What a sad day, one of my childhood heroes...

RIP - Andy Griffith! You had genuine family values unlike the imposters of today!

Importers? Progressives destroyed Mayberry and every American town like it!

Just heard that about Old Andy Betty. He had a style that I think all us Southern Gentlemen would rather be remembered for than the image that the media and most of my Southern colleagues would be presented now. The world would be a better place if we had more Andy's and a whole lot less Barney's. At the very least the Bullet's would be under control better.

Oh, please, both of you knock it off!!!!

Can we please show some respect for the man and not turn And Griffith's passing into a political football?

Ole Andy was also a Loyal Obama Supporter!

Importers?

Okay!

I have to ask... what the hell are importers? lol

And no Rob Outsourcing had more to do with destroying Southern Towns like Mt. Airy than any other. See I speak from experience having lived there whereas you as usual are just talking to hear your jaws rattle

Andy Griffith was truly one of the good guys. He was a genuine gentle, sage soul, whose personality and those characters he played, showed humans at their best.

Rest in Peace Andy, you have been a good and faithful servant to all that is good about this country.

Sam Walton,...

Importer Extraordinairre,...and small town killer.

I'm also interested in Willards offshore accounts. What's he hiding? Has he paid any income taxes on those offshore monies, or are these earned monies he's secreted away without paying his taxes on them? Is he a tax cheat? If yes, then he needs to go to prison like any other crook and certainly not be the President of the Country and the people he's cheated.

Let's see those tax returns Romney!

OBAMA IN 2012.

California Tom--so do you get all concerned when someone from Great Britain or Germany deposits money with Chase or Wells Fargo? You do realize that it is very common to deposit money with foreign banks--find a new issue to campaign on.

IR--there is no doubt that outsourcing can have bad consequences in specific situations but can you explain (without campaigning) how you would compete in the global economy without it? In other words when Japan can sell a Toyota cheaper in Brazil, or Nokia can sell phones cheaper in Thailand than GM or Motorola because in your world they are not allowed to outsource, explain to me how you would save those jobs? What about companies like Apple and others where 50% of their sales in foreign countries, are they not allowed to manufacture overseas because it would be bad for Mayberry? Explain why you think Obama's tax policy proposals for global companies will create jobs instead of reduce them? Again provide substance not campaign slogans?

Oh, please, both of you knock it off!!!!

I hope you are not talking to me...

Clara--couldnt agree more that his retain philosophy destroyed many small town businesses no different than Sears a generation before destroyed many small town appliance stores and clothing retailers. Just as Panasonic destroyed Zenith. But what would you do that would change our market based economy to prevent WalMart? If people dont like it they certainly dont have to shop there do they?

IR,

I bought a beautiful bed room set from a estate sale years ago. The sticker said it was made in Mt. Airy about 1920. I did a little research and saw where the furniture maker a stable in the community was bought out and the results was no more fine craftman's work.

Now the town is a tourist destination for "Mayberry" fans.

IR, so Feisty is Betty?

Of course, the difference in your analogy, Kirk,

Sears WAS all American -

Walmart stocks it's shelves with crap made in China - People like cheap stuff. It's what you would call a Perfect Storm conundrum -

Example-

I don't earn much money (metaphoric "I"), so I can't afford good stuff, so I shop at Wal Mart where the stuff is made by people in another country earning pennies on the dollar, thereby taking my job, leaving me less able to afford good stuff.

At some point,...(kind of like our oil addiction) - we'll need to break our co-dependency and quit shopping at Wal Mart -

I have already done so,...Have you?

we'll need to break our co-dependency and quit shopping at Wal Mart -

I never have and never will shop at Wally's World due to how they treat their employees...

IR, so Feisty is Betty?

Wouldn't you like to know! lol

Trouble for you is, southern gentlemen know how to keep secrets!

Yes, but a southern girls voice can melt a mans heart!

Outsourcing is a fact of life in globalization. The US can stay on top with advancing tech, which depends on more investment in education, which Republicans have opposed.

Obama/Biden 2012

Clara, that doesnt answer my question nor does it change the issue. I never shop at Walmart and never will but not because they sell cheap foreign items but because they are cheap low quality goods. To me the issue with Walmart is if you dont like it dont shop there but I dont think we can deny their ability to provide cheap goods in a free market economy with global reach. In addition, what is missing from this debate is just think if it wasnt Walmart but a foreign chinese owned retailer or similar company. People act like globalization wasnt going to happen if somehow they prevented outsourcing or lower priced retail goods from foreign countries.

Its not codependancy as there will always be a replacement for Walmart. Do you think we should break our dependency and people should intentionally pay more for consumable goods and have less disposable income remaining? Most of that additional money would still get offshore to foreign competitors as globalization is here to stay

California Tom--so do you get all concerned when someone from Great Britain or Germany deposits money with Chase or Wells Fargo? You do realize that it is very common to deposit money with foreign banks--find a new issue to campaign on.

Is California Tom German or British? Is investing in Chase or Wells Fargo a bad idea?

I believe the point here is that a Presidential Candidate shouldn't be stashing huge sums of money in Switzerland or the Cayman Islands or Bermuda...not if he wants to send the message that we should be investing in this country.

Pigotry--I know you want to campaign for Obama but lets stay within the realm of reality. Republicans have been the champions of education reform and the investment in education. You do realize that education spending is done at the local and state level. You do realize that education spending grew faster under Bush than any previous presidents although Clinton was a heavy spender on education. But you do know where are education problems are dont you? Who is opposing reform and trying to close the education gap which is the real cause of income inequality? You do know that its the democratic party and their unholy alliance with the teacher's unions and worship the almighty dollar that prevents the investment in education we need right? Just as I criticize the GOP for bad policy you need to be honest and objective about bad democratic policy such as their stance on education.

Da Noid--money isnt stashed anymore--this isnt the 1800s. Money is transferred and held electronically. You have heard of banks like Credit Suisse and you do realize their are foreign branches of banks all over the US. When you invest in a mutual fund with foreign companies, are you stashing that money in the foreign country? No, you electronically invested and you dont take a suitcase of cash--this could become as silly as the GOP birther issue. Now your point as to whether he should be investing in this country is legitimate but if thats your point, I would want to see all of Obama's investments just to make sure he hasnt gotten a diversified portfolio that also includes foreign investments. But thats more a legitimate point not the stupid tax dodging crap because he has a money market account at Credit Suisse.

Kirk most of the time I don’t waste much time with you because you are another one who likes to talk about stuff to hear your Jaws Rattle but just this once.

Just look at the Fabric Industry. Now back in the day the Cones and Benjamin’s made a bunch of money off of them and lived a lifestyle that was commensurate with that.

They also felt that it was the right thing to do to give back to the communities that their workers had become. You can find all kinds of places down there named after them from Universities to libraries. Folks still live in the Shotgun Houses that were put up to house the Lint Heads. I at one time played Baseball for the White Oak Team down there. White Oak was in production for 110 years BTW.

The Problem wasn’t that they couldn’t compete. N.C. is a right to work State and any attempt to bring in Unions to organize the workers was met with resistance so the wages were about as low as where you could get them elsewhere except in real third world countries.

No the problem wasn’t that that they weren’t making a profit. It’s How much of a profit do you feel is adequate. How much? 50,000,000. 100,000,000. Whatever floats your boat. How much money can one man spend? I guess we are fixing to find out.

No the problem was that unlike the Cones and Benjamin’s the New Owners forgot that they not only have a responsibility to make a profit but they also have a responsibly to put a small portion back into the community for the common good. I wonder myself how long the folks that they are taking advantage of now are going to take to find out there’s a heck of a lot more of them than there are Profit Takers and do something about it.

Where you going to Off-Shore to when that happens there Bunky?

IR--You see I talk about stuff because its people like you who would prefer to campaign while keeping your head buried in the sand instead of ever actually learning something. I realize that many of us yearn for the days of the steam engine, no cell phones and grandma on the front porch smoking her corn cob pipe but if thats your explanation of globalization, no wonder Obama and his supporters have no clue economically. I lived in North Carolina for 4 years in the 80s so I am very familiar with the furniture and textile industries. First of all, what did anything you say have to do with the global economy and our ability to compete? Are you somehow saying that the owners should have not tried to compete against foreign competition and just lost or made less money? Or how the NC textile makers were going to compete in foreign countries? Instead of worrying about my jaws rattling, can you actually respond to my questions and try to avoid making the campaign speeches that are just pandering to like minds.

Thanks for reminding me not to involve myself in pointless exercises Kirk. Rattle on Son Rattle on

Pointless? Why is it that you progressives always take your ball and go home whenever there is an attempt to have substantive debate? Here is a chance to explain to me how Obama's economic policies will create jobs and eliminate outsourcing. Its clear that Obama's followers dont get basic economic principles or how a market based economy works. We had a poster think that money gets stashed and what horrible things is Romney doing because he opened an account with Credit Suisse. We had a poster think that all you do is force employers to pay more and that all of these jobs wont disappear. We have posters think that cognitive ability or education doesnt influence economic outcomes. And the naive simplicity goes on and on. So IR if I just rattle on and my guess papa we are the close to the same age, why not show me where I am wrong? Why is it so hard for you progressives to respond? Not one person had the ability to provide a cogent response regarding how Obama's tax or economic policies will address outsourcing and create jobs. I find that amazing.

Kirk Never argue with a fool. Other fools may not know the difference and it'll just confuse them all the more.

Kirk Never argue with a fool.

Floyd,

They also bring you down to their level & then beat you with experience! ☺

The problem is that without providing any substance how is it that anyone will know who the fool is? If I am the fool, it should be very simple to show me the foolishness of my ways? Why is that you never can?

Right you are there Betty.

@IR

Is it a good or bad the fact that Airbus will be opening a plant in Alabama? Should we consider this one of the benefits of globalization or simply the outsourcing of European jobs? If outsourcing how did this happen? Is the European workforce, particularly in the aerospace industry, not heavily unionized? Why did they not stop this?

As Kirk pointed out above you really have no arguments as to how the current Administration's policies will actually help create jobs. For example, say Obamacare actually was a move to single-payer. The argument that it would reduce costs for business would be logical. However, the law as written actually forces smaller companies to offer healthcare or pay a fine adding to costs. For companies that currently offer health insurance, the law in an incentive to drop healthcare insurance and pay a lower penalty.

Clara, just so you know, Walmart's major competitor is Amazon. So soon you may have no brick and mortar store to go to.

Fiesty, so far all I have done is beaten him with logic and knowledge and all you have done is spewed bigotry and hatred. Not sure if at the end of the day, anyone is going to think you came out ahead besides your campaign posse.

Kirk,

Thanks for your input, always so informative.

Thanks for your input, always so informative.

Uh huh... house mouse!

Kirk the jerk is about as informative as carrot!

Problem for little Kirky is, carrots are much more charismatic!

Kirk is what is commonly known as an ordinary attention whore - he has no validation in his real life which is why he comes here and craves someone to pay consideration to him...

Come to think of it, much like you...

Feisty,

Kirk is what is commonly known as an ordinary attention whore - he has no validation in his real life which is why he comes here and craves someone to pay consideration to him...

Sorry you feel that way, I however disagree. There are a few people here, both left and right that actually brings some substance to this blog, and Kirk is one of them. You shouldn't be angry about that.

I notice that you have a new name for me "house mouse" what gives?

'Noid......they must be really proud that 22% of their children are uninsured.

Yesiree, we do it bigger and better in Texas, what ever it may be.

And in an interview with the Washington Post, Attorney General Eric Holder said this about last week's vote holding him in contempt of Congress: “I’ve become a symbol of what they don’t like about the positions this Justice Department has taken,” he said. “I am also a proxy for the president in an election year. You have to be exceedingly naive to think that vote was about ... documents.”

Never were truer words spoken. What they cant do to the President, they will take the next best lookalike to try to make a statement. History will prove how stupid, ignorant these House member are. If only it was about plan gone out of control, if only it was to find out how a federal agent died, they used him and his family as pawns with their faux outrage.

Darrell Issa should be sanctioned and thrown out of the House.

GM, It was ONLY to find out who authorized it and were they held accountable. A simple question really. Why won't Holder tell the Committee? Who authorized it? Was that person terminated?, moved to a different position within the department?, or more likely based on Obama's penchant for incompetence, promoted within the department?

Read it and weep Rocco - there has been much investigative journalism done on the issue. Bottom line - senior people involved in the program have resigned. The whole Fast and Furious mess, while a useless program that has been terminated. The responsibility for Border Agent Terry lies with the one who killed him, the NRA and Arizona's loose gun laws allowed guns to be turned over to Mexican cartels. Case closed. The Holder contempt charge is a partisan move designed to hurt Obama, but is making Issa look like the criminal he is.

http://features.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2012/06/27/fast-and-furious-truth/

What is "bammycare"?

It want be long until the dumba$$ republican Governors fall in line. Remember, they can be replaced and they will.

Also, there is no such thing as the "United Republican States of America," nor "United Socialist States of America's" Only in the mind of a tea bagger!

Moonbat job1 why don't you threaten Gov. Scott Walker with a recall election if he doesn't get in line. Oh wait a minute you already did. How did that work out, loser. Oh thats right you got your liberal azz handed to you, LMFAO.

Well Bobby,

We didn't get Walker, but we forced him to spend big money in the fight. Plus, we took out his control of the state house.

[...why don't you threaten Gov. Scott Walker with a recall election if he doesn't get in line. Oh wait a minute you already did. How did that work out...]

Uh, Bob...you might want to take a good look at this:

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/07/03/wisconsin-senate-may-switch-hands-after-recall-recount/

Seems Scottie Boy's troubles aren't over.

You may not want to "LMFAO" just yet...

@Mickey, NY

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/politics/sns-rt-us-usa-wisconsin-recallbre86118a-20120702,0,6018775.story

Exactly why did the Democrats initiate this recall? Yes they now have a 17-16 majority in a chamber that won't meet until January 2013 according to story. Half of the chamber is up for election in November and so this result is basically moot. Why was the point? Did no one do any research to see if there would be any purpose to this recall? Or did they just waste their, and more taxpayers money? The whole exercise seems pointless.

Just to clarify, I am only asking about the Senate recalls.

In order to be fair and objective, I am sure you have serious problems with Obama's lack of transparency right? I am sure Obama's failure to disclose everything regarding his relationship with Tony "the fixer" Rezco and his sale of that 10 foot piece of land for several hundred thousand dollars, his failure to vote in the Illinois legislature, his failure to provide his tax returns and charitable giving until he became president, his failure to provide his collegiate and legal transcripts, his use of executive priviledge on Fast and Furious, his failure to provide any transparency on the backroom dealing to pay off senators to get Obamacare passed. I assume all of that bothered you too?

The A.G. said it better than I could....

"I am also a proxy for the president in an election year. You have to be exceedingly naive to think that vote was about ... documents."

I'm bothered by Willard's lack of transparency and his inability to spit the truth out of his mouth...he is an empty suit!! I'm not fooled by him.

....his failure to provide any transparency on the backroom dealing to pay off senators to get Obamacare passed.... what the h3ll are you talking about?? Never mind you have the same problem Willard does...say anything!

Kirk-#'s, every last one of the "transparency issues" you raised are nothing but red herrings for the Republican base.

Now as for Romney, are you willing to put a man into the White House that utilizes offshore accounts as a means to escape paying taxes on income, either earned or made through capital gains? Hell, you Republicans demeaned then candidate Obama to no end about a "FLAG PIN" but you all are alright with your party's nominee stashing money in off shore accounts?

"but you best believe it this were the President you would be leading with it daily or be on Morning Joe stirring the point!!" What???

I don't believe a word Obama says, you know if his mouth is moving he is lying and why does everyone have a problem with Romney making money but you have no problems with this administration spending money? And no I am not a right winger or a republican.......

OMD,

Google backroom deals, pay off to senators or transparency in Obama's administration.

Kirk,

From day one, it was clear that Obama had know intention to keep his promise on transparency. I didn't trust President Bush, I distrust President Obama even more.

.....And no I am not a right winger or a republican.......

Right, Nancy. LOL

Totas,

Really?

Sayitisntso--of course they are red herrings that was the point. They are just as silly as the red herrings that OMD mentions which is why i said them. If your point is that you want to campaign for Obama on here, then you should state that in your first line. If your point is to have a real policy debate, then you cant just state conclusions that apply to both candidates and mean nothing. If OMD said, I am voting for Obama because his position on deficit spending or gay marriage is what means the most to me, I respect that no different than for someone who says I am voting for Romney because I truly believe that Obamacare needs to be repealed or I vote solely on gun ownership laws and I am more concerned that Obama will limit my rights, I respect that. But just flat statements regarding why one candidate lies over another means absolutely nothing and is just campaign nonsense.

Right OMDo7.......not..........Really......Pinky swear.......ysa

Kirk,

Its so frustrating looking for the truth. It appears that the media has its own agenda, and now Obama campaign said that Factcheck.org did not get this one right.

Factcheck.org, here's the quote, ‘We found no evidence to support the claim that Romney while at Bain capital shipped American jobs overseas.’ If you accuse him of investing in companies overseas because his company invested in companies that have affiliates overseas and there is a growth in jobs overseas and at home it isn't a negative. But it's being called a negative. It's being called shipping jobs overseas. This is simply not right.”

Is there anywhere you can go to get the truth?

By the way sayitaintso--you shouldnt believe everything thinkprogress tells you--putting money in a foreign bank account doesnt escape taxes and you still owe US taxes on any interest earned. Thats like saying, you know those dividends I got from investing in Daimler Benz arent taxes because I diversified my investments and invested overseas. There is nothing nefarious about it and its an issue as silly as the birther issue. Plus, if I could only pay capital gains tax I would too. So tell me if you and your brother bought an apartment building and sold it several years later for a big gain, would you intentionally pay 40% in tax on the gain or would you pay the lower capital gains rate. I know you would voluntarily help us all out and pay the higher rate wouldnt you.

OH NO!

Just wait until the Bible bangers get wind of this little gem... lol

'Believing' that the bible is the WORD of G-d is exceedingly naive, in my opinion.

It is a 'breathing' document that has been revised at the whim of king's and rulers.

Much as it's being revised in it's modern day usage today.

Good luck getting that camel through the eye of that needle.

Clara, whether you are right or not has nothing to do with the disrespect and bigotry that Feisty constantly spews towards christians. There is nothing wrong with not sharing those beliefs but calling someone a bible banger is no different than calling a muslim and Koran banger or orthodox jew a Torah banger etc. Would Fiesty call a gay man a fudge packer? For some reason its ok for her to be bigoted and spew her hatred just because christians tend to support the GOP--thats pretty sick if you ask me. What happened to respect for all people, cultures and religions?

Bible Bangers - now that is some funny stuff. Curiously, a few fail to understand that not all Christians are Bible Bangers, and Bible Banger are so far removed from Christianity, it is questionable as to whether they deserve to be called Christians.

Speaking of packing fudge, did Mrs. Spanky locate the Mr.? I understand she has a 'box of chocolates' ready to ship his way.

The phrase "Bible Banger" is not funny.

On the contrary!

It's hysterically funny & very apprpriate when it comes to you phonies!

After being subjected to the filth & hatred all of you plastic Jesus freaks spew here all week long you think hiding out in a pew on Sunday will absolve your sins... lol

sorry, Kirk, I am just not biting today on faux outrage regarding vivid depiction of what some people choose to do with a bible.

and if you're claiming they don't bang their bible, well then you've never been to a southern baptist service.

Fire, Brimstone, Damnation and Fear of anything foreign is really all a lot of these folks seem to have; because when it comes to in depth understanding of nuanced material - sorry, but these folks are ill equiped to 'debate'.

I would argue that the 'educational' platform as outlined in Texas' Republican Convention is possibly part and parcel of the problem.

But go ahead, cup your hands over your ears and pretend otherwise. Now about that camel.

Clara, I am not getting into any defense of right wing christianity any more than I am going to defend the left wing environmental wackos or fundamental islam but I dont spew hatred and bigotry either. I am sure there are plenty of very nice sincere people of all religions and cultures. If you labeled a black person a welfare queen, would you be offended? What about a black man a criminal? If you just use statistics, you would be right way too often about those labels. So what makes labeling anyone who is a christian in some derogatory term just because you dont believe it. It doesnt make it right and there are plenty of wonderful people who are bible bangers as you speak. There is no doubt that Fiesty gets away with her bigotry and hatred because she is a paid campaigner for Obama on here but that is no excuse and she does her cause more harm than good. Creating labels and making generalizations of disrespect like that is supposed to be against the progressive agenda but I see her do it over and over and its because of their voting record only. Now that is just plain wrong.

"there is no doubt that Fiesty gets away with her bigotry and hatred because she is a paid campaigner for Obama...."

You want to give a source on that Kirk?

Or do you LOVE spinning around in conspiracy theories, in which case, you ought to seek appropriate medical help.

Whether she is or isnt, she clearly isnt on this site to debate or discuss substantive policy. She is either a volunteer or paid campaigner that isnt even subject to debate. Regardless, do you support such bigotry and hate filled comments?

I asked you to provide a source for an accusation that you made about Feisty. You did not do that, and repeat the accusation. Support it or apologize.

You did not do that, and repeat the accusation. Support it or apologize

NDD,

Never gonna happen - our resident spin-meister wouldn't have a clue if someone else bought one for him!

A little off topic.

"Romney Invested in Medical-Waste Firm That Disposed of Aborted Fetuses, Government Documents Show And these documents challenge Romney's claim that he left Bain Capital in early 1999."

Yup, Job1......As Feisty put it, the "holier than thou" crowd really should be outraged at their candidate, not Feisty!

Ole Willard has lots of explaining to do.....but, he'll just evade the issue just like everything else. He answers no questions!

did you forget to take your meds this morning?

Possibly just those voting in that district for that candidate,...not statewide,...