Free coffee today and free beer tonight!

9:40 p.m.
Stick a fork in it. It's done.
I'm calling it for Obama. :sigh:

I'll double the :sigh:
I hope all the people that wanted Obama enjoy paying the taxes that are coming while those of us who didn't want him cry.
I guess it might be better to give up our good jobs and go to work at Wal-Mart so we can be on the receiving end instead of on the paying end of the new administration.

In all seriousness I pose this as a non partisan question and would like some semblance of the same in your answer: How is it that there is such a big disconnect between prosecuting a war in two countries at an estimated cost of 12 to 16 billion dollars a month and paying for it? If McCain had won (not over yet) do you suppose he wouldn't raise taxes? Would we just continue to spend money that we don't have? So please don't take that job at Wal-Mart (unless you just want to) but please don't cry on your checkbook, cashing wet checks is slightly harder than writing bad ones.

I'm glad that you are living in a fantasy world and don't believe that taxes will rise. I on the other hand realize what a reality will be. I wouldn't mind paying if I truly believe American would become a better place but I think we all realize that it won't. All that will happen is handouts to people unwilling to carry their load will increase in those who work hard for what they have will be punished for it.

As any one who understands past American history will understand when democrats are elected working people are punished. The only ones that prosper are the politicians and those that don't want to succeed.

In all seriousness I pose this as a non partisan question and would like some semblance of the same in your answer: How is it that there is such a big disconnect between prosecuting a war in two countries at an estimated cost of 12 to 16 billion dollars a month and paying for it? If McCain had won (not over yet) do you suppose he wouldn't raise taxes? Would we just continue to spend money that we don't have?...

As a response I would ask if you think it's better to spend money protecting America's future from attacks on our soil or is it better to spend the same amount of money helping those who don't want to help themselves? I personally think it's better to protect our future and everything that Obama has said tells me he doesn't intend on protecting our future.

In all seriousness I pose this as a non partisan question and would like some semblance of the same in your answer: How is it that there is such a big disconnect between prosecuting a war in two countries at an estimated cost of 12 to 16 billion dollars a month and paying for it? If McCain had won (not over yet) do you suppose he wouldn't raise taxes? Would we just continue to spend money that we don't have?...

As a response I would ask if you think it's better to spend money protecting America's future from attacks on our soil or is it better to spend the same amount of money helping those who don't want to help themselves? I personally think it's better to protect our future and everything that Obama has said tells me he doesn't intend on protecting our future.

And respectfully, Mark,I think we can agree to disagree. Once again the great experiment of Democracy lives on and the people have spoken. My apologies to everyone for having this spill over on the main restaurant forum as I should have posted this somewhere more appropriate.

...As any one who understands past American history...

Here's a little bit of "past American history" for you:

US Budget Deficit comp.gif

Note the sharply sloping-up-to-the-right blue line during the eight years of the last Democratic administration; the graph indicates a net budget surplus during those years. In contrast note the sloping-down-to-the-right red lines that, during my lifetime of voting, have occurred during the conservative Republican administrations. In the three Republican administrations and 20 Republican-ruled years since 1980 represented on the graph, there were net budget deficits. Apparently, "fiscally" was not a modifier of "conservative" during those years.

At some point, we the electorate will have to pull our collective heads out of the sand and realize that tax cuts and continued spending increases (no matter the purpose) are not sustainable.

We also have to realize that cutting the budget instead of adding multitudes of programs like Obama proposes will help lower the debt. Maybe instead of figuring out where the government can get more money they need to figure out how to spend less and reducing the size of government, reducing the number of government programs and reducing the number of governmental regulations is a big step in that direction. Something that historically democrats have not been good at.

...reducing the number of governmental regulations...

You mean like banking regulations, right? Look where that got us. Even Greenspan is aghast.

... Something that historically democrats have not been good at...

That seems to be the conventional wisdom, Mark, but as the graph I showed you above demonstrates, it might not be true.

Honestly, Mark, a few years ago I would have been making the same arguments you are making now. But, I now have my doubts and am willing to give the new guy a chance. We'll see.

That's my last comment, good night.

you know what. I don't want to be a sore winner, but seriously, let's look at the behavior of the last presidents elect....

Even as an EXTREMELY liberal dude, what really inspired me was the reach out to the other side. Bush called his EXTREMELY narrow victory a "Mandate" while Obama was humbled and acknowledged that we need to come together. As much as many of you want to fight, I really want us to come together...I think that is a willingness in the Democratic party that is not shared, and it really bums me out.

As someone who would be ALL FOR A MORE "SOCIALIST" AGENDA, I realize this is not realistic, and I would rather be united with my republican countrymen. Just understand that I am not against the republicans on this board, but I've been extremely disheartened by the Repub elect's behavior in the recent years.

Here's what I say to all the terrified republicans who hate Barack Obama:

I want a lot of changes. What I really want in this government is not going to happen. This is because Barack Obama is a man who seriously cares about this country. He wants to bring us together. In his years in office he is going to piss me off a lot, actually, because he is seriously is going to reach out to both sides, and I think he is going to make numerous compromises that I would not approve of, but this is what we need. Calm down, understand that he is not some crazy liberal devil who is going to do as he pleases. In fact, I would normally vote for someone WAAAAAY more liberal. I voted for Obama because he is best for our country. He will work for all of us. We all win.

A post of mine on CL. Not sure if the person who posted this was white or black but either way they were ignorant.


re: White Rule is Over
Reply to: your anonymous craigslist address will appear here [?]
Date: 2008-11-05, 12:59AM EST


"The end of an age has arrived. White people no longer rule this country."

I am white and voted for Obama. Obama got an astounding 42% of white votes. Without this overwhelming support of white people he would not have been elected. Whites are still a big majority of the population and they elected Obama with that 42% of the vote. So white people still rule. White people ruled when Lincoln led a Civil war were 360,222 Union soldiers (mainly white) died in a fight to correct an injustice of black slaves and give them their freedom. The majority of white people will fight injustice and what is right. Tonight, white Americans voted for what they thought was right. This time instead of freeing slaves they gave hope to black Americans that this really is the country where all men are created equal.

Thank you and please read up on your history.

As someone who would be ALL FOR A MORE "SOCIALIST" AGENDA, I realize this is not realistic, and I would rather be united with my republican countrymen. Just understand that I am not against the republicans on this board, but I've been extremely disheartened by the Repub elect's behavior in the recent years.

If you want to live a socialist country why don't you move to one? America is not, and I pray never will be a socialist country. Socialism is a lot like being part of a union, the bad get the same benefits as the good and the good do not get rewarded appropriately.

Calm down, understand that he is not some crazy liberal devil who is going to do as he pleases. In fact, I would normally vote for someone WAAAAAY more liberal. I voted for Obama because he is best for our country. He will work for all of us. We all win.

We'll see what happens and I hope that you're correct but fear that you're not. I truly believe that the next four years we are going to see a rapid decline in race relations within the U.S. that will undo all the gains we've made in the last 50 years.

I realize this is not a political discussion forum and this will be my last comment on this subject in this forum. I hope all the "sore winners" will also realize this.

Mark, I agree pretty much 100% with what you said.

You should have seen the sore winners in my office this morning, who couldn't wait to rub it in anyone's face who would listen. I tried walking away, I tried hiding in the restroom, I tried changing the subject, to no avail, as the office is probably not the best place to discuss such subjects. She then asked me if my parents had committed suicide because Obama won. Really nice. Way to be a gracious winner.

I actually considered voting for Obama until I started hearing folks say that "if you don't vote for him, you're a racist." That pretty much decided who I was voting for.

I actually considered voting for Obama until I started hearing folks say that "if you don't vote for him, you're a racist." That pretty much decided who I was voting for.

??? You actually decided NOT to vote for him because a co-worker completley unaffiliated with the Obama campaign or the future Obama administration made an ignorant remark? With all due respect, that makes absolutely no sense. You decide who to vote for based on ignorant comments of random people?

In that case, I wish I could have said to you yesterday (and many others, if they share your sentiments) - "If you don't vote for McConnell, you suck." Would that have persuaded you to vote for Lunsford? I'll remember this reverse-psychology tactic for the next election.

Again, no disrepect intended, but I just don't understand your logic.

The United States is the only country on planet earth where John McCain could get as much as 46% of the vote. Period. Elderly Spanish Falangists, Thai monarchists and Swiss bankers ... Obamaists all.

If you find in this a reason to berate the rest of the world, I find it incredibly sad. Come what may, an Obama presidency means that we've again chosen to be a part of the world, not to stand apart while thumping our chests about our singular superiority. In the office or at the gym, the ones who constantly advertise their superiority are the ones we all avoid. Why, then, do we tolerate the same behavior on a national scale?

Smart at last ... smart at last.

Right on, Roger!

Michelle, I'd like to refer you to the last eight years. The sore winner line was a joke, but if the annoying liberals in your office are bugging you, after the last 2 presidential terms I can see why they may want to be a little over exuberant. Give them their day, and get over it. In 90 days we need to start working together.

Also- Mark R....the socialist line was in quotes for a reason. I was taking liberties with McCain/Palin's recent rhetoric. I do, however advocate all of Obama's policies, though realistically he will not get a lot of them done unfortunately. I've seen Red Dawn, I ain't no commie

that said...what in the heck did you mean by this:

I truly believe that the next four years we are going to see a rapid decline in race relations within the U.S. that will undo all the gains we've made in the last 50 years.

???!!!