Erik in NJ:

...One song that really stood out of the pack is "Learning How To Love You" ...

This was the song that immediately popped into my head when I read the thread title, even before I read your post. I'm also very fond of "Pure Smokey" and "I'd Have You Anytime." Their melodies are very attractive.

service_gamer:

I don't think you understand the concept of a peaceful protest. I'm betting if you lived in 1960s Alabama you'd mock whites-only restaurant sit-ins too: "There's no immediate, overnight change, why can't these idiots just give it up so I can order a sandwich? They aren't making a difference!" Oh, and I primarily get my news coverage from CNN, read USA Today and the New York Times on a daily basis and make heavy use of Google News. Obviously sanitation issues come up, just as they would at any large gathering of people over an extended period of time, but you seem to suggest an epidemic of crap flowing through the streets. That's simply not the case. If you were following a wide array of the coverage, you might understand that. But continue to make hypocritical accusations of "selective hearing" from inside your Faux, I'm sorry, Fox News cocoon.

Service Gamer, I sent you a PM. I'm not sure how easy it is to find those...

Rich, to call these people clowns is pretty mild. Most clowns are good-natured and funny. Considering the mess and ongoing public nuisance these misfits are perpetrating, not to mention the nefarious groups supporting them, I don't think "vermin" would be inappropriate.

service_gamer:

Okay, so we have U.N. weapons inspector disagreeing with the reasons for war and the Bush administration admitting that the intelligence that led to the war was flawed. If you want to argue that 'Gee, we probably shouldn't have gone in, but maybe it wasn't so bad that we got Saddam out' I can at least respect your argument. But when by any objective measure the facts state that the Bush administration acted defiantly in invading Iraq and based its actions on, at best, flawed intelligence and, at worst, fabricated intelligence, defending the war on the merits of some compliance issues is absurd. Arguing that the Bush administration meant the most broad-reaching definition of WMDs is ridiculous; they painted Iraq as a regime on the cusp of possessing nuclear warheads. You can confirm this by a simple Google News search covering the buildup to the war and the early days of fighting, and you can confirm that the administration not only used nuclear scare tactics, but also took advantage of the 9/11 attacks to lead us into Iraq. Why else would President Bush hold a press conference to admit that Iraq didn't possess WMDs and also had nothing to do with 9/11? If the motives for going to war were as pure as you say they were, why would he bring up and concede such points?

It?s interesting that your wrath is so?one directional. All George Bush did was pick up where his predecessors left off, yet you seem to think he is the one who contrived some make-believe threat from Hussein. Why no indignation directed at the other saber rattlers? ?If Saddam rejects peace and we have to use force, our purpose is clear. We want to seriously diminish the threat posed by Iraq?s weapons of mass destruction program.? President Clinton, 2/17/98 ?He will use those weapons of mass destruction again, as he has ten times since 1983.? Sandy Berger, Clinton National Security Advisor, 2/18/98 ?Hussein has chosen to spend his money on building weapons of mass destruction and palaces for his cronies.? Madeline Albright, Secretary of State for President Clinton, 11/10/99 ?We know that he has stored secret supplies of biological and chemical weapons throughout his country. Iraq?s search for weapons of mass destruction has proven impossible to deter and we should assume that it will continue for as long as Saddam is in power.? Al Gore, 9/23/02 ?We have known for many years that Saddam Hussein is seeking and developing weapons of mass destruction.? Sen. Ted Kennedy (D, MA), 9/27/02 ?He has systematically violated, over the course of the past 11 years, every significant UN resolution that has demanded that he disarm and destroy his chemical and biological weapons, and any nuclear capacity. This he has refused to do.? Rep. Henry Waxman (D, CA), 10/10/02 ?In the four years since the inspectors left, intelligence reports show that Saddam Hussein has worked to rebuild his chemical and biological weapons stock, his missile delivery capability, and his nuclear program. He has also given aid, comfort and sanctuary to terrorists, including al Qaeda members. It is clear, however, that if left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will continue to increase his capacity to wage biological and chemical warfare, and will keep trying to develop nuclear weapons.? Sen. Hillary Clinton (D, NY), 10/10/02 ?I will be voting to give the President of the United States the authority to use force, if necessary, to disarm Saddam Hussein because I believe that a deadly arsenal of weapons of mass destruction in his hands is a real and grave threat to our security.? Sen. John Kerry (D, MA), 10/9/02 And on and on and on. There is so much more where that came from, but I?ll spare you the cut-and-paste. You think all these people were credible but not George Bush? He had the support of not only the UN, but of the United States Congress, including prominent Democrats. Do you think Bush had his own private source of intelligence that contradicted what everyone else knew? Leaders world-wide said the same thing about Hussein and his weapons, but only George Bush, alone, knew that there were no such weapons, right? Is that your point? Your comment about Bush saying at a press conference that Hussein had nothing to do with 9/11 sounds more like an answer to a question posed to him from a reporter, since he had never claimed that invading Iraq was motivated by 9/11 in the first place. Why "walk back" something you had never said?

...nuclear weapons, or as many conservatives pronounce it, 'nucular'...

Come on now, you're calling Jimmy Carter conservative??

appletart2:

I do not believe the UN voted unanimously to go to war...

It doesn't matter what you want to believe, Apples. That won't change what happened. We're talking about the UN Security Council and they voted unanimously in favor of the resolution. Sorry.

mustangsally10:

The hate mongers are coming out now because they are running scared...

What does that mean? You like to dish it, but you don't expect anyone to reply in kind?

... Make the popcorn

Right on!

rich n:

Iowa Hawk:

mustangsally10:

I'm pretty happy with most of what Obama has accomplished so far:etc, etc.

And I thought everything sucked because the Republicans wouldn't allow the little guy to do anything. Thanks for clearing that up.

And basically that list is referenced from the Daily KOS and no where else...

Rich, at least it is a tiny minority that ingests and believes the nonsense from that site.

mustangsally10:

bush's excuse to kill Saddam and invade Iraq was 9/11...Saddam had nothing to do with 9/11...do you get that now?

You just make it up as you go, don't you? Do you honestly believe the nutty things you say or it is all just to stir the pot, or are you really that misinformed? Bush's rationale for going to war with Iraq was spelled out in UN Resolution 1441, which had nothing to do with 9/11. "Do you get that now?" But you throw it around as fodder for your argument when no one here even made the claim. I don't agree with some of the things Susy says here but she seems intellectually honest and grown up. You, on the other hand, are the exact opposite. I can't wait for your halfbaked boilerplate response.

mustangsally10:

I'm pretty happy with most of what Obama has accomplished so far: On reducing and assisting people that have become victims of the increased poverty made worse by economic crisis 1) A $20 billion increase for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as Food Stamps. 2) A $1 billion in funding for the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) that is intended to revitalize low-income communities via "Job training and placement assistance", "Financial literacy programs", et al, to helping families become self-sufficient. 3) A $2 billion in new Neighborhood Stabilization Funds that will allow ailing neighborhoods be kept maintained. 4) A $1.5 billion in Homelessness Prevention Funds to keep people in their homes and prevent homelessness. 5) A $5 billion increase for the Weatherization Assistance Program to help low income families save on their residential energy expenditures by making their homes more energy efficient. 6) A $4 Billion program, The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, "authorizes funding for federal school meal and child nutrition programs and increases access to healthy food for low-income children." 7) As part of the HCR bill, subsidies will be available to the uninsured and families with income between the 133 percent and 400 percent of poverty level($14,404 for individuals and $29,326 for a family of four). Estabilished Open Doors to end the 640,000 men, women and children who are homeless in America by 2020. 9) Increased the amount of federal Pell Grant awards so that funds are available to those with less access to have opportunity. 10) Provided $510 Million for the rehabilitation of Native American housing. 11) Expanded eligibility for Medicaid to all individuals under age 65 with incomes up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level ($14,400 per year for an individual). 12) Providing assistance to low-income workers through the Earned Income Tax Credit giving millions of working families the break they need. 13) Education being the way out of Poverty, kicked off the "Race to the Top", a $4.3 billion program, that rewards via grants to States that meet a few key benchmarks for reform, and states that outperform the rest. On Health Care Reform: 1) Coverage can?t be denied to children with pre-existing conditions. 2) Adults up to age 26 can stay on their parents? health plans. 3) Free preventive care. 4) Rescinding coverage is now illegal. 5) Eliminating lifetime limits on insurance coverage. 6) Restricting annual limits on insurance coverage. 7) More options to appeal coverage decisions. $5 billion in immediate federal support to affordable Coverage for the Uninsured with Pre-existing Conditions. 9) $10 billion investment in Community Health Centers. 10) Create immediate access to re-insurance for employer health plans providing coverage for early retirees. 11) Made an $80 billion dealwith the pharmaceutical industry to contribute to cut prescription drug costs for the nation?s seniors reduce the size of the "donut hole" in the Medicare (Part D) Drug Benefit. 12) Provides a $250 rebate to 750,000 Medicare Beneficiaries who reach the Part D coverage gap in 2010. As of March 22, 2011, 3.8 million beneficiaries had received a $250 check to close the coverage gap, according to an HHS report. 13) Businesses with fewer than 50 employees will get tax credits covering up to 35% of employee premiums effective 2011 and a 50% tax credit effective 2013. 14) Creates a state option to provide Medicaid coverage to childless adults with incomes up to 133% of the federal poverty level. By 2014, States are required to provide this coverage. 15) Provides a 10% Medicare bonus payment for primary care services and also a 10% Medicare bonus payment to general surgeons practicing in health professional shortage areas. 16) Medical Loss Ratio (MLR) requires that insurance companies spend at least 80 to 85 percent of the proportion of the premium dollars on clinical services. As an example, WellPoint's Anthem Blue Cross unit in California has reduced its proposed rate increase. On Jobs and the Economy: 1) The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) has worked. The Economy Has Been Growing - take a look at the graph of GDP growth between 2007 thru 2010. 2) The $787 billion economic stimulus package has created or saved nearly 2 million jobs slowing the bleeding 3) Worker, Homeownership, and Business Assistance Act of 2009 that extended Unemployment benefits up to 20 weeks and more. 4) Provided $14.7 billion in small business loans increasing minority access to capital. 5) The $26 billion aid to states package preventing large-scale layoffs of teachers and public employees. 6) As of March 31, 2011, created 1.8 million Private sector jobs since Jan 2010. 7) US auto industry rescue plan saved at least 1 million jobs Helpedmake the Auto Industry start making huge profits again with Ford sales up 19% over last year. GM up 11%. Chrysler up a whopping 31%. 9) Jobs for Main Street Act (2010)injected $27.5 Billion for Highways, $8.4 Billion for Transit into the country?s transportation system to create jobs and spur economic activity. 10) A $33 Billion Jobs Packagethat will allow Small businesses to get $5,000 tax credit for new hires. 11) A $26 billion State Aid Package Jobs Bill saving 300,000 teachers and public workers jobs from unemployment. 12) As part of the 2010 tax extension, Unemployment Insurance was extended to 7 million Americans who would have been without income. On Banking and Financial Reform 1) Signed a sweeping bank-reform bill (the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act)into law 2) Managed the $700 Billion Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) that Banks have repaid more than 100% of TARP funds ($251 of the $245 banks owed) as of March 2011 exceeding the original investment by $6 billion. 3) Cuts Salaries of 65 Bailout Executives 4) Closed offshore tax safe havens, tax credit loopholes on companies that use the tax laws to ship American Jobs oversees. HR 4213. 5) Signed into law the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act to fight fraud in the use of TARP and recovery funds, and to increase accountability for corporate and mortgage frauds. 6) Signed the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act On Education 1) Health Care and Education Affordability Reconciliation Act of 2010 that increased the amount of federal Pell Grant awards and enabled the stripping of banks privileges as intermediaries for student loan servicing saving the US government about $68 billion dollars over 11 years. 2) Created the Race to the Top Fund, a $4.35 billion program to reward States that submit the best proposals for change. 3) As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, funded over$100 Billion for reforms to strengthen Elementary and Secondary education, early learning programs, college affordability and improve access to higher education, and to close the achievement gap. On Energy 1) Implemented renewable fuels mandate of 36 billion gallons by 2022, four times what we currently consume. 2) Automakers will be required to meet a fleet-wide average of New Gas Mileage Standards at 35.5 MPH by 2016. 3) A $60 billion investment in renewable and clean energy. 4) developed a Biofuels Roadmap to determine the next steps in growing an advanced biofuels economy to meet the goal to use at least 36 billion gallons of bio-based transportation fuels by 2022 helping create more green energy jobs. 5) established EPA regulations which require large U.S. ships to cut soot emissions by 85 percent. 6) pledged via the Blueprint for a Secure Energy Future that in a decade from now to cut our oil dependency by one-third, and put America's energy future by producing more oil at home and reducing our dependence on oil by leveraging cleaner, alternative fuels and greater efficiency. On Housing 1) $275 billion dollar housing plan - $75 billion dollars to prevent at-risk mortgage debtors already fallen victim to foreclosures and $200 billion to bring about confidence to offer affordable mortgages and to stability the housing market. 2) Established "Opening Doors" to end the homelessness of 640,000 men, women, and children in the United States in 10 years. 3) Provided $510 Million for the rehabilitation of Native American housing. 4) Provided $2 billion for Neighborhood Stabilization Program to rehab, resell, or demolish in order to stabilize neighborhoods. 5) Provided $5 billion for Weatherization Assistance Program for low income families to weatherize 1 million homes per year for the next decade. 6) Provided grants to encourage states and localities to take the first steps in implementing new building codes that prioritize energy efficiency. On Medicaid/Medicare/Social Security 1) giving $250 economic stimulus check to 55 million Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients in 2009. 2) Cutting prescription drug costs for Medicare recipients by 50% and began eliminating the plan?s gap (?donut hole?) in coverage. 3) Passing as part of H.R.3962 (Preservation of Access to Care for Medicare Beneficiaries and Pension Relief Act of 2010) a $6.4 billion measurereversing a 21 percent cut in physician payments that would have started a flood of rejections by some doctors of seniors covered by Medicare. 4) Expanded eligibility for Medicaid to all individuals under age 65 with incomes up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level ($14,400 per year for an individual). 5) Committed to ensuring that Social Security Budget Will Not Be Cut nor would change the retirement age. On Military Veterans and Families 1) A $112.8 billion VA budget, an increase of 15.5 percent over 2009, the largest percentage increase for VA requested by a president in more than 30 years. 2) Implemented a strategic planto increase the hiring of Veterans and Military spouses throughout the Federal civil service. 3) Provided for the expenses of families of to be at Dover AFB when fallen soldiers arrive. 4) Passed the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2009 increasing the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans. 5) Declared the end of the war in Iraqi bringing back nearly 100,000 U.S. troops home to their families. 6) Donated 250K of Nobel prize money to Fisher House, a group that helps provide housing for families of patients receiving medical care at military and Veterans Affairs medical centers 7) Ended media blackout on war casualties; giving access to the return home of a dead US soldier for the first time since an 18-year ban on coverage was lifted. Create a 'Green Vet Initiative' to promote environmental jobs for veterans 9) Signed into law the 2009 Military Spouses Residency Relief Act, that will allow military spouses to claim residency in the same state as their sponsor and retain that residency as long as the service member is in the military, in the process avoiding the states where they currently reside from taxing their earned income. 10) Signed the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 On LBGTQ issues 1) Extended benefitsto same-sex partners of federal employees 2) Signed the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act 3) Instructed HHS to require any hospital receiving Medicare or Medicaid funds (virtually all hospitals) to allow LGBT visitation rights. 4) Banned job discrimination based on gender identity throughout the Federal government (the nation's largest employer) 5) Signed the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act and while more funding is needed per the 2012 proposed budget, an increase of $80 million to domestic and global HIV/AIDS programs committed 6) Extended the Family and Medical Leave Act to cover Gay employees taking unpaid leave to care for their children of same-sex partners 7) Lifted the HIV Entry Ban. Implemented HUD Policies that Would Ban Discrimination Based On Gender Identity 9) Appointed the first ever transgender DNC member 10) Named open transgender appointees (the first President ever to do so) 11) Eliminated the discriminatory Census Bureau policy that kept LGBT relationships from being counted 12) Extended domestic violence protections to LGBT victims 13) Repealedthe Don't Ask, Don't Tell (DADT) Discriminatory law. 14) Declared DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act) unconstitutional and stopped Defending In Court 15) Endorsed a U.N. declaration calling for the worldwide decriminalization of gays and lesbians around the world in an efforts to make it a worldwide policy. Tax deal extending Bush's tax cut for two years which often gets criticized will do the following: Damn it, the TAX DEAL is not PERMANENT 1) Keep $3,000 in tax savingsannually 2) Unemployment Benefit for 7,000,000 Americans worth $56 Billion. 3) $2,500 in tax savings to help pay for college tuition and other expenses 4) A $2,000 payroll tax savings to someone making $100,000 or a $1,000 payroll tax savings at a 2% employee-side payroll tax cut for over 155 million workers 5) Child tax credit of $1,000 per child with the $3,000 maximum credit threshold. 6) Earned Income Tax Credit that will give on an average $600 in additional assistance to families with 3 or more children 7) A 65 percent tax credit to help cover the cost of COBRA for those who lost their jobs in the recession forecast to creating approximately 1.6 million jobs increasing the GDP for 2011 9) extended the credit for adoption-related expenses that reduces families tax bill up to $13,170 in 2011 through 2012 with a maximum of $12,170 in credit. Other Notables 1) signed the Health Package For 9/11 Responders bill that puts $4.3 billion into a fund to assist folks that are suffering from problems caused by breathed-in dust and debris during the 9/11 clean up. 2) signed into law a sweeping Food Safety Act bill that contains 18 major changes to food safety laws. 3) made an excellent choice selecting a new Chief of Staff, William Daley, who Eric London has made a super case for why it was a smart choice. 4) made a $78 billion spending cut to the U.S. military and defense department budget, including reducing the size of the Army and Marine Corps. 5) signed in to law the START Treaty with Russia, a sweeping new arms reduction pact that will reduce the stockpile nuclear weapons in both countries adding new verification plan. 6) The passage of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act enabling the rights of workers to sue employers over wage discrimination claims. 7) The expansion of SCHIP health-care program for children worth $33 Billion. The declaration of two million more acres of wilderness in one of the most omnibus Public Lands bill. 9) Government Transparency as noted by Common Cause, Democracy 21, League of Women Voters and U.S. PIRG-- "The cumulative effect of the Administration's actions has been to adopt the strongest and most comprehensive lobbying, ethics and transparency rules and policies ever established by an Administration to govern its own activities". You can read full report in all of the seven areas the report is graded. 10) signed the Tribal Law and Order Act -- an important step to help the Federal Government better address the unique public safety challenges that confront tribal communities. Obama New Jobs Program would help a lot so of course republicans don't want it to pass.. sick. Republicans are trying to undo the financial regulations that were passed....sick Republicans are trying to undo Health Care Reform...sick etc, etc, etc, Not accomplished in 3 years of Obama presidency 1) Did not dismiss threats of immediate attack to US as bush did which resulted in 9/11..in fact OBL is gone! 2)Has not attacked any 'wrong' countries 3) So far looks like he'll be able to travel the world at will after his terms...unlike bush who can't leave country as he would be arrested as a war criminal etc, etc.

And I thought everything sucked because the Republicans wouldn't allow the little guy to do anything. Thanks for clearing that up.

I've always thought his worst record was Wild Life, though the one I enjoy the least is Chaos. The atmosphere C&C creates is that of a dusty, stuffy little room, all windows shut tight and shades drawn, no fresh air at all. In fact, to judge by some of the lyrics, Paul was denied oxygen to the brain while writing. So, that really was a weird one for me and the McCartney album with which my opinion is most at odds with the consensus.

Squid:

I don't really understand the hate for Pipes of Peace on this forum. It looks like I'm that album's only defender...

You're not the only defender. I agree with you. I agree with some other points you've made along the way as well, in particular that Paul is his own best producer.

EADG:

mustangsally10:

Haha, looks like you didn't get the memo

http://www.alternet.org/world/149324/america_in_decline%3A_why_germans_think_we're_insane/ http://www.economist.com/blogs/freeexchange/2010/07/recovery_1

It's not a strong safety net that's the problem, it's revenue. We need to cut taxes for the rich and continue to downsize our military. Obamas' budget is a great beginning. Your ideas are so 20th century...What are you republlicans trying to do?... ruin the 21th century just like you did the 20th?

that article was kind of interesting (albeit kind of out of date, considering everything that's happened in the eurozone since it was published last summer). However, do you understand that it has nothing to do with the point I was making?

EADG, you won?t get a sincere response out of that person. The Left?s favorite tools of argument are demagoguery, intellectual dishonesty, and their favorite, sophistry. Conveniently ignoring all empirical evidence, Sally likes to cite discredited fools such as Rachael Maddow and Paul Krugman to back up her opinions. If her latest bluster had any validity (countries with the most generous ?safety nets? are the most prosperous), Cuba would be the envy of Western Civilization. Or a more local example for those in the USA, the states with the most liberal benefits should be more economically secure, but they?re not. Some are on the verge of bankruptcy. We all know who they are. Of course you are correct. Liberalism is bringing the country to its knees, possibly for keeps. Any pyramid scheme eventually will fail. This incompetent freak in the White House is compounding the problems we already had and making many more of his own. The next two years are going to be even worse than the last two.