2007 Toyota Tundra is 10" longer, 5" taller, 4" wider, has a 5.7 V-8, and can tow 10,000 lbs.
2007 Nissan Titan upped their HP on their 5.6 V-8 from 305 to 317. They are trying to compete with F-150's 900,000 a year sales.
Toyota is trying for 200,000 sales on the Tundra this year.
Growing up in Milwaukee, it was Fix Or Repair Daily.
Posted by TIKI AL at September 10, 2006 05:25 AMBush wants to renew Social Security push after vote
President George W. Bush hopes to revive his plan to overhaul the U.S. Social Social Security retirement program if his Republican party keeps control of the Congress in the November midterm elections, the Wall Street Journal reported on Saturday.
Despite polls suggesting Democrats have their best chance in years to regain control of the House of Representatives, Bush told the newspaper in an interview he was confident a power shift was "not going to happen."
"I just don't believe it," he said, adding that if Republicans prevail at the polls, next year might be a good time to reintroduce the effort to reshape Social Security because he could "drain the politics out of the issue."
Bush was forced to abandoned his 2005 push to add private accounts to the retirement program, in part because of concerns among Republicans that the unpopular plan would jeopardize their chances in this year's elections.
Some Democrats have emphasized the Social Security reform plan in their campaign to oust Republican incumbents in November, contending it would inject too much risk into the program and push the government deeper into debt.
Bush made Social Security investment accounts a top domestic priority for his second term, arguing such a system would help young people by putting the retirement program on a more sustainable financial footing.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060909/pl_nm/bush_socialsecurity_dc;_ylt=AgnmOgD8K7MWvZfncAOQ1wKyFz4D;_ylu=X3oDMTA0cDJlYmhvBHNlYwM-
Other than Social Security being revisited, the line Bush saying he was confident a power shift was "not going to happen" is chilling.
Rummy and Hussein even more popular than even Elvis! h/t Raw Story.
Posted by emal at September 10, 2006 05:42 AMYou know, the one thing that would give the GOP victory in November (other than out-and-out stealing of elections)would be the capture of Osama. Five years have passed and we have not captured Osama? Come on. Why isn't someone demanding an explanation from Bush on why Osama is still roaming this earth.
Posted by Judith at September 10, 2006 06:04 AMWell, now we have another reason for invading Iraq, according to Cheney this morning of MTP. No, Iraq didn't have WMD (which by-the-way, is Tenet's fault for misleading Cheney) but Iraq did have the "capability to make them."
Posted by Judith at September 10, 2006 06:18 AMHey pess,
I just finished reading your blog comment post above....I am not gonna email you cause that's just not my style and here's an open thread I feel allows me to address your questions.
I understand your frustration about the comments. As for me, I can be guilty as the next person as for going off topic, getting snarky, or getting chatty with other commenters without adding anything really useful to the topic of the post. With your post, I usually find I am not commenting much at all and I don't have anything useful to add other than "good post" or "spot on" and that gets tiresome after awhile. As a reader, I do read most all of the threads because as you noted often times when they aren't hijacked or off topic, I find interesting and useful comments/perspectives or links. I skim the posts for names and that allows me to avoid wasting time reading certain comments (you know who the culprits are on that). So in that regard, I am sad that you felt the need to shut them down.
Plus often times I find (and maybe this is not the site to do this) some post/comments provoke spur-of-the moment gut wrenching outrage among your readers (especially myself). When I find myself in that position of responding, I usually try to limit my comments to just one and really do try not to get into a troll-a-thon typing match. But I just want you to know, the commenting ability allows people like me a place to vent that outrage and/or a place to respond to some stupid wingnut and its talking point du jour. I greatly appreciate having that ability. Perhaps that is not what you and Steve and/or others want us to do. However, as a longtime reader of this site, I am thankful for it. You are coming from a very different perspective than me a reader.
So after a long rambling response again(sorry for using up so much bandwith), I have to say I wish you would allow commenting ability on your posts(or more open threads nearby??). I respect whatever decision you may have of how you handle the commenting issue. I myself will try to be more cognizant of the type of comments I make on this site in general. I will try to remember I am a guest here. Thanks.
Posted by emal at September 10, 2006 06:36 AMCute:
"You didn't bring your gun with you today, did you?" (Timmeh to Cheney)
"Don't worry, your not in open season." (Cheney to Timmeh)
"I hope I never am." (Timmeh to Cheney)
Don't worry Timmeh, you will never be accused of being an enemy of the Government.
Posted by Judith at September 10, 2006 06:58 AMEmal, I think is it sad that Pessimist made the decision that he did. However, we who post here are equally to blame (and I put myself on that list) along with the trolls. We have allowed these people to hi-jack the comment sections time and time again. Pleas for ignoring the trolls go unheeded, and the quality of the posts slip into a name calling fiasco. Once again, they have no platform unless we give it to them. I realize how maddening it is to ignore some talking point, or some ridiculous comment. However, their goal has always been to disrupt this blog, and they have been very successful occasionally because we have given them that platform.
I do hope that TLC never closes down the comment section. I come here to read everything, including the comments. It is also, as you suggest, a place to vent. Without that ability, I will have to go on valium.
Posted by Judith at September 10, 2006 07:24 AMI know I'm the guilty party here when it comes to scout. He just drives me nuts and I go wacky right back. How about I promise never to comment at him again, pessimist? And to only post on topic? Or even not at all, if you prefer. Would that change your mind about comments? You should be able to let a post percolate without too much monitoring - it wasn't fair of me to go off like that. And it isn't fair to the others not to be able to comment on your posts. What do you say? Get a similar public statement from scout, and we'll all promise not to be dicks anymore? Judith's right, this is the best comment community in the 'sphere, and I don't want to continue messing it up for everyone else. Deal?
Posted by iamcoyote at September 10, 2006 07:43 AMIamcoyote, we are all guilty. I would just ban those who continuously disrupt with complete nonsense (if that is possible). These are the people who have no interest in participating in a rationale discussion, as that is not their purpose.
Posted by Judith at September 10, 2006 08:08 AMI will have to apologize myself, pessimist. I do post some silly things, and I am sorry. I did not intend to disrupt, however, I obviously did. I will stay on topic, with only the odd silly on open threads. Please accept my apologies, and let the brighter bulbs continue to comment on your always insightful posts.
Posted by tempus at September 10, 2006 08:31 AMTo All, Your completely right. I apologized to pessimist immediately after he brought up my infantile diatribe with scout. I knew I was wrong for engaging in these off topic discussions.
Stop it tempus, your comedic responses are important to our sanity!
Open the comments or close them. It makes no difference. But these great intellectual gymnastics about who should post or shouldn't post are getting damn well tedious. And quickly becoming much more tedious than the trolls who supposedly infest these boards. If you scroll the comments there really appears to be a pretty good mix in the comments. Do things get out of hand on occaission? Sure. But on occaission, the comments are incredible.
If the goal is to limit all discussion to sublimely wonderful comments worthy of the best academic minds, then get the best academic minds to post as guest commentators and exclude everyone else. The comments will then be magnificent. Then everyone can blather on about how wonderful the comments are at TLC as they URL to a site that's interesting because of the comments made to posts.
That last sentence in the second paragraph is the key to this debacle. Your computer may be one of the older models still relying on DOS keystrokes or chalk. Mine has this nifty window that pops-up with what us computer nerds call a "scroll thingy" to the right. You don't like a comment? Use the scroll thingy! Just zip right past it.
Iamcoyote, we are all guilty.
There is no guilt or innocence, Judith. Rather, there is blame from pess. He points his finger at commenters who are blamed for disrupting or hijacking comments. Other commenters jump on the blame bandwagon and start telling on folks like 2nd graders tattling on someone who is "bad". Others confess to something for which they are guiltless. Well, I call "Shennanigans" on this silly nonsense. It's childish to be this concerned with "hijacked" comments or who is saying what to who and about what. Get your priorities straight.
The United States is morphing into a fascist state limiting the information we recieve about the current political processes and this administration. And we're talking about who should be allowed to post and who shouldn't? Puh-fucking-leese.
Posted by phidipides at September 10, 2006 09:21 AMGoddammit, p-dip, and here I was bein' all noble and falling on my sword and shit. If we're gonna start getting all truthful, I'm just gonna take my cream pie and go home!
Posted by iamcoyote at September 10, 2006 09:46 AMGoddammit, p-dip, and here I was bein' all noble and falling on my sword and shit.
Mmmmmmm...cream pie!
OK, the obvious: Dick Cheney is a fucking liar and blowhard! C&L has a bit of the interview, what an ass.
Posted by Seven of Six at September 10, 2006 09:58 AMIs all the 9-11 hype really paying tribute to the victims, or is it more like Simon Jenkins suggests in his post on the Huffpo Blog, "The Weekend's 9-11 Horror-Fest will do Osama bin Laden's work for Him."...?(punkuation's a bitch for an under-achieving agnostic hedonist what was too lazy to go to college)
A quote from Jenkins: "Terrorism is 10% bang and 90% an echo-effect composed of media hysteria, political overkill and knee-jerk executive action"...makes sense to me. bush has done more damage than bin Laden.
Posted by TIKI AL at September 10, 2006 10:25 AMIs all the 9-11 hype really paying tribute to the victims
I dunno, TIKI, but when you wake up to the headlines: Rice: U.S. not entirely safe from attack, and Experts: U.S. likely to be hit again, you have to wonder who's getting what outta the "celebration" of this "anniversary."
Posted by iamcoyote at September 10, 2006 10:34 AMI missed the discussion on comments, but I really enjoy the comment threads, even if the start to wander off topic or trolls post. What is the definition of a troll anyway? Someone who disagrees? I agree that it's best not to engage them if they're just looking for a fight, but when people post with disagreement, I think it's good to see what we're dealing with out there in the real world. Not everyone thinks like the folks here at TLC and sometimes it's truly eye-opening to see where the other side is coming from. Sometimes it's scary, but maybe sometimes we can find some common ground.
Posted by CG at September 10, 2006 10:39 AM"I dunno, TIKI, but when you wake up to the headlines: Rice: U.S. not entirely safe from attack, and Experts: U.S. likely to be hit again, you have to wonder who's getting what outta the "celebration" of this "anniversary."
Iamcoyote, George Bush is obviously gaining a lot out of this anniversary, and he is not letting it go by without cashing in on the rememberance. Perfect opportunity to remind us how scared we should be and how only the Republicans can keep us safe.
Holy Crap.
You'd think Timmeh could put up a couple of clips of Cheney with the contradictions to his lies in plain fucking view!
I cannot believe that these bastards actually think that Americans are so stupid as to not remember the lies told a month or even a week ago.
Condi did it as well on Late Edition and was not confronted in her lies.
Lies, lies, lies, lies.
It is all propaganda and it is all lies.
I just read in The Nation about the over-repetition of the propaganda and how it is impossible for the combative truth to come through the incessant lies.
It does not matter that 25% of the people know the truth and see the lies. It only matters that the rest of the people are hypnotized with constant propaganda.
And P-Dip, spot fucking on. Thank you.
Although I fervently believe that the editors on this most excellent site have every right to do as they please: open all threads, screen comments, ban people, have guest commentors...whatever they want; they pay the bills, this is their home, I am just a guest. I also believe that all of the discourse is necessary.
I recently read an article on some ancient Greece democracy where they just took a group of people from all over the city (a complete representation of all of the people) and made them live together for a year or so until they voted on and discussed every fucking issue facing the city. I like this plan. (Much like my mother making my siblings sit on the couch holding hands until they got over their quibbling.)
Discourse is necessary. Even childish discourse. Whatever. I think that nothing gets the truth out more than a screaming match even if people say things that they regret. (Make-up sex is always good too.)
Do what ya want. Nothing you do will keep me from coming here. (Unless you tell me I cannot, which is perfectly within your rights.)
Posted by Anjha at September 10, 2006 11:07 AMCG, I couldn't disagree more. I have written at least ten posts addressing this issue. This is a professional political blog site. It's purpose is to address issues, and receive feedback from it's bloggers. To allow people to disrupt this site, show disrespect, hi-jack the topic, post lies, call us names, and then reward their behavior by allowing them to post here is nonsense. Posting here is not a right that everyone and anyone should have.
I agree that we need people with alternative opinions, including the people who disagree with us. No one has ever not allowed such a discussion to take place. These are not the people that Pessimist is addressing. He is talking about the people whose only goal is to disrupt and infringe on our rights to have discussions on topics. Do you really believe that these people who infringe on our rights should be given their right to do so. I don't.
I've have said it before and I will say it again. If we want to be taken seriously, then we cannot allow these people to reduce it to a pile of garbage.
Posted by Judith at September 10, 2006 11:08 AMThe SPANis currently replaying Senate floor comments from Rockefeller and Levin re: pre-war intel and the admin's lies.
Posted by Anjha at September 10, 2006 11:40 AMFrom 93 to 2001 America was not attacked, the Millennium plot was stopped, and missles were lobbed at bin Laden. Clinton gets no credit.
2001 to 2006 no attack. bushco gets all the credit.
Where are the dem talking points?
Posted by TIKI AL at September 10, 2006 11:45 AMI have Cantwell signs in my yard. Not because I really support her that much; but I support a Dem majority.
I Just recieved info today on this woman and info that the WA State Dems want to avoid a "lieberman" being pulled on Cantwell.
Sons of bitches.
After studying this woman's stand on the issues, I support her much more than Cantwell.
I am wondering what kind of Lamont energy could happen here?
Primary is in ten days. I am pretty pissed at the State Dem Party.
Posted by Anjha at September 10, 2006 11:51 AMPess: I agree with Judith (Iamcoyote, we are all guilty. I would just ban those who continuously disrupt with complete nonsense (if that is possible). ) ...just pull a little green assholes prank and ban the horrible trolls....leave Toby tho' cuz he doesn't take a punch to well and is fun to smack!!...jmho...goyo
Posted by Goyo at September 10, 2006 12:00 PMOne more thing...
Pess, it would be really helpful, if you do publish comments that are emailed to you, if you would put them on the flip-side actually listed under your post. (I get so lost.)
Thanks!
Posted by Anjha at September 10, 2006 12:50 PM-- On a topic
I heard yesterday on CNBC that another terrorist attack could be a good thing for the stock market by opening up some buying opportunities after the initial panic. NIIIIICE...
-- Off topic (even for an open thread)
I read almost every comment I can here. I love the info, wit, passion, and compassion. I think the comments, many times, have as much weight as the topic. I get a little personal and long-winded at times. Just trying to share experiences - I think when you find other people that don't believe the spin and lies - it's nice to hear their thoughts.
-- Even more personal and off-topic
Living in a conservative enclave in California, I just can't believe how refreshing it was to be in Seattle last week, where one of the local news editorials was a piece about this Administration's ability to divide and polarize the people.
It was something like - According to Rumsfeld "People like me" are unpatriotic, "People like me" don't support the troops, "People like me" undermine the security of this country, etc. He had some other examples, and finished up with, "When will they learn there are a lot more people like me than people like them."
--
I would love to see the comment section continue. Thank you.
Posted by dishwashing engineer at September 10, 2006 02:43 PMSo after a long rambling response again(sorry for using up so much bandwith), I have to say I wish you would allow commenting ability on your posts(or more open threads nearby??). I respect whatever decision you may have of how you handle the commenting issue. I myself will try to be more cognizant of the type of comments I make on this site in general. I will try to remember I am a guest here.
emal, iamcoyote and all our regulars: I don't think you need to apologize for any of your comments. In my opinion, we are lucky we have such smart and snarky commenters and our site would be poorer without your insight. I apologize to you all that I don't have more time to manage the comments. Personally, there are very few trolls that I respond to - they are not important to me although it often lets me know what the rightwing lies are on a day-by-day basis.
I don't normally delete comments, although I am going to try to come up with a way to deal with troll comments to reduce their sting.
scout is a special case - sometimes he has a good point and he obviously has decided that we are his type of people - but then there are other times he spouts something so outrageous that I feel just like iamcoyote. I'm just not so vocal. And I reserve the right to deal with his more outrageous comments if he persists.
Posted by Mary at September 10, 2006 02:55 PMI always try to imagine how someone new, reading this site and the comments for the first time, would react. I have suggested to many people that they check out TLC. If I came here new, and read some of the crap that has been posted, I would be more than a little turned off. Surely that's not what we want. This may not be our site, but we are ultimately representing this site.
Posted by Judith at September 10, 2006 04:16 PMagree that we need people with alternative opinions, including the people who disagree with us. No one has ever not allowed such a discussion to take place. These are not the people that Pessimist is addressing. He is talking about the people whose only goal is to disrupt and infringe on our rights to have discussions on topics. Do you really believe that these people who infringe on our rights should be given their right to do so. I don't.
Fair enough. I think I probably don't get on here enough to see the really bad troll threads. And when I have seen them occasionally, I just stop reading, so I guess that's the problem right there. It chases people off.
Posted by CG at September 10, 2006 04:57 PM"I think I probably don't get on here enough to see the really bad troll threads. And when I have seen them occasionally, I just stop reading, so I guess that's the problem right there. It chases people off."
CG, that is a problem and we do not want to chase people away. The discord is not all the time, but now and then we end up not addressing an issue, but taking up an entire comment section calling one another names and using vile trash talk. It always ends up being counter productive.
If we want to be taken seriously, then we cannot allow these people to reduce it to a pile of garbage.
But that is political discourse. At no time has it ever been a kidd gloves kind of thing. It's not people sitting around amiably chatting while nibbling scones. Politics is freaking brutal. The expectation that passionate people are going to listen to -for example- Toby twisting everything around Clinton's BJ with extreme politeness is absurd at best.
Dearest Toby,
Please excuse me for disagreeing, but I am quite certain you are mistaken about the nature of the fellatio and fellatrix in relationship to the Clinton administration and your accusation that the ex-President did not approach terror with all due diligence. I do so dislike saying this once again, but I think you are mistaken in your analysis.
Best regards,
phidipides
American political discourse is akin to pro wrestling, only the body slams in politics are real. It is not that trolls reduce it to a pile of anything. Actually they often provide direct insight into the media machine that impacts them so completely. You want a serious political site? Look at the investigative skills of eriposte. What about Steve or pess or Mary or the others here who analyze and editorialize? These posts are the seriousness of the site, not the comments. The comments are what they are, comments. If you want purely political commentary from those of us here we can't do it, and precisely for the reason that the comments ARE so outstanding. The people commenting here bring specializations and lifetimes of disparate experiences to the comments that go well beyond the political. You could not get the talented and unique analyses you see displayed in the comments in any other fashion.
Posted by phidipides at September 10, 2006 07:00 PM