Happy Birthday Molly! I like the sound of Elvis Richardson...it's a perfect name. When Brian gets home from work he can yell "Is Elvis in the house?"...little Elvis will come crawling out, Mia will roll her eyes and Catie will be in her bedroom with the door closed.
Thanks for the birthday wishes! Here was my day...Mia and I slept untill 10:00, my parents brought over flowers and doughnuts, Catie painted my toenails, Brian installed my new shower head and took us out to the Chinese Buffett. Yum! Happy Anniversary to Granny and Grandpa!
Happy Birthday wishes to Molly and Happy ANniversary wishes to Mom and Dad. Hope everyone enjoyed their special days!
Our internet service has been very spotty, which is really annoying. If it were a free service I would have no right to complain, but that is not the case.
Still waithing to hear what Tom thinks of Obama/Biden ticket. I'm buying my t-shirt tomorrow. Anyone else want one?
I've spoken to several Obamamaniacs who asked me what I thought of the selection of Biden as VP. In every case they knew I was a Biden guy. And in every case I had been left with the very clear impression that there was relief on their part with the selection.
The relief being that Obama will not be alone in making earth shaping decisions. That he will have experienced, good-willed counsel. In other words in their heart of hearts these people knew Obama had a major shortcoming. Long on towering rhetoric but short in world experience.
My thoughts on this are; Come on. I'm supposed to be excited about this ticket?! Sorry. If any of these people had done their homework we should be talking about a Biden/Obama ticket. Not an Obama/Biden ticket.
When stuff hit the fan in Georgia the Georgian president asked Biden to come to his country. NOT OBAMA. An example why the wrong choice was made in this nomination.
I just saw a cockroach. They depress me so, and yet are inevitable this far south. Apparently August is the month they flourish, so I've just done a cleaning and set some traps, and will do some more this afternoon. The tropical storm didn't help.
Well, I gotta say, she came through big-time last night. Good for her. Let's see if Bill can be as grown-up tonight. Tom, I think Obama's choice of Biden, in the face of the fact that only 6% of Democrats wanted him, showcases one of Obama's biggest strengths: that he really WANTS a strong, truthful, mature partner to help him in making crucial decisions, one who will tell him things he may not want to hear,but will not be obstructive even if they don't always agree. Biden brings nothing to the table in terms of electoral votes. Obama chose him because he's the best man to help him ON the job, not necessarily to help him get there. And because if he should die or be killed, Biden is the guy he thinks would be the best as president. Give the guy a little credit. He showed good judgement in his choice.
I thought Hillary was fabulous. She is so much better when she's not trying to win anything...very good speaker. Did anyone watch Katie Couric (is that CBS)? I thought she was not fabulous, in fact I cringed at some of her questions ringside before the event. I've been her defender from my scornful spouse but last night she was not good.
I have a "Bug Guy" come once a month (Spring through Fall) and spray the perimeter of our house. Very few critters get in and when they do...they are either dead by the time I discover them...or close to death.
Our maintenance guy often tells us that he had the exterminator spray in our offices after the fact. It's easy to say, because I never see bugs in here, but I might choose to opt out of having poison sprayed in my workplace. Of course, this is a converted garage (as Randy says, it's so "on grade") and without the spraying we might be cursed with insect life, but I dunno... This year in early summer, many CB residents were invaded by hordes of centipedes, which can be a problem around here. We haven't really had a problem with them since we got a dehumidifier in the basement but there were some years when they were disgusting. I guess rainy years are when they're bad. Creepy. Meanwhile, the tiny ants are back in our kitchen. So tiny, they look like spilled finely ground coffee. I feel sort of bad killing them. Don't hurricanes make the roaches swarm or something?
In our other apartment, about two months ago, we had those tiny ants form a march from a crack in our bathroom upper corner of shower to the door, down the door, down the hallway to the closet up the closet around the closet and down the closet to the basedboard, down the other side of the hall, around the kitchen cupboards, up the closet in the kitchen to another crack in the kitchen ceiling. I would have killed them. Josh just interrupted their path for about 2 feet, cleaned that area really well and they went away. p
In DSM we had a big ant community just outside of where we cut the french doors in... every spring they sent out a new princess complete with wings and some other aunts to help her get things started. They ALWAYS ended up in the family. One day I watched the aunts go after some cracker crumbs... and reflecting on the fact that each ant has a specific job, I put a cracker in the way of those collecting the crumbs. Since they were not the finders of food, just the collectors, they completely ignored it. I left the cracker in their way for about half a hour just to help confirm my idea... then I sucked them all up with the vaccum cleaner.
Lisa, I thought you were talking about me, Aunt m.e. hanging out in your family room when I was taking my Broker classes...you did tempt me with food but I always took the bait! I wanted wings.
Tom...you are delusional. You stated EVERY Obamiac seems relieved about Biden...I've witnessed you speaking with at least 3 such folk and not one of (us) is soooo relieved, we are happy 'cause he seems cool, that's all Brother!
Right now State Rep. Delores Mertz is using one our our offices to plan campaign strategy...I think I'll ask her if she's breathing easier now, since Obama picked Biden...I'll keep you posted...
Mary - please go back and read what I wrote. This is the about the umpteenth time you have either put words in my mouth or changed what I had said. Not nice.
I didn't say "every Obamamaniac". I said "several Obamamaniacs".
Hillary's speech was an endorsement of Obama's policies NOT an endorsement of the man himself. As in, "I'm for universal health care and so is Obama." and "I'm for responsibly ending the war and so is Obama." She never spoke specifically of any qualities he had that made him fit to be president. Did anyone else notice this?
She said "I support Barack Obama for president of the United States of America." She did what they wanted her to do while serving herself. No surprise.
Of course she wants to run in 2012...that's a given.
I do wish I was a fabulous public speaker. So much power comes with that ability.
Bill Clinton gave a good speech last night. He's been such a dork these past many months that I'd forgotten what a good speaker he is.
Hey, yesterday I took the poll and voted for "something else." Today, that vote has disappeared. Weird. Not that it matters...it's just kinda strange. Yah know...I opened an e-card from greetingcards.org. I FIRST checked out the site independently to see if it was legite and it was. I opened the email and it said something like "account has been suspended" notify immediately. I went back to the greetingcards.org and sure enough if yah scroll down it has a warning about such e-cards and the potential risk of a virus. I have Norton anti-virus and ran a scan and all appears to be well. Yah think I'll have a problem? :-<> ScArY!
I thought about it more. Basically we are so use to hearing everything politicians say in sound-bite friendly segments. And even though there were plenty of those in Hillary's speech, when she or anyone else doesn't say exactly what they are feeling so explicitly, peeps in the media think there must be a reason behind it. Or try to create a reason behind it. Tom, I know you are smart enough not be fooled by this but I think statements like that or what Tucker Bounds said in that article are a bit too picky. Go Biden!
Go Iowa State! ISU vs. SDSU tonight- I'm feeling pretty good about it!
Ellen you're wrong! I can't figure out a whole lot by myself. But I do listen to all sides when it comes to politics and hate the extremes and lies that are purported.
Lies come out of both campaigns. I agree with a wise old man who once said that Obama is the master of innuendo. And the McCain straight talk express often derails.
But, I still say the democrats went for style over substance. The most qualified man in the race was Biden. He simply didn't have the resources to compete.
Not A Hillary Fan (Cathy?)... Biden was selected for more than his expertise. You stated that he brought little in the way of electability and that Obama's selection of him is a fine example of his wisdom. I agree that it was a wise choice. After all, when you are defunct in an are a you hire an expert. But, another reason for his selection is his birthplace of Scranton, PA. They've been mentioning that over and over in the speeches.
Bill Clinton gave a fantastic speech. One of the best ever.
Biden was a little uncomfortable. Probably because the Obama people made him use one of their speech writers. You could tell much of what he said was not his style.
But, he did a fine job of giving props to Obama. As good as he could anyway. As they say, you can polish a turd all you want but in the end it's still a turd.
Did anyone see McCain on Leno?...Leno's a fan...he asked him jokingly about how many houses does he own? Then McCain got serious and said when he was a POW he didn't have any houses...(sob)
Oh yeah...I didn't think it was being manipulated...I was thinking somethin's up with my computer as I've had some things get changed on the Sarah's myspace as well. Changed meaning...Tom's listed schools deleted and then, doubled...business information doubled & tripled...kinda odd. I just hope it's not a virus of sorts. I voted for "something else" 'cuz I'm not a sports fan nor politically savvy. I don't care either way. :-)
So...McCain chooses Alaska Governor, Sara Palin, to be his VP. Bummer 'cuz my sister went on a date and kissed Tim Pawlenty back in College only to discover he had a girlfreind...who later became his wife...ha!
Please excuse my sentimentality, but Aggie died this morning. She was so old and so frail, I think she weighed less than 5 pounds and she was 18 years old.
She was a good cat. She used to answer the phone and she would help me do laundry, going up and down the steps with me over and over again. She liked me. She didn't care too much about the rest of the family. Such loyalty.
SP's youngest son was born in April and has down syndrome...I think perhaps she should concentrate on that and not become over-loaded as VP...in my humble opinion.
I'm going to buy paint to paint our dark panel basement. Anyone have any tips? I've heard from a few people that Behr is the best. I've also heard that painting over panelling takes several coats. It's so dark down here that I can't see the creepy crawly basement critters well enough.
It could take forever to cover the dark paneling without it - and you need to provide a transition between the paneling and the paint. Kilz is the best hands down.
Regarding paint: Everyone has their favorite. We are loyal to Sherwin-Williams. Having painted an entire house, it is my experience that the expensive of Kilz over a cheaper primer and expensive paint is worth it.
Sarah's on a fsat TRACK BRISTOL cream bun slicked back on her frame so WILLOW she's no Pied PIPER she had to flunk TRIG in school to name children names sooo uncool.
Hey, what was the deal last night? When Obama was done with blah, blah, blah, hope, blah, blah, blah, change they fired up some country music and then it suddenly changed to weird, ominous orchestra music that was not in sync with the random fireworks.
I think she meant Sarah flunked trigonometry. Sorry about Aggie.
Tom, I agree about the music. I think someone got out of sync and they needed the orchestral gods-and-goddesses music for when the windblown Obama family came downstage together looking like destiny, but they jumped the gun because they were tired of all the hugging so there was no segue. Yet notice how I say this with no trace of curmudgeonliness. I think Sarah Palin makes this a very interesting election. Stevo thinks it was a very smart move on McCain's part. I'm reserving opinion until I see if he thinks of her as a true partner or as a sort of alternate first lady. Either way, it sort of negates the experience argument.
Oh, and ditto on the Kilz. Stevo's sister painted their basement paneling and on three walls she just used paint and ended up doing four coats in a couple places. She primed another wall and did just one coat of primer and one of paint. Kilz is the best I've used.
Oh, and lest anyone think I'm jumping ship on Obama, no I'm not. It actually is possible to not be for someone in an election and yet not think they're the devil incarnate. Speaking of the devil, I think one of the reasons McCain chose SP is because for a conservative Republican, she could hardly BE any less like Dick Cheney.
SP's kids names and her style are really 80's, but I'm guessing that's sort of Alaska for you. Biden's kids are not too much better. By the way, his middle name is Robinette, which I'm sure is a family name, but yikes.
The 'Clones sure whooped those Jack Rabbits, eh? I'm so glad college football is back.
Little Joe starts his Senior campaign tonight. Garrigan has always been a running team. Not much size this year but A LOT of speed and a kid who can throw. So the coach has installed a spread offense. I saw some of their practice last night. Empty backfeild, shotgun and double wide formation. This should be fun.
Speaking of introductory music, while they were waiting for the next VP to come out of the tunnel this morning they were playing the musical score from the movie Rudy. GO IRISH!!!
I can't figure out why some people who are normally perceptive have bought into Obama's argument that the nomination of SP will take away McCain's ability to talk about experience. I mean, the presidency involves the executive branch of government and the next VP has more executive experience than Obama already. His only experience in Washington is as the chair of a Senate subcommittee which never has any meetings because he never calls any. And even that inexperience is legislative inexperience rather than executive experience. Dad
I saw on the news today that authorities have arrested a bunch of so-called anarchists who were stockpiling urine and feces to use at the protests of the RNC. Scott has been working crazy hours for the last couple weeks. He's got to keep all the visiting dignitaries out of the line of fire of poop and pee as well as the usual dangers.
Sorry to hear that about the dog. Is this an ongoing (no pun intended) problem or a one-time accident? Maybe just sending a message to a cat who isn't here to get it?
I am up in Milwaukee this weekend going out on a boat called the "boatylicious" today. Looks like good weather so should be fun. Monday I'm going to the Brewers/Mets game. Mets need to win it after blowing the game last night in the 9th.
Happy Anniversary Granny and Grandpa. Hope it was nice.
In my humble opinion, politics could use more PTA moms. The most practical and politically savvy people in the universe. Very practiced at pushing the agenda and being efficient.
Whoever asked, I'm going to school to be a social studies teacher for middle school or high school.
in short Garrigan beat themselves. 4 turnovers and some untimely penalties. Lost 17-7.
They moved the ball well at times. I do see a lot of problems on defense. They don't have the quality linebackers they had last year. Also, the DBs are either on the slow side or inexperienced.
Good news is they learned a lot about their personnel (presumably). I'm sure they will make some needed adjustments. I wouldn't be suprised if they moved Joe to linebacker full time. He did play there for a few plays on an early series.
Also, this loss will not affect their chances to make the playoffs as it was a nondistrict game.
Up next is West Hancock where Joe will go face to face against a highly recruited 300 pound lineman.
Ok so while we were getting to our seats at the Mets/Brewers game on monday Carlos Beltran was at the plate and he fouled one off towards us. I told my friend John "Hey - Heads up Johnny" as it looked like the ball had been popped up super high and was heading towards us. As it was coming down it looked like it was going to land about ten feet away from us in the walk way and there was a guy there set to catch it. My friend John ran over to the guy that was waiting for the ball to come down and when the ball got there they were fighting over it. Somehow the ball got kicked out and rolled right to me. I picked it up and it's now sitting on my kitchen counter.
Here is a picture if any of you would like to buy a souvineer:
In the Spring of '01, my Dad took...himself, Tom, Bobby and my brother-in-law Steve to Milwaukee Brewer Fantasy Baseball Camp in Arizona. We have a framed picture of all their baseball cards in the bar...have you seen? The even played a game at the stadium that summer. This is very cool, Ed! :-)
That's funny, cause when they announced Brad Nelson at the game me and my friend were laughing and saying "Hah Hah" like the Nelson charater from the Simpsons. All the people around us thought it was really funny.
Tom - the link that you have to copy extends well out to the right and it takes a little while to load it seems.
I can't imagine Sarah Palin having the time to be the VP. Yes, her oldest is away...however, with her teenage daughter pregnant, having two other school age children and a baby with down syndrome...it seems that her home-life is a bit busy. Now, perhaps, her hubby is gonna quit his job...I dunno and that would be, sorta, different. If I were in her position, I would be working less not more. Hmm.
There are a few stay at home dads in our neighborhood and they seem to do a fine job.
So the press is all over the Palin's about not giving their children the information and or attention they need... this is really nuts because they all know that this young teen just needs support. They left Chelsea alone, they need to leave this girl alone. Anyway, this morning Diane Sawyer asked George Stephanopolous his views on the whole thing and he said something to the effect that he had every conficence in the American public and press to realize the family needed their privacy in this matter and would allow that.
Yes, if her husband is planning to quit that would be different...meaning, "good." :-)
If my daughter was going through a difficult time and my family needed privacy...I don't think I would become a HUGE public figure. Of course, I realize, that I am not walking in her shoes.
This morning Meredith was grilling some Republican staffer about why they didn't announce the girl's pregnancy right away and I thought what, was McCain supposed to announce, "Here's my vice-president and incidentally, her daughter's pregnant"? They let 2 days go by (horrors! conspiracy!)and then let the story out. I hate to admit it, but there's been a lot of smug, self-righteous commentary by liberals about it and some really vicious blogging. I'm glad Obama didn't go that route. I do think it reveals a bit of McCain's reckless side, but it could turn out to be genius.
Oh, I didn't know that. In fact, the news article I read said that they were not talking about his age nor his last name. Hmm. I believe the age of consent in some states is actually 16...Alaska? Think so.
Gustav actually was a gift to the Republicans - it gave them a way to not have Bush there and since they lost Monday night, they could plausibly say no thanks to a videotaped speech or show it in the afternoon or something. OK, just kidding, kind of. Actually, kudos to them for suspending Monday night - very classy.
That was 1994 data. Although this is still five years old, it is more thorough at to "age of consent." I imagine some are already different. Teenagers get pregnant every day in our country, and I don't think it says squat about the parents abilities to parent or be Vice President. I really don't think it's news, and I think we should concentrate on her politics. http://www.cga.ct.gov/2003/olrdata/jud/rpt/2003-R-0376.htm
More than 2000 years ago Plato understood that, in the end, there is only one fundamental political issue—how we raise our children. Today, this observation is surely no less true.
I think McCain's choice was brilliant. I like Sarah P....I'm not gonna vote for her, but I like her. The daughter's pregnancy IS news, but it should stop there...we don't need to know what car they did it in, etc!! It's their business. I like Obama's statement and that he reminded people that his Mom was 18 when he was born. There are MANY brilliant boys born to 18 year olds! Right Mike?
Doesn't anyone wonder why Obama isn't leading by more in the polls? I mean they have linked McCain to Bush over and over. The republicans are going to lose seats in the congress and McCain's stance on the war is not all that popular (at least not his stance as portrayed by the press).
All this and Obama has a slim lead. Why? Because this country is a center-right country. Obama's politics are too socialist for this country. If you want socialism go to France where they have real ghettos with real riots.
I'll say it again. The democrats went for style over substance.
Also, the knucklehead wants to cut back defense spending by 150 billion dollars. News flash...we're in 2 wars. Now isn't the time to cut back.
And, (to me this is the one of his most reprehensable acts) he voted to not spend money to "up-armor" the humvees our troops were using in the war. Jerk! The up-armored vehicles have saved countless lives.
I, too, loved Obama's response on the matter. He scored a few brownie points with me and he's not my man. Unfortunatley, neither is McCain. Yes, the media should stop talking about the daughter. No, it's not necessarily a reflection of Palin's parenting skills...I don't think. However, what parent with a special needs baby would unnecessarily increase their work load? What parent of a pregnant teen...would knowingly place her in the spotlight and subject her to national discussion, criticism and ridicule? For those reasons, I don't care for Palin as a VP. This is my humble opinion...not sayin' I'm right. :-)
WooHoo! The candy canes and Holiday stationery/envelopes I ordered have arrived! On September 17th, we have hired Betty to hand-out Holiday letters and candy canes to @ 75 businesses. I'll drive her around. She's gonna wear a red Sarah's tee, cute bottoms and a santa hat. She'll walk in...ask for the owner/manager...hand them the letter/candy and with her sweet, beautiful smile say, "Merry Christmas!" and walk out. She's gonna be great! :-)
Tom, you're right about the center/right lean. That's why in the 70s America overwhelmingly elected a known felon over a left-leaning candidate who wanted to do what the vast majority of Americans also wanted to do by then - get out of Vietnam. I think people are too afraid of the unknown even when they agree with the more leftist candidate on more points. When it comes down to it, they go for the "safe" (read traditional) option. Although what's safe about McCain I fail to understand. I think Obama is really the more pragmatic one.
Up-armor the humvees??? The ones that Bush/Cheney knowingly sent into that type of war without the proper armor?? The ones that the parents of troops (not the troopa in their 40-50's) are armoring on their own because their children were sent into warfare without the proper armor!! Not since before Plato have we sent unarmed troops into warfare! Bush/Cheney didn't up-armor they just said "up yours" to the blue-collar kids fighting this war!
I heard a piece on NPR today talking about how many people keep voting republican -eventhough the republicans are not effevtive on fixing the economy - because they agree wtih the socail stances of the republicans. However, the republicans fail to deliver on those promises as well. Time and time again.
During consideration of the 2005 Defense Department authorization bill, Senator Obama voted to provide additional funding for add-on armor for military vehicles and for additional up-armored military vehicles to help keep our troops in combat safe.
Thank you!! And Cheney/Bush sent them into Iraq without the needed armor...Tom, it was a big news story at the time...don't say my argument lacks logic...maybe the part about "since Plato"...But, I was referring to all of us Euro-Christian types!
"Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America has given John McCain a grade of D for his support of veterans:
http://www.iava.org/full-ratings-list
Disabled Veterans of America gave him a 20% rating on support for veterans while giving Obama an 80% rating:
http://www.capwiz.com/dav/scorecard.xc
Per Vietnam Veterans of America John McCain has “voted against us” in 15 key votes:
http://www.vva.capwiz.com/election/home/
John McCain is one of the few veterans running for office that VoteVets has refused to endorse:
http://www.votevets.org
Another veteran group keeps track and offers links to McCain’s history of votes against veteran care:
http://www.veteransforcommonsense.org
To name just a few votes by John McCain against veterans:
McCain voted against an amendment providing $20 billion for VA medical facilities [5/4/06]
McCain voted against providing $430 million to the VA for outpatient care and treatment for veterans [4/26/06]
McCain voted against increasing VA funding by $1.5 billion by closing corporate loopholes [3/14/06]
McCain voted against increasing VA funding by $1.8 billion by ending abusive tax loopholes [3/10/04]
The man even voted against giving combat duty troops more time at home between extended tours.
John McCain had the gall to not only be rude, but to lie to a vet about his record of endorsements from veteran groups and then had the nerve to refuse further questioning on the issue:
“I’ve been endorsed in every election by every veterans organization that do that, I’ve been supported by them, and I’ve received their highest awards from all of those organizations. So I guess they don’t know something you know.”
Later, during his town hall meeting, McCain admitted he does “not have a perfect voting record,” and then announced questions about veterans issues were off limits: “I will be glad to debate a lot of things, but not that one.”
I had just heard about that stat last week, the Disabled Vets of America...only 20% endorse McCain...I can't wait untill the ads start running! Thanks Cathy!
I had heard from a reputable source that Obama had voted against funding for up armored vehicles. I can't recall but I think it may have been an NPR story. When I have the source I will post it.
Bush/Cheney being the knuckleheads they are envisioned flowers falling on our victorious soldier's parade in central Baghdad. The thought didn't occur to them that added armor was needed. I don't believe they maliciously thought to send troops in without less than what was needed. As it turned out it became a different type of war than they had anticipated.
For those of you coming to Ellen's wedding: On the night before the wedding (Friday) there is a wedding rehearsal followed by a rehearsal dinner for members of the wedding party. This is being hosted by Andy's parents. We wanted to be sure there was a place for all family members and out-of-town friends to gather and have dinner and visit so there will be a party at our house on Friday night starting at 6:30 with plenty of food and beverages. As we might not be back from the rehearsal dinner till about 7:30, Lisa and Randy have graciously offered to host at our house until we get home. Y'all come! Stevo's warming up the roasters already. I'm going to kick everyone out at about 11:00 or midnight, so don't come too late!
Go to "twincities.com" there is an article about the "anarchists" plus an attached affidavit with detailed info about this group called the RNC Welcoming Committee, it's pretty interesting.
It's a horrible story, they were only 16-18 yrs. old...there is some govt. involvement. If you google it, it's easy to find, however I went to "Al Jazeera News" and they is no mention, and they cover everthing.
Go to PakTribune, there are many articles about it...it seems that the killers made a big mistake burying the girls alive...if they would have just killed them as an honor killing, it would have probably been covered up and is acceptable. So now some in the govt. are trying to prove that the girls were dead first.
I'm sorry, but SP is young and crusty. That is one crusty ticket. Jude watched the speech with me and he kept asking, "why that girl mad?" I think 8 years of bullies in the WHite House has done enough damage.
Geraldine Ferraro was on TV yesterday morning, and there was a discussion of how successful women balance home an family. She said that women in such positions don't manage everything on their own--that they have help with many of the routine day to day activities (i.e. housekeeper, etc.) which gives them time for their work. Why is is that we are only discussing this because Palin is a woman??? How on earth have all the male vice president's managed their positions AND fatherhood???
If Palin were a man and his wife worked full-time...than, I would wonder if she was gonna take a, "leave," too. Now, if she was simply being promoted to VP of a Wasilla Bank...than, I wouldn't be wondering at all.
It was a convention speech, meaning it was a bunch of one-liners delivered to the choir and designed to get them all riled up and happy. She did a very good job at it. I think the ticket is stronger with her, that she will add more votes than she loses, barring some big misstep or something. But if they manage to get elected without addressing any of the financial mess we're in and how to help the middle class, which is being squeezed at both ends, I'm going to really be mad. I didn't hear ANY ideas about what they want to do from her, just jokes about Obama and worship of McCain. I can't help kind of liking her, sort of the same way you can't help liking Shirley McClain - she's a real firecracker. In a situation that requires anything but the pit-bull approach? I dunno. But she's smart, funny and I like her family Did you see the little girl gluing down her brother's hair?
Guiliani is right down there with Rove, Rumsfeld & Co as far as I'm concerned. When we were studying the Inferno we consigned all of them to a certain circle of Hell. He's a creep with no morals. Oh, and Limbaugh's there too, of course.
Cathy - you are wrong. This convention has mentioned how it's party will help the middle class. It was stated by Fred Thompson. He said (paraphrasing) that the democrats tell you not to worry about these tax increases they are proposing. It's only going to affect businesses and "the rich". So unless you buy things like gas, groceries and clothes you have nothing to worry about.
Of course he's referring to the fact that when a business sees an increase in the cost of doing business they react the only way they can - raise prices. We all will see an across the board increase in our purchases.
Case in point - and I'm livid about this - our property taxes last year for the restaurant were $7600. This year they are $8800. A 16% increase in one year. I don't mind paying taxes. Like Dad once told me it's the cost of living in a democracy. And I don't mind small incremental raising of taxes.
My property taxes were too much to begin with. Now I will have to work harder and smarter than ever to keep the doors open. The additional $1200 is a lot of money for me.
I see no raises for my blue collar staff. I see no capital expenditures on that american manufactured line of equipment. I see no highering of a lawn service so I can do one less thing.
What I do see is county government spending a lot of my money.
Another case in point. The county has always had a fleet of beautiful, shiny, new pieces of heavy equipment. Road graders, dump trucks, loaders, pickups and so on. Rarely will you see a piece of equipment older than 4 years.
Yet when they contract a job to be done the contractor's equipment is on the order of 20 years old. They feel no need to spend money just because it's there.
I burns me to know that the county is taking an additional $1200 bucks from me that they really don't need.
Let me tell you how much $1200 dollars is to me. It's roughly the same amount of money I scrimp and save throughout the course of a years so I can rent a simple little cabin on a lake for a nice little family vacation. And they want to take that from me, too?
Maybe he/she's a bookie, taking bets on Palin's hairstyle!
Palin is such a good choice for McCain...as she ages she can give give him testoterone transfusions...(as could most women in their 50's) Her family looked great on stage, it looks like her husband has already taken on the Daddy day care role...If she wins she will have to stop CC all her e-mails to her hubby. It will appeal to many families.
Don't you think it's funny that Tim Pawlenty wasn't at Palin's speech? The convention is right there in his home state, and he was another potential VP. He must have had sore feelings. P
Well I can see why. But what does the county have to do with the presidential race? We will all pay for things one way or another. But I have seen a steady erosion of real spending power in the vast majority of Americans while the top couple percent have paid less taxes and become vastly richer. And things like college money, early childhood education, veteran's benefits - forget it. They have all been chipped away at steadily the last eight years administratively. Believe me, you're going to want that Pell grant and low-interest loan money in a few years. Where did it go? What the Republicans are advocating, although they don't say so, is the Bush version of "trickle-down" economics which was economically stupid and morally corrupt the first time around, and worse now. And I don't believe the changes being advocated by the dems are going to affect small or marginal mom-and-pop businesses the way the repuglies are trying to scare us with. They are mainly aimed at closing big loopholes that can only be used by huge corporations. So you might have something to worry about if you closed your local branch of Sarah's, fired everyone and outsourced to India, but otherwise I don't think so. By the way, you should run for County Commissioner. They can't toss a little money to the food pantry but they need big shiny new trucks?
Did you see where a Minnesota GOP co-chair referred to Sarah Palin as "Sarah Pawlenty"? Talk about freudian slips - there goes that career. OK, I have to get to work. I'm taking the afternoon off to go get a dress.
Cathy - my synopsis of Kossuth County's spending is an example of how government spending works. If it's there (the money) they will spend it and demand more. It's no different on the federal or state level.
Lazy, slack-ass bureaucrat's spending money like it isn't their's. Because it isn't - it's mine.
After 5 months of only 2 tv channels, we finally have basic cable. Now we have about 18 channels. Amazing....amazing. Its still mostly reality tv at night.
I thought Sarah Palin was amazing. Completely likeable and I felt she was a completely capable person. That doesn't mean I agree with all her views, but she is a huge boost for McCain.
Our good friend from Deleware is very smart, but he will not have the appeal she manages to create. It will make the debates interesting.
Anyway... I just finished a book by Agatha Christie, something completely different from what she ususally writes. All about takeover of the earth by the young who have no purpose to their goal for power and no plan of what they will do once they gain power. Lots of references to amazingly wonderful speech-afiers who, without a message, can whip a crowd to frenzy. Funny that I read it between the conventions.
Interestingly, the way property taxes actually work is the County sets a budget and the taxes are collected accordingly. I agree on the shiny new equipment.
By the way, I have to say something about "I'm smarter than anyone in the room," Guiliani: Who else would have the audacity to cut into the v-p nominees time like he did? There was supposed to be a video about her. She ended up having no introduction and she still ran a bit long.
Yeah...leave it to a woman to bring back family values to the GOP...Giuliani with his 3rd wife, Fred Thompson with his arm candy, McCain with 2nd wife...and Sarah.
I can't believe you think she was "amazing" and "likeable." Do you like people who are snide and cynical? Much like Tom said way back when about Obama, this gal's got some skeletons and when we get to know her better she won't be the messiah for the Republican party she seems to be now. I totally understand her point in her jab at "community organizers" but it's an insult to people everywhere who try to effect change in their communites without the help of government, etc. Snotty to the core!
So, Liam has a 9am football game, in Spencer, and Eli at Noon. This means that we will leave our house at 7:30am and return around 3:30pm...8 hours for two 1.5 hour games...sigh.
I didn't read her as snotty. There is somethign amazing about where she is right now. And, who knows who wrote that speech (as a newcomer I bet it was vetted pretty darn closely).
Mary you should run for mayor of Algona. Maybe in 8 years you can be the v.p. candidate.
I bet the whole trooper firing thing will get ugly and it may end up hurting her. But I did not find her snotty and I thought she seemed to have a sense of humor.
I thought some of her remarks were snotty, too, but no where near the cynicism Guiliani had. That was just gross. Literally laughing and mocking someone else who, whether you like him or not, still spent a great deal of time and energy with little pay to help a community in need. I doubt she wrote much of that speech either. Only because it seems unlikely someone with her background would choose to demean Obama's commitment and service as a community organizer when he could have been doing much bigger things. The same small-town morals she talked about- pitching in, helping others- is also evident in Obama's work, just done in a big city.
I am surprised she didn't talk more about her social beliefs like abortion, "traditional" marriage, etc.
I don't remember which network I was watching... but they mentioned that a different speech had been written assuming the nominee would be a man and when she was announced they had to throw out the speech and re-write it.
Where is everyone staying next weekend? WE're at the Courtyard in the Old Market because we had points. I'm getting a haircut in the Old Market Saturday morning. ANyone wsnt to join me?
Good idea...I'm just complaining 'cuz out of all the teams and different games scheduled...Liam's is the very first and Eli's the very last and it will be that way every Saturday. Home games will be no big deal...it's just all the one-hour-away ones that make it a long dealey-o. :-)
Hahs...except she's not poor she's Mrs. Busch, oh I mean Mrs.Budweiser of Arizona.
Mayor of Algona? Hmmmm, will you come and help me with my campaign? Mayor Mary, heehee. The current Mayor is temporary, name is Jeff Gilmore. The other mayor stepped down, got mad over a miniature golf course vote (he was double crossed).
Here Tom. This is from the Associated Press, who does fact checking on the speeches given at the conventions.
PALIN: "The Democratic nominee for president supports plans to raise income taxes, raise payroll taxes, raise investment income taxes, raise the death tax, raise business taxes, and increase the tax burden on the American people by hundreds of billions of dollars."
THE FACTS: The Tax Policy Center, a think tank run jointly by the Brookings Institution and the Urban Institute, concluded that Obama's plan would increase after-tax income for middle-income taxpayers by about 5 percent by 2012, or nearly $2,200 annually. McCain's plan, which cuts taxes across all income levels, would raise after tax-income for middle-income taxpayers by 3 percent, the center concluded.
Obama would provide $80 billion in tax breaks, mainly for poor workers and the elderly, including tripling the Earned Income Tax Credit for minimum-wage workers and higher credits for larger families.
He also would raise income taxes, capital gains and dividend taxes on the wealthiest. He would raise payroll taxes on taxpayers with incomes above $250,000, and he would raise corporate taxes. Small businesses that make more than $250,000 a year would see taxes rise.
I'm suspicious of stats. We all know you can find a stat to fit any point of view.
What is tangible is what I see. As in my earlier example of county spending. Or when I deliver lunches to a local school and every time I go there are 2 receptionists at a reception desk with brand new, state of the art workstations (computers) shooting the breeze and eating baked treats someone brought in.
All this while my staff and I are working our asses off AND Nance writes more checks to pay various taxes that total more than we are able to pay ourselves.
Frank, I just got online to post that link to the blog. Incredible.
The Palin choice is incredible. At first, I was shocked that people were falling for it. But then I remembered that GW was elected to a second term.
If we want to talk about this ticket in terms of a restaurant staff, then we're only one heartbeat away from bus boys cooking the food. Or maybe it's more like the ground crew flying the plane.
But that's the great thing about America, just about anyone can become president. Or maybe not. Funny how a man like Henry Kissinger doesn't meet the requirements to be president but Sarah Palin does.
I'd even take Schwarzenegger over this woman. At least I know that he and Maria Shriver wouldn't groom one another like cats on national television. In HD, no less. But alas, the Governator is only a successful, five year Governor of this country's largest state and cannot be considered as McCain's running mate because he was born in Austria. And starred in Kindergarten Cop.
The Palin thing is about as ill fated as Britney Spear's Las Vegas marriage. And I suspect that this country's romance with her will last about as long. Or at least until the Vice Presidential debate.
You know what else? Now this I can only say I've HEARD about. I won't say I've seen this myself. If I did I can't really remember it.
I've heard tell that sometimes a governmental agency will sometimes book an event at a restaurant or maybe a hotel or casino. Since the government will only pay for food and not booze they will ask that all booze ordered be itemized as food items or room rental.
I rolled my eyes when I saw, opps, I mean HEARD this.
211 comments:
1 – 200 of 211 Newer› Newest»Happy Birthday, Molly! You sure are pretty in pink! Hope your day is wonderful. :-)
Have a fabulous day Molly!
Happy Anniversary MOm and Dad!
P
Happy Birthday Molly!
Happy Birthday Molly! Your face matches your shirt in that picture... that may be taking accessorizing (sp?) a little too far.
Happy Birthday Molly!
I like the sound of Elvis Richardson...it's a perfect name. When Brian gets home from work he can yell "Is Elvis in the house?"...little Elvis will come crawling out, Mia will roll her eyes and Catie will be in her bedroom with the door closed.
Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!!
57 years!! (Is that right?) What are your plans for dinner?
Dad gave the homily at Mass yesterday, a lady came up to him afterwards and said it was the best homily she's ever heard!
What was his homily about?
Happy Birthday to Molly and Happy Anniversary to Mom and Dad.
School starts for everyone tomorrow!!!!
Monica
Happy Birthday, Molly! Hope the Chinese food was yummy.
Happy anniversary, Mom and Dad!
Thanks for the birthday wishes! Here was my day...Mia and I slept untill 10:00, my parents brought over flowers and doughnuts, Catie painted my toenails, Brian installed my new shower head and took us out to the Chinese Buffett. Yum! Happy Anniversary to Granny and Grandpa!
Happy birthday, Miss Molly you are as pink as your shirt in that photo.
Happy anniversary, Mom and Dad! We love you!
Lisa
Randy
Emma
Mary Laurel
Mmmm...Fr. Lazarus just gave me a bag of cherry tomatoes straight out of the garden, warm and oh so sweet...they're like candy made from sunshine.
Happy Birthday wishes to Molly and Happy ANniversary wishes to Mom and Dad. Hope everyone enjoyed their special days!
Our internet service has been very spotty, which is really annoying. If it were a free service I would have no right to complain, but that is not the case.
Still waithing to hear what Tom thinks of Obama/Biden ticket. I'm buying my t-shirt tomorrow. Anyone else want one?
I've spoken to several Obamamaniacs who asked me what I thought of the selection of Biden as VP. In every case they knew I was a Biden guy. And in every case I had been left with the very clear impression that there was relief on their part with the selection.
The relief being that Obama will not be alone in making earth shaping decisions. That he will have experienced, good-willed counsel. In other words in their heart of hearts these people knew Obama had a major shortcoming. Long on towering rhetoric but short in world experience.
My thoughts on this are; Come on. I'm supposed to be excited about this ticket?! Sorry. If any of these people had done their homework we should be talking about a Biden/Obama ticket. Not an Obama/Biden ticket.
When stuff hit the fan in Georgia the Georgian president asked Biden to come to his country. NOT OBAMA. An example why the wrong choice was made in this nomination.
Tom
I just saw a cockroach. They depress me so, and yet are inevitable this far south. Apparently August is the month they flourish, so I've just done a cleaning and set some traps, and will do some more this afternoon. The tropical storm didn't help.
p
I just killed a centipede. Gross.
You should all be voting on the right column of this blog. There is only one obvious choice.
p
Well, I gotta say, she came through big-time last night. Good for her. Let's see if Bill can be as grown-up tonight.
Tom, I think Obama's choice of Biden, in the face of the fact that only 6% of Democrats wanted him, showcases one of Obama's biggest strengths: that he really WANTS a strong, truthful, mature partner to help him in making crucial decisions, one who will tell him things he may not want to hear,but will not be obstructive even if they don't always agree. Biden brings nothing to the table in terms of electoral votes. Obama chose him because he's the best man to help him ON the job, not necessarily to help him get there. And because if he should die or be killed, Biden is the guy he thinks would be the best as president. Give the guy a little credit. He showed good judgement in his choice.
There are any number of people who could have brought in a crucial state or region. He still chose the best guy.
I thought Hillary was fabulous. She is so much better when she's not trying to win anything...very good speaker. Did anyone watch Katie Couric (is that CBS)? I thought she was not fabulous, in fact I cringed at some of her questions ringside before the event. I've been her defender from my scornful spouse but last night she was not good.
p
I have a "Bug Guy" come once a month (Spring through Fall) and spray the perimeter of our house. Very few critters get in and when they do...they are either dead by the time I discover them...or close to death.
Our maintenance guy often tells us that he had the exterminator spray in our offices after the fact. It's easy to say, because I never see bugs in here, but I might choose to opt out of having poison sprayed in my workplace. Of course, this is a converted garage (as Randy says, it's so "on grade") and without the spraying we might be cursed with insect life, but I dunno...
This year in early summer, many CB residents were invaded by hordes of centipedes, which can be a problem around here. We haven't really had a problem with them since we got a dehumidifier in the basement but there were some years when they were disgusting. I guess rainy years are when they're bad. Creepy. Meanwhile, the tiny ants are back in our kitchen. So tiny, they look like spilled finely ground coffee. I feel sort of bad killing them. Don't hurricanes make the roaches swarm or something?
Our bug guy sprays outside. :-)
In our other apartment, about two months ago, we had those tiny ants form a march from a crack in our bathroom upper corner of shower to the door, down the door, down the hallway to the closet up the closet around the closet and down the closet to the basedboard, down the other side of the hall, around the kitchen cupboards, up the closet in the kitchen to another crack in the kitchen ceiling. I would have killed them. Josh just interrupted their path for about 2 feet, cleaned that area really well and they went away.
p
My understanding is that Biden may be the pick as a result of the insight of Caroline Kennedy
lisa
Ants.
In DSM we had a big ant community just outside of where we cut the french doors in... every spring they sent out a new princess complete with wings and some other aunts to help her get things started. They ALWAYS ended up in the family. One day I watched the aunts go after some cracker crumbs... and reflecting on the fact that each ant has a specific job, I put a cracker in the way of those collecting the crumbs. Since they were not the finders of food, just the collectors, they completely ignored it. I left the cracker in their way for about half a hour just to help confirm my idea... then I sucked them all up with the vaccum cleaner.
lisa
oops, ants, not aunts!
and family room, not family.
lisa
Lisa, I thought you were talking about me, Aunt m.e. hanging out in your family room when I was taking my Broker classes...you did tempt me with food but I always took the bait! I wanted wings.
Tom...you are delusional. You stated EVERY Obamiac seems relieved about Biden...I've witnessed you speaking with at least 3 such folk and not one of (us) is soooo relieved, we are happy 'cause he seems cool, that's all Brother!
Right now State Rep. Delores Mertz is using one our our offices to plan campaign strategy...I think I'll ask her if she's breathing easier now, since Obama picked Biden...I'll keep you posted...
Where are Ellen and Andy registered?
Mary - please go back and read what I wrote. This is the about the umpteenth time you have either put words in my mouth or changed what I had said. Not nice.
I didn't say "every Obamamaniac". I said "several Obamamaniacs".
Hillary's speech was an endorsement of Obama's policies NOT an endorsement of the man himself. As in, "I'm for universal health care and so is Obama." and "I'm for responsibly ending the war and so is Obama." She never spoke specifically of any qualities he had that made him fit to be president. Did anyone else notice this?
She is so hoping he loses so she can run again.
Som
That was me...
Tom
She said "I support Barack Obama for president of the United States of America." She did what they wanted her to do while serving herself. No surprise.
Of course she wants to run in 2012...that's a given.
I do wish I was a fabulous public speaker. So much power comes with that ability.
Bill Clinton gave a good speech last night. He's been such a dork these past many months that I'd forgotten what a good speaker he is.
p
correction:
"....a proud supporter of Barack Obama"
Hey, yesterday I took the poll and voted for "something else." Today, that vote has disappeared. Weird. Not that it matters...it's just kinda strange.
Yah know...I opened an e-card from greetingcards.org. I FIRST checked out the site independently to see if it was legite and it was. I opened the email and it said something like "account has been suspended" notify immediately. I went back to the greetingcards.org and sure enough if yah scroll down it has a warning about such e-cards and the potential risk of a virus. I have Norton anti-virus and ran a scan and all appears to be well. Yah think I'll have a problem? :-<> ScArY!
Never mind...Tom changed it...what a dork. :-<> :-)
I am sorta worried about that virus dealey-o though. Would I know already?
Mary Ellan
Are you the princess with wings?
lisa
I can assure you that the poll is not being manipulated in anyway on our end. What happens in your own house is another story.
Just for information - what did you have in mind when you clicked "something else"?
Tom, the Mccain campaign did:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/08/26/gop.reaction/index.html?eref=onion
I say that's a bunch of bologna.
Ellen and Andy are registered at Bed Bath and Beyond and Target.
I thought about it more. Basically we are so use to hearing everything politicians say in sound-bite friendly segments. And even though there were plenty of those in Hillary's speech, when she or anyone else doesn't say exactly what they are feeling so explicitly, peeps in the media think there must be a reason behind it. Or try to create a reason behind it. Tom, I know you are smart enough not be fooled by this but I think statements like that or what Tucker Bounds said in that article are a bit too picky.
Go Biden!
Go Iowa State! ISU vs. SDSU tonight- I'm feeling pretty good about it!
Ellen you're wrong! I can't figure out a whole lot by myself. But I do listen to all sides when it comes to politics and hate the extremes and lies that are purported.
Lies come out of both campaigns. I agree with a wise old man who once said that Obama is the master of innuendo. And the McCain straight talk express often derails.
But, I still say the democrats went for style over substance. The most qualified man in the race was Biden. He simply didn't have the resources to compete.
Not A Hillary Fan (Cathy?)... Biden was selected for more than his expertise. You stated that he brought little in the way of electability and that Obama's selection of him is a fine example of his wisdom. I agree that it was a wise choice. After all, when you are defunct in an are a you hire an expert. But, another reason for his selection is his birthplace of Scranton, PA. They've been mentioning that over and over in the speeches.
Bill Clinton gave a fantastic speech. One of the best ever.
Biden was a little uncomfortable. Probably because the Obama people made him use one of their speech writers. You could tell much of what he said was not his style.
But, he did a fine job of giving props to Obama. As good as he could anyway. As they say, you can polish a turd all you want but in the end it's still a turd.
Tom
Ha, a canvasser (?)just stopped by and I accidentally told him I would be voting for Obiden. We both had a good chuckle.
You can't polish a turd. I'm almost 100% sure of it.
Politicians and used car salesmen manufacture their own turd polish. It's usually not available to the general public.
Tom
Did anyone see McCain on Leno?...Leno's a fan...he asked him jokingly about how many houses does he own? Then McCain got serious and said when he was a POW he didn't have any houses...(sob)
Scotty Larsen sells used cars.
Oh yeah...I didn't think it was being manipulated...I was thinking somethin's up with my computer as I've had some things get changed on the Sarah's myspace as well. Changed meaning...Tom's listed schools deleted and then, doubled...business information doubled & tripled...kinda odd. I just hope it's not a virus of sorts.
I voted for "something else" 'cuz I'm not a sports fan nor politically savvy. I don't care either way. :-)
Can you vote twice? I just did. I think I'll vote for my grandparents too.
Technically I voted twice 'cuz Tom stole my first vote.
Nance, you are politically savvy...I mean, voter fraud indicates so.
Ha! Yes, I guess I am. :-)
Is it November yet? Jeez.
Happy Anniversary Granny and Grandpa!
Here's something I thought a lot of you might enjoy. I did. It's totally weird and I can't believe it's real.
http://www.fmft.net/archives/BBC_NEWS.htm
You know us very well.
10:48PM
Well, if you admire good speechifyin', that there was it.
Facebook seems to require a lot of maintenance. It keeps telling me to do stuff. I might be too lazy - er, busy to be a good facebook face.
You should all go here and read this:
http://davidmburrow.tripod.com/30aug08.html
But Cathy, you don't have a face on facebook.
p
I have both facebook and myspace...I find facebook more difficult to navigate.
So...McCain chooses Alaska Governor, Sara Palin, to be his VP. Bummer 'cuz my sister went on a date and kissed Tim Pawlenty back in College only to discover he had a girlfreind...who later became his wife...ha!
Sorry, it's SaraH and girlfrIend.
I'll bet McCain never even heard of Sarah Palin a year or two ago!There's no question he's going after Clinton supporters. I almost feel sorry for SP.
Maybe he choose her because she's a pro-life catholic.
I wonder if McCain and Sarah will engage in phony, too long, indigestion producing hugs while on stage like Obiden does.
Tom
Hi All,
Please excuse my sentimentality, but Aggie died this morning. She was so old and so frail, I think she weighed less than 5 pounds and she was 18 years old.
She was a good cat. She used to answer the phone and she would help me do laundry, going up and down the steps with me over and over again. She liked me. She didn't care too much about the rest of the family. Such loyalty.
Lisa
Too bad Tom's not so loyal to his pal.
Oh, and sorry Lisa! 18 years is very old for a cat.
Lisa, I am so sorry. :-( Here's a little something to make you smile.
The differences between a dogs joutrnal and a cat's journal.
http://jpetrie.myweb.uga.edu/journal.html
OK, SP seems appealing so far, but could she have picked stupider names for her kids?
SP's youngest son was born in April and has down syndrome...I think perhaps she should concentrate on that and not become over-loaded as VP...in my humble opinion.
I'm going to buy paint to paint our dark panel basement. Anyone have any tips? I've heard from a few people that Behr is the best. I've also heard that painting over panelling takes several coats. It's so dark down here that I can't see the creepy crawly basement critters well enough.
I look forwrd to the Biden-Palin debate.
I absolutely agree with Behr. I would use KILZ first 'cuz it will help lessen the appearance of "wood grain" from your panelling.
I second the Kilz comment.
It could take forever to cover the dark paneling without it - and you need to provide a transition between the paneling and the paint. Kilz is the best hands down.
Regarding paint: Everyone has their favorite. We are loyal to Sherwin-Williams. Having painted an entire house, it is my experience that the expensive of Kilz over a cheaper primer and expensive paint is worth it.
Lisa
Emily, lay off. TOm is just jealous of Obama, getting to hug Joe B. like that.
Yes, her kids names are bad: Track, Bristol, Willow, Piper and Trig.
Sorry about the kitty Lisa.
P
Sarah's on a fsat TRACK
BRISTOL cream bun slicked back
on her frame so WILLOW
she's no Pied PIPER
she had to flunk TRIG in school
to name children names sooo uncool.
I had a messy hair bun and big glasses first!
Tom,
Here's an Obama speech you may have missed that just might turn you around on the guy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65I0HNvTDH4&feature=related
Hey, what was the deal last night? When Obama was done with blah, blah, blah, hope, blah, blah, blah, change they fired up some country music and then it suddenly changed to weird, ominous orchestra music that was not in sync with the random fireworks.
I thought it was weird.
Tom
Lets not make jokes about flunking kids - especially ones with special needs.
lisa
September at Sister Sarah's!
Tuesdays: KIDS eat FREE!
Wednesdays: TEACHERS eat FREE!
Tuesday-Thursday: Happy Hour from 5-7pm. 1/2 price APPS & $2 TAPS!
Thursdays: All-you-can-eat BBQ RIBS served with choice of potato, fresh baked bread and soup & salad bar for only $11.95!
50 cent Game Burgers: After every HOME Golden Bear and Bull Dog football game.
i'm a kid at heart, and my last girlfriend said i had the emotional maturity of an 8th grader, so does that mean i get to eat free on Tuesdays?
I think she meant Sarah flunked trigonometry. Sorry about Aggie.
Tom, I agree about the music. I think someone got out of sync and they needed the orchestral gods-and-goddesses music for when the windblown Obama family came downstage together looking like destiny, but they jumped the gun because they were tired of all the hugging so there was no segue. Yet notice how I say this with no trace of curmudgeonliness.
I think Sarah Palin makes this a very interesting election. Stevo thinks it was a very smart move on McCain's part. I'm reserving opinion until I see if he thinks of her as a true partner or as a sort of alternate first lady. Either way, it sort of negates the experience argument.
Oh, and ditto on the Kilz. Stevo's sister painted their basement paneling and on three walls she just used paint and ended up doing four coats in a couple places. She primed another wall and did just one coat of primer and one of paint. Kilz is the best I've used.
Oh, and lest anyone think I'm jumping ship on Obama, no I'm not. It actually is possible to not be for someone in an election and yet not think they're the devil incarnate.
Speaking of the devil, I think one of the reasons McCain chose SP is because for a conservative Republican, she could hardly BE any less like Dick Cheney.
Oh, and....never mind.
Yeah, just get'em born and after that they're on their own.
SP's kids names and her style are really 80's, but I'm guessing that's sort of Alaska for you. Biden's kids are not too much better. By the way, his middle name is Robinette, which I'm sure is a family name, but yikes.
Frank, an 8th grade emotional maturity level is too old as our children's menu is designed for 11 & under. Sorry!
bummer.
The 'Clones sure whooped those Jack Rabbits, eh? I'm so glad college football is back.
Little Joe starts his Senior campaign tonight. Garrigan has always been a running team. Not much size this year but A LOT of speed and a kid who can throw. So the coach has installed a spread offense. I saw some of their practice last night. Empty backfeild, shotgun and double wide formation. This should be fun.
They play the hated Boogers tonight. GO BEARS!!!!
Tom
Can you catch the Garrigan games on online radio like last year?
Yes - at myinfocentral.com
Speaking of introductory music, while they were waiting for the next VP to come out of the tunnel this morning they were playing the musical score from the movie Rudy. GO IRISH!!!
I can't figure out why some people who are normally perceptive have bought into Obama's argument that the nomination of SP will take away McCain's ability to talk about experience. I mean, the presidency involves the executive branch of government and the next VP has more executive experience than Obama already. His only experience in Washington is as the chair of a Senate subcommittee which never has any meetings because he never calls any. And even that inexperience is legislative inexperience rather than executive experience. Dad
So I saw garrigan lost. How'd the game go?
Come on, baseball fans! Vote! It's almost playoff time!
I saw on the news today that authorities have arrested a bunch of so-called anarchists who were stockpiling urine and feces to use at the protests of the RNC. Scott has been working crazy hours for the last couple weeks. He's got to keep all the visiting dignitaries out of the line of fire of poop and pee as well as the usual dangers.
So our dog wasn't so bad after all. She just pooped and peed on the dining room carpet and not on any visiting dignitaries. Dad
Sorry to hear that about the dog. Is this an ongoing (no pun intended) problem or a one-time accident? Maybe just sending a message to a cat who isn't here to get it?
Only two days left to vote. Get on it.
I am up in Milwaukee this weekend going out on a boat called the "boatylicious" today. Looks like good weather so should be fun. Monday I'm going to the Brewers/Mets game. Mets need to win it after blowing the game last night in the 9th.
Happy Anniversary Granny and Grandpa. Hope it was nice.
In my humble opinion, politics could use more PTA moms. The most practical and politically savvy people in the universe. Very practiced at pushing the agenda and being efficient.
Whoever asked, I'm going to school to be a social studies teacher for middle school or high school.
I just talked to Ed and I'll let him tell the story, but something cool happened at the Brewers/Mets game.
Grace, I agree that most PTA moms are practical and efficient, but this PTA mom isn't intersted in what's going on in Iraq.
in short Garrigan beat themselves. 4 turnovers and some untimely penalties. Lost 17-7.
They moved the ball well at times. I do see a lot of problems on defense. They don't have the quality linebackers they had last year. Also, the DBs are either on the slow side or inexperienced.
Good news is they learned a lot about their personnel (presumably). I'm sure they will make some needed adjustments. I wouldn't be suprised if they moved Joe to linebacker full time. He did play there for a few plays on an early series.
Also, this loss will not affect their chances to make the playoffs as it was a nondistrict game.
Up next is West Hancock where Joe will go face to face against a highly recruited 300 pound lineman.
Tom
Ok so while we were getting to our seats at the Mets/Brewers game on monday Carlos Beltran was at the plate and he fouled one off towards us. I told my friend John "Hey - Heads up Johnny" as it looked like the ball had been popped up super high and was heading towards us. As it was coming down it looked like it was going to land about ten feet away from us in the walk way and there was a guy there set to catch it. My friend John ran over to the guy that was waiting for the ball to come down and when the ball got there they were fighting over it. Somehow the ball got kicked out and rolled right to me. I picked it up and it's now sitting on my kitchen counter.
Here is a picture if any of you would like to buy a souvineer:
http://www.printroom.com/ViewGalleryPhoto.asp?evgroupid=0&userid=BrewersFanFoto&tcount=30&scount=16&gallery_id=1249922&image_id=15
Ed - I tried that link but not pic showed.???
Incidentally, Algona native, Brad Nelson, made his MLB debut in that game for the Brewers.
Tom
In the Spring of '01, my Dad took...himself, Tom, Bobby and my brother-in-law Steve to Milwaukee Brewer Fantasy Baseball Camp in Arizona. We have a framed picture of all their baseball cards in the bar...have you seen? The even played a game at the stadium that summer. This is very cool, Ed! :-)
That's funny, cause when they announced Brad Nelson at the game me and my friend were laughing and saying "Hah Hah" like the Nelson charater from the Simpsons. All the people around us thought it was really funny.
Tom - the link that you have to copy extends well out to the right and it takes a little while to load it seems.
It's a great photo, Ed! :-)
I can't imagine Sarah Palin having the time to be the VP. Yes, her oldest is away...however, with her teenage daughter pregnant, having two other school age children and a baby with down syndrome...it seems that her home-life is a bit busy. Now, perhaps, her hubby is gonna quit his job...I dunno and that would be, sorta, different. If I were in her position, I would be working less not more. Hmm.
There are a few stay at home dads in our neighborhood and they seem to do a fine job.
So the press is all over the Palin's about not giving their children the information and or attention they need... this is really nuts because they all know that this young teen just needs support. They left Chelsea alone, they need to leave this girl alone. Anyway, this morning Diane Sawyer asked George Stephanopolous his views on the whole thing and he said something to the effect that he had every conficence in the American public and press to realize the family needed their privacy in this matter and would allow that.
lisa
Yes, if her husband is planning to quit that would be different...meaning, "good." :-)
If my daughter was going through a difficult time and my family needed privacy...I don't think I would become a HUGE public figure. Of course, I realize, that I am not walking in her shoes.
Obama, Lincoln and Washington are in heaven.
God says to Lincoln, "What do you believe in?" Lincoln replies, "I believe that all men should be free."
God says, "Good man, take a seat to my left."
God says to Washington, "What do you believe in?" Washington replies, "I believe that all countries have the right to self determination."
God says, "Good man, take a seat to my right."
God says to Obama, "What do you believe in?" Obama replies, "I believe that you are in my seat."
Tom
Yes -
Barak sent in Gustav to ruin the Republican Convention.
I just read that Bristol Palin is going to marry her boyfriend, Levi..the baby's father. It's my understanding that they are both HS seniors.
Yes but he is 18 and she is 17 so that is statutory rape.
This morning Meredith was grilling some Republican staffer about why they didn't announce the girl's pregnancy right away and I thought what, was McCain supposed to announce, "Here's my vice-president and incidentally, her daughter's pregnant"? They let 2 days go by (horrors! conspiracy!)and then let the story out. I hate to admit it, but there's been a lot of smug, self-righteous commentary by liberals about it and some really vicious blogging. I'm glad Obama didn't go that route. I do think it reveals a bit of McCain's reckless side, but it could turn out to be genius.
Oh, I didn't know that. In fact, the news article I read said that they were not talking about his age nor his last name. Hmm. I believe the age of consent in some states is actually 16...Alaska? Think so.
I think the age of consent in Alaska is 16 so it's not statutory rape. They grow up fast out there on the frontier.
Gustav actually was a gift to the Republicans - it gave them a way to not have Bush there and since they lost Monday night, they could plausibly say no thanks to a videotaped speech or show it in the afternoon or something. OK, just kidding, kind of. Actually, kudos to them for suspending Monday night - very classy.
That was me
C
The age of consent is 14 in Iowa!
Just found this...kinda interesting! :-<>
Age of Consent in the United States, by state.
AS OF AUGUST 6, 1994
Alabama........16
Alaska.........16
Arizona........18
Arkansas.......16
California.....18
Colorado.......16
Connecticut....16
D.C............16
Delaware.......12
Florida........18
Georgia........14
Hawaii.........16
Idaho..........18
Illinois.......16
Indiana........16
Iowa...........14
Kansas.........16
Kentucky.......14 [1]
Louisiana......17
Maine..........14
Maryland.......16
Massachusetts..18
Michigan.......16
Minnesota......16
Mississippi....18 [2]
Missouri.......16
Montana........16
Nebraska.......16
Nevada.........16
New Hampshire..16
New Jersey.....16
New Mexico.....13
New York.......17
North Carolina.16
North Dakota...18
Ohio...........16
Oklahoma.......18
Oregon.........18
Pennsylvania...14
Rhode Island...16
South Carolina.16
South Dakota...16
Tennessee......18
Texas..........17
Utah...........14
Vermont........15
Virginia.......16
Washington.....18
West Virginia..16
Wisconsin......18
Wyoming........18
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Age 16 if the man is 21 or older.
[2] If the female is over 12, the statute applies only to virgins.
Contributed by:
Bill Casti
quire@vector.casti.com
What's up with Delaware?
Delaware needs to update their laws.
That was 1994 data. Although this is still five years old, it is more thorough at to "age of consent." I imagine some are already different. Teenagers get pregnant every day in our country, and I don't think it says squat about the parents abilities to parent or be Vice President. I really don't think it's news, and I think we should concentrate on her politics.
http://www.cga.ct.gov/2003/olrdata/jud/rpt/2003-R-0376.htm
Kelli
More than 2000 years ago Plato understood that, in the end, there is only one fundamental political issue—how we raise our children. Today, this observation is surely no less true.
Tom
I think they need to stop talking about this daughter.
p
I think they need to stop talking about the daughter, too.
The only point it really raises is that teenage pregnancy is common. It does not matter what your parents are like or how you were raised.
Actually, the thing I am wondering about the most is why are they getting married. Is is because they want to? Ok. Are they being pressured to?
I think McCain's choice was brilliant. I like Sarah P....I'm not gonna vote for her, but I like her.
The daughter's pregnancy IS news, but it should stop there...we don't need to know what car they did it in, etc!! It's their business.
I like Obama's statement and that he reminded people that his Mom was 18 when he was born. There are MANY brilliant boys born to 18 year olds! Right Mike?
Doesn't anyone wonder why Obama isn't leading by more in the polls? I mean they have linked McCain to Bush over and over. The republicans are going to lose seats in the congress and McCain's stance on the war is not all that popular (at least not his stance as portrayed by the press).
All this and Obama has a slim lead. Why? Because this country is a center-right country. Obama's politics are too socialist for this country. If you want socialism go to France where they have real ghettos with real riots.
I'll say it again. The democrats went for style over substance.
Also, the knucklehead wants to cut back defense spending by 150 billion dollars. News flash...we're in 2 wars. Now isn't the time to cut back.
And, (to me this is the one of his most reprehensable acts) he voted to not spend money to "up-armor" the humvees our troops were using in the war. Jerk! The up-armored vehicles have saved countless lives.
Tom
I, too, loved Obama's response on the matter. He scored a few brownie points with me and he's not my man. Unfortunatley, neither is McCain.
Yes, the media should stop talking about the daughter.
No, it's not necessarily a reflection of Palin's parenting skills...I don't think.
However, what parent with a special needs baby would unnecessarily increase their work load?
What parent of a pregnant teen...would knowingly place her in the spotlight and subject her to national discussion, criticism and ridicule? For those reasons, I don't care for Palin as a VP.
This is my humble opinion...not sayin' I'm right. :-)
WooHoo! The candy canes and Holiday stationery/envelopes I ordered have arrived! On September 17th, we have hired Betty to hand-out Holiday letters and candy canes to @ 75 businesses. I'll drive her around. She's gonna wear a red Sarah's tee, cute bottoms and a santa hat. She'll walk in...ask for the owner/manager...hand them the letter/candy and with her sweet, beautiful smile say, "Merry Christmas!" and walk out. She's gonna be great! :-)
So Notre Dame's opponent in football this weekend, San Diego State, lost to California State Polytechnic University-San Luis Obispo.
They must really stink. Chuck Long (the fromer Iowa Hawkeye QB) is their coach.
Tom, you're right about the center/right lean. That's why in the 70s America overwhelmingly elected a known felon over a left-leaning candidate who wanted to do what the vast majority of Americans also wanted to do by then - get out of Vietnam. I think people are too afraid of the unknown even when they agree with the more leftist candidate on more points. When it comes down to it, they go for the "safe" (read traditional) option. Although what's safe about McCain I fail to understand. I think Obama is really the more pragmatic one.
Up-armor the humvees??? The ones that Bush/Cheney knowingly sent into that type of war without the proper armor?? The ones that the parents of troops (not the troopa in their 40-50's) are armoring on their own because their children were sent into warfare without the proper armor!! Not since before Plato have we sent unarmed troops into warfare!
Bush/Cheney didn't up-armor they just said "up yours" to the blue-collar kids fighting this war!
Bush/Cheney asked for money to up-armor. Your man Obama said, "No". Jerk!
Tom
I heard a piece on NPR today talking about how many people keep voting republican -eventhough the republicans are not effevtive on fixing the economy - because they agree wtih the socail stances of the republicans. However, the republicans fail to deliver on those promises as well. Time and time again.
Since Roe v Wade, abortions have increased during Republican administrations and decreased during Democratic ones. Go figure.
During consideration of the 2005 Defense Department authorization bill, Senator Obama voted to provide additional funding for add-on armor for military vehicles and for additional up-armored military vehicles to help keep our troops in combat safe.
Thank you!! And Cheney/Bush sent them into Iraq without the needed armor...Tom, it was a big news story at the time...don't say my argument lacks logic...maybe the part about "since Plato"...But, I was referring to all of us Euro-Christian types!
Has the word "vet" ever been used so much? I'm curious.
In checking out Edwards was the National Enquirer "bed vetting"?
This is not about humvees, but:
"Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America has given John McCain a grade of D for his support of veterans:
http://www.iava.org/full-ratings-list
Disabled Veterans of America gave him a 20% rating on support for veterans while giving Obama an 80% rating:
http://www.capwiz.com/dav/scorecard.xc
Per Vietnam Veterans of America John McCain has “voted against us” in 15 key votes:
http://www.vva.capwiz.com/election/home/
John McCain is one of the few veterans running for office that VoteVets has refused to endorse:
http://www.votevets.org
Another veteran group keeps track and offers links to McCain’s history of votes against veteran care:
http://www.veteransforcommonsense.org
To name just a few votes by John McCain against veterans:
McCain voted against an amendment providing $20 billion for VA medical facilities [5/4/06]
McCain voted against providing $430 million to the VA for outpatient care and treatment for veterans [4/26/06]
McCain voted against increasing VA funding by $1.5 billion by closing corporate loopholes [3/14/06]
McCain voted against increasing VA funding by $1.8 billion by ending abusive tax loopholes [3/10/04]
The man even voted against giving combat duty troops more time at home between extended tours.
John McCain had the gall to not only be rude, but to lie to a vet about his record of endorsements from veteran groups and then had the nerve to refuse further questioning on the issue:
“I’ve been endorsed in every election by every veterans organization that do that, I’ve been supported by them, and I’ve received their highest awards from all of those organizations. So I guess they don’t know something you know.”
Later, during his town hall meeting, McCain admitted he does “not have a perfect voting record,” and then announced questions about veterans issues were off limits: “I will be glad to debate a lot of things, but not that one.”
I had just heard about that stat last week, the Disabled Vets of America...only 20% endorse McCain...I can't wait untill the ads start running! Thanks Cathy!
I had heard from a reputable source that Obama had voted against funding for up armored vehicles. I can't recall but I think it may have been an NPR story. When I have the source I will post it.
Bush/Cheney being the knuckleheads they are envisioned flowers falling on our victorious soldier's parade in central Baghdad. The thought didn't occur to them that added armor was needed. I don't believe they maliciously thought to send troops in without less than what was needed. As it turned out it became a different type of war than they had anticipated.
Tom
For those of you coming to Ellen's wedding: On the night before the wedding (Friday) there is a wedding rehearsal followed by a rehearsal dinner for members of the wedding party. This is being hosted by Andy's parents. We wanted to be sure there was a place for all family members and out-of-town friends to gather and have dinner and visit so there will be a party at our house on Friday night starting at 6:30 with plenty of food and beverages. As we might not be back from the rehearsal dinner till about 7:30, Lisa and Randy have graciously offered to host at our house until we get home. Y'all come! Stevo's warming up the roasters already. I'm going to kick everyone out at about 11:00 or midnight, so don't come too late!
Thank you Cathy!
Go to "twincities.com" there is an article about the "anarchists" plus an attached affidavit with detailed info about this group called the RNC Welcoming Committee, it's pretty interesting.
Did you all hear about the 5 women in Pakistan who were buried alive? It's because they were going to marry men of their own choosing.
They were beaten and then buried.
P
It's a horrible story, they were only 16-18 yrs. old...there is some govt. involvement.
If you google it, it's easy to find, however I went to "Al Jazeera News" and they is no mention, and they cover everthing.
Go to PakTribune, there are many articles about it...it seems that the killers made a big mistake burying the girls alive...if they would have just killed them as an honor killing, it would have probably been covered up and is acceptable. So now some in the govt. are trying to prove that the girls were dead first.
Cathy,
Have you bought a dress yet?
p
...that John McCain's father was born in Council Bluffs?
shut-up!
I'm sorry, but SP is young and crusty. That is one crusty ticket. Jude watched the speech with me and he kept asking, "why that girl mad?" I think 8 years of bullies in the WHite House has done enough damage.
She's a game changer. For the first time I think McCain can win. Gulianni absolutely eviscerated Obama.
Tom
I thought Palin did OK in her speech. Not great but respectable. The big test will be watching her debate. I think she'll falter there.
P
The Codger and the Cougar in '08!!
I seldom feel good about these kinds of speeches 'cuz I always get the sense I'm being given a line of bull. Listening to Palin...I felt really good about her, interested in what she had to say and sorta interested in politics...what's up with that? I still cannot imagine balancing the VP position and her baby/teenager. I still think that taking this on has really placed her daughter and fiancé in a tough spot. She does come across, to me, as someone who will manage it fine. I wonder if her husband will take a, "leave," if she becomes elected? I like her and therefore, like McCain more.
Side note: Can you imagine being Levi? Here you're a Senior in HS, your girlfriend gets pregnant and now you gotta step up to the plate while the world watches...scary, I would think.
Geraldine Ferraro was on TV yesterday morning, and there was a discussion of how successful women balance home an family. She said that women in such positions don't manage everything on their own--that they have help with many of the routine day to day activities (i.e. housekeeper, etc.) which gives them time for their work. Why is is that we are only discussing this because Palin is a woman??? How on earth have all the male vice president's managed their positions AND fatherhood???
Kelli
And curses to all of you who voted for college football. Now I have to look at USC in #1 everytime I turn on my computer.
If Palin were a man and his wife worked full-time...than, I would wonder if she was gonna take a, "leave," too.
Now, if she was simply being promoted to VP of a Wasilla Bank...than, I wouldn't be wondering at all.
Em~ You thought that? Man, I really liked her.
Hey, does anyone know what the giveaway is called at Garrigan home football games? I think it's called, "Side-Line Derby," yes? I gotta know for work.
It was a convention speech, meaning it was a bunch of one-liners delivered to the choir and designed to get them all riled up and happy. She did a very good job at it. I think the ticket is stronger with her, that she will add more votes than she loses, barring some big misstep or something. But if they manage to get elected without addressing any of the financial mess we're in and how to help the middle class, which is being squeezed at both ends, I'm going to really be mad. I didn't hear ANY ideas about what they want to do from her, just jokes about Obama and worship of McCain. I can't help kind of liking her, sort of the same way you can't help liking Shirley McClain - she's a real firecracker. In a situation that requires anything but the pit-bull approach? I dunno. But she's smart, funny and I like her family Did you see the little girl gluing down her brother's hair?
Yah, that was sooooooo funny and cute!
She's not very huggy with her kids. She gave them all air kisses and bolted to the other end of the stage.
That was me.
Guiliani is right down there with Rove, Rumsfeld & Co as far as I'm concerned. When we were studying the Inferno we consigned all of them to a certain circle of Hell. He's a creep with no morals. Oh, and Limbaugh's there too, of course.
I just went and got a haircut - and the hairdresser answered her phone three times in the midst of my cut.
p
Cathy - you are wrong. This convention has mentioned how it's party will help the middle class. It was stated by Fred Thompson. He said (paraphrasing) that the democrats tell you not to worry about these tax increases they are proposing. It's only going to affect businesses and "the rich". So unless you buy things like gas, groceries and clothes you have nothing to worry about.
Of course he's referring to the fact that when a business sees an increase in the cost of doing business they react the only way they can - raise prices. We all will see an across the board increase in our purchases.
Case in point - and I'm livid about this - our property taxes last year for the restaurant were $7600. This year they are $8800. A 16% increase in one year. I don't mind paying taxes. Like Dad once told me it's the cost of living in a democracy. And I don't mind small incremental raising of taxes.
My property taxes were too much to begin with. Now I will have to work harder and smarter than ever to keep the doors open. The additional $1200 is a lot of money for me.
I see no raises for my blue collar staff. I see no capital expenditures on that american manufactured line of equipment. I see no highering of a lawn service so I can do one less thing.
What I do see is county government spending a lot of my money.
Another case in point. The county has always had a fleet of beautiful, shiny, new pieces of heavy equipment. Road graders, dump trucks, loaders, pickups and so on. Rarely will you see a piece of equipment older than 4 years.
Yet when they contract a job to be done the contractor's equipment is on the order of 20 years old. They feel no need to spend money just because it's there.
I burns me to know that the county is taking an additional $1200 bucks from me that they really don't need.
Let me tell you how much $1200 dollars is to me. It's roughly the same amount of money I scrimp and save throughout the course of a years so I can rent a simple little cabin on a lake for a nice little family vacation. And they want to take that from me, too?
I hate 'em.
Tom
Maybe he/she's a bookie, taking bets on Palin's hairstyle!
Palin is such a good choice for McCain...as she ages she can give give him testoterone transfusions...(as could most women in their 50's)
Her family looked great on stage, it looks like her husband has already taken on the Daddy day care role...If she wins she will have to stop CC all her e-mails to her hubby. It will appeal to many families.
Don't you think it's funny that Tim Pawlenty wasn't at Palin's speech? The convention is right there in his home state, and he was another potential VP. He must have had sore feelings.
P
Well I can see why. But what does the county have to do with the presidential race? We will all pay for things one way or another. But I have seen a steady erosion of real spending power in the vast majority of Americans while the top couple percent have paid less taxes and become vastly richer. And things like college money, early childhood education, veteran's benefits - forget it. They have all been chipped away at steadily the last eight years administratively. Believe me, you're going to want that Pell grant and low-interest loan money in a few years. Where did it go? What the Republicans are advocating, although they don't say so, is the Bush version of "trickle-down" economics which was economically stupid and morally corrupt the first time around, and worse now. And I don't believe the changes being advocated by the dems are going to affect small or marginal mom-and-pop businesses the way the repuglies are trying to scare us with. They are mainly aimed at closing big loopholes that can only be used by huge corporations. So you might have something to worry about if you closed your local branch of Sarah's, fired everyone and outsourced to India, but otherwise I don't think so. By the way, you should run for County Commissioner. They can't toss a little money to the food pantry but they need big shiny new trucks?
Did you see where a Minnesota GOP co-chair referred to Sarah Palin as "Sarah Pawlenty"? Talk about freudian slips - there goes that career. OK, I have to get to work. I'm taking the afternoon off to go get a dress.
Cathy - my synopsis of Kossuth County's spending is an example of how government spending works. If it's there (the money) they will spend it and demand more. It's no different on the federal or state level.
Lazy, slack-ass bureaucrat's spending money like it isn't their's. Because it isn't - it's mine.
Tom
After 5 months of only 2 tv channels, we finally have basic cable. Now we have about 18 channels. Amazing....amazing. Its still mostly reality tv at night.
p
You must have rented a lot of movies.
Dumb and dumber:
Food prices up
Gas prices up
Health insurance up
College costs up
Property taxes up
Abortions up
You're backing McCain?
Priceless!
M.E.~ iS IT CALLED "sIDE-lINE dERBY?"
That sounds right...they mentioned Sarah's right after and the .50 burgers and I get distracted...does Joe know?...Pat Reding would know!
I thought Sarah Palin was amazing. Completely likeable and I felt she was a completely capable person. That doesn't mean I agree with all her views, but she is a huge boost for McCain.
Our good friend from Deleware is very smart, but he will not have the appeal she manages to create. It will make the debates interesting.
Anyway... I just finished a book by Agatha Christie, something completely different from what she ususally writes. All about takeover of the earth by the young who have no purpose to their goal for power and no plan of what they will do once they gain power. Lots of references to amazingly wonderful speech-afiers who, without a message, can whip a crowd to frenzy. Funny that I read it between the conventions.
Lisa
Interestingly, the way property taxes actually work is the County sets a budget and the taxes are collected accordingly. I agree on the shiny new equipment.
By the way, I have to say something about "I'm smarter than anyone in the room," Guiliani: Who else would have the audacity to cut into the v-p nominees time like he did? There was supposed to be a video about her. She ended up having no introduction and she still ran a bit long.
lisa
Yeah...leave it to a woman to bring back family values to the GOP...Giuliani with his 3rd wife, Fred Thompson with his arm candy, McCain with 2nd wife...and Sarah.
I can't believe you think she was "amazing" and "likeable." Do you like people who are snide and cynical? Much like Tom said way back when about Obama, this gal's got some skeletons and when we get to know her better she won't be the messiah for the Republican party she seems to be now. I totally understand her point in her jab at "community organizers" but it's an insult to people everywhere who try to effect change in their communites without the help of government, etc. Snotty to the core!
So, Liam has a 9am football game, in Spencer, and Eli at Noon. This means that we will leave our house at 7:30am and return around 3:30pm...8 hours for two 1.5 hour games...sigh.
I didn't read her as snotty. There is somethign amazing about where she is right now. And, who knows who wrote that speech (as a newcomer I bet it was vetted pretty darn closely).
Mary you should run for mayor of Algona. Maybe in 8 years you can be the v.p. candidate.
P
I bet the whole trooper firing thing will get ugly and it may end up hurting her. But I did not find her snotty and I thought she seemed to have a sense of humor.
Lisa
The Wingnut and the Wingman in '08!
Maybe today is "opposite day" at Emilys? Ha, ha. :-)
I thought some of her remarks were snotty, too, but no where near the cynicism Guiliani had. That was just gross. Literally laughing and mocking someone else who, whether you like him or not, still spent a great deal of time and energy with little pay to help a community in need. I doubt she wrote much of that speech either. Only because it seems unlikely someone with her background would choose to demean Obama's commitment and service as a community organizer when he could have been doing much bigger things. The same small-town morals she talked about- pitching in, helping others- is also evident in Obama's work, just done in a big city.
I am surprised she didn't talk more about her social beliefs like abortion, "traditional" marriage, etc.
I don't remember which network I was watching... but they mentioned that a different speech had been written assuming the nominee would be a man and when she was announced they had to throw out the speech and re-write it.
Lisa
Where is everyone staying next weekend? WE're at the Courtyard in the Old Market because we had points. I'm getting a haircut in the Old Market Saturday morning. ANyone wsnt to join me?
Nance...call Cindy McCain, she can drive the boys over...just kidding...go to Arnolds Park and have lunch on the lake :-)
Good idea...I'm just complaining 'cuz out of all the teams and different games scheduled...Liam's is the very first and Eli's the very last and it will be that way every Saturday. Home games will be no big deal...it's just all the one-hour-away ones that make it a long dealey-o. :-)
YEs, M.E. you should run for mayor. Who is the mayor of Algona?
Patsy and I decided that McCain looks like the Grinch and Cindy is like his poor doggie.
Hahs...except she's not poor she's
Mrs. Busch, oh I mean Mrs.Budweiser of Arizona.
Mayor of Algona? Hmmmm, will you come and help me with my campaign? Mayor Mary, heehee. The current Mayor is temporary, name is Jeff Gilmore. The other mayor stepped down, got mad over a miniature golf course vote (he was double crossed).
Getting a little confident there, m.e., calling the current mayor "temporary"!
Here Tom. This is from the Associated Press, who does fact checking on the speeches given at the conventions.
PALIN: "The Democratic nominee for president supports plans to raise income taxes, raise payroll taxes, raise investment income taxes, raise the death tax, raise business taxes, and increase the tax burden on the American people by hundreds of billions of dollars."
THE FACTS: The Tax Policy Center, a think tank run jointly by the Brookings Institution and the Urban Institute, concluded that Obama's plan would increase after-tax income for middle-income taxpayers by about 5 percent by 2012, or nearly $2,200 annually. McCain's plan, which cuts taxes across all income levels, would raise after tax-income for middle-income taxpayers by 3 percent, the center concluded.
Obama would provide $80 billion in tax breaks, mainly for poor workers and the elderly, including tripling the Earned Income Tax Credit for minimum-wage workers and higher credits for larger families.
He also would raise income taxes, capital gains and dividend taxes on the wealthiest. He would raise payroll taxes on taxpayers with incomes above $250,000, and he would raise corporate taxes. Small businesses that make more than $250,000 a year would see taxes rise.
p
I'm suspicious of stats. We all know you can find a stat to fit any point of view.
What is tangible is what I see. As in my earlier example of county spending. Or when I deliver lunches to a local school and every time I go there are 2 receptionists at a reception desk with brand new, state of the art workstations (computers) shooting the breeze and eating baked treats someone brought in.
All this while my staff and I are working our asses off AND Nance writes more checks to pay various taxes that total more than we are able to pay ourselves.
Tom
these guys must tivo EVERYTHING every political pundit says...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=385&topic_id=181385&mesg_id=181385
Frank, I just got online to post that link to the blog. Incredible.
The Palin choice is incredible. At first, I was shocked that people were falling for it. But then I remembered that GW was elected to a second term.
If we want to talk about this ticket in terms of a restaurant staff, then we're only one heartbeat away from bus boys cooking the food. Or maybe it's more like the ground crew flying the plane.
But that's the great thing about America, just about anyone can become president. Or maybe not. Funny how a man like Henry Kissinger doesn't meet the requirements to be president but Sarah Palin does.
I'd even take Schwarzenegger over this woman. At least I know that he and Maria Shriver wouldn't groom one another like cats on national television. In HD, no less. But alas, the Governator is only a successful, five year Governor of this country's largest state and cannot be considered as McCain's running mate because he was born in Austria. And starred in Kindergarten Cop.
The Palin thing is about as ill fated as Britney Spear's Las Vegas marriage. And I suspect that this country's romance with her will last about as long. Or at least until the Vice Presidential debate.
Tom...taxpayer are paying for lunches from Sarah's at local schools???
I jumped to the next window (like batman) have we ever gone over 200?
Thank you, Desmond. Your comments about experience completely validate my earlier statements about the democrat's choosing style over substance.
Tom
Yes Mary, it's true.
You know what else? Now this I can only say I've HEARD about. I won't say I've seen this myself. If I did I can't really remember it.
I've heard tell that sometimes a governmental agency will sometimes book an event at a restaurant or maybe a hotel or casino. Since the government will only pay for food and not booze they will ask that all booze ordered be itemized as food items or room rental.
I rolled my eyes when I saw, opps, I mean HEARD this.
Tom
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