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[Particle Physicist]

In fairness (and not in anything else, because I myself find the overall hypocrisy of the people with those yellow mortarboards infuriating), if they're Catholic pro-lifers they're almost certainly against the death penalty. The Catholic Church has a long, consistent position of opposing capital punishment.

i guess the Republican's religion amalgamation has muddled things for me. i just assume religious = republican = same 'core values' . i guess i shouldnt really be doing that, but its hard not to when pretty much all republican politicians seem to be saying the same damn thing. :/

 

[DeathbyVolcano]

The instant religious=republican sentiment is a little insulting to Christian liberals like myself to be honest

Not all of us are Bible thumping

 

[Particle Physicist]

The instant religious=republican sentiment is a little insulting to Christian liberals like myself to be honest

Not all of us are Bible thumping

i know. and im sorry. its just hard to separate it sometimes since the republican party has been trying very hard to create that sentiment.

 

[DeathbyVolcano]

Oh yeah trust me, it's hard for me to find sympathy for these people. Just want to let some here know that there are some on your side, for the most part.

Maybe it's because I was raised Protestant and not Catholic *shrugs*

 

[speculawyer]

The instant religious=republican sentiment is a little insulting to Christian liberals like myself to be honest

Not all of us are Bible thumping

Yeah, I apologize too. I don't mean to criticize the entire faith, I just mean to address those christian-right leaders to seem to fill the news headlines. Sadly, that is the view of Christianity that gets seen by the Islamic world . . . just as suicide bombing fanatics make up the view of Islam in much of the western world.

If it bleeds, it leads. So quiet charitable peaceful followers of both Christianity and Islam do not make the news . . . even though they are the majority of both faiths.

Although that Pew study on torture is a bit disturbing. :-(

http://pewforum.org/docs/?DocID=156

If the evil atheist meme that so many religious leaders were even remotely true, why is it that the Christians are more pro-torture? What are they teaching in these churches?

Edit: I chalk it up to fear . . . they fear death enough to believe in an after life and they fear terrorism enough that they condone torture. With that rationalization, the religion really has nothing to do with it.

 

[mclem]

A student (R) displays her mortarboard with a symbol for an aborted fetus, next to a fellow student displaying a symbol from the Obama for President campaign, prior to the commencement address by U.S. President Barack Obama at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana May 17, 2009.

A symbol for an aborted foetus? When I first tried to parse it I came up with it being a visual pun on "missionary position", and now I can't see anything but that.

 

[Evander]

A symbol for an aborted foetus? When I first tried to parse it I came up with it being a pun on "missionary position", and now I can't see anything but that.

I figured it was the whole footprints in the sand thing.

 

[SouthernDragon]

That has to be one of the worst symbols I've seen.

If I were to see it without context, I wouldn't know what to think it is.

 

[Evander]

I dunno.

I saw Rahm talk this weekend at the GWU graduation. He told the secret origin story of his missing finger-piece. (it actually stayed attatched through the incident at Arby's, but he was a wreckless tennager and didn't take care of it, and eventually after swimming in Lake Michigan it became seriously infected, and he almost died, so they amputated.)

 

[speculawyer]

I saw Rahm talk this weekend at the GWU graduation. He told the secret origin story of his missing finger-piece. (it actually stayed attatched through the incident at Arby's, but he was a wreckless tennager and didn't take care of it, and eventually after swimming in Lake Michigan it became seriously infected, and he almost died, so they amputated.)

I prefer the myth of it being lost during combat as a member of the IDF.

 

[GhaleonEB]

From Bloomberg: Dollar Libor Drops Most in Two Months as Markets Thaw

The London interbank offered rate, or Libor, for three- month loans slid four basis points to 79 basis points today, the biggest decline since March 19, according to British Bankers’ Association data. It decreased for the past 34 days, including a drop of 11 basis points last week, the most since January.​

Anyone with a LIBOR ARM is happy right now.

And a couple of other credit indicators:

There has been improvement in the A2P2 spread. This has declined to 0.47. This is far below the record (for this cycle) of 5.86 after Thanksgiving, and only slightly above the normal spread.

This is the spread between high and low quality 30 day nonfinancial commercial paper.

Meanwhile the TED spread has decreased further over the last week, and is now at 61.97. This is the difference between the interbank rate for three month loans and the three month Treasury. The peak was 463 on Oct 10th and a normal spread is around 50 bps.

Last week, FDIC Sheila Bair said "the liquidity crisis is over for good". That might be a little optimistic (some ARS markets are still frozen), but it does appear the Fed has eased the liquidity crisis for now. The Treasury is still working on the solvency issues.

Green shoots, etc.

http://www.calculatedriskblog.com/2009/05/three-month-dollar-libor-falls-to-79.html

 

[Trurl]

The symbol is a threat. They're amassing an army of infants to march on that most odious of socialist countries, Sweden.

 

[Evander]

I prefer the myth of it being lost during combat as a member of the IDF.

He was actually a pretty good speaker, and as far as he got political, it was mostly just urging the graduates to find a way to orient their careers towards improving America; a sentiment that I imagine it's hard NOT to have when you're standing out on the National Mall, with the Capitol as a backdrop.

 

[AbortedWalrusFetus]

Maybe you guys should use the symbol as my bat-signal or something.

 

[GhaleonEB]

They should have used this one.

Edit: on a different topic: fuck yes.

President Barack Obama will announce on Tuesday plans for a new national fuel economy, or CAFE, standard for automobiles in an effort to give more certainty to car companies as they struggle for survival, industry sources told POLITICO on Monday.

The administration will bill the tailpipe-emissions announcement as historic, because it avoids a patchwork of standards and harmonizes so many stakeholders, including automakers, state governments, the Department of Transportation and the Environmental Protection Agency.

In secret conversations, the Obama administration has lined up support from many state governments and a huge array of domestic and foreign automakers, including GM, Ford, Chrysler, BMW and many more.

Top officials are flying into Washington from around the world for the White House announcement.

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican, is expected to attend, the sources said.

The Corporate Average Fuel Economy standard was established by Congress in 1975 in response to the Arab Oil embargo.

On Obama’s seventh day in office, he directed his Transportation Department to establish higher fuel efficiency standards for carmakers' 2011 model year “so that we use less oil and families have access to cleaner, more efficient cars and trucks.”

“This rule will be a down payment on a broader and sustained effort to reduce our dependence on foreign oil,” he said. “Going forward, my administration will work on a bipartisan basis in Washington and with industry partners across the country to forge a comprehensive approach that makes our economy stronger and our nation more secure.”

This announcement implements a uniform standard for a later date.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0509/22650.html

 

[gutter_trash]

we Catholics love our inquisitions.

but on a serious note, there is a difference between the authoritarian religious and the spiritual religious

on those stats, you can observe and see the % of religious who fall into line to their authoritarian masters vs those who are practice for divine spirituality

 

[Gruco]

I wonder how the results of the poll would have differed if instead of suspected terrorists, it asked about the use of torture to manufacture phony justifications for war.

 

[gcubed]

I wonder how the results of the poll would have differed if instead of suspected terrorists, it asked about the use of torture to manufacture phony justifications for war.

but that wouldnt get the answer that they want.

Its a quite piss poor survey question for a pollster to write. Its like asking if people condone violence against women, and then asking the question, "if you were to recieve $1 million to harshly infiltrate a females facial space with your fist, would you do it?" Then saying that the majority of Americans support punching a woman in the face.

 

[speculawyer]

we Catholics love our inquisitions.

Well, the poll sure makes you understand how inquisitions, witch-burnings, and other such activities happen. I mean a witch (if you believe in them) is even more powerful than a terrorist. Sadly, these things still happen around the world.

 

[Skiptastic]

Took me a while to see what was bad. All I could see was half a Pokeball with a circle on top and legs below.

 

[~Devil Trigger~]

They should have used this one.

Edit: on a different topic: fuck yes.



http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0509/22650.html

:lol

took me while

 

[NetMapel]

They should have used this one.

Edit: on a different topic: fuck yes.



http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0509/22650.html

At first, I saw a child being held by an adult, and I thought that was a pretty clever logo for "anti-abortion" as it emphasize on the parent-child relationship. Then, I noticed a white spot at the neck of the adult and I thought it was kind of weird. THEN I did some more thinking and went... oh...

 

[Macam]

At first, I saw a child being held by an adult, and I thought that was a pretty clever logo for "anti-abortion" as it emphasize on the parent-child relationship. Then, I noticed a white spot at the neck of the adult and I thought it was kind of weird. THEN I did some more thinking and went... oh...

Frankly, it just looks like a priest and an altar boy.

 

[Evander]

Frankly, it just looks like a priest and an altar boy.

which way is the altar boy facing?

 

[NetMapel]

which way is the altar boy facing?

Yeah I don't think he gets it :lol

 

[speculawyer]

which way is the altar boy facing?

Well, either direction he faces may not be good news.

 

[Arrowgigantic]

Yeah I don't think he gets it :lol

Or maybe he does.

 

[Hootie]

Well, either direction he faces may not be good news.

Dude :lol

 

[Evander]

Well, either direction he faces may not be good news.

oh, come on.

he doesn't have an anus in the back of his head, so if he's facing away, then there's nothing wrong.

the point being that his head is right at the "perfect" height, and there's nothing to suggest which way he's facing to begin with.

 

[Tamanon]

It's GAF. You may have to photoshop Pedobear's head somewhere on there to get the point across.

 

[GhaleonEB]

Just thought I'd point out that it's the actual logo for the Catholic Church's Archdiocesan Youth Commission from 1973.

And did I mention I'm delighted at the CAFE standard news? Very, very big deal and what I had hoped Obama would do.

 

[teruterubozu]

CAFEs and Tea Parties. Can America go back to beers and nuts?

 

[GoutPatrol]

oh, come on.

he doesn't have an anus in the back of his head, so if he's facing away, then there's nothing wrong.

the point being that his head is right at the "perfect" height, and there's nothing to suggest which way he's facing to begin with.

Xenomorph penis. Just plows right through the skull.

 

[speculawyer]

And did I mention I'm delighted at the CAFE standard news? Very, very big deal and what I had hoped Obama would do.

Yeah, it is good news. And I'm eager to see how Steven Chu doles out the stimulus money dedicated to battery technology and EVs.

It is a fine line to walk . . . you don't want to create some unsustainable subsidy-dependent system . . . however, you do want to create incentives & rules that will allow mass market volumes to be reached such that economic viability is possible.

Of course the trick in defining 'subsidy' and who is getting a 'subsidy' . . . . is oil getting a massive subsidy since we pay hundreds of billions to militarily protect oil rich nations and keep the oil tanker shipping lanes protected? Is giving EVs a slight economic advantage really a 'subsidy' if it is merely forcing oil-based vehicles to reflect the uncaptured costs of pollution, climate change, national security threat due to oil dependence, etc.

 

[cjdunn]

Via TPM, Bob Reich thinks Dems and the White House are caving on health care reform.

On the campaign trail, Barack Obama pushed a compromise -- a universal health plan that would include a "public insurance option" resembling Medicare, which individual members of the public and their families could choose if they wished. This Medicare-like option would at least be able to negotiate low rates and impose some discipline on private insurers.

But now the Medicare-like option is being taken off the table. Insurance and drug companies have thrown their weight around the Senate. And, sadly, the White House -- eager to get a bill enacted in 2009 rather than risk it during the mid-term election year of 2010 -- is signaling it's open to other approaches. What other approaches? One would create a public insurance plan run by multiple regional third-party administrators. In other words, the putative "public plan" would be broken into little pieces, none of which could exert much bargaining leverage on Big Pharma and Big Insurance. These pieces would also be so decentralized that the drug companies and private insurers could easily bully (or bribe) regional third-party administrators.

 

[Chrono]

Edit: I chalk it up to fear . . . they fear death enough to believe in an after life and they fear terrorism enough that they condone torture. With that rationalization, the religion really has nothing to do with it.

Nothing to do with it!? Really? :lol

 

[GhaleonEB]

Via TPM, Bob Reich thinks Dems and the White House are caving on health care reform.

Read that. He tends to be alarmist, and I haven't read anywhere that the doomsday scenarios he paints are anywhere near reality. Both the house and senate drafts have a reasonably strong public plan in place right now. The House I'm not worried about; it's the Senate that stuff gets fucked up in. So we'll see.

 

[Tamanon]

Yeah I don't get it. And the White House has flat out said that the public option is part of things still.

 

[adamsappel]

I wonder how the results of the poll would have differed if instead of suspected terrorists, it asked about the use of torture to manufacture phony justifications for war.

Or, instead of suspected terrorists, it said American soldiers.

 

[GhaleonEB]

Yeah I don't get it. And the White House has flat out said that the public option is part of things still.

My prediction: While they both offer a public plan, the House version comes out much stronger than the Senate version, and is the dominant draft for reconciliation between the two chambers. The new bill then barely passes - via budget reconciliation - in the Senate. I'm thinking 51, 52 votes.

I respect Reich but he's been far from the mark on a lot of his recent commentary.

 

[cjdunn]

Read that. He tends to be alarmist, and I haven't read anywhere that the doomsday scenarios he paints are anywhere near reality. Both the house and senate drafts have a reasonably strong public plan in place right now. The House I'm not worried about; it's the Senate that stuff gets fucked up in. So we'll see.

Ding, ding, ding. Correct.

 

[Macam]

My prediction: While they both offer a public plan, the House version comes out much stronger than the Senate version, and is the dominant draft for reconciliation between the two chambers. The new bill then barely passes - via budget reconciliation - in the Senate. I'm thinking 51, 52 votes.

I respect Reich but he's been far from the mark on a lot of his recent commentary.

I don't think so. Reich is just a proper leftie and sounds the alarms on some of the more centrist positions that Obama has been taking. From a policy perspective, I think Reich has been on point, but it ignores many of the political realities that are needed to govern, at least for the time being.

 

[mckmas8808]

Ding, ding, ding. Correct.

Depends on how you view things. I believe it's the Senate that makes things possible to past.

But you might be one of those 100% or nothing type people.

 

[Macam]

Lindsey Graham is mad (@Ron Paul)

<youmad.jpg>

 

[Tamanon]

While I agree with Senator Graham's statements about ability to win elections, his phrasing makes it seem like winning is more important than his principles. Which probably is true, but not something you want to advertise.:lol

 

[Karma Kramer]

Lindsey Graham is mad (@Ron Paul)

<youmad.jpg>

lol what a dumbass... we gonna go over there and fight them over there YEEEHA!

 

[cjdunn]

Depends on how you view things. I believe it's the Senate that makes things possible to past.

But you might be one of those 100% or nothing type people.

I know well enough how it works, but I've seen too many good bills get killed by one or two Senators for no reason other than their egos weren't stroked enough to vote for closure.

Also, there was a time not too long ago that legislation required a 51 vote majority in the Senate. Now everything needs to sail past 60.

 

[GhaleonEB]

GOP Losses Span Nearly All Demographic Groups

Only frequent churchgoers show no decline in support since 2001

There's more. But that's the essence of it: only old, deeply religious people have not shifted away from the GOP. Nurture that base, guys. Nurture it.

 

[Extollere]

I like that the biggest difference is from the college graduate, to the frequent church goer. No surprise of course.

 

[GhaleonEB]

I like that the biggest difference is from the college graduate, to the frequent church goer. No surprise of course.

And look at that "seldom/never" go to church swing. Dems are quickly becoming the party of non-believing heathens.