Pat Oliphant for January 28, 2010

Must have been some speech.

I don’t know the penguin’s name (he is often the best part of the cartoon) but I disagree with what he says, what he should have said is “The heart of a moron!”

Jesus also said: “Vote Republican!” At least that’s what FOX News told me.

Jesus said, “Don’t consider a controversy what these people consider a controversy.” He was pointing out that worldly affairs are so passing and of little import that it would curdle the pride of Lib and Con alike to know how ineffectual and impotent their profane aspirations really are. Now, to do good unto your fellow man, is a universal command he did admonish us to follow.

So simple a child could understand it…

Jesus said . “My kingdom is no part of this world,” he said. “If my kingdom were part of this world, my attendants would have fought that I should not be delivered up to the Jews. But, as it is, my kingdom is not from this source.”—John 18:36.

Scott, the one thing I think I will never understand about you is the incessant name-calling. Clearly, you and I disagree on a number of things, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. In fact, it’s a good thing. I’d love to have a good conversation with you over these issues so I can understand your point-of-view, because who knows, maybe I’ll learn something and rethink my opinions. But you can’t seem to make one comment on here without insults, name-calling, or claiming someone is going to hell for their “acts against God”. And to me, that shows a complete lack of respect for other people and their opinions which, Heaven forbid, may be different from yours. In all honesty, it just baffles me…

Indeed, Fritos-needs-Lay’d: Work on your own biblical context, and ‘dem ‘der Ten Commandments might make for a good primer (psssst, the one about Bearing False Witness in particular).

Finally a president who is not afraid to admit mistakes. Finally a president who follows his concience rather than his party bosses. Finally a president who is willing to listen to the American people even if they disagree with him. What a novel idea. I wonder why nobody thought of it before. I did’nt vote for him but I can bleeep shure learn from him. Amazing what can happen in a free country. Buczek

There is a distinct difference between going out to help people, versus going out to “convert” people. Secular organizations have a much better record of actually bringing peace and longevity to cultures than sectarian programs teaching division.

It is also more important to listen to what people want and need, instead of preaching what YOU want to “give” them.

I agree with Scott’s last post completely. Except that ,immediately, when one goes to the Primaries or Elections they’ll will find that even if there is a professing Christian on the Ballot; there is no guarantee that he isn’t a flaming hypocrite. Thus, plan B suggests we seek the best candidate for the position. My scripture quote points out that the Christian’s firstresponsibility is to the Gospel, which may not even have a clear bearing on earthly matters. I believe Poppy is using his scripture to erroneously conclude that Christianity has no place in worldly matters: this I believe is wrong. Christianity is above all and necessarily influences and should influence all phenomena of lesser import. Yet, the world of the profane is allowed to exist contemporaneously with the advancement of the Kingdom of God as God forebears with it as according to his Will. Thank you.

All I hear is an immature man blaming Repubs for the problems around and not offering any solutions. He has his agenda, and he will not stop pushing it (he said so last night). It doesn’t matter if it is what is needed or will actually solve the real problems of the country at present.

“I want a jobs bill now!”? What does that mean? Why were jobs not important to him last year when he was just pushing his agenda to get his face on Mt Rushmore? All his actions do not create jobs except in the public sector (which just needs more tax money to fund and doesn’t produce anything). Does he have any solutions or just stump speeches? The idea of more stimulus to create more future slush funds for future elections (spending money we don’t have) is ludacris.

While most Rebulicans don’t agree with his liberal agenda, it is Democrats that have been holding up health care (they had a super majority). It is also petty to blame Republicans and not take any of their ideas towards a solution, all while claiming that everyone needs to be reaching across the aisles. Obama’s idea of reaching across the aisle is letting Republicans put their name on his party’s plans or handing them bribes to do so.

He laughs at the middle class when he makes fun of a Repub candidate who drives a pickup truck. A lot of the middle class drives a pickup truck. He laughs at the middle class when raising business taxes, because the increase just gets passed on to the middle class consumer. He has never been told no, and lashes back whenever the media or opposition doesn’t tow his line. I do not see the image of an adult.

WMIN - Well what are the solutions that the Republcian have for the problems they caused?

Obama has been in office for a year, and in that time did destroy the economy, start two wars, cause millions of Americans to lose their jobs, their homes, and their health care? If not, then why not blame the ones who did do all of that.

Obama has had one year and you (correctly) want to blame him for his mistakes, but the Republicans were in power for 8 years and you don’t want them blamed for any of their mistakes – You do realize that that makes no sense?

I skipped most of the comments, but Scott…really…most “Christians” wouldn’t know a truly Godly man or woman if God Himself plastered a billboard on their front lawn with the person’s name and picture, complete with angels singing and playing harps.

Maybe if more Christians preached and practiced love instead of hate, things would get somewhere, but until then, I’d rather we kept religion entirely out of national politics.

Ken, I have never said that Republicans have no blame in the situation we are in. I always post that Republicans and Democrats share blame (to what extent for each one I am sure we would disagree). I am not a Bush lover, nor am I a Bush hater. I don’t agree with a lot of what GWB did, especially in his 2nd term. I would have been happy with troop withdrawls. I didn’t like all of his spending.

I also don’t believe that Obama can make everything go away in one year. That is pretty unrealistic. I do not agree with Obama’s actions, though; and don’t see any of the benefit that he claims is there, and I think they will dig us deeper into a hole that our kids won’t be able to get out of. Banks need better enforcement of regulation, and sweetheart deals for politicians need to be controlled. Pork/earmarks need to be taken out of our legistative process (yes, even for projects in my area) for the sake of getting monstrous bills passed.

What he has focused on in year one has had little or no impact. It all appeared to be a rush to liberal agenda items that they could ram through before the 2010 elections.

Republican economic solutions include lowering of taxes to get more money into the hands of the middle class who will demand more goods and services. More demand for goods and services will create jobs and boost the economy. The left doesn’t want to hear this. Unions have helped drive out a lot of jobs out of the US over the years and something needs to be done to get more manufacturing back here in the US.

As far as health care goes, I have mentioned smaller steps in the past that have been suggested by Republicans and all it does is invoke a lot of haters posting that I don’t know what is going on and I am just spouting talking point items. I did not want to see a total overhaul of the health care system. I want to see smaller steps to try to solve the big issues first. Tort reform (which won’t happen because Howard Dean said Democrats won’t take on trial lawyers) would reduce unnecessary tests and drive down costs. Allowing competition to cross state lines, offering more of a variety of plans for people to choose from, HSAs, some form of help for those that may be facing bankruptcy due to medical disasters, and tighter restrictions on pre-existing conditions to name several big ones. Insurance companies are not perfect, but I don’t envision Gov’t being any better for the health care of the US people.

bruce, wminfeld,

U.S. Economy Grew at Annual Rate of 5.7% in Fourth Quarter, More Than Expected

The United States economy grew at its fastest pace in over six years at the end of 2009, but a sluggish job market is still souring economists on the sustainability of the recovery.

Gross domestic product expanded at an annual rate of 5.7 percent in the fourth quarter, well above analysts’ expectations. It had grown at an annualized rate of 2.2 percent in the previous quarter.

This is my perception. The old saw about if businesses have more cash, they will create jobs is no longer true. With Wall St. promising wealth for nothing other than a good bet, businesses invest in hedge funds and other gambling unrelated to growth or productivity.

I’ve posted data before about for-profit health insurers being pressured by Wall St to reduce their “medical loss ratios” which in plain english means stop paying out money in medical claims and shift more costs to the consumer.

I recently read an excellent piece on the furniture maker Ethan Allen. EA manufactured its furniture in the U.S. Wall St. analysts weren’t excited about its stock, however, in spite of the fact that it made consistent profits. Wall St. analysts kept telling EA its stock would do better if it manufactured overseas. So that’s what EA did, it closed its U.S. plants, shipped the work overseas with much cheaper labor costs, pays much more to other countries for shipping the product back to the U.S. and Wall St. is happy. U.S. loses jobs, manufacturing, and pays more to other countries. Wall St, 1, U.S. 0.

Why can’t we get through our thick heads that many times what Wall St. wants is bad news for the U.S.

Believecommonsense…Wall Street has been driving companies to do little more than satisfy the stockholders and analysts since way back in the 90s. It seems like once the DOW broke 3000 it was more, more, more. I have worked at several large companies and have seen the changes to workers and work environments since then. I used to laugh when everyone said the economy was so good during the Clinton years, as I watched companies cutting budgets, employees, and employee programs all for the profit that they had to increase every year for the CEOs to justify their jobs. The more companies get lean, the harder it is to keep getting more lean. The Unions have never seemed to worry that much as they were able to keep companies from affecting them.

As far as the economy growing, that is great. I hope it continues as well. Did it grow because of Obama or in spite of him? I hope we see real steady improvement and I hope we can do it through methods that don’t just shift debt to future generations. There is no quick fix for the mess we are in. Cash for clunkers or Cash for caulking or other one time adjustments can be the cause of any one quarter spike.

I hope unemployment comes down, but when all the census workers come on board early in 2010, I hope the Obama administration does not tout that as “real” improvement, because that is not long term improvement in unemployment. It is great for those that pick up some work for a few months, but when they are done……..?

you know what, wminfield, if we were in the same room, I’d give you a quick buss on the cheek.

I consider you a conservative, but your agreement above is exactly what we need to move forward as a country and not just revert to finger pointing and hyper partisanship.

RV…Did they let you out of the asylum for the day or did you just get internet priveleges? Great rant!

I just pointed to the time frame around when the DJIA stopped bouncing around in the 2000’s and started skyrocketing. I didn’t say that is when Wall Street Greed (or greed in general) started you @$$.

I guess Pilots were wronged and they should get increases every year even if Airlines go out of business. My bad.

When census workers are done they will find work because their minimum wage jobs have strengthened the economy? Who is paying the census workers? Could it be the taxpayers?

Your “kill the census worker” comment is just ignorant.

If you want to call me a wingnut, I don’t really care (I guess I called you a nut here). For someone who says he doesn’t really like Obama, you sure seem to defend him vehemently in these posts.

I thought wminfield was being reasonable:

”Wall Street has been driving companies to do little more than satisfy the stockholders and analysts since way back in the 90s.”

that’s a good start

^OK, have your fun and throw your insults. Maybe you would find this link interesting.

The Census worker you bring up killed himself. That was pretty common knowledge if you had been watching or reading the news.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/11/24/national/main5762511.shtml

That is agreat little economics 101 lesson you gave there, but I am not seeing the link to all the jobs that were created because of the scenario (that is what you stated originally).

No need to respond back because you are wayyyyy to smart for me to waste a weekend snipping back and forth anymore.

If you really want to understand why there are conflicting scriptures in the bible, just read “The Power of Myth” by Joseph Campbell–with Bill Moyers. Then come back and post here what you believe a Christian’s responsibility is to the Gospel.

I’ve read my Bible…I’ve found no inconsistencies. Perhaps you are under a delusion, kreole? I’ve seen Joe Campbell on PBS (Thus, I will not waste my time reading his books unless I can find them in the dollar bin…). It is funny how, after two millenia of full-spectrum criticism - which the historicity of the Gospels has weathered by retaining its impeccable respect, the post-modern crowd has made the leap to “a fabricated mythological” story. It is also ironic that it was the Pre-eminence of the Gospels that relegated the Religions of the Pagan Cultures to mythological status, and now this is the best that the JesusSeminar/Dan Brown/BartEhrman crowd can do is accuse Christianity of being made up mythology. Do you think that concept hadn’t occured to the Roman Philosophers and the Orientalists of the the last two thousand years? Who rejected their cultural traditions under pain of persecution and death to witness to the Gospel Story? Do you think that they had the luxury that we have nowadays to change their “religion” like a new toga without expecting humiliation, dehumanization and even death? Or would the Monarchists of the Medieval Period be as generous to a universal deity ultimately accountable to no human authority? Indeed, the History of the Papists and the Monarchists was one of retaining control inspite of the moral accusation evident in their very foundational precepts; which precepts were themselves acquired from the Bible. And the recent attempt by World Governments to distance themselves from Christianity has been met with stubborn refusal by their constituents - where it has been possible. Save us from the “evangelical” Secular-Humanists…

Remember that the supposedly “ignorant” 19th Century American Negro was an eternity ahead of you: http://www.negrospirituals.com/news-song/zekiel_ezekiel_saw_the_wheel.htm

Some people actually think Ezekiel saw a Spaceship! Hahahaha!

BTW, this forum is gutless, banal, and narrow-minded - I may not be back.

RV, it’s too bad that there are libraries full of volumes of critique on the Bible from within the Christian camp as well as without that dispute your simplistic assessment of 2000 years of History.

It’s hard to carry on a conversation when you make broad false pronouncements about history, RV, What exactly is your point? Does the Inqusition apply to Christianity in general? Conversely, have atheists or pagans ever persecuted others for their beliefs? Your arguments, like others on this site, are just your personal biases looking for global confirmation and outward support. There is no objectivity to your claims; just more spurious and crass generalizing like goes on so much here.