A Forum for Grinches and Ho-Ho-Hoes

[taxwonk]

Originally posted by bilmore
Knowing what you know about the subject, if he did wear the parka due to the condition of his heart, would this tell you anything about the current seriousness of his health? Would someone with his heart condition "generally" dress with such caution, or does this indicate to you a more serious problem then is generally perceived?

It would tell me that there is a significant amount of damage to the heart muscle. But that's pretty obvious from the fact that he's had multiple heart attacks and surgeries. It would not necessarily be an indication of a worsening or imminent condition, though. I get chest pains when it gets too cold and I'm as healthy as a.....

Well, you know what I mean.

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,145825,00.html

Polls Close in Historic Iraqi Elections

BAGHDAD, Iraq — The polls in Iraq have closed, ending the country's first open elections in more than 50 years and setting a course for what U.S. officials hope will be a long democratic future.

All around the country, Iraqis defied threats of violence and cast their votes. An initial estimate of turnout from the Independent Electoral Commission indicated that 72 percent of eligible Iraqi voters had turned out to cast their ballots.

72%? Hell Ty, what'll it be once it's ready for democracy?

Oh. And what are the NYT's headlines on the day 72% of Iraquis voted?

"Several Explosions Heard Across Baghdad" and "The Vote, and Democracy Itself, Leave Anxious Iraquis Divided" Maybe it was published before any estimates, but geez.

[Adder]

Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
No. I didn't mean that at all. Kos is a wack job blog. she posts a letter there telling it that she was so grateful etc. It would be similar to a Rep. leader posting on LGF.

People are sick of the insanity- she challenged Ohio results for god's sakes. You will lose the middle of the road voter permanently. In 2008 you will lose Pennslyvania. In 2012 Michigan. You are doomed by your wacky fringe.

This from a Republican? Have you looked at your fringe recently?

[Adder]

Originally posted by bilmore
But, when the worldwide religiousity figure seems to hover around 93%, are you willing to write all of them off as whack-jobs? Maybe they are, but they've got us outnumbered, if nothing else.

Yes.


And religiousity at the Bush/Ashcroft/Keyes/Delay level is certainly less common than that. But at least you don't let them make policy.

[Adder]

Originally posted by Hank Chinaski
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,145825,00.html

Polls Close in Historic Iraqi Elections

BAGHDAD, Iraq — The polls in Iraq have closed, ending the country's first open elections in more than 50 years and setting a course for what U.S. officials hope will be a long democratic future.

All around the country, Iraqis defied threats of violence and cast their votes. An initial estimate of turnout from the Independent Electoral Commission indicated that 72 percent of eligible Iraqi voters had turned out to cast their ballots.

72%? Hell Ty, what'll it be once it's ready for democracy?

Fox news just broke in to football coverage and says 60%, which still isn't too bad.

But I like how the President waited until the full football audience was tuned in to take over the airwaves. The downside for him is that all of Philadelphia now wants him dead.

eta: I am clearly totally out of it.

[bilmore]

Originally posted by Adder
The downside for him is that all of Philadelphia now wants him dead.

They wanted him dead before.

I loved Kerry's Meet The Press reaction to the vote. No big deal. Not even legitimate since so few people could actually vote. He disputes the figures of turnout. Says the world is far less safe now.

[bilmore]

[Secret_Agent_Man]

Originally posted by bilmore
I loved Kerry's Meet The Press reaction to the vote. No big deal. Not even legitimate since so few people could actually vote. He disputes the figures of turnout. Says the world is far less safe now.

Question:

Are the reported figures reflecting 60-72% of the RV, or the EV? Huge difference. In any event, a good thing that must reflect massive turnouts in Shia and Kurdish areas. I'll be interested to see the statistics from the Sunni Arab regions.

S_A_M

[sgtclub]

Originally posted by Secret_Agent_Man
Question:

Are the reported figures reflecting 60-72% of the RV, or the EV? Huge difference. In any event, a good thing that must reflect massive turnouts in Shia and Kurdish areas. I'll be interested to see the statistics from the Sunni Arab regions.

S_A_M

I am interested in the Sunni numbers as well, but the most heartening story I heard today was that a suicide bomb went off at a polling place, killing four, but the Iraqis there still stayed in line to vote. Brought a tear to my eye.

[sgtclub]

• THE son of the United Nations secretary-general has admitted he was involved in negotiations to sell millions of barrels of Iraqi oil under the auspices of Saddam Hussein.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article...462576,00.html

[sgtclub]

• A 25-year-old waitress who turned down a job providing "sexual services'' at a brothel in Berlin faces possible cuts to her unemployment benefit under laws introduced this year.
  
  Prostitution was legalised in Germany just over two years ago and brothel owners – who must pay tax and employee health insurance – were granted access to official databases of jobseekers.
  
  The waitress, an unemployed information technology professional, had said that she was willing to work in a bar at night and had worked in a cafe.
  
  She received a letter from the job centre telling her that an employer was interested in her "profile'' and that she should ring them. Only on doing so did the woman, who has not been identified for legal reasons, realise that she was calling a brothel.
  
  Under Germany's welfare reforms, any woman under 55 who has been out of work for more than a year can be forced to take an available job – including in the sex industry – or lose her unemployment benefit. Last month German unemployment rose for the 11th consecutive month to 4.5 million, taking the number out of work to its highest since reunification in 1990.

[Hank Chinaski]

[sgtclub]

Originally posted by Secret_Agent_Man
Question:

Are the reported figures reflecting 60-72% of the RV, or the EV? Huge difference. In any event, a good thing that must reflect massive turnouts in Shia and Kurdish areas. I'll be interested to see the statistics from the Sunni Arab regions.

S_A_M

The WSJ is reporting 60% of registered voters.

[ltl/fb]

OK, so if prostitution should be legal, and people who aren't willing to take available jobs should be denied unemployment benefits, is this right (cross-post of a post by Hank on FB)? Or is this not an issue b/c there shouldn't be any unemployment benefits at all?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/mai.../30/wgerm30.xml

'If you don't take a job as a prostitute, we can stop your benefits'

A 25-year-old waitress who turned down a job providing "sexual services'' at a brothel in Berlin faces possible cuts to her unemployment benefit under laws introduced this year.

Prostitution was legalised in Germany just over two years ago and brothel owners – who must pay tax and employee health insurance – were granted access to official databases of jobseekers.

The waitress, an unemployed information technology professional, had said that she was willing to work in a bar at night and had worked in a cafe.

She received a letter from the job centre telling her that an employer was interested in her "profile'' and that she should ring them. Only on doing so did the woman, who has not been identified for legal reasons, realise that she was calling a brothel.

Under Germany's welfare reforms, any woman under 55 who has been out of work for more than a year can be forced to take an available job – including in the sex industry – or lose her unemployment benefit. Last month German unemployment rose for the 11th consecutive month to 4.5 million, taking the number out of work to its highest since reunification in 1990.

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by ltl/fb
OK, so if prostitution should be legal, and people who aren't willing to take available jobs should be denied unemployment benefits, is this right (cross-post of a post by Hank on FB)? Or is this not an issue b/c there shouldn't be any unemployment benefits at all?

The latter. The apparently distasteful coercion is created by the state's offering of unemployment benefits with conditions. I blame that. But if you legalize prostitution, why isn't it like any other potentially unattractive job--couldn't one make the same argument if one were "forced" to be the sewer de-mucker for example?