ContraEgoiste's Comments (180)

“Actually, the reason he was walking the streets with his bullhorn was because instead of putting the emergency tactical command center in Brooklyn, or away from likely targets as was vehemently requested by everyone concerned about security, police, fire dept., etc and in light that this wasn't the first time the WTC had been att@cked, Rudy in his infinite "wisdom" put the command center in one of the towers.”

“In fine conservative fashion of elevating, supporting and electing the gr0ssly unqualified, incompetent and corrupt, Kerik, a high school dropout, went from being Rudy Guliani's driver to NYC police commissioner to GW's nomination for for head of Homeland Security.

Yet they wonder why the country is in such a mess while putting these ilk of people in Government or influential positions, and then following the in@ne blatherings of these people (Eg: Tea~baggers) to their own detriment.”

“LOL

Got to love their new meme. How Scozzafava, a Republican centrist, has morphed into a lefty left of the socialist party now. LOL

Meanwhile ... (curtesy of karmafriend):

Limbaugh yesterday: "This is where conservative Americans are drawing the line. New York-23. This is where we are fighting, this is where we will take a stand against both the liberal wing of the Republican Party and Obama and the Democrat Party. And that's what's happened here. To the great distress of people like Lindsey Grahamnesty and the Rockefeller Republicans, the great distress of Obama, the Democrats in the media, that's exactly what has happened here. And Hoffman is now said to be in the lead. Now, whether he wins or not, what happened in New York-23 was a huge statement by conservatives and traditional Republicans against the left in both parties. And should Hoffman win, as I think he will, his campaign is gonna give confidence and energy to scores of others across this country where momentum will grow right up to next year's election. So that's the truth of New York-23. "”

“Sorry, the "morality gene" was replaced in the 80's by "greed is good" and the "selfishness is a virtue" paradigm of fiction writer Ayn Rand and their followers such as Alan Greenspan. After all, we have "the invisible hand of the market" to regulate.

(ummmm, Is it "invisible" or "non-existent"?? Now a days I tend to forget which one. heh)”

“ummmm, Germany is considered one of "the thar soshilist" country with a fine National Health care system.”

“http://www.mcclatchydc.com/251/story/53802.html

Private sector loans, not Fannie or Freddie, triggered crisis

Subprime lending offered high-cost loans to the weakest borrowers during the housing boom that lasted from 2001 to 2007. Subprime lending was at its height vrom 2004 to 2006.

Federal Reserve Board data show that:

_ More than 84 percent of the subprime mortgages in 2006 were issued by private lending institutions.

_ Private firms made nearly 83 percent of the subprime loans to low- and moderate-income borrowers that year.

_ Only one of the top 25 subprime lenders in 2006 was directly subject to the housing law that's being lambasted by conservative critics.

The "turmoil in financial markets clearly was triggered by a dramatic weakening of underwriting standards for U.S. subprime mortgages, beginning in late 2004 and extending into 2007," the President's Working Group on Financial Markets reported Friday.

~~~~~~~~

And...

The Wall Street Technique That Led To Billions In Bad Loans

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/29/how-securitization-encour_n_303041.html

How Securitization Encouraged Bad Loans

Knowing that the~loans they made were about to be bundled, sliced up, and sold off made~lende­rs~more~li­kely~to relax their underwriting standards, according to a report released Tuesday by the Joint Forum, a consortium of government financial regulators from the U.S., Europe and Asia.

Banks and financial companies that originated loans like home mortgages, credit cards and personal loans were considerably more exacting when originating loans they knew they'd hold onto.”

“"...Both of which are proven to be hazardous to people's lives..."

Such drama queens, sheesh.

If it wasn't for nature conservation and watch groups many of said ranchers, etc would have lost their land to over abuse. Do you forget the Dust Bowls in the 20's ??”

“"...Like how France's single payer is bankrupt?.­."

huh?? A wee dramatic aren't ya?

From the article sparky (Capitals mine)

"...is HEADING for a $15.5 billion deficit this year, threatening to bankrupt the system." ....

"...The minister unveiled his plans Monday, estimating that the nation could save $18 billion a year:"

Sounds like they are doing quite fine.”

“"...I do believe that those who care only for themselves and extravagant lifestyles are morally bankrupt."

And how do you control this??

I mean, we control crime. We make sure that you have a license and are capable before you get behind the wheel, etc.

*(cough)*R­egulations­*(cough)

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-bernie-sanders/michael-moore-me_b_307208.html”

“a) Don't see how the article refutes the fact ...

"...no country with universal healthcare has bankrupcies caused by the cost of health care."

And..

b) From the article sparky (Capitals mine)

"...is HEADING" for a $15.5 billion deficit this year, threatening to bankrupt the system." ....

"...The minister unveiled his plans Monday, estimating that the nation could save $18 billion a year:"

Sounds like they are doing quite fine.”

“"...Please show an example, using per capita GDP numbers, that show a country...­"

Show us the distribution (which percentage takes 35% of the wealth, etc, and the percentage that has to divide the rest) and compare that to those bad socialist Europeans.

heh.”

“Yep, those Germans sure make a lousy car too. heh”

“So if we drop one of these avatars of industry in a deserted Island they would have created an empire in a few years?? What are they going to do, sell coconuts to the monkeys?? These people have amassed their wealth because of the construct and infrastructure of society and in many cases by abusing the graces of said society. A society built by the rest of us. Their wealth has any value at all is only because the rest of society acknowledges it.”

“"...The vast majority of this money is hard at work..."

The vast majority of this money is riding on the stock market, building zippo.”

“"...worth $1.57 trillion- LAST YEAR. This year they are worth a combined $1.27..."

Wow, an 8% drop. Those poor people!! How dare the ones who lost their only modest residence complain!! heh

ummmm, while an 8% loss for the "400" may go almost unnoticed by them, the same is not true for those living with limited means. And as you stated, the loss for the middle class and poor is greater than 8%.”

“"...he has added more than that to our deficit...­"

1st) You do know that ALL previous presidents, that is ALL in 250 years, brought the deficit to nearly 5 Trillion. Bush and the conservatives brought the deficit to almost 10 Trillion. DOUBLED it in just 8 years !! And what do we have to show for it?? A nearly destr0yed country.

2nd) The $$ that Obama spent was already drafted by the Bush administration and Paulson. Obama inherited a country on the verge of collapse and had little choice but to pass it or let the country fail.

"...The majority of them have earned this money..."

LOL. The majority of them wait by the poolside for the dividend check to arrive. Most of them made their wealth speculating on the market and often gaming the system as our current economic woes have brought to light.

"...this is not our money..."

So if we put one of these avatars of industry in a deserted Island they would have created an empire in a few years?? What are they going to do, sell coconuts to the monkeys?? These people have amassed their wealth because of the construct and infrastructure of society and in many cases by abusing the graces of said society. A society built by the rest of us. Their wealth has any value at all only because the rest of society acknowledges it.”

“Didn't T0m Del@y started one with much fanfare and publicity about 2 years ago??

That sure took off, didn't it?

heh”

“Didn't Tom Delay with much fanfare and publicity start one about 2 years ago??

heh”

“Again.

Fact: Medical~malpractice damage awards are less than one percent of the total cost of U.S. healthcare.

Health care costs in Texas not only continued to rise after 2003 when tort reform law was enacted ; they rose more than in most of the rest of the country. In 2008, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation found that Texans enjoyed the third fastest increase in health insurance premiums in the nation. And for many years Texas has led the nation in the percentage of its citizens without health insurance.


http://washingtonindependent.com/55535/tort-reform-unlikely-to-cut-health-care-costs

Tort Reform Unlikely to Cut Health Care Costs

~~~~~~

http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20090903/LETTERS/909039931/1107/OPINION?Title=Tort-Reform-Falacies

Tort Reform Falacies”

“LOL

We deregulated the banks, and that turned out just wonderful didn't it?”

“"READ AND BE INFORMED"

Sounds like good advice that you should follow some day. For example you should research what caused the economic meltdown of the banks.”

“You seem to be grossly misinformed.

http://www.who.int/whr/2000/media_centre/press_release/en/index.html

World Health Organization Assesses the World's Health Systems

The U.S. health system spends a higher portion of its gross domestic product than any other country but ranks 37 out of 191 countries according to its performance, the report finds. The United Kingdom, which spends just six percent of GDP on health services, ranks 18 th .”

“"...about the fact that the government will control the health care of millions..­."

It would be a vast improvement to have the Gov. control the health care of millions instead to the insurance companies who have proven to be failures due to the current cost and millions uninsure. In addition Insurance Co's don't add a single thing to the curative process but just added cost and red tape. On the other hand, we the people, choose who we send to Gov.

That being said, what is a lie and propaganda is that the Gov would take over the Health Care industry. That is just misinformation put out there by Insurance Co's and their protectors.

What is true is that the Gov. would become a competitor with the insurance Co's. So are you free-marketeers afraid of competition?? heh”

“"And over 80% of Americans are happy with their health care plans as they exist."

Except that this is not true.

Obama Boost: New Poll Shows 76% Support For Choice Of Public Plan
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/06/17/obama-boost-new-poll-show_n_217175.html”

“Given the untenability of "Single Payer" at this stage of the game due to vested interest and the poorly informed public, what I want him to state quite aggressively is that there is no negotiation regarding a strong "Public Option" period. That the "Public Option" is not an option but a mandate.

I agree with all of your points of his presentation except the following one:

"5. Be bipartisan. Reach out to Republicans in the Chamber."

Sorry, but we have traveled down that road to no avail and it has cost us too too much. We have to consider the environment we are working in when acting, and the positions in Congress are not called the "Seats of Power" for naught and it is obvious by Bushe's success that they only answers to the same.

Obama's attempt at bipartisanship has been taken only as a sign of weakness which has only encourage the barrage of attacks and misinformation that is just confusing and defeating his agenda when it has barely taken off the ground. The only benefit of bipartisanship has been to the Republicans who have used it as an opportunity to yank on the rudder just enough to steer the ship into the rocks.

Bipartisanship has only given the Republicans an opening and cover to lie with impunity with absolutely zero benefits to us.”