tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14594994.post992861207435420873..comments2024-01-09T04:20:39.453-05:00Comments on Around the Keg: The State of the Union is SmugNoahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14345059376742159966noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14594994.post-15528556250997760662008-01-29T13:19:00.000-05:002008-01-29T13:19:00.000-05:00But if we let them stay, then the terrorists have ...But if we let them stay, then the terrorists have won. And more unwed teenagers will get pregnant, and the war on Christmas will become unwinnable.<BR/><BR/>Sorry, I was channeling Fox News for a minute there...B Machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01874975455332269325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14594994.post-11282213203045501722008-01-29T13:00:00.000-05:002008-01-29T13:00:00.000-05:00I thnk we should grant amnesty to the one that are...I thnk we should grant amnesty to the one that are already here. Many have ties and roots here and it just seems stupid to kick them out.steveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08862590608695420004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14594994.post-11490843856500759872008-01-29T12:58:00.000-05:002008-01-29T12:58:00.000-05:00I should have been more clear. We absolutely have...I should have been more clear. We absolutely have to secure the border. In fact, that has to happen first, before any other steps (after all, why deal with the water in your basement before you turn off the water main?). And of course, it is an incredibly complex and difficult issue in general. <BR/><BR/>My problem is with the idea that we can just build a fence, kick the illegals out, and solve the problem. It isn't that there are a bunch of Mexicans living in America; there are a bunch of people from Mexico (and Canada, and El Salvador, and China, and...)who are a PART of America, albeit an 'illegal' part. We can't just draw a line and separate the two. The "amnesty" argument has become such a hot-button issue that it overshadows the fact that we NEED the millions of people in our country without paperwork.<BR/><BR/>A hundred years ago, people just showed up at the front door, and we let them in. That was "legal" immigration, and it is the reason that many of us are here. Not me, because I'm an Indian (the feather kind), but probably the rest of you... :) Immigrants have always performed the shit jobs that no one else will do for the shit wages companies are willing to pay. <BR/><BR/>See, you got me going...B Machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01874975455332269325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14594994.post-65693426994710330982008-01-29T11:47:00.000-05:002008-01-29T11:47:00.000-05:00Good stuff with the live diary. Rickey couldn't s...Good stuff with the live diary. Rickey couldn't stomach the idea of watching last night (so he didn't). Least talked about State of the Union ever...Rickeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05773465359487671887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14594994.post-3567946709997497062008-01-29T11:43:00.000-05:002008-01-29T11:43:00.000-05:00What is the solution to immigration? I don't agre...What is the solution to immigration? <BR/><BR/>I don't agree with the dire predictions, but I do think there should be some kind of process other than, "sneak over and we are all set." I sure don't want to kick everyone out, but do you think having an open border is a good idea?steveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08862590608695420004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14594994.post-18358039505167229732008-01-29T10:55:00.000-05:002008-01-29T10:55:00.000-05:00Sebelius reminded me a little of my high school ec...Sebelius reminded me a little of my high school economics teacher. And from an entertainment standpoint, that is not a good thing.<BR/><BR/>My 2 biggest problems with Prez. Bush have always been (and in this order):<BR/><BR/>1) It's pronounced NU-CLEAR, not Noockuler, you irrepressable boob.<BR/><BR/>2) He's never asked America to DO anything. After 9-11, he asked people to give blood. That's it. No call to volunteerism. No call to sacrifice for the common good. The message has always been, "our military will do the fighting, and we will not change our way of life, because doing so would mean that the terrorists have won." Whatever happened to "ask what you can do for your country?" Where is the demand that our generation to rise to the challenge as the Greatest Generation did? On September 12th, 2001, Americans would have walked through fire for this country. But we were asked to "go on about our lives." Such a wasted opportunity.<BR/><BR/>Beyond that, the whole immigration debate drives me crazy. There seems to be a disconnect between the debate and the reality. Despite Lou Dobbs suggestion that the Brown People have declared war on the Middle Class, immigrants are VITAL to our economy. If you want to kick everyone out, feel free; but be prepared to pay twice as much for a head of lettuce. <BR/><BR/>Besides, Mexican economy may not have the most advanced economy, but they do have the greatest technological answer to the 14-foot fence: the 15-foot ladder.B Machttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01874975455332269325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14594994.post-37681617853483960102008-01-29T08:52:00.000-05:002008-01-29T08:52:00.000-05:00I've heard her bandied about as a VP candidate ove...<I>I've heard her bandied about as a VP candidate over the years...no thank you.</I><BR/><BR/>Remember, Mr. F., when they said the same thing about our Gov being a rising star, etc? My how excited the Dems get over an articulate, attractive woman.<BR/><BR/>She was a total snoozer.Noahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14345059376742159966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14594994.post-89444654832597227542008-01-29T08:50:00.000-05:002008-01-29T08:50:00.000-05:00Congress has already approved more than 63 billion...<I>Congress has already approved more than 63 billion for rebuilding. How much more should we pay</I><BR/><BR/>Actually, my comment was levvied at the rebuilduing effort on the ground, not Congress and the Administration. Seems like someone could do a lot more with $63 billion. Just sayin'.<BR/><BR/><I>I am confused?</I><BR/><BR/>No, I just don't think "minutemen" and the Wall Around America is the rightr answer either.Noahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14345059376742159966noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14594994.post-24712637529277525672008-01-29T08:29:00.000-05:002008-01-29T08:29:00.000-05:00Yeah, I was annoyed that Terminator: Sarah Connor ...Yeah, I was annoyed that Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles wasn't on. I watched it on and off, but mostly read. It is not that I don't care, it is just that I don't expect that much from him or the Congress at this point. <BR/><BR/>The way I understood the earmark thing was that he would veto stuff that was "tacked on at the last minute" and never debated. This got an ovation from everyone and sounds good, but I'll believe it when I see it. It is too late to be playing the fiscal conservative, Captain Spendy.<BR/><BR/>Language warning!<BR/><BR/>I was bothered by the vouchers, I mean Pell Grants for Kids. First of all, the federal gov't has no authority in this area, but I know this administration plays pretty loose with the Constitution. Secondly, nobody fucking wants vouchers. IIRC, there have more than 20 across the country and none of them has ever won. The last one here only got 30% support, despite proponents having twice the advertising dollars.<BR/><BR/>Don't get me wrong, there needs to be reform in education and I don't think throwing money at inner city schools is the best idea. Some urban schools get more than $10,000 per student. Some also pay most of the administrators six-figure salaries and send them to conferences in Hawaii. <BR/><BR/>Universal health care...I don't want a Canadian or European system. I would like to keep the health care I have now and see some kind of system fill in the gaps for others.<BR/><BR/>"So they will hold the North American Summit in NOLA. So, for the citizens of that fine city, another 10-block section will finally get rebuilt."<BR/><BR/>Congress has already approved more than 63 billion for rebuilding. How much more should we pay, considering the rampant corruption, no-bid contracts and other shennanigans going on? Is is a good idea to rebuild a coastal city below sea level?<BR/><BR/>"Hey! Immigration! No way! Secure borders. Fucking fences. Double border agents. We should apparently never secure our border against foreign workers to come here and support our economy. Because nothing says "send us your poor, your tires, your hungry" like a 14-foot fence with razor wire spiraling across the top."<BR/><BR/>So, our immigration policy should be "let everyone in and don't make any attempt to control it?" I am confused?steveshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08862590608695420004noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14594994.post-83993980377478530742008-01-29T07:32:00.000-05:002008-01-29T07:32:00.000-05:00Whoa, I didn't realize people actually watched the...Whoa, I didn't realize people actually watched the SotU address! I'm usually just annoyed that it's taking up a time slot on every channel...<BR/><BR/>That being said, thank you for the recap and commentary which I'd wager is probably more insightful than anything I'd get off the major news outlet websites.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14594994.post-10200258325165662862008-01-29T04:49:00.000-05:002008-01-29T04:49:00.000-05:00Thanks for the recap. I just couldn’t handle watc...Thanks for the recap. I just couldn’t handle watching the damn thing.<BR/><BR/><I>"International clean technology fund to urge our neighbors to use clean energy (uh, our neighbors, I recall, asked us to do the same...) Every major economy must participate, nobody gets a free ride (kinda like...our free ride?)."</I><BR/><BR/>Not sure I would agree with this statement. I am no expert, but I cannot imagine the smokestacks on top of China's factories are releasing cleaner emissions than ours.<BR/><BR/>Immigration:<BR/>So people are whining about Mexicans doing $5.00 per hour jobs in the U.S., while $50,000 per year manufacturing jobs going to Mexico and few complain? I remember the shot of the “Minuteman” patrolling the Mexican border in his Toyota Tacoma. Half of Tacoma’s sold in the U.S. are built in Mexico. <BR/><BR/>Truth is the latest immigration B.S. has nothing to do with jobs. Many of these freaks just don’t want a brown skinned person sitting next to their daughter at school.Bobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12669616484991718478noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14594994.post-61415770994221283562008-01-29T01:50:00.000-05:002008-01-29T01:50:00.000-05:00Oh, and my "live" blog is up too.Oh, and my "live" blog is up too.Mr Furioushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03781439243585972721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14594994.post-31082681256713883702008-01-29T01:49:00.000-05:002008-01-29T01:49:00.000-05:00Sebelius = yawn.I've heard her bandied about as a ...Sebelius = yawn.<BR/><BR/>I've heard her bandied about as a VP candidate over the years...no thank you.<BR/><BR/>Seemed to weave a few Obama buzzwords in there and strike a post-partisan note though...Mr Furioushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03781439243585972721noreply@blogger.com