BlueHorde's Comments (75)

“When did this mental disease begin that allows conservatives to believe that reality is subject to "spin", and that if enough people don't believe in anthropogenic climate change, evolution, or the germ theory of disease, that they will cease to occur?”

“Loans made under CRA rules are the least likely to be "troubled assets". CRA rules did not allow the most egregious "subprime" loans. CRA loans have a lower default rate than other loans. Not only did the CRA NOT cause the mortgage crisis - it might have been prevented it if the rules under which it operated were more widely used by the rest of the mortgage industry.

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/01/14-6
http://blogs.wsj.com/marketbeat/2009/05/29/did-the-cra-cause-mortgage-market-crisis-nope-says-fed-report/”

“Rupert Murdock lost 100 million dollars a year for 5 years getting Fox News Channel started because he was willing to dedicate a half billion dollars towards evangelizing Republican Party propaganda. He isn't going to blink at a single show being boycotted by major advertisers - almost all of whom will continue to buy time on the rest of the channel's shows. Especially if he is dedicated to seeing that the show is successful in its ulterior (or not so ulterior) mission - inciting half-wits into violently opposing a Democratic administration.”

“The logic of Stupak-Pitts - that any plan directed by public officials or subsidized by tax dollars cannot offer abortion coverage - would not only prohibit any private insurance in the exchanges, or any subsidized insurance from offering abortion coverage - because money is fungible and any taxdollars spent on any portion of a person's coverage would indirectly subsidize abortion - it would also prohibit abortion coverage by any plan whatsoever - because health expenditures are deductible expenses - which is the same as a subsidy (in fact the "subsidy" for lower income people is in the form of a tax credit).

Indeed, due to the fungibility of money, ANYONE who receives taxable income and takes any tax deduction for any reason - including the personal deduction - is receiving a "subsidy", so NONE of their money may be used to pay for an abortion ... This is the logic of Stupak-Pitts ... If even tax credits are subsidies, and even the "public option" which gets no subsidy and is completely funded by premiums is still, however indirectly, supported by government to a degree too far to accept ... then there is little possibility that anyone could legally pay for an abortion.

Except, perhaps, for totally free procedures provided by volunteers or paid entirely by foreign nationals.

There is no compromise with the logic of Stupak-Pitts, it intends to make abortion impossible to obtain for anyone in the US. The correct strategy is to explicitly recognize the Hyde Amendment, but”

“That's what I was thinking too ...”

“How is this "similar" to single payer?

It is pay for service. No pay - No Service. Hey, it's great to be able to find lower prices, and in time that could introduce an actual free market to the health sector and bring medical inflation in line with the rest of the economy. But don't kid yourselves that this is an alternative to heath care reform or universal coverage.”

“What a marvelous resource for people who don't live in a civilized western nation.”

“http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i305/BlueHorde/JoeandWillie.jpg

McCain's best buddy Joe Lieberman and ALF's best buddy Willie Tanner (Max Wright). Look & Sound alikes.”

“patbernstein wrote "My point is there haven*t been any pro health care rallies."

Wrong

There were pro health care rallys all summer long.

Don't assume that something never happened just because Fox didn't cover it.

There were 10,000 at the June 25th rally in Washington. That is 500,000 if we use the same Fox News metrics that were used for their counts of the teabagger rallies.

http://www.changetowin.org/connect/2009/06/10000_rally_in_dc_for_health_c.html”

“Why not Willie Aames as a financial advisor?

In fact, let's give him Tim Geithner's job, might be an improvement.”

“I can't believe Handerpants! didn't make the cut.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCf9NkcvRno”

“Opt Out: A method by which Republican Controlled State Legislatures can be quickly converted into Democrat controlled legislatures.”

“Sometimes I think it might, finally, actually be happening

Democracy - Leonard Cohen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OETwbVBPI1U”

“If NBC is smart (an open question) Rachel will be a regular panelist.

But she will never be the host of MTP. She is openly and unapologetically liberal. Yes, she is fair, and smart, and nice, but she doesn't hide her politics or feign objective non-partisanship like Gregory and the other "journalists". Rachel is not a news presenter, she is not a "journalist", she is a Rhodes scholar with a PHD in political science who analizes and explains the news rather than just reports it - and does it with humor and clarity. To host MTP she would be expected to neuter her opinions and analysis - it would be a waste of talent, like hiring Tiger Woods for your golf team, but only letting him caddy.”

“Was that really Madonna? I thought it was new cast member Jenny Slate - but if so, it was a remarkable impersonation.

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i305/BlueHorde/JennySlateMadonna.jpg”

“Cobern, being a mere US legislator is confused about matters of law. He only makes law, he is not trained nor qualified to understand them.

He is incorrect that the advice he gave Senator Ensign is privileged because of doctor/patient or even pastoral confidentiality.

But it turns out those conversations ARE privileged under the 5th amendment, since Coburn's advice apparently makes him an accomplice to Ensign's illegal acts to pay off his former mistress and her family, it is perfectly reasonable for Coburn to refuse to give testimony which would incriminate himself.

It is understandable that Coburn is confused that he has a 5th amendment privilege to not testify, he is probably under the impression that the 5th amendment was nullified during the Bush administration along with the 4th amendment and Habeas Corpus.”

“Almost all Summer Olympic Games are profitable, except the last one in Athens.
Olympic Games Profits Since 1984
1984: Los Angeles Olympic Games made profits of US $250 million.
1988: Seoul Olympic Games made profits of US $300 million, a record high for a government-run Olympiad.
1992: Barcelona Olympic Games made profits of US $5 million.
1996: Atlanta Olympic Games made profits of US $10 million.
2000: Sydney Olympic Games Organizing Committee generated an income of US $1.756 billion.
2004: Athens Olympic Games ended in a loss.
Winter Olympics are not so profitable, but the last American one, in Salt Lake City in 2002 did turn a profit, even after a major financial scandal and shakeup during its planning.
And that doesn't even count all of the collateral economic gains in the community.

Again I have to ask ... why does Glenn Beck hate America?”

“That's "Rite of passage" not "Right". Tina knows the difference, even if Miley and Huffpost don't.”

“Looks to me like he has put on more weight in his face in the recent photos, and that his crows feet and the bags under his eyes are much worse now than last year.

Maybe he had reverse plastic surgery?”

“If that's what aging does to you ... viva la aging!”

“Eliot Spitzer not only predicted it, he tried to do something about it.

The Bush Administration used a civil war era law to shut down the effort by Spitzer and the Attorneys General of several states to end the predatory and speculative practices of banks and lenders.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/13/AR2008021302783.html
and then Spitzer was taken down in retaliation
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120536943121332151.html?mod=opinion_main_commentaries”

“With respect to the probability that Massachusetts will change it's law to appoint a temporary Senator until a new Senator can be chosen in a Special Election in February - most of those listed above are not really suited for a temporary appointment.

Most of those are people who are interested in running in the special election, not to serve for 5 months with a promise not to run for the seat. Several of them are current office holders who would have to give up a seat for a temporary position as Senator - and a promise not to run.

What Massachusetts, and the nation, needs is an strong interim Senator with no interest in a permanent position, but who has the stature, ability and connections to step into Kennedy's very large shoes and push Ted's health care reform through. Even better if that is someone with a long commitment to universal health care, who would find this temporary role as a fulfillment of one of his own greatest unfinished goals.

I can think of one person who perfectly fits those needs:

Bill Clinton

He'd have to change his address, yet again, but he can afford it. He's been vetted - both as a former president and most recently during Hillary's confirmation.

The Big Dog can carry Kennedy's water for 5 months, while Massachusetts works out who they want to elect for the permanent position. Then he can retire with his greatest legislative failure as president redeemed, and Ted Kennedy's”

“Sure Occidental offers a course in Stupidity, but you have to go to Regent University to get an advanced degree in it.”

“Does anyone else think KFC has perpetrated a deliberate hoax?

Oh, it's a real dish - it is Chicken Cordon Bleu.

All KFC did was rename it and suggest you eat it like a sandwich instead of with a knife and fork. The media freaks, gives KFC a million bucks in free advertising, while making every bubba in America salivate for a french delicacy they wouldn't have come within a yankee mile of.

Brilliant!”

“Rachel on MTP?
I'd love it, but somehow I suspect she doesn't want a 3rd job that will require her to work 7 days a week.
But NBC would be smart to make her a regular on the panel - where she can be partisan and bite the ankles of the liars.”