The chairwoman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee blames Republicans for preventing passage of a cost-of-living adjustment in veterans’ compensation before Congress left town on Sept. 22 for a six-week pre-election break, raising the possibility that the payment increases could be late.
The postponed bill would provide almost 4 million veterans and survivors the same Dec. 1 percentage increase going to Social Security and retired pay for the military and federal civilians. The increase is expected to be at least 1.3 percent.
While Social Security and government retired pay increases are automatic, veterans’ compensation rises only if Congress approves an increase and the president signs it into law. Since 1983, Congress has never failed to give veterans the same increase as other federal beneficiaries, although the annual bills have been delayed before.
The Veterans Affairs Department said Thursday in a statement it could not guarantee January checks would include the increase unless it is passed by Congress by Nov. 13, which happens to be the first day of scheduled legislative business when lawmakers return after the Nov. 6 elections.
“Should Congress pass the COLA after that date, VA would have to make complex programming changes to the system that could not be accomplished in time to pay the COLA increase on January 1,” the statement says. “Consequently, the … increase would have to be paid retroactively.”
VA has waited longer than that in the past. In 2005, the veterans’ COLA wasn’t signed into law until Nov. 22. In 2003, the measure wasn’t signed by the president until Dec. 3. VA officials said these late bills required special processing and retroactive payments.
Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., the veterans’ committee chairwoman, fired a broadside against Republicans for blocking a bill just a week after Senate Republicans also blocked action on the Veterans’ Job Corps Act.
“We still don’t have any indication why someone would block a cost-of-living adjustment for veterans and their surviving spouses, many of whom are struggling to make ends meet,” Murray said in a statement. “My hope is that whichever senator has decided to hold up this bill will at least come forward to own up to it. That way we can move forward to overcome their oppositions and get our veterans the support they need.”
Part of the blame for the delay is that the Senate waited so long to pass the bill.
The 82nd Airborne is home.
You can see it on Yadkin, Reilly and Skibo roads, where traffic looks more like the buildup to a holiday than a lazy day in late September.
Or in the businesses and restaurants around town, where many managers and employees have reported longer lines or busier dinner rushes because of soldiers freshly returned from the war in Afghanistan.
Nearly 9,000 paratroopers - the size of the town of Dunn - have returned to Fort Bragg over the past several weeks, coming in droves and welcomed home a few hundred at a time in ceremonies at Pope Field.
The last soldiers returned Friday, marking the first time since 2010 that the entire 82nd Airborne Division has been home, a rarity in the post-9/11 world.
While the soldiers adjust to life back home, the community has to adjust to their return, as well.
On a recent Sunday on Yadkin Road, Paul Owens' barbershop was filled with the buzz of clippers and growing piles of discarded hair.
The Drop Zone/Fox Hole at 6466 Yadkin Road offers haircuts and boot shines for a largely military clientele.
Over the past months, Owens said, the shop struggled with so many soldiers overseas. Now, he and others who do business in the shadow of Fort Bragg are starting to see business boom again.
It's the cyclical nature of Fort Bragg, said Owens, who has cut hair in the shop for nearly two dozen years. He weathered Desert Storm and now the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
"We've been noticing for the last nine years," Owens said. "This isn't just happening now. (Their return) is really a blessing for them and us. I'm looking more than forward to it."
KABUL — During the Vietnam War, American soldiers shipped out armed with government-issued guides to the distant land and the mysterious people.
In Afghanistan, the U.S. military has tried training sessions, embedded cultural advisers, recommended reading lists and even a video game designed to school the troops in local custom.
But 11 years into the war, NATO troops and Afghan soldiers are still beset by a dangerous lack of cultural awareness, officials say, contributing to a string of insider attacks that have threatened to undermine the military partnership.
So the Afghan army is trying something new: a guide to the strange ways of the American soldier. The goal is to convince Afghan troops that when their Western counterparts do something deeply insulting, it’s likely a product of cultural ignorance and not worthy of revenge.
The pamphlet is intended to “strengthen our understanding of our [NATO] counterpart,” according to an English translation of the pamphlet that was provided to The Washington Post. But in doing so, it also reveals seemingly minor — and rarely acknowledged — cultural faux pas that have created palpable tension between the two forces.
“Please do not get offended if you see a NATO member blowing his/her nose in front of you,” the guide instructs.
“When Coalition members get excited, they may show their excitement by patting one another on the back or the behind,” it explains. “They may even do this to you if they are proud of the job you’ve done. Once again, they don’t mean to offend you.”
And another tip: “When someone feels comfortable in your presence, they may even put their feet on their own desk while speaking with you. They are by no means trying to offend you. They simply don’t know or have forgotten the Afghan custom.” Pointing the soles of one’s shoes at someone is considered a grievous insult in Afghanistan.
The guide also warns Afghan soldiers that Western troops might wink at them or inquire about their female relatives or expose their private parts while showering — all inappropriate actions by Afghan standards.
While some of the tips may be amusing to an American audience, the intention is deadly serious.
Fifty-one coalition troops have been killed this year by their Afghan counterparts. While some insider attacks have been attributed to Taliban infiltrators, military officials say the majority stem from personal disputes and misunderstandings.
Quote by velveeta jones:
Morning!
I'm back in my blue state (currently blue).
I like the idea of the pamphlets being handed out to Afghan soldiers, why didn't someone come up with this years ago?
Quote by TriSec:
Morning, folks!
"What Chemotherapy?" week continues - I feel like I'm back to normal today, two days earlier than I usually reach where I'm at. I"ve just lusciously downed a tumbler of cool water without any 'Darth Vader' effect on my throat. (Yes, I'm reduced to sipping warm water while I'm on the dope.)
A couple of stories from last night...
The Dems (Re: Musician's Union) had a dixieland band playing for the crowd near the arena last night. I stopped and chatted with them, and half the players knew Papa TriSec.
Brother TriSec and I hung out with the Firefighter's and Carpenter's Union and did some sign-holding. Very nice Thugs, all of them. Michael was chatting with them for a second, and isn't it interesting that all the Unions seem to have the same concerns? (Jobs and taxes, mostly.)
Finally, and I will give props to the Brown supporters on this one...we were not segregated, there were opposing signs everywhere last night. Our little union enclave was surrounded on both sides by Brown folks. A guy on a bike rode by the line and yelled out "If it's Brown, Flush it down!". Of course, we laughed, but the Brown folk started shouting at us about "keeping it classy". I yelled back that " You all better take it easy there, tomahawk-choppers!".
One woman legitimately looked hurt and pointedly told me "I would never do that." Both sides of the line where I was standing remained civil and refrained from insults after that.
Quote by TriSec:
Oh, and one of Gwen Ifil's guests last week (Washington Week) just defined President Obama as a "Master Debater" (chortle, snort, Jr. High)
"The holiness of the room and the holiness of the evening was greatly diminished for me, if not completely destroyed," said Gary Sircus, who stormed out of the synagogue where he has observed the High Holidays for 25 years. "Our congregation values and embodies tolerance, compassion, respect for individual rights, intelligence, science — all of the things that I think Michele Bachmann stands against."
Later that night, he composed an email to Graves' campaign and sent it to others, urging them to donate. His words have since gone viral.
"I felt that the best way to 'honor' Ms. Bachmann's visit was to make a contribution to your campaign," Sircus wrote. "Even though I do not vote in Minnesota, please do everything in your power to take away this evil woman's soapbox." {snip}
No word on why Bachmann was in Chicago or why she chose to attend the Jewish service. Calls and emails to her campaign and congressional office were not returned.
Quote by Raine:
GAH!!!! Now I've got the earworm~!
Quote by TriSec:
Raine, you tear open old wounds.
The story about an LGBT friendly synagogue welcoming a known hater is very close to home right now. You all have no idea; it's been in the back of my mind all recruiting season. I'm still doing everything I always do, but even with the Non-Discrimination policy, even with everything I try to impart to my Scouts....the mere action of putting on the uniform identifies me as a member of a hate group.
I'm having a real problem with this this year.
Quote by wickedpam:
so sleepy this morning .....
Quote by Raine:this weather isn't helping.Quote by wickedpam:
so sleepy this morning .....
Quote by trojanrabbit:
For some reason, ever since I "upgraded" to iOS6, I can't sync podcasts on my iPod....hence can't listen to yesterday's show (it's listed, but very light text). Love how every time something gets "upgraded" something else breaks.
Quote by Raine:
I apologize, Tri.
Think they are finally making some progress.
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by trojanrabbit:
For some reason, ever since I "upgraded" to iOS6, I can't sync podcasts on my iPod....hence can't listen to yesterday's show (it's listed, but very light text). Love how every time something gets "upgraded" something else breaks.
Those are, as Bill Gates called them whisically, undocumented features! Have fun Rabbit. I know I am.
Quote by Raine:I apologize, Tri.Quote by TriSec:
Raine, you tear open old wounds.
The story about an LGBT friendly synagogue welcoming a known hater is very close to home right now. You all have no idea; it's been in the back of my mind all recruiting season. I'm still doing everything I always do, but even with the Non-Discrimination policy, even with everything I try to impart to my Scouts....the mere action of putting on the uniform identifies me as a member of a hate group.
I'm having a real problem with this this year.
Think they are finally making some progress.
Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:I apologize, Tri.Quote by TriSec:
Raine, you tear open old wounds.
The story about an LGBT friendly synagogue welcoming a known hater is very close to home right now. You all have no idea; it's been in the back of my mind all recruiting season. I'm still doing everything I always do, but even with the Non-Discrimination policy, even with everything I try to impart to my Scouts....the mere action of putting on the uniform identifies me as a member of a hate group.
I'm having a real problem with this this year.
Think they are finally making some progress.
A bit of Bachmann whimsy about the gateway terror food falafel!
Quote by wickedpam:
Had a late Manassas Dems meeting last night too - did learn about this Farmfest 10/7 from the Farmteam
looks like a great event
Candidate Richard Roth, who is running for state Senate against the Republican incumbent, is making the alleged fraud a campaign issue. After all, in an unfortunate development for the GOP, Roth is one of the victims whose registration was changed to Republican.
Quote by Raine:That sight is too dry for satire sake.Quote by Mondobubba:Quote by Raine:I apologize, Tri.Quote by TriSec:
Raine, you tear open old wounds.
The story about an LGBT friendly synagogue welcoming a known hater is very close to home right now. You all have no idea; it's been in the back of my mind all recruiting season. I'm still doing everything I always do, but even with the Non-Discrimination policy, even with everything I try to impart to my Scouts....the mere action of putting on the uniform identifies me as a member of a hate group.
I'm having a real problem with this this year.
Think they are finally making some progress.
A bit of Bachmann whimsy about the gateway terror food falafel!
Quote by Raine:That does look cool!Quote by wickedpam:
Had a late Manassas Dems meeting last night too - did learn about this Farmfest 10/7 from the Farmteam
looks like a great event
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:That does look cool!Quote by wickedpam:
Had a late Manassas Dems meeting last night too - did learn about this Farmfest 10/7 from the Farmteam
looks like a great event
if I didn't have our community fall fest I would suggest going. Its going to be a long, tiring weekend
Quote by wickedpam:
oh, other thing I learned last night - VA Repubs are sending out mailers that have absentee voting applications in them (not a prob in and of it self), the address on the mailer for people to send them back is Repub HQ. Working getting someone to send me a scan of the mailers and they have already been reported but I think a stink should be made over this.
Quote by Raine:I was thinking about it as well, but we are doing things less civic minded:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:That does look cool!Quote by wickedpam:
Had a late Manassas Dems meeting last night too - did learn about this Farmfest 10/7 from the Farmteam
looks like a great event
if I didn't have our community fall fest I would suggest going. Its going to be a long, tiring weekend
We are volunteering at the Shirlington Oktoberfest on Saturday. That pretty much makes Sunday a day of rest for us.
Quote by Raine:Actually, Mala -- that is a big deal.Quote by wickedpam:
oh, other thing I learned last night - VA Repubs are sending out mailers that have absentee voting applications in them (not a prob in and of it self), the address on the mailer for people to send them back is Repub HQ. Working getting someone to send me a scan of the mailers and they have already been reported but I think a stink should be made over this.
A pretty huge deal.
You can apply using a Virginia Absentee Ballot Application, as soon as you know you will not be able to go to the polls on Election Day, but no earlier than 12 months before the election date (exception for overseas voters). If you want your ballot mailed, we must receive your application by no later than 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, one week before the election. In-person absentee voting is available in our office beginning approximately 45 days before the election and ends the Saturday before Election Day. Please see the applications links below.
Virginia law requires that all absentee ballots must either be voted in person, at our office, or sent directly to the voter by mail. Ballots cannot be sent “in care of†another individual. Ballots are mailed by first class U.S. mail within the United States and by a special pre-paid U.S. postage permit to overseas citizens. At the voter’s request and pre-paid expense, we can mail ballots overseas via Express Mail. Please contact our office for details at 703.746.4050.
Certain individuals who are physically disabled or ill may submit one annual absentee ballot application that will be used for all elections within the calendar year. The first application submitted by a voter must include a statement by a doctor or religious practitioner. Thereafter, we will mail you a new application each December for use in the next calendar year. Please see the applications links below.
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:I was thinking about it as well, but we are doing things less civic minded:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:That does look cool!Quote by wickedpam:
Had a late Manassas Dems meeting last night too - did learn about this Farmfest 10/7 from the Farmteam
looks like a great event
if I didn't have our community fall fest I would suggest going. Its going to be a long, tiring weekend
We are volunteering at the Shirlington Oktoberfest on Saturday. That pretty much makes Sunday a day of rest for us.
I volunteered to work the Dem table Sat morning at the Manassas Fall Festival, figured I could collapse after 5pm Sunday
Quote by wickedpam:
oh, other thing I learned last night - VA Repubs are sending out mailers that have absentee voting applications in them (not a prob in and of it self), the address on the mailer for people to send them back is Repub HQ. Working getting someone to send me a scan of the mailers and they have already been reported but I think a stink should be made over this.
Quote by TriSec:Quote by wickedpam:
oh, other thing I learned last night - VA Repubs are sending out mailers that have absentee voting applications in them (not a prob in and of it self), the address on the mailer for people to send them back is Repub HQ. Working getting someone to send me a scan of the mailers and they have already been reported but I think a stink should be made over this.
Sounds to me like they could have somebody there correlating the voter rolls and going "oops" next to the shredder with the "D" ones.
Quote by Raine:
HERe is why it is a big deal: Absentee voting in Virginia:
When Can I Apply for an Absentee Ballot?You can apply using a Virginia Absentee Ballot Application, as soon as you know you will not be able to go to the polls on Election Day, but no earlier than 12 months before the election date (exception for overseas voters). If you want your ballot mailed, we must receive your application by no later than 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, one week before the election. In-person absentee voting is available in our office beginning approximately 45 days before the election and ends the Saturday before Election Day. Please see the applications links below.
Virginia law requires that all absentee ballots must either be voted in person, at our office, or sent directly to the voter by mail. Ballots cannot be sent “in care of†another individual. Ballots are mailed by first class U.S. mail within the United States and by a special pre-paid U.S. postage permit to overseas citizens. At the voter’s request and pre-paid expense, we can mail ballots overseas via Express Mail. Please contact our office for details at 703.746.4050.
Certain individuals who are physically disabled or ill may submit one annual absentee ballot application that will be used for all elections within the calendar year. The first application submitted by a voter must include a statement by a doctor or religious practitioner. Thereafter, we will mail you a new application each December for use in the next calendar year. Please see the applications links below.
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:
HERe is why it is a big deal: Absentee voting in Virginia:
When Can I Apply for an Absentee Ballot?You can apply using a Virginia Absentee Ballot Application, as soon as you know you will not be able to go to the polls on Election Day, but no earlier than 12 months before the election date (exception for overseas voters). If you want your ballot mailed, we must receive your application by no later than 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, one week before the election. In-person absentee voting is available in our office beginning approximately 45 days before the election and ends the Saturday before Election Day. Please see the applications links below.
Virginia law requires that all absentee ballots must either be voted in person, at our office, or sent directly to the voter by mail. Ballots cannot be sent “in care of†another individual. Ballots are mailed by first class U.S. mail within the United States and by a special pre-paid U.S. postage permit to overseas citizens. At the voter’s request and pre-paid expense, we can mail ballots overseas via Express Mail. Please contact our office for details at 703.746.4050.
Certain individuals who are physically disabled or ill may submit one annual absentee ballot application that will be used for all elections within the calendar year. The first application submitted by a voter must include a statement by a doctor or religious practitioner. Thereafter, we will mail you a new application each December for use in the next calendar year. Please see the applications links below.
oh yeah, the Chair said they notified the local OFA office and they didn't seen all that interested. She wondered if we should take it to the media, we all said yes. She's supposed to scan it, I just emailed her, and send it to me.
Virginia's Republican Party has canceled its contract with a company it hired to register voters after questions were raised in Florida over voter registration.
The Virginian-Pilot ( http://bit.ly/SywKJ4) says the state GOP paid $500,000 to Virginia-based Strategic Allied Consulting in August to provide new voter and absentee ballot registration services.
Virginia's Republican Party has cut ties with a firm it paid $500,000 in August for "new voter and absentee ballot registration" services here, as the registration deadline looms, in the wake of a scandal involving the company in Florida.
That firm, suburban Richmond-based Strategic Allied Consulting, has also been dropped in other swing states, including Florida -- the state's Palm Beach Post newspaper initially reported on official concerns about some voter registration forms submitted.
Since that episode last week, GOP groups in North Carolina, Colorado and Nevada have also dropped the consultant as those state parties and the Republican National Committee moved to distances themselves from the outfit.
In a statement Virginia Republican chairman Pat Mullins said the state party "takes any threat to the voting process very seriously" hence the decision to terminate the contract "following an alleged incident by an employee" of the firm.
Quote by livingonli:
Well, at least PA's voter ID law is not going into effect this election which will hopefully shoot down any chance the GOP had of stealing that state.
Quote by livingonli:
Good morning, folks. So, I went to my little meeting and explained what happened and took responsibility for my f-up. And then they just told me to do my shift and they will let me know what happens under review. Hopefully, worst case scenario is that I get a suspension for what I did. To play it safe I stayed off facebook and such and concentrated on my job last night so that nothing was left to chance. At least we had no repeats last night and things went very well since it was a big deal with the Nationals clinching the NL East which had us ending up with a one-hour segment between the 9th inning and the whole celebration that followed the Nationals clinching the NL East.
And to think, the last time Washington was in the playoffs, it was the same year that prohibition was repealed (It doesn't seem to count the team's previous history in Montreal although it didn't have that many playoff appearances in its history).
Quote by Raine:So you are ok?Quote by livingonli:
Good morning, folks. So, I went to my little meeting and explained what happened and took responsibility for my f-up. And then they just told me to do my shift and they will let me know what happens under review. Hopefully, worst case scenario is that I get a suspension for what I did. To play it safe I stayed off facebook and such and concentrated on my job last night so that nothing was left to chance. At least we had no repeats last night and things went very well since it was a big deal with the Nationals clinching the NL East which had us ending up with a one-hour segment between the 9th inning and the whole celebration that followed the Nationals clinching the NL East.
And to think, the last time Washington was in the playoffs, it was the same year that prohibition was repealed (It doesn't seem to count the team's previous history in Montreal although it didn't have that many playoff appearances in its history).
I think that they didn't fire you is a good sign, Liv. I don;t know what happened but I know you were concerned. Just play it cool for a while.
Quote by TriSec:
Well gee, I wonder if American's maintenence is non-union, or worse...offshored?
This is a maintenence screw-up....airline seats don't unscrew themselves mid-flight.
Unless Al-Qaeda has invented the autonomous terrorist nut-driver.
Quote by trojanrabbit:
For some reason, ever since I "upgraded" to iOS6, I can't sync podcasts on my iPod....hence can't listen to yesterday's show (it's listed, but very light text). Love how every time something gets "upgraded" something else breaks.
At last night’s debate, Scott Brown was asked to name his model Supreme Court Justice.
Scott Brown’s answer? Antonin Scalia.
Scalia: the same judge who said he was “adamantly opposed†to Roe v. Wade. Who opposes equal protection for women. Who even opposes the right to contraception.
Yes, that Antonin Scalia.
This wasn’t a trivial question like “who’s your favorite superhero.†It matters.
Four Supreme Court Justices are over the age of 70. As a United States Senator, Scott Brown gets a vote to confirm our Supreme Court Justices. He gets a say as to whether the Democrats or Republicans control the Senate Judiciary Committee.
If the Supreme Court was filled with a majority of Antonin Scalias, our country could move in a terrifying direction for all of us...
Quote by trojanrabbit:
And sometimes Boeing's own repair crews think it's too much trouble to follow them damn engineers' instructions.
Quote by livingonli:
I think I weathered the worst of that storm. The one thing in my favor is that my performance has generally been good so hopefully, they will just accept that I did slip up this time and we are able to move on from there.
In these voter scam issues, I am wondering if the GOP strategy may end up being to give up on Romney and accept an Obama victory and just have the GOP in Congress to hopefully screw things up and make things impossible for Obama and work on rigging the down races to insure GOP victories.
Quote by TriSec:
Say gang, circling back to an ACA related blog I wrote back in April...
It's now confirmed. I have indeed been named project lead for something called "CAQH / CORE", which are some deeply-buried new operating rules for EDI data transactions that came about because of the ACA. This will likely keep me busy here for the next four years. (2016 Compliance date, in two convenient phases.)
Job-killing regulations, my ass.
Quote by TriSec:
Say gang, circling back to an ACA related blog I wrote back in April...
It's now confirmed. I have indeed been named project lead for something called "CAQH / CORE", which are some deeply-buried new operating rules for EDI data transactions that came about because of the ACA. This will likely keep me busy here for the next four years. (2016 Compliance date, in two convenient phases.)
Job-killing regulations, my ass.
Quote by TriSec:
Oog, and immersed as I am in the molten CORE, I'm feeling a little like Lord Kimboat.
Quote by TriSec:
There might be something to that Kerry / SecState question from last night.
But there's too much to even rate this one as "plausible".
Quote by TriSec:
Say gang, circling back to an ACA related blog I wrote back in April...
It's now confirmed. I have indeed been named project lead for something called "CAQH / CORE", which are some deeply-buried new operating rules for EDI data transactions that came about because of the ACA. This will likely keep me busy here for the next four years. (2016 Compliance date, in two convenient phases.)
Job-killing regulations, my ass.
The Rain on Our Parade
A Letter to My Dismal Allies
By Rebecca Solnit
Dear Allies,
Forgive me if I briefly take my eyes off the prize to brush away some flies, but the buzzing has gone on for some time. I have a grand goal, and that is to counter the Republican right with its deep desire to annihilate everything I love and to move toward far more radical goals than the Democrats ever truly support. In the course of pursuing that, however, I’ve come up against the habits of my presumed allies again and again.
O rancid sector of the far left, please stop your grousing! Compared to you, Eeyore sounds like a Teletubby. If I gave you a pony, you would not only be furious that not everyone has a pony, but you would pick on the pony for not being radical enough until it wept big, sad, hot pony tears. Because what we’re talking about here is not an analysis, a strategy, or a cosmology, but an attitude, and one that is poisoning us. Not just me, but you, us, and our possibilities.
Leftists Explain Things to Me
The poison often emerges around electoral politics. Look, Obama does bad things and I deplore them, though not with a lot of fuss, since they’re hardly a surprise. He sometimes also does not-bad things, and I sometimes mention them in passing, and mentioning them does not negate the reality of the bad things.
The same has been true of other politicians: the recent governor of my state, Arnold Schwarzenegger, was in some respects quite good on climate change. Yet it was impossible for me to say so to a radical without receiving an earful about all the other ways in which Schwarzenegger was terrible, as if the speaker had a news scoop, as if he or she thought I had been living under a rock, as if the presence of bad things made the existence of good ones irrelevant. As a result, it was impossible to discuss what Schwarzenegger was doing on climate change (and unnecessary for my interlocutors to know about it, no less figure out how to use it).
So here I want to lay out an insanely obvious principle that apparently needs clarification. There are bad things and they are bad. There are good things and they are good, even though the bad things are bad. The mentioning of something good does not require the automatic assertion of a bad thing. The good thing might be an interesting avenue to pursue in itself if you want to get anywhere. In that context, the bad thing has all the safety of a dead end. And yes, much in the realm of electoral politics is hideous, but since it also shapes quite a bit of the world, if you want to be political or even informed you have to pay attention to it and maybe even work with it.
Quote by Mondobubba:
To the entirely impatient asshole who hung on me earlier (not the first time, either),
Please get some sort of exotic, Ebola-like hemoragic fever and die in in extreme pain, with blood oozing from all of your body's orafices.
Quote by Mondobubba:
To the entirely impatient asshole who hung on me earlier (not the first time, either),
Please get some sort of exotic, Ebola-like hemoragic fever and die in in extreme pain, with blood oozing from all of your body's orafices.
Quote by TriSec:Quote by Mondobubba:
To the entirely impatient asshole who hung on me earlier (not the first time, either),
Please get some sort of exotic, Ebola-like hemoragic fever and die in in extreme pain, with blood oozing from all of your body's orafices.
Indeed, may they wake from sleep one morn and find their lips permanently sealed to the keel of a ship.
Quote by Will in Chicago:Quote by TriSec:
Say gang, circling back to an ACA related blog I wrote back in April...
It's now confirmed. I have indeed been named project lead for something called "CAQH / CORE", which are some deeply-buried new operating rules for EDI data transactions that came about because of the ACA. This will likely keep me busy here for the next four years. (2016 Compliance date, in two convenient phases.)
Job-killing regulations, my ass.
Congratulations! (No luck on the job front, but I have a few things in the fire.)
Nicole Sandler is in for Randi Rhodes, She mentioned an article by Rebecca Solnit that ran on Tom Gram:
The Rain on Our Parade
A Letter to My Dismal Allies
By Rebecca Solnit
Dear Allies,
Forgive me if I briefly take my eyes off the prize to brush away some flies, but the buzzing has gone on for some time. I have a grand goal, and that is to counter the Republican right with its deep desire to annihilate everything I love and to move toward far more radical goals than the Democrats ever truly support. In the course of pursuing that, however, I’ve come up against the habits of my presumed allies again and again.
O rancid sector of the far left, please stop your grousing! Compared to you, Eeyore sounds like a Teletubby. If I gave you a pony, you would not only be furious that not everyone has a pony, but you would pick on the pony for not being radical enough until it wept big, sad, hot pony tears. Because what we’re talking about here is not an analysis, a strategy, or a cosmology, but an attitude, and one that is poisoning us. Not just me, but you, us, and our possibilities.
Leftists Explain Things to Me
The poison often emerges around electoral politics. Look, Obama does bad things and I deplore them, though not with a lot of fuss, since they’re hardly a surprise. He sometimes also does not-bad things, and I sometimes mention them in passing, and mentioning them does not negate the reality of the bad things.
The same has been true of other politicians: the recent governor of my state, Arnold Schwarzenegger, was in some respects quite good on climate change. Yet it was impossible for me to say so to a radical without receiving an earful about all the other ways in which Schwarzenegger was terrible, as if the speaker had a news scoop, as if he or she thought I had been living under a rock, as if the presence of bad things made the existence of good ones irrelevant. As a result, it was impossible to discuss what Schwarzenegger was doing on climate change (and unnecessary for my interlocutors to know about it, no less figure out how to use it).
So here I want to lay out an insanely obvious principle that apparently needs clarification. There are bad things and they are bad. There are good things and they are good, even though the bad things are bad. The mentioning of something good does not require the automatic assertion of a bad thing. The good thing might be an interesting avenue to pursue in itself if you want to get anywhere. In that context, the bad thing has all the safety of a dead end. And yes, much in the realm of electoral politics is hideous, but since it also shapes quite a bit of the world, if you want to be political or even informed you have to pay attention to it and maybe even work with it.
Quote by livingonli:
It's just crappy and rainy here. Hope the weather is better in DC so that I don't deal with a rain delay in tonight's Nats game. At least I'm off tomorrow so I can watch the debate. I wonder if I should have a counter for the number of lies Romney tells.
Quote by Raine:Quote by livingonli:
It's just crappy and rainy here. Hope the weather is better in DC so that I don't deal with a rain delay in tonight's Nats game. At least I'm off tomorrow so I can watch the debate. I wonder if I should have a counter for the number of lies Romney tells.
It's kinda crappy here, but it appears that the game will be played.
Quote by trojanrabbit:Quote by Raine:Quote by livingonli:
It's just crappy and rainy here. Hope the weather is better in DC so that I don't deal with a rain delay in tonight's Nats game. At least I'm off tomorrow so I can watch the debate. I wonder if I should have a counter for the number of lies Romney tells.
It's kinda crappy here, but it appears that the game will be played.
If the weather is bad in NY maybe tonight's Sox capitulation will be cancelled. Not that I care to watch. One of the advantages of dumping cable. Though the Boston media is hoping that Valentine goes out in a blaze of glory by spouting off to the NYC media.
Quote by trojanrabbit:
If the weather is bad in NY maybe tonight's Sox capitulation will be cancelled. Not that I care to watch. One of the advantages of dumping cable. Though the Boston media is hoping that Valentine goes out in a blaze of glory by spouting off to the NYC media.
Quote by TriSec:
DAMMIT, PEOPLE...I'VE BEEN A SCOUT SINCE I WAS SEVEN YEARS OLD. WHY IS THIS SO HARD FOR ME NOW?
( Flees blog, hides in corner )
Quote by Mondobubba:
Raine, what would be the largest style artist's brush be?
Quote by Will in Chicago:
Raine, I tend to go to original sources but the original one has a lot of extra stuff at the start. Try this link from Common Dreams. The writer's point is that sometimes progressives want perfection and are dissatisfied with anything less than perfection.
Quote by Raine:
I have a real and honest question.
If you were to find out that someone you considered a friend screwed you over -- do you confront that person, or let it go?
I have been grappling with this for the past few weeks and I just heard something (literally) that confirmed what I was told. I am angry once again. I want to say something to these people (person...) but I don't think I can handle more lies upon the lies that were told about me. I also don't want to come across as a disgruntled person.
I'm really hurt. I thought I could let it go. I'm really hurt by people I thought were friends. What do I do?
Quote by Raine:That is quite a subjective question, Sir.Quote by Mondobubba:
Raine, what would be the largest style artist's brush be?
What art are we talking about?
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:
I have a real and honest question.
If you were to find out that someone you considered a friend screwed you over -- do you confront that person, or let it go?
I have been grappling with this for the past few weeks and I just heard something (literally) that confirmed what I was told. I am angry once again. I want to say something to these people (person...) but I don't think I can handle more lies upon the lies that were told about me. I also don't want to come across as a disgruntled person.
I'm really hurt. I thought I could let it go. I'm really hurt by people I thought were friends. What do I do?
speaking from experience - I've not spoken to a certain set of people (after our huge blow up) I once considered my friends in about 3 years now. That is unless I've had too and then its just a giant fight.
Quote by Raine:Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:
I have a real and honest question.
If you were to find out that someone you considered a friend screwed you over -- do you confront that person, or let it go?
I have been grappling with this for the past few weeks and I just heard something (literally) that confirmed what I was told. I am angry once again. I want to say something to these people (person...) but I don't think I can handle more lies upon the lies that were told about me. I also don't want to come across as a disgruntled person.
I'm really hurt. I thought I could let it go. I'm really hurt by people I thought were friends. What do I do?
speaking from experience - I've not spoken to a certain set of people (after our huge blow up) I once considered my friends in about 3 years now. That is unless I've had too and then its just a giant fight.
The hurt just resurged, Mala.
I am feeling like they should know that they hurt me, and Bob.
Quote by Raine:
Here's the deal, I'd decided to let it go -- with the hope that after a period of time it wouldn't be such a big deal. (this is actually how I like to operate)
But hearing what I heard today made me realize that I don't think I am ready to let it go. I really think I want them to know I know what happened. I'm hurt and angry that I let this happen. I don't like being used and I don't like people lying about what they think I might or might not want -- in other words, I really don't like people speaking on behalf of me in order to promote themselves.
Quote by wickedpam:
Ya, they should know, I agree. But part of me wonders, sadly, if they would care.
Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:
Here's the deal, I'd decided to let it go -- with the hope that after a period of time it wouldn't be such a big deal. (this is actually how I like to operate)
But hearing what I heard today made me realize that I don't think I am ready to let it go. I really think I want them to know I know what happened. I'm hurt and angry that I let this happen. I don't like being used and I don't like people lying about what they think I might or might not want -- in other words, I really don't like people speaking on behalf of me in order to promote themselves.
maybe you could drop some subtle but devastating hints - be a little passive aggressive but in a polite way
Quote by Raine:
Here's the deal, I'd decided to let it go -- with the hope that after a period of time it wouldn't be such a big deal. (this is actually how I like to operate)
But hearing what I heard today made me realize that I don't think I am ready to let it go. I really think I want them to know I know what happened. I'm hurt and angry that I let this happen. I don't like being used and I don't like people lying about what they think I might or might not want -- in other words, I really don't like people speaking on behalf of me in order to promote themselves.
Quote by Raine:I could. Maybe I will.Quote by wickedpam:Quote by Raine:
Here's the deal, I'd decided to let it go -- with the hope that after a period of time it wouldn't be such a big deal. (this is actually how I like to operate)
But hearing what I heard today made me realize that I don't think I am ready to let it go. I really think I want them to know I know what happened. I'm hurt and angry that I let this happen. I don't like being used and I don't like people lying about what they think I might or might not want -- in other words, I really don't like people speaking on behalf of me in order to promote themselves.
maybe you could drop some subtle but devastating hints - be a little passive aggressive but in a polite way
Quote by Raine:That is quite a subjective question, Sir.Quote by Mondobubba:
Raine, what would be the largest style artist's brush be?
What art are we talking about?
Quote by Will in Chicago:Quote by Raine:
Here's the deal, I'd decided to let it go -- with the hope that after a period of time it wouldn't be such a big deal. (this is actually how I like to operate)
But hearing what I heard today made me realize that I don't think I am ready to let it go. I really think I want them to know I know what happened. I'm hurt and angry that I let this happen. I don't like being used and I don't like people lying about what they think I might or might not want -- in other words, I really don't like people speaking on behalf of me in order to promote themselves.
Perhaps some dialog would help, even if it is somewhat painful. At least you will have given a chance to resolve the issues. Perhaps there can even be forgiveness if you and your friends can talk.
Quote by BobR:Quote by Will in Chicago:Quote by Raine:
Here's the deal, I'd decided to let it go -- with the hope that after a period of time it wouldn't be such a big deal. (this is actually how I like to operate)
But hearing what I heard today made me realize that I don't think I am ready to let it go. I really think I want them to know I know what happened. I'm hurt and angry that I let this happen. I don't like being used and I don't like people lying about what they think I might or might not want -- in other words, I really don't like people speaking on behalf of me in order to promote themselves.
Perhaps some dialog would help, even if it is somewhat painful. At least you will have given a chance to resolve the issues. Perhaps there can even be forgiveness if you and your friends can talk.
I think forgiveness could only happen if they acknowledged that they did wrong, and I don't see that happening.
Quote by Will in Chicago:Quote by BobR:Quote by Will in Chicago:Quote by Raine:
Here's the deal, I'd decided to let it go -- with the hope that after a period of time it wouldn't be such a big deal. (this is actually how I like to operate)
But hearing what I heard today made me realize that I don't think I am ready to let it go. I really think I want them to know I know what happened. I'm hurt and angry that I let this happen. I don't like being used and I don't like people lying about what they think I might or might not want -- in other words, I really don't like people speaking on behalf of me in order to promote themselves.
Perhaps some dialog would help, even if it is somewhat painful. At least you will have given a chance to resolve the issues. Perhaps there can even be forgiveness if you and your friends can talk.
I think forgiveness could only happen if they acknowledged that they did wrong, and I don't see that happening.
It seems unlikely, but make a couple attempts. Then, make sure that you do not let this experience darken your lives. (Sometimes, I have forgiven people for my own sake so I do not let my anger hold me back from enjoying life. It does not mean that I have to associate with someone again.)