Quote :

"it is now borrowing at 1% and lending at 5%"

Assuming there are enough people out there looking and worthy to lend to to make up for operating costs. I don't know which of the financials institutions are making a killing on the refi's.

4/6/2009 10:16:56 PM

Quote :

"And if the handout was given with this wink in mind, why are the institutions scrambling to give it back"

uh, it's pretty obvious. Obama and company are causing mass hysteria and are vilifying every single bank they can find that took TARP money. As well, they are now trying to dictate employee salaries. That wasn't part of the original deal, so you damned well better believe the banks are scrambling to give it back

4/6/2009 11:00:17 PM

rofl...ok burro, you're making perfect sense now, I literally have no valid come back anymore

4/7/2009 6:10:23 AM

Quote :

"Plot to assassinate Obama foiled in Turkey "

http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/04/06/turkey.assassination.plot/index.html?iref=mpstoryview

I am sure had they succeded LoneSnark, aaronburro, and hooksaw would all be celebrating together.

4/7/2009 9:14:16 AM

Of course.

They're also huge Biden fans, I'm assuming... because aren't we all?

4/7/2009 9:24:44 AM

^^ i was surprised that he stayed overnight in Turkey. I wonder if they stayed in a hotel or embassy or something, or if they went back to Air Force One.

[Edited on April 7, 2009 at 9:28 AM. Reason : .]

4/7/2009 9:27:49 AM

Obama did a good job in Turkey.

4/7/2009 9:40:46 AM

HUR, no more so than I would have celebrated if Bush had been shot.

4/7/2009 12:22:24 PM

That would have been horrible that means Darth Cheney would be president.

4/7/2009 12:23:16 PM

My social security tax went up this year.(limit raised from 102k to 106k) I make under 250k (well under). What gives? I had a promise.

4/7/2009 3:56:39 PM

For an eyedr, you sure do seem poor as hell.

4/7/2009 4:15:30 PM

not poor but not rich. I make a comfortable living, but I have a lot of school debt and my wife went back to school.

But the point was my SS taxes are increasing and Obama said he wouldnt do that.

4/7/2009 4:41:07 PM

4/7/2009 4:46:50 PM

I know right, I feel SO betrayed. I just cant believe he did that to me.

4/7/2009 4:52:36 PM

4/7/2009 5:42:38 PM

no picture?

4/7/2009 6:22:07 PM

well, eyedrb, looks like Obama CHANGED his mind. I BELIEVE that was part of the deal. You had to HOPE he was telling the truth

4/7/2009 6:26:12 PM

Quote :

"But the point was my SS taxes are increasing and Obama said he wouldnt do that. "

care to let us know what happened to your other taxes and what the net effect was?

I can't speak personally, because, uhh.... i don't have a job anymore, but here's what changed between Feb and March for my wife, who is a Wake Co. teacher (i.e. doesn't make much)
- Fed income: -0.4%
- SS: -0.2%
- Medicare: -0.05%

all federal taxes down 0.75%

4/7/2009 6:41:30 PM

Ive already explained what happened to my SS taxes, it increased for the year.
Why would my Fed income tax have lowered? Did he lower a tax bracket? And I have no idea what happened to my medicare. I heard that my payroll taxes where supposed to decrease, so maybe my medicare tax is lower, I dunno.

But obama told me that i wouldnt see any of my taxes increased. How can he do that to me? He looked me straight in the teleprompter and told me that. I just dont know how this could have happened.

4/7/2009 6:48:28 PM

Quote :

"My social security tax went up this year.(limit raised from 102k to 106k) I make under 250k (well under). What gives? I had a promise."

If you make more than 102k then you can go fuck yourself for all I care about, fucking dick. And this isn't a hate the rich thing either, it's for coming into this thread and crying like a fucking bitch when you can go into the Lounge unemployed thread and see scores of people looking for work because the capitalist you so dearly covet fucked the economy all to hell.

4/7/2009 6:55:25 PM

^ Or conversely, all the people whining about how they can't get someone to give them a job should have gone to school for many years, racked up insane amount of debt to pay for it all and became self employed doctors so they wouldn't have to worry about the evil capitalists firing them.

(for what its worth I don't really think that, but then again, I don't think just because someone is making 100k in a down economy that it means they don't have a right to complain about their taxes going up. Especially when the president made a big deal about no tax increases if you weren't rich*. Unfortunately for the Republicans, Obama was smart enough not to put it into an easily marketable sound bite like "Read my lips"


* For certain values of rich, normally defined as income about 250k. Offer not valid in all states and void where prohibited by law or congressional hissy fit. Some restrictions may apply, see tax code for details. AIG employees and members of their immediate families are not eligible. For a complete set of rules, please submit a FOIA request along with a self addressed stamped envelope to Congress, the IRS and the White House.

[Edited on April 7, 2009 at 8:35 PM. Reason : asds]

4/7/2009 8:26:44 PM

That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard, and you've said a ton of dumb shit in this section over the years.

4/7/2009 8:34:50 PM

Hey you're the one throwing a hissy fit because someone is making money is a down economy. Or is 103k too much money these days? How low should he go before you would be happy?

4/7/2009 8:37:21 PM

Quote :

"And this isn't a hate the rich thing either, it's for coming into this thread and crying like a fucking bitch when you can go into the Lounge unemployed thread and see scores of people looking for work because the capitalist you so dearly covet fucked the economy all to hell."

lol, sounds like a hate the rich thing to me

4/7/2009 8:37:55 PM

Quote :

"Hey you're the one throwing a hissy fit because someone is making money is a down economy. Or is 103k too much money these days? How low should he go before you would be happy?"

I'm throwing a hissy fit because I get tired of the same lame uninformed politics and sandy vaginaism that has been going on in here since last November, and it smacks of elitism to be pulling down that kinda bank to come in here and cry about an extra $65 coming out your ~$1200 per week after taxes you're getting when half the website is struggling to get employed because the fraudsters are sticking the screws in deeper and deeper as the days go by. The same fraudsters you heralded for their free market and deregulatory prowess, those guys.

4/8/2009 9:06:43 AM

Quote :

"sandy vaginaism "

Have you ever, say, looked in one of those shiny reflective objects known to some of us as a "mirror?"

4/8/2009 9:17:12 AM

Why does it affect the argument whether eyedrb brings home 1200 per week or $12 per week. The amount is unimportant, the important FACT is that Obama lied to this man when he told him that NONE of his taxes would go up.

4/8/2009 9:22:01 AM

Quote :

"Have you ever, say, looked in one of those shiny reflective objects known to some of us as a "mirror?""

I apologize if my heart doesn't bleed for the six figure earner crying about an extra $64 out his paycheck that he'll actually see returned to him one day if by some miracle the SS system is saved while the rest of us are suffering through this massive deleveraging created by the free marketers that this guy and the rest of the libertarian zealots idolizes.

^ What can I say, I guess I'm in the camp that doesn't mind the rich and the well off paying more into the system. It's pretty hard to put any sort of economic value on having the opportunity afforded you by generations past to get to the point where you make 6 figures and have a comfy life ahead of you. The free marketers and capitalist don't talk about that. It's much easier to say "anyone can do it, they are free to do whatever" when the reality just smacks right in the face of that.

[Edited on April 8, 2009 at 9:42 AM. Reason : .]

4/8/2009 9:38:44 AM

I don't believe he's actually weeping for the amount of money, so much as the principle of the thing.


As for the second part of your statement... of course, the solution of all of our problems is to give the government more money and more power. Then everyone will be happy, with full bellies and bank accounts. I wish I was that idealistic...

4/8/2009 9:42:32 AM

Quote :

"I don't believe he's actually weeping for the amount of money, so much as the principle of the thing."

Yeah, I know where he is coming from, but I don't read statements and disconnect from who said them on this message board...I've noticed lately you seem to do that too when it agrees with your position and when it doesn't you attack the poster just like everyone else does.

So my entire point of the rant was when I read a statement like "OMG, OBAMA LIED, THIS IS EXACTLY THE AMMO I WAS LOOKING FOR TO TRASH THIS GUY" from such a partisan hack like eyedrb...well, I don't get too motivated or concerned about discussing the principles of that extra $64 when the rest of his politicians and the people he idolizes fucked us into this position to begin with.

[Edited on April 8, 2009 at 9:56 AM. Reason : .]

4/8/2009 9:46:44 AM

Then you are wrong. The recession was a bipartisan product, Obama voted for it as long as he was in the Senate.

4/8/2009 9:56:38 AM

Thanks for pointing that out, maybe since a guy that shares his politics said that, eyedrb will admit that fact as well.

4/8/2009 9:57:30 AM

Quote :

"It's pretty hard to put any sort of economic value on having the opportunity afforded you by generations past to get to the point where you make 6 figures and have a comfy life ahead of you."

so wait.... are you assuming that most people making $100,000 a year are only making it because they were born into money???? i hope i am just misunderstanding what you're trying to get across with the "afforded by generations past" part.

4/8/2009 10:13:22 AM

I think he is pointing out the amazing transformative power of free markets to incentivize every generation to invent a better economic reality for the next.

4/8/2009 11:41:15 AM

Fail boats posts reek of envy, nothing more.

Thanks for the other who actually got the point of my statement. I guess the smiley faces really meant I was crying about it, and not pointing out that yes another politician is full of shit.

Quote :

"If you make more than 102k then you can go fuck yourself for all I care about, fucking dick."

I do make over 102k, and I dont appologize for it. I worked hard on my level of education. I work hard to help people every day, including the 20 employees between 2 offices that would not be employed if it were not for our doctors working. So get over your class envy. Ive choosen a different path in my life. Are you suggesting that you didnt have the same opportunity as I did? Meaning you couldnt sign your name to a loan form, or study your ass off for 8 yrs? Or is this opportunity that you speak of your lack of willingness to work towards a goal and are now pissed at those who did? Regardless of your opinion, you sound like a baby thrashing attacks at either thier income or thier partisan hacks, instead of just admitting that my point was valid and the truth.

[Edited on April 8, 2009 at 12:35 PM. Reason : .]

4/8/2009 12:29:25 PM

Quote :

"you sound like a baby thrashing attacks at either thier income or thier partisan hacks"

hahah sounds like when you complain about the poor patients

4/8/2009 12:41:31 PM

except we are paying for those. I think you have a right to complain when your money is taken against your will and wasted on continued bad decisions. Most people never see the other side of it. I deal with it daily. And the ones who really need it and are trying cant get a dime to help them unless they quit thier job. Its upside down.

But I do use this board to vent. I am sorry if I do sound like a broken record, but it helps me get through the bad days.

4/8/2009 1:35:12 PM

Quote :

"I think he is pointing out the amazing transformative power of free markets to incentivize every generation to invent a better economic reality for the next."

Of course, and if you aren't starting in a hole and are lucky enough to have better than average genetics then your upside potential is even greater.

Quote :

"Fail boats posts reek of envy, nothing more."

Not at all. I was making near 6 figures as little as 2 months ago, and I didn't have to go to school for 4 additional years and incur massive student loans to do it.

Quote :

"I do make over 102k, and I dont appologize for it."

Why should you?

Quote :

"So get over your class envy."

Rofl, I can guarantee my net worth is greater than yours. Maybe not for long, especially if you keep growing your business, but as soon as the economy turns around, mine will go back to growing nicely as well.

Quote :

"Are you suggesting that you didnt have the same opportunity as I did? Meaning you couldnt sign your name to a loan form, or study your ass off for 8 yrs?"

Nope.

Quote :

"Or is this opportunity that you speak of your lack of willingness to work towards a goal and are now pissed at those who did?"

Nope

Quote :

"Regardless of your opinion, you sound like a baby thrashing attacks at either thier income or thier partisan hacks, instead of just admitting that my point was valid and the truth."

No, I fully recognize that you are paying a sliver more in "tax" (that you'll get paid back assuming future politicians attempt to keep the promises past politicians made) and think you've been lied to. My "thrashing" amounts from yet another elitist douche crying in a paranoid sort of way that the liberal left is going to marginalize him and allow the lazies to loot his paycheck and his way of life apparently completely oblivious to the fact that those on the right have done and will do the same thing.

Thats all.

[Edited on April 8, 2009 at 2:10 PM. Reason : .]

4/8/2009 2:06:59 PM

^sounds like a much different tune. I wish you luck and do wish you success when things eventually turn around. I hope you do believe me.

And I agree with the right doing the same job on the working class. Its one of the main reasons I hated bush, but that still doesnt excuse obama from doing it at a much greater level.

4/8/2009 2:23:53 PM

how in the fuck can anyone try and say that that wasn't a "bow." I really don't give a fuck that he bowed or that he fucked up a custom. Dubya did far worse. BUT, to sit there and deny that you bowed, when you were fucking parallel to the floor is astounding. I guess it just fits w/ Obama. He did the same kind of shit during his campaign.

4/9/2009 9:06:32 PM

Quote :

"I really don't give a fuck that he bowed "

4/9/2009 9:42:54 PM

Will he bomb the Pirates?

4/12/2009 9:57:43 PM

He should. there are basically no downsides to killing these pirates.

He should use somali waters as a proving ground for small boat vs small boat tactics to go along with a program of increasing small boat forces.

He should also "strongly encourage" shipping merchants to either start subsidizing US protection of their ships or hiring private security squads. There is no reason that these ships should go out near somalia without a security detail.

Lastly, it'd be nice to blow up a few villages from time-to-time to get some of the bases.

This has all happened before: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbary_Wars

[Edited on April 13, 2009 at 4:02 AM. Reason : muslim-pirates never learn]

4/13/2009 3:59:53 AM

Quote :

"hiring private security squads"

This is currently outlawed by the UN.... typical huh.

I hope obama continues to let our military do the job and hopefully not fall back into the "work with the international community" talk to solve this.

He should say for every american taken by pirates, we blow up 20 pirate houses. If that doesnt work, send in the marines... only this time we arent worried about protecting food supplies.

4/13/2009 10:31:37 AM

^ huh? We should, and we do need to work with the international community.

And you phrase things like Obama had been considering preventing the military from doing their job.

4/13/2009 10:40:34 AM

Looks like we already killed some of the pirates.

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/04/13/somalia.pirates.revenge/

Quote :

"Two pirates in Somalia vowed revenge Monday, after the U.S. military killed three pirates and freed a U.S. ship captain who had been held hostage for several days. Crew members of the Maersk Alabama celebrate after hearing the Navy had rescued their captain from pirates. The pirates told a Somali journalist that they were angered by the U.S. action, as well as a French raid Friday that killed two pirates and one hostage and freed four hostages. "We have decided to kill U.S. and French sailors if they happen to be among our future hostages," said Abdullahi Ahmed, a member of a pirate group based at Harardhere, a coastal town in central Somalia. Members of the U.S. Navy shot and killed three pirates who had been holding Capt. Richard Phillips hostage in a lifeboat on Sunday evening, a military official said. The pirates seized Phillips after a failed attempt to hijack his ship, the Maersk Alabama. For five days the pirates held Phillips in the lifeboat as U.S. Navy ships closed in and lingered nearby. On Sunday, U.S. Navy snipers opened fire on the lifeboat after seeing one pirate point an AK-47 at the captain's back, the U.S. military said. The shootings occurred as one pirate was aboard the USS Bainbridge negotiating over Phillips' fate. Three pirates in the lifeboat were killed. Phillips was not hurt. He was taken to another U.S. Navy vessel, the U.S. military said, where he received a medical checkup and spoke by phone with his wife in the United States. Pirates in Somalia identified the slain men as Mohamed Ahmed Adawe, Nur Dalabey and Khalif Guled. Two of them -- Dalabey and Guled -- were among the "most experienced men" in a group that has hijacked seagoing vessels for money, Ahmed said. They were killed two days after the French military freed four hostages, including a child, who had been held by pirates for nearly a week on a yacht off Somalia's coast. In that operation, a hostage and two pirates were killed, the French Defense Ministry said, while three pirates were captured. The military actions angered Ali Nur, a pirate who is based in Gara'ad, a coastal village in the semi-autonomous region of Puntland, in northern Somalia. "From now on, after the killings by the U.S. and France, we will add some harsher steps in our dealings with hostages, particularly American and French hostages," Nur told a journalist. The U.S. military acknowledged Sunday that its actions to rescue Phillips could increase the risk of violence. "This could escalate violence in this part of the world. No question about it," U.S. Navy Vice Adm. Bill Gortney told reporters. Nur issued a warning to the United States. "The killing of our boys was aggression, and the U.S. will see what they get from their operation," he said. "

I figure we might as well commit now and patrol the shit out of those waters. If we see assholes in speedboats, we shoot the speedboats. They'll get the point real quick.

I'm curious to see what the official response will be, as I didn't see any articles on that yet.

[Edited on April 13, 2009 at 10:55 AM. Reason : Also, why is this shit about their dog still in the news? Who gives a fuck!]

4/13/2009 10:54:27 AM

Obama did a great job by letting our military take military action instead of deferring to the UN. I hope he continues act in this manner.

4/13/2009 11:09:01 AM

late last week I was running scenarios in my head of how the pirate/hostage thing would end. The most fantastical scenario I could think of, and one that I thought was least likely, was that there would be a team of snipers on another ship who would each train their sights on a different pirate, and would fire at the same time. I never thought that would actually happen, but apparently what really happened was even better - the team of snipers secretly parachuted onto a nearby boat without the pirates even knowing they were there!. How fucking badass is that.....

4/13/2009 11:40:58 AM

about as bad ass as three head shots from boats..

[Edited on April 13, 2009 at 11:46 AM. Reason : don't know the distance but still.. damn.]

4/13/2009 11:45:01 AM

^ the Admiral here says 75ft, on moderately rough seas
http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/04/13/somalia.rescue.breakdown/index.html?iref=topnews#cnnSTCVideo

4/13/2009 11:58:15 AM