(no subject)
Long AIM talk with a buddy of mine I felt vaguely like saving. Read if you want. It's fun.
Not BAMF: I love the Colbert Report. :-)
Not BAMF: It should be on all the time.
coolhandtim44: You can have that. I don't watch it much, but have seen clips.
Not BAMF: It's hilarious. He's a genius.
coolhandtim44: A leftist, yes. He has made me laugh on occasion, I will admit.
coolhandtim44: I thought his skit with John Stewart at the Emmy's (I think) was weak, however.
Not BAMF: The one they did this year? I have not seen it.
coolhandtim44: A few days ago, I think.
Not BAMF: I loved what they did last year, giving Gervais' award to Steve Carrell.
coolhandtim44: Well, it was good because Carrell was involved...that's what I say
coolhandtim44: lol
Not BAMF: Well, to be fair, the difference between the Right and the Left is the ability to tell a joke. :-P
coolhandtim44: and the ability to take one as well :-P . Liberals are only tolerant when it comes to their own beliefs.
Not BAMF: They're both full of hypocrites. Meh.
coolhandtim44: I would acknowledge that there are hypocrites on both sides, yes. We've all been hypocritical at times.
Not BAMF: I was having fun being vaguely indifferent to this election and letting it essentially be a coin flip between a guy I have zero respect for as a human being and a guy I didn't really agree with on too much.
coolhandtim44: Which one do you have zero respect for?
Not BAMF: McCain.
Not BAMF: The guy who IS the reason I am a registered Republican.
coolhandtim44: Why no respect?
Not BAMF: And I watched him sell out everything he ever believed in the last 6 years just to get where he is. I got sick of him starting in 02 and 03, and it's just been a slide since then.
Not BAMF: And Obama...I don't know. I just don't care about most of his stances.
Not BAMF: I knew I was going to end up voting for Obama anyway because I was spending WAY too much time defending him against everyone and their "HE'S A MUSLIM", "HE WON'T SALUTE THE FLAG!", "HE WANTS TO CHANGE THE NATIONAL ANTHEM!", "HE'S A TERRORIST" crap.
Not BAMF: I don't mind attacking peoples' policies, but Obama was getting slung crap that no white candidate has ever had to face, so I was taking offense to it.
coolhandtim44: I respect any man who is willing to endure torture for the sake of a greater cause. What McCain went through, by its own merits, is undeniably respectable.
coolhandtim44: I'm not gung ho (sp?) over his social beliefs, but that impresses me.
Not BAMF: Like I said...I used to LOVE McCain. I chose my party identification BECAUSE of McCain.
Not BAMF: But he's not the guy he was when he inspired me.
coolhandtim44: About to change focus of conversation. Do you think that Obama plays the race card at all?
Not BAMF: I haven't seen him. It's like the big silent thing in this election. It's why I did not want the Dems to nominate him. A black guy with a funny name will not win a national election in this country. It won't happen. Period. This is AMERICA. Black guy, funny name? NO CHANCE.
coolhandtim44: As when he mentioned about himself that "They'll say, he doesn't look like the other presidents...and by the way...he's black." Not once have I looked at Obama and derided him for his color. At the same time, I see no inherent reason to vote for a man other than on principles that one believes in.
Not BAMF: And Barack is smart to not challenge that. It's true, and it's going to cost him the election. But he isn't talking about it.
Not BAMF: He did say that.
Not BAMF: One time, yes.
Not BAMF: And it was dumb to say.
Not BAMF: True.
Not BAMF: But dumb.
Not BAMF: But he hasn't made it a focal point of his speeches, thankfully.
coolhandtim44: At least you acknowledge that. And no, since then, I have heard very little of that tone.
coolhandtim44: Which is good.
Not BAMF: I don't know what Barack can realy do? Like I said...I could be cynical, but there is no way right now in America he can win an election.
Not BAMF: Maybe in 20 years.
Not BAMF: He needs to be white. :-P
Not BAMF: I was supporting John Edwards.
Not BAMF: That would have turned out...poorly.
Not BAMF: Stupid John Edwards.
Not BAMF: Why did he end up having to be such a dick?
coolhandtim44: His personal decision was poor, but men fail on occasion.
coolhandtim44: The problem was that he didn't seem all that repentant after the cheating scandal went public.
coolhandtim44: Swallow your pride, man. But, in my heart of hearts, I have forgiven him. Anyone can fail at any time.
Not BAMF: You don't think? I saw his interview, he seemed about as contrite as could be expected. He wasn't bawling over it, but I thought he seemed apologetic.
Not BAMF: I don't know how sorry any of them actually ARE ever.
Not BAMF: Not much, I assume.
coolhandtim44: Well, do you believe as I do, that there are some good politicians out there? Ones, who for the most part, are looking out for the people, not just self-interests?
Not BAMF: Maybe up until recently.
Not BAMF: But when I saw our government start falling all over itself to bail out a few billionaires who gambled their money and fail, I lost a lot of faith. We can't feed our hungry. We can't provide health care. We can't subsidize a parent to raise children. We can't provide a college education.
coolhandtim44: I still believe that there are some self-less ones and there always will be a good few. I am not naive to think that many are not corrupt, either, though.
Not BAMF: But BY GOD, we have to help the billionaires.
Not BAMF: Both parties.
Not BAMF: I was sickened.
Not BAMF: $900 billion worth of sickened.
Not BAMF: I'm voting against every incumbent in November because of that.
Not BAMF: Sorry John Murtha. I voted for you before. Not this time.
coolhandtim44: That is questionable. Though, I don't think government run programs are the answer (i.e. health care, schools, etc). Look at the mess Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac went through. Governments are good at protecting their people, that should be it's major function.
coolhandtim44: I am against the bailout
Not BAMF: The bailout is ridiculous. And it proves what I always feared.
Not BAMF: Every politician in Washington is in the pocket of the rich.
coolhandtim44: With a true free-market system, perhaps they should be on their own, even when such a large company fails.
Not BAMF: We can't cry "free market free market socialism OH GNOES!" and then say "We have to save the billionaires who were retarded enough to deal loans they had no way of collecting".
Not BAMF: I was typing that before you said that, yes. :-)
coolhandtim44: Ultimately, too, some responsibility should be on borrowers who do not do ANY homework before applying for loans they cannot afford.
Not BAMF: Well, yes.
Not BAMF: Absolutely.
Not BAMF: That's true.
Not BAMF: If you make $20-$30K a year.
coolhandtim44: My wife and I did a lot of research before buying and knew our budget.
Not BAMF: And some guy says "I can get you into this $750k home".
Not BAMF: You need to figure out that that won't work.
Not BAMF: But it boils down to the banks OFFERING those loans.
coolhandtim44: That was a major issue.
Not BAMF: They were the ones that thought they had this big plan to milk as much money as possible.
Not BAMF: And they came up craps.
Not BAMF: And now everyone loses.
Not BAMF: Except them!
Not BAMF: They're getting saved. But the idiots are still out of their house, and now their taxes are paying to save the bank, too.
Not BAMF: But, yeah, the "homeowners" were very insolent in all this, too.
coolhandtim44: As I understand it, many in government said that they had to offer the loans based on items other than typical qualifying measurements (i.e. income, existing debt) such as racial minority or being poor.
Not BAMF: Very poor decision making skills.
coolhandtim44: They basically had to give folks bad loans.
coolhandtim44: But...
coolhandtim44: they are not guilt free.
coolhandtim44: They did offer them, no matter the circumstances.
Not BAMF: That's the first I've heard of that, to be honest. But this one of the things I keep TRYING to research, and after a few minutes my brain goes "economics, no! can't compute!" and goes off to read the funnies.
Not BAMF: Social issues and politcians and law...we got that covered.
Not BAMF: I try to research economics, and my brain goes "Nope, game over."
Not BAMF: I try!
Not BAMF: But usually only partway successfully.
coolhandtim44: Apparently, McCain was against saving Freddie and Fannie back a few years ago and Greenspan warned against not fixing the problem in 2005. However, many chose to bail them out and they then went on to buy these bad loans.
coolhandtim44: I think that's right.
Not BAMF: Whoever gets in next is screwed, really.
Not BAMF: Unless McCain or Obama ends up being a secret supergenius, they're boned.
Not BAMF: Because there's way too much shit going on in the country.
coolhandtim44: Well, every new president inherets some ills from the prior administration and/or Congress.
coolhandtim44: That's a fact.
Not BAMF: I don't know about problems like this, though.
Not BAMF: This is just...kerflufty.
coolhandtim44: It is unfortunate.
Not BAMF: Like I said...it's everyone's fault.
Not BAMF: The Dems in Congress.
Not BAMF: Bush.
Not BAMF: The banks.
Not BAMF: No one deserves all the blame.
coolhandtim44: Thankfully, we're America, and we'll move past this, not without some pains, though.
Not BAMF: but it's a big mess for everyone who gets in in '09
coolhandtim44: Sure. It will demand action.
coolhandtim44: Have you been watching much in the way of political tv this time around?
Not BAMF: God no.
Not BAMF: I don't watch those idiots.
Not BAMF: I read.
Not BAMF: i don't watch any news.
Not BAMF: It's all a bunch of prima donna idiots.
Not BAMF: I'll read papers and FactCheck.org and weeklies.
coolhandtim44: I see.
coolhandtim44: Which papers?
Not BAMF: But I won't become a part of the Yelling IdiotBox HappyFun Time.
Not BAMF: USAToday. Trib. Post-Gazette.
Not BAMF: I like the USAToday. It's so coloful.
Not BAMF: :-P
Not BAMF: J/K
coolhandtim44: Ha. Well, Trib is more right-leaning and the Gazette clearly left, so at least you get balance.
Not BAMF: Yeah, well.
Not BAMF: Same as the TV IdiotBox Channels.
Not BAMF: I don't read the Op-Eds in either.
Not BAMF: Just toxic hatred.
Not BAMF: Latahz for that.
coolhandtim44: I watch Foxnews. I think they do the best of all the networks at having people from both sides on, despite what the overall network opinion is. I enjoy the tv medium, though, as I'm more visual in nature and like to see people's expressions when they are delivering their "message."
coolhandtim44: I'm conservative, but tolerance is hearing both sides.
Not BAMF: I obviously think Fox News is a joke.
Not BAMF: Just like MSNBC was a joke this year when they turned into Leftward Fox News.
Not BAMF: And CNN is just glitz.
Not BAMF: And they don't cover news.
Not BAMF: What's going on in Sudan? How was Olympic prestige affected China's relations with Tibet? How's Africa ever doing?
Not BAMF: WHO CARES. Barack Obama said something about a pig with lipstick. OMG 24 HOUR COVERAGE
coolhandtim44: I agree there is too much coverage given to the campaigns
Not BAMF: I seriously want to hit them all. The story to those networks is never THE NEWS. The story is how
they cover it. They make the news about THEMSELVES.
Not BAMF: The media's job is not to talk about the media.
Not BAMF: But they're in love with it.
Not BAMF: Let's not talk about WHAT the politician said.
Not BAMF: Let's talk about what we THINK ABOUT what they said in soundbite snippets.
coolhandtim44: Of course, most people would find it to be dry if they went verbatim all the time and straight reported, and likely would go out of business quickly.
Not BAMF: At least they'd be doing their job, though.
coolhandtim44: We are fact-driven, so we'd like it.
Not BAMF: And really....REALLY?
Not BAMF: NO NEWS is better than THEIR news.
Not BAMF: And I'll go on record saying that.
Not BAMF: I'd rather NOT see what's going on than get spin and yelling and insults and lies and pretzel-twistings of facts and quotes.
coolhandtim44: All mediums go through that, though. I've read the papers, occasionally, and we both know it's the same stuff.
Not BAMF: Because I'd rather the people who WANT to know things go out and find it than for the people who don't really care to be given misinformation.
coolhandtim44: It's just your preferred medium.
Not BAMF: It's not NEARLY as bad. It fluffs a bit, but it's not nearly as bad as the 24 Hours.
Not BAMF: It's not perfect.
Not BAMF: I won't say it is, obviously.
coolhandtim44: Well, you can put it down when you want and not be tempted to turn it back on at a moment's notice.
coolhandtim44: You have to admit, though...the simple fact that Fox has a show hosted by a liberal (Colmes) and a conservative (Hannity) and regularly have both sides on (i.e. Ferraro & Rove) is better than a bunch of one side getting together, like Olbermann and his guests.
coolhandtim44: That guy simply loves to attack any conservative with anything he finds, factual or not.
Not BAMF: I love how conservatives love to trot out Alan Colmes as some bastion of Fox fairness.
Not BAMF: A) Alan Colmes has all the political competency of a Down Syndrome patient.
Not BAMF: :-P
Not BAMF: He's on Fox TO LOOK STUPID.
Not BAMF: And he does a great job.
coolhandtim44: He is a liberal, clearly, though. Not a "strong" one at that, but he is one.
Not BAMF: And B) He's a lifelong moderate.
Not BAMF: He always described himself as a moderare before getting his job on Fox.
coolhandtim44: Pro-choice at all costs I would not consider moderate, though.
coolhandtim44: against the war.
Not BAMF: Hell, I'm Pro-Life even in the case of rape.
Not BAMF: But I'm not a conservative.
coolhandtim44: Yes!
coolhandtim44: :-)
Not BAMF: I'm for making drug crimes stiffer and harsher.
coolhandtim44: Amen
Not BAMF: but I am still a liberal.
coolhandtim44: See, you have some conservative views.
Not BAMF: A few issues does not a person make.
Not BAMF: Oh, I know.
Not BAMF: I have, I guess, "chosen my side". I mean, hell, I'm also a socialist. :-P
Not BAMF: But I'm not stringent, nor will I ever be.
Not BAMF: I was mad as hell that "my people" fought so hard to have Terry Sciavo killed.
coolhandtim44: That was terrible.
Not BAMF: But in the end, I'm not going to start voting for Pat Robertson.
Not BAMF: He's fucking looney tunes.
coolhandtim44: Well, can't fault you there. I'm a Christian and he often makes outrages claims representative of my Christ that perhaps he should not.
Not BAMF: I get incensed at the direction Christianity is taking in this country.
coolhandtim44: There was a time I respected him a great deal, but I think he's quite senile.
coolhandtim44: How so?
Not BAMF: I get accused of being an atheist so often when I'm not.
Not BAMF: Because I really hate "Christianity".
coolhandtim44: What do you hate about it?
coolhandtim44: Or do you hate the way it's executed?
Not BAMF: Christianity nowadays is just becoming a status symbol. Something people say, but don't think about. Don't act like.
Not BAMF: Not the FAITH.
Not BAMF: The religion.
Not BAMF: I like the FAITH.
Not BAMF: I love the MESSAGE.
Not BAMF: I hate the RELIGION.
coolhandtim44: Yes. I try to use how Christ lived as my model. Have faith in God's promises to me as a believer and perhaps most importantly, ACT out what I profess.
coolhandtim44: not just lip service.
Not BAMF: I don't think it should be used as a politcal tool by either side.
coolhandtim44: and I fail on occasion, but that's why it's a message of redemption.
Not BAMF: Don't tell your people to vote one way or the other, church guy.
Not BAMF: You are no more qualified to do that than you are to fix the engine in my car.
Not BAMF: GTFO.
Not BAMF: Your job is to instill faith.
Not BAMF: Fear-driven Christianity. I hate it.
Not BAMF: OMG TEH GAYZ!
Not BAMF: Who cares? They aren't hurting you. They aren't impacting your lives.
coolhandtim44: I do not agree with homosexuality, think it's immoral, but you know what...I love them all the same. I believe it's a choice, but to hate the person is abhorred by God.
coolhandtim44: and no one ever won someone to Christ by saying how much they hated them!
coolhandtim44: lol
Not BAMF: Seriously.
Not BAMF: And the other thing I hate is Christ As A Marketing Tool.
Not BAMF: Joel Osteen. James Dobson. Pat Robertson.
Not BAMF: How many bajillions of dollars have they made off of Jesus.
coolhandtim44: I agree with some of those guys views on SOME occasions, but they are men.
Not BAMF: How can you have a church with TENS OF THOUSANDS of parishioners.
Not BAMF: I can't spell that.
Not BAMF: You can't know your people!
coolhandtim44: It's difficult.
Not BAMF: And if you can't know them, how can you help them?
Not BAMF: By talking on TV
Not BAMF: Or having them BUY YOUR BOOK.
coolhandtim44: I don't like Osteen's prosperity gospel. Think it's empty.
Not BAMF: Jesus wants you to be reach. And by YOU I mean ME.
Not BAMF: rich*
coolhandtim44: So, then, when the person isn't "blessed" with that Mercedes they think they've been cursed for their unfaithfulness. It is a sad state of affairs.
coolhandtim44: My wife grew up in a spiritually abusive church and I have no tolerance for a fear message or name it-claim it.
Not BAMF: Well when Ted Haggard is building a new wing on his church, yet people in his city live below the poverty line, something is wrong.
Not BAMF: Besides Ted Haggard banging other men.
Not BAMF: Which AGAIN...who cares?
Not BAMF: If we didn't crucify being gay in this country, that'd not even be an issue.
coolhandtim44: Well, I wouldn't have a person who is going directly against what God describes as immoral behavior (i.e. drunkard, embezzler) a church leader. I would not hate the person, just the act itself.
coolhandtim44: But many get wrapped up in hating the person. You can love the person but not encourage the behavior.
Not BAMF: Everyone is flawed. Period. Every single person. That's the point.
coolhandtim44: That is true.
Not BAMF: We're not perfect. We're people.
coolhandtim44: That's why we need a Savior, quite frankly.
Not BAMF: Also, I don't think being gay is a flaw. But we could go round and round on that forever.
Not BAMF: You'll never convince me, I'll never convince you. Game over.
Not BAMF: Heh.
Not BAMF: everything just died.
Not BAMF: I'LL PUT AN END TO THIS.
Not BAMF: :-)
Not BAMF: With COMPROMISE!
Not BAMF: ;-)
coolhandtim44: Well, this usually is where it gets interesting with my "athiestic" friends
coolhandtim44: lol
Not BAMF: See?
Not BAMF: I'm not an atheist.
Not BAMF: But that always happens to me.
coolhandtim44: I know...that's why I put it in quotes
coolhandtim44: Only God knows the heart. That's in Scripture.
coolhandtim44: So, I could not label you something unless you directly said that's what you were.
Not BAMF: Terrific.
Not BAMF: I am terrific.
coolhandtim44: It would be presumptuous.
coolhandtim44: Yes, quite!
Not BAMF: No, I'm pretty sure I am.
coolhandtim44: Okay, Mr. Hubris.
coolhandtim44: lol
Not BAMF: I love the Colbert Report. :-)
Not BAMF: It should be on all the time.
coolhandtim44: You can have that. I don't watch it much, but have seen clips.
Not BAMF: It's hilarious. He's a genius.
coolhandtim44: A leftist, yes. He has made me laugh on occasion, I will admit.
coolhandtim44: I thought his skit with John Stewart at the Emmy's (I think) was weak, however.
Not BAMF: The one they did this year? I have not seen it.
coolhandtim44: A few days ago, I think.
Not BAMF: I loved what they did last year, giving Gervais' award to Steve Carrell.
coolhandtim44: Well, it was good because Carrell was involved...that's what I say
coolhandtim44: lol
Not BAMF: Well, to be fair, the difference between the Right and the Left is the ability to tell a joke. :-P
coolhandtim44: and the ability to take one as well :-P . Liberals are only tolerant when it comes to their own beliefs.
Not BAMF: They're both full of hypocrites. Meh.
coolhandtim44: I would acknowledge that there are hypocrites on both sides, yes. We've all been hypocritical at times.
Not BAMF: I was having fun being vaguely indifferent to this election and letting it essentially be a coin flip between a guy I have zero respect for as a human being and a guy I didn't really agree with on too much.
coolhandtim44: Which one do you have zero respect for?
Not BAMF: McCain.
Not BAMF: The guy who IS the reason I am a registered Republican.
coolhandtim44: Why no respect?
Not BAMF: And I watched him sell out everything he ever believed in the last 6 years just to get where he is. I got sick of him starting in 02 and 03, and it's just been a slide since then.
Not BAMF: And Obama...I don't know. I just don't care about most of his stances.
Not BAMF: I knew I was going to end up voting for Obama anyway because I was spending WAY too much time defending him against everyone and their "HE'S A MUSLIM", "HE WON'T SALUTE THE FLAG!", "HE WANTS TO CHANGE THE NATIONAL ANTHEM!", "HE'S A TERRORIST" crap.
Not BAMF: I don't mind attacking peoples' policies, but Obama was getting slung crap that no white candidate has ever had to face, so I was taking offense to it.
coolhandtim44: I respect any man who is willing to endure torture for the sake of a greater cause. What McCain went through, by its own merits, is undeniably respectable.
coolhandtim44: I'm not gung ho (sp?) over his social beliefs, but that impresses me.
Not BAMF: Like I said...I used to LOVE McCain. I chose my party identification BECAUSE of McCain.
Not BAMF: But he's not the guy he was when he inspired me.
coolhandtim44: About to change focus of conversation. Do you think that Obama plays the race card at all?
Not BAMF: I haven't seen him. It's like the big silent thing in this election. It's why I did not want the Dems to nominate him. A black guy with a funny name will not win a national election in this country. It won't happen. Period. This is AMERICA. Black guy, funny name? NO CHANCE.
coolhandtim44: As when he mentioned about himself that "They'll say, he doesn't look like the other presidents...and by the way...he's black." Not once have I looked at Obama and derided him for his color. At the same time, I see no inherent reason to vote for a man other than on principles that one believes in.
Not BAMF: And Barack is smart to not challenge that. It's true, and it's going to cost him the election. But he isn't talking about it.
Not BAMF: He did say that.
Not BAMF: One time, yes.
Not BAMF: And it was dumb to say.
Not BAMF: True.
Not BAMF: But dumb.
Not BAMF: But he hasn't made it a focal point of his speeches, thankfully.
coolhandtim44: At least you acknowledge that. And no, since then, I have heard very little of that tone.
coolhandtim44: Which is good.
Not BAMF: I don't know what Barack can realy do? Like I said...I could be cynical, but there is no way right now in America he can win an election.
Not BAMF: Maybe in 20 years.
Not BAMF: He needs to be white. :-P
Not BAMF: I was supporting John Edwards.
Not BAMF: That would have turned out...poorly.
Not BAMF: Stupid John Edwards.
Not BAMF: Why did he end up having to be such a dick?
coolhandtim44: His personal decision was poor, but men fail on occasion.
coolhandtim44: The problem was that he didn't seem all that repentant after the cheating scandal went public.
coolhandtim44: Swallow your pride, man. But, in my heart of hearts, I have forgiven him. Anyone can fail at any time.
Not BAMF: You don't think? I saw his interview, he seemed about as contrite as could be expected. He wasn't bawling over it, but I thought he seemed apologetic.
Not BAMF: I don't know how sorry any of them actually ARE ever.
Not BAMF: Not much, I assume.
coolhandtim44: Well, do you believe as I do, that there are some good politicians out there? Ones, who for the most part, are looking out for the people, not just self-interests?
Not BAMF: Maybe up until recently.
Not BAMF: But when I saw our government start falling all over itself to bail out a few billionaires who gambled their money and fail, I lost a lot of faith. We can't feed our hungry. We can't provide health care. We can't subsidize a parent to raise children. We can't provide a college education.
coolhandtim44: I still believe that there are some self-less ones and there always will be a good few. I am not naive to think that many are not corrupt, either, though.
Not BAMF: But BY GOD, we have to help the billionaires.
Not BAMF: Both parties.
Not BAMF: I was sickened.
Not BAMF: $900 billion worth of sickened.
Not BAMF: I'm voting against every incumbent in November because of that.
Not BAMF: Sorry John Murtha. I voted for you before. Not this time.
coolhandtim44: That is questionable. Though, I don't think government run programs are the answer (i.e. health care, schools, etc). Look at the mess Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac went through. Governments are good at protecting their people, that should be it's major function.
coolhandtim44: I am against the bailout
Not BAMF: The bailout is ridiculous. And it proves what I always feared.
Not BAMF: Every politician in Washington is in the pocket of the rich.
coolhandtim44: With a true free-market system, perhaps they should be on their own, even when such a large company fails.
Not BAMF: We can't cry "free market free market socialism OH GNOES!" and then say "We have to save the billionaires who were retarded enough to deal loans they had no way of collecting".
Not BAMF: I was typing that before you said that, yes. :-)
coolhandtim44: Ultimately, too, some responsibility should be on borrowers who do not do ANY homework before applying for loans they cannot afford.
Not BAMF: Well, yes.
Not BAMF: Absolutely.
Not BAMF: That's true.
Not BAMF: If you make $20-$30K a year.
coolhandtim44: My wife and I did a lot of research before buying and knew our budget.
Not BAMF: And some guy says "I can get you into this $750k home".
Not BAMF: You need to figure out that that won't work.
Not BAMF: But it boils down to the banks OFFERING those loans.
coolhandtim44: That was a major issue.
Not BAMF: They were the ones that thought they had this big plan to milk as much money as possible.
Not BAMF: And they came up craps.
Not BAMF: And now everyone loses.
Not BAMF: Except them!
Not BAMF: They're getting saved. But the idiots are still out of their house, and now their taxes are paying to save the bank, too.
Not BAMF: But, yeah, the "homeowners" were very insolent in all this, too.
coolhandtim44: As I understand it, many in government said that they had to offer the loans based on items other than typical qualifying measurements (i.e. income, existing debt) such as racial minority or being poor.
Not BAMF: Very poor decision making skills.
coolhandtim44: They basically had to give folks bad loans.
coolhandtim44: But...
coolhandtim44: they are not guilt free.
coolhandtim44: They did offer them, no matter the circumstances.
Not BAMF: That's the first I've heard of that, to be honest. But this one of the things I keep TRYING to research, and after a few minutes my brain goes "economics, no! can't compute!" and goes off to read the funnies.
Not BAMF: Social issues and politcians and law...we got that covered.
Not BAMF: I try to research economics, and my brain goes "Nope, game over."
Not BAMF: I try!
Not BAMF: But usually only partway successfully.
coolhandtim44: Apparently, McCain was against saving Freddie and Fannie back a few years ago and Greenspan warned against not fixing the problem in 2005. However, many chose to bail them out and they then went on to buy these bad loans.
coolhandtim44: I think that's right.
Not BAMF: Whoever gets in next is screwed, really.
Not BAMF: Unless McCain or Obama ends up being a secret supergenius, they're boned.
Not BAMF: Because there's way too much shit going on in the country.
coolhandtim44: Well, every new president inherets some ills from the prior administration and/or Congress.
coolhandtim44: That's a fact.
Not BAMF: I don't know about problems like this, though.
Not BAMF: This is just...kerflufty.
coolhandtim44: It is unfortunate.
Not BAMF: Like I said...it's everyone's fault.
Not BAMF: The Dems in Congress.
Not BAMF: Bush.
Not BAMF: The banks.
Not BAMF: No one deserves all the blame.
coolhandtim44: Thankfully, we're America, and we'll move past this, not without some pains, though.
Not BAMF: but it's a big mess for everyone who gets in in '09
coolhandtim44: Sure. It will demand action.
coolhandtim44: Have you been watching much in the way of political tv this time around?
Not BAMF: God no.
Not BAMF: I don't watch those idiots.
Not BAMF: I read.
Not BAMF: i don't watch any news.
Not BAMF: It's all a bunch of prima donna idiots.
Not BAMF: I'll read papers and FactCheck.org and weeklies.
coolhandtim44: I see.
coolhandtim44: Which papers?
Not BAMF: But I won't become a part of the Yelling IdiotBox HappyFun Time.
Not BAMF: USAToday. Trib. Post-Gazette.
Not BAMF: I like the USAToday. It's so coloful.
Not BAMF: :-P
Not BAMF: J/K
coolhandtim44: Ha. Well, Trib is more right-leaning and the Gazette clearly left, so at least you get balance.
Not BAMF: Yeah, well.
Not BAMF: Same as the TV IdiotBox Channels.
Not BAMF: I don't read the Op-Eds in either.
Not BAMF: Just toxic hatred.
Not BAMF: Latahz for that.
coolhandtim44: I watch Foxnews. I think they do the best of all the networks at having people from both sides on, despite what the overall network opinion is. I enjoy the tv medium, though, as I'm more visual in nature and like to see people's expressions when they are delivering their "message."
coolhandtim44: I'm conservative, but tolerance is hearing both sides.
Not BAMF: I obviously think Fox News is a joke.
Not BAMF: Just like MSNBC was a joke this year when they turned into Leftward Fox News.
Not BAMF: And CNN is just glitz.
Not BAMF: And they don't cover news.
Not BAMF: What's going on in Sudan? How was Olympic prestige affected China's relations with Tibet? How's Africa ever doing?
Not BAMF: WHO CARES. Barack Obama said something about a pig with lipstick. OMG 24 HOUR COVERAGE
coolhandtim44: I agree there is too much coverage given to the campaigns
Not BAMF: I seriously want to hit them all. The story to those networks is never THE NEWS. The story is how
they cover it. They make the news about THEMSELVES.
Not BAMF: The media's job is not to talk about the media.
Not BAMF: But they're in love with it.
Not BAMF: Let's not talk about WHAT the politician said.
Not BAMF: Let's talk about what we THINK ABOUT what they said in soundbite snippets.
coolhandtim44: Of course, most people would find it to be dry if they went verbatim all the time and straight reported, and likely would go out of business quickly.
Not BAMF: At least they'd be doing their job, though.
coolhandtim44: We are fact-driven, so we'd like it.
Not BAMF: And really....REALLY?
Not BAMF: NO NEWS is better than THEIR news.
Not BAMF: And I'll go on record saying that.
Not BAMF: I'd rather NOT see what's going on than get spin and yelling and insults and lies and pretzel-twistings of facts and quotes.
coolhandtim44: All mediums go through that, though. I've read the papers, occasionally, and we both know it's the same stuff.
Not BAMF: Because I'd rather the people who WANT to know things go out and find it than for the people who don't really care to be given misinformation.
coolhandtim44: It's just your preferred medium.
Not BAMF: It's not NEARLY as bad. It fluffs a bit, but it's not nearly as bad as the 24 Hours.
Not BAMF: It's not perfect.
Not BAMF: I won't say it is, obviously.
coolhandtim44: Well, you can put it down when you want and not be tempted to turn it back on at a moment's notice.
coolhandtim44: You have to admit, though...the simple fact that Fox has a show hosted by a liberal (Colmes) and a conservative (Hannity) and regularly have both sides on (i.e. Ferraro & Rove) is better than a bunch of one side getting together, like Olbermann and his guests.
coolhandtim44: That guy simply loves to attack any conservative with anything he finds, factual or not.
Not BAMF: I love how conservatives love to trot out Alan Colmes as some bastion of Fox fairness.
Not BAMF: A) Alan Colmes has all the political competency of a Down Syndrome patient.
Not BAMF: :-P
Not BAMF: He's on Fox TO LOOK STUPID.
Not BAMF: And he does a great job.
coolhandtim44: He is a liberal, clearly, though. Not a "strong" one at that, but he is one.
Not BAMF: And B) He's a lifelong moderate.
Not BAMF: He always described himself as a moderare before getting his job on Fox.
coolhandtim44: Pro-choice at all costs I would not consider moderate, though.
coolhandtim44: against the war.
Not BAMF: Hell, I'm Pro-Life even in the case of rape.
Not BAMF: But I'm not a conservative.
coolhandtim44: Yes!
coolhandtim44: :-)
Not BAMF: I'm for making drug crimes stiffer and harsher.
coolhandtim44: Amen
Not BAMF: but I am still a liberal.
coolhandtim44: See, you have some conservative views.
Not BAMF: A few issues does not a person make.
Not BAMF: Oh, I know.
Not BAMF: I have, I guess, "chosen my side". I mean, hell, I'm also a socialist. :-P
Not BAMF: But I'm not stringent, nor will I ever be.
Not BAMF: I was mad as hell that "my people" fought so hard to have Terry Sciavo killed.
coolhandtim44: That was terrible.
Not BAMF: But in the end, I'm not going to start voting for Pat Robertson.
Not BAMF: He's fucking looney tunes.
coolhandtim44: Well, can't fault you there. I'm a Christian and he often makes outrages claims representative of my Christ that perhaps he should not.
Not BAMF: I get incensed at the direction Christianity is taking in this country.
coolhandtim44: There was a time I respected him a great deal, but I think he's quite senile.
coolhandtim44: How so?
Not BAMF: I get accused of being an atheist so often when I'm not.
Not BAMF: Because I really hate "Christianity".
coolhandtim44: What do you hate about it?
coolhandtim44: Or do you hate the way it's executed?
Not BAMF: Christianity nowadays is just becoming a status symbol. Something people say, but don't think about. Don't act like.
Not BAMF: Not the FAITH.
Not BAMF: The religion.
Not BAMF: I like the FAITH.
Not BAMF: I love the MESSAGE.
Not BAMF: I hate the RELIGION.
coolhandtim44: Yes. I try to use how Christ lived as my model. Have faith in God's promises to me as a believer and perhaps most importantly, ACT out what I profess.
coolhandtim44: not just lip service.
Not BAMF: I don't think it should be used as a politcal tool by either side.
coolhandtim44: and I fail on occasion, but that's why it's a message of redemption.
Not BAMF: Don't tell your people to vote one way or the other, church guy.
Not BAMF: You are no more qualified to do that than you are to fix the engine in my car.
Not BAMF: GTFO.
Not BAMF: Your job is to instill faith.
Not BAMF: Fear-driven Christianity. I hate it.
Not BAMF: OMG TEH GAYZ!
Not BAMF: Who cares? They aren't hurting you. They aren't impacting your lives.
coolhandtim44: I do not agree with homosexuality, think it's immoral, but you know what...I love them all the same. I believe it's a choice, but to hate the person is abhorred by God.
coolhandtim44: and no one ever won someone to Christ by saying how much they hated them!
coolhandtim44: lol
Not BAMF: Seriously.
Not BAMF: And the other thing I hate is Christ As A Marketing Tool.
Not BAMF: Joel Osteen. James Dobson. Pat Robertson.
Not BAMF: How many bajillions of dollars have they made off of Jesus.
coolhandtim44: I agree with some of those guys views on SOME occasions, but they are men.
Not BAMF: How can you have a church with TENS OF THOUSANDS of parishioners.
Not BAMF: I can't spell that.
Not BAMF: You can't know your people!
coolhandtim44: It's difficult.
Not BAMF: And if you can't know them, how can you help them?
Not BAMF: By talking on TV
Not BAMF: Or having them BUY YOUR BOOK.
coolhandtim44: I don't like Osteen's prosperity gospel. Think it's empty.
Not BAMF: Jesus wants you to be reach. And by YOU I mean ME.
Not BAMF: rich*
coolhandtim44: So, then, when the person isn't "blessed" with that Mercedes they think they've been cursed for their unfaithfulness. It is a sad state of affairs.
coolhandtim44: My wife grew up in a spiritually abusive church and I have no tolerance for a fear message or name it-claim it.
Not BAMF: Well when Ted Haggard is building a new wing on his church, yet people in his city live below the poverty line, something is wrong.
Not BAMF: Besides Ted Haggard banging other men.
Not BAMF: Which AGAIN...who cares?
Not BAMF: If we didn't crucify being gay in this country, that'd not even be an issue.
coolhandtim44: Well, I wouldn't have a person who is going directly against what God describes as immoral behavior (i.e. drunkard, embezzler) a church leader. I would not hate the person, just the act itself.
coolhandtim44: But many get wrapped up in hating the person. You can love the person but not encourage the behavior.
Not BAMF: Everyone is flawed. Period. Every single person. That's the point.
coolhandtim44: That is true.
Not BAMF: We're not perfect. We're people.
coolhandtim44: That's why we need a Savior, quite frankly.
Not BAMF: Also, I don't think being gay is a flaw. But we could go round and round on that forever.
Not BAMF: You'll never convince me, I'll never convince you. Game over.
Not BAMF: Heh.
Not BAMF: everything just died.
Not BAMF: I'LL PUT AN END TO THIS.
Not BAMF: :-)
Not BAMF: With COMPROMISE!
Not BAMF: ;-)
coolhandtim44: Well, this usually is where it gets interesting with my "athiestic" friends
coolhandtim44: lol
Not BAMF: See?
Not BAMF: I'm not an atheist.
Not BAMF: But that always happens to me.
coolhandtim44: I know...that's why I put it in quotes
coolhandtim44: Only God knows the heart. That's in Scripture.
coolhandtim44: So, I could not label you something unless you directly said that's what you were.
Not BAMF: Terrific.
Not BAMF: I am terrific.
coolhandtim44: It would be presumptuous.
coolhandtim44: Yes, quite!
Not BAMF: No, I'm pretty sure I am.
coolhandtim44: Okay, Mr. Hubris.
coolhandtim44: lol