America: Love it, or leave it!

[KillerTofu]

There is an ad telling me I can save $22 on a USS Reagan hat. Now, if my boss didn't work in the Reagan White House way back in the day, I would say that's a deal (running in the sun turns my face red). However, I highly doubt whatever profit is made at the top will eventually trickle down to the peons such as myself. Therefore, I will not be fooled, and I shall just tell you a bit about myself.

1) I joined because this is one of the few active forums about political issues around (congratulations).
2) I appreciate that there is no swear filter--or that it is not as strict as other forums I've paroozed. My philosophy: if you're too young to see an R-rated movie (where "fuck" is permitted), you're too young to vote...so get the fuck out if you can't handle colorful language every now and again!
3) I moved to DC to be the change I want to see in America...and now I work at a shitty non-profit and can often be found with my feet up on my desk snickering at imgur by 2:30pm.

Other than that...Maybe I'll manage to be active for a bit if I find shit interesting here...God knows I love to talk politics.

America, Fuck Yeah!

 

[Sunni Man]

 

[freedombecki]

There is an ad telling me I can save $22 on a USS Reagan hat. Now, if my boss didn't work in the Reagan White House way back in the day, I would say that's a deal (running in the sun turns my face red). However, I highly doubt whatever profit is made at the top will eventually trickle down to the peons such as myself. Therefore, I will not be fooled, and I shall just tell you a bit about myself.

1) I joined because this is one of the few active forums about political issues around (congratulations).
2) I appreciate that there is no swear filter--or that it is not as strict as other forums I've paroozed. My philosophy: if you're too young to see an R-rated movie (where "<Freudian stage II taboo term omitted>" is permitted), you're too young to vote...so get the <Freudian Stage II term omitted> out if you can't handle colorful language every now and again!
3) I moved to DC to be the change I want to see in America...and now I work at a <Freudian stage I term omitted> non-profit and can often be found with my feet up on my desk snickering at imgur by 2:30pm.

Other than that...Maybe I'll manage to be active for a bit if I find <Freudian Stage I term omitted> interesting here...God knows I love to talk politics.

America, <Freudian Stage II term omitted> Yeah!

Welcome to USMB, KillerTofu. Hope you enjoy the boards.

 

[Mr Natural]

Welcome the fuck aboard!

 

[Douger]

OK. Let's see (hear) you thoughts.
Ford, Carter, Raygunnn, B41, Slick Wille. Dubya-B 43 and the Kenyan/Marxist/commie socialist who supposedly sold his berthing papers for crack and a gay white boyfriend. Toss in Dan Quayle for extra credit.
Just curious....ya know ?

 

[KillerTofu]

Thanks kindly! I hope I do, too...additionally, hopefully this can be a two-sided relationship wherein I contribute something of value as well. That remains to be seen. Right now I kind of feel like Greece in NATO. I have a lot of shit going on in my own world, which may prevent me from contributing much here. Kind of like them and the European Union, only they stand to fuck EVERYONE up! (I promise, in this scenario I am Greece and USMessageBoard is NATO, not the EU. I'm just casually participating, I'm not in bail-out crisis mode yet.)

 

[Baruch Menachem]

I am going to put you on the Greece spot. You think they should keep on trying to bail them out, or should they let them sink on their own?

 

[KillerTofu]

Ford - I had a Bronco once. It was a beast. (Also, athletic fucking president! Poor guy was stuck between a rock and a hard place. You can't NOT pardon a former president, but it really ruined the rest of his presidency. I loved that he supported and continued detente, though.)

Carter - Bad at being a leader for the people, but I fundamentally believe in things like conservation (oil), peace in the middle east--no matter how naive--(Camp David Accords), and I do want to give a big fuck you to Reagan for working with the Iranians holding those hostages captive...obviously it's not a coincidence that he had been talking with the Iranians and the hostages were released on Reagan's Inauguration day.

Raygunnn - I will never tell my boss that he is on my list of least favorite Californians. He was lucky he was in office when the Berlin Wall fell...symbolically people attribute the fall of the Soviet Union with him. Also, I like the idea of sending Stingers into Afghanistan to make the cost of war too high for the Soviets, but fuck him and his administration for the lack of oversight.

B41 - Shoulda got Saddam the first time around. As a guy, I don't dislike him. Actually, besides not pursuing Saddam, I really like how he handled the Gulf War.

Slick Willie - I liked him as a president, and I like him even more in his post-presidential years. I saw him speak at a fiscal summit last year, and he is the most articulate bastard I've ever seen.

W. -

Barack O. B. - Did you not see him totally ninja-kill that fly? What a badass. I hate that GITMO is still operating as a detention facility, but he's done a lot for me policy-wise.

Dan Quayle - Has his endorsement for Mitt Romney helped or hurt? My guess is neither.

 

[KillerTofu]

Politically, I think it would be a mistake to let Greece flounder. If that happens, it gives the impression that the EU is not strong enough to support itself (which it may not be)--it's very much a damned-if-you-do and damned-if-you-don't scenario. Obviously, Greece has proven time and again that it is unstable and cannot manage its own house, but I do think that if the EU is going to seriously consider letting Greece go, this would not be the time. To let a country go because (when push comes to shove) the economic system that is supposed to act as a safety-net of sorts cannot support a flailing nation is ineffectual looks HORRIBLE, and would only beg more questions regarding the rating of the Euro. Again, it would probably only serve to make others question how strong the EU is and therefore further question investing more in system. Given the options, I think bailing them out with extreme austerity measures is the way to go, so long as such measures can also be met with aid to civilians and maybe some SERIOUS international investment from the private sector.

As an American, I can appreciate the fact that the USD has made gains on the Euro, though.

In short. If the Germans cannot conquer the nations of Europe (as they failed with in WWI and WWII), I support their hegemonic take-over in the form of bailouts for weaker nations within the system...maybe lighter superiority/control is the way to go.

 

[Zoom]

Ford - I had a Bronco once. It was a beast. (Also, athletic fucking president! Poor guy was stuck between a rock and a hard place. You can't NOT pardon a former president, but it really ruined the rest of his presidency. I loved that he supported and continued detente, though.)

Carter - Bad at being a leader for the people, but I fundamentally believe in things like conservation (oil), peace in the middle east--no matter how naive--(Camp David Accords), and I do want to give a big fuck you to Reagan for working with the Iranians holding those hostages captive...obviously it's not a coincidence that he had been talking with the Iranians and the hostages were released on Reagan's Inauguration day.

Raygunnn - I will never tell my boss that he is on my list of least favorite Californians. He was lucky he was in office when the Berlin Wall fell...symbolically people attribute the fall of the Soviet Union with him. Also, I like the idea of sending Stingers into Afghanistan to make the cost of war too high for the Soviets, but fuck him and his administration for the lack of oversight.

B41 - Shoulda got Saddam the first time around. As a guy, I don't dislike him. Actually, besides not pursuing Saddam, I really like how he handled the Gulf War.

Slick Willie - I liked him as a president, and I like him even more in his post-presidential years. I saw him speak at a fiscal summit last year, and he is the most articulate bastard I've ever seen.

W. -

Barack O. B. - Did you not see him totally ninja-kill that fly? What a badass. I hate that GITMO is still operating as a detention facility, but he's done a lot for me policy-wise.

Dan Quayle - Has his endorsement for Mitt Romney helped or hurt? My guess is neither.

Obviously you dont follow politics, but welcome aborard.

 

[Baruch Menachem]

Greece made certain representations when they joined the Euro on the state of their budget at the time and the promises that they would follow in the future. Both the story they told at the time they joined the Euro and their acts since then have been totally fake.

They lied their way in and their credit is shot. They need to find their own way now.

 

[KillerTofu]

In what world do you think I would give a serious response in an introduction thread to a laundry-list of topics like that?

 

[KillerTofu]

Your question was not if Greece should have been admitted to the EU, but rather should they be let go right now. I think the answer for both is no. They should not have been admitted in the first place, but since they are in, the EU has to grapple with the very real dilemma of having to bail it out or save face and stand by its alliance.

Greece has never been incredibly stable, and it was somewhat foolish for the EU to admit them in the first place. Greece has had a long history of inflation, running large deficits when the economy IS doing well that won't pay off (they borrowed much of their funds for the 2004 Olympics), and debt that European monetary union should have probably considered and investigated thoroughly before letting them in...not in 2004. It's hard to deny that the growth of their economy in the early 2000 was at least somewhat appealing (especially since the euro replaced currencies in 2002), which may have hastened the otherwise unwise decision, but hindsight is 20/20, and little is gained from it except lessons for the future.

If Greece fails, the banks that own their bonds have to write-off the losses, affecting the future of lending from those banks, which could have greater international impact...not to mention, it calls into question the viability of other bonds from countries with less-than-stellar economic stability. The reason they can't get out of this hell hole by selling more is because their debt and deficit was larger than they reported (as Baruch Menachem indicated). While Greece is the weakest link (and while it IS their fault), we can't afford to let them fail right now. In the future, perhaps their membership in the Eurozone should be reconsidered, but right now they need to deal with one issue at a time.

 

[Baruch Menachem]

The point we have come to in Greece is at what point do you recognize a non performing loan has become a sunk cost. YOu can't keep compounding the problem forever. There has to come a time when you recognize pouring anything more into this rat hole is just throwing good money after bad.

The rest of europe can't afford this farce. It is time to recognize they won't reform and they will pull you down with them if you engage them any closer

 

[KillerTofu]

I agree that there is not much that can be done about the money lost on the loans made. Since the economies of these nations are so intimately tied together and bonds still need to be paid, though, it could lead to greater melt-down of OTHER nations in the EU while they're facing a financial crisis...making it more difficult for the fiscally responsible nations to climb out of the hole.

I do see your point, though, and I don't know what the right answer is. With a history of bad economic decisions, I would be wary of helping them out, and the obvious answer is to just cut and run. Since the rest of the EU is embroiled in this economic debacle, though, those bonds have to stay legit. If Greece fails, there's the concern that the weak Spanish bonds will do the same, as will Italian bonds, and Portuguese bonds. What will be the fallout of THAT economic catastrophe? I don't know.

 

[The Professor]

There is an ad telling me I can save $22 on a USS Reagan hat. Now, if my boss didn't work in the Reagan White House way back in the day, I would say that's a deal (running in the sun turns my face red). However, I highly doubt whatever profit is made at the top will eventually trickle down to the peons such as myself. Therefore, I will not be fooled, and I shall just tell you a bit about myself.

1) I joined because this is one of the few active forums about political issues around (congratulations).
2) I appreciate that there is no swear filter--or that it is not as strict as other forums I've paroozed. My philosophy: if you're too young to see an R-rated movie (where "fuck" is permitted), you're too young to vote...so get the fuck out if you can't handle colorful language every now and again!
3) I moved to DC to be the change I want to see in America...and now I work at a shitty non-profit and can often be found with my feet up on my desk snickering at imgur by 2:30pm.

Other than that...Maybe I'll manage to be active for a bit if I find shit interesting here...God knows I love to talk politics.

America, Fuck Yeah!

Fuck is a beautiful word - poignant, picturesque, passionate, stirring and even (dare I say it) spiritual.

Lincoln's Gettysburg Address would have been even more memorable, more inspirational, if he had managed to slip a “fuck” or two into his speech.

The Ten Commandments would have been taken much more seriously if they contained an admonishment “If you don't do what I say, you're fucked.”

Little Cindy Lou may have fared better with the Grinch if instead of asking “Why Santa Clause, why?” she would have said “Santa, what the fuck are you doing.”

The words “fuck you” are eloquent and powerful, bold and potent; it is a verbal affront so devastating and disarming that the only possible retort is “fuck you too.” Yet the exchange “fuck you” and “fuck you too” is somehow equalizing and healing. Each participant to the exchange is left with a degree of dignity and pride. Queen Marie Antoinette would have avoided the guillotine and established a legacy of being a tough broad rather than being remembered as a snobbish insensitive tyrannical bitch if instead of saying “Let them eat cake” she would have told her subjects “fuck you.” The peasants would have responded “well, fuck you too” and everyone would have gone back to work feeling vindicated. When Christ decreed “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God” (Matthew 5:9), He was obviously talking about those who said “fuck you” and “fuck you too.”

There was a time during which patriotism was afire in this country. I remember reading about the old flag with the picture of the rattlesnake and the words “don't tread on me.” This flag sent a message to the world that Americans were brave, determined and free. I would be just as proud of a flag that had a picture of an extended middle finger and the words “fuck you .”

Which brings me to my favorite variations of the word “fuck”: “motherfucker” and “motherfucking.” When I was in the Marine Corps a long, long time ago the word “motherfucker” was either a putdown or a term of endearment; it all depended on the context in which the word was used. The only acceptable synonym for the word “motherfucker” was “grannyjammer;” however, the word never really caught on and sadly faded from disuse. The word “motherfucking” was a universal adjective with no specific meaning and was used even when an adjective wasn't really necessary, such as “I'm going to take a motherfucking shower.” Of course, it was common to combine the adjective and noun form of the word to produce the phrase “motherfucking motherfucker.” Although this phrase may seem somewhat redundant, those in the Corps – at least in the old Corps – liked the sound of it. I still get teary-eyed when I hear the words.

 

[InkedApple]

There is an ad telling me I can save $22 on a USS Reagan hat. Now, if my boss didn't work in the Reagan White House way back in the day, I would say that's a deal (running in the sun turns my face red). However, I highly doubt whatever profit is made at the top will eventually trickle down to the peons such as myself. Therefore, I will not be fooled, and I shall just tell you a bit about myself.

1) I joined because this is one of the few active forums about political issues around (congratulations).
2) I appreciate that there is no swear filter--or that it is not as strict as other forums I've paroozed. My philosophy: if you're too young to see an R-rated movie (where "fuck" is permitted), you're too young to vote...so get the fuck out if you can't handle colorful language every now and again!
3) I moved to DC to be the change I want to see in America...and now I work at a shitty non-profit and can often be found with my feet up on my desk snickering at imgur by 2:30pm.

Other than that...Maybe I'll manage to be active for a bit if I find shit interesting here...God knows I love to talk politics.

America, Fuck Yeah!

Fuck is a beautiful word - poignant, picturesque, passionate, stirring and even (dare I say it) spiritual.

Lincoln's Gettysburg Address would have been even more memorable, more inspirational, if he had managed to slip a “fuck” or two into his speech.

The Ten Commandments would have been taken much more seriously if they contained an admonishment “If you don't do what I say, you're fucked.”

Little Cindy Lou may have fared better with the Grinch if instead of asking “Why Santa Clause, why?” she would have said “Santa, what the fuck are you doing.”

The words “fuck you” are eloquent and powerful, bold and potent; it is a verbal affront so devastating and disarming that the only possible retort is “fuck you too.” Yet the exchange “fuck you” and “fuck you too” is somehow equalizing and healing. Each participant to the exchange is left with a degree of dignity and pride. Queen Marie Antoinette would have avoided the guillotine and established a legacy of being a tough broad rather than being remembered as a snobbish insensitive tyrannical bitch if instead of saying “Let them eat cake” she would have told her subjects “fuck you.” The peasants would have responded “well, fuck you too” and everyone would have gone back to work feeling vindicated. When Christ decreed “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God” (Matthew 5:9), He was obviously talking about those who said “fuck you” and “fuck you too.”

There was a time during which patriotism was afire in this country. I remember reading about the old flag with the picture of the rattlesnake and the words “don't tread on me.” This flag sent a message to the world that Americans were brave, determined and free. I would be just as proud of a flag that had a picture of an extended middle finger and the words “fuck you .”

Which brings me to my favorite variations of the word “fuck”: “motherfucker” and “motherfucking.” When I was in the Marine Corps a long, long time ago the word “motherfucker” was either a putdown or a term of endearment; it all depended on the context in which the word was used. The only acceptable synonym for the word “motherfucker” was “grannyjammer;” however, the word never really caught on and sadly faded from disuse. The word “motherfucking” was a universal adjective with no specific meaning and was used even when an adjective wasn't really necessary, such as “I'm going to take a motherfucking shower.” Of course, it was common to combine the adjective and noun form of the word to produce the phrase “motherfucking motherfucker.” Although this phrase may seem somewhat redundant, those in the Corps – at least in the old Corps – liked the sound of it. I still get teary-eyed when I hear the words.

I about peed myself reading this...LOL. Thanks for the laugh, I sooo needed it.

 

[Robert_Stephens]

Welcome here and enjoy the forums. Incidentally, I gently offer I have found chunks of Tofu in my stool. All is well and America is within walking distance.....

Robert

 

[Dabs]

There is an ad telling me I can save $22 on a USS Reagan hat. Now, if my boss didn't work in the Reagan White House way back in the day, I would say that's a deal (running in the sun turns my face red). However, I highly doubt whatever profit is made at the top will eventually trickle down to the peons such as myself. Therefore, I will not be fooled, and I shall just tell you a bit about myself.

1) I joined because this is one of the few active forums about political issues around (congratulations).
2) I appreciate that there is no swear filter--or that it is not as strict as other forums I've paroozed. My philosophy: if you're too young to see an R-rated movie (where "fuck" is permitted), you're too young to vote...so get the fuck out if you can't handle colorful language every now and again!
3) I moved to DC to be the change I want to see in America...and now I work at a shitty non-profit and can often be found with my feet up on my desk snickering at imgur by 2:30pm.

Other than that...Maybe I'll manage to be active for a bit if I find shit interesting here...God knows I love to talk politics.

America, Fuck Yeah!

Sorry....but I didn't pay attention to anything you said except for the "America, Fuck Yeah" part!
But Hello and Welcome!

 

[techieny]

Welcome to the boards !