Comments on: Forests and Trees and Gimmicks http://www.mahablog.com/2008/09/28/forests-and-trees-and-gimmicks/ Making the World Safe for Liberalism Sun, 14 Mar 2010 18:41:01 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Swami http://www.mahablog.com/2008/09/28/forests-and-trees-and-gimmicks/comment-page-1/#comment-547935 Swami Mon, 29 Sep 2008 23:14:58 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/?p=2777#comment-547935 <i>If the entire population of Pyongyang stood on one another’s shoulders, would the bailout, in $100 bills, be taller?</i> Yep!.. and it also would be one hell of a balancing act for the Pyongyangians. As far as whether we'd win or not... the safe assumption is we'll end up the losers ultimately. If the entire population of Pyongyang stood on one another’s shoulders, would the bailout, in $100 bills, be taller?

Yep!.. and it also would be one hell of a balancing act for the Pyongyangians.

As far as whether we’d win or not… the safe assumption is we’ll end up the losers ultimately.

]]> By: joanr16 http://www.mahablog.com/2008/09/28/forests-and-trees-and-gimmicks/comment-page-1/#comment-547909 joanr16 Mon, 29 Sep 2008 17:06:14 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/?p=2777#comment-547909 <i>According to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, a stack of $100s roughly 5 feet tall is equal to $1-million.</i> Yes, but Swami, how does that compare in height to the average North Korean? If the entire population of Pyongyang stood on one another's shoulders, would the bailout, in $100 bills, be taller? If so, does that mean we win? According to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, a stack of $100s roughly 5 feet tall is equal to $1-million.

Yes, but Swami, how does that compare in height to the average North Korean?

If the entire population of Pyongyang stood on one another’s shoulders, would the bailout, in $100 bills, be taller? If so, does that mean we win?

]]> By: s http://www.mahablog.com/2008/09/28/forests-and-trees-and-gimmicks/comment-page-1/#comment-547903 s Mon, 29 Sep 2008 16:12:53 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/?p=2777#comment-547903 #18 I am guessing they told her not to say I'll get back to you on that. #18 I am guessing they told her not to say I’ll get back to you on that.

]]> By: Virginia http://www.mahablog.com/2008/09/28/forests-and-trees-and-gimmicks/comment-page-1/#comment-547900 Virginia Mon, 29 Sep 2008 14:49:24 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/?p=2777#comment-547900 Do they really think the country will come grinding to a halt for Bristol Palin's wedding? Would anyone care (other than the comics who would be handed a new bouquet of laugh lines)? What Biden needs to do on Thursday is simply keep the focus on McCain and the dismal Republican record - than watch Palin try to defend it. Do they really think the country will come grinding to a halt for Bristol Palin’s wedding? Would anyone care (other than the comics who would be handed a new bouquet of laugh lines)?

What Biden needs to do on Thursday is simply keep the focus on McCain and the dismal Republican record – than watch Palin try to defend it.

]]> By: Norm in Manteca http://www.mahablog.com/2008/09/28/forests-and-trees-and-gimmicks/comment-page-1/#comment-547893 Norm in Manteca Mon, 29 Sep 2008 11:34:37 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/?p=2777#comment-547893 Supplement to my post #15........ Look at Joe Biden's comments on the Olbermann show: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/#26909602 If only Obama could be as concise and forceful as Biden is in describing McCain and their differing debate styles. I have a hunch that Obama's handlers don't want him to appear as an "uppity" black man. Several sources estimate that racial prejudice against African-Americans give McCain 6 to 10 point edge to account for the Bradley effect. It's a tough tightrope, and an unfair one, that Obama has to walk. Supplement to my post #15……..
Look at Joe Biden’s comments on the Olbermann show:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/#26909602
If only Obama could be as concise and forceful as Biden is in describing McCain and their differing debate styles.
I have a hunch that Obama’s handlers don’t want him to appear as an “uppity” black man. Several sources estimate that racial prejudice against African-Americans give McCain 6 to 10 point edge to account for the Bradley effect. It’s a tough tightrope, and an unfair one, that Obama has to walk.

]]> By: idlemind http://www.mahablog.com/2008/09/28/forests-and-trees-and-gimmicks/comment-page-1/#comment-547889 idlemind Mon, 29 Sep 2008 07:02:12 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/?p=2777#comment-547889 Dave, if they swapped Palin for Giuliani I doubt if it would improve matters much at all. Against Biden, Giuliani would look like the bellicose buffoon he is. Additionally, Biden could take the gloves off and not get slammed for it. I think it more likely that Lieberman would get the nod. It's the Mavericky thing to do. Joe would do it, too, given how he's likely to be a non-entity in the senate next year. Neither one is going to appeal to the fundamentalist base. I'm not sure McCain could drop Palin and get past them anyway -- who would he choose, Huckabee? Na gonna happin. Dave, if they swapped Palin for Giuliani I doubt if it would improve matters much at all. Against Biden, Giuliani would look like the bellicose buffoon he is. Additionally, Biden could take the gloves off and not get slammed for it.

I think it more likely that Lieberman would get the nod. It’s the Mavericky thing to do. Joe would do it, too, given how he’s likely to be a non-entity in the senate next year.

Neither one is going to appeal to the fundamentalist base. I’m not sure McCain could drop Palin and get past them anyway — who would he choose, Huckabee? Na gonna happin.

]]> By: Norm in Manteca http://www.mahablog.com/2008/09/28/forests-and-trees-and-gimmicks/comment-page-1/#comment-547888 Norm in Manteca Mon, 29 Sep 2008 06:59:41 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/?p=2777#comment-547888 Let's face it. The Republicans are better at getting their message out than the Democrats. How else can you explain a near tie in the polls when the White House and Republican approval ratings are so low. The party in power usually suffers with a downturn in the economy. McCain is good at dodging hard facts. But Obama doesn't stay after him. Obama did well when he said 18 billion(earmarks) was a lot, but 300 billion(tax reductions) is really a lot. He needs to do more like that and repeat and repeat and repeat. Obama needs some zingers. Republicans do this well such as "drill baby drill." and McCain keeps the fight image. I'll fight for you is the message. And that intertwines with their message that Obama is elite. Read this as effete. And it's no coincidence that McCain tried to pose as the alpha male when he kept repeating that Obama didn't understand. Obama could have come back with something like: I understand all too well that you are distorting and misrepresenting the facts. And the fact still is that your plan will give 300 billion in tax benefits for the top 5 percent. I'm for the working middle classes....and you are for the rich fat asses. or "Protect Your Momma...Vote for Obama." or "Don't be Insane...Don't vote for McCain/" Another good summary of McCain and Palin in the New York Review of Books, October 9 issue: "John & Sarah in St. Paul" By Joseph Lelyveld http://www.nybooks.com/articles/21831 And good news. My source of electoral college pollster is 311 elctoral votes for Obama....Margin of error of 75 Let’s face it. The Republicans are better at getting their message out than the Democrats. How else can you explain a near tie in the polls when the White House and Republican approval ratings are so low. The party in power usually suffers with a downturn in the economy.
McCain is good at dodging hard facts. But Obama doesn’t stay after him. Obama did well when he said 18 billion(earmarks) was a lot, but 300 billion(tax reductions) is really a lot. He needs to do more like that and repeat and repeat and repeat.
Obama needs some zingers. Republicans do this well such as “drill baby drill.” and McCain keeps the fight image. I’ll fight for you is the message. And that intertwines with their message that Obama is elite. Read this as effete. And it’s no coincidence that McCain tried to pose as the alpha male when he kept repeating that Obama didn’t understand. Obama could have come back with something like: I understand all too well that you are distorting and misrepresenting the facts. And the fact still is that your plan will give 300 billion in tax benefits for the top 5 percent.
I’m for the working middle classes….and you are for the rich fat asses. or “Protect Your Momma…Vote for Obama.”
or “Don’t be Insane…Don’t vote for McCain/”

Another good summary of McCain and Palin in the New York Review of Books, October 9 issue: “John & Sarah in St. Paul”
By Joseph Lelyveld
http://www.nybooks.com/articles/21831

And good news. My source of electoral college pollster is 311 elctoral votes for Obama….Margin of error of 75

]]> By: Swami http://www.mahablog.com/2008/09/28/forests-and-trees-and-gimmicks/comment-page-1/#comment-547885 Swami Mon, 29 Sep 2008 05:46:12 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/?p=2777#comment-547885 Off topic. but extremely interesting. <i>So how much is $700-billion? According to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, a stack of $100s roughly 5 feet tall is equal to $1-million. So a stack of $700-billion in $100s would be 3.5-million-feet tall, or 663 miles.</i> Off topic. but extremely interesting.

So how much is $700-billion?

According to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, a stack of $100s roughly 5 feet tall is equal to $1-million. So a stack of $700-billion in $100s would be 3.5-million-feet tall, or 663 miles.

]]> By: joanr16 http://www.mahablog.com/2008/09/28/forests-and-trees-and-gimmicks/comment-page-1/#comment-547881 joanr16 Mon, 29 Sep 2008 03:37:23 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/?p=2777#comment-547881 <i>Dick Cheney is going to bring the shotgun… The Alpha male thing might be a desirable quality in a colony of baboons...</i> Oh, you guys. Just stopped laughing from one, and then I had to start all over again. Now I have the hiccups! Dick Cheney is going to bring the shotgun…

The Alpha male thing might be a desirable quality in a colony of baboons…

Oh, you guys. Just stopped laughing from one, and then I had to start all over again. Now I have the hiccups!

]]> By: Swami http://www.mahablog.com/2008/09/28/forests-and-trees-and-gimmicks/comment-page-1/#comment-547880 Swami Mon, 29 Sep 2008 02:34:01 +0000 http://www.mahablog.com/?p=2777#comment-547880 Excellent point in #11, Doug. The Alpha male thing might be a desirable quality in a colony of baboons, but I think America has had enough of the stupid high testosterone mentality that's destroyed our image in the world. Clowns like Bush and McCain get off on things like shock and awe, while for people with a modicum of reason see it as shock and disbelief...at the utter stupidity of the mindset For me it's sickening to see a mentality that fit well in medieval Europe being used in our current political mentality. A 13th century barbarian swinging a mace and smashing heads without remorse might qualify for leadership then, but in the 21th century brains and tact are much more desireable. Excellent point in #11, Doug. The Alpha male thing might be a desirable quality in a colony of baboons, but I think America has had enough of the stupid high testosterone mentality that’s destroyed our image in the world. Clowns like Bush and McCain get off on things like shock and awe, while for people with a modicum of reason see it as shock and disbelief…at the utter stupidity of the mindset

For me it’s sickening to see a mentality that fit well in medieval Europe being used in our current political mentality. A 13th century barbarian swinging a mace and smashing heads without remorse might qualify for leadership then, but in the 21th century brains and tact are much more desireable.

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