The Auburn teacher's response from Democrats to the president's weekly radio address was a joke. The Democratic leadership has blocked any new American drilling for oil, and created the obstacles to building new petroleum refineries.
I'm calling about the Two Cents that used to be in the newspaper. A lot of us old people do not have computers to call in and do it by computer.
Your editorial on our county treasurer inability to run his office is nothing more than a slap on the wrist. He needs to be investigated by the attorney general's office.
Any good poker player will tell you if you're sitting in a game, after even just four or five hands, if you can't tell who the loser in that game is, then it's you yourself. Just like if you're reading The Citizen every day, and you don't realize every columnist except the Saturday columnist is a flaming liberal, then you must be a flaming liberal yourself.
I wish when you go in these fast food restaurants, they would get your order right. I don't think those girls pay attention and it's so busy in there you have to tell them about three times and they still don't have it right. Their manager should watch what they are doing and help them out.
Two Cents will be updated online as new submissions are called or e-mailed. To contribute new Two Cents items, please call 253-5311 ext. 292 or e-mail twocents@lee.net.
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theking wrote on Jun 20, 2008 9:00 PM:
cm wrote on Jun 20, 2008 8:57 PM:
While I on the other hand spent a couple 100 on BUYING diapers,food,pet food, new clothes and gave to a group heading to Katrina area. I knew that sending in money would get to the wrong hands and go thru more red tape that would take months!
I can "talk" all compassionate BS all day, but I'd rather DO than talk.
No one plans a huge catastrophe but come on living near water and not having insurance. That's like sky-diving without a parachute! DAH!!
In today's news--a lady is suing a bird sanctuary because she slipped on bird dodo--I guess she expects someone to follow wild birds around all day!?
the writer comically said we need to put up signs(Bill Engvall)
During a thunderstorm,lightning may strike.
Alligators in Florida are not mechanical.
Do not hike Grandfather Mountain in high heels,
you may fall 400 feet to your death.
Watch where you step, and if you look up keep your mouth closed.
Excretions happen.
"HERE's YOUR SIGN".... "
karl wrote on Jun 20, 2008 8:38 PM:
theking wrote on Jun 20, 2008 8:18 PM:
karl wrote on Jun 20, 2008 7:18 PM:
Honestly--you blather on with self-righteous pronouncements about how irresponsible you think these people must be--after all, it couldn't be just bad timing or serendipity, could it--because, I would guess, it's emotionally easier for you to criticize than it is to put yourself in someone else's shoes and be empathetic? That's sad.
That's why you can only see true empathy as "wanting to save" people. In YOUR mind, you see people having to be "saved" from themselves and their OWN stupidity, because you lack either the ability or the will to see these people as your neighbors and fellow Human Beings. How convenient. How cold. How...Conservative. "
Unknown... wrote on Jun 20, 2008 6:41 PM:
OPEC nations buy U.S. grain at $7.00 a bushel.
Solution: Sell grain for $136.00 a bushel.
Can't buy it? Tough! Eat your oil!
Ought to go well with a nice thick grilled filet of camel a$%!!! "
cm wrote on Jun 20, 2008 5:47 PM:
Again, where I live helmets are NOT required by law and neither is motorcycle insurance!
So ask me again why I pay more to cover myself???
Because I WOULD BE STUPID NOT TOO!!! "
cm wrote on Jun 20, 2008 5:42 PM:
1. pay the price for extra insurance even if its not required but maybe needed,(considering nothing has happened in 22 yrs!)
2.save enough buffer for my could be losses.
3. suffer the consequences!
Do I want to pay extra--heck no!
afterall in 22yrs all has been good!
BUT never say never!
same with car insurance-I am in a no-fault state. So I can cover me to the hilt and pay thru the nose.
Or I can just do the basic state coverage-and when someone hits me-that might not be covered at all-I will suffer the losses. OR if we both only have basic coverage, again I will have to suffer losses.
Having basic coverage, and a loan on my vehicle, my insurance will only cover the loss of the vehicle, basically just paying the bank off/leaving me with nothing.
But paying the extra, gets me a new vehicle.
I choose to pay the extra since I know there are too many idiots driving without insurance.
But then again I should drop that too-because KARl my compassionate buddy will buy me a new vehicle! "
carlred wrote on Jun 20, 2008 5:13 PM:
movedsouth wrote on Jun 20, 2008 5:05 PM:
karl wrote on Jun 20, 2008 4:57 PM:
A helmet is only $100. Wear it or die, simple.
Flood insurance can run into thousands of dollars a year. What about those families who just had the new baby and are struggling cuz the hubby got laid off or lost his job?
If I'm a "typical bleeding heart Liberal", then you;re a typical cold-hearted Republican/Conservative. You are very comfortable caricaturing people into irresponsible dolts because it makes you feel superior. You won't even allow that most people are truly NOT that irresponsible--sometimes they can't afford it. Did you know that sometimes the insurance companies will recognize the risk of a flood area and jack the price of insurance up to obscene levels? Besides, the recent flood was described as a "500 year flood", meaning that the areas where they lived was NOT considered "high risk"
Put that in your pipe and smoke it. "
cm wrote on Jun 20, 2008 4:55 PM:
Karl you happen to live on the LOW end of Auburn--you may want to think about flood insurance--or move to higher ground. "
cm wrote on Jun 20, 2008 4:47 PM:
Why cant people just take responsibility for their actions or inactions???
Karl you feel sorry "in words" for those who have chances to protect themselves?
I believe you have stated before that is is DUMB to not wear a helmet on a motorcycle!
How does that differ from one living near a dam and not carry flood insurance?
Or sue Mcds because they cant cook/or purchase something healthier?
Or sue Mcds because their coffee is hot?
I believed you have slammed Mrs.Hackett on the issues of her hubbies prison rights? where your understanding for him?
You are a typical bleeding wallet liberal.
I say stop taxing the crap out of me/others for THEIR DUMBNESS!
I dont like paying 1600 a year for home insurance but if I drop it are YOU gonna pay for my new house when something happens to it? "
karl wrote on Jun 20, 2008 11:17 AM:
SHEEESH! "
Farmers Gal wrote on Jun 20, 2008 11:07 AM:
Of course, in New Orleans, many areas are obviously in a floodplain -- and have been flooded so often historically that I don't see how anyone could fail to notice (or why the government is helping rebuild an area which they KNOW will be wiped out again some day).
As for the levees, it's not the first time we have created trouble with our monkeying with nature's own way of dealing with water. Anyone remember Chinatown? "
cm wrote on Jun 20, 2008 10:54 AM:
It ranks up there with suing Mcds cause you are over-weight?!! erggggg. "
karl wrote on Jun 20, 2008 10:50 AM:
1. Because Obama will now have a HUGE cash advantage vs John McCain and against the 531 nazi's who are trying to slay him
2.They got nothin' else.
3.They're gonna LOOOOOOOOOOSE!
This is an absolute non-issue for me.
GO OBAMAAAAAAAA! "
vic wrote on Jun 20, 2008 10:06 AM:
cm wrote on Jun 20, 2008 9:21 AM:
But now - amid the disastrous flooding across Iowa, Illinois and Missouri - some policymakers are demanding the government come up with more accurate, up-to-date flood-risk assessments, inform the public better of the dangers, and require nearly all homeowners to buy coverage if they live near dams or levees.
"New Orleans is the epitome; a lot of those people didn't even realize they were in a floodplain until the water was up to their roofs."
CM: I feel sorry for these people but come on!! You live near a dam/levee and you DON'T have flood insurance??!!
You are stupid enough to think the Government MUST tell you that is something you NEED to purchase!!!??
THEN New Orleans comment--The WHOLE city is BELOW SEA LEVEL but they didnt realize they were in a floodplain??!!
The problem: "sue me/get money" is way out of control. So blame Everyone but Yourself to get cash! ridiculas!! "
Farmer's Gal wrote on Jun 20, 2008 7:52 AM:
I'm not sure how I feel on this subject. Well, I never like it when politicians promise something, then change their minds. They all do it, and it's why I don't like politicians -- you can't trust ANY of them.
But the question of taking public money or not is the one about which I am less certain.
I don't know that I like it that politicians use our money to fund their campaigns -- for things like ads attacking their opponents, or flying across the country in privately rented planes or whatever.
On the other hand, I don't think I like the idea that s/he who has the most money should win the election either, which would tend to be the outcome if each candidate had to only raise his or her own money.
Now, if someone had the most money raised, and little to none of it were from corporate and special interests, but almost all from regular people, and if that person had the most money drawn from regular, real people sources, that would tell you that that candidate is really the one people most want to be elected. If ordinary people feel moved to give money out of their own pockets and it adds up, that really says something.
The problem is still all that corporate influence money. If Obama can eschew that kind of money, and run his whole campaign on the funds he receives from private individuals, I think I can forgive him changing his mind -- if once he got into things he saw that it was really possible to raise enough money, honest money without those corporate and special interest strings attached, and without drawing on public funding, well, that seems mostly positive to me.
But I don't know that that's the case. I'll still vote for Obama for lack of a better viable choice, but that doesn't make him a saint or a hero. "
karl wrote on Jun 19, 2008 11:14 PM:
http://www.auburnpub.com/articles/2008/06/19/opinion/letters/letters01.txt "
AJ wrote on Jun 19, 2008 8:03 PM:
Do you think he'll go for it though? "
AJ wrote on Jun 19, 2008 7:11 PM:
" we wouldnt have had to go into iraq for oil if the democrats would let us use our own. "
Just as I thought. You finally admit this war/occupation was ALL about OIL.
Thanks for being so honest. I can't forgive you for being an idiot though... "
theking wrote on Jun 19, 2008 6:59 PM:
Republicans slammed the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee’s decision to abandon an earlier pledge to use the more than $84 million in public money if his Republican rival did the same. "
bgjnmsn wrote on Jun 19, 2008 6:54 PM:
theking wrote on Jun 19, 2008 6:40 PM:
AJ wrote on Jun 19, 2008 6:10 PM:
AJ wrote on Jun 19, 2008 5:05 PM:
Got it now?
I didn't think so. "
AJ wrote on Jun 19, 2008 5:03 PM:
dd wrote on Jun 19, 2008 4:06 PM:
AJ wrote on Jun 19, 2008 2:03 PM:
No entity, contrived or otherswise, should have a license to exist in perpetuity, or have the ability to attain the kind of power that goes along with such a compact. It defies reason and common sene.
Corporations should have to prove themselves worthy on a regular basis, if they can. If not, pooofft! They should be gone. "
AJ wrote on Jun 19, 2008 1:05 PM:
We are in 100% agreement on that note. They are counterproductive to a civilized world and should be highly regulated, if not abolished. Personally, I would choose the former with very strict regulations. If a company violates a charter for being a positive influence in the marketplace, NIX THEM! Especially if they are war profiteers!! "
Farmer's Gal wrote on Jun 19, 2008 12:23 PM:
But when you dig, it's very curious how often the root cause of so many problems is the pervasive and insideous power and influence of corporations over absolutely every aspect of our lives -- to our detriment 99 times out of 100. They knew long before we did that the only way to rein them in (they are already "reigning" -- LOL ;-) is via our government, so that's where they concentrated their power and influence, so The People can't win back our own government to work on OUR behalf against the corporations. "
AJ wrote on Jun 19, 2008 12:17 PM:
AJ wrote on Jun 19, 2008 11:34 AM:
AJ wrote on Jun 19, 2008 11:32 AM:
" By the way, AJ--CNN just reported exactly what you said--four Oil Companies are cozying up for no-bid contracts to manage the Oil Fields in Iraq.
The "Liberals" were right again--we went into this damned, bloody war for George Bush's Oil buddies!
There really ought to be a trial.. "
I totally agree. But did you see those clips I left a link for? That may explain a lot. It is very frightening and something everyone should see. "
AJ wrote on Jun 19, 2008 11:27 AM:
" Thank you, AJ, for pointing out that "Democrats" and "Republicans" are just Tweedledee and Tweedledum, and both owned by corporate interests regardless if they are labelled "Blue" or "Red." This is yet another reason labelling people as such is useless and near meaningless.
This is generally so true, but there are exceptions. It's unfortunate that our best politicians get marginalized in the corporate media. If there is a candidate who speaks the truth, you can be sure the corporate media will destroy them. We saw that with Kucinich, you can see it with McKinney. It is really sad. Corporations MUST be reigned in!!!
Nothing like tweedledee, tweedledum, and tweedledumber, eh? "
AJ wrote on Jun 19, 2008 11:17 AM:
Anyhow, I just ordered my new Suzuki Boulevard c50. We'll have to go riding once it gets in, if you're up for it. "
Farmer's Gal wrote on Jun 19, 2008 10:53 AM:
cm wrote on Jun 19, 2008 10:44 AM:
However if we could do it to ALL 536-then I would gladly say spend the monies.
Its not fair for 2 to go down when the truth is its ALL of them!!!
Aj: the 64 grand question is name ONE in Washington that went in Honest and still is HONEST?? "
cm wrote on Jun 19, 2008 10:37 AM:
HOW do you know the suicide bombers were NOT gay?
maybe they were about to be beheaded and copped a plea--"money and family honor returned"???? "
karl wrote on Jun 19, 2008 10:28 AM:
The "Liberals" were right again--we went into this damned, bloody war for George Bush's Oil buddies!
There really ought to be a trial.. "
karl wrote on Jun 19, 2008 10:26 AM:
AJ wrote on Jun 19, 2008 10:05 AM:
vic wrote on Jun 19, 2008 7:56 AM:
Farmer's Gal wrote on Jun 19, 2008 7:33 AM:
I agree with mark and dd (amazing!) that oil futures speculators need to be reined in hard. They are a sort of "hidden in plain sight" source of a fair share of our grief in terms of oil prices.
About the old fella whose comments appear above -- doesn't The Citizen have a phone line where people can call in their Two Cents? I know I once met an old guy in the Genoa Hotel (only been there twice in my life!) who commented that called in to The Citizen regularly, but he didn't have a computer or any interest in one. The Citizen has really disenfranchised a whole portion of their readership but ghetto-izing Two Cents to the online world only. "
AJ wrote on Jun 19, 2008 6:57 AM:
I think all of us, republican and democrat alike, are facing the challenge of a lifetime. How do we take back our government from a bunch of liars and thieves?
That is the 64,000 dollar question.
IMPEACH BUSH AND CHENEY IS THE ANSWER "
AJ wrote on Jun 19, 2008 3:58 AM:
Does anyone here understand/or has anyone here looked up the "strategy of tension", or "hegelian dialectic"? Just curious. "
AJ wrote on Jun 19, 2008 3:01 AM:
I'm curious as to who and how many of you neo-cons/conservatives ever said that the US didn't go to war for oil? Be honest.
Just heard that exxon bp shell etc have gotten their wish and are expected to sign an agreement over a no bid contract for managing the Iraqi oil fields (I have not verified this, but Mike Malloy is usually pretty reliable).
I think it should be crystal clear now that it was the major/defining motive for this illegal war and occupation. To anyone who has been paying attention "
brew1234 wrote on Jun 19, 2008 1:53 AM:
http://www.imvotingrepublican.com/ "
karl wrote on Jun 18, 2008 11:56 PM:
Now lets talk about your ridiculous inability to define "flip=flop".
To "flip-flop" is defined by Dictionary.com as "Informal. a sudden or unexpected reversal, as of direction, belief, attitude, or policy."
Seeing through a man and Church who is blatantly racist and self-serving is NOT flip-flopping. It is refusing to endorse a bigot, and the other bigot who yet followed Wright.
But if you want to use that paradigm, at least Barack DENOUNCED Wright--WHILE JOHN MCCAIN ACTUALLY EMBRACED THAT NUTCASE JERRY FALWELL!!! (A man McCain once called an "agent of intolerance" after Falwell alleged that "Gays" were to blame for 9/11!???)
He has also cozied up to scumbag Grover Nordquist--whom he formerly despised--just to pander for Conservative votes!
Not only that, he has also reached out to corrupt Texas businessman Sam and Tom Wylie, whom McCAIN HIMSELF once filed a complaint against for violating campaign finance law re: George Bush!
SO!!!--I saw your "Wright" and raised you a Falwell, Norquist, and TWO Wylies! Sorry, but you LOST that hand, cm and quiveringCalifornian with a c!!
But wait--that 's not it!!
McCain was FOR campaign finance reform
Now he's not
McCain WAS against Torture, now he's ok with it.
McCain WAS against tax cuts for the Rich, now he's not.
He WAS anti-ethanol, now he's for it!
McCain flipped on the Confederate Flag issue!
Most importantly, he WAS for ROe-vs-Wade, now he's groveled before the Religious RIght, and is against it.
Disgusting! Shameless!
This man is AWASH in a sea of pandering, flipping desperation for finding "The Conservative Vote"!
He has COMPLETELY sold out his principles and what he used to stand for---and EVERYBODY'S TALKING ABOUT IT!!
GO OBAMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "
ANGMOM wrote on Jun 18, 2008 11:35 PM:
I enjoy your ongoing banter, and hope you can take a moment to breathe and appreciate life, such as it is. Sort of like lightening up, and being less harsh.
Your comments are intuitive and insightful (and my spelling is, more than likely,dreadful) and I do not feel qualified to post my own opinions any further. I care very much about this world, but I reserve my right to be apolitical.
Continue on and enjoy, good people. You are quite appreciated and respected.
REGARDS
ANGMOM3 "
AJ wrote on Jun 18, 2008 11:20 PM:
I'm curious as to who and how many of you neo-cons/conservatives ever said that the US didn't go to war for oil? Be honest.
Just heard that exxon bp shell etc have gotten their wish and are expected to sign an agreement over a no bid contract for managing the Iraqi oil fields (I have not verified this, but Mike Malloy is usually pretty reliable).
I think it should be crystal clear now that it was the major/defining motive for this illegal war and occupation. To anyone who has been paying attention "
cm wrote on Jun 18, 2008 10:57 PM:
(bad) his marriage into the Kennedy clan.
I wonder if Obama will denouce his wife and hookup with a Kennedy girl ?? "
AJ wrote on Jun 18, 2008 10:46 PM:
cm wrote on Jun 18, 2008 10:11 PM:
SERE officials provided Haynes' office a list of tactics that included sensory deprivation, sleep disruption and stress positions.
He said he was doing the best he could to help prevent another major terror attack.
"There was a limited amount of time and a high degree of urgency,
A senior CIA lawyer John Fredman, explained that whether harsh interrogation amounted to torture "is a matter of perception."
detainee Ali al-Qaisi suffers nightmares and insomnia he blames on injuries - physical and psychological - he suffered at the hands of his American captors.
Al-Qaisi was among 11 former prisoners examined by doctors and mental health professionals with Physicians for Human Rights, an advocacy group trying to determine whether their stories of abuse at American hands could be corroborated with physical evidence.
"I lost my left hand because American doctors and soldiers refused to operate on an old wound," said Al-Qaisi.
"Some of these men really are, several years later, very severely scarred," said Barry Rosenfeld, a psychology professor at Fordham University who conducted psychological tests on six of the 11 detainees covered by the study.
Seven of the former detainees in the study were held at Abu Ghraib, Four at Guantanamo Bay.
Because the medical examiners did not have access to the 11 patients' medical histories prior to their imprisonment, it was not possible to know whether any of the prisoners' ailments, disabilities and scars pre-dated their confinement.
The U.S. military says an al-Qaida training manual instructs members, if captured, to assert they were tortured during interrogation.
KARL
HOW many were held at ABU & GITMO???
OHHHHH a study of 11 people/one that admits a previous injury/and all with no previous medical records, for sure is
DIRECT MEDICAL EVIDENCE !!!!!??? "
quiveringthigh wrote on Jun 18, 2008 10:02 PM:
" flip-flop=Obama:
1. I love my pastor/my mentor
1.a. I denounce him
2. I love my church of 20 yrs.
2.b. I denouce them.
3. I will not wear the pin
3.b. "look everyone see my new pin!"
4. I picked a great finding me a VP team.
4.b. BYEBYE Johnson & countrywide mortgage rip-offs! "
Rightly stated CM!
I was thinking earlier today, say 5am. I remember Schwarzenenger with all his "feel good attitude" promises of "education" and lower taxes. Well CA has "laid off" a good percentage of teachers, and "contracting" them, which means no benefits. Taxes????? Well let's say that we pay a lot more now. Our roads suck.
But, ya know, everything sounded REAL good to CA, so they voted him in. Doesn't it sound like the "Obama train"? It does to me. Any politician will say things that make him/her sound heroic, but when it comes down to it, lobbyists, corruption and "personal interests" run the game. It doesn't take a nuclear physicist to figure that out. Remember, OIL, Pharmeceuticals, and Teamsters run our nation. Now can someone pass me the Blair's Hot Sauce before my steak gets cold? "
cm wrote on Jun 18, 2008 9:28 PM:
1. I love my pastor/my mentor
1.a. I denounce him
2. I love my church of 20 yrs.
2.b. I denouce them.
3. I will not wear the pin
3.b. "look everyone see my new pin!"
4. I picked a great finding me a VP team.
4.b. BYEBYE Johnson & countrywide mortgage rip-offs! "
movedsouth wrote on Jun 18, 2008 9:26 PM:
theking wrote on Jun 18, 2008 9:01 PM:
karl wrote on Jun 18, 2008 8:36 PM:
karl wrote on Jun 18, 2008 8:35 PM:
WAR CRIMES!
For deliberately ordering and approving of, the TORTURE of INNOCENT PEOPLE!
There was also a physician on who said there was DIRECT MEDICAL EVIDENCE that innocent people had been tortured!
I wonder if Ol' King George is starting to sweat a little?
Oooooh.....the possibilities!!! "
karl wrote on Jun 18, 2008 8:32 PM:
Queen, they wiped my response off before you saw it. I was laughing at you for posting a website by Exxon-Mobil themselves to try to convince me how hard the poor Oil Companies have it--I cried all night!--sheesh, couldn't you find a more OBjective source? LOL! "
movedsouth wrote on Jun 18, 2008 8:22 PM:
theking wrote on Jun 18, 2008 7:06 PM:
movedsouth wrote on Jun 18, 2008 5:43 PM:
bill wrote on Jun 18, 2008 5:22 PM:
karl wrote on Jun 18, 2008 5:03 PM:
He changes his stance on issues more than a reed in the wind!
He is a shameless panderer, and an embarrassment to himself--he just never STOPS flip-flopping his stances on ALL the issues, whether it's drilling offshore, support for the troops, or other important issues!
This guys is a cOMPLETE FRAUD! "
em wrote on Jun 18, 2008 4:10 PM:
dd wrote on Jun 18, 2008 3:07 PM:
movedsouth wrote on Jun 18, 2008 3:06 PM:
mark wrote on Jun 18, 2008 2:09 PM:
movedsouth wrote on Jun 18, 2008 1:36 PM:
Farmer's Gal wrote on Jun 18, 2008 1:28 PM:
horseradish wrote on Jun 18, 2008 12:32 PM:
get over it and try to work with someone, even if the opinion they idolize is different then their own.
as for the oil, maybe we should get over our love affair with this drug. there are other ways to propel yourself. "
karl wrote on Jun 18, 2008 12:04 PM:
ANd to flaming shrimps on the barbie!
"Boo" to flaming protesting Bhuddist monks!
YAAAY! to flaming burn outs in Charger muscle cars!
"BOOO!" to flaming spelled backwards! It's "gnimalf"! "