I'MMA LET YOU FINISH
among the first?
Bonne nuit?
Hello!
Plum P,
How are you tonight? Where are you?
Bush = goofiest president ever.
I'm a girl. I don't understand numbers.
twiddling my thumbs here....
Sorry, I'll go with Josh.
,
Cool, I *am* somebody. I made it on Watertiger's blog (sort of...)
I would just as soon see no problems with the economy. We have enough to worry about.
Is economics like home economics that they taught in 7th grade?
People must be interminably bored with my econo-talk. I'm on vacation as of right now.
Screw You, Atrios. I am the master of knob gobblery. Pthpthpthpthp!
I'm a girl. I don't understand numbers.
watertiger
4
,
I'm a girl. I don't understand numbers.
You're supposed to twirl your finger in your hair when you do that. Then giggle.
7th grade is right about this administration's speed.
no, no...kindergarten is really where they're hanging out.
Tax the rich?! What I ever do to you?
kindergarten and they don't know how to play well with others yet.
Bush = goofiest president ever.
Sandy-LA 90034
"A laugh every 42 seconds"
http://www.code7r.org/Bintoons/i.../
bush_car08.jpg
.
Tax the rich?! What I ever do to you?
You didn't fuck me or give me expensive presents.
kindergarten and they don't know how to play well with others yet.
They got held back.
Yeah, well, all that money can't be unspent, and the spending for the Iraq Debacle is gonna go on for quite a while. And that's the ticking time bomb ol' Chimpy has handed the Dems. They'll have absolutely no choice but to roll back those taz cuts, and maybe then some. And they're gonna be cornholed unmercifully by the staggering remnants of the Republican Party as they do it. They need to get their message together like they've never had it before--and they haven't--or the next Dem Preznit's gonna be a lame duck halfway through his first term. Politics sucks. No, honestly...
Why do I always confuse Katie O'Beirne with Elanor Clift?
Btw, looks like the neighbor's weekend away was cut short... and so have I been! 
.
You're supposed to twirl your finger in your hair when you do that. Then giggle.
I batted my eyelashes and bit my lip seductively.
Cool, I *am* somebody. I made it on Watertiger's blog (sort of...)
Are you a squirrel or dead Iraqi child?
Really, these are little kids in adults' bodies -- little bullies that always have to prove their manhood.
I batted my eyelashes and bit my lip seductively.
SPROING!
Cool, I *am* somebody. I made it on Watertiger's blog (sort of...)
Ahh. The Condi post.
Are you a squirrel or dead Iraqi child?
watertiger
Ummm, the "Marcia, Marcia, Marcia" reference.
They got held back.
NTodd, Marquis de Condorket
I prefer to think they think that they are too cool to progress any further. Eeediottts.
You know what's missing from one of my threads? Women commenters, and I like it that way. I'm a knob gobbler.
SPROING!
NTodd, Marquis de Condorket
Watch out ladies, he has a mouse trap in his pants!
You're supposed to twirl your finger in your hair when you do that.
That's a preening gesture (if you could see it).
Cool, I *am* somebody. I made it on Watertiger's blog (sort of...)
That was a fun episode.
Something similar happened to me: I kicked a soccer ball really hard and hit Amy Helmer in the face. I felt wicked bad because I had a crush on her.
I think Matt's right, however, with the premise that BUSH IS THE WORST. PRESIDENT. EVER.
Watch out ladies, he has a mouse trap in his pants!
It's a terrorist trap, actually.
i'm a boy...i don't understand numbers
Marcia Brady ∞: Ummm, the "Marcia, Marcia, Marcia" reference.
When watertiger put Curly's picture on her blog, I think I got my first 500+ hit day.
.
Watch out ladies, he has a mouse trap in his pants!
I don't want to know what he's using for cheese.
*palmface* I can't believe I said that.
I'm a number. I don't understand girls and boys.
Matt things GWB is only slightly worse than his father and not as bad as reagan???
Is he clueless or what? Torture, spying, lying the country into war, trashing the rep of the US for a generation, trashing the environment, trashing the truth, trashing elections, he is the most cynical, destructive, selfish, greedy, corrupt piece of shit in the last 150 years. He's worse than Nixon for godsake.
Matt speaks as though he thinks he has the wisdon of an eighty year old...but he doesn't. He can be boldly niave and clueless at times...
Have we reached a point in this country where it is no longer "realistic" to talk about fixing problems like adults? Here is the most sinister aspect of the Liebertarian demonization of taxes: they are what make a country strong.
hiya whiskey
Really, these are little kids in adults' bodies -- little bullies that always have to prove their manhood.
They govern the country like the kid from the Twilight Zone episode "It's a Wonderful Life".
When watertiger put Curly's picture on her blog, I think I got my first 500+ hit day.
I AM KEEEEEEEEEEEEEEROK!
It's a terrorist trap, actually.
NTodd, Marquis de Condorket
So how many have you caught so far?
hey politica--because your name ends in an 'a', I always forget that you're a boy.
Sean Patrick for president in 2044!
Train of Doom schedule
http://www.house.gov/cardoza/Blu.../
bluedogs.shtml
-
Another symptom of Bushitis.
More Corporations Stiffing Gov't on Fines.
yeah...it was the name given to me by my host so I kept it
"Is he clueless or what? Torture, spying, lying the country into war, trashing the rep of the US for a generation, trashing the environment, trashing the truth, trashing elections, he is the most cynical, destructive, selfish, greedy, corrupt piece of shit in the last 150 years. He's worse than Nixon for godsake."
I agree!!!!
And the problem is he brought people in with him who mirror all his worst traits. I am continually shocked and appalled by the next appalling thing they come up with, then the next, etc.
So how many have you caught so far?
That's classified. If I announced the details, it would aid the enemy. Why do you hate America? And whatcha doin' aftah?
::sneaks in, OT:: Anybody heard from the proud parental units this day?
You know Ebaums world actually sponsored a boxer? I had no idea it was doing so well. The interenet is a crazy place, all these small pages making money!
Bono is Brian Peppers!
Cant play Quake 3
They govern the country like the kid from the Twilight Zone episode "It's a Wonderful Life".
Correction- "It's a Good Life".
Please don't send me to the corn field.
Not too late, I would agree. But painless? Don't think so.
"hey politica--because your name ends in an 'a', I always forget that you're a boy."
I'm glad you said that first!
On one thing we can all agree: Bush is not the best president we've ever had.
And whatcha doin' aftah?
NTodd, Marquis de Condorket
Umm, not going anywhere near your pants, I guess.
Capsicum is Brian Eno.
Just sayin.
hey politica--because your name ends in an 'a', I always forget that you're a boy.
Heh, me too. In Russian, feminine nouns always end in 'a' (а
or 'ya' (я.
I made some white trash style enchiladas tonight. They're alright but would have been better with cream of chicken instead of cream of mushroom and if I'd added a little taco seasonings.
the father son and the goalie host
Umm, not going anywhere near your pants, I guess.
Marcia Brady ? | 03.18.06 - 11:40 pm | #
Don't worry--you can go near his pants. Remember: he's not in them...
i'm ok with androgeny if you are...cept for my beard of course...
::sneaks in, OT:: Anybody heard from the proud parental units this day?"
Silleigh, aka Furiousleigh
Check out Thers' post on his blog:
http://metacomments.blogspot.com/
Umm, not going anywhere near your pants, I guess.
Well shit, that didn't work. Wait, if you're a reporter, maybe I could give you an exclusive story about how it all works. On deep background.
an inside scoop as it were
I'm a girl. I don't understand numbers.
I had trouble keeping a straight face on that one.
On one thing we can all agree: Bush is not the best president we've ever had.
Of the world leaders who have held power during my lifetime, Bush reminds me most of Idi Amin. A murderous buffoon.
Well shit, that didn't work. Wait, if you're a reporter, maybe I could give you an exclusive story about how it all works. On deep background.
Son, we've got to have a talk on the methodology you are using.
BE THE MEDIA THIS WEEKEND
Send reports and photos and links to videos of your anti-war events to david@davidswanson.org for posting at www.afterdowningstreet.org
Son, we've got to have a talk on the methodology you are using.
Yeah, well, I'm out of practice, and was never very good at it anyway.
Don't tell Ntodd, that I'm Rupaul in real life.
Yeah, well, I'm out of practice, and was never very good at it anyway.
NTodd, Marquis de Condorket | Homepage | 03.18.06 - 11:45 pm | #
start with an offer of a back rub
it works well!
Yeah, well, I'm out of practice, and was never very good at it anyway.
NTodd, Marquis de Condorket | Homepage | 03.18.06 - 11:45 pm | #
And yet... you are the flirting champion in this arena!
Don't worry--you can go near his pants. Remember: he's not in them...
whiskeyina
It's the mousetrap that concerns me. Those things freak me out.
And yet... you are the flirting champion in this arena
A sad commentary on the rest of us.
Don't tell Ntodd, that I'm Rupaul in real life.
RuPaul is teh shit.
Say, does anybody want a boob rub?
No, wait, that's not it...
Did Scoutprime meet up with Ripley in New Orleans?
You could hide your intent by spelling it backwards... no...
Say, does anybody want a boob rub?
The Speaker of the House could probably benefit from one. He's going through a bad spell.
Fix it in a couple years? How about: irrevocable damage to the environment as a result of venal, corporate control of the people's gov't ? How about people going hungry for two years? - lacking health care? How about privatizing our infrastructure...not just the ports but Indiana's toll road and god knows what else they've sold!!! How about tax exempt status for clearly profit making, political religious businesses? These are all part of the economic policies of this administration and no way will they dissipate by "nudging up the top...tax rates" for a while. Your perspective is myopic.
Even if the budget problem isn't that severe, still worst ever. At least since Buchanan or Pierce. While the enrgy problem may not be as big as slavery or secessionism, 9/11 gave him an oppurtunity to address it; those two never had anything like the chance Bush had. Instead he invaded Iraq and encouraged consumption. So even worse than Buchanan.
I think Josh undestimates how bad the impact of our economic policies under Bush will ultimately turn out to be.
I can't believe you're proposing bumping marginal tax rates on earned income. So the upper middle class are undertaxed at 33%, but the super-rich are properly taxed at 15%?! A far better choice: Increase capital gains and dividend tax rate to at least 50% for all lifetime income over a few million $. Put the inheritance tax at at least 95% for all estates greater than a few million.
If you're going to talk about how to fix this, dismissing the election of people who can actually fix it is putting the cart about 6 trillion miles before the horse.
The next president will be handicapped by fiscal emergencies heretofore unheard of. This shitty president has deep-se-ixed our economy in many ways not even evident to most viewers. The worst IS yet to come. Hell, I'm a positive person and I can see that the next presidency will be no cakewalk thanks to our beloved deranged Howdy-Doody.
Atrios
Can you please elaborate why you do not think financial current account and domestic budgetary imbalances are as inconsequential as you think? I accept that a switch from an exclusively petrodollar to a mixed petroeuro-petrodollar economy is neither here nor there - its how the oil revenues are expended that matters and the EU finance market cannot compete with the US. US creditors cannot suddenly withdraw their investment in US Federal Treasury bonds either without facing massive deflation of their currencies. The essence of your reasoning seems to be based on this and that you believe a few percentage points in the tax hike is likely to restore such imbalances. There are, however, some problems:
• the Dubai Ports saga provided an impetus for patriotic fearmongering and has been useful to rally opposition to the current beleaguered presidency for both sides of the partisan divide but didn’t explore the essential issue that financial management of ports is neither here nor there but port security is and that is a US Homeland security concern. This saga, coming on the heels of CNOOC’s failed attempt to acquire controlling interests in Unocal, also sent a clear message to US’ international creditors that investment opportunities for international US$ reserves are limited and politically fraught
• US employment base and labour returns have been falling. Given this, a few percentage points of tax hike is unlikely to generate the increases in revenue needed to correct the current level of financial imbalances. This is likely to be exacerbated by a likely burst of the recovery bubble with interest rate hikes
• financial capital is internationally mobile and there are few effective strategies, if indeed this is a policy focus at all, to eliminate overseas tax havens to ensure reinvestment of corporate profits at home
• while US R&D expenditure remains substantial, a lot of this investment is being outsourced at the skilled and professional, beyond the un/semiskilled, levels and this has implications for labour force training programs at home. Besides, outsourcing while leading to rises in labour returns in outsourced poorer economies also leads to falls in labour rates in the wealthier countries as is evident in the US. This is hardly a condition to rake in tax revenues
• there is also a lack of interest in exploring new technologies required to meet the challenges of global warming and ‘peak’ oil in perhaps 20 years if not sooner – nuclear power is not a ‘green’ answer as it actually increases vulnerability to both global warming and terrorism. The former because of the extensive mining, milling and refining processes required of uranium ores emit considerable amounts of carbon dioxide (CO2) and dichlorotetrafluoroethane, popularly known as CFC-114, into our already severely challenged atmosphere. This does not even include the CO2 released in transportation, storage and eventual decommissioning of old and out of date reactors. Th
i apologise. This is a long comment. Can I include the following as an addendum to my previous comment?:
The latter because they are obvious terrorist targets to cause mayhem.
I would appreciate it if you would address my concerns. I like your blog but I am looking for answers.
Atrios:
I'm amazed that you, an economist, of all people, don't realixze the magnitude of the fiscal crisis staring this country in the face. I think Marshall grossly underestimates the severity of the problem we face, and obviously, Yglesias doesn't know squat about national economics.
The true federal budget deficit is probably running at over $750 billion/year (the "official" budget deficit does not take into account the costs of the Iraq & Afghanistan wars and the costs of all of the "off-budget" deficits like pension fund guarantees, etc., etc.), and the current account deficit is running at over $800 billion/year. Add to that the consumer debt of about eight trillion (that's with a "T", and not a "B"), with a large chunk of that being mortgage debt at zero down, interest only mortgages and ARMs now ready to jack up the rate several points, and the overheated housing market just about ready to burst (which also provided about 40% of the new jobs over the past 3 or 4 years), and you have the makings of a monumental fiscal crisis, which I fear will dwarf the 1929 crash and the Depression.
Ceantral banks all around the world have been trying to move their dollar assets into euros and/or gold as fast as they can. The two biggest creditors of the US are Japan and China (combined, they own well over $1.5 trillion of US Treasuries), and they could (but probably would never do it precipitously) turn off the dollar switch whenever they wanted and make the dollar almost worthless. Finally, I'm convinced that the major economic indicators published by this government (GDP, CPI and employment/unemployment figures) are utter, total self-serving bullshit, but that's a very long post for another time.
There are a couple big problems with the defecit. First, anyone who tries to fix it without first having an economic disaster strike, will be excoriated by the public for making them make sacrifices, unless the public understands how serious the issue is. And polls don't paint a pretty picture, with just 2% believing the deficit is the biggest problem facing America. I think it is politically impossible, particularly with all the other post-Bush messes that will have to be cleaned up.
Secondly, it is quite possible an economic disaster will strike before the problem can be solved. In previous panics, the worldwide reaction was a flight to the US$. At some point the defecit may cause a flight from the dollar instead. That result in an ugliness the nation hasn't had to deal with since before WWII.
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