Scott Stone

one more thing, crticizing Obamas plan for tax reduction, which I have already pointed out he has zero authority to do. Currently 40% of income earners pay no federal taxes at all. That means that every one of those people get 100% or more of the withholding. You might ask, "How do they get more than their withholding back?" That is easy, it is taken from those in the 60% that pay taxes and is given to them. That means that those high income earners are not just paying taxes to pay for stupid things like federal highways, welfare, and security, but it also pays to supplement the incomes of those that cannot or will not, provide for themselves. I had the most eye opening experience recently. 3 got an email from someone tha was "desperate" for work. I was willing to give them a job. I was even willing to start them at a wage that was twice the amount that they had ever made previously. But by the time they set the parameters that they wanted for their full time job, it turned out that they could only work 6 hours a day, between 8:30 and 2:30 monday to friday. It just amazed me that someone that seemed so desperate was so picky about the hours they could work.

I was being generous. I am that kind of person...

Civics lesson 101. The president is not the person that sets the tax rates. Congress does. Civic Lesson 102, The president does not define spending. Congress does. In reality, the president only ratifies any measures that Congress proposes. If he wants to get legislation proposed in congress, he needs to find a sympathetic congressman. Of course, that usually comes with a cost. I cannot think of a single president in recent history that has even accomplished one half of what he proposed to get elected. That means, the world is going to hell in a handbasket, and if we want to even try and have a semblance of success in accomplishing something, it needs to be a president that has experience in talking to both sides of the aisle in congress. Obama is very much a party line type of guy, though, in reality, his congressional experience is about as minimal as it could get, and still run for president as a congressman, or senator. McCain at least has a record of working both sides of the street. Personally, I don't like either one, and do not even think that McCain was the best choice from the Arizona congressional delegation. But the guy I would have preferred run said no way. BTW, I do not understand how in the world Obama, or McCain, can do all that they are proposing without raising taxes astronomically, on everyone. I also do not understand how in the world they can even think of raising any taxes with the economy in the current state.

Do you realize how much his plan, and McCains plan is going to cost you as a small business owner. Regrettably, everyone on this board is considered rich by many, simply because we have our own business. I'm sorry, my standard of rich is far different than most of the political hacks out there. Quite honestly, if I am going to have a health care plan straight down my throat, I think that EVERY plan out there is too expensive. If I have to have it forced down my throat, it might as well resemble the Canadian plan. It is far cheaper than anything the US currently offers. It is a fact that Canada currently spends far less per capita than the US currently spends. That being said, I don't like any plan that removes options from me, and, as often as the Government moves from a voluntary program, to an involuntary program, I don't trust ANY program that the government says is optional. We have all seen it, "this is such a good program, but there is no way it can be successful if people can opt out, so, now, it is mandatory." Sorry, not into that. And that is just one of the things that ticks me off about this election cycle. It is all a bunch of crap.

I think that it will be closer than you think. I am betting within a half percentage point. It certainly will not be a land slide, unless something comes up that proves one or the other candidate is really, really dirty, and all the media outlets pick it up, ad Nauseum. Just remember, we are all dependent on high income people. If they are getting taxed to death, it means that they dont have the money to pay us for our services, particularly those that do residential. If that happens, it effectively lowers the actual tax revenues that are collected. Remembering, that every dollar spent, on average, is turned over 7 or 8 times in the economy, before it is eaten up in taxes.

wait a minute! You mean to tell me that low bid does not always get the government contracts? Shocking developments. congratulations

:lgbugeyesWait! Stop!!! The DNC LIED??? I am so shocked...;)

Matthew, you need to check your statistics on the war cost. theiraqinsider.blogspot.com/2008/02/how-much-does-iraq-war-cost-per-month.html I am thinking that this website is not exactly sympathetic to the Bush administration, so their quote is probably high, but it is still 4.2% of the amount you quoted.

Really? You think it is? Think about your life. I would be willing to bet that you are pretty much in the same situation as your parents were. You were probably raised in the same type of economic situation as them, and have about the same level of education as they do. It is unlikely that you are more than one step above them, such as, they have a High School Diploma, and you have a college degree. Since I can pretty safely assume you were raised middle class, you probably did not have to deal with people trying to hold you back, because you were getting above your raising. The experiences that I have had dealing with people in poverty is significant. I have spent time mentoring a kid that right now have a family of 5 that lives on $800 a month. The conditions are deplorable. Unless you were to see it, you could not possibly believe it. I have also seen the kid's assumed grandmother, ( the kids mom dumped him at her house 10 years ago, saying that his dad was her son, The supposed father did not even know the mother) Neighbors up the street, and relatives try to punish him for getting above his raising for getting to good of grades. (Ants story is an excellent example of the mindset of not getting above your raising) It got to the point where I actually had to bribe the family to encourage the kid to do his homework. (it actually worked out that I was nearly doubling the family income, just so that this kid could be encouraged to perform.) I am pretty sure that if you are raised with that kind of ethic, and an expectation that the best job you are going to have is working at the corner convenience store making minimum wage, that you can pretty much not be held responsible for the paradigm that you are living in. BTW, I don't expect you to believe me. I did not believe it until I studied up on it, (want to be depressed? read a book on poverty, and how to understand it) and actually saw this stuff first hand. They just do not see how they can solve their own problems, and if they do, it is very rare. The same mindset is why inner city schools are usually underperforming on scholastic standards, why the inner city pregnancy rates are so high, and why the people that are in these situations find it so hard to imagine making much more than minimum wage. Before you take me to task, you need to read the studies and research on poverty. It really, honestly is a mindset, and it does not matter how much they make, it will never be enough. You know why poor neighborhoods have so many ars in their yards that do not run? Because it is easier to come up with $1000 to buy another junker, than it is to come up with another $100 to repair the car they already have. Thanks Ant. I love success stories.

Ant, You and I think a lot alike on a lot of things. You made me toss my dinner on your Hillary comment. The problem is that you really don't understand poverty, true poverty, and the mindset that it involves. It is totally different from the circumstances that you and I grew up in, and I was by no means rich. I had christmas's with no presents growing up and no dinner many times, because at weeks end, there was no money. As bad as that was, it was not the generational poverty that has bred to expect others to provide for you when you cannot provide for yourself. As stupid as that sounds to you and me, it really is not the fault of the people in the situation. The mindset is that if you have, and I need, you help me, because the next time, you might need the money that I have, and you are expected to do it, and do it willingly, otherwise you are thought of as being uppity. In that culture, it is also useless to save money, because someone in true generational poverty, does not have even a slight concept of what the future is, because they are so intent on living for the day, and hoping that they make it to tomorrow. This is not a racial concept. It does not matter the race or religion of the person trapped in the poverty. If you want to see something really sad, watch someone that is trapped in the poverty cycle that is making $70k a year. My sister is that way, and it just blows me away and is amazingly sad. If you want a couple of really depressing books to read on poverty, I can recommend them. I needed to read them due to some situations I had to deal with at church.

I looked at the Delco site, and own two RK-43's. They both are belt driven. On the delco site, they are all belt driven. Are you sure you are talking about the correct machine?

There is probably something stuck in there. With the hose out of the chemicals, does it weep water back out of the tube when the machine is running? That is usually a really good sign it is blocked. You can also take the injector apart at the hose barb. Sometimes, if the injector is older, teh bal bearing inthere will get too firmly seated in its seat and needs to be pried loose with a dental pick. If you have an extra, it is probably cheaper and easier to replace it, but it can have a field fix done.

Consider me jaded, but who has rights to the article? is it being sold, and who receives the benefits of the proceeds?

If she is such a bad choice, why are the democrats so scared of her?

:o I think he is talking a stripper like mine, not a fully loaded one like yours:rotfl:

Nissan??? He bought a real truck.

You dont need it with my grillin, Let me know when to pick you up. Do I need to bring the Excursion to get you, or just to take you home?

Let's see. I am firing up both grills. I have a 6 foot and a regular grill. On them there is going to be 1. Baby backs (12 racks) 2. Steaks (5 or 6 Large Proterhouses, and couple of sirloin) 3. Shrimp ( a couple or three pounds) 4. Chicken (Leg Quarters, probably about a dozen) 5. Salmon (two or three steaks) 6. Corn on the Cob ( a dozen ears, or so) 7. Zucchini. (try it, you'll like it, and I am not fond of green foods.) 8. Hot Dogs. (Some people like them.) :lgbugeyes We will also have about 20 or 30 close friends over. I hope there are leftovers. Maybe I will post pics to follow.

LOL, your age is showing.

It is always nice being chastized for profesionalism by one of the roof guys. It keeps me entertained.

You know, NOLA is full of trashy people. Porn Stars, strippers, hookers and whores that populate a lot of the seedier areas of the city. With the Porn Stars, strippers, hookers and whores, there are people like Chris from Apple Roof Cleaning, and Don Phelps from All seasons exteriors or Florida Roof Cleaning, that are just trying to make an honest living.

I had one. Notice I had one... I ended up putting an ignitor on it, because every time the heater went down it was expensive to repair.

Use a small vac tank, that pumps out to a larger tank. It will be cheaper and easier. My system is all Steel eagle. It vacuums into a 55 gallon drum, that acts as a seperator with three compartments. Then it sucks up into the actual vacuum chamber. From there it is pumped into a storage tank. I actually filter the water for reuse. But that is just me.

Joint Resolution to Authorize the Use of United States Armed Forces Against Iraq I know it is very popular to say Bush did not have congressional approval to use military force in Iraq, but, it is a bit revisionist. The above link is the White House link to the approval and you will see it happened in November 2002.

Steel Eagle used a Tuthil blower on my vacuum recovery unit. So far it has been reliable. It has about 200 hours on it.