patrick.net

Yeah, problem is the democratic leadership is simply too extreme...not very grounded. Both sides have extremists, but dems are being steered by extremists...irrationalists who wouldn't understand the concept of Atlas Shrugging if they read it a thousand times... IO-, ARM-, neg am-type folks.

If I am ever in such a situation it will not be because I was too lazy to walk two miles to safety.

@astrid: My boy chesterton: http://www.chesterton.org

Basically, I'm unwilling to forgive the left for its lack of a sense of humor. You'd have to have a heart of stone to still be liberal after 5 years of berkeley and 4 years of San Francisco.

I'm thinking of getting a bumper sticker made:

"Bush. Just to piss you off."

to rock on my car. Just to see the apoplectic coffee explosions on 280 on my way to work. Regardless of your political persuasion, *tell me* that wouldn't be funny...

Cheers,
prat

I just looked at the driftglass link… Isn’t it terrible how those Republicans have sent this hurricane into New Orleans to drown the black people!

I looked too, and I'm still trying to find the eloquence or the facts to back up the rhetoric. Sorry Astrid. Btw, you started paying attention to politics at 15? Were you reading anything other than the progressive lefts pov since then? Again, no disrespect intended, but it's all too slanted to take seriously.

@astrid: don't take my comment as a jibe. I'm just playing.

More smart, successful, and better looking kids agree with you than with me. Therefore, I'm reduced to...

Consider, chewbacca...

_smile_

Cheers,
prat

While I'm on the topic, and since this thread has devolved (and we are at 200+ posts anyway, so we have crossed the coherent thread horizon), may I share one of my favorite chesterton quotes?

Lovely.

"What embitters the world is not excess of criticism, but an absence of self-criticism."

Cheers,
prat

Bad Shift

Too true. The tragedy has raised some tempers in the face of some unfortunate events and dragging politics into it is pointless. I think some levity is in order, so I too thank you Prat.

Chewbacca

"There’s no shortage of blogs with exactly the kind of discussion above"

Really? Where?

I've grown so weary of all the level-headed political discussions I read online. Something with a bit more oooomph would be nice. I mean, how many times can you read another middle-of-the-road "Bush/Hitler eats babies cooked in poor people stew by the jews" essay or a yawn-inducing "Democrats want to sell aborted fetuses to the UN to create a clone army of communists created by the jews" post?

I mean, really.

Cheers,
prat

Prat, These stories are silly, but some peopel seem to believe them.

“What embitters the world is not excess of criticism, but an absence of self-criticism.”

That'll be my deep thought for the day. ;)

But re: RE, what about all those Rivermark condos on Craigslist???
Anyone from So.Bay comment?

I’ve grown so weary of all the level-headed political discussions I read online. Something with a bit more oooomph would be nice. I mean, how many times can you read another middle-of-the-road “Bush/Hitler eats babies cooked in poor people stew by the jews” essay or a yawn-inducing “Democrats want to sell aborted fetuses to the UN to create a clone army of communists created by the jews” post?

You know, if had your gift for writing, I would have stayed in journalism much longer. Priceless.

Did I mention the jews?

Because, like, *totally*, the jews.

Wow.

Cheers,
prat

@astrid

Smugness and self-satisfaction are the enemies of all men of goodwill. I join you, arm in arm, in your fight against them, comrade.

_queue the international_

Cheers, and don't leave, what fun would that be?
prat

Warming to the theme, I offer another chesterton quote:

"Among the rich you will never find a really generous man even by accident. They may give their money away, but they will never give themselves away; they are egotistic, secretive, dry as old bones. To be smart enough to get all that money you must be dull enough to want it."

Hmmmm.

_strokes chin and considers life ambitions_

Well, on that note, goodnight.

Cheers,
prat

Well, despite Prat's heroic efforts to save this thread, I think it's been run into the ground. New thread ideas? Anyone...anyone?

Well earlier today there was talk of a "rate hike or no" thread. I suppose to discuss whether there should, and whether there would, be one, and what the ramifications would be. I was looking forward to that because it sounds like it would be a good source thread (i.e edumacational). Don't know why no thread yet, though....

The suffering in New Orleans is truely a shame...

From another website:

“Much of the suffering in New Orleans was avoidable. LOCAL authorities were slow with the evacuation order, and did not utilize resources at hand to evacuate those who lacked transportation.

Perhaps they were concerned that once they had evacuees on busses they had no plan for where to take them.”

http://www.city-journal.org/html/eon_09_01_05ng.html

http://instapundit.com/archives/025310.php

The city had countless buses in the city that they just parked and left to be flooded.

Well earlier today there was talk of a “rate hike or no” thread. I suppose to discuss whether there should, and whether there would, be one, and what the ramifications would be. I was looking forward to that because it sounds like it would be a good source thread (i.e edumacational). Don’t know why no thread yet, though….

The main thread masters have been away today, but I can put one up. In terms of rate hikes, are we speaking in response to Katrina, or do you want to address other factors?

Actually never mind. I went ahead and created a new thread. It's basic but we need to move on.

astrid, I will miss your presence, but agree that it is probably a good idea to cool off for a bit. Maybe not weeks, but however long you feel like you need.

This is not a political blog, per se, and I would hate to see it turn into one. There is plenty of that out there.

My politics are pretty close to yours, but I came from the other end. I grew up poor and was practically an anarchist in college. Now I consider myself progressive socially and pragmatic fiscally.