gdp's Comments

Big Journalism : New York Times Uses False Data To Smear Koch Brothers

Wed, 29 Feb 2012 15:43:16 +0000

Not sure what you mean by that.

Big Government : Explaining Obama's Lethargic Reaction to High Gas Prices

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 19:42:44 +0000

The you misunderstood me. I was only pointing out that given that we're already exporting some of the gasoline we make here, it didn't seem to me that adding more supply was the answer. Given your info about exports to the Caribbean and the relative level of those exports, that fact might not be as important as I had assumed it to be. In any event though, I never said I didn't want more refining jobs. I never said I didn't want us to export that gasoline. I'd be super happy if we could build more refineries and create more jobs, assuming there is the capacity for it. I just don't think it would lower oil prices the same way that controlling the futures market would. And lowering oil prices would mean more money in our economy spent on things other than gas, which would mean more jobs for EVERYONE.

Big Journalism : New York Times Uses False Data To Smear Koch Brothers

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 19:29:52 +0000

Heartland has NOT denied the authenticity of the document referencing the Koch brothers. The only legitimate beef with the story is that they did not make it explicit that the Koch donation went to health issues, not climate science.

Big Government : Explaining Obama's Lethargic Reaction to High Gas Prices

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 19:15:37 +0000

No I get all of that. What I'm wondering is why you would assume that I'd prefer that jobs went outside the country. All I'm saying is that speculation is having an impact on oil prices, and we can't drill our way out of our energy problem. How that translates into me not wanting americans to have jobs is the part that confuses me.

Big Government : Explaining Obama's Lethargic Reaction to High Gas Prices

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 18:56:54 +0000

Where are you getting that from? All I'm saying is that speculation is raising prices. It's not like I'm a gay communist :)

Big Government : Explaining Obama's Lethargic Reaction to High Gas Prices

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 18:54:33 +0000

No, I know that speculators don't win all the time. And I definitely agree that speculators make their bets based on a huge amount of data and analysis. More like counting cards at blackjack than playing roulette. But all of that misses the point. The point is that it raises prices higher than they should be. The net effect is lower prices? Are you telling me that without speculation oil prices would be even HIGHER than they otherwise would be? Think of it this way: by placing contracts for oil that they never intend to actually purchase, speculators are injecting a huge amount of false demand into the economic equation. So prices go up.

Big Government : Obama Admin Hooks Up With Gay Activist Who Created Santorum Google Bomb

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 02:39:18 +0000

I know, me and the gay communists just don't know what to do with ourselves!

Big Government : Obama Admin Hooks Up With Gay Activist Who Created Santorum Google Bomb

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 00:20:34 +0000

No, I actually comment here pretty often, and on substantive issues. It's just when I see someone use the term "Gay Communist" in regards to an issue that as far as I can tell has nothing to do with a gay communist, I can't help but have a little fun with it.

Big Government : Explaining Obama's Lethargic Reaction to High Gas Prices

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 00:16:08 +0000

That might be true, but it's undeniable that supply is up and demand is down in the US. Basic economics should dictate that prices should go down, but they're not. And I don't deny that commodities futures markets have huge economic benefits for purchasers of commodities, and we need to preserve those. The problem is the people who take out futures contracts but NEVER actually buy the commodity (think Goldman Sachs). They're just placing bets in a casino, and we pay the bill. I'd like to see rules requiring you to actually be a purchaser of a commodity before you can take out a futures contract on it.

Big Government : Obama Admin Hooks Up With Gay Activist Who Created Santorum Google Bomb

Tue, 28 Feb 2012 00:03:02 +0000

The gay communists are everywhere! Look out!

Big Government : Explaining Obama's Lethargic Reaction to High Gas Prices

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 23:56:30 +0000

Drilling for more oil and gas in the U.S. isn't the way to lower gas prices. Demand in the U.S. has gone down so much that we are actually EXPORTING gasoline. The real problem is speculation in the futures market. Why isn't anyone going after that as a real, and immediate, solution to the problem? Why are we talking about adding more supply when we are shipping abroad the supply that we already have?

Big Journalism : Global Warming Lefties Commit Identity Theft to Target Conservative Think Tank

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 19:31:39 +0000

Here you go: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/arti... The investigation is still ongoing: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/dec/15...

Big Journalism : Global Warming Lefties Commit Identity Theft to Target Conservative Think Tank

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 23:37:03 +0000

Ah, so criminal acts are ok so long as they are done with the purpose of exposing what you believe to be illegal activity? Me, my J.D., and I think pretty much every law enforcement official in the country have a different opinion on that.

Big Journalism : Global Warming Lefties Commit Identity Theft to Target Conservative Think Tank

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 21:08:14 +0000

I assume then that you are equally angry at the illegal hacking used to get the "Climategate" emails, or at the identity theft committed by Project Veritas to demonstrate voter fraud. They should be investigated and prosecuted as well, shouldn't they?

Big Government : Texas Redistricting Dispute May Make State Irrelevant In GOP Nomination Battle

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 00:31:13 +0000

Dude, unless you want to claim that Republicans never try to block redistricting in states where Democrats control (take a look at California), then this is pointless partisanship. I'm not saying it's right because both sides do it, I'm just saying this is equal opportunity corruption. It needs to be fixed so NO party can create their own districts.

Big Government : Texas Redistricting Dispute May Make State Irrelevant In GOP Nomination Battle

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 00:18:07 +0000

I think the real problem here is allowing elected leaders to pick their voters, and not the other way around. There is no way a politician of ANY party would not try to use that power to benefit their party, Republican, Democrat or otherwise. It might be the way things are done, but I don't think anyone can seriously claim that this is good for democracy. California has taken a step in the right direction with the Citizens Redistricting Commission. I know it's California, but seriously take a look at it. It's not a bad idea.

Big Government : Texas Redistricting Dispute May Make State Irrelevant In GOP Nomination Battle

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 00:12:25 +0000

State Republicans have sued to block the new maps here in California, which were drawn by a Citizens Redistricting Commission, established by a democratically approved referendum. If Republicans lose power they sue, if Democrats lose power they sue. Same difference.

Big Journalism : No MSM, Santorum Is Not A Racist

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 23:28:09 +0000

I hardly think Santorum is a racist. I do think he makes some problematic assumptions though. Going back decades to the "welfare queen" concept, there are a lot of politicians who, when talking about welfare and food stamps, imply or outright say that black people or minorities are the primary recipients of those benefits. I think if you are at all honest, you have to admit that Santorum did not mean to say "blah people" in that video. He meant to say, and he did say, "black people". If he didn't, then what word did he really mean to say? He has never explained that. I don't think Santorum hates black people or wants them to be treated any differently anyone else, and to say that he does unfairly ascribes a malicious intent to what he said. "Racist" is a hand grenade of a term, and we shouldn't throw it around like a squad of Chinese soldiers (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57FG5vBLKvc). Sorry, I couldn't resist. But I do think he has made some assumptions that negatively affect his policy making, and I think if we are serious about making this country a better place we need to be honest about it.

Big Government : Immigration and Customs Enforcement Hires Officer to Chat With Detainees

Thu, 9 Feb 2012 20:29:39 +0000

Regardless of what ulterior motives you may ascribe to him, or that he might even claim for himself (I can't speak to what he may have said on PBS, haven't seen it) the bottom line is the RESULTS, which is that Obama has done more to combat illegal immigration than any other president. He is serious about fixing the problem, and his actions back it up.

Big Government : Immigration and Customs Enforcement Hires Officer to Chat With Detainees

Thu, 9 Feb 2012 19:53:27 +0000

I really don't understand how people can claim Obama does not want to enforce immigration law. If that's true, why has he deported a record number of illegal immigrants, and doubled the number of border patrol agents? And just as importantly, he is focused on deporting the illegal immigrants that pose the greatest danger to the country, those who have committed serious crimes in the country. I also think it's interesting that this article seems to assume that Mr. Lorenzen-Strait's job will be focused on working with illegal immigrants, as if immigration is a one-way (out) door. ICE does more than deport illegal immigrants. It handles LEGAL immigration requests, and works with resident aliens, asylum seekers and other folks who are involved in the immigration process. I think everyone agrees that we can do a better job handling immigration (including legal immigration), so doesn't it make sense to have someone talking to the people involved in the process to see whether it's working and whether it can be done better? I.e make government more efficient?