Comments Posted By Surabaya Stew
Displaying 71 To 80 Of 255 Comments
VIOLENCE AT TOWN HALLS PREDICTABLE AND DISTURBING
After seeing and hearing the town hall nut-cases on both sides these past few days, I'm beginning to think that Obama and the Democrats should just institute a pre-screened list of attendees to these healthcare discussions just like Bush used to do with Social Security reform. Otherwise there will be bloodshed and nothing will get accomplished!
Comment Posted By Surabaya Stew On 8.08.2009 @ 00:46
DOES THE GOVERNMENT CARE IF YOU GET INTO TROUBLE OVERSEAS ANYMORE?
I think the phrase that Rick is trying to describe is "proportional response". That is, a balanced action by the US government to confront what is at stake. (In this case, 20 hours of Bill Clinton brown-nosing with the Kim junta equals 2 freed hostages.) Leaving the hostages to their fate would have been cowardly, attacking North Korea (directly or indirectly) would have risked war. Neither of these outcomes is in our interests; the middle way in this instance is the least-worst choice.
Comment Posted By Surabaya Stew On 5.08.2009 @ 18:01
I would add my 2 cents, but Scott Adams already went through the reasons why something like the CFPA is inevitable:
http://dilbert.com/blog/entry/investing_in_individual_stocks/
Comment Posted By Surabaya Stew On 4.08.2009 @ 18:53
HELP! IS THERE A WHITE DOCTOR IN THE HOUSE?
Must “underrepresented” necessarily refer to racial minorities when it comes to communities having too few doctors? What about the nearly all white (re: "hillbilly") population of Appalachia? All over the region are communities sorely lacking in doctors, medical insurance and health facilities on a rate similar to inner cities and the deep south. Not to harp on this, but you certainly don't have to be black or hispanic to be “underrepresented”!
Perhaps the wording should be changed to "under-served", so that all communities that lack enough doctors can be aided. Or incentives can be offered to new doctors to set up shop in neighborhoods that lack doctors. I'm even open to the government encouraging more black and hispanic students to enter the medical field, as long as academic standards aren't lowered. Frankly, almost anything would work better than this crazy race-based scheme!
Comment Posted By Surabaya Stew On 28.07.2009 @ 02:27
A FEW RAMBLING THOUGHTS ON THE GATES AFFAIR
@jms
If Obama asked Crowley to share a bottle of Jamesons, that would qualify as ethnic profiling. But no stereotypes are presumed in asking any American to have a beer!
Comment Posted By Surabaya Stew On 27.07.2009 @ 01:34
HEALTH CARE REFORM HEADING FOR DERAILMENT -- EVEN IF IT PASSES
Perhaps Obama is acting like this because he doesn't actually care how health care "gets fixed", just as long as "something" is passed. It is my feeling that he simply doesn't have a strong interest in the subject. Which is actually ok in my book; it would be unrealistic (and scary) if the president was 100% into every major legislation; (but of course it would be politically unwise for him to admit this!)
Judging from his presser last night, there's no passion in him on the topic, aside from the fact that the current system costs us all too much. This could easily explain why he's delegating the bill out to congress! Not that this is a bad thing; a bipartisan bill is probably the best solution anyway.
Comment Posted By Surabaya Stew On 23.07.2009 @ 16:21
SOME NEW BLOOD FOR INTELLECTUAL CONSERVATISM
Thanks for the article Rick; properly separating the roles and importance between business and markets is something that commentators of all political strips have a hard time doing. I (broadly) agree with you on the excellence of Megan McArdle; I remember reading her when she was something of a bomb-thrower as "Jane Galt" and she has improved since then to capturing major news scoops. Oh, and kudos on daring to tell the truth about Reagan!
The above commentators are also correct in calling attention the the inept and/or corrupt practices of corporate firms. This is something I never understood until several positions (including my own), were terminated at my previous (medium-sized) firm last April. The amount of wasted money and lost productivity as a result of terrible business decisions was something to truly behold! Having previously worked for sole proprietors failed to train me for the fact that business is just about as inefficient as government.
Comment Posted By Surabaya Stew On 14.07.2009 @ 22:22
Anyway, I’m not sure if my comments are actually changing anyone’s attitude toward Mormons, but I do feel like we live under a lot of undeserved stereotypes and superficial assessments.
@Cheen,
I sadly have agree with your statement. It would be wonderful if the GOP primary voters could vote for or against Romney without his faith coming into play, but 2012 is perhaps too soon for that to happen.
Comment Posted By Surabaya Stew On 10.07.2009 @ 21:17
Finally, we come to Mike Huckabee who, if elected, would be the first president whose named ended in two vowels.
For some reason, that line put a smile on my face! Why wouldn't Double-E's in our highest office work?
I can’t tell you how much I despise Huckaloser except to say I find great enjoyment and satisfaction in creating new and clever endings for his moniker. Huckapooh would destroy the Republican party if nominated so even though he has his own really dumb TV show, I sincerely hope everyone forgets him by the time the primaries roll around.
Not so sure about this; remember that the Huckster was the about only GOP primary candidate from 2008 that seemed comfortable in his own skin. (Not that the Democratic offerings were much more human!) Sure I didn't care much for his political views or his worldly ignorance, but he certainly came across very well as a likable guy that the average voter would want to share a beer with. (And he knows this very well!) He won't be forgotten in 2012.
Comment Posted By Surabaya Stew On 9.07.2009 @ 22:44
A FEW WORDS ON THE EFFICACY OF CHANGING ONE'S MIND
Please make believe I didn't wrote "skillets"; I of course meant "skill sets"!
Comment Posted By Surabaya Stew On 6.07.2009 @ 18:12
