TheAnvil

From federal budget basics to tax basics, you've given me reason to smile. Actually I should frown, but your passion causes me to smile instead. You're a long way from establishing the GOP to be raping the country. You might want to actually take an initial step if that's your goal. If you do choose to attempt that initial step, remember that if you adhere to a static age demographic, geopolitical situation, economy, or spending level when making your case, it'll be pretty hard for anyone to take you seriously. There is indeed a difference of $26 Billion between projections from President Bush and the CBO (according to you, at any rate) On a multi-trillion dollar budget. I'm amazed you find this amazing. OMB and CBO are, after all, different organizations working for different branches of the government. I suspect the true # will be higher than both, but that's just me. 1/2 Trillion, by the way, is roughly double the #'s you're batting about. If Mr. Clinton handed off such a gem of an economy 'tis quite odd that '01 showed a 0.7 % increase in unemployment, eh? 0.2/4.8 was an indicator for you, but 0.7/4.0 is not? Not sure how your thoughts migrated to 'the great gov't giveaway' as you put it, but if you'll look at the $38 billion as compared to overall spending for '01, you'll find it's a bit over 2% of outlays for the year. Like it or not, FY01 was a Clinton/Gore budget. FY02 was a GWB budget. Deal with it. Why you or anyone else would want to take money from people that earned it and give it away to people that didn't via any mechanism is truly beyond me. If you'd actually take a look at the data (most helpful thing to do when discussing any topic) you'd find that between '00 and '05 GWB's atrocious discretionary spending has increased over '00 levels by about $998.2 Billion total - much to his shame. You'd also find that mandatory spending has increased by an even greater total of $1,215 Billion during the same time frame. That GWB and his staff had no choice for the majority of the spending increases during his tenure in office is a matter of public record. Deal with it however you desire. The mandatory spending projections over the next few decades are reason enough to give anyone cause for alarm. They're also reason in and of themselves to laugh at anyone touting the expansion of social programs whilst bemoaning the deficit. Laugh quite hard, in fact. The PBS article written in '01 gave mere projections based upon the economy at the time. The record high tax revenues seen in '05 tell me that they didn't do their projections accurately, but believe whatever you like. I base my opinions on facts - you may choose not to. The choice is yours and I respect your right to make that choice. Mandatory spending and the education system are the two greatest threats our country faces today, in my opinion. Slam the GOP as much as you desire using whatever data you like or even manufacture some data and use that - Dan Rather might give you some tips on that. It will not give the left any credibility on either of the two aforementioned issues. Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

Probably. I've plenty of tequila here, though I haven't had any (yet). Just made some lemon-pepper fish and am about to devour a salad.

Though I'm glad to see you're finally availing yourself of some gov't data sources, you really ought to learn a bit about the stats you're viewing. Unemployment is at a five month high. Look at the range of the data you're touting: 4.6 - 4.8. Not really statistically significant. Lower, in fact, than the majority of the 1990's. Most humorous that you consider that significant. Hilarious in fact. If you were familiar with the federal budget, you'd realize that the gov't was operating under a Clinton/Gore budget for the majority of '01. 9/11 didn't even fall within the FY for GWB's first budget. Keep trying. The truth is out there for you. Might I suggest looking at some CBO data and coming to grips with the fact that tax revenues are at an all-time high and that the 'rich' are paying the vast majority of those taxes? BLS is but one source of gov't info available to you. Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

Such facts as those run contrary to the fantasy world in which many Bush-bashers dwell. Especially those who tend to say 'tax cuts for the rich' with great frequency. Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

I refuse to watch Snakes on A Plane. However, SLJ in all other flicks I've seen has THE best motherfucking 'motherfucker' I've ever heard.

OBL's immediate family has rejected him on numerous occasions. One wonders why it keeps coming up in any discourse on the matter. Saudi and Pakistani ISI did the US few favors in Afghanistan during the 80's. Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

I've got lots of problems with Pakistan and our policy towards them. A cursory review of the last few decades of history of Pakistan's involvement with the terrorists is most revealing. I have little doubt their ISI is hampering our efforts in Afghanistan as I type this. Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

Clicky An admission of guilt by them as well. I wish Israel would do a bit of PR and good-will initiatives in the Arab world. Might help them out in the long run. Regardless of this good thing done by Hezbollah for the people of southern Lebanon, they're still worthless terrorist scumbags. Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

At this point in time? It would depend upon the situation, but probably not. I think the right course of action with regards to Cuba is as Mr. Carter described. Economic engagement via the lifting of the trade embargo and travel restrictions for U.S. citizens and companies.

When terrorists are allies, I've problems with both the terrorists and those aiding them. Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

We knew the Hebollah terrorists were going to kidnap two Israeli soldiers a year in advance? Odd that we did nothing to prevent their abduction. As an ally of Israel, why shouldn't the US help them after they've been attacked by terrorists? Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

Rome...spend at least a week there. Utterly incredible.

I enjoy speaking about it so much I'll do so again. Bill was talking about Hezbollah. The others in the conversation were speaking of Hamas. You're right. So important to stay on track.

A political party..AHHHH! Nation-state - definitely not. When either the Republicans or Democrats start accepting monetary and military support from another nation and subsequently begin using said military support to assault innocents, I'll start thinking that analogy somewhat credible. Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

Oooooh...Vinny like! Will you be arriving soon? I'll have dinner ready... Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

I'm only trying to help... Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

Hezbollah is a nation state? I think not. I haven't read anywhere but here in this thread about the 6 month gate and release program the Israelis are purportedly running. I don't agree with such a system. Do you have any Reuters/AP or other links? Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

It's times like these when the only real solution to your problem is to buy a short barrel chested poppy-eyed person who lives in Jacksonville Beach a bottle of Patron. It helps you concentrate.

Bill - equating the actions of a nation-state to a terrorist organization is absurdity at its finest. The comparison is invalid from any perspective. idrankwhat - Are you trying to out-do Lucky and win the coveted 'Anvil-rated Speaker's Corner Most Hilarious Post Ever Award' ? Hamas only considered a terrorist organiation because that's the label given to the by the US and Israel? Dear God man! If you were stating that in sarcasm, I didn't pick up on it. Hamas supports suicide bombings to such an extent that one of its female members elected to office bragged about sending her sons off to be murderers (she used the term martyr). If that doesn't qualify them as a terrorist organization, what does? I call the deliberate kidnapping of the soldiers of a nation-state an act of war. I call the arresting of members of the group whose militants aided/abetted the kidnapping a good move. If the Israelis were attacking Lebanon and not the Hezbollah terrorists embedded theirein, their methods and targets of attack would have been much, much different. There would be no Lebanese army left to enter Southern Lebanon. The US did not support an attack on the nation of Lebanon - we support attacks on the terrorists taking refuge there. Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

Pumpkin seeds!!! Yummmmy.. Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

Incorrect. A reason was given. Hamas was involved in the kidnapping of CPL Gilad, therefore Hamas members will be targets of arrest. A democratically elected terrorist is still a terrorist. Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

Would anyone like to scratch my long and sexy JACKASS ears?

You should read more of my posts. I've criticized both Israel and GWB and will continue to do so when I disagree with them. Darius - to what fact in particular are you referring? Bill - equating the Hezbollah abduction of Israeli soldiers to the prisoners held in Israeli jails is absurd and you know it. Carter's interview was abominable and easy to pick apart. GWB was the lesser of two evils in both '00 and '04. Wiser choices in '04? I think not. Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

Get your facts in order. The entire nation has not been bombed. State that it has as often as you an Mr. Carter desire. It won't make it any less fictitious than the statement already is. Many, eh? Israel holds many prisoners. So does the state of California. The interview was typical of one from Mr. Carter these days - absolutely horrid. Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!!

I'm sure the soldiers convicted of the Abu Ghraib abuses would disagree with you. The Army officer who went on trial for shooting a gun in the interrogation of a prisoner would also disagree with you. Face it, Bill. You know why the memos you refer to were written. You also know why Mr. Carter brought up Abu Ghraib in that interview. Utterly disgusting. Vinny the Anvil Post Traumatic Didn't Make The Lakers Syndrome is REAL JACKASS POWER!!!!!!