Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Winston-Salem Journal LTE's TU 09/13/11

Good AM, folks!

A bit of variety in today's diminished harvest of LTE's.

Democracy
I sympathize with the writer of the letter "We did it" in the Sept. 2 Readers' Forum, who feels that the crop of feckless, know-nothing, compromised politicians we sent to Washington is ruining the country. But one must remember that we live in a democracy, and in the words of H.L. Mencken: "Democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard."

RICHARD B. WEINBERG
Winston Salem

Neglected transportation
Your Sept. 8 editorial, "Perdue's statement on construction welcome," is certainly welcome. Many who travel in North Carolina have wondered for years why Winston-Salem has lacked in major road construction, i.e. beltways. Your editorial would seem to imply that Gov. Perdue has the ball rolling on the Winston-Salem beltway. Your statement in the editorial, "Perdue is up for re-election next year. If she loses, the beltway plans could be hurt," would seem to have some political overtures. Whether Perdue wins or loses next year has little to do with the progress of the beltway.

Many feel the lack of major road construction in Winston-Salem is the fault of our local politicians. They have focused on ballparks, Dell plants and other areas instead of transportation. What has the ball rolling on the beltway? It's not Perdue or our local politicians, but the landowners in the beltway path who have filed suit against the DOT for holding them in limbo as to what they are to expect for their property.
I do agree with your last statement, "The Northern Beltway can't come soon enough."

B.H. "TINY" SIMPSON
Kernersville

Best of luck
There seems to be a small but vocal minority of Texans who wish to secede from the Union. After the Sept. 7 Republican debate, perhaps we should wish the secessionists the very best of luck — and soon.

DAVID GUY
Winston-Salem

107 comments:

  1. LTE1: I assume the LTE is talking about past Congresses and NC legislatures as well as current office holders. If not, he should be.

    LTE2: Winston-Salem has been ill-served in road construction. The beltway should have been long built. Hwy 311 to HP should have been 4-laned decades before it was. And US 421 should have been 4-laned to Boone decades before it was. One of my brothers was involved in a fatal accident on a 2-lane stretch near Yadkinville, years ago (he wasn't driving, no permanent injuries), so that is a sore spot in my memory.

    LTE3: We might wish that MA and certain other areas, Pelosi's and Waters' districts, for example, might also secede.

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  2. That old two lane 421 was one of the few roads in NC that ever made me nervous. Currently, hwy 68 north from PTIA holds that honor.

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  3. Lte1..I don't remember the letter you refer to, but step 1 is a thorough contempt for and distrust of the Governing Elites. Without that, no major change will come. Step 2, a major event to focus the publics mind is needed. This on going financial crisis fills that bill. Step 3, there needs to be many voices from the American side of the beltway speaking bluntly, gaffing-truth telling- and not backing down anymore. I believe we are beginning.

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  4. Mr. Simpson...the WS Journal actively campaigns for liberal Democrats in its paper on a daily basis. Once the 'old' guard left the Journal, the liberals went nuts writing all kinds of articles slamming conservatives and praising liberal Democrats, or haven't you noticed.

    The Journal writers and editorial staff are now like crack addicts, they can't get enough of their own propaganda-illegal immigration encouragement, aberrant lifestyles promotion, out of control governmental spending. It's sick!

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  5. Mr. Guy....Texas would probably do better on it's own. I'd be careful for what you wish for.

    The states that voted for Obama in the last election are the ones that are dragging the rest of the states down.

    If we could cut loose-California, New York, and Illinois, the rest of the states would in all likelihood do pretty well.

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  6. Organized crime-the 2011 version-has already taken over California, Illinois and is trying for a comeback in Wisconsin.

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  7. whitewall....it really quite incredible how much corruption has grown within our country and government in recent years. Little 'ole N.C. is ripe with corruption when little was said or heard about it just a few short years ago.

    Thank goodness we got rid of those slimy Democrats in the last election, maybe the Republicans can get the state back on track.

    We just need to get rid of 'ole Bev-the state embarrassment and we'll be on our way.

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  8. Bucky, homo sapien is just a corrupt species. face it. The developer once tried to end the experiment by drowning all the subjects, but it didn't quite work out.

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  9. What's the difference between a fool and an idiot? A fool is a person that voted Obama, and an idiot is a person that believes he's doing a good job.

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  10. Not bad Bob,...it could use some refinement, but not bad coming from a stiff shirt like yourself.

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  11. refinement? hehe, you're such an elitist.

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  12. hahahah, "I raised $30 million and if you're sayin I can be bought for $5 thousand,.......I'm offended" lol, and the republicans overwhelmingly believe Rick Perry is their best choice to beat President Obama.

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  13. Perry doesn't stand up too well when being booed by the audience.

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  14. Good AM, WW, Bob, and Bucky!

    Bob: what's interesting re the Developer drowning all the misfits is that Noah and his sons were degenerates also. The drowned ones must have been something else, as must have Saturday nights.

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  15. I think Romney, Bachmann and Gingrich were better. However, we've got to go on electability.

    Of course, with Obama's record, it won't take much.

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  16. I prefer Bombay Sapphire w/ a lime twist for my martinis, with just a dash of vermouth. And I have a good vocabulary. If that makes me an elitist, then so be it.

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  17. What's going on Arthur? Are the natives beating you up over on the Journal website?

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  18. lol. good morning, Stab, Arthur, Bombay Sapphire is unmatched. Cheers!!!

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  19. Oh yeah? Well I drank my first 6-pack of Dos Equis beer! They were good. I am not yet "the most interesting man in the world". But am in the running close around here. Maybe after another 6 pack..

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  20. Hey Bob....what did you think about that dog collared, dead man in an empty hot tub story? I never did hear back from you.

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  21. The Most (un)Interesting Man in the World: "I don't always drink beer, but when I do, I drink Dos Equis."

    Stab: I don't always drink beer, but when I don't, I sleep.

    WW, Dos Equis is indeed pretty good, as are several other Mexican beers.

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  22. They are better than the Clydesdale I keep tethered around back of my house. Besides without beer at night, I can pull an all nighter....not having to get up to p.

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  23. yes, was it a 2" slot-locking 2" leather collar or a non-locking 1.25" buckle collar?

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  24. Bucky, I think Perry will look less electable as he goes along. As for creating a million jobs, there is less there than meets the eye, and his Social Security comments do not help him. He has riled part of his own base by doing the right thing on immigration.

    I see that Bobby Jindal endorsed Perry, following Pawlenty's endorsement of Romney. A couple of subtle hints re VP, perhaps?

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  25. Bucky, you should read Exit from Eden by Anne Rampling (aka Anne Rice).

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  26. La Caretta had this special (maybe they still do), 32 oz. Dos Equis on Tuesdays for half-price.

    Good thing it was only one day a week, otherwise I'd be a raging alcoholic and obese to boot.

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  27. you betcha, Stab, Perry/Jindal would be interesting, two from the Deep South. Wigfall and Slidell would be proud.

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  28. Democrats just want to fall in love, Bucky, Republicans just want to fall in line.

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  29. My clydesdale has a slip loop to the clothesline to allow maximum grazing travel. His collar is chiffon trimmed on Harley Davidson black.

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  30. Stab.....Obama has got people so pissed off, they'll be ready to elect a ham sandwich if it's listed on the ballot as a alternative to his administration..

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  31. If you've ever seen 'Head of State' with Chris Rock, it's going to look like that white neighhood rushing to the polls to unelect Obama the next time around.

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  32. shouldn't "has got" be capitalized? :)

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  33. Yeah, what's up with that Bob? Our resident nitwit didn't even know that.

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  34. President Obama is lagging behind Republicans in the chase for political moderate voters in 12 battleground states, according to a new poll by the centrist Democratic group Third Way.

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  35. to have and to get don't mix well, like oil and vinegar

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  36. Have you heard about the 'Boeing' debacle? Add that one to Obama's long list of screw-ups.

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  37. Boeing next place for job creation will be in China someplace, not South Carolina or Washington State, thanks to Obama.

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  38. Good afternoon folks!
    LTE 1: Actually, we live in a republic although there are some legislatures who appear to be trying to turn our state into a democracy. But yes, we do indeed get the govt we elect for better or worse.
    LTE 2: I'm not sufficiently knowledgable about how road development and maintenance are prioritize to judge the accuracy of the editorial, but it seems to me it would be quite helpful to have the governor on board in getting a long planned project finally underway.
    LTE 3: lol. I imagine there are quite a few who wish Texas had seceded prior to 2000.

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  39. Yes, well and angrily familiar with the NLRB suing Boeing to stop it from sourcing 787s in its non-union Charleston plant. The basis of the suit is that Boeing is punishing the unionized employees in Everett WA for striking, which is illegal under pro-union federal law. Boeing tried to have the case dismissed, but the liberal federal judge denied the motion.

    The facts are that the employees at that Charleston plant were once members of the union in question, the IAM, but they voted to decertify it, which is the most egregious apostasy in the eyes of union moguls. The truth is that the union stooges in the NLRB are trying to punish the apostate employees in Charleston. Ideally, the case will go to the Supremes, who will toss it.

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  40. I neglected to mention that Boeing is adding unionized jobs in Everett WA. I also neglected to mention that the reason the Charleston people booted out the IAM is that they voted it in, the union negotiated a contact that provided less compensation than they had been receiving, plus the employees now had to pay union dues.

    So, it was a good deal for the IAM with a couple thousand more dues paying members, and for the employer, Vought (Boeing bought the plant from Vought).

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  41. you know it's not good when the Republican national leader is getting heavily booed by the audience at a Tea Party sponsored debate. 3 times, on HPV and the murky Merck, on immigration,and social security, He's Texas Toast.

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  42. Speaking of TX toast: while Perry remains the front runner in a contest that is almost a year from conclusion, no one seems to notice the questionable stratergery of runnin' another glib-takin' cowpoke from TX, considerin' the last Prez from TX remains quite unpopular. I think folks may be misunderestimating the voters' memories. And peein' on th' third rail . . . that boy must be loco.

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  43. That reminds me Bob,....you need to speak to your community about the dangers HPV. Those bad end encounters can be deadly if a person is infected with that virus.

    Perry isn't going to force the gay community to have the HPV vaccine when he becomes president, particularly after what happened in Texas.

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  44. Stab....I thought Bush was a bad president too, until Obama came along. Now he looks like Abraham Lincoln in his wisdom and decision making. What a difference a few years make.

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  45. More topical at the moment is that a federal judge in PA has handed down a 52-page decision declaring the individual mandate provision of HCR to be unconstitutional. The case will now probably go to the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals in Philly, which has not ruled on HCR.

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  46. Thanks Stab....I like to keep up with that abomination of a law. Let's hope it gets tossed out. If it stands, we've essentially lost freedom as we once knew it.

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  47. Stab....you know...this kinda reminds me of the Clinton years. There's always some type of screw-up going on. Except in Obama case, there doesn't appear to be any sex in the champagne room, err Oral, I mean Oval.

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  48. did you hear the audience cheer when the question was asked if the uninsured should be left to die?

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  49. Bob, who answered that question, and what was the answer?

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  50. It was in response to a line of questioning for Ron Paul

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  51. I think someone in the audience yelled yes, and a few people cheered, just an embarrassment more than anything.

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  52. BTW, bucky, I have spoken to many communities about the dangers of hiv and other STD's

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  53. the Republicans have successfully filibustered a bill that would have provided $7 billion in relief to disaster victims. These people can't wait 14 months for congress to act. They shouldn't have to wait 14 minutes. Senator Burr voted "no" to aid.

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  54. Genital human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common virus. Most sexually active people in the United States will have HPV at some time in their lives.

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  55. It will mess up the backend of a male homosexual badly though. Be sure you get the word out. I know Perry isn't going to be passing out the HPV vaccine to the gay community when he gets into the White House.

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  56. Link to controversial comment regarding question asked to Ron Paul about employed 30 year old who choose not to purchase health insurance and is injured.

    Comment is in the first 30 seconds even though clip is over 5 minutes

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jevl2dY8oRI

    Wordly

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  57. Tea party/Republican compassion. That clip reminds me of why I'm a Democrat.

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  58. To O.T., your conceit is God's gift to small minded people. Hopefully you will live long enough to think of others as much as you think of yourself,(and consider other peoples opinions are as valid as yours) but I dont think the universe will last that long.

    People who are worried about Spoungbob need to get a job or life as they have entirely too much free time on their hands.

    Are Bucky and Bob dating eachother?

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  59. That clip is worthless, and it proves nothing. It contains some liberal fanatic ranting for 4:30 minutes, and then he answers his own question.

    Ron Paul is going nowhere in the Republican presidential primary anyway.

    The question the liberal commentator Wolf Blitzer didn't ask is: Is it the responsibility of the taxpayers in the U.S. to pay for the health care of 12 million illegal immigrants who have paid nothing into the system?

    I hope FoxNews gets a crack at Obama. That oughta be a hoot. Hee Hee...you gotta love it.

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  60. I like Bob...I make no secret of it. He's one of the few liberal Democratic fanatics in here that can make a valid point using facts.

    Most of Democratic psychopaths in here, do little more than rant and bring up stuff that happened during Republican Administrations. They have no interest in talking about Obama. Would you?

    Rush/Kitty Kat is liberal nitwit. He thinks if he catches people on punctuation and grammar, he wins. It's a sad situation. That's why I call him an idiot every chance I get.

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  61. Sad news. Last year the Navy set a record by relieving 17 commanding officers. Yesterday they broke that record by firing the 18th of 2011.

    Part of the reason is the zero-tolerance policy for command errors implemented by CNO Admiral Gary Roughead, but there is growing concern that there is something wrong in the pipeline leading to commanding officer billets.

    The Naval Academy is widely considered to be the best of the five US service academies, but even the academy is being looked at in the search for answers.

    -----------------
    From milcom:

    A destroyer commander's failure to follow safety procedures during a gunnery exercise last month has given him the dubious distinction of being the 18th skipper fired by the Navy since January -- a new annual record for the sea service.

    Cmdr. Mark Olson was removed from command of the USS The Sullivans on Sept. 7 following an admiral's mast that concluded his failure to follow proper procedures resulted in his ship firing inert rounds at a civilian fishing vessel instead of a target hulk.

    "The Sullivans [rounds] landed close to the fishing vessel. The vessel and its crew were not harmed," the Navy said in a statement. The incident occurred Aug. 17 off the North Carolina coast, in the Cherry Point Operating Area.

    Vice Adm. Daniel Holloway, commander of the U.S. 2nd Fleet, relieved Olson after the mast "due to loss of confidence in his ability to command," the statement said.

    The USS The Sullivans is now being skippered by Cmdr. Sylvester Steele, who has been through the drill of replacing a fired CO before. In March Steele was put in command of the destroyer Stout when its commander, Nathan Borchers, was canned along with nine other ship's officers and crew while deployed to the Mediterranean. The Navy claimed lost confidence in Borchers because of his inability to address "a pervasive pattern of unprofessional behavior in overseas ports and a substandard command climate on board" as well as crew misconduct.

    The Sullivans was scheduled to deploy Sep. 7, but the Navy said that has been delayed because of disruptions stemming in part from the gunnery incident. Olson has been temporarily reassigned to administrative duties on the staff of Destroyer Squadron 14.

    Olson is not the first The Sullivans commander to be fired lately. Last year Cmdr. Neil Funtanilla lost command of the destroyer after the ship struck a buoy in the Persian Gulf.

    The Navy has surpassed last year's CO firing record with more than three months remaining in 2011.

    The Navy has demonstrated a de facto zero-tolerance policy for command errors, with Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead declaring earlier this year that commanders would be held to the highest standards of professional and personal conduct.

    About two weeks ago the Navy tied its 2010 record with the firing of Cmdr. Laredo Bell as commander of Support Activity Saratoga Springs, N.Y. Loss of confidence in his ability to command was also cited in that case. Bell had been pulled over and cited by police for driving under the influence.

    Navy statements indicate alcohol had also played a part in at least two other commander firings this year, coincidently both EA-6B Prowler squadron COs stationed at NAS Whidbey Island: Cmdr. Timothy Murphy, who was commander of Electronic Attack Squadron 129, and Cmdr. Karl Pugh, former commander of Electronic Attack Squadron 141.

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  62. http://www.texastribune.org/texas-newspaper/texas-news/records-fact-checking-perrys-merck-contributions/

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  63. Thanks for the link, Bob. As the campaign wears on, there will be many more Ricky Perry lies uncovered. Texas, far from being some sort of paradise, is a dreadful place to live unless you're rich. It will all come out.

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  64. Hey Bob...I've got some bad news for ya. Have you heard?

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  65. Dag-nab-it, I hate when posts are removed now we will never know what O.T. said.

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  66. It's not about the HPV vaccine either.

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  67. Are you there Bob...check..one-two-three?

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  68. ) Don't touch that dial
    This is Melvin P Thorp saying I'll be back, with new and
    revealing
    information about this and other cases.
    Watch dog never sleeps.

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  69. Bob....I guess you know, huh?

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  70. Whenever I'm in Houston, I always listen to Melvin P. Thorpe.

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  71. Yea, Foghorn Leghorn Perry replied: "Do dah, Do dah, now boy, I say there boy, know that's a chicken." when all along he knew it was a dog.

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  72. At least Ricky boy has finally stirred civilized Republicans to action...they see the train wreck coming now.

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  73. Shame. Running against Perry would have been great fun.

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  74. the republican party is great for the economy, just think of all the jobs being created for comedians even as we type, another debate or two, and unemployment could be cut in half

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  75. Republicans could run a ham sandwich and beat Obama, Arthur. I know you're out of touch, but you're not THAT our of touch are you?

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  76. Well, I tend to lump all the train wrecks into one. Arthur is right though, Ricky boy is a lot of fun. Bill Clinton laughed out loud during Ricky's announcement that he was running for POTUS.

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  77. Bob.....looks like come next May, the amendment to prohibit gay and lesbian marriage will be on a N.C. ballot. I'm surprised you don't have any comments.

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  78. I once called Ricky, Sarah and Michelle the Three Stooges, but got blowback from Three Stooges fans...I apologize for that.

    Thought I would tag them the Three Dumbos, but that would insult that cute little elephant.

    So I'm going with the Three Fools. Apologies in advance to all fools...I know you're not really that dumb, but the buck's got to stop somewhere.

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  79. yes, I followed that today, I have plenty of comments, just none I've made yet.

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  80. New Yorkers vote to replace Weiner.

    Sounds like a porn film title instead of real life election headline.

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  81. Moe Howard was a comedy genius, and in real life a very sweet man.

    I prefer Moe's satire of Hitler to Chaplin's, but that's just me.

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  82. Okay Bob...take your time. I know it has to be traumatic.

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  83. I wish there was video of today's vote in Raleigh, because my spies down there tell me that the Ku Kluxers wore their dunce caps and sheets while voting. That would be a sight to see, wouldn't it.

    I hear that their next amendment will make it legal to burn crosses in people's yards. Then they will work on reconstructing slavery.

    "So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past."

    Last line of "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald

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  84. Good evening, folks!

    Arthur, I prefer Moe's Hitler, also.

    Moe and Curly were brothers, real last name Horowitz. Occasional Stooge Shemp was also a brother, got his name because their immigrant mom had trouble with his name, Samuel. Larry Fine (Feinberg) was not an original Stooge, but was recruited in Chicago to replace an unsatisfactory Stooge.

    In contrast to their on-screen personae, the Stooges were serious about their acting, and would sit quietly on set between takes. Moe and Larry were family men and homebodies. Curly had a turbulent personal life and drank excessively. He had health problems, which accounts for Shemp's occasional Stooge duty. Curly finally gave way to replacement Curlys, one an actor whose name I forget, and the other actor a guy named Joe Best. Neither stand-in could measure up.

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  85. Bucky, I'm see you approve of the efforts in Raleigh to keep us divided. The lessons of 09/11 remain unlearned.

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  86. I too prefer Moe's Hitler.

    Go here for "You Nazty Spy", 18 minutes of hilarity:

    http://www.veoh.com/watch/v19301907YK26Ay3K?h1=The+Three+Stooges+-+You+Nazty+Spy!

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  87. Republican Who Spread Butt on Gay Sex Site Resigns

    http://gawker.com/5835464/republican-who-spread-butt-on-gay-sex-site-resigns

    http://articles.nydailynews.com/2011-08-29/news/30111234_1_arango-grindr-iphone-application

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  88. I never said Republicans were perfect.

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  89. Funny, OT! I'm glad the cats got fed.

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  90. Stab....you're typing in the wrong window again.

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  91. Stab, I also love the one in which Moe/Hitler comes up with his slogan: Moronika for Morons...

    Suitable for the "Mommy, I've got to TT Party."

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  92. I liked the continent they were carving up. I noted the corridor issue that Moe mentioned. They were definitely trying to make their point. Moe's Hitleresque diatribes were excellent mockery, but uncomfortably real. Jah? Jah? Jah boy!

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  93. Bucky, re wrong window: I am indeed subject to so doing, but in this instance, no. I was replying to the video clip that OT posted. Watch it, and at the end you'll see.

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  94. "We think the people of this state – not judges, bureaucrats, or politicians – should define marriage, which I personally believe should be between one man and one woman," Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger said in a statement after the measure passed. "We look forward to eight months of healthy debate before voters decide this issue at the polls.”

    So we've got eight months to debate the issue? Hee Hee ...you gotta love it.

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  95. With 1/3 of the vote counted in the special election for the Weinie-wagging Congressman's seat, the R candidate leads 52-48%. This is not necessarily an referendum on President Obama, as this is a heavily Orthodox Jewish district, and the President has had sharp words for Israel.

    It is, however, an indication that the NYC unions are having trouble turning out their vote, and that the NYC Dem party is having trouble corrupting the vote count. We'll see how it stands.

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  96. BTW, disgraced ex-Congressman Weiner has moved out of the district to Greenwich Village. The report I read did not disclose whether the missus moved with him.

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  97. Sounds like O.T. is in some form of panic mode! or is he just a cry baby? or maybe just a baby? Oh an because I post as "Anonymous" makes me no different or less important or valid than O.T. as he hasnt/doesnt post his REAL NAME!

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  98. Actually, OT Rush IS my name.

    As to how important or valid you are, your uninformed comments tell all that needs to be known.

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  99. Anonymous...I wouldn't get too worked up over Rush/Kitty Kat. He's your typical liberal idiot that thinks he's more important than he really is.

    A Republican winning in New York in a district where Democrats outnumber Republicans 3 to 1. That's huge. Are you sure the Republican is winning Weiner's seat, Stab?

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