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You are here: Home / Open Threads / Open Thread

Open Thread

by John Cole|  July 7, 20116:33 pm| 104 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads

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Friends coming over for dinner, so you are on your own. On the menu- caprese salad, sauteed kale with mushrooms, shallots, and truffle oil, and spaghetti squash with home made marinara.

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Previous Post: « Newt’s Screwed
Next Post: This world belongs to them (now they can keep it) »

Reader Interactions

104Comments

  1. 1.

    JPL

    July 7, 2011 at 6:34 pm

    YUM

    CBS evening news led with the Murdoch scandal…

  2. 2.

    Sentient Puddle

    July 7, 2011 at 6:40 pm

    I just picked up a new beer on recommendation…Unibroue Terrible. I am told that it tastes like a Guinness meets a Belgian Trappist ale meets red wine. Something I’m having a little trouble actually comprehending.

    Any other testimonies so that I get a better idea of what the fuck I’m getting myself into?

  3. 3.

    Lolis

    July 7, 2011 at 6:42 pm

    I need a cigarette after the day’s blogosphere meltdown.

  4. 4.

    Mike Kay ( Geronimo!!)

    July 7, 2011 at 6:43 pm

    Barney Frank Comes Out Of The Closet

    Frank came out against using the 14th amendment to deal with the debt limit. Oh, brother.

    “I think it would cause a great crisis in our democracy” if debt was created without a rise in the debt limit, Frank told economist Bruce Bartlett, a former Republican who has been talking up the “constitutional option.”

    See, now the wingers can say, “even the liberal Barney Frank is against Dictator obama”.

    blogs and commentators who love to dump on Obama, will they be consistent and hold Frank’s “feet to the fire” for blinking, for caving, for lending aid and comfort to the teabaggers?

    Poor Nancy Pelosi.

    When she not dealing with corrupt blue-dogs and Israeli spies, or morons like Kucinich and the Sexting guy, she has to deal with backs stabbers like Barney Frank. This shit is as bad as anything Liebermann ever pulled.

    You never fucking see the wingers publicly undercutting their leaders. Pelosi personally arranged this hearing and Frank takes a big giant dump on it. It’s just incomprehensible. I hope Nancysmash fucking breaks his legs.

  5. 5.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    July 7, 2011 at 6:49 pm

    @Mike Kay ( Retard!!): Yep, we’ll prolly vote Barney Frank out of the secret FDL cabal at tonight’s meeting.

    You are a fucking clown.

  6. 6.

    Semanticleo

    July 7, 2011 at 6:50 pm

    You’re a fuckin Vegan?

    I Am impressed

  7. 7.

    Corner Stone

    July 7, 2011 at 6:54 pm

    I’ve thought long and hard about this and it’s my suggestion that we wait until an agreement is reached, then calmly evaluate said agreement, then reasonably and mutually agree that it was the best agreement possible.

  8. 8.

    TaMara (BHF)

    July 7, 2011 at 6:55 pm

    Love Caprese salad. So easy but so elegant and flavorful. Good choice JC.

  9. 9.

    aimai

    July 7, 2011 at 6:57 pm

    Oh for christ’s sake. I was just going to put up my dinner menu but what the fuck is wrong with the Dems–all the dems?–if the White House can’t keep its own side fully informed and on board with its plans whose fault is that? The democrats need a single party line, that’s why its called a party line. Under no circumstances should the white house have ever allowed secret plans, secret negotiations, and last minute deals to be made with any republicans without a total, lockstep, agreement from the house dems on every aspect of the strategy and tactics. This would have enabled all the house dems to say publicly “we totally support the president in everything and know he shares our concerns on X, y, and z.” If they didn’t do that its because the white house has blindsided them and they don’t trust the white house. I think its absurd and a failure all around. But its not a failure of the dems in the senate and congress so much as it is a failure of the white house to keep everyone on speed dial.

    That being said, I’m making a Bistro salad of poached eggs, asparagus, bacon, and an incredible walnut bread from a local bakery. I’m also serving a home marinated goat cheese which I marinate in olive oil, garlic, thyme, and fennel seed. Hopefully this will make this day a little brighter because the contrasting news stories today just make me sick to my stomach.

    aimai

  10. 10.

    Carol

    July 7, 2011 at 7:00 pm

    First, what’s Caprese salad? Enjoy your dinner, and someday I will be ambitious enough to actually cook something other than broiled chicken thighs and broccoli.

    Nobody really has an answer here for just what is the right thing to do. We’ve had a debt limit since the nineteen-teens, so nobody remembers what it was like without one and how we handled things then.

    Here, just keeping my fingers crossed. As a Fed employee, wondering what is happening next.

  11. 11.

    JPL

    July 7, 2011 at 7:00 pm

    aimai, The President has always said that everything is on the table and he expects the same from the repubs.

  12. 12.

    Chuck Butcher

    July 7, 2011 at 7:00 pm

    fucking clown.

    What this idjit forgets in his race to whack anybody smacking of leftism is that Congress has the fucking responsiblity to allocate money and has given itself that responsibility through passage of debt limit that is no more than a mechanism to make them public responsibility for debts accrued. The 14th is pretty clear that the debt is not to be questioned, that still leaves the ball in Congress’ hands. If Congress abrogates that to the Executive Branch there is a potential Constitutional issue.

    He is not only a clown, he is a disengenuous lying sack of … since Frank has never denied the 14th.

  13. 13.

    JPL

    July 7, 2011 at 7:02 pm

    ABC leads with Murdoch also… I want to know what Jake Tapper thinks.

  14. 14.

    PaulW

    July 7, 2011 at 7:02 pm

    How bad is the oil spill in Montana, by the way?

  15. 15.

    Corner Stone

    July 7, 2011 at 7:04 pm

    I’m going to have leftover Thai combined with leftover Chinese.
    If you don’t hear from me again after tonight, know that I love you all.

    ETA, wait, strike that. It looks like my plans have changed and I’ll be having a heaping helping of “shared sacrifice”. It’s what’s for dinner.

    Emerging from a meeting with congressional leaders on Thursday, Obama said that both sides in the negotiations would find the ultimate outcome “painful.”

  16. 16.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    July 7, 2011 at 7:05 pm

    @aimai:

    if the White House can’t keep its own side fully informed and on board with its plans whose fault is that?

    Glenn Greenwald’s?

  17. 17.

    FlipYrWhig

    July 7, 2011 at 7:05 pm

    If everyone significant agreed on everything in advance, and stuck to it, Democratic politics would be excellent!

  18. 18.

    Mike Kay ( Geronimo!!)

    July 7, 2011 at 7:06 pm

    Oh look, I stepped on some shit fuckface.

  19. 19.

    JPL

    July 7, 2011 at 7:06 pm

    Carol @ 9…Sliced tomatoes, mozzarella, basil and olive oil.
    I have made that for forty years and only recently knew it had a name…lol

  20. 20.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    July 7, 2011 at 7:06 pm

    I’m making shrimp fried rice. Tell me what happened yesterday, CS. You left us all hanging.

  21. 21.

    Quicksand

    July 7, 2011 at 7:09 pm

    WHERE’S THE BEEF?

  22. 22.

    JPL

    July 7, 2011 at 7:10 pm

    Does the 14th amendment overrule the taxing and spending clause? The constitution is clear on who can tax and spend. I’m not a lawyer, I haven’t slept in a Holiday Inn in years and I truly have no clue.

  23. 23.

    Chuck Butcher

    July 7, 2011 at 7:11 pm

    This is a manufactured issue, the debts are debts and legally contracted – they have to be paid. Period. The 14th is clear about that as is contract law. Since the remedies of bankruptcy and siezure are off the table and the 14th is clear any other course is plainly horseshit and for any Dem to go along with the GOPer’s crap in any way no more than encourages them to play at bullshit it is just stupid and asks for what we have now. The GOPers think they have a big gun that is nothing more than a cap gun and people are cowering.

    Fuck that.

  24. 24.

    Carol

    July 7, 2011 at 7:11 pm

    [email protected] pretty yummy and simple enough, and I think I may have everything already. Not tonight, but I’ll check out a recipe tomorrow.

    You may be right, Chuck. The debt is about obligations already paid-and some things have to be paid even if there is no raising of the debt limit out of sheer necessity-like federal prisons, war debt, and contractors.

  25. 25.

    srv

    July 7, 2011 at 7:11 pm

    @Sentient Puddle

    Everything Unibroue is good, but that seems pretty crazy.

    @Corner Stone

    I’ve thought long and hard about this and it’s my suggestion that we wait until an agreement is reached, then calmly evaluate said agreement, then reasonably and mutually agree that it was the best agreement possible.

    You’re dead to me.

  26. 26.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    July 7, 2011 at 7:13 pm

    I haven’t slept in a Holiday Inn in years

    Does anyone stay at Holiday Inn anymore? They seem so old and dirty.

  27. 27.

    Mike Kay ( Geronimo!!)

    July 7, 2011 at 7:14 pm

    Butcher, you really are illiterate.

    I wrote (using Frank’s quotes) that he opposes it, not that he “denied the 14th”.

    http://www.slate.com/blogs/weigel/2011/07/07/cold_water_on_the_constitutional_option_.html

  28. 28.

    The Bobs

    July 7, 2011 at 7:16 pm

    JPL @18 – don’t forget the balsamic vinegar. Should be a quality balsamic too, not that cheap crap.

  29. 29.

    Elizabelle

    July 7, 2011 at 7:16 pm

    I’ve been looking for a list of Fox News Channel advertisers, and found this website.

    http://foxnewsboycott.com/resources/f-a-q/

    Does anyone know anything about this organization? I did not find an “about us” blurb or anything to tell me who’s behind this. (Cursory search.)

    I’m not expecting it was Olbermann during his hiatus, but who knows?

    It would give me pleasure to find the advertisers whose products and services I use, and tell them that I’m instituting my own little personal austerity program, in light of their supporting Rupert Murdoch and fake journalism.

  30. 30.

    boss bitch

    July 7, 2011 at 7:17 pm

    @aimai:

    There are no plans, there is no deal and maybe the Dems in congress should like, you know, talk to the White House before they react to anything that a newspaper says an anonymous aide said. Dems are not children. They are not employees of the president. They were elected. They are politicians who should know to verify before they open their mouths.

    Democrats don’t do lock step. They see honor in going up against the president/leadership. you know this so I don’t see how you could demand that Obama keep them in line.

  31. 31.

    Uncle Clarence Thomas

    July 7, 2011 at 7:19 pm

    .
    .

    “I think it would cause a great crisis in our democracy” if debt was created without a rise in the debt limit, Frank told economist Bruce Bartlett, a former Republican who has been talking up the “constitutional option.”

    Where there is fear of Republican hissyfit bullshit, there is no hope and no change.
    .
    .

  32. 32.

    Corner Stone

    July 7, 2011 at 7:21 pm

    @srv:

    You’re dead to me.

    I understand your poutrage. But listen, someone has to be the adult in the room. How do you expect a deal to get done when one side thinks “negotiating” is shooting hostages one by one? Someone is going to have to put country first. And if we pragmatists have to get you hippies to STFU, grow up, and understand the consequences if we don’t collectively act then that is just what we’ll do.
    And when we strengthen SS and Medicare/caid and completely fuckin’ roll the Republicans into thinking they’re getting “cuts” that really can be explained away quite easily when you just look at it correctly, you and your silly screamin’ will be revealed for the firebaggery it always was.

  33. 33.

    Cliff in NH

    July 7, 2011 at 7:21 pm

    It’s Finally Yummy walk time!

    The first of the blueberries are ripe!

    Yum!

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/64725711@N07/5913213231/in/photostream

  34. 34.

    Chuck Butcher

    July 7, 2011 at 7:22 pm

    Kay@stupid

    Why in the hell would anybody (especially Frank -and other than GOPer impeachment freaks) want to set in motion the mess that use of the 14th by the Executive Branch would? You are an ass taking bits and pieces of Frank’s statements to be a dick – as per usual.

  35. 35.

    Served

    July 7, 2011 at 7:23 pm

    Myself and a bunch of my friends, all who graduated college in the shitstorm of the past 3 years, and have been unable to find full-time work in our fields have all received job offers this past week. Hopefully this means things are starting to ease up for people our age.

  36. 36.

    John Puma

    July 7, 2011 at 7:31 pm

    Knock yourself out: if you go to the trouble of making your own marinara sauce at least you can put it on actual spaghetti!

  37. 37.

    JPL

    July 7, 2011 at 7:34 pm

    Served…Excellent news. Good luck to you and your friends.

  38. 38.

    RossInDetroit

    July 7, 2011 at 7:36 pm

    Things must be changing. I saw a hipster today on my block. I’m certain of the identification.

    Evidence:
    1) riding a fixie
    2) muttonchop sideburns
    3) tight, knee length pink shorts
    4) t-shirt with words on it
    5) thin, pale and seemingly disoriented by daylight.

    What can this mean?

  39. 39.

    Chuck Butcher

    July 7, 2011 at 7:37 pm

    CS

    someone has to be the adult in the room

    If this isn’t parody … it ought to be.

  40. 40.

    aimai

    July 7, 2011 at 7:37 pm

    I am not expecting Obama to keep the dems in line. And I’m not actually looking at the second order freak outs at Kos and at TPM at all. I’m just looking at the statements made by top line dems over the last few days. I’d just like to see strong co-ordination between the white house and reid and pelosi over exactly what is going forward because I hate to see either side undercut by the other. I’d also like to see all three sides (white house, senate, and the house) step forward and support each other as a party. I don’t see anything wrong with what Frank said because its clearly correct for a house member to argue for house privilige, also although I would have liked to see Obama take a hard line with the debt ceiling limit much earlier (rather than agreeing to any kind of grand bargain) I think he and Frank are probably agreed that any move to sidestep the limit, even if constitutional in some grand sense, could be fatal for Obama and the party in the short term.

    aimai

  41. 41.

    jeffreyw

    July 7, 2011 at 7:42 pm

    @JPL: Heh, indeed!

  42. 42.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    July 7, 2011 at 7:46 pm

    I’ve thought long and hard about this and it’s my suggestion that we wait until an agreement is reached, then calmly evaluate said agreement, then reasonably and mutually agree that it was the best agreement possible.

    The added bonus here is we can ridicule anyone for not caring sooner if they have a problem with it.

  43. 43.

    trollhattan

    July 7, 2011 at 7:54 pm

    @37.RossInDetroit – July 7, 2011 | 7:36 pm · Link

    Things must be changing. I saw a hipster today on my block. I’m certain of the identification.

    Large storms can divert them from their migration routes. I’m guessing he thought he was in Toronto, but call the Orkin man anyway.

  44. 44.

    Amir_Khalid

    July 7, 2011 at 7:57 pm

    It’s shaping up to be a very interesting weekend in my town. Here in Kuala Lumpur, we might have the chance to see some political activity in the streets. We haven’t had that spirit here since 1998, when we had the Reformasi demonstrations.

    I’m politically neutral myself. But I’m all for a strong populist alternative to the Barisan Nasional coalition, which has ruled Malaya and then Malaysia ever since independence in 1957. Barisan has since come to be dominated by big money interests, but even more so by its sense of entitlement to power. Right now the Pakatan Rakyat (People’s Pact) coalition looks like being that alternative.

    The Pakatan-linked Bersih (clean) movement is planning a rally, tentatively scheduled first as a march through KL, then as a rally at historic Merdeka Stadium. Barisan is trying to prevent it — having the police issue orders to key Bersih people to stay out of KL this week, preventive arrests, trash-talking the opposition through its mainstream media mouthpieces like my old paper The Star.

    So, will the rally happen? Will Bersih pull it off and score a big PR victory? Will there be a cops-vs-rallygoers battle? Mass detentions without trial after/instead of the rally? Lots of nervous people in KL this weekend.

  45. 45.

    Mr Stagger Lee

    July 7, 2011 at 7:59 pm

    watching a story on John Mackey a great tight end with the Baltimore Colts in the 60’s and 70’s and how dementia has robbed him of his faculties. The price these guys pay for our entertainment on sundays, sobering if you don’t pay attention.

  46. 46.

    MattR

    July 7, 2011 at 8:00 pm

    @aimai:

    I’d just like to see strong co-ordination between the white house and reid and pelosi over exactly what is going forward because I hate to see either side undercut by the other.

    This. I understand that the Washington Post story may have been complete BS with garbage sources and never actually represented the White House’s thinking. But I would hope that the White House was communicating with Reid, Pelosi, et al so that they knew that nothing had changed. That way Pelosi could have shot down the story instead of having to say she hoped it wasn’t true.

  47. 47.

    RossInDetroit

    July 7, 2011 at 8:03 pm

    @42 trollhattan:

    Things must be changing. I saw a hipster today on my block. I’m certain of the identification.

    Large storms can divert them from their migration routes. I’m guessing he thought he was in Toronto, but call the Orkin man anyway.

    They’re native to Royal Oak and Ferndale. Gosh, he must have traveled over a mile to get here. Maybe I should have called someone to get him. Hope he got home safe!

  48. 48.

    Mike Kay ( Geronimo!!)

    July 7, 2011 at 8:06 pm

    aimai,

    if lieberman or evan bayh had said this would people be giving them a pass? no.

    They would be called out for undercutting Nancy.

    Even if you support Frank’s position, it’s inappropriate to undermine Pelosi in any way, let alone publicly, while she’s doing everything to hold the line against Cantor and Cornyn. I mean, Barney would be pissed if a Democratic member of his subcommittee was undercutting a bill he authored.

    This is why bloggers have always hated “The New Republic” because TNR never missed an opportunity to aid the opposition and undercut the party.

  49. 49.

    Chuck Butcher

    July 7, 2011 at 8:21 pm

    mikekay@repeatedlystupid

    it’s inappropriate to undermine Pelosi while she’s doing everything to hold the line against Cantor and Cornyn

    Once again with stupid lies, it is not undermining Pelosi to state that use of the 14th is a bad idea. If Pelosi thought it was a good idea she’d be telling the GOPers to go fuck off because Obama will just fix it. She is instead trying to act within Congress. But that won’t fit your stupid ass narrative.

    You forgot the part where it is all John Edwards’ fault…

  50. 50.

    Cain

    July 7, 2011 at 8:44 pm

    @Corner Stone:

    I’m going to have leftover Thai combined with leftover Chinese.

    hot.. er.. I mean.. never mind.

  51. 51.

    Cain

    July 7, 2011 at 8:46 pm

    @Just Some Fuckhead:

    Does anyone stay at Holiday Inn anymore? They seem so old and dirty.

    Like Newt’s underwear, I’m sure.

  52. 52.

    FlipYrWhig

    July 7, 2011 at 8:46 pm

    @ aimai / 40:

    I’d just like to see strong co-ordination between the white house and reid and pelosi over exactly what is going forward because I hate to see either side undercut by the other. I’d also like to see all three sides (white house, senate, and the house) step forward and support each other as a party.

    They all disagree. IMHO Obama wants to do something that helps in the long term; Pelosi presides over a fractious caucus fixated on the short term and worried about “cuts”; and Reid, well, I don’t have a bead on that guy. It’s HCR all over again: Obama is trying to “bend the cost curve” and get credit for political courage in doing so; House Dems are trying to avoid getting bashed over the head for “Medicare cuts” and “Social Security cuts” when they were starting to gain some traction against Ryan’s plan for “cuts.” They don’t trust each other because it didn’t work well politically the last time, so they fight proxy wars in the media. They don’t coordinate because they don’t see eye to eye and because they benefit from different outcomes. Careful coordination might help them all, or might sink them all. So they scramble, as is the usual M.O. YMMV.

  53. 53.

    Corner Stone

    July 7, 2011 at 8:52 pm

    What’s odd is that all the discussion of changing/strengthening SocSec is based on getting Republicans to agree to new revenue.
    But we had new revenue if we wanted it. If that was the goal then we could have gained more revenue without ever mentioning SS.
    Just let the Bush Tax Cuts expire.

    Damned odd, that.

  54. 54.

    Mike Kay ( Geronimo!!)

    July 7, 2011 at 8:58 pm

    butcher, your brain really is puny.

    Pelosi obviously believes in the constitutional option that’s why she set up a congressional hearing and invited Barlett as her star witness.

    House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) announced on Wednesday the inclusion of Bruce Bartlett, who has served as an adviser to numerous Republican officials, an indication that Democrats are increasingly looking into whether the debt ceiling itself is unconstitutional under the 14th Amendment. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/06/bruce-bartlett-debt-limit-critic_n_891751.html

    Christ, you can deny it all you want, but even the liberal FDL says Pelosi favors it.

    “Nancy Pelosi is trying to steer the President in a particular direction.” http://news.firedoglake.com/2011/07/06/pelosi-invites-bruce-bartlett-leading-advocate-of-debt-limit-constitutional-option-to-appear-at-hearing-on-debt-limit/

  55. 55.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    July 7, 2011 at 9:03 pm

    @FlipYrWhig:

    IMHO Obama wants to do something that helps in the long term

    No doubt he is plotting something twice as good as the New Deal. Maybe we should call it the Double Deal.

  56. 56.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    July 7, 2011 at 9:07 pm

    @Cain:

    Like Newt’s underwear, I’m sure.

    No way, with all that campaign cash, Newt is prolly wearing the finest high count thread silk boxers. Prolly throws ’em away after one wear.

  57. 57.

    Corner Stone

    July 7, 2011 at 9:08 pm

    @Just Some Fuckhead:

    Maybe we should call it the Double Deal.

    If it wasn’t already taken, and delicious, I’d suggest he go with the “Double Down“.

  58. 58.

    Chuck Butcher

    July 7, 2011 at 9:10 pm

    Dumbass, the difference between Unconstitutional debt ceiling and having the Executive Branch take action under the 14th is slightly huge and Frank has been clear that he doesn’t want to go that route. Repeatedly.

    Doesn’t fit your fucking agenda so what else is new? You are a single track fuck wit. Over two weeks ago Frank stated the same thing, he doesn’t like the idea of going to the Exec Branch with the 14th. Congress gave itself the responsibility of setting and raising a debt limit which means shit as long as they honor the debt – Frank doesn’t want the Exec doing that on its own hook in the face of possible Congressional failure. The criticism of the “debt ceiling” at the time was that it was only symbolic – a mea culpa – not that it had shit to do with actuality. Fuck you’re an ignorant lying twit.

  59. 59.

    Corner Stone

    July 7, 2011 at 9:11 pm

    When discussing SocSec, “in the long term” is 25 or more years away. There is absolutely no reason, and I mean none, to be discussing SS in this discussion for any reason.
    It adds not one penny to the deficit. It’s fully funded. And we already fucked over the working class with the previous “grand bargain” for SS in 1983.
    Hmmm, wonder where that “surplus” went?

  60. 60.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    July 7, 2011 at 9:14 pm

    @Corner Stone:

    There is absolutely no reason, and I mean none, to be discussing SS in this discussion for any reason.

    It sure didn’t take you long to fall off the Owagon.

  61. 61.

    Corner Stone

    July 7, 2011 at 9:21 pm

    @Just Some Fuckhead: I can only run that gambit for so long. The closer I get to sounding like FlipYrNick the more fucking skeeved out I get.

  62. 62.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    July 7, 2011 at 9:23 pm

    @Corner Stone:

    I can only run that gambit for so long. The closer I get to sounding like FlipYrNick the more fucking skeeved out I get.

    His heart doesn’t seem to be in it anymore. That job must be really fucking tiring.

  63. 63.

    Chuck Butcher

    July 7, 2011 at 9:29 pm

    I have no idea what Obama and Congressional Dems are going to do with this mess, but I do bet by the time it has played out a person should be able to take a pretty good measure of them. The bad part of that is that we’ll be able to do that all over again come budget time.

  64. 64.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    July 7, 2011 at 9:57 pm

    Are we at war? Depends on the meaning of the word “hostilities”. Are we cutting Social Security? Depends on the meaning of the word “benefits”.

    I swear, it seems like the Obama crowd learned all the wrong lessons from the Clinton years.

  65. 65.

    Corner Stone

    July 7, 2011 at 10:06 pm

    Well, if you want to listen to Martin, for instance, the “miniscule” cuts (I mean “changes”!) being possibly contemplated are nothing but a bunch of pshaw.
    I’m sure that wouldn’t possibly lead to increased rates of poverty for seniors or anything.

  66. 66.

    Uncle Clarence Thomas

    July 7, 2011 at 10:16 pm

    .
    .
    Fortunately, you don’t have to choose between President Obama’s re-election and killing the old, infants, the infirm, and the poor with the kindness of cruel benefit cuts.
    .
    .

  67. 67.

    Martin

    July 7, 2011 at 11:07 pm

    I’m sure that wouldn’t possibly lead to increased rates of poverty for seniors or anything.

    Hmm. Let’s see. In 2000, the federal poverty level for an individual was $8350/year. The average SS benefit for an individual that year was $9648, or 116% of the poverty level.

    In 2010, the federal poverty level for an individual was $10,830/year. Average SS benefit for an individual was $14,124/year, or 130% of the poverty level.

    Huh. Looks like we’re paying out faster than inflation. Let’s go back to 1990. Poverty level in 1990 was $6,280 for an individual. Average SS benefit for an individual was $6606 per year, or 105% of the poverty level.

    Anyone detect a trend here?

  68. 68.

    Martin

    July 7, 2011 at 11:13 pm

    1980: Poverty: $4190, SS: $3853 – 92%
    1970: Poverty: $1975, SS: $1485 – 75%

    Not getting better for the death panel screamers…

  69. 69.

    FlipYrWhig

    July 7, 2011 at 11:29 pm

    Did Corner Some Fuckhead say something? About everyone else being a tiresome wussbag who really should be ignored? While keeping careful track of every last comment everyone else on the blog has ever made? Without irony? Neat.

  70. 70.

    Corner Stone

    July 7, 2011 at 11:31 pm

    Martin, you’re very clever. Maybe you could cite stats showing the percentage of income seniors have been spending on medication and healthcare over your time periods?
    Anyone want to bet any amount that those fixed costs as a percentage of household income have increased faster than the arbitrary inflation rate?

  71. 71.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    July 7, 2011 at 11:32 pm

    Martin, are you saying we should be paying Social Security recipients less? Or are you saying we won’t be paying them less? Because I can’t figure at any particular time which case yer arguing. I will say it pains me that others will be losing money they need while you fire your own workers for “not cutting it” while you manage to stay on Balloon Juice 24/7 pulling down those scarce state dollars.

    ETA: Sorry to make it personal. I guess it’s the empathist in me.

  72. 72.

    Corner Stone

    July 7, 2011 at 11:36 pm

    It was for the greater good. As all decisions Martin makes regarding other peoples’ future. For the greater good.

  73. 73.

    Corner Stone

    July 7, 2011 at 11:40 pm

    And man, if there’s a Nirvana awaiting me anywhere…I hope to fucking Christ it’s gonna pay me 130% of the poverty level when I get there.
    Flat screens and Pringles for everyone!!

  74. 74.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    July 7, 2011 at 11:40 pm

    Damn FlipYrNick, yer positively prickly these days. Won’t be long before you’ll have to write off Balloon Juice with all the other sites you monitor carefully for anti-Obama bias.

  75. 75.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    July 7, 2011 at 11:42 pm

    Flat screens and Pringles for everyone!!

    I’ve been paying into social security for almost thirty years. I’m going to blow all my ample stash on coke and hookers.

  76. 76.

    Corner Stone

    July 7, 2011 at 11:43 pm

    @FlipYrWhig: Oh Flipster. You’re just sore because you’ve wasted so much time recently trying your god damndest to excuse away things no one on the Democratic side of the aisle should be defending.
    It’s like you have no choice or something…almost compelled to give it a go…some external motivation

    Honestly man, I’ve never seen someone take so many contradictory positions or outcomes and explain them away so neatly.

  77. 77.

    FlipYrWhig

    July 7, 2011 at 11:48 pm

    I’m like a complaint about the missing reply button, JSFCS. You’re never getting rid of me.

  78. 78.

    Martin

    July 7, 2011 at 11:50 pm

    Martin, are you saying we should be paying Social Security recipients less? Or are you saying we won’t be paying them less? Because I can’t figure at any particular time which case yer arguing.

    What I’ve been saying is that changing from CPI to C-CPI doesn’t pay them ‘less’. All it does is pay them more, less quickly. Rather than hitting, say, 140%-145% of the poverty level by 2020, they’d hit 137%-142%. Is it less than under CPI? Yes. It is going to drive seniors into poverty? I can’t see how.

  79. 79.

    Corner Stone

    July 7, 2011 at 11:52 pm

    @FlipYrWhig: Actually, we fixed that problem. Also, too.

  80. 80.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    July 7, 2011 at 11:59 pm

    So it’s more AND less?

  81. 81.

    Martin

    July 8, 2011 at 12:01 am

    Maybe you could cite stats showing the percentage of income seniors have been spending on medication and healthcare over your time periods?

    Over a 10 year period (the longest I’ve found) the median out-of-pocket cost has increased from 11.9% of income to 16.2%. Now, some of that is baked into CPI (healthcare is part of the index), but not as much as seniors see, as I’ve previously explained.

    Part of PPACA is designed to reduce those out-of-pocket costs by providing 100% coverage for a range of things that Medicare required some out-of-pocket payment, and those stats are pre-PPACA so we’ll see if they actually work or not.

    But subtracting out the numbers above (and shifting the timeframe a couple of years, which is fair if we assume the trend would continue), income remaining after healthcare costs would be:

    2000: Poverty: $8,350. SS (after 11.9% HC): $8,499 – 102%
    2010: Poverty: $10,830. SS (after 16.2% HC): $11,835 – 109%

    They’re still getting ahead, though not as fast.

  82. 82.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    July 8, 2011 at 12:02 am

    CS, did you see Nick trot out his sockpuppet to agree with himself in the other thread? I’m glad the frontpagers can see IP addresses because I’m sure they’ll get right on that.

  83. 83.

    Corner Stone

    July 8, 2011 at 12:02 am

    If there’s one motto all old people are looking to latch onto it is definitely “More…but less quickly. You’ve got time, amirite?”

  84. 84.

    Martin

    July 8, 2011 at 12:03 am

    I will say it pains me that others will be losing money they need while you fire your own workers for “not cutting it” while you manage to stay on Balloon Juice 24/7 pulling down those scarce state dollars.

    Oh, and fuck you that I take 5 minutes to look something up waiting for a report to run in my 60-70 hour work week. Maybe it takes you an hour and you can’t multitask, but it doesn’t take me that long and I can.

  85. 85.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    July 8, 2011 at 12:04 am

    If there’s one motto all old people are looking to latch onto it is definitely “More…but less quickly. You’ve got time, amirite?”

    Couple it with the Medicaid cuts and you get a sense of the strategy here.

  86. 86.

    Martin

    July 8, 2011 at 12:06 am

    So it’s more AND less?

    Honestly, I’ve gone through this a dozen times. If you didn’t get it any of those times, you’re not going to get it on the next one.

  87. 87.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    July 8, 2011 at 12:07 am

    Honestly, I’ve gone through this a dozen times. If you didn’t get it any of those times, you’re not going to get it on the next one.

    I’m clearly not cutting it.

  88. 88.

    Corner Stone

    July 8, 2011 at 12:07 am

    @Just Some Fuckhead:

    I’m glad the frontpagers can see IP addresses because I’m sure they’ll get right on that.

    Only ABL can see IP addresses. Or at least that’s the only FP’er who has loudly proclaimed that. For some obscure reason that was later ABLsplained.

    But yeah. DFer/Nick in a totally surprising move decided to post a comment where he stated he agreed with OzoneR/Nick.
    It was completely unexpected, I have to admit.

  89. 89.

    goblue72

    July 8, 2011 at 12:10 am

    @RossInDetroit – NY Times had an article over the weekend about downtown Detroit being revitalized by a wave of 20- and 30-something entrepreneurs, artists, hipsters, etc.

    http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/03/fashion/the-young-and-entrepreneurial-move-to-downtown-detroit-pushing-its-economic-recovery.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=detroit&st=cse

  90. 90.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    July 8, 2011 at 12:11 am

    Only ABL can see IP addresses. Or at least that’s the only FP’er who has loudly proclaimed that. For some obscure reason that was later ABLsplained.

    No, SP&T busted someone the same way. But he/she was pretty pained about it afterwards. Not busting on SP&T, who you know I adore. Just pointing out that if ABL can, and SP&T can, then surely everyone can and someone will get right on it. Fred will prolly get banned as a result.

  91. 91.

    eemom

    July 8, 2011 at 12:16 am

    just because I’ve gotten Zen in honor of the Dalai Lama’s birthday and have been mercifully absent from this blog today for other reasons, is no reason for me not to take a quick look at the comments on this post and observe that fuckie and stoned are being their usual obtusely assholish selves to reasonable people like Flip and Martin, and to opine that the latter two deserve better than to waste their time arguing with drunken sociopathic idiotlogues like the former two.

    jussayinzall.

  92. 92.

    Corner Stone

    July 8, 2011 at 12:17 am

    @Just Some Fuckhead:

    No, SP&T busted someone the same way.

    Yeah, I gave TattooSydney…I mean SP&T a little bit of the business about saying some nonsense that one time.

  93. 93.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    July 8, 2011 at 12:22 am

    just because I’ve gotten Zen in honor of the Dalai Lama’s birthday and have been mercifully absent from this blog today for other reasons, is no reason for me not to take a quick look at the comments on this post and observe that fuckie and stoned are being their usual obtusely assholish selves to reasonable people like Flip and Martin, and to opine that the latter two deserve better than to waste their time arguing with drunken sociopathic idiotlogues like the former two.

    Weird how you always get lumped in with me and CS, huh? That must sting a little, you being so reasonable, calm, polite and sober.

  94. 94.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    July 8, 2011 at 12:27 am

    @Corner Stone:

    Yeah, I gave TattooSydney

    I always liked TattooSydney too. Even tho I thought his Tunch poem-story-thing was stupid.

  95. 95.

    eemom

    July 8, 2011 at 12:30 am

    srsly, were y’all two actual schoolyard bullies back in the ancient days when your biological age matched up with your psychosexual one? Or are you erstwhile victims who have spent the rest of your lives starring in some pathetically imagined Revenge of the Nerds Goes to Cyberspace?

  96. 96.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    July 8, 2011 at 12:42 am

    srsly, were y’all two actual schoolyard bullies back in the ancient days when your biological age matched up with your psychosexual one? Or are you erstwhile victims who have spent the rest of your lives starring in some pathetically imagined Revenge of the Nerds Goes to Cyberspace?

    Look inward to find the answers you seek.

  97. 97.

    eemom

    July 8, 2011 at 1:49 am

    au contraire, Monsieur de la fuque-tete.

    C’est vous who should look inward — considering that an entire YEAR after TTS shared a sweet little illustrated story that delighted everyone in the world who possesses a human heart — i.e., everyone except you and Dick Cheney — you are still mean-spirited enough to dredge it up just to call it “stupid.”

    As though you begrudge us all the slightest breath of fresh, innocent pleasure to relieve the grim darkness that suffocates our world.

  98. 98.

    FlipYrWhig

    July 8, 2011 at 2:27 am

    @ eemom: Interesting, isn’t it, that the two characters who show up together the most and agree the most and act the most alike, day after day after day, are also the two who _constantly_ moan about their suspicions of coordinated sockpuppetry.

  99. 99.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    July 8, 2011 at 2:30 am

    I’m not begrudging you of anything. My opinion is my opinion. You are allowed to have your own opinion of it No, ALL of you (the “us” you continue to employ as a rhetorical device to make it seem like you speak for Balloon Juice) are free to enjoy it as you see fit.

    I release my psychic hold on you, all of you.

  100. 100.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    July 8, 2011 at 2:37 am

    Interesting, isn’t it, that the two characters who show up together the most and agree the most and act the most alike, day after day after day, are also the two who constantly moan about their suspicions of coordinated sockpuppetry.

    Corner Stone and I have had our share of knockdowndragouts over the years. The 2008 Democratic primary was especially taxing for him, I’m sure.

    But having interacted with him for so long, on and off Balloon Juice, I know a bit about him and recognize him for what he is: just a regular person with an opinion. He’s not pushing an agenda 24/7, not sockpuppeting in service to that agenda, and not trying desperately to control the world like eemom.

    That’s something you, er.. partisans don’t seem to fathom. There’s a community here that goes well beyond who happens to be President at the moment.

  101. 101.

    Yutsano

    July 8, 2011 at 2:49 am

    But having interacted with him for so long, on and off Balloon Juice

    So when IS the wedding anyway?

  102. 102.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    July 8, 2011 at 3:10 am

    So when IS the wedding anyway?

    Whenever Jane Hamsher can do it.

  103. 103.

    Yutsano

    July 8, 2011 at 3:30 am

    @ JSF:

    I guess it’s true then. Everything on this blog IS Hamsher’s fault. We need better villains.

  104. 104.

    eemom

    July 8, 2011 at 6:17 am

    [yawn]

    I’m trying to control the world. This from the dude who thunders down from Mount Sinai that HE is Balloon Juice thy Blog, and John Cole hath no other Commenters before He.

    Same schtick, different day.

    zzzzzzzz

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