Wednesday, January 27, 2010


Carol's getting me excited about Elizabeth Warren, so I spent this morning getting acquainted with her: where she comes from; what she stands for and has accomplished; her beliefs and the reasoning behind them -- and I like everything I found out.

In December '09, she wrote this: "Can you imagine an America without a strong middle class? If you can, would it still be America as we know it?

Today, one in five Americans is unemployed, underemployed or just plain out of work. One in nine families can't make the minimum payment on their credit cards. One in eight mortgages is in default or foreclosure. One in eight Americans is on food stamps. More than 120,000 families are filing for bankruptcy every month. The economic crisis has wiped more than $5 trillion from pensions and savings, has left family balance sheets upside down, and threatens to put ten million homeowners out on the street."

..... and more recently:
On Tuesday night's Daily Show, Elizabeth told Jon Stewart that "this is really the moment that will determine the future of America's middle class -- the system must be fixed or the game really is over."

..... from the linked article:
"Warren, who chairs the Congressional Oversight Panel created to monitor TARP, said: It is simple. This is America's middle class. We've hacked at it and chipped at it and pulled on it for 30 years now. And now there's no more to do. Either we fix this problem going forward or the game really is over." ....Stewart asked her why the system hasn't been fixed yet: "Well, these guys really do get it." Warren told Stewart -- the CEOs, bankers, and people in power -- "They get it. And they work best behind closed doors." If the decisions are in their hands, she said, "Nothing, nothing will change. You know, I want to turn to these guys sometimes, and I want to say: what part of 'we bailed you out' do you not get? These are people who would not have their jobs because they would not have their companies." Elizabeth Warren On The Daily Show: If We Don't Act 'The Game Really Is Over' (VIDEO)

167 comments:

Anonymous said...

"They only run our lives is we let them. Don't play on their terms. We all have a choice."

Hear, hear, Don!

Anonymous said...

"ON THE day after Tuesday's electoral loss, the Obama administration brought an unfamiliar face to the White House - Elizabeth Warren, the Harvard Law professor noted for her staunch advocacy on behalf the middle class and fierce criticism of the bank bailouts. Perhaps the administration will take a more aggressive approach to Wall Street, along the lines of what Warren wants. But for Democrats to truly take ownership of the economic crisis, Warren will need to play a more prominent role. Not just her ideas, but the force of her personality is needed."
Elizabeth Warren Was Called To White House Day After Mass. Election

Solar said...

Chloe,

Nice work.! Coreen and I have discussed Elizabeth Warren a few times over at tm...Coreen has followed her a lot longer, and a lot closer, when she quoted a comment some time ago, I became interested in her...she is the real thing, but no one is listening her.!!

This means to me, that the people running our government, is not the POTUS, it is people like Emmanuel, and Axlerod, and people like that.

Warren, actually has the power all by herself to spend the remaining tarp $ and the Stimulus as she sees fit...that is her job, but they are not letting her do her job imo.....as far as her going for office...who knows??? she certainly would get the independents, but who would back her up...she would have to do it like

Coreen said...

Elizabeth Warren's idea of a Consumer Financial
Protection Agency (though a much weaker version of her idea) was passed in the House as
part of the Wall St. Reform & Consumer Protection Act, but the Senate banking committee needs to approve. No action yet in the Senate, however, Sen. Dodd recently commented that maybe it was not neeeded & could
be accomodated elsewhere, not as a separate agency...there is much opposition to it.
Remains to be seen it if ever gets passed, there has been talk that she should head up such an agency, but business will likely be against her...they already are....
New Consumr Agency Passes Hurdle

Coreen said...

And here is a post by Elizabeth Warren about her idea of a consumer protection agency

3 myths about the consumer financial product agency

Coreen said...

If you read the articles & then some of the comments you can get an idea of the pro/con
that faces such an idea....

Coreen said...

Not sure Elizabeth Warren would consider running for office, as we know it takes amazing
amounts of money, while interesting prospect, I would be surprised if she did agree to it, but if the Consumer Protection Agency ever gets
approved, she is considered a front-running candidate for heading it, though again she will face tremendous opposition from business.....

Coreen said...

And speaking of Elizabeths...just heard on the
radio that Elizabeth & John Edwards have legally separated....

Solar said...

This is what IM doing for typing a hyperlink.

first im typing in after the a href= the swamp address of carol'ssouthernspice....> is this right to do so far?

Solar said...

Sorry I do put in the http://www. before it

Coreen said...

Carol,

As far as your post about Harold Ford and the wiki comments, it is likely that the constituents that Harold Ford represented for
10 years in Memphis (majority would be black voters) were much more conservative & more likely to have supported some of the things that wiki states Harold Ford supported.

Harold was & (I believe still is a politician)
& he would adapt his views, (as do all politicians), to his electorate, in TN southerners, and while a congressman from Memphis, black southerners (baptists I think for the most part) & much more conservative then us northerners.....black and/or white....

If Harold Ford does actually run in NY, he has to adapt 'modify' his views to match the voters
he wants to represent, I hope he does run,
I have always liked him, continue to like him,
& as I said, he is a realist, a pragmatist.

As far as working on Wall Street,
have to say, if a Wall St. firm offered me
$1 million to work there, I would take that job in a nanosecond...

And as far as the current NY Senator. Harold Ford would oppose, Gillibrand was considered a blue dog dem. when a congressperson, from a very conservative upstate NY district, with views very similar to those attributed to Harold Ford....and after being appointed, has
adapted 'modified' her views to be more in line with statewide NY voters...

Solar said...

http://href= http://www.antiwar.com

don1one said...

Solar,
You want to put the address to go to in the href, not carol's blog.

so:
<a href="http://news.antiwar.com/2010/01/26/price-of-us-wars-1-trillion-and-rising/">Cost of war</a>

becomes
Cost of war

don1one said...

You would have loved my little walk today Chloe. I went down to a preserve on the bay and walked through the mangroves watching the egrets fish.

I'll get some photos up later.

Carol said...

Thanks Chloe for putting up this Post on Ms. Warren. We have a friend in this lady. We need to support her because she may be our only friend.

Can't wait to see your egret pics Don. I have a lot of egret friends here. This is egret heaven. They love it on the water and they love hanging with the cows in the pasture. Have you seen any Roseate Spoonbills?

Solar said...

Don, Chloe,

Thanks I have it now, I went back on the last thread and did just that, I was a little confused, because I thought that it should be sent to the swamp, instead of just dbl pasting from where I wanted to come from.....

Jan, it is not hard to do...but it needs to be done each time..so it will get easier, and easier..

Solar said...

This Toyota recal could not have come at a worse time.!!

Carol said...

Coreen, I always thought I liked Harold Ford also but I really didn't know much about him except that he is a nice looking and smooth talking guy. The more I learn about him the more uncomfortable I have become.

Do you know of any specific accomplishments of Harold Ford that would let us know why he would make a great representative for anyone besides his jumping on a big pay check with the Financial Industries? I'm sure most of us would like an easy million. I wonder what exactly he does for his paycheck, whatever the amount. I noticed he didn't pass the bar so he couldn't practice law, could he?

Carol said...

This is what you can do while you watch the State of the Union speak tonight. Good excuse to get drunk.

"State of the Union Drinking Game

Carol said...

that is supposed to be speech.

Anonymous said...

Don, You'd better believe I would have loved that walk! Can't wait to see the photos.

Feel free to put them up anytime. We'll be talking about Elizabeth Warren for a long time to come. This post has served it's purpose anyway.

Anonymous said...

Carol, I'll just depend on you to tell me about the speech tomorrow. Too much fiction involved in these speeches for me.

Solar, I was thinking the same thing about that Toyota recall. It really did come at a bad time. Can you imagine what it's costing them. I wonder if they have insurance for things like this? On second thought, I figure they must. Well, regardless, it's costing 'someone' a lot of money.

Oh man, I just realized, that someone is probably going to be the consumer anyway.

Anonymous said...

Solar, You did it! I knew you would.
... and you picked the perfect site: Declare war on Washington. Ha!

Anonymous said...

I've missed seeing Jan and Mary around here.

Girls.... where are you??

Anonymous said...

There's a new toy coming kids:

Apple unveils iPad tablet with onscreen keyboard (with photo)

"It’s so much more intimate than a laptop and so much more capable than a smart phone,” Jobs said Wednesday at the device’s highly anticipated debut in San Francisco.

Apple had kept its “latest creation” under wraps, though many analysts had corrctly speculated that it would be a one-piece tablet computer with a big touch screen, larger than an iPhone but smaller than a laptop." Apple iPad
.... and : Video of New Apple iPad

Carol said...

Don't make me explain it Chloe. I usually haven't a clue what they said. It's a lot of double talk.

I was just worrying because I bet that dang speech will interfer with my Modern Family show. With what we've been having to see at work this week, we're all hanging by our last nerves. I needed a big laugh tonight, not a big joke.

Carol said...

That drinking game sounds like fun Chloe. I still have a bottle of Vodka that been here for about 5 years. Someone left it here right after I bought the camp. It's probably turned into antifreeze by now. May need that in a couple of days.

don1one said...

The dealers are the ones being hurt. They can't sell any of the american made vehicles, which they say is about 3/4 of their inventory. The vehicles made in Japan are fine. Which tells you that even the Japanese can't get better work out of American engineers.

I was going to go to a manatee viewing area tomorrow, then realized I'm back on a time clock. So I'll have to go Saturday. I'll put the photos up on my Florida site.

Not much variety Carol, but I've been on the Gulf side. I'll get out to the bay side and see if I can get some more. Lots of anhingas. Would love to get a photo of a spoonbill.

Solar said...

Chlo,

Thanks, There are going to be ripple effects about the Toyota recall's . Stops toyota sales, plant workers, etc....

Carol said...

I'll wait for Jon Stewart to explain it to me.

Anonymous said...

" Elizabeth & John Edwards have legally separated...."

Somehow, that's kinda sad. Mainly, it's just sad that his philandering happened in the first place. I mean for Elizabeth and their children. Her being ill - and at the same time having to deal with these feelings of having been betrayed. It shouldn't be like that toward the end of your life. I hope she has a lot of good years ahead of her.

Anonymous said...

Carol, After Jon explains it to you, then pass it on to me. :)

Anonymous said...

I guess that means the Toyota workers are paying a price too Solar. It doesn't help anyone, and it fits into my gripe about the lack of quality control in the last several years.

Nothing seems to be made as well. Nothing.

Anonymous said...

Yeah Don, Of course you right! It's the dealers who will be most hurt.

You have a Florida site?

Carol said...

It's so interesting Don how different habitats have such different birds. My birds here on the river are different than my birds at my house, just a little over a mile away, except for the Cardinals. Never see a Blue Jay or a Mockingbird here.

But I love all the owls out here. There were some at my house but this place is just crawling with them. There are owl parties going on out there. I don't think I can stand outside in the evening for very long without hearing them yakking it up. Must be river rat party owls.

For the last few days, there have been some hanging out in my yard. Calling from my trees. I wonder if there might be a family getting started again. Last three years, that didn't start in my yard until around March.

Anonymous said...

"That drinking game sounds like fun Chloe. I still have a bottle of Vodka that been here for about 5 years."

LOL Carol. You know it'll just make you sick (and it'll put a few pounds on you too). Is it worth it.

They keep raising that low temperature a little higher when I check the weather each day. Now ours doesn't show it will be below freezing. I'll have to see what happens. I know we're supposed to have a day or two of rain, then the cold.

Solar said...

I used to like Edwards, not for Pres, but I liked that he came from humble beginings, one of the things that I hate about Bush was a spoiled shit. Edwards could have waited, and he knowingly messed up Clintons chances, so did she in a way,but...I keep thinking about all of these stupid rich kids...how stupid...can't U just get a 1000.00 hooker and go on your way...same with B. Clinton.!!!

Anonymous said...

"It's so interesting Don how different habitats have such different birds."

... not surprising though Carol. A different habitat, different birds.

I remember your owls from last year. Can't wait to see the new family this year. We haven't had owls here for a while. I really didn't ever see them, just used to hear them. I love all those night sounds we get out here in the spring and summer. It's pretty quiet this time of the year.

Anonymous said...

"can't U just get a 1000.00 hooker and go on your way."

Ha! It would work for you, huh Solar?

Anonymous said...

Maybe everyone will get about a thousand dollars in 'stimulus' money.

Carol said...

You liked that Edwards came from humble beginning Solar and he never let us forget that, did he? "Son of a mill worker". He probably has that tatooed on his tiny weinie.

Solar said...

Chloe,

If I was a Tiger Woods, or A John Edwards, or a someone like that yes...as im not...I would have to make it a 10,000 hoooker....no chance of that....but what a looker for 10g's :-)))))

Anonymous said...

... and what do you imagine (or should I say fantasize) the difference is in a 1000 hooker, or 10,000 hooker would be. LOL!

Solar said...

About time:

Now we are getting into some man talk....in the marines I was once given a hooker for my birthday...didn't even know about it.....funny story...wanna hear about it some day???

Anonymous said...

"what a looker for 10g's :-))"

Oooooh, You think she'd 'look' better. Ha!

Carol said...

You probably have lots of owls at your place Chloe. They just aren't the loud, rowdy, river rat party owls.

Anonymous said...

... nah, some things are better left unsaid Solar.

Solar said...

Ten, one thousand hookers....hahahaha

Anonymous said...

I don't think we do anymore Carol.

Anonymous said...

... all at once!??

Carol said...

The hookers we have here, that pass thru my joint, would gag a maggot but I think they come from the factory outlet group.

Anonymous said...

"You liked that Edwards came from humble beginning Solar and he never let us forget that, did he? "Son of a mill worker". He probably has that tatooed on his tiny weinie."

LOL Carol!!
You two have me laughing so hard.

Solar said...

that was in answer to you're 5:13 post...I knew that U were going to say that...

Anonymous said...

... yeah, the expensive one rarely go to jail, do they Carol.

Carol said...

I think Tiger's wife was prettier than any of his girlfriends.

Solar said...

Yeah, Butt.

Carol said...

Your right Chloe. They probably are doing the people who can keep you out.

Anonymous said...

"doing the people" Carol?

Expensive whore's do 'all the right people'. Hahaha.

don1one said...

Our weather has been changing so much that even our regulars aren't regular birds any more. My neighbors have lived in their house for over 40 years and have never seen the birds that have come in the last 2 years.

I think a few drinks would be good for Carol, Chloe. That and some silly jokes. Did you hear the one about the man and the bird that walked into a bar Carol?

We need a webcam on the swamp Carol. Then we could share in watching your birds. Maybe even add an infrared attachment.

I have sites on about 8 states Chloe, and names and frameworks up for 35 altogether. I'm working on a new program that will let anyone add photos and articles. When I get some spare time.

Carol said...

The hookers I've seen around here seem to each have some body part missing, an arm or a leg or most of their teeth. Then I've heard that having no teeth was a good thing. I wonder why? LOL

Anonymous said...

That's the first thing I said when I saw his wife's picture next to all of them. She's beautiful, just look at her. A class act. And two beautiful children. These guys aren't even smart enough to know when they've got it made.

Anonymous said...

"I've heard that having no teeth was a good thing"

... safer for the guy, anyway. LOL.
I guess we'll have to ask one of them if that's preferable or not.

Anonymous said...

I hope you'll link those sites for us sometime Don. I'd love to see them. I bet you're a great photographer.

I've seen some different birds this year too.

don1one said...

Sounds like the Jim Carrey movie Yes Man Carol.

i think Edwards father was a upper level manager, wasn't he? He just liked to make it sound like he was raised poor. All the stories about the poor house was where his grandparents lived. Everything about the man was a lie. We don't know what Elizabeth was like though.

Solar said...

U pinks didn't want to hear my story, and now look at how low U sunk....toothless jokes, and all, it's darn right embarrassing....im out of here if you can't clean up you act.....or go on the rode with it...huh Maria??

Anonymous said...

Carol, I hadn't quite comprehended what a different world you live in when you go to work. I've never even been to a prison. I won't even go to bad parts of towns. I am so sheltered out here in my safe little world, where we needn't even lock our door.

Anonymous said...

... that wasn't a joke Solar. They women from the prison told her that's a fact.

Carol said...

It's a different world Chloe, but many coming in these days look like they just came off a college campus. Some of the women look like sorority girls. Sad.

Solar said...

I think that the thing to watch tonight, is what, how the R's are going to behave. I alway's find it amusing, that the apposing party, has their reply already, even before they have heard the speech......

Anonymous said...

Carol and Coreen, I can't even tell you how impressed I am with your Elizabeth Warren. I'm looking forward to learning more about her. I have not been following politics at all (intentionally).

Here's something I didn't link this morning (you guys probably know it already):

"Elizabeth Warren is just a little ol' gal who was born in Oklahoma in 1950, the youngest child of parents who had endured the hardships of the Dustbowl and the Great Depression.

From those humble roots, she has risen to become a respected Harvard Law professor, a best-selling author, one of the top authorities on bankruptcy law in the United States, and now, chair of the Congressional Oversight Panel for the $700 billion bailout fund, or TARP.

Elizabeth Warren is one person who may be able to save the American dream. She is a woman of rare passion, intelligence, conviction and intellectual honesty who forms her opinions based not on what she would like to believe, what would be convenient, or politically expedient to believe, but based on what the facts in front of her reveal.

Anonymous said...

"Some of the women look like sorority girls. Sad."

Mostly sad because they'll probably never be the same, after they've been there a while. It must leave them pretty jaded.

Anonymous said...

". I alway's find it amusing, that the apposing party, has their reply already, even before they have heard the speech....."

Not me. I'm not amused anymore. I find it disgusting.

Anonymous said...

"forms her opinions based not on what she would like to believe, what would be convenient, or politically expedient to believe, but based on what the facts in front of her reveal."

Wouldn't it be nice if they all did that.

Carol said...

Chloe, the first time I read something she wrote, I was impressed. I mentioned her on TM before we had our joint here. My intuition screamed that she was real! And she's up against some vicious animal but does it so gracefully.

Anonymous said...

"I mentioned her on TM before we had our joint here."

After the election, I was so tuned out there, even though I was 'there'. It became meaningless. Or worse than meaningless. I don't even know why I hung around.

Carol said...

Even though they looked like sorority girls
Chloe, they weren't. They didn't take that path. They took the other one. I cry for their mothers.

don1one said...

Any more it's anything for easy money. look at the boom in amateur porn on the internet. We're numb and no longer have a moral compass. just looking for something that tells us we're still alive.

Like the romans and the coliseums or orgies.

Anonymous said...

Ok, I've taken up way too much room tonight.
I'm going to check out.

See all you beautiful people tomorrow. :)

Anonymous said...

"They didn't take that path. They took the other one."

Choices, Carol. Teenagers almost always do exactly the opposite of what they know you believe in. They look for things to just annoy you. Raising kids can be a tough, and sometimes thankless job.

They eventually grow out of it, but still, the damage is done usually.

Carol said...

Nancy Pelosi looks like she has some syndrome. Could be a hyperactive thyroid with other complications.

Anonymous said...

... but I keep doing it. And I love Emma more than anything in the world. She's my greatest joy. I've never had so much fun with a kid in my life. So ignore my pessimism in that post (even though I've witnessed it many times with many people).

Anonymous said...

"with other complications."


Probably the same complication we all have: she's getting old.

Carol said...

Don, have a lot of those Internet porn or other, sex crimes using the Internet, in jail also. That has ruined many many lives, most often white middle class men. Why don't they realize that there are no secrets on the Internet? And the, what they think is a horny young girl, is really a ugly, burly cop.

Carol said...

Open thread, make fun of the politicians nite. Who will be the first to show his/her dumb ass?

Carol said...

And Chloe, raising kids in this day and age....the toughest! God help parents.

Anonymous said...

Yep. To easy for them to communicate with the bad guys, too easy to get in trouble. Computers, cell phones and all the rest have taken away the control the parents used to have.

There are no boundaries anymore. The world just seems so much bigger than it used to be.

Carol said...

Nancy's left dimple looks like a crater. She must have a vacuum going on in that mouth.

Carol said...

Too much high definition.

don1one said...

Define dumb. Wilson made over $1 million for his outburst.

The predictions were we'd have more free time and be able to live more remotely in village like environments. It's happened in many other countries, but not here in the US.

Carol said...

Obama missed his calling to be a preacher.

Carol said...

Timmy didn't hate that bank bailout.

Carol said...

And he's smiling.

Carol said...

And that fee should be equal to the bonuses of the CEOs.

don1one said...

Timmeh's smile is strained. he's had a very bad day.

Carol said...

Yeah Don, I loved it.

Carol said...

Maybe he just let out a little gas.

Carol said...

Look for Obama Don. He's coming you way.

Carol said...

Time to insulate.

don1one said...

I'm watching ncis and flipping over during commercials. Obama did a pretty good job of embarrassing GOP on comment about tax cuts. Boehner looking very orange.

don1one said...

i wonder if the sba has changed their policies? It used to be you could only get small business loans for capital equipment. That doesn't help you if you're a software developer though, your biggest expense is people. I could start a good sized business if I could hire two people full time for a year and then expand from there. Hate going through angel investors.

Carol said...

I could use a maid and yardman. Think they will help me out?

Carol said...

Jon Stewart, are you getting this down? Maybe
Beth can splain it to us.

Carol said...

I see the Supremes aren't clapping.

don1one said...

He's going after the GOP and Congress in general pretty good tonight. Think anyone is still listening?

Solar said...

He is too late, one year ago, and he could have passed these things, with the majority that he came in with...and the R's were in a disarray, now they have the upper hand..he has not stood for anything, cept helping out the banks, and Daschels pharm pals...

Election year, and they are going to try to do something....their jobs are on the line...I don't think that he can get back on track, as fast as he got off-of it....

Carol said...

Well have to iron my clothes for tomorrow. Wrinkles can wait for no President to shut up. And Maggie is shaking her leg. gotta go, gotta go, gotta go go go.

Carol said...

"Not me. I'm not amused anymore. I find it disgusting"

Your right Chloe! Politics is really getting to be just another ridiculous reality show. Problem is....it's too real! Do you think that all these 24 hour cable news programs are part of the problem? They need something to talk about, they need entertainment and they like politics.

I wonder if we would all be better off if all we had was just a few 30 minute to one hour news programs to choose from again.

And maybe we, at the Swamp, would be better off leaving most of the politics to places like TM. We create the "Swamp" to escape the swamp and now we're right back in it.

Anonymous said...

"I wonder if we would all be better off if all we had was just a few 30 minute to one hour news programs to choose from again."

Can't turn back the clock Carol. (What you see is what you get.)

.... and regarding this: "We create the "Swamp" to escape the swamp and now we're right back in it."

You said yourself that anything goes here. When we talk about politics here, I enjoy it - it's different. It doesn't turn into a battle, even when we disagree. It let's off steam.

I think things here at the Swamp are just the way they're supposed be Carol. I trust what's happening.

Anonymous said...

"Obama missed his calling to be a preacher."

Maybe not (he's just preaching to a bigger audience.

Voters to president: Less talk, more action
"When Al Melquist voted for Barack Obama in 2008, the unemployed software engineer was drawn to the politician's charisma and promise of solutions for the nation's economic woes and wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

In the time since, Melquist has given up looking for work. The house in Las Vegas where he lived sits empty and bank-owned after his landlord didn't make mortgage payments for 13 months. He is burning through his savings and doing Web site work to make ends meet for his family of five, while working on his own startup.

Millions of Americans like Melquist tuned in to the president's State of the Union address Wednesday night, aching for solutions but wary - aware that in too many places voters are no better off today than when they lifted Obama into the White House.

Many have become so disillusioned with their economic situations that they are tired of all the politics and promises and want action." http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2010911778_apusstateofunionamericareacts.html?syndication=rss

Anonymous said...

I got up real early this morning, and did a lot of reading online, so have several links of the ones I found most interesting. Ha... feel free to ignore them. :)

Love this:
"Looking out at the motley crew seated before him for the big speech, the president seemed at times to be pretending that he had never seen these people before in his life. “Washington has been telling us to wait for decades,” he complained at one point, as if he was a visitor from the heartland with a petition that he wanted to deliver if only he could get an appointment with someone on the appropriations committee." http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/28/opinion/28collins.html?ref=opinion

Anonymous said...

... this one popped out at me, because of what we were talking about last night Carol. I hope your prison is one of the goods ones that they mention in the article. Some prisons are difficult to even think about:

Kids in Crisis (Behind Bars)
"We all have blind spots, and I think one of mine — shared by many other Americans, perhaps including you — has to do with prisons.

Over the years, I’ve written many columns about Guantánamo Bay, Abu Ghraib and torture, not to mention the abuses that go on in Chinese and North Korean prisons. But I’ve never written about the horrors that unfold in American prisons — especially juvenile correctional facilities — on a far larger scale than at Guantánamo." http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/28/opinion/28kristof.html?ref=opinion

Coreen said...

Here we go again, just when all the snow was gone...it has been snowing since 7 a.m., about 2" so far, fluffy but slippery...

Oh, did I mention that all the local weatherpeople said last night 'just some snow showers early, no accumulation'....

Hello! Stop looking at the computer models & look out a window already!

Something from the NYT, not about politics, which relates to the prior 'relationship' discussion/comments.

"So tormented was Mr. Bowe by his inability to make the relationship work that he set out on a
2 year quest to find out why....by researching other people's romantic experiences.

The result is 'Us: Americans Talk About Love',
a collection of 1st person accounts of why love
succeeds or fails....No aspect of lust, greed, need or devotion is ignored..."

Some audio accounts are linked too.

A Bachelor's Effort to Understand Love

Anonymous said...

Coreen! I loved that article. Thanks for linking it.

Ha, The guy sounds like us:
"Ask him about his work as a journalist and he holds forth like a modern-day Marxist, railing against injustice and criticizing the mainstream news media for focusing on the ruling class instead of “regular people.”

“I don’t like experts and authorities, and I don’t like writing about stuff in the normal way they consider news,” he said, explaining his belief that “noncelebrities” and “nonexperts” do a far better job of illuminating the human condition.

“Even thinking you’re the most enlightened, objective person in the world, you could never anticipate” all the points of view you get from ordinary people, he said. “And they end up being smarter than you could ever be.”

Despite his profound feeling for the problems of complete strangers, Mr. Bowe doesn’t seem to have as much awareness when it comes to the difficulties in his own life.

... see, just like the rest of us. :)

Solar said...

Humans Are Not Made Monogamous
A biological view


"Of course, when Hollywood stars or politicians have extramarital affairs, the whole world rumbles. But if we peek into human biology, anthropology and sociology, the monogamous human appears as a very weird notion."

I have been married for 28 years, and I also found that communication is the key to most of it, and yes staying you're ground when need be, but most is compromise for a while, and then it just becomes part of everything...but the most important thing is to make your self happy, and like I said before,if this is done in a non-selfish way...like don't settle for a job, that you don't love. Don't settle for anything that is less than what U expect from your spouse....I have many, many relationships, with my wife, family, and friends...in all of these I make sure that I am the one that gives the most to that relationship, it comes natural...that makes me happy to see the out come of an effort that made someone that I cared happy, but I know when it gets to be one sided, and like I told my brother one time...a one side relationship that only one person is giving, doesn't last too long...no-one like to feel used, or taken advantage off......

Having said that, there is one litttttttttle thing that still pisses me off to no end.....whey can't my wife round off the friggin checkbook to the nearest dollar, when it is something like $10.96 ....it's $11.00 friggin dollars for ...Devil... sake

Solar said...

Carol,

Politics is an important part of our every day lives, it is just that over at tm, most times it is argued about, and not shared for information, about what is being done, or not done by our politicians...here at the swamp, there is an exchange of information, that is being shared, and the thought behind it...without the fear of being right or wrong, and arguing about it until it becomes a shouting match...if I don't agree, i will say so, and why, there comes a rebuttal, and maybe one more reply from me...and from the other person......that's it for me normally,...over at tm it is a little different, cos there are people trying to be in the in group.....If you can talk about Politics, religion,(nonsense) and all of the other things that some say that U can't talk about, It would get pretty boring......

Solar said...

humans are not mad monogamous

don1one said...

I think of talking politics the same way I do the weather. Complain all you want, you're not going to change it.

So you might just as well go out and enjoy the day you're given.

An interesting point about the Bible. Whenever a man has more than one wife, the story is going to end bad. Abraham, David, Solomon, etc.. They all had family problems.

Anonymous said...

"...a one side relationship that only one person is giving, doesn't last too long...no-one like to feel used, or taken advantage off...."

... truer words were never spoken Solar.


"...here at the swamp, there is an exchange of information, that is being shared, and the thought behind it...without the fear of being right or wrong, and arguing about it "

And reg. that last thing: I think that we have found a group that don't feel threatened by other peoples opinions, whether they agree or not.

Solar said...

This convinces me more that we did not have to bail anyone out.!!!

"The most important story of the week is not being written. Why? A whistle blower suggested to Rep. Issa (R-CA) and, either the same or a different source suggested to Senator Bunning (R-KY), that Chairman Bernanke’s staff at the FRB recommended he allow AIG to file for bankruptcy and recommended AGAINST a bailout of AIG. It is claimed he overrode that recommendation and supposedly the staff recommendation was changed prior to being disclosed to the full Board of the FRB.

In today’s House Oversight Committee meeting both Secretary Geithner and Secretary Paulson repeatedly stated “we had to bail out AIG, we had no choice”. If, in fact, Federal Reserve Board Staff recommended against the bailout. Was it so clear they really “had to”?

http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2010/01/cloture-votes-and-cheap-ploys/

Solar said...

If u want to read that link, click on did u mean..and then go to the second one down, and click on the story....amazing.!!

don1one said...

Of course they had to bail out AIG. AIG was used to do back door payoffs to friends like Goldman Sachs.

Citibank was in trouble because their foreign debt wasn't insured like US depository savings, so we bailed them out just because they'd made bad investments and were over leveraged.

Solar said...

This is the whole article..sen. Boxer's vote on this is also amazing, she voted yes and no.


http://www.ritholtz.com/blog/2010/01/cloture-votes-and-cheap-ploys/

don1one said...

BTW, Bernanke was easily reconfirmed today. What a surprise.

Coreen said...

Ok, if you want to keep making your head spin & get a headache from the DC aig/goldman shenanigans, this is a pretty clear summary
of Geithner's testimony the other day, that was
conveniently pushed aside because of the underwhelming SOTU talkfest....

And if you missed it Bernanke was approved 70-30 by the senate this afternoon...

Testimony by Geithner,Bernanke & Paulson demonstrates need for thorough investigation of AIG deals

Solar said...

Incredible to say the least.!!!

Coreen said...

You want more, try this....

A day after Obama bashes lobbyists, his treasury dept. invites selected persons to 'a series of conference calls w/senior Obama adm. officials to discuss key aspects of the SOTU address'....

A handful of lobbyists said they received the invitations & were planning to call in...

Lobbyists say the Obam WH has held many off-the-record teleconferences over the past year.

Many on K Street are exasperated with Obama's use of lobbyists as a punching bag, saying they understood why he used strong rhetoric on the campaing trail but are irritated the WH solicits their opinions while Obama's friends in Congress badger them for political donations.

It's business as usual.....

After Obama rips lobbyists, K ST. insiders get private briefings

Solar said...

Coreen, I give, I give.!! There is no where to go for us...like you said, we need to take care of our little part of our world....Maybe Don is right...The fall of Rome is not too far away???

Solar said...

Another of my Favorite "strong" women is going to go on a interview with Wolf Blitzer...she is great.!!

Carol said...

Chloe, I guess I made that comment about politics this morning because I was feeling a little guilty that maybe I was trying to start political conversations that others weren't interested in having here. Also, I have a tendency to be opinionated and I don't want to step on anyone's toes here or run anyone off.

I certainly don't mind if anyone or everyone doesn't agree with my opinions. I like a healthy disagreement from time to time. Sometimes when things are really aggravating at work, which they are right now, I might have a tendency to try to pick a good fight. I am aware of that and try to watch it.

Coreen said...

Just wanted you to remember, the masters of the universe always win, so no sense in getting
to worked up about it...a little venting never
hurts...but then you must just keep on 'takin care of your own business' & ignore them as much as possible...

And I don't think the U.S. is anywhere ready to
crumble, at least not in any of our lifetimes...

Coreen said...

It must be Amanpour? Am I right....

Solar said...

Coreen, Sorry, I forgot to say the name, although Amanpour is the very best ino...wolf is having Sandra D. Oconner I don't usual listen to him, but I had on Rick S. and he mentioned her...she doesn't like the ruling at all..the one that they just passed about corps.

Coreen said...

And as for the weather here, wound up with clost to 4" snow, just had another snow squall
& a cold blast is dropping overnite, so Friday
will be in the 20s again with a big wind chill...Winter is still hanging around...

Solar said...

I have to go and find where Craig makes a post about what I have been talking about all year. Found it..it took me by surprise.

Craig,

"Flipping around the cable chatter, so tired of the Democrat-Republican locker room talk. Which party is up, which is down. Sometimes I wonder if it's all a ruse to make us think they're more different than they really are. Different color jerseys, but all in the same league called MONEY."

I keep saying that there is no diff between them, and that they just like to play good Cop, bad cop.....

Solar said...

Coreen,

Has been pretty cold around here for the last few day's, not cold temp wise, but that freezing damp kinda cold..bitter...but don't dispare, going to be the end of Jan, soon....want a big hug to keep you warm? no. well U got it anyway lawyer gal....

Solar said...

Hey. Where did U go....just a little teasing post, and puff, away U go...just like..........

Coreen said...

There are miracles sometime....

Poland...A frightened, shivering dog was rescued after floating at least 75 miles on an ice floe down the Vistula River into the Baltic Sea.

Even has a video of the rescue.....
Dog drifts 75 miles on ice,
rescued

Coreen said...

Solar....Big hugs all around!!!

And it's always about the 'Money'!

Just wish I knew how to get us all a big chunk of that stash.....Can we become an 'investment bank'.....

Solar said...

Coreen,

That is an amazing story about that dog. The will to survive was so strong, that he manged to hang on, until it was savid ..Oconner on now...

Solar said...

Wolf-- makes, S. D. O. look like a midget...but she still looks like the most powerful lady in the world....at least she was when she was the swing vote for so long.....

She speaks so clear, and understandable...no pretense.....

Solar said...

The complete opposite from S.D.Oconner, would be Peggy Noonan...I can't stand the way that she talks...I have to change the channel.....

Solar said...

"Just wish I knew how to get us all a big chunk of that stash.....Can we become an 'investment bank'...."

Yeah, and we could meet once per qtr to hash things out, at the swamp....

Solar said...

Forgot,

"Just wish I knew how to get us all a big chunk of that stash.....Can we become an 'investment bank'...."

Yeah, and we could meet once per qtr to hash things out, at the swamp....

Have to add, that we already have a corp book, the "Book of Winkle" will govern us all...he I don't make the rules...its all right here int the rules book.!!!!

Solar said...

he =hey....

Carol said...

Solar, did Wolf ask Ms. O'Connor about her opinion of the recent SC decision? And if he did, what did she say?

Solar said...

Carol,

I was on the phone talking with Ohio at the time, and did not remember to record it for later ..but I did get to pay a little attention, and she said that she was concerned about it....that she was concerned about the money that it takes to run for office...he asked her about the vote count in 2000, and she said something about the most votes cast, the one with the most votes should win.....

don1one said...

S.D.O. has been working to eradicate judicial elections. She thinks the money involved in campaigning is biasing, and now there's even more money involved. She wants lifetime appointments for all judges, like they do in the federal system. Of course, then you get stuck with people like Thomas.


Whaddaya mean maybe Don is right?

I'm thinking of a compound on a nice Costa Rican hilltop. With full satellite internet. Wonderful national health program, a longer average lifespan than the US, and the country has a very forward looking government. Not to mention they call national holidays for things like great soccer games.

Anonymous said...

You been to Costa Rica Don?
If so, would love to hear a little more about it.

Anonymous said...

Carol, You didn't need to explain anything about the political discussion comment. I only mentioned it because I was trying to reassure you. Everything's going great here.

don1one said...

No, I haven't been that far south yet Chloe. I've got a good friend and ex-coworker that lives down there. I'm hoping to get down there next year.

I also know a lot of people in the US that are selling their businesses and property up here and moving down. I hear Panama is nice too and less populated by anglos.

Ivy Green said...

Things are quiet here in little old Loveland, CO. Dusting of snow on the ground, nothing to worry about. Family is doing well, but there's an empty spot with our Mom's friend's loss this past Sunday. The blessing part of her quick passing is that she didn't suffer much or long.

First time I've ever visited here in advance of Valentine's Day, so I wasn't fully aware of how big the Happy Valentine's Day from Loveland, CO really is. It's a huge tradition since 1946. There's a special red mail box in the lobby of the post office just for mailing your sweetheart's valentine with the unique post mark. There's also a mail order program for out-of-towners who want to send a Loveland Valentine.

Sweethear City USA

Ivy Green said...

SweetHEART City...

Sweetheart City

don1one said...

I used to get cowboy cupids from my grandmother every year. volunteers stamp and mail valentines every year and have as long as i can remember.

I keep telling the girls that being from Loveland makes me a natural, but they just laugh at me.

Artillery gun still out at the lake? I used to climb on that all of the time.

Glad you made it safely. I'm sure your presence helps a lot.

Ivy Green said...

Don,
My sis-in-law says there's ice fishing on the lake. Not sure about the artillery gun. We went up to Cherokee Castle in Sedalia and there was a big WWI artillery gun there that once took out half of Cherokee Mountain.

My s-i-l says what you said about "our presence" helping Mom at this time.

Ivy Green said...

A Scottish Castle in Colorado...

Cherokee Castle

don1one said...

aaaahhhh,there's no more cowboy cupid. There's no respect for tradition.

i've never heard of ice fishing in Loveland. Must be cold. of course, i've never heard of the scottish castle either. Loveland usually gets cold, and then warms right back up again. Ice never got thick enough to go out on.

I love the high water trout though. Those fish can fight and they taste wonderful frying over a campfire with some cornmeal, salt and pepper. With a pot of hobo coffee perking on the side. With maybe some fresh berries.

Ivy Green said...

My other sis-in-law passes the Cherokee Castle gate on her way to work every day. She didn't know what was behind the gate either. It took an out-of-towner with a nose for castles to scope it out.

don1one said...

I was that way in California. looked at a lot of back roads. But colorado is a big place, there are lots of back roads.

Estes has a huge games every year. Have you ever attended? I think it's in Sep.

don1one said...

Carol,
Have you seen Inhale on Oxygen? It's on at 6 am Eastern. A full hour of yoga set to music. Seems pretty advanced, but you might be able to modify the exercises to your level.

Carol said...

Coreen, that article you linked about G, B and P was written by William Black, another guy who seems like a really good guy. I read several of his warning articles on Huff Post when all this financial crisis was unfolding. He warned us but no one listened. There are at least of couple of people(Black and Warren) trying to help us but they are up again't too big a crowd who are not.

We can forget our government trying to help us out. We can forget most of the MSM trying to help us. Even when Obama mouths that he will try, everyone jumps on him and then we get no action.

It's true that the Repubs got us into much of this mess and it's equally true that the Dems won't get us out. That's become obvious and the Dems are going to get the blame for it all. If they don't get at least one good thing done, they will get blamed for it all.

I think that some small steps, that are really good for everyone in health care reform, should be put into action, even if they can't get a big messy, confusing bill passed. Pass that bank fee bill. People will like that. Stop some of the outsourcing of jobs. People will like that. Pass something to prevent any further damage to elections from what the Supremes did with their recent ruling. People should like that. Just do something that the people will like. No more excuses, no more blaming the other guys even if they should get most of the blame. People don't like that.

I kept thinking that the Repubs weren't really running a good campaign to win in 2008 and choosing Palin may have been part of the plan. They can blame her. I now know why they may not have wanted to win. Whoever caught the hot potato was going to be the one burned. Most of the American people can't see past what they are experiencing right now and they are hurting.

Carol said...

And something else painfully amusing is that Obama stood up there in front of all of us in his SOTU speech and bad mouthed the lobbiests and the next day has his admin calling them to ask for their help. Reminds me of when he bad mouthed NAFTA and then the next day calls Canada and says don't worry about that. It's just campaign talk.

How big a suckers does Obama think we are? Like Tiger, he just keeps screwing around on us thinking we won't find out. I'm starting to see some parallels between Tiger and Obama. Both good looking, talented, smooth talking but cheaters.

Coreen said...

On my way out the door, Carol hope you & Mary are not inthe area that weather channel just mentioned with road closings...hwy 12 & I think 27 in LC because of flooding.

Did not know that you were getting heavy rain
& Chloe, looks like you too...

Hope everyone is safe, will check in later.

Ivy Green said...

Don,
Do you think you'll ever end up living out here again? Sounds like part of your heart still abides in this neck of the woods.

Last summer we went to the Scottish Games in Highlands Ranch. That was in August. They always have Scottie-dog rescue people in attendance and I learn new stuff from them about grooming, training and health care each time we go. The same groups puts on the Estes Park games in September, and one day we will get to them.

The highlight festival for my Mom is the Estes Park Wool Festival which is held in June. For a 79-y/o lady who can hardly make it from her car into the grocery store without getting short of breath, Mom hoofs it from one end of the festival to the other. It's a livestock- show-sheep-dog-trials-farmers'-market-and-crafters-guild all rolled into one. Quintessential Colorado. We have a great family day there.

Wool Festival

Ivy Green said...

Don,
Here's the Estes Park Games you referred to.

Long's Peak Scottish-Irish Highland Festival

(not for Coreen, too many men in kilts, lol)

Ivy Green said...

That may be about it for me till later...busy day of family activities.

C 'ya.

Ivy Green said...

No wait, one more thing to share. The astonishingly wonderful Loveland Museum is in the last few days of their exhibit of watercolors by Salvador Dali from his strikingly inventive "Dante's Divine Comedy" master work. He was commissioned for it by the Italian government, and then fired half-way through for being Spanish, not Italian, but he completed the work anyway. Dali considered the series the most important of his career. Over 100 watercolor prints from wood blocks are on display through January 31. Blew my mind (that's what Surrealism is supposed to do-lol)

"To see the complete set is above all to descend into the breathtaking range of Dalí’s imagination, a cauldron of classical influences and nuclear-age nightmares. Common features are detectable throughout the series — red perspective lines, for example, which Dalí used to map out a landscape or delineate divine light. But no two pictures are very much alike."

he was as prepared as anyone to paint hell, which he did. His model, moreover, was one of the most finely conceived hells in all eternity —

Ivy Green said...

As arresting as the images of Hell are, it's Dante's vision of Heaven that most captivated me. "The Walk Towards God (with St. Peter)" is mesmerizing when you stand before it.

Dali's Heaven