budget".

Houston: So, now you've gone for blaming Obama for the disasters Bush caused to blaming him for "the problems of the world." That could be an ominous symptom that your Obama Derangement Syndrome has progressed closer to the terminal stages

So you think four more years of this crap will benefit the country. That's fine, I hope you're better off for it, because millions of others are not. And certainly our children and grand-children who will have to pay for this unrestrained spending are not better off.

Carry on Houston.

Houston: Ryan's "budget" is a shabby joke that would dramatically increase the deficit with more tax cuts for the wealthy and another weapons buildup, while cutting programs that assist the poor and middle class. But it did have a pretty blue cover.

Another MSDNC talking point.

And Houston, what did you think of Obama's budget?

There's only one way to wipe out these ignoramuses. Educate their kids.

I agree with that, David, but Santorum believes higher education brainwashes students with liberal ideology.

Such a hypocrite with his three degrees and a father who was a PhD!

JoAnnaSmith1 has a selective memory about Obama's agreement to extend the Bush tax cuts. He wanted to extend ONLY the cuts that affected the middle class because a tax increase on the middle class in the aftermath of the Bush Recession could have plunged the country back into recession.

The Republicans held the middle class tax cuts hostage so that the tax cuts for the wealthy would also be preserved, even though a tax increase on the wealthy would have had little effect on the recovery and would have gone to decreasing the deficit. Obama had little choice but to concede to the hostage-takers' demands, just as he was forced to do in the later hostage-taking incident with the deficit ceiling last year. The Republicans have shown repeatedly that they are willing to wreck the economy in order to get their extremist demands met.

Jody, Iowa: Meanwhile President Obama's budget and the democrats amended versions of it are filibustered in the Senate and the GOP House refuses to vote on it and the republicans yell the democrats haven't passed a budget.

Really? What in the world are you rattling on about? Can you please point to where the Senate is debating ANY budget, let alone Obama's. What House budget from the Senate has been refused a vote? Are narcotics involved when you post?

Stick to regurgitating talking points Jody. When you get off the rails it's nothing but trouble for you.

White Collar Auto

Houston what color was the the cover for the Democrats budget?

I don't know. You'll have to check with the White House on that.

Amused in the Midwest, well said!

Many of the TV and megachurch ministers like Copeland preach "prosperity" in terms of personal wealth and gaining personal wealth instead of the previous notion that true "prosperity" is family, love and sharing.

Houston: extend ONLY the cuts that affected the middle class; plunged the country back into recession.; held the middle class tax cuts hostage; cuts for the wealthy would also be preserved; hostage-takers' demands;forced to do in the later hostage-taking incident; Republicans have shown repeatedly that they are willing to wreck the economy

Right out the of DNC handbook of propaganda. Three "hostage takers" in one post. That's a good Houston, you did real good.

JAS1:

Houston: Ryan's "budget" is a shabby joke that would dramatically increase the deficit with more tax cuts for the wealthy and another weapons buildup, while cutting programs that assist the poor and middle class. But it did have a pretty blue cover.

Another MSDNC talking point.

And Houston, what did you think of Obama's budget?

Are there any errors in the features of the Ryan "budget" that I described, or is it just that you have trouble distinguishing between facts and talking points?

JAS1

Right out the of DNC handbook of propaganda. Three "hostage takers" in one post. That's a good Houston, you did real good.

Nope. It's the Republicans who did real good. I didn't even mention all the other hostage-taking incidents in the past three years. Shortly after Obama took office, one GOP Congressman said that they should model their opposition to his policies after the Taliban. The party took his advice.

It so easy to check. Google Obama Budget Example: Obama Budget 2013.

So easy, even a Republican can do it.

Just so I get this right, all our deficit problems will be solved if we allow the Bush tax cuts to expire, cut defense spending in half, remove tax deductions for oil companies and remove the cap on SS contributions?

Alan, obviously not but we would be better off than we are now. There is no end all be all but should that stop us from taking steps towards progress?

Alan, NJ: Just so I get this right, all our deficit problems will be solved if we allow the Bush tax cuts to expire, cut defense spending in half, remove tax deductions for oil companies and remove the cap on SS contributions?

Don't forget "taxing the rich".

Just wanted to make sure because I hear so much about how the Bush tax cuts are the main driver of the deficit and allowing them to expire would be the first step in getting our fiscal house in order. I just didn't realize that Democrats wanted to balance the budget on the "backs of the poor" just like Republicans.

http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/domestic-taxes/123131-study-expiration-of-bush-tax-cuts-will-hit-poorer-workers-hardest

Or maybe the parties might actually start talking and come up with a proposal before December? Instead of politicking and campaigning why is the Treasury Secretary, the Leader of Senate and the Leader of the House not working on a fiscal budget/plan now? Why will this drag on to another debt ceiling crisis and another lame duck session when they pass laws with no thought for consequences?

Seriously, I would vote against everybody in Government today. They are all failing at their job.

Alan & Akeem,

I personally believe that the only way out fo this mess is an intelligent combination of tax reform, tax increases, and spending cuts.

Tax Reform would simplify the system and reduce or eliminate the "winners vs. losers" mentality of the current tax code.

Tax Increases resulting from elimination of the "carried interest" and a slight increase in the capital gains rate to the Reagan-era levels.

Spending Cuts combined with a reduction in unnecessary regulations to improve the efficiency of our government. Everyone agrees that our federal government is inefficient and there are opportunites to eliminate duplicaed agencies. Neither party is "clean" on this, just look at the TSA created under Bush!

We could certainly agree that spending cuts and tax reform are vital, and develop a bipartisan approach - COMPROMISE. Unfortunately all we end up doing is screaming at each other if we can't get 100% of what we want.

"Rickety Santorum is a extremely dangerous person to have next to the "N" button"

Alan, NJ: Seriously, I would vote against everybody in Government today. They are all failing at their job.

Exactly. What a sad set of losers we have trying to run something they know nothing about. Obama has shown zero leadership and has been one of most divisive Presidents ever. Reid can't even do his job and at least try and pass a budget. Boehner is a huge disappointment, he's just another go along to get along guy in Washington. And the minority leaders in both the House and the Senate both spend more time posturing for the cameras than they do to come up with any kind of alternatives to the majorities plans.

And some people want to send these losers MORE of our money? Really?

So you think four more years of this crap will benefit the country. That's fine, I hope you're better off for it, because millions of others are not. And certainly our children and grand-children who will have to pay for this unrestrained spending are not better off.

Four more years of improvement, yes - the country needs something like that, so that we can get back on our feet. I don't think of the improvement as "crap." I think of it as "necessary."

It's funny, people like you had no problems with unrestrained spending back when we pointed out the problems. Back then, VP Cheney told us "deficits don't matter." But put a black man in the White House and suddenly you are all worried about welfare queens and unrestrained spending and your grand-kids.

If you want to deal with the deficit, stop government handouts to banks and Federal contractors, and increase taxes. That will easily fix the hole. The number of Federal employees hasn't changed much over the last 50 years. The change in expenses is almost all due to federal contractors who provide very dubious utility to the taxpayer and yet earn very good livings.

BTW: Another fact on the hostage-taking strategy that JoAnnaSmith1 won't like is that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell actually bragged about what a valuable hostage the debt ceiling was after the Republican-induced debacle of last August, and Mitch used the word "hostage," even though it doesn't seem to be JAS1's favorite word.

It's funny, people like you had no problems with unrestrained spending back when we pointed out the problems. Back then, VP Cheney told us "deficits don't matter." But put a black man in the White House and suddenly you are all worried about welfare queens and unrestrained spending and your grand-kids.

I love this argument. It's usually preceded by "Bush was the worst President in living memory". Are you seriously trying to justify the current Administration's spending by using the argument Bush did first? I suppose that's how you justify bombing Libya, NDAA, Patriot Act extension, indefinite incarceration at Bagrham, recess appointments, raising the debt ceiling.

I thought this guy (you the black guy), campaigned on Hope and CHANGE?

So, if Bush was the worst does that make Obama the second worse, and if so is that not enough reason to try someone who can actually balance a budget?

BTW: Another fact on the hostage-taking strategy that JoAnnaSmith1 won't like is that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell actually bragged about what a valuable hostage the debt ceiling was after the Republican-induced debacle of last August

Yeah I liked that too. I particularly liked that the President (no fear here), claimed that unless we could borrow more, Social Security checks may not go out. Totally blew up the argument that there is a Social Security trust fund with real assets.

David walker...

There's only one way to wipe out these ignoramuses. Educate their kids

Interesting concept, America has steadily lost its global k-12 education rankings since the 60's so now you think more of the same is what is needed? Bet you were a big fan of the type of government that the novel "1984" suggested.

BTW - I am sure your elitist attitude has not gone unnoticed. lmao!

Steeler Fan, you forgot the rest of the formula. They're removing all loopholes so that will boost their taxable income to a higher level.

If the people of Wisconsin was smart they would kick Santorum out of their State because Ricky is in bed with Scott Walker, the Tea Haters & the Kocheads. This guy will do the same-thing Walker did to your State except the whole Country. "WAKE UP WISCONSIN"

"Santorum will lose N.Y. big time because N.Y. Citizens don't like Phonies"

Da noid, be happy, we iowans had the ads and fliers for far more than a month prior to the january caucus. We also had more wannabes back then as well.

patriotic - having been born and raised in WNY I find it interesting on your turn of phrase about "phonies" seeing that hillary was just such a "phony" when she was elected US senator from new york. I am sure all those years in arkansas politics made her so knowledgeable about new yorkers needs. Just like her minimal meeting of NY residency requirements did as well.

Even being gone from a having a residency in NY, I still know more about NY than she does and even care more about new yorkers than she does beyond political based rhetoric.

The GOP is going to be increasing the pressure for Santorum and Gingrich to drop out - probably by putting pressure on their SuperPAC donors. Shutting off the money supply to those campaigns is the quiet way to close them down.

Can you imagine how this gaggle of Republican candidates will attempt to defend the Ryan budget passed by the House? And it is quite possible that Santorum and Gingrich will use the House legislation opposing 'Obamacare' against Mitt Romney.

The Republican House ended the primary season yesterday. Again, the Republican House has damaged the GOP brand. The Republican primaries must end NOW before the gaggle of candidates begin attacking the House, too. The Republican campaign is no longer about selecting the 'true' conservative candidate - it is about damage control.

The advertising blitz you are experiencing may screech to a halt pretty quickly.

"But Rickety said God picked me, not Romney"

I can't believe, following the financial crisis of 2008, when the private sector investment class nearly tanked the world economy with their greedy and incompetent speculation...the Republican Party decides to run a billionaire investor as their presidential candidate.

And the same robber barons, who failed to "create jobs," are seen pouring unprecedented amounts of money into negative political ads on Romney's behalf. Is this shaping up to be a referendum on the corporate mafia that tries to run this country, or what?

Affinity, I think one of these days all that mud Romney has thrown will come back to him like a boomerang. His lies about his own previous views, his current flip flops from those views; his lies about President Obama are all caught on tape. He'll have a hard time ever shifting back to the middle in this election no matter how much he thinks he can; no matter how much the repubicans pundits say he can again be moderate, the toothpaste is out of the tube and no one will trust him no matter what he says. His pandering to the far right extremists will come back as mud in his face.

Amy. What's even worse is that Mitt Romney, the company destroying executive, is proposing to eliminate the re-regulations passed which would again allow the financial institutions to take the country over the economic cliff. It makes me wonder if any of these repubican yahoos can possibly read let alone understand the concept that if we fail to learn from history, we are doomed to repeat it. The GOP has been repeating Reagan's doomer economic policies for 30 years; one would think by now, they'd at least glance in the rear-view mirror.

"Fox is putting Rickety on their Porn show"

So Amy, got any thoughts on obamas latest wall street contributions exceeding those that romney got?

Um, actually, Noid, it is my understanding that, since this is interstate, it requires the Governors' signatures- not the president's.

The one he refused to sign required his signature because it is international.

I guess Obama confused you, too. Now you think he signed off on the Keystone pipeline, and gas continued to go up. See, he wants to fool you into believing that he really has done everything in his power to relieve the upward pressure on gas prices.

You know the old saying, right? Fool me once, shame on you? Fool me twice, shame on me?

Don't be shamed, Noid. Don't let him fool you twice. The electorate won't.

Well, at least a majority won't.

Um, actually, Noid, it is my understanding that, since this is interstate, it requires the Governors' signatures- not the president's.

The one he refused to sign required his signature because it is international.

***BUZZ***

You are mistaken. The whole project we are discussing involves the expansion of an existing pipeline from Canada so, no, this is not a case of mere interstate commerce.

Please do some more research.

No, noid. I'm not.

http://npaper-wehaa.com/wlj/2012/03/05/?article=1535400

There are, multiple, other, sources- all saying the same thing.

This segment of the pipeline does NOT need Obama's approval because it does not cross international borders. The one from Canada requires his signature because, well, Canada is a different country.

That's where Obama should come in, but doesn't.

Obama depends on the ignorance of the electorate- that is the tool he uses to fool you into thinking what he wants you to think.

Most cult leaders do.

Funny thing about Obama- one of the tools in his chest is a compliant media- see, if a republican president tried to pull off this kind of chicanery, they would DO THEIR JOBS- and expose it. Then you would not be ignorant.

Might even get indignant. "does he think I'm and idiot!". You might rant.

He does- and if you buy into it, you are.

Don't let him- and the media-get away with it, Noid. Do some research.

Da Noid, cheers for that one! The GOPers run circles around themselves and they aren't even bright enough to check the facts, a la E.O. 13337, which they probably applauded when President Bush signed it before throwing their usual hissy fit.

I am not sure the regulations and who signs what No Joe no Bo, but from my own education I am certain that any form of interstate commerce is regulated by the Federal Government. Again, not sure what protocool is, but with this being an issue of great national interest I do not understand what is so negative of the president stepping in. It is not even as if he denied the project either. This is a great exapmle of unfounded outrage.

Akeem

I do not understand what is so negative of the president stepping in.

The Republicans' problem with it is that the name of the president in question is Barack Hussein Obama. If it was George Walker Bush or Willard Mitt Romney, they wouldn't even bother commenting on it.

Akeem, it is and yes, the outrage is unfounded; it's the usual No Joe and pals just nitpicking.

Houston, you nailed it. It isn't the project, it is who is President. Pretty bad when pettiness becomes the GOP's ideology and is now #1 on their party platform.

"Must be Porn on their mind's"

NJNB -

I thought Republicans preferred the Bush version of that saying:

There's an old saying in Tennessee - I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee - that says, fool me once, shame on - shame on you. Fool me - you can't get fooled again.

Sorry, I couldn't resist!

No Jo: Within a state: reponsibility of the state administration and governor of that state. Crossing state boundaries: responsibility of the federal administration and the president. Crossing international boundaries, responsibility of all countries involved including the presidents and prime ministers of those countries.

That's why the FEDERAL government oversees the INTERstate highway system.

feldon - only to the extent that federal funds were used.

That's why the FEDERAL government oversees the INTERstate highway system.

Lots of toll roads on the interstate highways because no federal funds were used to construct them. Love them chicago tolls!!

DANoid, the issue here is that he's making it seem as if he had something to do with "approving" this segment of the pipeline. I used to live six miles from Cushing, OK. This has been in the works for years; Obama had NOTHING to do with it. Remember when he vetoed the bill, it was only a few days later they announced they were going ahead with this southern section. And, as others have written, it does NOT require his approval since it's interstate. The northern leg did require his approval because it crossed an international border.

A home run? Really? Looked to me like he tried to bunt but popped it up.

I actually laughed out loud when Obama started talking Hoover Dam- and it was picked up by this network.

Can you imagine the hue and cry from the Flat Earth Society if such a project were proposed today?

Can you imagine the screams from the environmentalists were anyone to propose carving likenesses of presidents into a "pristine" mountain face? The noise would disturb the birds! It would cause an ecological disaster!

Think U.S. One could be built today- over what was left of the FEC Extension? Did you know that Flagler used marl-pulled from the water!- to create keys that had not, previously, existed? They drove pilings down -through the coral! Cut down trees, filled in swamps! The horror!

Let's not get started on the ecological disaster that is Manhattan. It was once a pristine island, filled with wildlife.

Look at it now.

NoJo, it has been estimated that once the tar sands in Canada are in full production there will be a holding pool of contaminated water the size of Florida. I'll be sure to get you a beach front property ... would you prefer to see the sunrise or the sunset.

Damage123:

And this is coming from someone who has not served one second for his country anywhere for any reason. Your faux indignation is the true BS and makes YOU the true SSOB.

It's not too late to join the Americorp or Habitat for Humanity. Or are you unwilling to get up from your keyboard long enough to make yourself useful.

I can't wait for the debates. Flip, you can run but you can't hide.

Interstate highways and the Hoover Dam were Public Works Programs!.....

Fortunately, as a member I was at our County Democratic Central Committee meeting last night and did not get home in time to hear Mr. Romney speak. From the clips I saw later, he didn't say anything new; for a party that gets upset when liberals blame Bush for the economic mess, it sure is good at blaming President Obama for Bush's economic mess and every other ill that has ever occurred.

Mitt Romney talks about the interstate highway system and Hoover Dam but critters like him can't think beyond tax cuts for the rich to make sure the USA never thinks or does BIG again. Heaven forbid that government should invest in clean, renewable energy because it might not work never mind that we didn't do too well launching the first rockets either but eventually one took man for a short trip around the earth. Does Mitt think Bain Capital would be willing to fork over the billions needed to invest in such projects instead of investing to bankrupt companies? Yeah, like that's gonna happen. Government is necessary to invest in BIG things because no private business can and certainly no state or town can either and if Mitt wants big things, he's going to have to increase revenues to achieve them. What BIG things has the GOP invested in over the last 30 years since Reagan talked about the shining city on the hill?

Ideology, be sure to let us know whether No Joe opts for the sunrise or the sunset? I doubt she'll be able to decide but will blame President Obama for her indecision.

Obummer needs to GO! He is an inept idiot. Biden is a meltdown waiting to happen.

Romney sure did a good job reading that speech off of the teleprompters last night. I read that he uses more than 1 of them.

Chilled yes they were, but in todays world, years of environmental studies would have been required to do them. You seem to imply that jobs and the economy should always trump the environment.

----------------

Ideo... What? No water recycling processes in Canada?

american-2051576 the residue liquid can no longer be called water.

on the other hand no jo - look at the Everglades - never thought a thing about damning the flow and building roads across it. An lo and behold, found it is a natural filter for both the aquifer and the estuaries. Eventually they spent oodles to try and get the natural flow back.

Sure Ames, cuz Ashton Kutcher taking Branson's junket to Outer Space is a good thing for America.

White Collar Auto

Sure Ames, cuz Ashton Kutcher taking Branson's junket to Outer Space is a good thing for America.

Ashton Kutcher has nothing to do with it. Two private companies, SpaceX and Orbital Sciences, have already contracted with NASA for cargo flights to the International Space Station. Successful orbital test flights already have been conducted. But those facts don't fit in with the right wing's fake portrait of Obama as a radical socialist Marxist out to destroy private enterprise, so you'll probably put that bit of information in your "ignore" pile.

WCA -

Sure Ames, cuz Ashton Kutcher taking Branson's junket to Outer Space is a good thing for America

It is good for the US if he stays out there!

Houston, do you really think Obama had anything to do with companies contracting with NASA?

Are the two companies you cite the first to ever contract with NASA to send satellites into space?

Or does the timing of these two just fit your narrative?

oh white collar - can we get expedite Ashton's ticket? Make it a one way afare?

I think we can work up a bipartisan hand out for that don't you?

I guess Obama is more educated on Space Exploration than Neil Armstrong. Paul Allen -- Microsoft Co-founder -- wrote in his book "Idea Man" that space exploration cannot be left 100% to Private Enterprise. It is simply because the ROI possibility in the short term will make it unattractive. The government can sell technological advances to Private Enterprises, what it deems within our national security interest. This way, some of the cost is recovered.

WCA

I saw a story on 60 Minutes on Space X which mentions Obama's support for opening space travel to private enterprise companies. (As Houston mentions, they are sending cargo rockets into orbit, not celebrities.)

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18560_162-57399210/spacex-entrepreneurs-race-to-space/

OMG. I think I heard people on here howling when Newt suggested a moon colony that would be done with private dollars. But, Obama doing this is the best thing since sliced bread. Hypocrites.

White Collar Auto

Houston, do you really think Obama had anything to do with companies contracting with NASA?

Of course he does. The cargo ship development program did start during the Bush administration, but awarded during the Bush administration, but the program only continues as the developers meet agreed-upon milestones. The related crew module development program began under the Obama administration in 2010.

If Obama was the Marxist Enemy of Capitalism of your fondest dreams, he certainly could have found a way to end the Bush programs and he certainly wouldn't have allowed new programs to begin during his administration. He could have kept the cost ineffective, but socialistic state-run shuttle program going so as to destroy competition from the private sector if he were the demon you would like him to be.

So tell me, what does your moronic comment Ashton Kutchner have to do with anything?

dirt-303814

OMG. I think I heard people on here howling when Newt suggested a moon colony that would be done with private dollars. But, Obama doing this is the best thing since sliced bread. Hypocrites.

Obama has NO plans to start a moon colony or to make it the 51st state. Doofus.

Houston! Thanks for the info, you sound very knowledgable. All I know about it is what I saw on 60 Minutes! I enjoyed your posts.

Paul Allen asserted in his book than closing NASA was a bad idea. 60 Minutes only has a snippet. Obama is an ungrateful and inept clown.

Damn - I was still hoping there would be room for Ashton on that first moon flight. Couldn't we just ship him in a carrier tied on top? ;~)

Obama is incompetent and has been that way all his life. Here is a person that accomplished NOTHING in life before he became President.

Anony Mous1:

You're a sick, sad, uninformed person.

I am sick of stupid people. We elect George Bush and Obama because of a discourse framed by the media. If I want to find people who agree with so the so called Conservatives i.e. mental case like Santorum, then I switch to FOX and if I want to see social values run amok then I come to MSNBC. How on earth did this happen to America? The middle ground along with the middle-class has been evaporated. I will continue to post my comments because I am sick of the stupidity of people like MGates73.

I'd love to see your resume, Anony Mous1,...you know to understand the BAR you are setting for TRUE achievement and accomplishment,...

I'm guessing YOU aren't all that with a side of chips; but that's just one little ole Liberal opinion based on your stellar articulation of the issues.

Clara KCMO: What specifically you disagree with? Are we not a divided country? Is Obama not a failure because he failed to deliver on his promises? Would you not categorized Obama with George Bush in terms of their incompetence? By the way, I went to Harvard also.

JS, that's why they have a primary....to choose one of the four. Exit polls showed folks are starting to rally around Romney. Seems i remember this time four years ago there were THREE people in the Dem race and none of them were getting over 50%.

Katheryn,

I tell you what Ron Paul's campaign has done - engaged many Libertarians, like my brother in rural Maine, who have often felt alienated by the political system. I've never seen my brother so excited by a candidate. Now, my brother is considering running for town selectman.

I think it's a good thing, even though I don't support Ron Paul, that Libertarians had a viable voice in the primary process. It's good for the country to have a debate about substance, instead of just handing it to the corporate candidate.

It has been interesting to see the difference in ideological climate in each region. Gingrich and Santorum barely registered as a blip in Maine. It was Romney vs Paul, here. Romney seemed most in his element in New Hampshire; in the Southern states, not so much. Wonder how this will play out in the national election.

I agree with you Amy - Ron Paul has been a breath of fresh air. Sadly many of the young people who he has inspired to become active politically seem to have become so disillusioned with how slow change happens in our political system. I am glad to see it has spurred your brother to become more involved. I hope the same happens for more of his followers. It's not revolution -it's more like evolution.

The demographics behind the voting booth wins are fascinating!

http://motherjones.com/politics/2012/01/how-rick-santorum-ripped-off-american-military-veterans

_________________________________________________________

Honor…. Check out how Santorum ripped off the Veterans Home in D.C. at the behest of the Catholic Church

Blackneck to Redneck: Glad that we can see Sanitarium for what he is!

So, we're supposed to pay for some chick's birth control but helping old people get their medicine is bad?

I hope Rickety Santorum will lose Louisiana & Texas and get rid of the Loser.

If that is so , maybe the Bible thumpers can switch back to family guy Newt/or space man Paul. Wait a minute! I forgot--Mitt is going to be spaceman after death. Oh well it is Newt.

A vote for 'ole Ricky' is a vote for the 'good ole boys'...............how does that directly benefit you ??

USHonor is Tag not Mitt---Mitt is taking his dog for a drive.

USHonor........that is one of the many reasons we ran 'ole Ricky' out of PA

Nutjobs deserve representation too---Who would Damage123 vote for?

Nah,

Santorum = Not Romney vote.