I have to disagree. O.J.’s aquittal 15 years ago had nothing to do with race. The only color that kept him out of jail was green. Any man or woman of any color that couldn’t afford Johnny Cochran would’ve ended up in jail fifteen years ago.

Unfortunately our justice system has very little to do with the content of a person’s character but has too much to do with the size of his wallet. O.J. couldn’t afford a Johnny Cochran the second go around and the short trial and conviction shows what happens to ANY of us that can’t afford an extremely high powered attorney.

What kept OJ out 15 years ago was the lack of true peers in the jury. The average IQ in Cali is 95.5 well below the national average. The “g” factor of reasoning is even lower. These “peers” were not wise enough to reason the truth and instead watched the case like it was a reality show. They were star struck.
California is ranked 48th BTW. I have lived there and I know why it is that low.

If race was not a factor, then why was the use of the “N” word such a strong defense strategy?

Hello John G great to hear from you.

Carry On.
T

Ahhhh my boyz!!!! I’ve missed you!!!

I thought we’d start out 2009 with some light-heartedness. Then Tony goes and brings up the “N” word.

For what it’s worth… you both are my niggas! (we can say that now that DC is officially a “Chocolate City” right?)

I didn’t bring it up… Johnny Cochran did. You see where it got him.

HHMMM

T

The 1st change of the new administration, the highest priced inauguration in history! Wow, popularity has it’s price.

I hope Obama does well. We need it.
From the headquarters of “Miracle Watch ‘09!”

There….. I feel better now.

T

nice to be here and nice to “see” you both as well! Hope that ‘09 brings you both a whole helluva alot of good things!

I spent the last year in East Nashville JGUST. I got me alot of niggas and you’re definitely one of them! You as well T and you’re even more special ’cause you got that redblood too! That special race that can claim even more injustice then the black community.

FYI – I have a pretty good “in” on the underground economy and the recession hasn’t quite hit those entrepeneurs yet. I’ll update as needed.

To answer you’re question. Johnny Cochran was alot of things and a damn good attorney happened to be one of them. As a damn good attorney he knew all too well that race can be a VERY powerful card! All O.J. needed was ONE peer on the jury in that department to walk away.

To respond to you’re inauguration comment Tony. I’m ignorant as to the price tag. I’d suspect that everything is more expensive then it was four years ago and I have a feeling that security was an enormous expense given the unique circumstances i.e. crowd size, THE racial component ……There are ALOT of angry whites out there!

Personally I think that Obama is off to as good of a start as we could hope for from ANY major party candidate.

Closing GITMO and releasing “alleged” terrorists. The stat on suspected terrorist releases is, 11% return and take a leadership role in terrorism.

Making it OK for tax dollars of those opposing abortion to be used in pro choice scenarios…

Not a good start from my view.

But hey, I’m waiting on my wealth distribution allotment.

Honestly, there hasn’t been time for me to worship or rebuke the Groove Messiah. We will see. I hope he does a good job.

Tony,

Good morning, Jiggle Cheeks.

Is the possibility still on the table that, within the year of Guantanamo’s closing, President Obama has the Attorney General order a review of the circumstance of every detainee and make a determination what to do from there?

I understand the discrepancy between enemy combatants on foreign soil and those who commit crimes in the country. Is there hope for a pragmatism driven by the “rule of law,” much as with his order to review the detention of Ali Saleh Kahlah al-Marri?

Tony, although you are an independent and don’t define yourself as a partisan, your civil-libertarian/fiscal-conservative slant nears (in my view) the Libertarian platform. I’m not saying you are one; just that this is my comparative frame of reference.

So from this assumption, what is your view on having ever used tax dollars to operate the prison at Guantanamo—undermining both civil liberties and responsible spending.

So let me ask fiscal-conservatives: What is the most important thing we spend our tax dollars on?

Mike the possibilities that you speak of are in play and I hope the POTUS exercises wise judgement in all circumstances. He is an intelligent man.
I am Libertarian for the most part but will always consider both the Dem/Rep candidate and stance on each issue, so your reference point is fair enough as long as I am allowed the ability to peel that label off and just be me upon occasion.
As for your question, keeping the country safe from terrorism is something that I am willing to pay for, not just for myself but for those like yourself that see less threat than I believe there actually is.
I have made it clear here that I believe that taxation is a need… but why should I pay for things that I do not feel are helpful to our nation as a whole. My stance for example is not in any platform, Lib/Dem/Rep/etc…
I would choose within given parameters where my tax dollars go.
If you want to know the truth … I feel that anyone in a known terrorist organization which has itself claimed the responsibility for the death of an American citizen should be “fair game” and have a bullseye on their head. Paying for “Muhammed” to have 3 squares and a cot is not cool with me… torture or questionable interrogation tactics should not be used either. If we know terrorist activity is provable… time to meet Allah.
That is not politically correct, but it is how I feel.
We will be tested soon in my opinion, new leader and a more Liberal slant to our foreign policy is an invitation to test us. I am a conservative politically and I support the POTUS and hope his approach works. Wait and see is my slogan… for now.

My tax dollars…. Health Care Research. Plain and simple.

Hey … the messiah took back the contraceptive money … maybe, just MAYBE, he is smart and manipulative enough to put that in the initial proposal, so when conservatives complained he had something to capitulate and thus seem cooperative with the Repubs. Meanwhile the bigger issues get a pass and he gets what he really wants.

I hope that IS the case … that is intelligent tactics and maybe something for the Reublicans to learn from.

Smart negotiations … interesting.

Hello all, how are y’all? I got to watching some old school rap videos on youtube today, so I’m rhyming – yea hay! I’ll stop now, if you will allow. Hey man, don’t birth a cow!

Tony, you may be on to something, however many of the congressional Dems aren’t interested in any negotiations.

There has been a great conflagration about wanting O to succeed – Rush LImbaugh, in the middle of it. Personally, I don’t care if Obama succeeds or not – it’s the country I want to succeed. The big O has lurched leftward pretty far, & is seeing reality bite him a bit. Every bad proposal he puts out, like this earmark riddled pork bill, should fail for the good of the country. I will support any measure I feel is good for the country, but I’m not holding my breath waiting.

I have been studying Alinsky’s “Rules for Radicals” a bit lately. A simple cursory look at these & one can plainly see how these tactics have been implemented by the Clintons & now Obama & his group. Being a Republican, I don’t want Republicans to just take these tactics & use them carte blanche – however, there are some things which can be modified & used. It will be interesting to see how many others in the opposition have studied these tactics.

Robin,
For the “messiah of the granola crowd” to succeed in my eyes, he will have to come back to the center. When I say I want him to do well, my intent IS for the good of the nation.

If he gets his way right now we will all find ourselves beholden to the government for jobs, transportation, etc… he is losing ground with me quickly, I am still holding my judgement, but I am getting closer to an ANTI- OBAMA RANT here.

I find it strange that no one complains about the fact that the bailouts happen (which I hate) and now the gov’t is placing restrictions on the businesses choices for salary.
The average Joe cheers this and thinks “those rich guys will have to live on a lower salary… good job gov’t.”
But they are not seeing the bigger picture where the Gov’t now has a financial stake in private businesses and control of individual earnings.

Tony,

I’m with ya on the bailouts (I hate even using that term)

“Payouts” would be more appropriate.

But I’m kinda diggin’ the salary-cap aspect. It’s a bit of karmic payback of sorts that these greedy idiots who made the conscious decision to accept this dirty money actually have SOME consequence to their behavior. Anyone who wants to play in the socialist sandbox better get ready to have Big Brother all up in their shit.

Now I’m also smart enough to know that they’ll get around “The cap” somehow… but let this be a sign of things to come.

Between the “bail-outs” and the digital TV converter-box debacle, could there be more shining examples of the Federal Government’s ability to effectively manage ANYTHING???

And there are STILL those who want these clowns in charge of the healthcare system.

Unbelievable.

Gusty,
The average Joe in America doesn’t understand politics as well as you do. The reason I am pointing out the salary cap is this:

The proles will see it and applaud the government for controlling the salary of the upper class and consider it a moral victory. Truth is… they have now accepted and digested the thought of government controlling salary of private businesses (which the government has a stake in by infusing the people’s money). This is firmly planted in the psyche of the bottom of the intelligence bell curve. Thus bringing them closer to all working for the government. Meanwhile wealthy ceo’s will figure out how to use incentives and etc to make their income higher, yet the less educated or less intelligent accept the government enforced pay scale.
One step close to …. the United Snakes of Amerika.
I must go throw up now.

The whole buyout concept given to the banks is a tragedy for sure. What’s even worse to me is that these banks then merge or start trimming the fat and what fat do they trim? the highest level is middle management at best. Average working Joe customer service guy is who they cut. Then he collects unemployment and the rest of us get to watch even more of our tax dollars spent on the greed of the still employed upper management tools. Truely stunning!!

I don’t know how many that are hooked to this sight live in Tennesee but I saw an interesting article in the Tenneseean earlier this week (that statement will RARELY come from me. For those of younot familiar it’s the daily overpriced rag of a newspaper that comes out in Nashville).

Anywho the article had comments from economists from several Universities in the state who say that they’re familiar with the current “stimulus” plan. They all pretty much saw approx 75,000 jobs being saved or created in the state due to the spending. Did you see that article JGusty?

If it’s true then those knuckleheads must be doing some good besides the obvious dumbass spending that they usually hook to any large spending bill (i.e. TV boxes, etc.). The best that I had heard so far was to give the majority of it to the states themselves.

JohnG,
Was the time line of these 75,000 jobs put forth?
I am betting …NO.
I am willing to bet that your children will be paying for those 75,000 jobs far after the employee is gone.
The economy will NATURALLY come back …
I predict that the un-employment rates will drop after I eat at an Indian restaurant and “INFUSE” a whopping 10 bucks into our economy. If I wait long enough my prediction will happen.

TIMELINE baby… I need a timeline.

Good to hear from you JohnG.

Relax baby I haven’t drank the Kool-Aid!!

Thanks Tony. Good to be back. Trying to make a habit of visiting often again

I’m sue that I’m not alone in saying that the whole thing is a scare tactic to move money towards agendas. We’ve known that from the beginning of Obamas campaign. The weak economy just put the wheels in motion faster then he could’ve ever hoped for. We should note that he isn’t the first Pres to yse fear to push agendas (not that it makes it right)

BUT if those “agendas” are investment in future tech then I’m for it. Even if it’s the govmnts er, I mean our $$.

One example that the article put forth was an extremely low interest long term loan for a silicone manufacturing facilty in Clarkville to expand so they can produce better cheaper solar panels. The owners are going to have to hire at least 1,100 people to run the line at the plant.

Now the operators had the idea and made the startup but the govmnt infusion of capital has the plant being built right now instead of the 3-4 years from now that the owners thought they were going to have to wait.

Am I crazy to think that type of govmnt investment is good?

Borrowing to fix a problem caused by too much borrowing … F@(#*^% liberals. That is clear thinking!

Not crazy at all.
Just be sure to find out all of the facts. Is this company now beholden to supply these panels to the gov’t? Are the workers trained by a specific gov’t chosen facility? Are there requirements that once the money is received the business has to go by government “guidelines” as far as salaries, insurances etc…

You see my point?
Question everything about this much money being tossed around without ties to the provider. I was with a O’messiah voter tonight that wishes he would stop saying the people have spoken.

I agree with him… the people should have stopped speaking and really listened…. they didn’t.
We are now socialists in training.
Watch for the new issue of Newsweek…

:: Borrowing to fix a problem caused by too much borrowing … F@(#*^% liberals. That is clear thinking!

I’m not sure deficit spending isn’t a hallmark of this website’s namesake.

“As the Obama administration presses the largest fiscal bill in American history, caps the salaries of executives at institutions receiving federal aid at $500,000 and introduces a new plan to rescue the banking industry, the unemployment rate is at its highest in 16 years. The Dow has slumped to 1998 levels, and last year mortgage foreclosures rose 81 percent.

All of this is unfolding in an economy that can no longer be understood, even in passing, as the Great Society vs. the Gipper. Whether we like it or not—or even whether many people have thought much about it or not—the numbers clearly suggest that we are headed in a more European direction.”

This is far beyond Reagan policies. His attempts of smaller government have been thwarted by each of the following administrations both Democrat and Republican. “W” and his pace setting bailout has sent this country in a fast sprint towards European style politics. The most liberal state in our union… California…
has tree hugged it’s way into such a financial quagmire that it is withholding the money it owes it’s very own citizens. Having a committee for every squeaky wheel simply… DOES NOT WORK!
If our government can keep the infrastructure strong, find a better health care plan, keep the justice system as corruption free as possible (I have a dream) , and create OPPORTUNITIES for all… the weak will fade and the strong will survive.

I’m not going to go on a W rampage and am not saying this just to slam him. Economically speaking I don’t think that it was just the bailout during W’s term that set us on a course for economic disaster.

I think the bigger mistake actually was to actually cut taxes during a time of war. I’m all for tax cuts but not if we have to go in debt to China to free Iraq for it. I think that if Bush truely didn’t care about public perception and went with what he thought was right instead our forein debt load would be much more managable. He should have laid out to the people that, if we are truely going to back this war, then we are ALL going to have to sacrifice.

Think about it. $10 Billion dollars a month. 6 years = $720 Billion BORROWED dollars. Gawd knows what that figure is when you tack on the interest. Together they’re probably enough to recklessly bail out reckless banks and pay for a silly “stimulus” bill all in one.

You hit the nail on the head though Tony. The sky isn’t falling and won’t even if the Govmnt doesn’t do ANYTHING. But ALL of us (children included) would be liable for less debt for the next 40 years or so.

JohnG,
I think that we are primarily in agreement on this whole subject. Although, your college experts from a post ago scare me. They are in a very liberal environment and do not actually put their financial education to work. They draw a check for teaching. The staggering amount of money going to colleges in the stimulus kinda taints the water don’t you think?
I will listen to Steve Forbes who says don’t do anything, it will fix itself without causing more debt.

On a completely different subject… 20 days into the administration they have taken the census and placed it in the White House. It has always been in the commerce dept…. commerce has to publish all rules and regulations. White House doesn’t.
White House plans to “estimate” inner city numbers.

Are we serious here?
Which group of people is going to be the 1st to scream and start fighting the government?
It is coming.

The octuplets mom says she believes “God will provide for her children in his own way.”
Is it me or does the combination of super right wing ‘Jesus lovers’ and super left wing ‘we are all in this together’ moochers, cost us money and cause those of us in the middle a whole lot of stress?

My solution… take them to a California zoo and toss them in to the lions den. If God causes the lion’s not to eat OR a granola chomping, Birkenstock wearing, team welfare world dreamer jumps in slays the lions and volunteers to house and pay for Mom and her 14 proles, then I am willing live on the same planet without anger.

OK…OK… It is a joke but I needed to vent after watching her interview.

Hey Tony,what do you think that god thinks of in-vitro fertilisation?I guess that,at least she’s near her PHD.so maybe she won’t be sucking at unckle Sam’s teat for too much longer.

Dearest Fred…
I have recently spoken with god, (Also known as the flying spaghetti monster… see my link!) His “Noodly Appendage” spoke to me of this matter.
Apparently god is a Yankees fan and wishes for the vintage sperm of Alex Rodriguez circa 2001-2003 to be placed into the womb of all women that can hit over 300 in the ladies fast pitch league.
Also granted the blessing ‘o’ god is the sperm of Jimmy Swaggart, The Pope (before wearing those ridiculous Marilyn Manson costumes… post costume? See Roe Vs Wade) and that Ted Haggard dude that was so cool with the donation money.
I hope this helps you young Fred Savage in your Boy meets world life.

Back to the real world….as bad as the economic numbers are, the unemployment figures have not reached the levels of the early 1980s, let alone the 1930s — yet. A total of 598,000 payroll jobs vanished in January — the most in nearly 35 years — and the unemployment rate jumped to 7.6 from 7.2 percent the month before. The most recent high was 7.8 percent in June 1992.
And the jobless rate was 10.8 percent in November and December 1982. Unemployment in the Great Depression ranged for several years from 25 percent to close to 30 percent.

Who is using scare tactics now?

The whole thing is really making me sad.

To be honest I really wanted to drink the Kool-Aid and I’m sure that I’m not alone. There are some things that he’s done that are a little bit different such as naming some repubs for his cabinet but the more that I hear and read the more that it’s apparent that Obama’s just another politician. The example that keeps brewing in my mind at this point is that he said during one of the debates that he would go over the budget line by line if need be. Now I NEVER was under the illusion that he actually would do that but the absolute lack of oversite toward the focus of this stimulus bill couldn’t be more old school politics.

But that’s not what makes me sad. What saddens me is that election after election our country has a war of ideas but the end result is never going to be a true change from the standard ways of politics. Whether it’s the right or the left that’s in control.

All that we can ever hope for is that one of these standard politicians don’t do something REALLY stupid. And THAT is sad. Personally I think that Iraq and the initial bailout were REALLY stupid and right out of the gate Obama is pushing for something REALLY stupid to the tune of $800,000,000,000. So over the past 8 1/2 years and running we don’t even have the hope of somebody not doing something REALLY stupid. That’s ALL that we had before.

It’s quite a number when you actually write it out isn’t it? $800,000,000,000

$800,000,000,000

JohnG,
I am with you. I can now state that I am not happy with this administration, however, things could still turn around (but it is unlikely). My worries are not just the economy … thinking that you can reason with people that think it is cool to strap a bomb on and take out innocents. Allowing these people to have a bomb is an futile exercise in faith in humanity. I have no faith in humanity… some will say I am negative or paranoid but reasoning with these guys is not going to work.
I am sick!

we have to stop agreeing Tony. It makes for way less interesting conversation

I disagree?!?!?!?!

LBJ was sworn in on a Catholic Missal (there were no Bibles on Air Force One).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lbj#Presidency_1963.E2.80.931969

Cheers!

-jon

Where’d everyone go?

J, the only thing about Karma is that it comes around. If the government can limit what one makes, it can limit what all make – as well as other things the government has no business limiting.

RobinR,
I have been preaching to deaf ears on that very point. Meanwhile the Gov’t keeps getting bigger…
Oh well. I’ll stand my ground against the lemmings.

Excellent, when one knows he or she is right he or she must stand his or her ground. First thing is to make sure one is right.

NAFTA… Now importing SWINE FLU!
Maybe Obama can make the virus a citizen too!

we need new posts up in here!

What do you guys think about the recent political intrigue in little old Pegram?

So, what’s going on in little old Pegram?

Well, at the end of March the vice-mayor declared the mayor “unable to discharge duties” because she fired the town recorder & one of the public works guys. The aldermen voted to sanction it, though they were informed it was illegal. They did not relent until recieving a “cut it out or else” letter from the district attorney. In the face of this, they still claim they were ethical & legal in doing so. The mayor (my wife, for full disclosure) had given both several months to do their jobs properly, but they chose not to.

These same people who were elected on the promise of fixing the problems at town hall are now protecting the status quo. Pegram town hall has a reputation for making it tough on citizens to get public documents & being unfriendly.

They have now voted to take the supervisory duties from the mayor & give them to the vice mayor, who has said over & over he does not have the time. Why these guys have done a 180 degree turn, I don’t know – any of them could have run for mayor.

So, I’ll assume that 2 who were fired are drinking buddies of the vice-mayor.

There’s a couple people where I work who are just about the most worthless people I know. The do nothing but surf websites all day and are a waste of oxygen. But, they are well connected in the company, so nobody dares fire them. I don’t know all the details, but it sounds like your wife did what should have been done, and I hope it works for the both of you.