http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2012/12/10/hsbc-said-to-near-1-9-billion-settlement-over-money-laundering/

Just because things are getting better, doesn't mean "too big to fail" isn't still around.

-David

Oh yeah ... how? Seems if I recall another party was largely in charge during this period.

Why don't you go on and on about how GOOD the Democrats way is?

It's actually quite easy. Though I don't know if I'd call it the "Democrats" way. But signs of things getting better are all around you. Corporate profits are up. The stock market is up. Growth is happening again. And the unemployment rate is going down.

The wars are being wound down. We're spending less. And some amount of manufacturing is returning to our country.

Could it be better? Sure. It could be better if traction could be gained to help reform the system farther. This will require more pressure, however, on those who stand most to benefit from the current system.

And you can't because the proof is all around us that the Democrats way screws things up even more.

It sure doesn't look this way. Unless you only focus on the deficit. (Which btw- is why Republicans only focus on the deficit).

However, if you listen to economists, the time to worry about the deficit is not during the middle of a recession.

And it sure looks like they're right.

-David

I DID fight for it..

Back in 2006 and 2008, I voted DEM across the board..

Dems made me believe that they actually cared about this country and would do right by it..

What happened??

They screwed me over.. BIG TIME...

Never again...

If they want my vote, they are going to have to PROVE to me first that they can lead..

Until then, I'll do everything in my power to make sure Democrats don't screw up this country any more than they already have..

Now, let me ask you something.

You go on and on about how bad trickle down is... And you might even be right..

Why don't you go on and on about how GOOD the Democrats way is??

Answer: Because you can't..

And you can't because the proof is all around us that the Democrats way screws things up even more...

So, while you might be right that the GOP way is bad, you simply CAN'T make the case that the DEM way is the correct way to go...

Michale
0316

You know it's funny. I always thought of you as more of a leader than a follower. I thought if you believed in something, you'd fight for it.

I guess I was wrong. According to you, you're a follower.

Sorry to hear that. It's ok, I wrote anyways. I prefer to do what I believe.

And lately, that's the problem with Republicans. Lately, I don't think they know what they believe.

-David

How about for every public flailing of a Republican (or Republicans in general) you publicly flail a deserving Democrat (or Democrats in general)??

I would be a LOT more inclined to help ya'all castigate Republicans if ya'all would be more inclined to help me castigate Democrats.. :D

Michale.....
0315

I'm sure there's a Republican in Florida you could write, no?

When I see Democrats actually walking the walk instead of just talking the talk, I'll be happy to pressure Republicans..

Not before...

"Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on ME."
-Scotty, STAR TREK, Friday's Child

Michale
0314

ANd it's NOT for lack of trying...

How many commentaries did we read on here about how Democrats couldn't herd cats??

TONS....

Between Democrats and Republicans, Republicans have been more SUCCESSFUL at filibustering than Democrats..

THIS is true and factual...

It's not a question of morality...

It's a question of competence...

Michale
0313
0313

Oh right.. Yea...

DEMOCRATS believe in finding common ground!!!???

I think I just threw up in my mouth a little...

Where is the evidence that Democrats are willing to compromise???

Non-existent...

Michale....
0312

Amazing...

Someone actually said "NO" to The Exalted One...

Betcha Schmidt finds that US Federal Regulators will crawl up his arse now....

"NOBODY puts Baby in the corner!!"
-Dean Winchester, SUPERNATURAL

:D

Michale.....

It sure looks like one.

Especially because Democrats believe in finding common ground and working with people with different points of view.

While Republicans stated belief is selfishness and greed.

It sure looks like a reflection of moral view.

-David

The simple fact is that no one has filibustered more than Republicans.

Make of it what you like.

Tell your Democrats to set an example and THEN people like me might be more inclined to believe that the Democrat way IS the right way.

How about if I write my Democratic Senator?

I'm sure there's a Republican in Florida you could write, no?

-David

Let me ask ya'all something..

Do ANY of ya'all honestly believe that Democrats have a moral or ethical compunction about not using the filibuster to further their agenda???

Because, if any of ya do, I would DEFINITELY love to sell ya some swampland in Florida.. :D

I mean, seriously.. Let's face reality..

The only, I repeat.. The *ONLY* reason that Democrats don't filibuster as much as Republicans is because they are incompetent...

It's not a moral or ethical stance..

It's simply a question of competent capability...

You can bet, when the Dems find themselves in the minority (gods willing soon!! :D) they will attempt to be just as obstructionist as Republicans are...

Michale
0311

Of course, that was a euphemistic ya'all, not a you specific.. :D

Michale
0310

I'll be more than happy to do so...

Once you stop pointing fingers at JUST Republicans...

Michale
0309

Fine.. Then hold your Democrats as responsible as much as you do Republicans...

When was the last time you... When was the last time ANYONE here took Democrats to task for the crap that ya'all blame Republicans for??

If you TRULY believe that money/corporate interests are the problem, doesn't it make MORE sense to clean your own house first???

Tell your Democrats to set an example and THEN people like me might be more inclined to believe that the Democrat way IS the right way.

But as long as Democrats and Republicans are the same corrupt politicians, two sides of the same corrupt coin, I will always be correct in my equivalences...

Crooked and corrupt Republicans are NOT the problem this country faces..

It's crooked and corrupt POLITICIANS...

Until ya'all realize this one simple fact, NOTHING will ever get fixed...

Michale
0308

Yea yea.. Democrats are pure as the driven snow.. It's all the evil Republicans fault..

For someone who tries to make the point that it's the Right vs Left issue that's the problem, you sure point a LOT of fingers at Republicans and defend a LOT of Democrats...

Michale
0307

Please kindly show me where anyone here has ever said "only Republicans use off-shore tax dodges".

You can't.

That established, if you're willing to fight for ending these types of loopholes, I'm all for it.

No matter the company involved. My ask to you would be, stop pointing fingers and let's both put pressure on folks to end this practice.

Or ... I'll write my Congressman, if you write yours. Deal?

-David

A false equivalence which seems to be your new favorite tactic to justify extreme Republican tactics.

Senate Republicans and Mitch McConnell use the filibuster about as often as they drink water. Senate Democrats never, and CW or anyone else for that matter please correct me if I'm wrong, abused the system in this way.

-David

Well lookie here..

To hear ya'all tell it, only Republicans use off-shore tax dodges...

Rumor has it, Obama is considering a GOOGLE exec for a cabinet position..

Wanna tell me again exactly HOW Democrats are different than Republicans??

I seem to have forgotten again, in the face of all the evidence to the contrary... :D

Michale
0306

That's not the story as I heard it..

The way I heard it, McConnell attached the vote for Obama's Budget to Transportation Legislation and Reid refused to bring the entire legislation to the floor because he knew that NO Senate Democrat would vote for it.

McConnell then offered to put forth Obama's Budget as a stand-alone vote and Reid refused..

Like I said, it's all in the spin... :D

When all is said and done, it's all procedural maneuvering..

Like Filibustering..

Republicans do it.. Democrats do it..

It's like complaining that the sun rises in the west and sets in the east... :D

Michale
0305

Um, yeah, Reid voting against healthcare reform was different, and you probably already know it.

Reid voted "nay" so that the bill could be brought up again under Senate rules. The bill was brought up again. It passed. Therefore, Reid got what he wanted, and passed legislation. His vote is unique (by Senate rules), because he's Majority Leader.

McConnell filibustered his own proposal because he was AFRAID IT WOULD PASS. That's the key difference, right there. McConnell was NOT trying to pass legislation, the entire thing was a dog-and-pony show from the get-go. In other words, nothing but pure politics. Now, McConnell is free to bring his bill back up again for a vote. How many quatloos you want to bet that he won't? Because he does NOT want his own proposal to pass -- the very definition of political hypocrisy.

But, like I said, I bet you already knew that.

-CW

{{{cough}}}Human Caused Global Warming Yet The Planet Is Cooling{{cough}} {{cough}}

:D

Michale
0304

My personal belief is that there are extra-terrestrials out amongst the stars and they are visiting us here on Earth..

Of all the UFO reports across the planet and across time, some 85% have been explained..

The fact that there is 15% that defy explanation lends credence to my belief..

You might be able to spin 85% of the MSM In The Bag For Obama/Democrats/Left stories..

The fact that you CAN'T explain the other 15% supports the claim that the MSM is in the bag for Obama..

In other words, your conclusion explains SOME of the facts...

Like I said, the ONLY conclusion that fits ALL the facts is that the vast majority of the MSM is in the bag for Obama/Democrats/The Left...

It's that simple..

Michale
0303

If there were a liberal MSM, you can guarantee that story would have been in it.

And beyond that, it's rare that I ever see a "liberal" story in the corporate media. Take the one above about the Ohio turnpike.

What you will see in most Ohio media is the corporate story paid for by Governor John Kasich.

What I'm saying is that if you judge the media as corporate, rather than 'liberal', you can explain almost any story in the MSM.

However, for every one that you can point to, I can point to a DOZEN reportings that show the MSM is in the bag for Obama/Democrats/Left.

How do you explain then the things you choose to ignore?

Your flaw in logic here is that you're saying that for every piece of evidence I bring up, you have your own evidence which supports your conclusion.

I'm saying that both your evidence and my evidence support a theory of a corporate media.

-David

http://www.plunderbund.com/2012/12/10/john-kasich-paying-a-pr-firm-with-your-money-to-sell-you-his-turnpike-plan/

1. Conservative wants to privatize the Ohio turnpike
2. Conservative hires (with taxpayer money) a consulting confirm to conduct a study saying that privatization is recommended
3. Conservative hires marketing firm to put this story into the media

Media prints marketing story that goes like this:
1. There's a problem! Be very afraid!
2. A range of solutions exist and we need to all be very flexible
3. Our consultant (who we are paying massive amounts of money to) will tell us the best way to go
4. Guess what, our consultant confirms what we wanted - privatization is your best answer!

Just disgusting ... It should be interesting to track though how many news outlets print exactly what the marketing plan uncovered says.

-David

He did, as much as Harry Reid voted AGAINST ObamaTax...

No ... liberal ... media ...

Seriously.. Even if your perception is accurate, do you HONESTLY believe that ONE instance of non-reporting does NOT a liberal MSM make???

I bet if you look, you can probably find a few more instances where the Leftist MSM did NOT report on a story that the Left loved..

However, for every one that you can point to, I can point to a DOZEN reportings that show the MSM is in the bag for Obama/Democrats/Left...

But, it's interesting to note..

You claimed in a previous commentary that your Left Wing friends LOVED the McConnell story..

Doesn't that negate your previous claim that the Left vs Right meme is a Right Wing construct?? :D

Can't have it both ways, David..

Either the Left vs Right meme is solely a Right Wing construct... Or the Left is equally guilty of pushing the Left vs Right meme...

:D

Michale
0302

What's there to lie about?

Did he or did he not filibuster his own proposal?

And there's no mention of this in the corporate media because the mainstream media is not "liberal"

No mention. They never mention that McConnell has filibustered the Senate 348 times either (the most in history).

Why don't these simple facts appear anywhere?

I mean, it's pretty much a matter of record that McConnell filibustered himself. Not anyone's opinion. It just happened.

No ... liberal ... media ...
-David

Yer doing a heckuva job, Obama....

:^/

Michale
0301

Simple..

Because it didn't really go down the way the Left is spinning it..

In other words, for the Liberal MSM to portray it as ya'all see it, they would have to out and out lie..

Which, as we have seen, it's not above the MSM to actually DO that.. Benghazi, Sanford Shooting, Bush National Guard papers are but a few examples..

But in this case, I guess the lie was a bridge too far...

Now, why didn't ya'all get giddy like this when Reid voted against the ObamaCare/Tax legislation??

:D

Michale
0300

http://edition.cnn.com/2012/12/10/business/us-u-k-failing-banks/index.html

-David

p.s. Michale- How come that Mitch McConnell story didn't show up in the liberal media? All the liberals I know seem to love it. How does this fit into your "liberal" media theory?

Because as a liberal, I can tell you I rarely see "liberal" news in the corporate media.

Don't tell me, let me guess..

"That's different"

:D

Michale
0299

Why is that any different than Harry Reid voting AGAINST the bill during the ObamaCare/Tax debacle??

It's nothing but procedural garbage.. Ya'all don't seem to mind it when the Democrats do it...

Once again, the power of the almighty '-D'....

:D

Michale
0298

http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/fd66d172-3fd4-11e2-b0ce-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2Ebj7aiV8

The US and UK will announce today a strategy and process to end 'Too Big To Fail', once and for all!

Anyone care to guess who is largely responsible for this wonderful news?

:-)

Hey Chris- Did you also see Dick Armey left as the president of FreedomWorks?

And he picked up $8 million for leaving.

-David

p.s. I believe donations to the holiday fundraiser have been proven to stimulate the economy as they will be immediately spent on a new computer :)

Okay, I checked out the French money. It's not bad, as far as artwork goes. But, it's not nearly as colourful and we have far more in the way of bells and whistles ... and ghost faces, even.

All things being equal (who has not only a looney but, a tooney, too?), and with a few notes from each country in your hand, we'd win, hands down. I kid you not!

http://www.bankofcanada.ca/banknotes/bank-note-series/polymer/

I was afraid of that. It seems to me that they allowed posts alerting people to your fundraising link last year. But, in any event, I shall be more discreet when doing so this year ...

I'll try to find the links, and check yours out, too.

http://www.banknotes.com/fr154.htm

and

http://www.banknotes.com/fr157a.htm

Anyone familiar with "The Little Prince", check out the 50's front -- not only is Le Petit Prince on his planet on the face of the bill, but one of the security items is a multicolored-ink copy of the Prince's drawing of a snake which has swallowed an elephant, in the upper left corner.

Fun!

Although, in the first series, they actually spelled the author's name wrong (oops, added one accent too many...).

-CW

Nothing could top (snerk) the French bills with a topless woman, IMHO. Now THAT's a piece of artwork on money! Heh. Or their "Little Prince" bill, that one was pretty cool, too.

Got a link to new Canadian bill designs?

As for HuffPost, they had to scrub the sentence begging for money before they posted it. Oh, well, can't blame me for trying... I think it's against one of their policies, so no hard feelings on my part... (they just posted it).

-CW

Seriously, we have just changed to a new and improved set of bills that have to be the most colourful and beautiful works of art masquerading as money on the planet. Just anyone try to counterfeit them, too ... no way, no how!

I can fully understand what prompted this week's MIDOTW award. :)

Why can't he be contacted at treasury? The last time I checked I'm sure there was a contact the secretary page, or something ...

In any event, Merry (early) Christmas, indeed!

Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you!

OK, but why name it the "Looney" then?

Heh.

As for [2] and [3], yeah I thought you'd like today's awards. Tim did good on Capitol Hill, and he was excellent last Sunday. I almost forgot about him today when trying to put together the weekly candidates, but when I remembered the "full Ginsburg" then it was obvious who deserved the MIDOTW, hands down.

:-)

Merry (early) Christmas!

-CW

Chris,

I think I may have to frame the prelude to the MIDOTW award this week. I may even try to congratulate him at the link you provided, even though it probably won't go anywhere since I don't have an appropriate zip code. Heh.

Oh well, I'll just hope that all of your friends and comrades here and over at the HP will do so for me.

I can hardly wait to read the comments over at HP - I am optimistic that they'll all be positive because this much maligned and under-appreciated secretary of the treasury deserves some love, FINALLY, from the people for whom he has worked so hard over the last many years.

I shall retire tonight with a big ole grin on my face. :)

Sorry, I couldn't resist. We have to be better at something, you know.

:-)