Congress has lost its mind...

Originally Posted by TheMercenary

You may not like the messenger but the message is quite accurate.

The message on WashingtonWatch.com is accurate. WTF?

When they say on their own site:

WashingtonWatch.com does not report the many benefits that may be provided by government regulation and spending, made possible by taxation. Proposals that “cost” the average American may benefit you, your community, your loved ones, or your employer.

WashingtonWatch.com does not report the budgetary consequences of legislation. A proposal that “saves” money may drive the national debt higher because it reduces taxes without reducing spending. One that “costs” may reduce the national debt because it includes more taxes than spending.

Hell....at least they acknowledge (if you know where to look for it) that their analysis is incomplete and biased...I will give them that.

Lets be honest here.

As much as you like to criticize me as an “agent” for the Democrats or just a typical partisan leftist, I am not the one who, day after day, floods the Cellar with biased partisan op eds and/or links, many (most) of which are misleading, incomplete (ignoring context) or completely dishonest....probably more than all other posters here combined.

Quite accurate? That would be when you acknowledge that many of your “snips” are as biased and partisan (and more often than not, less accurate) than anything I (or others) post.

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by Redux

As much as you like to criticize me as an “agent” for the Democrats or just a typical partisan leftist, I am not the one who, day after day, floods the Cellar with biased partisan op eds and/or links, many (most) of which are misleading, incomplete (ignoring context) or completely dishonest....probably more than all other posters here combined.

Partisan opinion from a partisan poster, just doesn't carry much weight or credibility.

Quite accurate? That would be when you acknowledge that many of your “snips” are as biased and partisan (and more often than not, less accurate) than anything I (or others) post.

Lets be honest here, as I said, you may not like the messenger but the message is quite accurate in most cases.

[TheMercenary]

More evidence of a bloated expensive government without "transparency":

Federal Agencies Diverted Earmark Money

By RON NIXON and ASHLEY SOUTHALL
Published: July 31, 2009
WASHINGTON — Thirteen federal agencies took nearly half a billion dollars off the top of Congressional earmarks for administrative expenses in 2008, nearly 3 percent of the total amount that members of Congress had directed to pet projects in federal spending bills.


The Defense Department led the way with nearly $240 million deducted from earmarks. Several agencies, including the Education and Housing and Urban Development Departments, did not withhold any money to process and provide oversight of earmarks.

The findings, summarized in a report from the White House Office of Management and Budget, provide the first governmentwide look at how much federal agencies keep from earmarked money.

The report was done at the request of Senator Ben Nelson, Democrat of Nebraska, who said he first learned of the practice three years ago when the recipient of an earmark he had requested notified him that it had not gotten the full amount.

“This is an issue of transparency,” Mr. Nelson said. “Some of these agencies are clearly taking money without any authority, and they should not have these off-budget expense accounts.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/01/us..._r=2&th&emc=th

[TheMercenary]

HEY! The Congress can just treat this like they did for Cash for Clunkers! Dump more taxpayer dollars into it because you know, "It's to big to fail."

Prolonged Aid to Unemployed Is Running Out

Over the coming months, as many as 1.5 million jobless Americans will exhaust their unemployment insurance benefits, ending what for some has been a last bulwark against foreclosures and destitution.

Because of emergency extensions already enacted by Congress, laid-off workers in nearly half the states can collect benefits for up to 79 weeks, the longest period since the unemployment insurance program was created in the 1930s. But unemployment in this recession has proved to be especially tenacious, and a wave of job-seekers is using up even this prolonged aid.

Tens of thousands of workers have already used up their benefits, and the numbers are expected to soar in the months to come, reaching half a million by the end of September and 1.5 million by the end of the year, according to new projections by the National Employment Law Project, a private research group.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/02/us/02unemploy.html?hp

[Ibby]

Thanks, Redux. Not that it'll change anything, but im glad someone said it.

Originally Posted by Ibram

Thanks, Redux. Not that it'll change anything, but im glad someone said it.

Nope. It certainly wont change anything.

There are political boards where members engage in honest and often lively discussions that makes for good infotainment. You can have fun and learn something new at the same time.

And there are political boards that will never be conducive to such discussions, where one member is so intent in pushing a personal agenda, with daily cuts/pastes and a “gotcha” mentality, that the likelihood of open and honest discussion among members, without that one particular member's disruption, is an exercise in futility.

In my short time here, I can recall at least 3-4 members who have fled the political forum as a result of one member's repetitive and disruptive actions ("I am right...my links are factual ...so fuck you liberal apologists!")

Oh well..that’s life in a political forum.

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by Redux

There are political boards where members engage in honest and often lively discussions that makes for good infotainment. You can have fun and learn something new at the same time.

You mean that as long as they agree with your POV...

As you said, "Oh well..that’s life in a political forum."

Originally Posted by TheMercenary

You mean that as long as they agree with your POV...

As you said, "Oh well..that’s life in a political forum."

You're on a roll!

How many more people can you drive away from the political forum or have put you on ignore? At least 4 and counting who have said as much publicly?

If no one is left to listen, what would be the point of your daily rants?

[Shawnee123]

That's the POV calling the kettle black...

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by Shawnee123

That's the POV calling the kettle black...

Yep, he's no different IMHO, just supports everything the Obama Administration says, does, and every thing they do is going to be better for you and SAVE YOUR LIFE!.

[TheMercenary]

Matters not. Most likely the same 4 I have on ignore. No big deal. It is the beauty of this place. I doubt anyone is "driven away" by me. But that would be free choice as well.

Originally Posted by TheMercenary

Matters not. Most likely the same 4 I have on ignore. No big deal. It is the beauty of this place. I doubt anyone is "driven away" by me. But that would be free choice as well.

My point exactly.

You dont give a shit.

Its more important for you to get our you "message" *(day after day, partisan op ed after partisan op ed...more than all other contributors combined, in my time here) than to contribute to the community in a manner than stimulates discussion.

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by Redux

My point exactly.

You dont give a shit.

About anything you have to say or your opinion. Correct. Not so much with others.

Its more important for you to get our you "message" endlessly than to contribute to the community in a manner than stimulates discussion.

Like you said, if I am the only one who comes here who cares. I have confined most of my posts to a few threads. That is within the bounds of civility on a public forum.

Originally Posted by TheMercenary

About anything you have to say or your opinion. Correct. Not so much with others.

Like you said, if I am the only one who comes here who cares. I have confined most of my posts to a few threads. That is within the bounds of civility on a public forum.

Posting an endless number of partisan op eds, with occasional one line personal snarky comments, does not make for civil discourse by most reasonble standards.

Hey..if thats what you want and it makes you feel better about your position...carry on.

[TheMercenary]

Originally Posted by Redux

Posting an endless number of partisan op eds, with occasional one line personal snarky comments, does not make for civil discourse by most reasonble standards.

Hey..if thats what you want and it makes you feel better about your position...carry on.

Yea, I know, you want me to post partisan op eds that support your savior. I know. I just can't bring myself to drink your Koolaid or swallow your guys propaganda. Sorry. I just can't do it. I will be here to point out the duplicity of the Demoncrats and how they are no different than what the Republickins did for 8 years, you know, all that stuff your guys whined about. Obama is not doing a bad job for a figurehead of the Dems, Congress on the otherhand....