LouieB

Nat Silver is a brilliant thinker and writer and one of the best things about reading the NY Times at the moment. Good stuff. LouieB

Thanks, you finally got Sparky to stop this for a minute or two. Thanks again. As I pointed out there are also things we can agree upon if the harping on the Fed ended. Clearly alot of what Sparky wants isn't going to happen under any President. Note that Sparky never talks about social issues hardly (choice, gay rights, etc.) Okay march out of the middle east. Good idea, I think we are doing that, clearly too slowly, but it is happeneing. Romney wants us right back in . The US of A is not going to close down foreign bases wholesale (we still have bases places we don't need them from

I agree, less taxes are good. But after two wars that were not paid for, resulting in a huge debt, we gotta do something. We can cut back social programs and support systems or we can pay up and move on. So you grew out of Liberalism?? I guess McGovern is now an anathema to you? There were few people on the 60s or 70s that were more liberal than he was. I am really surprised you harp on the Fed so much. How about NAFTA and all those pesky trade agreements? Start harping on those for awhile. I would think that is really the issue with actual free trade. LouieB

You don't really need to respond to me Sparky. Until you start discussing this without quoting people who are suspect I see no reason to discuss these issues. Besides this election is NOT about the Fed. The Fed is 100 years old, it isn't going away. Clearly there are always things about every bueaucracy that need to be fixed, that goes without saying. Engage the other folks here in this convo. Kudos to lost highway for keeping up. Once again (broken record time) I work for the government I know lots of things need fixing. George McGovern was certainly a heroic figure in many respects, but

That's just alot of bullshit and exactly the answer I was expecting. LouieB

Really sad. And he is my age. LouleB

Oh yea and Ron (and son Rand) are both Republicans. Mitt Romney is a Republican. So essentially the believe the same thing, and have proven so partially on social issues. Yea Paul doesn't want foreign wars and doesn't like the drug war, but on most issues they are on the same page (and shared the stage.). LouieB

Lets see. Communism lost, capitalism won. I don't see how we don't live in a free market economy. You can make anything you want and sell it. Aside from not being able to sell shit that is obviously bad for someone (or even if it is) or not foul the environment (or even if it is), I don't see the free market as not being in effect. Once again Sparky you are deluded. LouieB

I think Sparky thinks we aren't somewhat educated at all. Look at Germany. Lost WWI, endured horrendous inflation between the wars, saw the rise and fall of Nazism in the 30s and 40s, Lost a devistating war and endured an occupation and being divided, rebuilt itself and is now a major economic support to the rest of Europe, despite some rather henious shit that went down there in the last century. Now one of our greatest allies and an economic powerhouse. All this in less than 100 years. I am NOT SUGGESTING THAT WE ARE LIKE GERMANY, but clearly even wars and economic collapse don't doom

Oh Sparky, get some help. Of course I don't believe the government is the solution to all our problems. Get real PLEASE!! You are embarrasing yourself. All I am am suggesting is that you throw up these crackpots as autorities when in fact they are nothing of the sort. Clearly the government isn't the solution to everything, but then neither is the private sector. What we really have to start doing is sitting down like adults with some clear vision and some common sense and figure out what the solution to our problems really are. That includes the astronomical debt, which I agree our gove

People have been saying this for hundreds of years. That's what the Civil War was about among many many other things. Step back and take a deep breath. I am sure those in Europe, Asia, Africa and just about every corner of the world have said that about what is going on in their countries as well. That's what the Taliban said and they went out and shot a 14 year old girl just to prove they were right. You really can't complain that no one is listening to all the Chicken Little's saying the sky is falling. Some things are a concern to be sure, I won't deny that, but the country is NOT comi

Well I sure hope Maria Juana gets to stay legally in Colorado. We need decent immigration reform somewhere. LouieB

It should be noted that Chicago has over 150 theater companies from the smallest store fronts to some of the most famous regional theaters (the Goodman being the most notable, though Pop Todd also mentioned Steppenwolf which is also highly recognized.) as well as Broadway caliber theaters mostly in the Loop. I always recommend that visitors to Chicago check out a show even if they are more music people. The level of talent here is amazing. You can see a production in a smallish theater that has about as good ensemble acting as anywhere you go. LouieB

Always indicate to the band what your screen names are on VC. There was a time when the band knew some of us by those and they may still. I don't know how much they pay attention to this BS anymore, but they used to. LouieB

Mr. H. Sorry I missed this posting first time out. Thanks a whole ton for quoting Media Matters. It is a wonderful antidote to Sparky's constant quoting of highly questionable "experts". These guys are no nonsense and not conspiricy theorists. Good work. They make the point I made in my previous post about the world gas market having nothing to do with the pipeline in question. LouieB

Even putting aside the pipeline as an environmental issue, or even putting it aside for the jobs it may or may not create, it won't help with energy independence because that oil goes to the refineries that then send it out to whatever part of the world market it is destined for. This entire argument is ridiculous. LouieB

Thanks for this. Experts are not always experts. I was going to post something similar. Supply and demand curve. Take Econ 101 and it is pretty clear. The cost of gas has nothing to do with much of anything including the price of crude oil. But supply and demand ultimately does even everything out. LouieB

As with everything Sparky posts here, it needs to be pointed out that Andrew P. Napolitano is a right wing ideologue who was according to Wikipedia was asked by Glen Beck to replace him on Fox news. I don't spend much time on any of this, but I always do feel it necesessary to check on these things because taking these things at face value is dangerous. Where mistakes made? Of course. Obama took responsibility for this at the debate the other night. In a dangerous and chaotic world shit happens. It is sad to be sure. Making a partisan issue out of this is even sadder. LouieB

He is desperate. This thing is basically over, but we just have to wait three weeks for the actual results. LouieB

Wow, what did I miss. Read my last post to Sparky a few pages back. I am done talking to the guy. LouieB

Well again my rap collection is tiny. Discussing it makes me realize I have at least some; 5 Public Enemy (4 LP and one CD) 1 Arrested Development 1 Eminem the Grey Album 1 free Das Rascist 1 early Beastie Boys I wish I had some early Sugar Hill records but don't. If my math is correct I have about .0016666 rap in my collection. (according to my calculator.) LouieB LouieB

So give it up. With three weeks to go, you voting for no one? Not only have I heard of him (I am relatively well informed....) but he showed up on one of the faux news shows awhile back, maybe the Daily Show. For the longest time CPUSA ran Gus Hall and all the other leftwing groups ran someone, just like the Greens always run someone. There are plenty of third party candidates this year I am sure. As usualy they have no money and also no new ideas. Let's hope Gary Johnson stays in the race, because it is going to help Obama in some states. LouieB

There are many different reasons people go see music and not all of it has to do with a transendental experience (Wilco). It could be that these kids just want to have fun and see someone that their peers relate to. While Justin Beiber may not be your cup of tea, that doesn't mean that he doesn't fill some need with them. Someday they may understand that Wilco is more important than Justin Beiber, but for now cut them some slack. (And save me having to tell the story of my daughter seeing Hansen with the Miller-Tweedys) LouieB

I guess you are done now too.....But you forgot Gary Johnson, pretty much the same too and a closet Republican. LouieB

Government is not the answer to anyone's problems. Isn't that what we keep hearing here. LouieB