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Out of Touch
Author: BobR    Date: 08/13/2008 12:01:33

I am at a loss... literally.

I've been feeling a bit out of touch lately, not really feeling like I have a grasp on the current events. I poked around trying to find something that intrigued me enough to inspire verbosity and eloquence. Instead, I found story after story that made me wonder: what the hell is going in my country?

A town in Arkansas is effectively under martial law (apparently the cops heard McCain's comment that I previously pointed out here):
Mayor James Valley on Thursday called for a lockdown of the roughly 10-block neighborhood northwest of City Hall, in what was formerly West Helena.

No loitering. No walking the streets. "No hanging out."

On Thursday night, 18-20 police officers carrying M-16 rifles, shotguns and night-vision scopes saturated the "cur-1 few zone" for 5/2 hours, arresting about eight people and confiscating drugs and loaded weapons, police said.

"It's something akin to martial law in that particular area," Valley said. "It got to the point where somebody was going to get seriously hurt or killed if we didn't do something."

Police in NYC plan on photgraphing every car that enters the city:
It calls for photographing, and scanning the license plates of, cars and trucks at all bridges and tunnels and using sensors to detect the presence of radioactivity.

Data on each vehicle — its time-stamped image, license plate imprint and radiological signature — would be sent to a command center in Lower Manhattan, where it would be indexed and stored for at least a month as part of a broad security plan that emphasizes protecting the city’s financial district, the spokesman, Paul J. Browne, said.

(as opposed to the residential areas... )

Attorney General Mukasey says not every crime is a crime: :huh:
But, he told delegates to the American Bar Association annual meeting, "not every wrong, or even every violation of the law, is a crime. In this instance, the two joint reports found only violations of the civil service laws."

"Only".

Most U.S. Companies pay no income tax:
The Government Accountability Office is set to release a report that says most U.S. corporations pay no federal income taxes.

And most foreign companies that do business in the United States aren't paying corporate taxes.

The study says about two-thirds of American corporations paid zero income taxes to Uncle Sam between 1998 and 2005.

McCain supports tax breaks for oil companies - but not for wind power:
Here's something else that could create political complications for John McCain in key swing states as he continues to defend measures that would maintain tax breaks for the oil industry: He recently opposed extending tax breaks for the wind-power industry.

Making this more difficult for McCain, the fledgling wind-power industry is popular in key upper Midwest and central plains states -- and here you have McCain protecting such tax breaks for Big Oil, but opposing them for Big Wind, or, if you prefer, Little Wind.

The next bubble - credit card debt:
While many eyes are focusing on the housing meltdown and its hugely negative effect on an economy clearly moving into recession, few are paying attention to the next bubble expected to burst: credit cards. You would never know it by watching those slick VISA card ads on the Olympic TV broadcasts.

Combined with the subprime losses, such a credit card nightmare has the potential, experts say, of bringing down the entire financial system and global economy.

You and your credit card have become key players in the highly unstable financial crunch. Mortgage lender cupidity and bank credit card greed wedded to financial institution deregulation supported by both political parties, have been made manifestly worse by Bush administration support-the-rich policies. It has brought us to a brink not seen since just before the Great Depression.

Closing in on $100B spent on war in Iraq - on private contractors:
The United States this year will have spent $100 billion on contractors in Iraq since the invasion in 2003, a milestone that reflects the Bush administration’s unprecedented level of dependence on private firms for help in the war, according to a government report to be released Tuesday.

The report, by the Congressional Budget Office, according to people with knowledge of its contents, will say that one out of every five dollars spent on the war in Iraq has gone to contractors for the United States military and other government agencies, in a war zone where employees of private contractors now outnumber American troops.

You can see why I was flabbergasted. So many things deserving of attention, no wonder I feel out of touch. There doesn't seem to be any way to tie them all together. Hmmm...

One more thing: When asked in an interview (while in Beijing) about America's problems, pResident Bush replied: "First of all, I don’t see America having problems. I see America as a nation that is a world leader that has got great values."

Perhaps I'm not the only one out of touch.

And perhaps I DID find a way to tie this altogether... ;)

 

140 comments (Latest Comment: 08/14/2008 06:22:30 by livingonli)
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Comment by trojanrabbit on 08/13/2008 12:15:11
Good morning BobR.



We can only hope that ApeBoy gets a hard, cold dose of reality on November 4th when the GOP gets smoked and again on January 20 when Georgie is whisked off to spend the rest of his days in a cell.

Comment by wickedpam on 08/13/2008 12:33:53
MOrning :hug:





Interesting - Mark Warner is going to be giving the key note speech that Obama did a few years ago at the convention. They are really positioning Warner for a run in the future.

Comment by wickedpam on 08/13/2008 12:50:15
Hmmm- listening to Wolfson on Bill Press - sounds like someone got a talking to.

Comment by velveeta jones on 08/13/2008 12:55:02
A Wonderful and Good morning to all! What a beautiful day! WooHooo!



Oh, wait, lemme go read the blog real quick...........................



http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/sad058.gif






Comment by velveeta jones on 08/13/2008 12:59:35
From Raine:





Comment by wickedpam on 08/13/2008 13:12:03
Rush's mysognonistic(sp) slip is showing.

Comment by TriSec on 08/13/2008 13:12:34
Morning, comrades!



TriSec is all poopy and un-motivated for personal reasons today. Bob with the happy shiny blog!













Comment by BobR on 08/13/2008 13:18:32
Quote by TriSec:

Morning, comrades!



TriSec is all poopy and un-motivated for personal reasons today. Bob with the happy shiny blog!







I try to save the happy shiny ones for Fridays...



Comment by wickedpam on 08/13/2008 13:19:01
This place needs a giant and -



http://i116.photobucket.com/albums/o20/gorjuz_issey/cute_puppies.jpg


Comment by TriSec on 08/13/2008 13:24:21
Mmmm, puppies are good, but this never fails to make me stop and gaze skyward..













:peace:





Comment by wickedpam on 08/13/2008 13:26:25
That's cause your an AV-geek :p

Comment by TriSec on 08/13/2008 13:30:56
BUNNY!



http://www.mikehuang.com/blog/images/Oolong-waffle.jpg


Comment by velveeta jones on 08/13/2008 13:32:08
PUPPIES!







Puppies are cute and don't contribute (much) to Global Warming!





Comment by Mondobubba on 08/13/2008 13:34:25
Gee what is all the gloom for! It is wonderful, rainy overcast day here in eastern NC! w00t! Cause ya see there is a severe drought here and they really, really need the rain. Since I am heading home today, I'm excited by the prospect of driving on 95 in the rain! :kick:



Okay I'll join the gloom campaign, sheesh!

Comment by velveeta jones on 08/13/2008 13:35:19
Ahh! RETHUG caller. WOOT!!

Comment by BobR on 08/13/2008 13:37:34
This caller is wrong - Georgia is not without blame in this...

Comment by velveeta jones on 08/13/2008 13:38:10
Oh............. I LOVE this crazy caller! Can we make him a permanent part of the show?



:rofl:



What a Maroon!

Comment by Raine on 08/13/2008 13:38:36
you people are blogging slackers





heya everyone! breezing in for a little while before I head back out.

Comment by wickedpam on 08/13/2008 13:39:18


Comment by velveeta jones on 08/13/2008 13:39:33
Quote by BobR:

This caller is wrong - Georgia is not without blame in this...
absolutely!



Comment by wickedpam on 08/13/2008 13:39:54
Hey dummy lots of people don't bring up their parents!

Comment by wickedpam on 08/13/2008 13:40:24
Quote by TriSec:

BUNNY!



http://www.mikehuang.com/blog/images/Oolong-waffle.jpg






oolong!



Comment by wickedpam on 08/13/2008 13:41:10
Quote by velveeta jones:

PUPPIES!







Puppies are cute and don't contribute (much) to Global Warming!







Don't you know cuteness will cure the world of all evils!



Comment by Mondobubba on 08/13/2008 13:42:05
Quote by velveeta jones:

PUPPIES!







Puppies are cute and don't contribute (much) to Global Warming!







Oy! I've had my fill of energetic young dog! My parents' mini dauchie has a split personality! One moment she is the cutest lil thing sleeping in your lap, the next she is running thru the house with one of my running shoes in her mouth; or she is picking up the desicated squirrel tail out of the street when she is going for a walk! :thud:

Comment by wickedpam on 08/13/2008 13:42:33
I agree with Lav

Comment by Mondobubba on 08/13/2008 13:44:26
Quote by Raine:

you people are blogging slackers





heya everyone! breezing in for a little while before I head back out.




:bouce: ( <--- Nutsack) Hiya Raine. :skates to penalty box: Yeah that was outta bounds. I gotta get ready to hit the road.

Comment by BobR on 08/13/2008 13:55:54
Quote by Raine:

you people are blogging slackers





heya everyone! breezing in for a little while before I head back out.


:reaches across the miles: :hug:

Comment by wickedpam on 08/13/2008 14:08:08
Quote by Raine:

you people are blogging slackers





heya everyone! breezing in for a little while before I head back out.






Slacker? Whadda mean slacker. Random and I got in a really good parapsycology and "ghost" show ditch yesterday afternoon.



Comment by livingonli on 08/13/2008 14:16:05
A belated good morning everyone.



Looks like I missed Raine's flyby. Glad you're having fun.



My eyes are still heavy this morning.

Comment by velveeta jones on 08/13/2008 14:21:20
Quote by BobR:

Quote by Raine:

you people are blogging slackers





heya everyone! breezing in for a little while before I head back out.


:reaches across the miles: :hug:




Get a ROOM.......... you "married" people!







:lol:

Comment by m-hadley on 08/13/2008 14:22:19
Mornin' Everbody,

Thoughtful post BobR - it covers so many fronts of discpicablity that are in the news these days. Hope you all are having a great day :P

Cheers,

mfaye

:hug: & :peace:

Comment by livingonli on 08/13/2008 14:24:45
Hi mfaye. I think we need to wake this blog up, it's moving a little slow this morning. Kind of like me.

Comment by wickedpam on 08/13/2008 14:34:45
isn't Cheech a right winger?



Comment by wickedpam on 08/13/2008 14:36:16
I stand corrected



Comment by TriSec on 08/13/2008 14:37:15
Mate, this blog wouldn't "voom" if you put four million volts through it! 'E's bleedin' demised!





Comment by wickedpam on 08/13/2008 14:43:06
didn't this guy call yesterday?

Comment by wickedpam on 08/13/2008 14:43:35
"student" would be the operative word

Comment by wickedpam on 08/13/2008 14:44:05
Let alone that graphic art is a very competitive field

Comment by velveeta jones on 08/13/2008 14:44:11
Am I having deja vu? Didn't we have this caller yesterday???



:blink:

Comment by velveeta jones on 08/13/2008 14:44:40
Where's my tiny violin.

Comment by livingonli on 08/13/2008 14:48:12
Quote by velveeta jones:

Am I having deja vu? Didn't we have this caller yesterday???



:blink:


Yes he did. God, are right wingers whiny.

Comment by velveeta jones on 08/13/2008 14:48:20
Aunt Azalea (who is black) just said:



"OMG, this guy is nuts. He's not losing his job to blacks. There aren't any 'black graphic artists'. Thats such a 'white' job!"



:rofl:

Comment by trojanrabbit on 08/13/2008 14:49:42
Good evening. Tonight on "It's the Mind" we examine the phenomenon of "Deja Vu". That strange feeling we sometimes get that we've lived through something before. Tonight on "It's the Mind" we examine the phenomenon of "Deja Vu". That strange feeling we sometimes get that we've lived through something before.

Comment by wickedpam on 08/13/2008 14:49:53
Quote by velveeta jones:

Aunt Azalea (who is black) just said:



"OMG, this guy is nuts. He's not losing his job to blacks. There aren't any 'black graphic artists'. Thats such a 'white' job!"



:rofl:




:spit: Who knew :p



Comment by TriSec on 08/13/2008 14:51:18
I am experiencing Ni-pa' ; the feeling I have done this before.



:klingon:





Comment by BobR on 08/13/2008 14:53:07
Quote by livingonli:

Hi mfaye. I think we need to wake this blog up, it's moving a little slow this morning. Kind of like me.


sorry for not doing my part - I was taking the Kiz out for a walk...

Comment by BobR on 08/13/2008 14:54:21
Quote by trojanrabbit:

Good evening. Tonight on "It's the Mind" we examine the phenomenon of "Deja Vu". That strange feeling we sometimes get that we've lived through something before. Tonight on "It's the Mind" we examine the phenomenon of "Deja Vu". That strange feeling we sometimes get that we've lived through something before.


*programing note - this episode is a re-run*

Comment by livingonli on 08/13/2008 14:55:07
Quote by velveeta jones:

Aunt Azalea (who is black) just said:



"OMG, this guy is nuts. He's not losing his job to blacks. There aren't any 'black graphic artists'. Thats such a 'white' job!"



:rofl:


Like most right-wingers who preach about responsibility, he needs to blame someone else for what may be his own shortcomings. I guess these "blacks" have to exist so that he can rationalize away the fact that he sucks and no one will hire him.

Comment by BobR on 08/13/2008 14:55:14
Quote by velveeta jones:

Aunt Azalea (who is black) just said:



"OMG, this guy is nuts. He's not losing his job to blacks. There aren't any 'black graphic artists'. Thats such a 'white' job!"



:rofl:


Blog Reminder: Raine is a trained, experienced graphic designer.

Comment by livingonli on 08/13/2008 14:56:20
Quote by BobR:

Quote by livingonli:

Hi mfaye. I think we need to wake this blog up, it's moving a little slow this morning. Kind of like me.


sorry for not doing my part - I was taking the Kiz out for a walk...


Well, she does need to get out and I don't think Camille can walk her.