Maggie's Farm

We are a commune of inquiring, skeptical, politically centrist, capitalist, anglophile, traditionalist New England Yankee humans, humanoids, and animals with many interests beyond and above politics. Each of us has had a high-school education (or GED), but all had ADD so didn't pay attention very well, especially the dogs. Each one of us does "try my best to be just like I am," and none of us enjoys working for others, including for Maggie, from whom we receive neither a nickel nor a dime. Freedom from nags, cranks, government, do-gooders, control-freaks and idiots is all that we ask for.

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Much Sorry with Delays
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Friday, May 16. 2008

Friday evening links

Why are Obama and the Dems freaking out about Bush's Knesset speech? Because he hit a nerve, and rightly so.

Rove: The GOP must stand for something. I suggest Patriotism, Freedom, Free Markets, Opportunity and Optimism. That would offer a dramatic contrast. Related: Hillary's lessons for McCain

A $1 image stabilizer for your camera. Very cool.

This "deeply unpopular war." Villainous. Nobody would be complaining if it had been quicker, and nobody expected a proxy war by Iran.

Brazil update.

A contemporary bust of Julius Caesar found

McCain opposes the Farm Bill. Me too. It's welfare and political bribery.

If you like peanut butter, an invention long overdue.

Excellent essay by Prof Deneen re oil and politics. He is stuck on the Peak Oil thing, though. I am stuck on the pro-nuke power thing, and we will never need to worry about energy.

A positive view of No Child Left Behind

You want government medical care? Who do you trust?

Tigerhawk loves Starbucks

Obama not a hit in the Bluegrass State

Civil servants make us all tax slaves.

Copyright and the 1st Amendment. Volokh

Here's what the Polar Bear story was all about - preventing oil drilling and mineral exploration

Kerry, Redux. Pathetic.

Posted by The News Junkie in Hot News & Misc. Short Subjects at 15:29 | Comments (27) | Trackbacks (0)

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Excellent tip on the image stabilizer... simple and cheap, can't beat that.

Of course that tool reminds me of the old golfer's tip... for keeping your head down during a swing... hold one end of the string in your teeth, tie the other to your... well... you guys know to what. Also cheap and effective.
#1 Luther McLeod (Link) on 2008-05-16 16:06 (Reply)
may i go o/t for a moment, and call attention to two comments on the ''pity party'' thread?

How has the Republican party allowed such a successful president to become synonymous with failure? GWB inherited a recession and had the addition of a terrible attack on our civilian population. Largely by staying out of the way and reducing government interference, he helped the economy grow back to where it is now -- a tremendous powerhouse even in a slow time. He overthrew two terrible regimes with very low loss of life and with astoundingly few problems in the transitions to follow. If this is failure, I hope John McCain can fail like this. Obama won't fail this way.
#10 Geoff Brown on 2008-05-16 14:28 (Reply)
Thank you. The amount of ingratitude for the President's courage and wisdom on the really big issues is nauseating. Yeah Republicans, I mean you.
#10.1 Paul on 2008-05-16 14:55 (Reply)
#2 buddy larsen on 2008-05-16 16:25 (Reply)
That Kerry redux story is disgusting... what a bunch of pussified whiners. Too, I think many of the 'facts' as stated in that article to be somewhat, embellished, if you will. The only good thing is that these folks are self-identifying as someone you wouldn't want next to you in a fight.
#3 Luther McLeod (Link) on 2008-05-16 16:25 (Reply)
The last time I was in Israel was 1972 and 1973. The '73 war took me there on tasks by the Ofice of Special Projects which I worked for at the time.

I can not imagine Israel giving B Huessin O any support at all but it is politics and anything, as Buddy said this morning ,can happen. ( I wish Buddy would write more, you folks have never had the pleasure of his full measure. On another blog years ago he was a very thought provoking , informed addition ...he's holding back..we want Buddy..we want Buddy we want Buddy...)

I think we're both less verbose for mental health reason though..

Habu
yeah
you less verbose?
well, yeah.
geez are you full of poop.
Ok Possumtater, no more leftover fried pies for you ! ! !

No Habu, what I meant was that ............
#4 Habu on 2008-05-16 17:09 (Reply)
That's very kind of you, habu. I guess i have been slacking off some -- it's the short term memory -- i went to the doc for it the other day, said "i'm having trouble with short term memory." He asked "how long have you been having this trouble?" I answered, "how long have i been having WHAT trouble?"
#4.1 buddy larsen on 2008-05-16 18:54 (Reply)
MF readers and contributors are excused if they recognize this car as a Datsun 240Z - 280z since the Japanese copied this beautiful Ferrari 275 GTB body almost line by line.

This is a road car from the mid to late 1960's. It's V-12 performance was stunning. It's looks wonderful.


http://www.heritageclassics.com/ferrari/65red275gtb/ZA.jpg
#5 Habu on 2008-05-16 17:22 (Reply)
That car is a beautiful design, make no mistake. I have to say, though, as the son of a car salesman from that era, cars today are MUCH better made than they were then. Even the best old cars from that period rust and rattle. That's why, if I had the chance to buy a car like that Ferrari, I'd pass. I'm just too pragmatic. What I seek is that kind of styling combined with modern manufacturing techniques and materials. I want air bags, antilock brakes, interior sound deadening, crumple zones and crash-resistant reinforcement bars, rustproof undercarriage (and well-sealed body enclosures - especially inside doors where, in a 60's car, water WOULD get in and eat away at the structure), superior gas mileage, Onstar, computer diagnostics and early-warning, computer-machined and fitted parts, and robotic spot welding (consistent and even, meaning fewer rattles and bad surprises). Most or all of which come standard with the least expensive cars today.

They don't make 'em like the used to. Thank God.
#5.1 Mister Snitch (Link) on 2008-05-16 17:48 (Reply)
I agree entirely..These cars aren't for everyday driving. The rich folk take them out on sunny days and drive a few miles and put them back

True story:
I had just purchased my first Lotus and was headed to my favorite watering hole in Mountain View , CA, the Tar and Feather. One of these was parked out front..pristine..the guy wanted 10k which I had but I passed. That was around 1971. By 1985 this car sold for almost 3 million. Ugh.

I traded the Lotus after a few years for a new Datsun 280Z which turned out to be one of the best cars I ever owned.

But car quality today is far superior to the 1960's..amen.
#5.1.1 Habu on 2008-05-16 17:57 (Reply)
Yay, Habu. My first car was the Datsun 240Z. I've driven every one of them to this day. ...other words - I have never not had a Z.
#5.1.1.1 Meta on 2008-05-16 21:03 (Reply)
I need my Bristol 410. Need it, I say.

http://yargb.blogspot.com/2008/01/so-should-i-buy-one.html

I delude myself into thinking that since it has a Chrysler powertrain, all will be somehow fixable. Never mind all those Lucas bits. And I'm still looking. It is kind of pathetic, but I don't care.
#6 Skookumchuk (Link) on 2008-05-16 19:22 (Reply)
I would really like to have my '62 VW bug back.
#7 buddy larsen on 2008-05-16 19:51 (Reply)
How about the babe who rode shotgun? Would you want her back, too?
#7.1 Meta on 2008-05-16 21:05 (Reply)
reminds me, it weas no love machine -- no room -- and hood too curved --
:-(
#7.1.1 buddy larsen on 2008-05-16 23:27 (Reply)
Here's some food for thought. Something is up in the Persian Gulf. Look: Bush was in KSA today "to talk to the Sauds about raising oil production" (yes, they will bump it up a few yawn hundred thou bpd).

Then just this afternoon the biz shows mentioned that Treasury Sec Paulsen too is off to the mideast, May 30-June 02, to "confer privately" with heads of state of Persian Gulf oil producers, to "promote open investment".

Wait a minute. Presidential private meetings, over there, with the heads of state of our allies on the periphery of Iran?

The President first, followed in two weeks by his Treasury Secretary, to chat about what are normally staff-level issues?

I think we're fixin' to bust Iran's ass.

Bush needed to whisper in a few ears, and ask a few questions. Paulsen is following up to set the war management of the oil market.
#8 buddy larsen on 2008-05-16 20:35 (Reply)
"I think we're fixin' to bust Iran's ass."

Yeah, that's been the rumbling for a while. I think Bush's attitude at this point is pretty much that he'll just go ahead and do whatever he thinks is right. There's nothing they can do to him anymore that hasn't been done, and that's kind of liberating. But he is probably getting a lot of flack from Republican confidantes, who are afraid of ANY new initiatives he might attempt at this point. He's on his way out, they want to keep their jobs.

If a bold, aggressive move is needed, I hope he goes ahead and makes it, because after the election no one will have the nerve. Soon as these guys get elected all they think about is their re-election.
#8.1 Mister Snitch (Link) on 2008-05-16 20:46 (Reply)
From that Tigerhawk link:

"...in towns where there are a lot of European and Japanese cars with "Support Your Local Everything" bumper stickers the self-consciously hip disapprove of Starbucks in roughly the same tone they use to deny they watch television..."

Hey, HE said it. YOU linked it. I'm just the middleman.

No hitting.
#9 Mister Snitch (Link) on 2008-05-16 20:58 (Reply)
OK , I'm gonna put it in print since every time I hear it on TV I say so what...

I don't give a hoot about how many Myanmartians died over in Burma or how many Chinese died in Chineeland.

My compassion is reserved for Americans who under President Bush have had to go without shoes, eat raw horseflesh, use tree leaves to wipe with and watch TV on less than hi-def equipment. What an SOB.

We need I was a Muslim before I wasn't a Muslim but I've never been a Muslim B. Hussein O as our savior and lord protector

Only HE can part the angry water s of the ME conflict and finally kill all the apes and dog Jews ..Obama come home...
#10 Habu on 2008-05-16 22:05 (Reply)
DO NOT USE THESE LEAVE TO WIPE WITH...send them to BD who will get in the car and take them to the proper people for disposal.

http://www.marijuanaseedbanks.com/images/marijuana_wallpaper/images/big_bud_marijuana.jpg
#11 Habu on 2008-05-16 22:11 (Reply)
Look Bud, you broke the page wit your big picture!
#11.1 Jephnol (Link) on 2008-05-16 23:08 (Reply)
yep , I haven't got a handle on the size pic this will take without doing that..apologies, I'll try to keep 'em smaller for readability..I hated it when I saw that it had busted the frame...makes everything else a pain. again apologies.
H
#11.1.1 Habu on 2008-05-16 23:52 (Reply)
habu, how long have you been insane?
#11.2 buddy larsen on 2008-05-16 23:28 (Reply)
Unpredictable, not insane.

But either way being elusive isn't a bad thing as long as one knows where they are headed. Plus it makes others stay on their toes.

I believe just yesterday someone commented, perhaps you , about how nice it would be to have McCain throw a fit and keep the Iranians and others guessing as to his sanity.
#11.2.1 Habu on 2008-05-16 23:49 (Reply)
Santa,
Please teach Habu how to proofread, please.
#12 Skippy on 2008-05-16 22:13 (Reply)
McGovern: Obama Is a Second ‘Lincoln’

McGovern Loses his Mind

You can't make this stuff up and we still have five plus months to go..
#13 Habu on 2008-05-16 22:53 (Reply)
as a youth, McGovern looked at his name and thought "hey, my name is McGovern -- i can be the McGovernor -- or the McPresident!"
#14 buddy larsen on 2008-05-17 00:15 (Reply)
Being pretty lucky in the looks department, I was frequently invited to "go for a ride". Drove a 1962 Vette to 120 (scared myself silly). Couldn't stand the arrogant pig in the Ferrari, loved the 58 Vette--but, best of all and I still have a keenin for is the 58 Porsche (truck clutch). Damn I miss that car. Came through all of that with everything I started out with :-) But, sure loved those fast cars. Learned to doge the fast men that always went with them! Later got a job delivering the little trucks from dockside to dealer. Like Buddy, I came to appreciate the fact that my 1960 Beige Beetle never let me down.
#15 apple pie on 2008-05-17 01:17 (Reply)
.
The terrorist monkey can not be negotiated with. The only reason to maybe talk to Ahmadamadmonkey in say maybe Switzerland is to provoke him by debating his ideology and criticizing his hatred. Force him to say lots of stupid and insane things which would be widely publicized thus educating more people to his ideology's insanity. This, I am quite sure, Obama would never do.

Ouch, Obama and the poor little Dems were hit a little too close to home by what GW said. It's one of the best things Bush has ever said. Bravo! And he didn't even have to mention the Dhimmicrats or any body's name.

So sure, then he folded in Saudi Arabia, but what he said in Israel almost makes that OK.
.
absurd thought -
God of the Universe says
appease the appeasers

don't embarrass them
by calling them appeasers

.
absurd thought -
God of the Universe said
have a sit down with Hitler

he should have been sweet-talked
he had goodness within

.
lulu.com/uspace
.
#16 USpace (Link) on 2008-05-17 21:32 (Reply)

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