I have so much news in my inbox that I could control this thread and change direction all day long.
First off, 2 out of three Americans want us out of Iraq. In addition, Asked who they would likely vote for in November, 53% picked Democrats, 39% Republicans.
Good News.
The bad news is, that if the Congress does not raise the debt limit, entire Govt operations will have to be shut down. Does this include the preznitsy? I'm for that.
Posted by Anjha at March 3, 2006 07:59 AMI wanted out of Iraq, before we were IN Iraq, and was called "unpatriotic" for my efforts.
Katherine Harris took illegal funds from Top Guns' defense contractor? We may get some well deserved primoral revenge, yet.
Cunningham sentencing this afternoon, ya-Uhmmm!
Anjha, I never pulled up either of the webbsites you mentioned, and my eyesight is STILL failing.
Posted by TIKI AL at March 3, 2006 08:12 AMIn other [bad] news, McCain Anti-Torture legislation will not help Gitmo detainees.
That hell hole concentration camp must be shut down.
Posted by Anjha at March 3, 2006 08:13 AMAnjha, I never pulled up either of the webbsites you mentioned, and my eyesight is STILL failing.
Posted by TIKI AL at March 3, 2006 08:12 AM
TIKI, no need for hands off [yourself] I guarantee that is not the problem. Perhaps it is a build up and there must be more hands on efforts to rise above the failing eyesight.
I'm still pissed over the Democratic rollover on the Senate PATRIOT ACT renewal. I'm hoping I'm still pissed over it until November. Those fuckers don't deserve control of Congress.
Posted by idiosynchronic at March 3, 2006 08:16 AMFunny you mention the debt limit, Anjha. I saw this yesterday and was appalled:
...last week Treasury Secretary John Snow "informed Congress that he would begin borrowing from the federal employees' retirement fund to avoid exceeding the nation's statutory debt limit of $8.184 trillion"
Posted by ann at March 3, 2006 08:22 AMlapin at dKos says that if you pay too much on your credit card bill, Homeland Security has to be informed about your "suspicious" behavior. And it seems that the payment to the card company was held until the feds could figure out they weren't terrorists or criminals so the couple actually had to pay late fees for not getting their payment in on time.
This is the big brother society - everything you do is being tracked and monitored. Glad that the Patriot Act is doing such a good job making us "safe".
Posted by Mary at March 3, 2006 08:24 AMPay off debts? How unpatriotic! What kind of American are you? Oh, I know, you haven't gotten the memo yet, according to the latest right wing think tanks, true success can only be measured by high debt levels.
Posted by herbal tee at March 3, 2006 08:39 AMMary,
The information cited predates the Patriot Act and Homeland Security.
This was part of Clinton era money laundering legislation designed to put the onus on bankers to “know your customers” so that they could be held liable in mainly drug/tax evasion cases.
Posted by j.west at March 3, 2006 08:49 AMThis is the big brother society - everything you do is being tracked and monitored. Glad that the Patriot Act is doing such a good job making us "safe".
We had a problem at work recently with employees trying to cash reimbursment checks at our bank without having their own account at that bank. I was told by a bank VP that because of the Patriot Act, banks were no longer allowed to cash checks for people who were not customers of the bank. We're talking about checks under $500.
Frankly, I think that's BS excuse that the bank is using to encourage people to open accounts with them, but since all provisions of the Patriot Act are not general knowledge or even completely accessible to the public (most people don't read legalease easily) I think it's easy for a bank to make up a rule and blame it on the government.
Posted by ann at March 3, 2006 08:53 AMMary, I read the lapin and Bob Kerr articles, but neither mentions having to pay any late fees. Did you talk to the victims directly? Late fees would be actionable, and my attorney is chomping at the bit to stick it to Bushco on something like this.
Posted by TIKI AL at March 3, 2006 08:53 AMRobert Byrd's email statement about his proposed bipartisan commission on NSA wiretaps is superb.
Posted by Via at March 3, 2006 09:06 AMVia, I always like to listen to Senator Byrd, reading it is not quite the same. When he repeats a phrase to make his point, it is wonderful. Heard it on the floor yesterday.
Posted by Anjha at March 3, 2006 09:11 AMThe information cited predates the Patriot Act and Homeland Security.
There were a number of changes to the 1996 law under the Patriot Act. Please read this section of the article again:
They were told, as they moved up the managerial ladder at the call center, that the amount they had sent in was much larger than their normal monthly payment. And if the increase hits a certain percentage higher than that normal payment, Homeland Security has to be notified. And the money doesn't move until the threat alert is lifted.
The Dept of Homeland Security did not exist in 1996, therefore the law was amended in 2001.
Posted by ann at March 3, 2006 09:13 AMMary, I read the lapin and Bob Kerr articles, but neither mentions having to pay any late fees. Did you talk to the victims directly?
I have the same question. My understanding is that the couples' available credit was what was tied up. Sort of like how if you rent a car they get an authorization on your credit card for a certain amount that ties up your available credit until the car is returned.
Posted by ann at March 3, 2006 09:16 AMSorry, I had inferred that the couple probably had to pay late fees because they had to contact the bank to find out why the payment hadn't been received. And I supposed that the bank didn't bother to let the credit card company know that there had been a hold put on the payment - so from the credit card company's perspective, the bill had not been paid. But that is only my supposition. I will see if I can get confirmation on that.
Posted by Mary at March 3, 2006 09:27 AMann, if they had to pay late fees, they're interest rates on ALL their accounts could be raised, ala consumer credit card protection, which is NOT Clinton's baby.
Anjha, are you related to Dr. Ruth?
Posted by TIKI AL at March 3, 2006 09:30 AMHas anyone been able to find a site that details the changes to the banking laws under the Patriot Act that is written for the average American? I have looked for work purposes, and cannot find anything that wasn't written for banking lawyers.
I think what may be happening is that certain banks/credit card companies are having difficulty understanding the changes to the banking laws or are indiscriminately using the changes as a catch-all reason for their own rules.
It seems a consumer advocacy group needs to know about this to educate and inform citizens of their rights.
Posted by ann at March 3, 2006 09:33 AMann, if they had to pay late fees, they're interest rates on ALL their accounts could be raised, ala consumer credit card protection, which is NOT Clinton's baby.
TIKI, I don't think this is what happened. It appears that the payment was credited to their account but that a comparable available credit was not freed up at the same time. The couple didn't see a change in their available credit so they contacted the bank to determine if the check had been received.
It sounds like a fly-by-night credit card company, if you ask me, because on my credit card website, I can see payments made as well as credit available.
Additionally, I inherited some money a couple of years back and paid off a substantial credit card bill without encountering the same issue. Perhaps because I also closed the account, but again it could be a lack of understanding of the changes to banking laws under the Patriot Act.
Posted by ann at March 3, 2006 09:38 AMAnjha, are you related to Dr. Ruth?
Posted by TIKI AL at March 3, 2006 09:30 AM
No. My advice column is only available to my friends. They seek the shit often though.
(Could it be my propensity to advocate masturbation as a catch all solution?)
Here is an interesting ACLU Survey regarding the new presidential powers (grabbed, just cause).
As you take the survey you get to see the percentage response of others. I am curious why so many are so willing to give up so many liberties.
The spin machine sure has people afraid.
Posted by Anjha at March 3, 2006 09:45 AMAn informative diary at kos:
worst GDP, wage & job growth in 40 years
Kinda hard to give Bushie a pass because of the tech bubble when we're looking at the past 40 years.
Posted by ann at March 3, 2006 09:54 AMCue Muckdog, 5 4 3 2 1
Posted by Goose1 at March 3, 2006 10:07 AMann, OK, I'll put my lawyer back in his tort-ure chamber, pending any updates from Mary, whose logical assumptions were probably based on aggravated "bankal" abuse at some point in her consumer life.
Anjha, wish my Mother had your philosophy, I still have faint turpentine stains on my hand.
Posted by TIKI AL at March 3, 2006 10:09 AMGoose, it's called muckbaiting.
Posted by ann at March 3, 2006 10:27 AMCue Muckdog, 5 4 3 2 1
Posted by Goose1 at March 3, 2006 10:07 AM
I am really interested to see how Muck can justify an $8.2 TRILLION dollar National Debt as a good thing and justify raising the debt limit.
It should be an interesting line of BS to attempt to follow.
My prediction. When the dollar falls - it will and all of the people who have been living on the equity in their houses just to survive, because their wage growth has not kept up with inflation, begin to lose the value of their homes.
All of a sudden their equity will go backwards and they will be owing 400K on a house that has now been devalued (thanks to the fall of the dollar) will now be worth 350K.
I see big depression coming. Long food lines. Tent communities in every community. Hungry people standing outside of the gated communities begging for money from the ultra-wealthy who benefit from Bushies policies.
But hey, I am the optimist around here.
Justify it all Muck.
BTW, the reason we have to allow the sell of our infrastructure to foreign nations is because they own 20% of America. They are calling in their debt.
This preznit has borrowed more money from foreign nations that all previous presidents combined.
This should be a billboard on every corner of every street in every city in the US.
Posted by Anjha at March 3, 2006 10:30 AMLong food lines. Tent communities in every community.
All the better to keep an eye on you, my dear!
Minimal 'blackwater' guards, thus keeping cost down.
I see big depression coming. Long food lines. Tent communities in every community. Hungry people standing outside of the gated communities begging for money from the ultra-wealthy who benefit from Bushies policies.
Did you just watch Cinderelle Man, Anjha? When I saw it, all I could think that this could be America again.
Posted by ann at March 3, 2006 10:44 AMThe Patriot Act passed 89-11 in the Senate, with most Democrats voting for it.
The right-wing nuts a jubilant. Has the world gone insane? Please debate these nuts on the link above, if you have the time.
Posted by Tester at March 3, 2006 10:47 AMMary: thank you so much for your note to me. Those of us who have been affected by war genuinely need that support. Thank you again, and, if it would not offend you, would you mind if I could call you a friend. You have certainly been one.
Tempus
bb, don't we already have a tent community in Phoenix, where pink underwear is all the rage?
STILL no rain.
Posted by TIKI AL at March 3, 2006 10:54 AMbb, don't we already have a tent community in Phoenix, where pink underwear is all the rage?
Joe's garage!
Posted by bbtb at March 3, 2006 11:12 AMWe have tent cities around here that move every few months from church parking lots to park and rides. They bring tons of controversy because people "don't want that kind of people in their community.
Selfish bastards.
I don't want any person in our Country being homeless, going hungry or living without healthcare. But, hey, I'm just a filthy liberal.
Posted by Anjha at March 3, 2006 11:19 AMAnjha: Perhaps we should look at the "gated communities" and Georgetown homes that the powers that be live in. They are the reason people still have to live in cardboard boxes in the US. As long as they have their little bit of "heaven", the rest of us can go to hell.
Posted by tempus at March 3, 2006 11:29 AMAs long as they have their little bit of "heaven", the rest of us can go to hell.
Posted by tempus at March 3, 2006 11:29 AM
We are already there. How's the saying go: "Religion is for those who are afraid to go to hell, Spirituality is for those who have been there."
Thanks to their big, remodled homes, there are nice big, chrome, appliance boxes for all of us.
(Side note: I have been washing dishes by hand for the last few weeks, we will not be able to afford to replace our broken dishwasher until...?!?!?!? Pigs fly?)
Posted by Anjha at March 3, 2006 11:38 AMThe 9/11 demolition conpirators need to be wiped from this website. This is no place for that kind of bullshit.
Enough on that.
Muck...where you at? Give us some EconSpin, bro!
Posted by God Of War at March 3, 2006 11:45 AMAnjha,
We have programs for housing assistance, food and medical care.
The one thing we don’t have is dishwasher assistance.
Damn You, George Bush.
Anjha,
We have programs for housing assistance, food and medical care.
The one thing we don’t have is dishwasher assistance.
Damn You, George Bush.
Posted by j.west at March 3, 2006 11:49 AM
*****
And WE have to pay for all of that shit, you fucking asshole, because YOUR party cannot preside over an economy that produces even modest wage growth.
You fucking failures.
Posted by God Of War at March 3, 2006 11:52 AMAnjha,
We have programs for housing assistance, food and medical care. posted by UJest
*****
OMG, I will rush to all of the homeless tent cities and the people downtown in the doorways and let them know. Shit, if only they knew about all of these programs I am sure they would not be in the tent cities. Damn. If only I was aware of this.
Point being, dumb ass, these programs are nearly impossible to be approved for. Waiting periods are endless. Tent cities are the only option and it will only get worse.
There is not enough housing for all of the homeless people. Food banks are extremely underfunded and the use of them substantially increased over the last 5 years. MILLIONS of children go to bed hungry, in this Country, every single night and the Repukes just cut school lunch assistance which was the only meal many of these kids get.
Pull your head out of your ass Ujest. Take a look around you and see the reality of what has occured in this Nation. Open your eyes to the needs of your fellow human being.
Next time you stub your nose, realize that it could be you.
Last time I respond to your selfish spittle.
Posted by Anjha at March 3, 2006 12:18 PMoops. Shoulda been "snub your nose" but "stub your nose" works if that means that it is on someone's fist. Really, I don't wish violence on you, but knocking some sense into you would be nice. That is if sense leads to compassion. Is it possible?
Posted by Anjha at March 3, 2006 12:22 PM“OMG, I will rush to all of the homeless tent cities and the people downtown in the doorways and let them know. Shit, if only they knew about all of these programs I am sure they would not be in the tent cities. Damn. If only I was aware of this.”
You know, there is a thought in this collection of sarcasm.
How about researching the local, state and federal programs available in your area for homeless people? I think you might be surprised to learn of the range and depth of the assistance available. You could correlate all the data, recruit assistants to help the needy through the paperwork, cultivate relationships with social agency personnel to help smooth the approval process, actively seek out those that need help and maybe, just maybe, make a difference in this world.
Or, we could just hang around here and bitch about Bush.
Your choice.
I want you to know that I’m doing my part also. I’ve instructed the guard at the gate of my community to stop shooting poor people (unless, of course, they actually try to get in).
Or, we could just hang around here and bitch about Bush.
Every time you point a finger at someone, you're pointing three at yourself. You could go do something rather than hang around here defending the indefensible and wildly unpopular Bush.
Posted by ann at March 3, 2006 12:42 PMWest, go away. Why is it that when someone argues with you you tell them to look it up. Then when you are proven wrong (time and time again) you just ignore the facts?
Posted by goose1 at March 3, 2006 12:42 PMBoy, what a tough crowd.
I toss out a slab of liberal red meat and you people act like vegans.
All that you need to do is take the suggestion, outline it, type up a proposal and send it out. Foundations would inundate your mailbox with funds.
You might even be able to help some of the people you claim to care so much about.
Being able to research effectively on the internet is a relatively new skill. As far as I know, no one is applying these skills to the task of finding out all the programs available for those that need them. Acting as a public advocate, ombudsman, a bridge between bureaucracies and people would be a cause that a great deal of foundations could comprehend and love to fund.
Don’t be so touchy…..and try to get a sense of humor.
Don’t be so touchy…..and try to get a sense of humor.
Posted by j.west at March 3, 2006 01:05 PM
See:
(Side note: I have been washing dishes by hand for the last few weeks, we will not be able to afford to replace our broken dishwasher until...?!?!?!? Pigs fly?)
Posted by Anjha at March 3, 2006 11:38 AM
That was humor you prick.
All that you need to do is take the suggestion, outline it, type up a proposal and send it out. Foundations would inundate your mailbox with funds.
There's a lot more to it than that, ujest. You need to be a public charity with an active board of directors to get those funds and there's a lot of competition for that money. Then you need to have the infrastructure to disburse and manage the funds and to report the stats to the funders.
Being able to research effectively on the internet is a relatively new skill. As far as I know, no one is applying these skills to the task of finding out all the programs available for those that need them.
Clearly you know nothing of charitable work or philanthropy. NPOs have been using the internet for research since the mid-90s. There are tons of websites that list foundations and coporations by funding area.
Acting as a public advocate, ombudsman, a bridge between bureaucracies and people would be a cause that a great deal of foundations could comprehend and love to fund.
Clueless again. In Chicago it's called The Coalition for the Homeless. There are similar NPOs all across the country. Problem is there simply aren't enough available funds - private or government.
Posted by ann at March 3, 2006 01:20 PMannie,
Your right, it's too hard.
Fuck the homeless.
Posted by j.west at March 3, 2006 01:24 PMYour right, it's too hard.
Right on clue you missed the point AGAIN. I never said it was "too hard," I said that lots of people are already working on this issue and there simply aren't enough available funds.
But then it just wouldn't fun for you if you couldn't be patronizing, would it?
Posted by ann at March 3, 2006 01:31 PMSounds like you're the touchy one. Why would anyone take your suggestion? You have been a proven liar. When you get called on it you just ignore it or lie. You and I both know you have no honor, so just go away.
Boy, what a tough crowd.
I toss out a slab of liberal red meat and you people act like vegans.
All that you need to do is take the suggestion, outline it, type up a proposal and send it out. Foundations would inundate your mailbox with funds.
You might even be able to help some of the people you claim to care so much about.
Being able to research effectively on the internet is a relatively new skill. As far as I know, no one is applying these skills to the task of finding out all the programs available for those that need them. Acting as a public advocate, ombudsman, a bridge between bureaucracies and people would be a cause that a great deal of foundations could comprehend and love to fund.
Don’t be so touchy…..and try to get a sense of humor.
Posted by goose1 at March 3, 2006 01:46 PMThe above is directed at West.
Posted by Goose1 at March 3, 2006 01:46 PMAnd another thing……
The Chicago Coalition for the Homeless is just another liberal advocacy group, looking to bitch, moan and complain while collecting donations to do so. Try to find the portion of their website that says “If you are homeless, or if you are someone trying to help a homeless person, please click here”. Don’t waste too much time trying to find it, it doesn’t exist.
What I was trying to put forward was group of computer literate, hard to intimidate people who actually learn what is available and help people obtain it.
Simple, easy to understand, no agenda other than helping people get what is there for the taking if only they knew what was available.
No one passing out money, just information.
If a foundation chose to fund it, they would only be paying for infrastructure and modest salaries for administration.
Try and find some organization that does what I’ve outlined without some hidden (or blatant) agenda.
"Muckbaiting" - funny!
TGIF, Lefties! I read the Kos article about how this is the worst economy the planet has ever experienced and all, and unfortunately can't remember my Kos password so I could login and call 'em all boneheads.
Personally, I love all this bearishness and gloomy-doomimess. If you're not in the market and just sitting around waiting for it to go down, then the only thing you can do is cover your shorts or buy back in. The Investors Intelligence survey came out this week and showed the most bears since March 2003. I think the market (SP500+dividends) is up approx. 60% since then. We're 3 years into the bull market, and those on the long side are happy campers.
I'm a little weary of the Lefty comment that unemployment needs to include the people "who quit looking for work." It's just a ridiculous concept. Absurd. Hooey. Horse pucky!
And comparing those GDP numbers from the 70's to now? Er, uh, what was inflation folks? I think they're numbers aren't exactly correct, because the GDP averaged in the mid-3s from 1966-1982 (bear market) I believe. But the growth in inflation during that time was severe. We went from historic lows in the late 60's to historic highs in the early 80's.
Regarding wages being down after inflation, I've heard multiple conflicting stats about that. It's an average wage vs. median wage sort of thing. You get different results. One is negative and one is positive. But with inflation so low at the core, I wouldn't expect to see any gains beyond that.
Posted by muckdog at March 3, 2006 02:30 PMUjest, shut up. You don't know what you're talking about. Chicago Coalition for the Homeless is an organization that advocates on behalf of the homeless. They lobby the city of Chicago, Springfield and DC to build and fund services for the homeless in Chicago.
As for your suggesting that there be a non-profit to hand out information, you can't be serious. Any NPO that provides services for the homeless already does this in addition to everything else that they do. If you knew anything about social services, you would know this.
And perhaps you missed the part of the CCH's website that says:
If you are homeless or about to become homeless, you can call the Chicago Department of Human Services for assistance. Just dial 311 from any telephone and ask for homeless services.
Yep, there's oceans of unused state and federal money out there for the poor and homeless, the poor bureaucrats just don't know or understand all the complicated rules on how to hand it all out! Or how to get the idiot poor to ask for it!
If those GD internet lib'ruls really cared about the poor, they could easily break this inexplicable, mysterious dam holding back the millions in increased social services funding heroically provided by President Bush and the beneficent Republican Congress! In their spare time in their own living rooms, using their laptops!
Lib'ruls: they're HYPOCRITES! Especially online!
Just more of the Reactionary Right's chief hobbyhorse folks: the revolting hypocrisy of the Left. This is one of the principal tenets of their religion.
Posted by euzoius at March 3, 2006 03:10 PMYour know, when I was 15, I decided that I did not care if a person was a homosexual, lesbian, or any mix in between. I judge people by their character, not by any other standards.
If I meet someone who I consider a "good person", that is all I need to know. All they need to know, if they consider me a “good person”, is that I am heterosexual. It is a simple process. For all of you out there who are so simple-minded that you cannot conceive of a relationship which is not a clone of your mother and father's, I simply feel sorry. There are some amazing people out there who do not fit into your Lego block world. And for many who have a 1950’s attitude towards relationships, take a long hard look at your parishioners. You may be in for a big surprise.
Thanks, tempus, for your kind words. I am pleased to call you my friend.
Posted by Mary at March 3, 2006 09:09 PMMary:
Thank you very much. You have given me a present, to be able to call you a friend, which means much more to me than any under the Christmas tree.
Posted by tempus at March 4, 2006 08:38 AM