How's the weather down there in Arizona, Braxton? I was at Hy-Vee Wine & Spirits today and bought a bottle of Moscato d'Asti. $9.99 - what's it go for where you're at?
After Danica Patrick ran in to the back end of Scott McDowell's car in today's Nationwide race (ending both their days), she stated, "That driver in front of me should have been watching where I was going."
i found a stash of centennial jefferson bees celebrating jefferson history from 1966 that my great aunt had saved, these things are LOADED with pictures and info about how great our city WAS. pretty amazing to look at these now , all of the businesses and the young fresh faces of our now retired city leaders. This actually looked like a pretty cool place to live back in the day
I would like to talk about taxes. My wife is in the other room on a different computer thinking that our tax return is a life or death situation. Personally. I could care less. I will pay the tax that she has determined. If I were filing the return, I can guarantee I would be paying much less, actually getting a HUGE refund. Any thoughts on this?
I'm not really into big tax returns, Marty. Usually it just means that you overpaid during the year, so they're just giving you back money you should already have, anyway.
Rick: Over the years there have been a few mentions that Iowa has too many counties. Believe it or not, there's a proposed amendment to require that the state reduce to 50 or less counties by 2015.
Here's a link: http://coolice.legis.state.ia.us/Cool-ICE/default.asp?Category=billinfo&Service=Billbook&menu=false&ga=83&hbill=HJR2008
That bill would require the reduction in the number of counties to 50 or less by 2015, as you state. If the reductions are not met in time, the state supreme court would designate reductions as needed to meet the bill's requirements.
This bill has just been introduced in committee, and probably won't get out of the committee. I doubt it would ever make it to the floor. That being said, it is at least good to know that some one is picking up on the problems and expenses that Iowa's 99 counties are causing. That bill should be passed in a heartbeat.
Yes, the Centennial was celebrated in 1954, the town of Jefferson was organized in 1854. The Bee and Herald produced an excellent centennial edition, my copy loaned to Rick Bland and many of the photos from that edition appear on this web site. Good memories!
I recommend Moscato d'Asti a nice desert wine. Rick tells me that it costs $9.99 at HyVee, a good price as it costs $12.99 here in Arizona. I have four bottles in my refrigerator.
I see where the earth shifted about 3" on its figure axis due to the recent earthquake in Chile.
The massive quake also shortened the length of an earth day by about 1.26 milliseconds. This is a precursor to the tremendous upheavals we can expect in 2012.
I have been traveling to various places on short notice. I will continue my comments and rantings when I have returned to Iowa and this insanity has ended.
That really sucks. I just completed a new deck attached to the back of my house, and due to this shifting, it now appears to be about .00000016 millimeters off plumb. I will no doubt have to tear it down and start again.
I'm going to continue a thread from the "Open Discussion" post, because that particular thread will be falling off the page soon (it's at the bottom of the page).
Sarah Palin would be the WORST nominee that the Republicans ran in my memory. The only other candidate that polarizing I can think of was Goldwater in '64. I have been a firm Republican for 30 years, but will move into the Independent column if this travesty occurs and this trainwreck of an individual is allowed a position with that type of responsibility and power.
Just what exactly is it about Palin that would cause an otherwise lucid individual to support her I cannot fathom. You hear things like, "family values", and "morality" trumpeted. THAT IS NOT WHAT IT TAKES TO BE PRESIDENT. If that is all it takes, just go vote for your mom. Everyone but Tars, anyway. Do you know anything at all about Sarah Palin?
Don't tell me she has governor experience similar to Reagan. Do you honestly think that governing Alaska is anything at all like governing California? California's economy would rank it as the worlds eighth largest country. Alaska is smaller in population than COUNTIES in California. The problems and issues faced every day by the chief executive of California make him uniquely qualified to be president.
Palin couldn't even finish her term as governor in one of the country's least populous states. A state with no immigration issues, budgetary problems, racial or ethnic diversity.
McCain campaign staffers described her as "frightening, dangerous, and mentally limited". Her own staffers in Alaska said she was "mentally unstable ... unwilling to work ... mentally limited ... unfit for office". During a recent interview she was unable to come up with the name of a founding father (you know - the ones she is always referring to).
When staffers attempted to brief her prior to her interview with Katie Couric (the one she bombed), all she would do was complain about her makeup and keep asking if she looked "fat". Her behavior was so subpar during the presidential campaign that "terrified staffers" contemplated asking McCain to have Palin step down. They also decided that if McCain won, they would urge the senator to drop Palin, as it was "unfathomable" and "frightening" to them that Palin would be the VP.
All of these comments are not isolated. They are echoed by many of Palin's past allies in Alaska. Certain Republicans in that state are calling Palin a "sociopathic narcissist" with unmanageable ethics problems.
Responsible, patriotic campaigns that sincerely love their country shoul vet selections like this before giving them the nod.
Exactly what leads you to believe that Mrs. Palin is so "honest and trustworthy"? Red state folks seem to put a lot of emphasis on things like this, even though they have absolutely no first-hand knowledge of it being true. The history of presidential politics is littered with candidates who were thought to be "honest and trustworthy" but turned out to be politicians like everybody else.
Whoa, Rick, talk to Orville K. about getting some columns on ex-Gov. Palin. More than enough material. Perhaps run a belated birthday column for her 2-11 birthday which matches her intellectual forebear, Thomas Edison.
I thought I was damning her with faint praise. Honest, Tea Party ready and the public's fascinated by her. That's an endorsement? Readers of the blog know I can get myself into more than enough trouble with no help from anyone, anywhere, thank you very much.
She didn't (not couldn't)complete her term. She struck while the iron was hot, selling a book and going on Fox. $500,000 in legal bills to a governor who's not an attorney adds up quickly, and gets paid off slowly while governor.
You're right about Alaska's population. The average of the 58 counties in California population is just under all of Alaska's people. But Alaska's land mass is roughly the size of 2 Californias and 1 Texas. It has the sort of mineral resources & oil wealth that you find in the Arctic regions, like Canada and Russia. It's coastline nears, if not exceeds that of the lower 48 states. If you have an environmental concern in your body, Alaska's importance far, far exceeds it's populace.
I had not heard the specifics of the McCain campaign you listed. Funny in a tragic sort of way. I compared her experience to President Obama's. That is/was not meant as a compliment by any means. One of two critical shortcomings of the McCain campaign was Palin's experience becoming a critical issue rather than President Obama's associations, experience and qualifications being focused on. McCain ran even w/the President until the bailout came up, he took a week breather and supported the bailout.
I in no way compared her to President Reagan. As far as honesty, I think she's direct. An admirable quality, but political poison. Betty Ford, Goldwater and George McGovern would qualify. Endearing for a well-liked 1st Lady, but the other 2 were buried under historical electoral landslides w/McGovern losing his next Senate run.
I thought suggesting Indiana's governor, Mitch Daniels would further solidify the fact she would not be one of my first choices.
Anonymous on 2/23 "open Discussion" thread nailed it saying she was "very good looking" as the appeal. Other than political wives, I recollect no woman politico this attractive. Other than Bella Abzug, of course.
I am disappointed. I have enough negative information on Mrs. Palin to fill a loose-leaf notebook, and was armed and ready to use it. It's not just that she is outspoken and has enough political negatives to guarantee another Obama win; it is that she is totally mentally and physically incapable of adequately performing presidential duties. Would anyone in their right mind refer to her as "presidential timber"? We need to quit lowering the bar for our candidates. Her IQ cannot possibly be over 110.
As far as her "not being your first choice" - can I assume then that she is your second? (This might allow me to use some of my prepared material).
Just because Sarah Palin is from a big, big state doesn't mean anything. Is the leader of Chad (a big country) more capable than the leader of Switzerland (a small country)?
Rick-How is our friend Sarah physically incapable of discharging the responsibilities of the presidency? Does she not qualify for your political hall of fame, either?
It is really annoying having to listen to people fluff up Palin's resume. Her experience in office is almost nil. Seriously. She doesn't even stack up well with Obama.
Take a look. Obama was an Illinois state senator from 1997-2004. Granted, not a national post, but he was writing legislation for a lot of people in a large, multi-cultural state. From 2005-2008 he was a US Senator from that state, working politically in Washington on national and international issues. Not a very good resume for a president, but there have been worse.
Speaking of worse - here is Sarah Palin's resume: Served as mayor of Willis, Alaska (population 5400). She won that election with less than 500 votes, and acted as mayor until 2006. That is the equivalent to being mayor of Jefferson for a few years. We all know that that in no way preparers you for anything. Just think of some of Jefferson's past mayors. See what I mean? Then, in 2006, she runs for governor, and in a 5-way primary, comes out ahead with 50,000 votes. She follows that up by winning the gubenatorial race with 48% of the vote (114,000 votes). By contrast, Chet Culver needed 570,000 votes to win in Iowa. She then served two short years in this post without distinction.
So quit saying her resume is as good as Obama or anyone else! When she stepped down from the governor's post, her negative polling numbers topped her positives by 49%-46% (that is in Alaska). Her replacement's numbers are 78%-8% positive. It takes somebody like Fox News to like some one of her caliber.
Your friend Sarah is physically incapable of discharging her duties as President for at least a few days every month. Just call it "God's Little Curse".
Look, Sarah DIDN'T finish her term as governor because she COULDN"T mentally or physically finish it.
You make it sound like it was nothing more than a savvy business decision. Well, tell that to the folks in Alaska who expected her to serve the entire term they elected her for. She left office complaining of the physical and mental pressures she was being placed under by the "elite liberal media". Not a good omen if she wants to be president. The reason she has insurmountable legal bills is due to her own actions. Would you really like me to use up column inches on that?
When fellow party members who have worked with you start calling you a "sociopathic narcissist", You obviously have physical as well as mental problems. Go ahead and look that one up.
The main Republican activist measures since Teddy Roosevelt have been the interstate system w/Ike and national defense w/Reagan. Assuming Palin is another Republican who sees big government as the problem not the solution, I'm voting for her over President Obama or Hillary.
There is currently no likely Republican candidate I am really intrigued by.
I've given this some thought. Barring a Cheney/Palin ticket, which you can't rule out although it may be the other way around (if Dick is in charge of the VP selection committee again), we Republicans need to look ahead and review our choices.
Diamond Dave would prefer a totally incompetent, mind-numbingly ignorant individual next to the nuclear football. You know how women like to hang on to their purses. She would probably insist that they change it occasionally depending on the season.
I, on the other hand, continue to be the voice of reason in this debate. I can think of many fine Republican candidates that I would vote for ahead of Ms. Palin. For instance we have Teddy Roosevelt. Oh, wait. Well, we have Joe Lieberman. Up front Joe has demonstrated his ability to piss off both parties at the same time.
It is way too early to think about Palin as a candidate. Often, winners don't emerge 2+ years prior to the election. Things will be a lot clearer in a year or so. In the meantime, Diamond Dave can sit around and wistfully dream of his beloved Sarah Palin in the Oval Office.
To anon., Let me ask you this? Would you support Palin if she was black? I think not. How about if she was a man? Doubtful. What if she was a 67-year old fat lady? Of course not. You have subconsciously lowered your standards in order to get a good-looking younger girl elected.
I don't support Palin because of her looks. My wife would also vote for her, so obviously we've given it a little more thought than that. Take a closer look at where she stands on many issues and you will find a main stream conservative, worthy of support.
D.Dave's postings are a mark of a madman. Do not believe otherwise. If you doubt, read his rantings in the religion section of your local paper. Any local paper will do, since they're all printed by the same f#$%king printshop in Farlin, located between those junk cars you can't afford to buy.
If you read the newsreel along the left-hand edge of the blog, you'll find an item stating that a train derailed about 5 miles west of Jefferson around 9PM Sunday. 30 or so cars of coal were involved; there were no reported injuries.
Most of us in Jefferson didn't even find out about the derailed train until the next day. I, of course, was way ahead of the curve, having learned it from Jefferson Iowa News. Great Job!
I'm sitting here pondering the mental state of the so-called "Tea Partiers". I don't recall a group of people as misguided and misinformed.
A recent poll found that only two percent of the tea partiers are aware that President Obama has enacted the largest middle-class tax cut in history. A staggering 44%, by contrast, believe that Obama has INCREASED their taxes - and only 16% blame the current economic catastrophe on Bush, who ran up record deficits.
Their ignorance spills over to the health care reform debate. Even though massively rising insurance premiums almost certainly guarantee some form of universal health care at some point down the road (we remain the only country outside of the third world that doesn't take care of all their citizens medically), they seem to be content paying those premiums. They don't understand the affect health care would have on their paychecks, or won't listen. I find personally that the only people who seem to be against it are either wealthy enough that they don't need it, or have never incurred major medical expenses and niavely disregard its importance. Even more remarkable is that seniors overwhelmingly appear wary of government-run health care, even though THEY ALL ALREADY HAVE IT! That's right - this generation of seniors wants government-guaranteed health care for themselves and themselves only!
All I hear from the Republicans (my party) is a bunch of crap about health-savings accounts. To have one of these, one needs to have a job AND have enough disposable income to save for future medical crises. These plans would leave nearly 20% of Americans uninsured. In short, if you can't afford health insurance - that's just tough.
The problem is that we taxpayers then end up paying for the uninsured anyway.
The amount of misinformation being bounced around is really bothering me. Within the last several weeks, an otherwise well-informed (I thought) friend of mine complained to me about:
1. President Obama passing cap-and-trade legislation, and
2. President Obama rolling back the welfare reforms passed in the mid-90's.
Neither of these things are true at all. It is obvious to those of us who are better-informed that conservatives are being very successful in scaring gullible voters. I would very strongly urge everyone to do more research on some of these issues before drawing conclusions.
You might find interesting our most recent story, which has just been published on the Jefferson Iowa News web site. It is entitled: "The 15 Businesses in Jefferson Most in Need of a Facelift". You can access it at jeffersoniowanews.com or directly at:
Then Senator Obama campaigned on hope and change, bipartisanship and an open government. Change did happen, not the others.
Americans main hope was that something would be done for jobs and the economy. The stimulus bill instead became payback time where people and places that supported him were enriched at our expense. State governments that have been mismanaged and needed to cut fat, were instead enriched and their day of reckoning was delayed.
The late 1970's gave us the song abd attitude "Take this Job and Shove It." Things changed shorttly thereafter and the private sector has done much retrenching and downsizing with benefit packages reduced and responsibilities shifted to the worker. Healthcare, education and government constantly increases costs and expenditures increase above the inflation rate and go merrily on their own way.
Government, like us, is more accountable when it is divided. When you don't get along with your boss you tend to be very careful. For most of the Bush administration and so far in Obama's, they don't value the others input or check their own desires bcz they don't have to.
The Tea Party movement was spawned by the revelations during the 2008financial debacle and governments hands being all over it. Outrage increased with the scope of Obama's intentions. Then Pelosi and Obama have told us elections have consequences. Being a bad loser is bad form. Being a bad winner is mean. The meanness of a fatally flawed Versailles Treaty after WWI had Lord Curzon stating we'll be doing the "war to end all wars" over again in a generation.
Broken government. Talk of Kansas City's schools facilities reduced by 1/2. No one thought they'd do it. Detroit's considering destroying houses in outlying areas to reduce costs for police and administrative services.
Trillion dollar deficits. 30 years ago that was the debt. We've gotten rid of the 30 year Treasury bonds. Now debt comes back to haunt us in 10 short years. Outside of the tea party, it's business as usual, expecting the burglar of our home to also act as the insurance company to reimburse us.
Rick River was backed up by ice jams at the bike trail bridge. Got to near 2008 (18' area..overtops banks at 10')levels around noon Friday, has dropped nearly 3' since it broke free. 2 other points from my ignorant perspective. Recall that 600 bux Obama gave you a year ago? He genrously gave us a $15 a week tax increase in January deducted from your paycheck. Thats $780 bux a year for me. $1560 for my wife and I. Correct me if I am wrong but isn't that a tax increase? Local goverment reassessed all the homes and land in the rural and jacked me up over 50K in valuation. Thats not Obama, but another tax increase. Greene county netted about 150K a year in tax payments from that reasessment. Im not going to argue the health care, but if you had served in the military, you could see US government run healthcare system at its best. Its called the VA. If we would stop paying for illegal aliens health care, I think we would be in a lot better shape. If you dont belong here, why should you get a free healthcare too?
Dan Rather has already told us that Obama cannot sell melons, let alone any legislature. His one term presidency will weigh heavy on the nation. His wife will leave deeper scratches in the pavement than Hillary's when they drag her out of the White House.
I'm just an occasional poster here, so I'm only going to voice a few comments directed toward Diamond Dave, all in the spirit of debate.
First off, don't just say Obama campaigned for all those things, then crucify him because there has been no bipartisanship, etc. All the things you don't like about Washington existed long before Obama showed up. It's like people are saying, why haven't you fixed everything (you've been in office a whole year, now)? Over 2 million jobs have been created in the last year. Sure, more would always be better.
The economy is not as bad as people seem to think. And some taxes have gone up, but every Democrat ever elected has done that.
I'm not really sure I understand all of Diamond Dave's points, between all the cliches and stuff. I don't get the part about Johnny Paychek. It sounds to me like he's one of these guys who go around complaining how screwed up the government is and how much money they spend. Then when they cut back, eliminate jobs, and streamline, they complain about teacher cuts, and cuts in their favorite areas. I think teacher cuts are a good thing. They are a sign that government is not broke. They are making a needed correction. The "government is broken" is one of the most overused cliches I can think of.
Tell Arnold Schwarzenegger, Chet Culver, or any other state governor that you think they've been "enriched" and their (day of reckoning?) delayed. Des Moines area schools will be cutting 300 positions next year. I don't know what he means by "payback". And I don't know what he thinks their "day of reckoning" is. Maybe when they leave the union? When they declare bankruptcy? Probably just that they will have to trim their budget and eliminate some programs. Again, a good thing.
I don't understand anything he said about the Tea Party.
Just what exactly is this gigantic fear people have of socialized health care? Don't they realize that it is already mostly socialized? Or do they just prefer spending an ever-increasing chunk of their pay check on health insurance?
Why is Obama being demonized? Most of those teaparty people can't even tell you specifically what they're against. They just know that Glen Beck is for it. They come across like a bunch of lemmings. Talk about the ignorant masses.
They are the most misinformed, empty-headed group I have seen formed in my lifetime. They need to go away.
Greg McDermott loses three starters next year, so it looks like for the fourth time in the last five years, the Iowa State mens basketball program will be rebuilding.
McDermott is a nice enough guy, but at some point Cyclone nation has to pick between having a coach who is a nice guy and having a basketball program good enough to participate in post-season play. With a whole new group of kids next year, he will realistically need 2-3 more year again before they will even be competitive.
He took a team with two future NBA players and one international player, and led them to a last-place conference finish.
I see where Maxine Kilcrease, the executive director of the Iowa Association of School Boards, recently gave herself a raise from $210,000 to $367,000 per year. What, $210K just wasn't enough? And this is at a time when this group claims it is running low on funds! The IASB collects funds from all 361 Iowa school districts.
The group's board of directors has been meeting behind closed doors for the past three days. Ms. Kilcrease has been placed on administrative leave (with pay). Kilcrease was hired last August, and just one month later, adjusted her pay upward by 70%. Not bad.
We have learned that several other IASB members similarly had their salaries raised, while asking school districts for more money. There are also reports that association credit cards were used to book private vacations.
The "gigantic fear" I have of socialized health care is not being able to choose the medical professionals I would like to treat me. Everyone knows that there are good librarians and librarians that don't know crap. The same goes with the medical community. I do not want to be assigned some jackass doctor that is approved by the Feds and wait 85,000 months to see him/her while I die in line. If I do survive my wait in line, I may be prescribed some bullshit medication and be told to come back in a couple/three years. Forget that. As far as increased health insurance costs are concerned and what it takes out of my pay check - I could care less. I am pleased with the fact that I have access to the best healthcare available and I can choose the individual who supplies it. If you have a problem with your healthcare providers or cannot afford quality medical care you either have the wrong employer or should be on the dole. If the latter is the case, then I'll pick up your medical expenses through taxation. Take me out to lunch sometime to show your appreciation.
You already don't choose the medical professionals that treat you. Aetna does. Or more likely, medicare does (the government). The doctors who treat you are based on where you live. You don't jet around looking for the specialist you prefer. If you did, you would find that most of the best doctors are not even located in the United States. Asian countries have developed entire cottage industries around treating wealthy Americans with ailments.
As far as being assigned jackass doctors, they would be the same doctors already being assigned to you, or your mother by medicare. Or maybe you don't give a shit about her.
As you say yourself, there are good doctors and not-so-good doctors. That will remain the case regardless of healthcare legislation passing. You get the doctor you are assigned, unless you are getting plastic surgery or something.
Why would you be waiting in line? This is a myth being perpetuated on our less astute citizens by conservative lobbying groups. There would be the same number of sick people, the same number of doctors, and the same facilities. Medicare has a virtual monopoly-like control of all our nation's medical practices already. All government-run health care would do is change the billing procedures.
I can also "choose", as you say, the physicians I want. My medical coverage is excellent. Guess what? If universal health care becomes law, I can keep it. Besides, even though I realize it is all about you, I'm sure you'd be one of the first to use taxpayer money if you changed jobs.
You don't pay for or select your doctor now. If you did you'd be at John Hopkins, and you wouldn't need health insurance.
I'm madder than Dr. Kevorkian on life support when I see all these old people who want to keep their govenment-run health care, but not allow anyone else access to it!
They are all perfectly happy with their medicare. They wake up every day and go to their doctor because they have a cough, or their knee hurts. Have you been to a doctor's office lately? What's it full of? That's right - old people!!
When those old coots find out that younger, more intelligent folks like you and I might get coverage like they have, they hit the roof! Old folks are the largest group of voters who are adamantly against government-run health care. Even though all their health care IS ALREADY GOVERNMENT RUN!!
How does it feel to have all those senile old bedwetters on the same side of the issue that you are? Not very good, I bet. If you think medicare is good enough for your parents, then government-run health care is good enough for you, too!
Under Original Medicare (versus Medicare Advantage plans), you may choose the doctor you want, assuming he or she is accepting new/Medicare patients. As pointed out above, if you have a Medicare Advantage Plan (perhaps through Aetna), or a non-Medicare plan like Wellmark, you end up choosing a doctor of the insurance company's choosing or you pay higher deductible and co-pays. Private insurance is easily more restrictive than Medicare when it comes to choosing a doctor, be it a primary care or a specialist.
Nowhere in the world can you come up with a more costly, more convoluted health care system than in the U.S.A. Then, to top it off, we're way down the list on life expectancy. In Canada, in the U.K., in France, people in need of acute care get taken care of right away, just like here. The people in the queues are waiting for new hips and other procedures that don't really have to be taken care of right away. If you're 68 and need a new hip, just give up playing soccer for a couple of years.
Medicare doesn't kick anyone off the roll. You can't say that about every private insurer in America.
Let's talk about deficits and the debt. I remember, during the Carter administration, a $90 billion dollar deficit seemed "out of control". Reagan came on board and deficits in the hundreds of billions became the norm.
George H.W. Bush wasn't any better than Reagan with his deficits. Clinton, a democrat, actually had a surplus one year and his 8 years altogether were better than Reagan or the Bushes. Then G.W. came along and made his daddy and Reagan look like misers. The republican presidents run up monster deficits/debt and right-wingers like Diamond don't mention them. However, let a democrat run up a huge deficit and the world is coming to an end.
Obama had two really big problems when he took office. One, he had two wars going on (Iraq and Afghanistan) and we had the worst financial crisis since the great depression a few months before he took office. Now, republicans like Diamond Dave act as if the crisis never really existed. It took massive spending to prevent a world-wide collapse. For a few days in September 2008, the financial markets were frozen ... countries weren't moving money back and forth. The governments of the U.S. and the world had to step in. This led to the bailout. The bailout was under Bush. Diamond Dave probably thinks it was under Obama.
The republicans with 8 years under Reagan, 12 years under the Bushes, ran up the debt to where it is today. Obama was dealt a "depression" hand and two wars. To blame Obama for all the ills of American is unbelievable.
I do agree that it is time to tighten our belts, to work towards a balance budget, but it may take awhile. And, don't forget, it was Dick Cheney who said "...Reagan proved deficits don't matter!"
It took massive spending to prevent a world-wide collapse.
You have to be kidding, has anyone ever succcessfully spent their way out of debt? Obama spent more in his first 100 days than Bush did in 8 years. My credit cards maxed out, maybe if I get another one and spend 10k at my employer I will get a dollar an hour raise. I like your logic. Bush didnt do us any favors, but dont go selling Obama as a great savior. That fool will put the final nail in the coffin, and his healthcare mess just might do it.
Buford said "Obama spent more in his first 100 days than Bush did in 8 years."
When Bush took office in 2001, the federal debt was about $5.7 trillion. When Bush left office, the debt had ballooned to almost $10.6 trillion dollars. In G.W.'s 8 years, he managed to raise the debt by almost $4.9 trillion.
How quickly Republicans forget, or perhaps, maybe they just lie about Bush's spending habits. And, Obama wasn't/isn't spending our way out of debt, he was/is trying to save the economy from going into a complete meltdown like we had in 1929.
Look, I've been around awhile - through eleven different administrations and more congresses than I want to count. Regardless of what political party is in the White House, you hear nothing but charges of reckless spending coming from the other party.
That is because it is Congress that spends your money. Congress has the power to raise money and spend it. That power is vested solely in the legislative branch of the government. Congress has always been full of politicians busy spending money we don't have on their districts.
My guess is that both of you guys by and large voted for the same Congressmen last election that were already in office, busy spending money. Blaming defecits on the executive branch is a lazy way to make a point. A better way would be to elect new Congressmen. They don't have to vote for spending bills.
Just for the record, President Obama spent over 1 trillion dollars in his first 100 days in office. If that pace were to continue (it won't), he would end up spending $15 trillion dollars during his administration. Not counting any health care legislation.
Congress must not want to give the line-item veto to the President so the executive can cut items as he feels neeeded. Most states have this, but not the Feds. The cumulative effect would be impressive.
Why do people and the press have so low an opinion of Sarah Palin? Just read a few of these quotes from her, and keep in mind she hasn't even started campaigning yet:
"All of 'em. Any of 'em they put in front of me." - unable to name a single newspaper or magazine she read
"They're in charge of the US Senate, so they can get in there and make policy changes" - getting the vice president's constitutional role wrong
"Your department of law there in the White House would throw them out." - referring to a department that doesn't exist while trying to explain why she would not be subject to ethics investigations as vice president.
"We used to hustle over the border to Canada for health care - isn't that ironic?" - admitting that her family used to get treatment in Canada's health system
"We need to shore up these strategies in order to win these wars in Iraq and Iran" - suggesting we are at war with Iran
"The first amendment rights of people like me should be protected from attacks by the mainstream media." - getting first amendment rights backward
"I don't think you should use the word 'terrorist' there" - when asked if people who bomb abortion clinics are terrorists
"I love being here in the great Northwest." - at a rally in New Hampshire
"I am very pleased to have been cleared of any wrongdoing" - after a legislative report found she had broken the state ethics laws
"There is now hope and opportunity in our neighboring country of Afghanistan" - confusing her geography
"There's a place in hell reserved for women who don't support other women" - misquoting Madeline Albright
"Well, let me see, there's been great decisions without consensus - some could best be dealt with on a local level, but, of course, in the great history of these United States, maybe I could take issue with." - unable to name a Supreme Court decision other than Roe v. Wade
"I'm the mayor, I can do whatever I want until the courts tell me I can't." - explaining $50K she spent without city council approval to renovate the mayor's office
"That's exactly what we're going to do in a Palin/McCain administration." - elevating herself to the top of the ticket
"Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have gotten just too big and too expensive for the taxpayers." - commenting on two companies which are private entities
"I have not and most of our vice presidents historically have not." - being asked if she had ever met a foreign head of state, despite the fact that every VP in the last 32 years had, prior to taking office
"I have governed the state that produces 20% of the US domestic supply of energy" - Alaska produces 3.5%
You get the picture. Keep in mind that I have gleaned these few quotes from literally hundreds. Palin doesn't just misspeak; she is ill-informed and not a quick-thinker. A Palin candidacy will provide late-night talk shows with enough jokes to last forever.
Thanks for the Palinisms, Phil. You left one out, though. During an interview last year, after she had referenced the "founding fathers" several times, she was asked who, exactly, she was meaning.
She was unable to name even one "founding father".
Republicans go from 41 senators up to 49. Dick Morris thinks California and Wisconsin are critical and that Republicans will take the Senate. People are so disgusted and with the health care vote going well into 2010, I think the Dems barely lose the House.
We'll see a slew of new governors elected in 2010. I'll say over 2 dozen new guys, just in time for redistricting in 2012.
The losses incurred by the Republican party over the last few years have been staggering. They would need to gain 80 seats in the House of Representatives in order to regain control. That is not going to happen. That being said, Republicans are poised to make significant gains.
The majority of seats up for grabs are seats currently held by Democratic incumbents, meaning that the electorate's current dissatisfaction should have the net effect of fueling a Republican surge. Look for a gain of 35-45 seats here.
The Senate is currently staffed with 59 left-leaning senators, and 41 Republicans. A gain of 5-6 seats is likely.
Right now, governorships are split 26-24 in favor of the Democrats. Here is where you'll see Republicans take control, with a gain of 4-6 seats.
What does all this mean? Probably less than Sean Hannity thinks. Believe it or not, at least part of this movement can simply be attributed to corrections from the past election, when a majority of Republican seats were up. It will be interesting to watch President Obama adjust to working with the new makeup.
The 1994 elections gained around 55 House seats, which was huge. 80 is massive and dreamily not realistic. I'm backing up to 50 to 70 seats, still way in the stratosphere.
I just watched the UNI Panthers beat the Kansas Jayhawks, 69-67, in the second round of the NCAA tournament! They led the game almost wire-to-wire. Sweet sixteen here we come !!!
The Jefferson Iowa News facebook link can be accessed by clicking on the link located directly below the Bistro Blog link along the left-hand side of our web page.
We invite you to follow that link and become a fan of Jefferson Iowa News.
The total lack of comments about NASCAR on this web site is a testament to the intelligence of its readership. By the way, have you noticed how approximately 93% of self-proclaimed NASCAR fans vote Republican and/or are affiliated with the nearest Evangelical church?
My favorite sport is professional basketball. Kobe Bryant's uniform sales were in the toilet when he was a corporate guy, but are stellar ever since the rape charge. Seems twisted to me.
75 comments:
How's the weather down there in Arizona, Braxton? I was at Hy-Vee Wine & Spirits today and bought a bottle of Moscato d'Asti. $9.99 - what's it go for where you're at?
After Danica Patrick ran in to the back end of Scott McDowell's car in today's Nationwide race (ending both their days), she stated, "That driver in front of me should have been watching where I was going."
How long until a group of Idaho fundamentalists heads down to Chile to arrange the sale of a few dozen "orphans"?
i found a stash of centennial jefferson bees celebrating jefferson history from 1966 that my great aunt had saved, these things are LOADED with pictures and info about how great our city WAS. pretty amazing to look at these now , all of the businesses and the young fresh faces of our now retired city leaders. This actually looked like a pretty cool place to live back in the day
It seems to me that the Jefferson centennial was celebrated in 1954. We might need Braxton's help on this.
It's always good to see a new poster. Welcome on board, Phil. What I want to know is, is that your wife?
I would like to talk about taxes. My wife is in the other room on a different computer thinking that our tax return is a life or death situation. Personally. I could care less. I will pay the tax that she has determined. If I were filing the return, I can guarantee I would be paying much less, actually getting a HUGE refund. Any thoughts on this?
Also, Phil will get the most hits ever on his personal site just to get a larger photo view. Kudos and much appreciation, Phil.
That's the down side of marrying an accountant, Marty. It could have been worse - a few friends of mine married lawyers - man, are they screwed.
I'm not really into big tax returns, Marty. Usually it just means that you overpaid during the year, so they're just giving you back money you should already have, anyway.
Rick: Over the years there have been a few mentions that Iowa has too many counties. Believe it or not, there's a proposed amendment to require that the state reduce to 50 or less counties by 2015.
Here's a link: http://coolice.legis.state.ia.us/Cool-ICE/default.asp?Category=billinfo&Service=Billbook&menu=false&ga=83&hbill=HJR2008
try again on the link:
http://coolice.legis.state.ia.us/Cool-ICE/default.asp?Category=billinfo&Service=Billbook&menu=false&ga=83&hbill=HJR2008
Looks like you'll have to piece it together or search for:
House Joint Resolution 2008
That bill would require the reduction in the number of counties to 50 or less by 2015, as you state. If the reductions are not met in time, the state supreme court would designate reductions as needed to meet the bill's requirements.
This bill has just been introduced in committee, and probably won't get out of the committee. I doubt it would ever make it to the floor. That being said, it is at least good to know that some one is picking up on the problems and expenses that Iowa's 99 counties are causing. That bill should be passed in a heartbeat.
Yes, the Centennial was celebrated in 1954, the town of Jefferson was organized in 1854. The Bee and Herald produced an excellent centennial edition, my copy loaned to Rick Bland and many of the photos from that edition appear on this web site. Good memories!
I recommend Moscato d'Asti a nice desert wine. Rick tells me that it costs $9.99 at HyVee, a good price as it costs $12.99 here in Arizona. I have four bottles in my refrigerator.
Braxton Hicks
What's the deal? Is Big Nasty on vacation? Maybe he didn't pay his internet bill.
I see where the earth shifted about 3" on its figure axis due to the recent earthquake in Chile.
The massive quake also shortened the length of an earth day by about 1.26 milliseconds. This is a precursor to the tremendous upheavals we can expect in 2012.
I have been traveling to various places on short notice. I will continue my comments and rantings when I have returned to Iowa and this insanity has ended.
mike -
That really sucks. I just completed a new deck attached to the back of my house, and due to this shifting, it now appears to be about .00000016 millimeters off plumb. I will no doubt have to tear it down and start again.
I'm going to continue a thread from the "Open Discussion" post, because that particular thread will be falling off the page soon (it's at the bottom of the page).
Sarah Palin would be the WORST nominee that the Republicans ran in my memory. The only other candidate that polarizing I can think of was Goldwater in '64. I have been a firm Republican for 30 years, but will move into the Independent column if this travesty occurs and this trainwreck of an individual is allowed a position with that type of responsibility and power.
Just what exactly is it about Palin that would cause an otherwise lucid individual to support her I cannot fathom. You hear things like, "family values", and "morality" trumpeted. THAT IS NOT WHAT IT TAKES TO BE PRESIDENT. If that is all it takes, just go vote for your mom. Everyone but Tars, anyway. Do you know anything at all about Sarah Palin?
Don't tell me she has governor experience similar to Reagan. Do you honestly think that governing Alaska is anything at all like governing California? California's economy would rank it as the worlds eighth largest country. Alaska is smaller in population than COUNTIES in California. The problems and issues faced every day by the chief executive of California make him uniquely qualified to be president.
Palin couldn't even finish her term as governor in one of the country's least populous states.
A state with no immigration issues, budgetary problems, racial or ethnic diversity.
McCain campaign staffers described her as "frightening, dangerous, and mentally limited". Her own staffers in Alaska said she was "mentally unstable ... unwilling to work ... mentally limited ... unfit for office". During a recent interview she was unable to come up with the name of a founding father (you know - the ones she is always referring to).
When staffers attempted to brief her prior to her interview with Katie Couric (the one she bombed), all she would do was complain about her makeup and keep asking if she looked "fat". Her behavior was so subpar during the presidential campaign that "terrified staffers" contemplated asking McCain to have Palin step down. They also decided that if McCain won, they would urge the senator to drop Palin, as it was "unfathomable" and "frightening" to them that Palin would be the VP.
All of these comments are not isolated. They are echoed by many of Palin's past allies in Alaska. Certain Republicans in that state are calling Palin a "sociopathic narcissist" with unmanageable ethics problems.
Responsible, patriotic campaigns that sincerely love their country shoul vet selections like this before giving them the nod.
Exactly what leads you to believe that Mrs. Palin is so "honest and trustworthy"? Red state folks seem to put a lot of emphasis on things like this, even though they have absolutely no first-hand knowledge of it being true. The history of presidential politics is littered with candidates who were thought to be "honest and trustworthy" but turned out to be politicians like everybody else.
Whoa, Rick, talk to Orville K. about getting some columns on ex-Gov. Palin. More than enough material. Perhaps run a belated birthday column for her 2-11 birthday which matches her intellectual forebear, Thomas Edison.
I thought I was damning her with faint praise. Honest, Tea Party ready and the public's fascinated by her. That's an endorsement? Readers of the blog know I can get myself into more than enough trouble with no help from anyone, anywhere, thank you very much.
She didn't (not couldn't)complete her term. She struck while the iron was hot, selling a book and going on Fox. $500,000 in legal bills to a governor who's not an attorney adds up quickly, and gets paid off slowly while governor.
You're right about Alaska's population. The average of the 58 counties in California population is just under all of Alaska's people. But Alaska's land mass is roughly the size of 2 Californias and 1 Texas. It has the sort of mineral resources & oil wealth that you find in the Arctic regions, like Canada and Russia. It's coastline nears, if not exceeds that of the lower 48 states. If you have an environmental concern in your body, Alaska's importance far, far exceeds it's populace.
I had not heard the specifics of the McCain campaign you listed. Funny in a tragic sort of way. I compared her experience to President Obama's. That is/was not meant as a compliment by any means. One of two critical shortcomings of the McCain campaign was Palin's experience becoming a critical issue rather than President Obama's associations, experience and qualifications being focused on. McCain ran even w/the President until the bailout came up, he took a week breather and supported the bailout.
I in no way compared her to President Reagan. As far as honesty, I think she's direct. An admirable quality, but political poison. Betty Ford, Goldwater and George McGovern would qualify. Endearing for a well-liked 1st Lady, but the other 2 were buried under historical electoral landslides w/McGovern losing his next Senate run.
I thought suggesting Indiana's governor, Mitch Daniels would further solidify the fact she would not be one of my first choices.
Anonymous on 2/23 "open Discussion" thread nailed it saying she was "very good looking" as the appeal. Other than political wives, I recollect no woman politico this attractive. Other than Bella Abzug, of course.
I am disappointed. I have enough negative information on Mrs. Palin to fill a loose-leaf notebook, and was armed and ready to use it. It's not just that she is outspoken and has enough political negatives to guarantee another Obama win; it is that she is totally mentally and physically incapable of adequately performing presidential duties. Would anyone in their right mind refer to her as "presidential timber"? We need to quit lowering the bar for our candidates. Her IQ cannot possibly be over 110.
As far as her "not being your first choice" - can I assume then that she is your second? (This might allow me to use some of my prepared material).
Just because Sarah Palin is from a big, big state doesn't mean anything. Is the leader of Chad (a big country) more capable than the leader of Switzerland (a small country)?
Rick-How is our friend Sarah physically incapable of discharging the responsibilities of the presidency? Does she not qualify for your political hall of fame, either?
It is really annoying having to listen to people fluff up Palin's resume. Her experience in office is almost nil. Seriously. She doesn't even stack up well with Obama.
Take a look. Obama was an Illinois state senator from 1997-2004. Granted, not a national post, but he was writing legislation for a lot of people in a large, multi-cultural state. From 2005-2008 he was a US Senator from that state, working politically in Washington on national and international issues. Not a very good resume for a president, but there have been worse.
Speaking of worse - here is Sarah Palin's resume: Served as mayor of Willis, Alaska (population 5400). She won that election with less than 500 votes, and acted as mayor until 2006. That is the equivalent to being mayor of Jefferson for a few years. We all know that that in no way preparers you for anything. Just think of some of Jefferson's past mayors. See what I mean? Then, in 2006, she runs for governor, and in a 5-way primary, comes out ahead with 50,000 votes. She follows that up by winning the gubenatorial race with 48% of the vote (114,000 votes). By contrast, Chet Culver needed 570,000 votes to win in Iowa. She then served two short years in this post without distinction.
So quit saying her resume is as good as Obama or anyone else! When she stepped down from the governor's post, her negative polling numbers topped her positives by 49%-46% (that is in Alaska). Her replacement's numbers are 78%-8% positive. It takes somebody like Fox News to like some one of her caliber.
Larry, answer me this? What candidate would you most like to be stranded on a desert island with? It's obvious. Get serious.
Your friend Sarah is physically incapable of discharging her duties as President for at least a few days every month. Just call it "God's Little Curse".
Look, Sarah DIDN'T finish her term as governor because she COULDN"T mentally or physically finish it.
You make it sound like it was nothing more than a savvy business decision. Well, tell that to the folks in Alaska who expected her to serve the entire term they elected her for. She left office complaining of the physical and mental pressures she was being placed under by the "elite liberal media". Not a good omen if she wants to be president. The reason she has insurmountable legal bills is due to her own actions. Would you really like me to use up column inches on that?
When fellow party members who have worked with you start calling you a "sociopathic narcissist", You obviously have physical as well as mental problems. Go ahead and look that one up.
Have a great weekend!!!!!!!!!!!!
The main Republican activist measures since Teddy Roosevelt have been the interstate system w/Ike and national defense w/Reagan. Assuming Palin is another Republican who sees big government as the problem not the solution, I'm voting for her over President Obama or Hillary.
There is currently no likely Republican candidate I am really intrigued by.
I've given this some thought. Barring a Cheney/Palin ticket, which you can't rule out although it may be the other way around (if Dick is in charge of the VP selection committee again), we Republicans need to look ahead and review our choices.
Diamond Dave would prefer a totally incompetent, mind-numbingly ignorant individual next to the nuclear football. You know how women like to hang on to their purses. She would probably insist that they change it occasionally depending on the season.
I, on the other hand, continue to be the voice of reason in this debate. I can think of many fine Republican candidates that I would vote for ahead of Ms. Palin. For instance we have Teddy Roosevelt. Oh, wait. Well, we have Joe Lieberman. Up front Joe has demonstrated his ability to piss off both parties at the same time.
It is way too early to think about Palin as a candidate. Often, winners don't emerge 2+ years prior to the election. Things will be a lot clearer in a year or so. In the meantime, Diamond Dave can sit around and wistfully dream of his beloved Sarah Palin in the Oval Office.
Not even as an intern.
19 months ago Governor Palin could have been on a show like the old "I've Got a Secret."
Rick what would you pay for a signed autograph to me from my B.eloved S.arah Palin?
To anon., Let me ask you this? Would you support Palin if she was black? I think not. How about if she was a man? Doubtful. What if she was a 67-year old fat lady? Of course not. You have subconsciously lowered your standards in order to get a good-looking younger girl elected.
I don't support Palin because of her looks. My wife would also vote for her, so obviously we've given it a little more thought than that. Take a closer look at where she stands on many issues and you will find a main stream conservative, worthy of support.
D.Dave's postings are a mark of a madman. Do not believe otherwise. If you doubt, read his rantings in the religion section of your local paper. Any local paper will do, since they're all printed by the same f#$%king printshop in Farlin, located between those junk cars you can't afford to buy.
If you read the newsreel along the left-hand edge of the blog, you'll find an item stating that a train derailed about 5 miles west of Jefferson around 9PM Sunday. 30 or so cars of coal were involved; there were no reported injuries.
The only thing being printed in Farlin these days is the fingertips of the locals they round up by the police at the LEC.
Most of us in Jefferson didn't even find out about the derailed train until the next day. I, of course, was way ahead of the curve, having learned it from Jefferson Iowa News. Great Job!
I'm sitting here pondering the mental state of the so-called "Tea Partiers". I don't recall a group of people as misguided and misinformed.
A recent poll found that only two percent of the tea partiers are aware that President Obama has enacted the largest middle-class tax cut in history. A staggering 44%, by contrast, believe that Obama has INCREASED their taxes - and only 16% blame the current economic catastrophe on Bush, who ran up record deficits.
Their ignorance spills over to the health care reform debate. Even though massively rising insurance premiums almost certainly guarantee some form of universal health care at some point down the road (we remain the only country outside of the third world that doesn't take care of all their citizens medically), they seem to be content paying those premiums. They don't understand the affect health care would have on their paychecks, or won't listen. I find personally that the only people who seem to be against it are either wealthy enough that they don't need it, or have never incurred major medical expenses and niavely disregard its importance. Even more remarkable is that seniors overwhelmingly appear wary of government-run health care, even though THEY ALL ALREADY HAVE IT! That's right - this generation of seniors wants government-guaranteed health care for themselves and themselves only!
All I hear from the Republicans (my party) is a bunch of crap about health-savings accounts. To have one of these, one needs to have a job AND have enough disposable income to save for future medical crises. These plans would leave nearly 20% of Americans uninsured. In short, if you can't afford health insurance - that's just tough.
The problem is that we taxpayers then end up paying for the uninsured anyway.
The amount of misinformation being bounced around is really bothering me. Within the last several weeks, an otherwise well-informed (I thought) friend of mine complained to me about:
1. President Obama passing cap-and-trade legislation, and
2. President Obama rolling back the welfare reforms passed in the mid-90's.
Neither of these things are true at all. It is obvious to those of us who are better-informed that conservatives are being very successful in scaring gullible voters. I would very strongly urge everyone to do more research on some of these issues before drawing conclusions.
Does anybody want to fill us in on the flooding around Jefferson?
You might find interesting our most recent story, which has just been published on the Jefferson Iowa News web site. It is entitled: "The 15 Businesses in Jefferson Most in Need of a Facelift". You can access it at jeffersoniowanews.com or directly at:
www.jeffersoniowanews.com/Links/uglybusinesses.htm
Then Senator Obama campaigned on hope and change, bipartisanship and an open government. Change did happen, not the others.
Americans main hope was that something would be done for jobs and the economy. The stimulus bill instead became payback time where people and places that supported him were enriched at our expense. State governments that have been mismanaged and needed to cut fat, were instead enriched and their day of reckoning was delayed.
The late 1970's gave us the song abd attitude "Take this Job and Shove It." Things changed shorttly thereafter and the private sector has done much retrenching and downsizing with benefit packages reduced and responsibilities shifted to the worker. Healthcare, education and government constantly increases costs and expenditures increase above the inflation rate and go merrily on their own way.
Government, like us, is more accountable when it is divided. When you don't get along with your boss you tend to be very careful.
For most of the Bush administration and so far in Obama's, they don't value the others input or check their own desires bcz they don't have to.
The Tea Party movement was spawned by the revelations during the 2008financial debacle and governments hands being all over it. Outrage increased with the scope of Obama's intentions. Then Pelosi and Obama have told us elections have consequences. Being a bad loser is bad form. Being a bad winner is mean. The meanness of a fatally flawed Versailles Treaty after WWI had Lord Curzon stating we'll be doing the "war to end all wars" over again in a generation.
Broken government. Talk of Kansas City's schools facilities reduced by 1/2. No one thought they'd do it. Detroit's considering destroying houses in outlying areas to reduce costs for police and administrative services.
Trillion dollar deficits. 30 years ago that was the debt. We've gotten rid of the 30 year Treasury bonds. Now debt comes back to haunt us in 10 short years. Outside of the tea party, it's business as usual, expecting the burglar of our home to also act as the insurance company to reimburse us.
Rick
River was backed up by ice jams at the bike trail bridge. Got to near 2008 (18' area..overtops banks at 10')levels around noon Friday, has dropped nearly 3' since it broke free.
2 other points from my ignorant perspective.
Recall that 600 bux Obama gave you a year ago? He genrously gave us a $15 a week tax increase in January deducted from your paycheck. Thats $780 bux a year for me. $1560 for my wife and I.
Correct me if I am wrong but isn't that a tax increase?
Local goverment reassessed all the homes and land in the rural and jacked me up over 50K in valuation. Thats not Obama, but another tax increase. Greene county netted about 150K a year in tax payments from that reasessment.
Im not going to argue the health care, but if you had served in the military, you could see US government run healthcare system at its best. Its called the VA.
If we would stop paying for illegal aliens health care, I think we would be in a lot better shape. If you dont belong here, why should you get a free healthcare too?
Dan Rather has already told us that Obama cannot sell melons, let alone any legislature. His one term presidency will weigh heavy on the nation. His wife will leave deeper scratches in the pavement than Hillary's when they drag her out of the White House.
I'm just an occasional poster here, so I'm only going to voice a few comments directed toward Diamond Dave, all in the spirit of debate.
First off, don't just say Obama campaigned for all those things, then crucify him because there has been no bipartisanship, etc. All the things you don't like about Washington existed long before Obama showed up. It's like people are saying, why haven't you fixed everything (you've been in office a whole year, now)? Over 2 million jobs have been created in the last year. Sure, more would always be better.
The economy is not as bad as people seem to think. And some taxes have gone up, but every Democrat ever elected has done that.
I'm not really sure I understand all of Diamond Dave's points, between all the cliches and stuff. I don't get the part about Johnny Paychek. It sounds to me like he's one of these guys who go around complaining how screwed up the government is and how much money they spend. Then when they cut back, eliminate jobs, and streamline, they complain about teacher cuts, and cuts in their favorite areas. I think teacher cuts are a good thing. They are a sign that government is not broke. They are making a needed correction. The "government is broken" is one of the most overused cliches I can think of.
Tell Arnold Schwarzenegger, Chet Culver, or any other state governor that you think they've been "enriched" and their (day of reckoning?) delayed. Des Moines area schools will be cutting 300 positions next year. I don't know what he means by "payback". And I don't know what he thinks their "day of reckoning" is. Maybe when they leave the union? When they declare bankruptcy? Probably just that they will have to trim their budget and eliminate some programs. Again, a good thing.
I don't understand anything he said about the Tea Party.
Just what exactly is this gigantic fear people have of socialized health care? Don't they realize that it is already mostly socialized? Or do they just prefer spending an ever-increasing chunk of their pay check on health insurance?
Why is Obama being demonized? Most of those teaparty people can't even tell you specifically what they're against. They just know that Glen Beck is for it. They come across like a bunch of lemmings. Talk about the ignorant masses.
They are the most misinformed, empty-headed group I have seen formed in my lifetime. They need to go away.
Greg McDermott loses three starters next year, so it looks like for the fourth time in the last five years, the Iowa State mens basketball program will be rebuilding.
McDermott is a nice enough guy, but at some point Cyclone nation has to pick between having a coach who is a nice guy and having a basketball program good enough to participate in post-season play. With a whole new group of kids next year, he will realistically need 2-3 more year again before they will even be competitive.
He took a team with two future NBA players and one international player, and led them to a last-place conference finish.
I see where Maxine Kilcrease, the executive director of the Iowa Association of School Boards, recently gave herself a raise from $210,000 to $367,000 per year. What, $210K just wasn't enough? And this is at a time when this group claims it is running low on funds! The IASB collects funds from all 361 Iowa school districts.
The group's board of directors has been meeting behind closed doors for the past three days. Ms. Kilcrease has been placed on administrative leave (with pay). Kilcrease was hired last August, and just one month later, adjusted her pay upward by 70%. Not bad.
We have learned that several other IASB members similarly had their salaries raised, while asking school districts for more money. There are also reports that association credit cards were used to book private vacations.
The "gigantic fear" I have of socialized health care is not being able to choose the medical professionals I would like to treat me. Everyone knows that there are good librarians and librarians that don't know crap. The same goes with the medical community. I do not want to be assigned some jackass doctor that is approved by the Feds and wait 85,000 months to see him/her while I die in line. If I do survive my wait in line, I may be prescribed some bullshit medication and be told to come back in a couple/three years. Forget that. As far as increased health insurance costs are concerned and what it takes out of my pay check - I could care less. I am pleased with the fact that I have access to the best healthcare available and I can choose the individual who supplies it. If you have a problem with your healthcare providers or cannot afford quality medical care you either have the wrong employer or should be on the dole. If the latter is the case, then I'll pick up your medical expenses through taxation. Take me out to lunch sometime to show your appreciation.
You already don't choose the medical professionals that treat you. Aetna does. Or more likely, medicare does (the government). The doctors who treat you are based on where you live. You don't jet around looking for the specialist you prefer. If you did, you would find that most of the best doctors are not even located in the United States. Asian countries have developed entire cottage industries around treating wealthy Americans with ailments.
As far as being assigned jackass doctors, they would be the same doctors already being assigned to you, or your mother by medicare. Or maybe you don't give a shit about her.
As you say yourself, there are good doctors and not-so-good doctors. That will remain the case regardless of healthcare legislation passing. You get the doctor you are assigned, unless you are getting plastic surgery or something.
Why would you be waiting in line? This is a myth being perpetuated on our less astute citizens by conservative lobbying groups. There would be the same number of sick people, the same number of doctors, and the same facilities.
Medicare has a virtual monopoly-like control of all our nation's medical practices already. All government-run health care would do is change the billing procedures.
I can also "choose", as you say, the physicians I want. My medical coverage is excellent. Guess what? If universal health care becomes law, I can keep it. Besides, even though I realize it is all about you, I'm sure you'd be one of the first to use taxpayer money if you changed jobs.
You don't pay for or select your doctor now. If you did you'd be at John Hopkins, and you wouldn't need health insurance.
I'm madder than Dr. Kevorkian on life support when I see all these old people who want to keep their govenment-run health care, but not allow anyone else access to it!
They are all perfectly happy with their medicare. They wake up every day and go to their doctor because they have a cough, or their knee hurts. Have you been to a doctor's office lately? What's it full of? That's right - old people!!
When those old coots find out that younger, more intelligent folks like you and I might get coverage like they have, they hit the roof! Old folks are the largest group of voters who are adamantly against government-run health care. Even though all their health care IS ALREADY GOVERNMENT RUN!!
How does it feel to have all those senile old bedwetters on the same side of the issue that you are? Not very good, I bet. If you think medicare is good enough for your parents, then government-run health care is good enough for you, too!
Under Original Medicare (versus Medicare Advantage plans), you may choose the doctor you want, assuming he or she is accepting new/Medicare patients. As pointed out above, if you have a Medicare Advantage Plan (perhaps through Aetna), or a non-Medicare plan like Wellmark, you end up choosing a doctor of the insurance company's choosing or you pay higher deductible and co-pays. Private insurance is easily more restrictive than Medicare when it comes to choosing a doctor, be it a primary care or a specialist.
Nowhere in the world can you come up with a more costly, more convoluted health care system than in the U.S.A. Then, to top it off, we're way down the list on life expectancy. In Canada, in the U.K., in France, people in need of acute care get taken care of right away, just like here. The people in the queues are waiting for new hips and other procedures that don't really have to be taken care of right away. If you're 68 and need a new hip, just give up playing soccer for a couple of years.
Medicare doesn't kick anyone off the roll. You can't say that about every private insurer in America.
Let's talk about deficits and the debt. I remember, during the Carter administration, a $90 billion dollar deficit seemed "out of control". Reagan came on board and deficits in the hundreds of billions became the norm.
George H.W. Bush wasn't any better than Reagan with his deficits. Clinton, a democrat, actually had a surplus one year and his 8 years altogether were better than Reagan or the Bushes. Then G.W. came along and made his daddy and Reagan look like misers. The republican presidents run up monster deficits/debt and right-wingers like Diamond don't mention them. However, let a democrat run up a huge deficit and the world is coming to an end.
Obama had two really big problems when he took office. One, he had two wars going on (Iraq and Afghanistan) and we had the worst financial crisis since the great depression a few months before he took office. Now, republicans like Diamond Dave act as if the crisis never really existed. It took massive spending to prevent a world-wide collapse. For a few days in September 2008, the financial markets were frozen ... countries weren't moving money back and forth. The governments of the U.S. and the world had to step in. This led to the bailout. The bailout was under Bush. Diamond Dave probably thinks it was under Obama.
The republicans with 8 years under Reagan, 12 years under the Bushes, ran up the debt to where it is today. Obama was dealt a "depression" hand and two wars. To blame Obama for all the ills of American is unbelievable.
I do agree that it is time to tighten our belts, to work towards a balance budget, but it may take awhile. And, don't forget, it was Dick Cheney who said "...Reagan proved deficits don't matter!"
It took massive spending to prevent a world-wide collapse.
You have to be kidding, has anyone ever succcessfully spent their way out of debt? Obama spent more in his first 100 days than Bush did in 8 years.
My credit cards maxed out, maybe if I get another one and spend 10k at my employer I will get a dollar an hour raise. I like your logic.
Bush didnt do us any favors, but dont go selling Obama as a great savior. That fool will put the final nail in the coffin, and his healthcare mess just might do it.
To anonymous: If I agreed with you, we'd both be wrong.
I see Buford agrees with President Hoover's tried and true method of handling a financial collapse.
Buford said "Obama spent more in his first 100 days than Bush did in 8 years."
When Bush took office in 2001, the federal debt was about $5.7 trillion. When Bush left office, the debt had ballooned to almost $10.6 trillion dollars. In G.W.'s 8 years, he managed to raise the debt by almost $4.9 trillion.
How quickly Republicans forget, or perhaps, maybe they just lie about Bush's spending habits. And, Obama wasn't/isn't spending our way out of debt, he was/is trying to save the economy from going into a complete meltdown like we had in 1929.
Look, I've been around awhile - through eleven different administrations and more congresses than I want to count. Regardless of what political party is in the White House, you hear nothing but charges of reckless spending coming from the other party.
That is because it is Congress that spends your money. Congress has the power to raise money and spend it. That power is vested solely in the legislative branch of the government. Congress has always been full of politicians busy spending money we don't have on their districts.
My guess is that both of you guys by and large voted for the same Congressmen last election that were already in office, busy spending money. Blaming defecits on the executive branch is a lazy way to make a point. A better way would be to elect new Congressmen. They don't have to vote for spending bills.
Just for the record, President Obama spent over 1 trillion dollars in his first 100 days in office. If that pace were to continue (it won't), he would end up spending $15 trillion dollars during his administration. Not counting any health care legislation.
Congress must not want to give the line-item veto to the President so the executive can cut items as he feels neeeded. Most states have this, but not the Feds. The cumulative effect would be impressive.
Actual Obama quote during his 2008 presidential campaign:
"Over the last 15 months, we've traveled to every corner of the United States. I've now been in 57 states. I think there's just one left to go."
Why do people and the press have so low an opinion of Sarah Palin? Just read a few of these quotes from her, and keep in mind she hasn't even started campaigning yet:
"All of 'em. Any of 'em they put in front of me." - unable to name a single newspaper or magazine she read
"They're in charge of the US Senate, so they can get in there and make policy changes" - getting the vice president's constitutional role wrong
"Your department of law there in the White House would throw them out." - referring to a department that doesn't exist while trying to explain why she would not be subject to ethics investigations as vice president.
"We used to hustle over the border to Canada for health care - isn't that ironic?" - admitting that her family used to get treatment in Canada's health system
"We need to shore up these strategies in order to win these wars in Iraq and Iran" - suggesting we are at war with Iran
"The first amendment rights of people like me should be protected from attacks by the mainstream media." - getting first amendment rights backward
"I don't think you should use the word 'terrorist' there" - when asked if people who bomb abortion clinics are terrorists
"I love being here in the great Northwest." - at a rally in New Hampshire
"I am very pleased to have been cleared of any wrongdoing" - after a legislative report found she had broken the state ethics laws
"There is now hope and opportunity in our neighboring country of Afghanistan" - confusing her geography
"There's a place in hell reserved for women who don't support other women" - misquoting Madeline Albright
"Well, let me see, there's been great decisions without consensus - some could best be dealt with on a local level, but, of course, in the great history of these United States, maybe I could take issue with." - unable to name a Supreme Court decision other than Roe v. Wade
"I'm the mayor, I can do whatever I want until the courts tell me I can't." - explaining $50K she spent without city council approval to renovate the mayor's office
"That's exactly what we're going to do in a Palin/McCain administration." - elevating herself to the top of the ticket
"Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have gotten just too big and too expensive for the taxpayers." - commenting on two companies which are private entities
"I have not and most of our vice presidents historically have not." - being asked if she had ever met a foreign head of state, despite the fact that every VP in the last 32 years had, prior to taking office
"I have governed the state that produces 20% of the US domestic supply of energy" - Alaska produces 3.5%
You get the picture. Keep in mind that I have gleaned these few quotes from literally hundreds. Palin doesn't just misspeak; she is ill-informed and not a quick-thinker. A Palin candidacy will provide late-night talk shows with enough jokes to last forever.
Thanks for the Palinisms, Phil. You left one out, though. During an interview last year, after she had referenced the "founding fathers" several times, she was asked who, exactly, she was meaning.
She was unable to name even one "founding father".
Fall 2010 elections (First view)
Republicans go from 41 senators up to 49. Dick Morris thinks California and Wisconsin are critical and that Republicans will take the Senate. People are so disgusted and with the health care vote going well into 2010, I think the Dems barely lose the House.
We'll see a slew of new governors elected in 2010. I'll say over 2 dozen new guys, just in time for redistricting in 2012.
Fall 2010 elections (second view):
The losses incurred by the Republican party over the last few years have been staggering. They would need to gain 80 seats in the House of Representatives in order to regain control. That is not going to happen. That being said, Republicans are poised to make significant gains.
The majority of seats up for grabs are seats currently held by Democratic incumbents, meaning that the electorate's current dissatisfaction should have the net effect of fueling a Republican surge. Look for a gain of 35-45 seats here.
The Senate is currently staffed with 59 left-leaning senators, and 41 Republicans. A gain of 5-6 seats is likely.
Right now, governorships are split 26-24 in favor of the Democrats. Here is where you'll see Republicans take control, with a gain of 4-6 seats.
What does all this mean? Probably less than Sean Hannity thinks. Believe it or not, at least part of this movement can simply be attributed to corrections from the past election, when a majority of Republican seats were up. It will be interesting to watch President Obama adjust to working with the new makeup.
Fall 2010 elections (3rd view)
The 1994 elections gained around 55 House seats, which was huge. 80 is massive and dreamily not realistic. I'm backing up to 50 to 70 seats, still way in the stratosphere.
Governors- Republicans gain 4.
I just watched the UNI Panthers beat the Kansas Jayhawks, 69-67, in the second round of the NCAA tournament! They led the game almost wire-to-wire. Sweet sixteen here we come !!!
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The total lack of comments about NASCAR on this web site is a testament to the intelligence of its readership. By the way, have you noticed how approximately 93% of self-proclaimed NASCAR fans vote Republican and/or are affiliated with the nearest Evangelical church?
My favorite sport is professional basketball. Kobe Bryant's uniform sales were in the toilet when he was a corporate guy, but are stellar ever since the rape charge.
Seems twisted to me.
My favorite sport is curling. Anybody know where I can pick up a good Dennis Sorpova jersey?
It took exactly three days for the facebook edition of Jefferson Iowa News to reach 200 fans.
I'm hoping Butler wins tonight. What a great story. I'll guess Duke wins by 8. (I rooted for Michigan State and West Virginia on Saturday.)
OPENING DAY! GO CUBBIES!!!!!!!!!
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