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apogee
climber
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Jun 19, 2010 - 04:43pm PT
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"The reporting prior to the health care vote was all about counting votes and polling data. It should have been about costs and benefits."
John, if issue of healthcare reform had been approached across the board by various journalistic sources in a rational, reasonable manner, you can bet your arse that the result would have included true reform (probably with a PO), and not the fecked-up frankenstein bill that we got. Yes, in the final days/weeks of the bill, the media focussed on less relevant information, but the truth is that the issue never received the kind of thoughtful consideration that it deserved in the first place. Sadly, it just doesn't seem that Americans are interested in reasonable discussions- they'd rather watch and read extremists like TGT's example above, and sit in their partisan, closed-minded camps. By doing so, they relieve themselves of the responsibility to think carefully and completely, and they delude themselves that things will go their way, all the way, every time, and get very pissed off and when it doesn't.
Setting the closed-minded partisan phenomenon aside, a careful discussion on the issue of HCR would have brought us to the same core issues: what should the government's role be in the lives of citizens? Where should it's presence be strong, and where should it be non-existent? If entitlement programs are generally accepted and desired by the populace, what is the acceptable & reasonable level of benefit?
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Bob D'A
Trad climber
Boulder, CO
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Jun 19, 2010 - 07:23pm PT
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TGT posted...Despite the fact that he has some of the lowest approval ratings among recent presidents.
This is were you know the article is full of sh#t and written by a hater.
Reagan had way lower rating (in the low 30's) at the same point in his first term...he also didn't have two wars and the most severe recession in modern times to deal with.
TGT...you are a tool.
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jstan
climber
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Jun 19, 2010 - 09:18pm PT
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The US has been urging China to unpeg the Yuan(RMB) from the present dollar exchange rate and allow a decreased value of the dollar. This would both advance the competitiveness of US products in China and cause China to lose value in its very large dollar reserves, something under one trillion dollars. China has been allowing that reserve to decrease during the preceeding months.
The release below appears to say China will focus not on revaluing relative to the dollar but with regards to a basket of currencies, suggesting they are open to reducing the extent to which they use the dollar as a primary reserve currency. They suggest the valuation of the Yuan will be “more flexible” but since China’s trade is now "more balanced"( their monthly balance of payments(BOP) is less positive than it was previously), there will be no need to make a major adjustment.
This appears to be a measured response designed to protect their own economy while decreasing dependence on the dollar as a reserve currency. Nothing dramatic will happen but over the long term their reserves of dollars may be expected to continue decreasing and some upward pressure applied to interest rates in the US.
Yesterday Alan Greenspan suggested on Bloomberg that the US cannot continue going to the capital markets without being forced to pay higher interest. If this happens those presently holding treasuries may expect some decrease in market value.
Coincidently, I calculate yesterday’s report on the CPI indicates our annual inflation rate is holding steady at about 2.5%.
China Central Bank Statement on Yuan Exchange Rate (Text)
By Bloomberg News
June 19 (Bloomberg) -- The following is a reformatted version of the People’s Bank of China statement on exchange-rate policy posted on the central bank’s website today.
China’s currency, the renminbi (RMB), or yuan, has been held about 6.83 per dollar since July 2008 after the government allowed a 21 percent appreciation over the prior three years.
Further Reform the RMB Exchange Rate Regime and Enhance the RMB Exchange Rate Flexibility
In view of the recent economic situation and financial market developments at home and abroad, and the balance of payments (BOP) situation in China, the People’s Bank of China has decided to proceed further with reform of the RMB exchange rate regime and to enhance the RMB exchange rate flexibility.
Starting from July 21, 2005, China has moved into a managed floating exchange rate regime based on market supply and demand with reference to a basket of currencies. Since then, the reform of the RMB exchange rate regime has been making steady progress, producing the anticipated results and playing a positive role.
When the current round of international financial crisis was at its worst, the exchange rate of a number of sovereign currencies to the U.S. dollar depreciated by varying margins. The stability of the RMB exchange rate has played an important role in mitigating the crisis’ impact, contributing significantly to Asian and global recovery, and demonstrating China’s efforts in promoting global rebalancing.
The global economy is gradually recovering. The recovery and upturn of the Chinese economy has become more solid with the enhanced economic stability. It is desirable to proceed further with reform of the RMB exchange rate regime and increase the RMB exchange rate flexibility.
In further proceeding with reform of the RMB exchange rate regime, continued emphasis would be placed to reflecting market supply and demand with reference to a basket of currencies. The exchange rate floating bands will remain the same as previously announced in the inter-bank foreign exchange market.
China’s external trade is steadily becoming more balanced. The ratio of current account surplus to GDP, after a notable reduction in 2009, has been declining since the beginning of 2010. With the BOP account moving closer to equilibrium, the basis for large-scale appreciation of the RMB exchange rate does not exist. The People’s Bank of China will further enable market to play a fundamental role in resource allocation, promote a more balanced BOP account, maintain the RMB exchange rate basically stable at an adaptive and equilibrium level, and achieve the macroeconomic and financial stability in China.
For Related News and Information: China’s top stories: TOP CH <GO> Economy snapshot of China: ESNP CH <GO> Top currency news: TOP FX <GO> Yuan’s quarterly performance against dollar: CNY <Curncy> GP Q <GO>
Last Updated: June 19, 2010 08:41 EDT
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TGT
Social climber
So Cal
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Jun 19, 2010 - 11:03pm PT
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Day 61
BHO went golfing
BP went to a yacht race
and aren't the feds doing such a great job!
Bureaucracy frustrates U.S. Gulf oil spill efforts
19 Jun 2010 20:16:24 GMT
Source: Reuters
* Local officials frustrated by delays, red tape
* Barges halted for 24 hours for safety inspections
* Military-type chain of command urged
By Jeffrey Jones
GRAND ISLE, Louisiana, June 19 (Reuters) - Those on the front lines of the U.S. Gulf Coast oil spill say they are forced to fight two battles -- one against the crude washing into lush wetlands and another against needless bureaucracy.
Sixty-one days after the BP Plc <BP.L> well began spewing crude oil into the Gulf of Mexico, angry local officials blame dozens of federal agencies involved in approving response plans, a maze of regulations and poor coordination for their struggles beating back the slick.
"My experience has been frustration, too much red tape, no a sense of urgency. For the state and the coastal parishes that are directly affected to put forth a plan, you have to kick and scream every step of the way to get it approved," said John Young, council chairman for Jefferson Parish in Louisiana.
"The president said it's a war. I agree we're under siege, but if it was a war, we'd be occupied territory now."
It is time for President Barack Obama's administration to appoint an "oil spill czar" to streamline operations for the 31,000 people fighting the worst spill in U.S. history and avoid the costly delays, Young said as he prepared to board a boat to tour his region's fouled wetlands.
As a guide, many point to the arrival of U.S. Army General Russel Honore in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The tough-talking military man was credited with taking control and kick-starting the city's stalled rescue mission in the weeks after the storm.
Last week, the U.S. Coast Guard shut down 16 vacuum barges that were sucking up crude from Louisiana marshes. The units, which consist of trucks and tanks on barges that suck up thousands of gallons of crude, needed to be checked for stability and if they had life jackets and fire extinguishers.
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal had asked officials to inspect them quickly without bringing them back to dock. But the units sat idle for 24 hours before being allowed to travel back to oil-fouled Barataria Bay, Bay Jimmy and Pass A Loutre.
After 24 hours, the barges went back to work, and according to media reports, no inspections were performed.
On Friday, the Coast Guard shut down two more barges, prompting Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser to make an angry call the the White House, which ordered them back into operation, his office said.
Meanwhile, the oil keeps gushing into the Gulf at a rate now estimated as high as 60,000 barrels a day.
"NO STREAMLINED SYSTEM"
Jindal has blasted a lack of coordination between federal departments overseeing the fight and state and local officials waging it.
"It is frustrating because it doesn't seem like the left hand knows what the right hand is doing," he said recently. "There is no streamlined system here. This is why we keep stressing that we need to see more of a sense of urgency from the Coast Guard, federal officials and BP."
For its part, the Coast Guard said it supported the barge project, but had to ensure their safety.
The incidents followed a weeks-long effort by state and local officials to have a plan approved to construct sand berms to protect barrier islands from encroaching oil, an effort that is expected to cost $360 million.
Young said he supported a military-style chain of command where someone at the top has the power the make quick decisions putting response plans into action and making sure that crews have the equipment they need.
"Absolutely -- one person. Maybe they need an escrow account for that. Get one military person who knows the chain of command to get things done, because this is a war-type situation," Young said. "We can't be deciding and executing by committee because it's just not getting done." (Editing by Chris Wilson)
But then a committee always worked in academia and for community organizing?
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TGT
Social climber
So Cal
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Jun 19, 2010 - 11:28pm PT
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BHO is president
The Dims control both houses
You own the present failures.
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philo
Trad climber
Somewhere halfway over the rainbow
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Jun 19, 2010 - 11:37pm PT
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And you are a whore for disinformation teegeetee.
Not to mention being a weak and frightened little man.
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Bob D'A
Trad climber
Boulder, CO
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Jun 20, 2010 - 12:06am PT
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TGT...BHO is president
The Dims control both houses
You own the present failures.
Funny sh#t...every thing was Clinton fault from 2000-2006 when the republicans were in power.
The biggest bundle-f*#k in modern history is Iraq both in terms of human loss of life, our moral standing in the world and a huge financial burden that we may never recover from. And TGT talks about current failures.
What is wrong with the picture in his brain???
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rottingjohnny
Sport climber
mammoth lakes ca
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Jun 20, 2010 - 01:45am PT
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TGT...you are talking out somebody elses ass when you blame Obama for the current economical crisis.....Surely you knew the invasion of Iraq was going to cost a bundle? surely you knew giving the wealthy another tax break while bankrolling a 10 year war was going to have to be made up some where else in the pecking order of american tax payers..? and now you are trying to hang the blame on Obama...? you've become the point man for right wing drool on this forum and are rightfully receiving the heat from the more moderate posters whom you accuse of being far out liberals...i cringe when i think of the other alternative to Obama-Biden...McCain -Palin....McCain wasn't even aware that our country was in financial straits...Palin is all over the map and re-invents herself from month to month...Both are not viable choices...try thinking outside the box...RJ
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JEleazarian
Trad climber
Fresno CA
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Jun 20, 2010 - 03:00am PT
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Well, I guess that unbiased source settles it!
John
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philo
Trad climber
Somewhere halfway over the rainbow
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Jun 20, 2010 - 10:42am PT
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Yes it most certainly does!
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Bob D'A
Trad climber
Boulder, CO
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Jun 20, 2010 - 10:56am PT
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John wrote: Well, I guess that unbiased source settles it!
John
Well the facts would lead you to believe it.
There were no WMD's found in Iraq. We invaded a sovereign country.
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philo
Trad climber
Somewhere halfway over the rainbow
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Jun 20, 2010 - 11:32am PT
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The intent was already there. That is a known fact.
All that was missing was a sufficient pre-text to sell to the American sheeple.
Something that would really get the mouth breathers frothing and using the American flag to beat dissent to death. Hmm, what to do, what to do.
BAM! 911.
Fairly convenient.
Now they can wipe the crusty spittle off their chin and blame Barry Hussien and the evil nation of ANWAR.
It's a Clash of civ-OIL-ization.
Oh my.
A trillion or so dollars wisely invested in renewable energy systems would have gone much further towards energy independence than flushing it down Fatty's toilet has.
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philo
Trad climber
Somewhere halfway over the rainbow
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Jun 20, 2010 - 11:50am PT
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MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.
Now where is my flight jacket?
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bestill
Trad climber
s. ca.
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Jun 20, 2010 - 12:50pm PT
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republicans are just being what we normal people call stupid,ignant,short-sighted,bigoted and to keep the list short, as#@&%es.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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Jun 20, 2010 - 01:00pm PT
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Saddam was gassing the Kurds before the first Gulf war. For example, the notorious incident at Halabja in 1988, at the end of the Iraq-Iran war.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halabja_poison_gas_attack
About 5,000 immediately died. Iraq had also used poison gas against Iranian troops during their war - and vice versa.
After the first Gulf war, whatever the rhetoric, it's pretty clear that Iraq had very limited stocks of chemical or biological weapons, and essentially abandoned its nuclear program. The regime there continued to be repressive toward its own people, but was on a fairly short leash, and mostly used "conventional" means.
From Winston Churchill's memo to the War Office in 1919, recommending use of poison gas against Iraqi, then a British mandate:
I am strongly in favour of using poisoned gas against uncivilised tribes. The moral effect should be so good that the loss of life should be reduced to a minimum. It is not necessary to use only the most deadly gasses: gasses can be used which cause great inconvenience and would spread a lively terror and yet would leave no serious permanent effects on most of those affected. http://www.globalresearch.ca/articles/CHU407A.html
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philo
Trad climber
Somewhere halfway over the rainbow
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Jun 20, 2010 - 01:32pm PT
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Another fine deflection from reality.
I want to commend Dr F for this thread.
It's been maddeningly fun.
It has really reduced clutter on the forum.
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apogee
climber
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Jun 20, 2010 - 01:50pm PT
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Hear, hear!
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