World Forums

don't skirt this time mate. what happened today against the English ?

that was a skull-fucking of the highest order !

Obama’s Days with Daley
Reform . . . the Chicago way.

http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=NW ... M2MWIxY2U=

Hmmm. I'm printing out the article Leo. Thanks.

National Review
Jay Nordlinger

If I were Governor Palin, I might say something like this: “They call me extreme. And do you know their definition of an extremist? Anyone who disagrees with the Berkeley sociology department, the New York Times, and Barbra Streisand.”


Loved something a senior politician told us in Minnesota: It’s hard to run against the Democrats. Because they’re the party that proposes to give people free stuff. And it’s very, very hard to run against people promising free stuff. You have to say, “We, by contrast, will give you the opportunity to make your own way, while keeping a net under you lest you fall too far.”

Interestingly formulated.


Received a note from a Bible scholar in Germany. It read, “Since you like words, I thought you’d be interested to know that the word for ‘rebirth’ in New Testament Greek is ‘Palingenesia.’ Is this perhaps a prophecy in Bible code? Could it be a favorable omen for the Republican party? (These days it is probably wise to explicitly state that I’m kidding . . .)”

Quite right, Herr Professor.

Another reader — stateside — said, “I hereby order you to use the phrase ‘The Killa from Wasilla’ at least once a day in reference to Sarah Palin.”

Well, I’ll give you today!


Was talking to a friend of mine in New York (conservative). He had been to the playground, with his kids. Got into a conversation with some “other moms.” They said they were very, very insulted that McCain chose Palin, expecting them to vote for her.

My friend said, “Oh, don’t worry: He wasn’t expecting you to vote for her — at all. He was expecting me to vote for her, which I will.”

Incidentally, I believe John Kerry won 84 percent of the vote in Manhattan — 84 percent. You know what they say: As goes Manhattan, so goes . . . Madison?

P.S. I'm sure (somehow) that Mate didn't expect Croatia would demolish England this time... I, on the other hand, did...

P.P.S. Lance Armstrong is coming back. Markino and Mmaggi must be as exuberant as Alan Greenspan -

Mark Hemingway

With the emergence of Sarah Palin as a bona fide political star, not only has McCain seen an uptick in the polls and in the size of crowds at rallies, but in campaign contributions, as well. As just one indication of Palin’s star power, the McCain campaign is charging $50,000 to sit at her table at an upcoming California fundraiser. While there isn’t exactly a market to compare that rate, it’s a safe bet that no one would pay $50,000 to have their ear chewed off by Joe Biden.

LOL

Face it, Falc is fair and balanced. He probably hated Obama because he went a to a fine schoool versus his corresponce course and how to be a trial lawyer kit, complete with sticky notes and a Larry Parker 800 number.

LMAO !!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRV5Y1JCGRI

Biden tells a man in a wheelchair to stand up. Honest mistake but in front of so many people is bad. He handled it well though.

Another reason to drill for more oil.


From the Los Angeles Times
Gov't officials probed about illicit sex, gifts
From the Associated Press

1:05 PM PDT, September 10, 2008

WASHINGTON — Government officials handling billions of dollars in oil royalties improperly engaged in sex with employees of energy companies they were dealing with and received numerous gifts from them, federal investigators said today.

The alleged transgressions involve 13 former and current Interior Department employees in Denver and Washington. Their alleged improprieties include rigging contracts, working part-time as private oil consultants, and having sexual relationships with -- and accepting golf and ski trips and dinners from -- oil company employees, according to three reports released today by the Interior Department's inspector general.

The investigations reveal a "culture of substance abuse and promiscuity" by a small group of individuals "wholly lacking in acceptance of or adherence to government ethical standards," wrote Inspector General Earl E. Devaney. Devaney's office spent more than two years and $5.3 million on the investigations.

The reports describe a fraternity house atmosphere inside the Denver Minerals Management Service office responsible for marketing the oil and gas that energy companies barter to the government instead of making cash royalty payments for drilling on federal lands. The government received $4.3 billion in such royalty-in-kind payments last year. The oil is then resold to energy companies or put in the nation's emergency stockpile.

Between 2002 and 2006, nearly a third of the 55-person staff in the Denver office received gifts and gratuities from oil and gas companies, including Chevron, Shell, Hess Corp. and Denver-based Gary-Williams Energy Corp. the investigators found. Two oil marketers who received gifts and gratuities on at least 135 occasions displayed no remorse when confronted with their activities, Devaney said. He singled out Chevron as refusing to cooperate with the investigation.

Don Campbell, a Chevron spokesman, said today that the company "produced all of the documents that the government requested months ago."

The reports also said former head of the Denver Royalty-in-Kind office, Gregory W. Smith, used cocaine and had sex with subordinates. The report said Smith also steered government contracts to a consulting business that was employing him part-time.

Smith, contacted by e-mail by The Associated Press, said he had not seen the report and could not respond. He and nine other employees in the Denver office are mentioned in the reports.

MMS Director Randall Luthi, in an interview with the AP, said the agency was taking the report "extremely seriously" and would review the allegations and weigh taking appropriate action in coming months. The Inspector General is recommending that current employees implicated be fired and be barred for life from working within the royalty program.

House Natural Resources Chairman Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., said "this whole IG report reads like a script from a television miniseries and one that cannot air during family viewing time. It is no wonder that the office was doing such a lousy job of overseeing the RIK program; clearly the employees had 'other' priorities in that office."

One of the employees named in the investigation, Jimmy Mayberry, has already pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Washington to violations of conflict-of-interest laws. The Justice Department declined to prosecute Smith and former Associate Director of the Minerals Revenue Management program Lucy Querques Denett, who the report says manipulated contracts to ensure they were awarded to former Interior employees.

The findings are the latest sign of trouble at the Minerals Management Service, which has already been accused of mismanaging the collection of fees from oil companies and writing faulty contracts for drilling on government land and offshore. The charges also come as lawmakers and both presidential candidates weigh giving oil companies more access to federal lands, which would bring in more money to the federal government.

"This all shows the oil industry holds shocking sway over the administration and even key federal employees," said Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla. "This is why we must not allow Big Oil's agenda to be jammed through Congress."

While most government royalties for drilling on federal lands are paid in cash, the government in recent years has been receiving a greater share of its oil and gas royalties in the actual product. More of that oil is also being sold on the open market, versus being deposited in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, the nation's emergency oil stockpile. Congress earlier this year passed a law halting deposits of oil to the reserve to alleviate high gasoline prices.

Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne, who was asked about the reports earlier in the day before they were given to him and congressional offices, said the investigation was prompted by a 2006 phone call from anemployee who said there were ethical lapses in the Denver office.

"I look forward to having the opportunity to review the inspector general's findings so we can take the appropriate actions," Kempthorne said.

Pabs wrote:don't skirt this time mate. what happened today against the English ?

that was a skull-fucking of the highest order !

They did Pabs. England were the better team on the day. Why? Because we were arrogant and started believing our own hype, throwing hissy fits when things didn't go our way. Croatia has yet to prove that they can come back from being a goal down against a top team. Call it a character flaw, but we're our best when underestimated and disdained...and when we manage to get ahead.

Specifically, the defense was too slow and timid. In particular, Simunic singularly cost us the game with his numerous failures to mark men and in not fighting for the ball. He is a miserable character who deserved a red card and penalty for pulling down Heskey in the box. He got away with one there. Vintage Simunic: slow, stupid, and lazy. He cost us against the Turks at the Euro. He set the tone in the back for the defense today.

On the other hand, Robert Kovac had an undeserved red card. Kovac actually made a good header, but his elbow connected with Joe Cole's head. The referee used his discretion and we never recovered. Again, it is about character. Lots of big teams hold the line when going a man down. Not us. We have yet to show big game and big team character. Nobody has ever manged to get the best out a Croatian team in this way.

I actually am not worried. I still feel we are the better team, despite today's thrashing. England showed a lot more fight, character, and tactical discipline, but they still have a ways to go before they are a top team. It won't be easy playing in Belarus, the Ukraine, and Kazakhstan. This is a marathon, not a sprint.

Also, things will be different when Kranjcar and Eduardo return. We have promising up and coming defenders that will replace Simunic and Robert Kovac. And I believe Bilic learned a good lesson in humility as well. We'll recover...or so I hope.

Ultimately, we have to stop believing our hype. And, we need to properly utilize the English press. Usually they put the pressure on England. Today they put it on us. Clever move.

Meanwhile, Back at the Ranch

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080911/ap_ ... la_bombers

CARACAS, Venezuela - Two Russian strategic bombers landed in Venezuela on Wednesday as part of military maneuvers, President Hugo Chavez said, welcoming the unprecedented deployment at a time of increasing tensions between Moscow and the U.S.


Americans still have their heads up their asses.

shud up, you Kountry feminist biatch!!!!

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/politics/2008/09/10/davis.palin.pageant.rival.wsb

I told M&M that Srah Louise played the flute.

And we get on Russia for going into Georgia:



Pakistan orders end to foreign incursions
Story Highlights
Pakistan army chief says no foreign troops to conduct operations inside Pakistan

He said decision made after a "reckless" U.S. operation last week

U.S. military chief says Afghanistan, Pakistan "inextricably linked"

He says Afghan militants use Pakistan to communicate, collaborate easier

From Nic Robertson
CNN Senior International Correspondent

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan (CNN) -- Pakistan's military chief said Wednesday that no foreign forces will be allowed to conduct operations inside Pakistan in light of last week's "reckless" U.S. military ground operation.

Pakistan's "territorial integrity ... will be defended at all cost and no external force is allowed to conduct operations ... inside Pakistan," according to a military statement attributed to Chief of Army Staff Gen. Parvez Kayani, who succeeded Pervez Musharraf after he stepped down as Pakistan's army chief last year.

The announcement came as Pakistan's military resumed its battle against Taliban militants in its tribal region, two army spokesmen said. More than 20 militants and four security forces were killed in Monday's fighting in Bajaur Agency, they said.

The anti-Taliban operation was initiated August 6 but was suspended September 1 for the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, with the exception that security forces would respond if attacked.

A ground incursion last week by U.S. forces into Pakistan strained relations between the two countries. Pakistan summoned the U.S. ambassador in Islamabad to complain about the incident, which it said killed 15 civilians.

The Pentagon has not confirmed the raid, but a senior U.S. official who declined to be named told CNN's Barbara Starr that U.S. helicopters dropped troops into the village of Angoor Adda in South Waziristan, which borders Afghanistan. The official said there was no evidence of any civilian deaths.

The U.S. official said the operation was launched fairly quickly without formal permission from Pakistan's government after it became clear that there was sufficient intelligence to take the risk of putting U.S. troops on the ground in a potentially hostile area of Pakistan.

In the U.S., the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Michael Mullen, warned Congress on Wednesday that cross-border attacks into Afghanistan by militants in Pakistan's tribal region are a problem and said the U.S. has deployed Predator drones to attack targets in Pakistan.

Mullen said Afghanistan can't be referenced without "speaking of Pakistan," where, he said, the militant groups collaborate and communicate better, launch more sophisticated attacks, employ foreign fighters and use civilians as human shields.

"In my view, these two nations are inextricably linked in a common insurgency that crosses the border between them," he said,

He added that the U.S. is "running out of time" to win the war in Afghanistan and that sending in more troops will not guarantee victory.

On Tuesday, President Bush announced the deployment of 4,500 additional troops in Afghanistan.

All AboutPakistan • Afghanistan

And McCain agreed with him then and 90 % of the time. Yep, that's change you can put on a pig with red lipstick.

"Bush attacked the wrong country"


True. He should have outlawed Mexico and Russia.

The former gives us salmonella and the latter computer viruses. Let's get nucular -

We know what Israel gives the USA...cover up for their dirty deeds. Face it, Israel is the USA"s dirty biatch!!!

Leonid wrote:P.P.S. Lance Armstrong is coming back. Markino and Mmaggi must be as exuberant as Alan Greenspan -

He will turn 38 next year. The odds are pretty much against him if doping isn't a factor.

But it is. There is no one in this world who has a better relationship with pharmaceutical companies than Lance Armstrong. It's what kept him alive and after he beat cancer it's what made him a 7 time TdF champion.

I would bet EVERYTHING I own, that Armstrong has coordinated a sweetheart deal with a pharmaceutical company to provide him the latest and greatest doping agent that is still not marketed. That way, for certain, there is no test for it.

Let's not forget that those who were caught at this year's Tour, were caught because the doping agent sold to the cyclist had a "marker". This "marker" was tested for, because the doping control/test did not exist for the doping agent. And thus they were caught.

Armstrong will not be doping with ANYTHING other cyclists may be using. Bet the ranch on that.

Well, Markino, unlike you, I don't own a ranch, not even in Crawford. But if Lance wins it again (I'm as doubtful as your average rancher), I bet half of France would jump of the cliff:)

Anyway, who do you like more, Alessandro Del Piero or Lance Armstrong?:)

WSJ
James Taranto

At Least They Didn't Call Him Skinny
New York's WCBS-TV reports that New York's Gov. David Paterson is "accusing the McCain campaign of veiled racism":

At the Crain's Business Forum [yesterday] morning, Paterson drew attention to a phrase used numerous times by speakers at the Republican National Convention to describe Barack Obama's leadership experience: community organizer.

"I think the Republican Party is too smart to call Barack Obama 'black' in a sense that it would be a negative. But you can take something about his life, which I noticed they did at the Republican Convention – a 'community organizer.' They kept saying it, they kept laughing," he said. . . .
Paterson sees the repeated use of the words "community organizer" as Republican code for "black."
"I think where there are overtones is when there are uses of language that are designed to inhibit other people's progress with a subtle reference to their race," he said.

Just one problem: As we noted last month in Denver, it was the Democrats who first "spent four days touting Obama's experience as a 'community organizer' as a central qualification" for the presidency. "Even after listening to those speeches," we wrote, "we're still not sure what a 'community organizer' is."

If Paterson is right, the Democrats were subtly arguing that Obama is qualified to be president because he is black.

LOL

Leonid wrote:Well, Markino, unlike you, I don't own a ranch, not even in Crawford. But if Lance wins it again (I'm as doubtful as your average rancher), I bet half of France would jump of the cliff:)

Anyway, who do you like more, Alessandro Del Piero or Lance Armstrong?:)

Leo, I respect you so I'll your question: even though I do NOT dislike either of them as much as you think (I dislike more their idiot fans), I do not like Armstrong.

Why? Because he's a lying sack of shit. I don't give a rat's ass that he doped to win the TdF. I really don't care because the sport, ALL ITS GREAT CHAMPIONS, is riddled with doping. But don't insult my intelligence nor the intelligence of hard-core cycling fans by saying that you don't dope.

Del Piero is a very decent man and I really do not dislike him at all.

Leonid wrote:WSJ
James Taranto

At Least They Didn't Call Him Skinny
New York's WCBS-TV reports that New York's Gov. David Paterson is "accusing the McCain campaign of veiled racism":

At the Crain's Business Forum [yesterday] morning, Paterson drew attention to a phrase used numerous times by speakers at the Republican National Convention to describe Barack Obama's leadership experience: community organizer.

"I think the Republican Party is too smart to call Barack Obama 'black' in a sense that it would be a negative. But you can take something about his life, which I noticed they did at the Republican Convention – a 'community organizer.' They kept saying it, they kept laughing," he said. . . .
Paterson sees the repeated use of the words "community organizer" as Republican code for "black."
"I think where there are overtones is when there are uses of language that are designed to inhibit other people's progress with a subtle reference to their race," he said.

Just one problem: As we noted last month in Denver, it was the Democrats who first "spent four days touting Obama's experience as a 'community organizer' as a central qualification" for the presidency. "Even after listening to those speeches," we wrote, "we're still not sure what a 'community organizer' is."

If Paterson is right, the Democrats were subtly arguing that Obama is qualified to be president because he is black.

LOL

"Black" isn't the only word republicans are afraid to use these days. They can't even say the word "republican" when refering to themselves.

Falc wrote:But she won't be exposed. So far, Palin has produced above expectations. Many were waiting for her to fail in her acceptance speech. Did not happen. She is getting prepped for a national campaign. I expect her to hold her own. She has electrified this campaign and I predict that she will continue to do so.

As for the bad blood, it has not stopped tickets in the past. Do you remember voodoo economics? Kennedy-Johnson were not exactly a lovable pair. Obama got too cocky. He thought he had it in the bag. He wants to be the star. He took bland Biden. Do you think Biden is going to win any votes?

I think you're over-exaggerating. Palin hasn't done anything. How can she? She's not allowed to speak to the press. And then they set up an interview with Charles Gibson of GMA with I'm sure will be set up questions. I would love to see her get interviewed on Larry King with Stephanie Miller. Miller would tear her to shreds and expose her for the phony that she is.

BTW... who the hec would be stupid enough to think that any candidate would fail at their convention speech?

Leonid wrote:P.P.S. Lance Armstrong is coming back. Markino and Mmaggi must be as exuberant as Alan Greenspan -

Leo - I never hated Lance Armstrong. But there are a few things I don't like about him which also coincides with qualities of certain individuals that I don't like: don't think that you're smarter than others, let alone me. I've been around this earth for 44 years and I'm nobody's fool, let alone Lance Armstrong's.

You know his story: on his deathbed, given a 20% chance to live and 2 years later he starts a stint that lasts for 7 years. He has a great defence that he never, ever tested positve. But in the great sport of cycling, doping goes hand in hand. Always has. He hides behind the naitivity of the American public (because the American public is very naive when it comes sports heros).

Of course he's going to admit to no wrong doing. Hec, I know I wouldn't admit to it if asked. But enough of his defense. Lance doesn't have to answer to anybody quite frankly but in his Texas bravado he feels he has to in a way that's akin to shoving it down people's throats.

In the end, I actually have admiration for the fellow because quite frankly, he won 7 straight TdFs and it is a level playing field since I believe the majority of the peloton is doping. But please shut up (Lance... not you Leo) about you being clean. I'm not that naive (or dumb for that matter).

BTW... the older TdF winner was 34 years old (was it Gino Bartali, Pram?) Will Lance do it again? I learned 6 staraight years of watching Lance win after he won his first: don't doubt him. He's going there to win the darn thing. He's not going there to see the beautiful countryside and sip some good wine.

I'm still wondering how the lipstick comment made by Obama was a slant on Palin when the context of the speech was about McCain. I can't believe how this whole thing was taken out of context and there are idiots who really believe it was a knock on Palin.

Casati - Gino Bartali won his first Tour in 1938 at the age of 24. Mussolini forced him to sit out the Giro because he wanted Bartali to win the Tour and show all of Europe how strong the Italians were. Bartali was a bit bitter about that. He felt he could have won the Giro and the Tour in 1938. By the way first man to win Giro and Tour in the same year was Bartali's greatest rival Fausto Coppi in 1949. Coppi repeated the feat in 1952. The next one who did it was Jacques Anquetil in 1964, I believe. Quite a feat. Armstrong never did that. :o)

At any rate, 10 years later in 1948, Gino Bartali won the Tour at 34 years of age. Lord knows how many he could have won had the Tour not been suspended for all those years because of WWII. I believe The Tour did not happen for six years (1940 thru 1945).

A year later, 1949, when Coppi won the Tour, Gino Bartali won the yellow jersey the day of his birthday on one of the greatest stages in Tour history Cannes - Briançon, 275 km:

So it was that the two Italian champions set to work to destroy the field. On the false flat to Arvieux, at the foot of the Izoard, the two jumped away so effectively that in twenty kilometres they took four minutes from the bunch. When Coppi punctured on the climb, Bartali waited for him. When Bartali punctured on the rough descent, Coppi similarly waited. On the last climb to the citadel in Briançon, Coppi allowed Bartali to win on what was his 35th birthday.

Legend has it that Gino Bartali was struggling and Coppi was going to drop him. Bartali asked Coppi: "Today I turn 35. Let's finish this stage together, let me win and I'll be in yellow at least for a day. Tomorrow, you'll win the Tour."

It was truely the Golden Age of cycling with great champions, not only Bartali and Coppi, but Kubler, Koblet, Bobet and Robic. Not to mention the third Italian, Magni.

Falc wrote:Watched Miller last night on King's show. Funny how these feminists will go out of their way to bring her down when in fact, Palin is the best thing for their cause. Of course, it is not the liberal cause that they are fighting. So much for woman equality.

The lipstick remark is taken in context with Palin's acceptance speech. It was stupid of Obama to use it and I seriously doubt it was an innocuous statement. He used it to arouse the crowd and it did.

1) LMAO! How can Palin be the best thing for women when she is not pro-choice? Come on Falc... open your mind and think a little bit. Talk about a non-sequitor...

2) Ah.... no. Obama did not use it to arouse the crowd. Even Bill O'Reilly (who I do not like) has sided with Obama on the lipstick comment.

Falc wrote:So the only way women can advance is with pro-choice. How stupid does that sound? So another elitist type argument. Silver spoon, Harvard educated and aborted babies.

Either Obama is stupid, not having any clue that his remark would incite this controversy. But that takes away the argument that he is so brilliant, that we need his judgment, that we need him to tell us how to live our lives. Or that Obama thinks he is so smart that he could get away with the comment. It was dumb and there is no one who can defend that it wasn't.

You know what's dumb, not knowing why Palin was selected. She was selected to solidify the conservative vote and to get the independants to make a decision in the Republican's favor. Palin was NOT selected by the McCain camp to gain female votes. Matter of fact, there are more men than women who favor her as the VP choice.

Obama is not stupid. The McCain camp is becuase if they continue to harp on the lipstick comment it will backfire on them.

Well it would have been much better for the McCain camp if they had come out and said, "we know he didn't mean it as a slant toward Palin".

Both O'Reilly and that fat little midget Dick Morris agreed on that.