It’s been a delightfully slow news day here on the Mudflats. It’s cold and grey, and at 5:00 Alaska time, the pale orange sun has set over Cook Inlet. So it was nice, on this quiet, lazy day, to get a message from one of our favorite Mudflatters, and one we haven’t heard from in a while, Representative Les Gara. No gripping press releases or dragon slaying this time….just a nice election update.
*****************************
I thought I’d offer you the kind of election analysis you just can’t buy. Mostly because it’s not worth that much.
The Mark Begich-Ted Stevens race remains too close to call, and word is we might have some new numbers soon. My good friend Ethan Berkowitz (we’ve been friends from long before either of us stumbled into politics) has an outside chance of closing his gap against Congressman Don Young, but the gap in that race is pretty substantial right now. And we have a roughly half dozen State House and Senate races with less than 200 vote differences that could change too.
Also – Friday the State Senate organized a bi-partisan coalition across party lines (applause); but the House Republicans have so far declined offers to do the same (no applause). We’re still working on them, but right now it’s a 22 Republican, 18 Democrat, with 5 House races still to be decided. I think the news story that the Republicans have closed the door on a bi-partisan coalition was as premature as the decision by the Republican leadership was unwise. We’ll see if the newspaper got this one wrong. At least they should have done a little investigation before simply repeating the press release they received from Republican House members yesterday. Don’t get me started on the state of our newspapers – where staff has been cut so much that “he said she said” stories, and stories that just take politician statements at face value, have become too common. Anyway – many of my colleagues and I are still promoting a bi-partisan coalition in the House. It’s an uphill, but worthy effort.
Closest to home – I need to announce that I beat no one. Don’t worry (or celebrate, depending on your views). I didn’t lose. It’s just that no one ran against me (I did have an opponent in the August Primary). The good news – or at least what I’ve emphasized for my mother – is that I got something like 95% of the vote. The bad news is that 5% either didn’t feel like filling out their ovals, or decided, um… Maybe it’s better if I don’t think about that.
Mudflats 
Thanks for the update…holding thumbs !
What Zim said!
I can’t wait for this to be over. Well, yes I can if it comes out right! At least I can feel a lot better knowing mudpuppies will be there counting.
Go Les!
Can someone from Alaska please explain to me (uneducated Canadian on US elections) why on earth Alaska is so far behind the lower 48 states and the counting of ballots? I just can’t come to any understanding of this all. So confused. : \
Because the election was so close in the Senate and House races, and some local races, it’s reasonable to assume that absentee ballots coming from outside the state would potentially make a difference in the outcome. Absentee ballots are accepted up to 10 days after election day. So that’s why they are waiting. AKM
Nisperos (17:13:42) :
Go Les!
———
Ditto!
Great to know that he’s so wonderful nobody had the chutzpah to run against him.
top 10?
Les Gara for Governor! Has an awfully nice ring to it, doesn’t it?
Please keep the updates coming… Alaska and Minnesota are like a methadone clinic to my political blog addiction! Also, your frequent updates justify my checking your site 20 times a day.
Keep up the good work Les Gara, and I was impressed how you held fast with your interview with Stapleton. You’ve got great guts, and should be commended for your hard work to get the truth out.
Les Gara…our hero!
Chatted with Meg lately, Les?
Haahhahahaha-)
les gara is my hero.
lock pepper in honolulu (17:21:06) :
Les Gara…our hero!
Chatted with Meg lately, Les?
Haahhahahaha-)
————
Bet Meg prays every night that she never has to chat with Les again. Shame on her for her lying ways.
Thanks for the update. Glad you guys get to keep Les. Knew they couldn’t beat him so they didn’t even bother trying 😉
“Bet Meg prays every night that she never has to chat with Les again. Shame on her for her lying ways.”
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Got that right–he whupped her behinee!
lock pepper in honolulu (17:24:49) :
Wanna bet Meg reads this blog religiously? Hey, Meg, how’s your integrity hanging?
I am glad mr garg is there…he is one of the good guys
MR GARA..sorry about the name
I keep wondering who will throw whom under the bus first: Palin or Meghan. Is Palin done using Meghan like the paper-towel she appears to be, or is Meg tired of being stepped on and left behind? Or are they still BFF’s? I don’t know how far behind Meg had to trail before the Queen went off on her grand journey, but she seemed like she was relegated pretty far back at the “Welcome Home” freeze fest. Looking forward to seeing how that plays out
OT – just saw the most hillarious halloween costumes of Sarah Palin and Bristol (I think Bristol Palin is looking for Russia) over at http://pbandrazz.wordpress.com The entry is Oct 31. If you scroll down a couple other entries to Oct 28, you can see two guys (one in drag) singing a song which is… well, it’s like looking at a bad accident. But funny!
Mr. Garg–I had to laugh out loud! it’s that time of day where I get slap happy…
He GARGED Meg alrighty! You betcha, also, too 🙂
Lance the Boil aka Crust Scramble (17:27:00) :
Wanna bet Meg reads this blog religiously? Hey, Meg, how’s your integrity hanging?
_________________________
It’s not hanging because she sold it to idiots who could care less about her or her state. She’d better hope Wal*Mart is hiring.
sauerkraut aka road apples palin (17:44:44) :
Wal*Mart. Don’t they do a background check?
concernedcanadian (17:15:35) :
“Can someone from Alaska please explain to me (uneducated Canadian on US elections) why on earth Alaska is so far behind the lower 48 states and the counting of ballots?”
I can suggest some theories from an outsiders’ perspective. The first is the Chilly North theory – things are so cold they just slow down. But the problem with that is North Caroline should have performed much better. The second is the Way-Laid back theory (what’s the rush dude, it doesn’t have to be certified till end of the month) except Washington State and California should have been a lot slower. The third is the Sarah Palin Diebold conspiracy theory. The results were pre-programmed in a chip and delivered to Sarah’s on the campaign trail. She rushed back to Alaska to deliver it on election day, but found she had left it in one of her new suits. Now they’re having to search through all of them for it so they can deliver the results. That also explains the Republican lawyer and he delay in returning the clothes.
Of course there are other people who offer more mundane explanations such as the geographical challenges of delivery ballot boxes over wide expanses, the high ratio of write and early ballots, the need to hand count etc., but they’re not very much fun and don’t seem to make sense particularly in contrast with Canada which has the same problems.
It’s good to see the Alaskan electorate has retained the services on very smart dude. Much smarter than 1st Dud and… whatever you call her.
Here’s to hoping that Alaskans continue to seek smart people to elect into public office.
good lord… did that last one come out as cohert as Palinese? gads… best start proofing before posting.
Does Wal*Mart do background checks… not on the illegals who build their stores, they don’t.
Hiya, Meg–we know you’re out there…yoohoo!
Any regrets?
sauerkraut aka road apples palin (17:49:59) :
I can’t say that I never shop Wal*Mart, but I rarely shop Wal*Mart. I hate it that they try to keep most of their employees at part time, so they don’t have to pay healthcare or workers comp, etc. I hate it that most of their stuff is ‘Made in China’. Don’t know what their corporate welfare encompasses, but I know they participate.
I’m thinking it’s time for me to join the Free Republic in a boycott, except since I already don’t watch Fox, I’ll boycott WallyWorld.
lock pepper in honolulu (17:56:17) :
Hiya, Meg–we know you’re out there…yoohoo!
Any regrets?
———
I doubt she’s deep enough to have regrets, besides she’s probably lusting after more than those paltry 15 minutes worth of fame she recently received. She’s like Sarah. She’s gone to her head!
You’re right Lance–she’s probably come undone also, too.
wouldn’t it be fun if she answered me though? I’m laughing out loud again…
YAY! Another Wal*Mart shopper sees the light!
I stepped in one once, but have never spent a dime there. In 94 I read an article in Rolling Stone about them selling censored music and I replied to the editor that I would never shot there. My letter was published so I stood by my word and never shopped there. It was years later I realized how evil they actually are.
The fact Michelle Obama was tied to Wal*Mart almost made me stop looking at Obama.
How is MO tied to wal mart?
concernedcanadian (17:15:35) :
“Can someone from Alaska please explain to me (uneducated Canadian on US elections) why on earth Alaska is so far behind the lower 48 states and the counting of ballots?”
Alaska isn’t really “so far behind”.
You see this sort of thing when races are really close.
Let’s say you have a race where Sarah is beating Joe by 100,000 votes. And let’s say you have 10,000 absentee ballots not yet counted and 1000 provisional ballots also not yet counted. There is no way that Joe can catch up, so the results are posted and Sarah becomes the head dog catcher.
On the other hand let’s say the gap is only in the 10’s or 100’s of votes. Well then, those 10,000 absentee ballots that are still coming in could well make a difference. Add to that maybe you’ve got a 1000 or so ballots the machine just didn’t read… Then you’ve got a case like Alaska or Minnesota where you need to do a hand count. Minnesota has a couple of million ballots that they are even now sorting into Al and Norm piles in preparation of doing a hand count, then there will be the pile where someone needs to decide “what was the intent of these 2 marks?
The sad fact of life with elections is rarely is every vote counted. Usually it doesn’t matter, but every so often you live in interesting times.
lock pepper in honolulu (18:01:18) :
wouldn’t it be fun if she answered me though? I’m laughing out loud again…
———–
It’d be hilarious. Wonder what her moniker is. Do you think she’s commented on anything or has she just been lurking?
ooops Shop…I don’t shoot lol
wait…unless you count the kitty getting his insulin, but I don’t shoot guns .
what if…what if…her moniker is CRUST SCRAMBLE?
Just kidding…laughing at my foolish self.
She might be one of those trolls that AKM threw into the muck…
Actually, I checked the baby name generator and Meghan Stapleton would be “Fire Patriot Palin” if she were going by that name. 🙂 And just because I was there, Sarah Palin would be Flack Gobbler Palin, and Todd is Khaki Salmon. Somehow Flack Gobbler seems so fitting somehow… AKM (aka Engine Nighthawk Palin)
MO was at one point working for a Wal*Mart Vendor. She was on the board or something. Tree Foods I think. But she quit.
concernedcanadian: Alaska has a lot of mail in ballots due to the military, and they have a lot of rural people who only do mail in ballots etc..
In the lower 48 the population is more, and they just call it if the mail in ballots will not have much effect.
The final count in the collective us will be done by the 16th of November.
MO was at one point working for a Wal*Mart Vendor. She was on the board or something. Tree Foods I think. But she quit.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Phew–because she’s my new heroine!
lock pepper in honolulu (18:06:28) :
what if…what if…her moniker is CRUST SCRAMBLE?
————-
What have you been smoking? And here I was about to ask for your help.
————
Meghan, let us help you find a mudpuppy name. I’ll start
1) Don’t hate me because I’m a Liar for Sarah
LOL
It just was because I dislike Wal*Mart THAT much. They are NOT a good corporation no matter “how green” they go.
I am pro union and pro mom and pop. Wal*Mart destroyed many small towns and local businesses. Don’t get me started, my list is long and although I would like some of their low low prices, I am sure…I just can’t sell my soul and participate in that cycle. It’s a small battle, but it’s mine:D
I heart Les Gara! The world needs more Les Garas.
@(17:46:40) : “Can someone from Alaska please explain to me (uneducated Canadian on US elections) why on earth Alaska is so far behind the lower 48 states and the counting of ballots?”
———–
It’s a very big state, for one thing. But I know slow counting isn’t exclusive to Alaska. There are plenty of slow counting states in the lower 48. Minnesota is still counting and then will recount for the Senate race. Others states are also still counting, esp. absentee ballots, but you won’t hear about it because the races aren’t close.
@ Lance the Boil aka Crust Scramble
Meg’s been biding her time, waiting for the Repub lawyer to track down the looted clothes and then for AKM to provide details of the sizes, colours, etc.
Then, and only then, she’ll break her silence here and, after sending her mom down to be first in line at the thrift shop, she’ll agitate for an immediate disposal and donation.
Clothes do make the woman, and Meg is just 12 outfits away from running for President in 2012 (just think what an attraction she’d be to the Repugs: a candidate with a prepaid wardrobe!!).
Hi.
My name is Meg.
And I’m a liar. And idiot. And suckup. And (fill in the blank).
j/k
ah, nuts.
forgot about the avatar.
Whabs, Seattle, WA. (18:11:34) :
LOL
It just was because I dislike Wal*Mart THAT much. They are NOT a good corporation no matter “how green” they go.
I am pro union and pro mom and pop. Wal*Mart destroyed many small towns and local businesses. Don’t get me started, my list is long and although I would like some of their low low prices, I am sure…I just can’t sell my soul and participate in that cycle. It’s a small battle, but it’s mine:D
———–
And it’s my battle too, Whabs. Mom and Pops all the way. Eat local, shop local, etc. etc. If you get started there’ll be two of us on a rampage…so let’s not go there. But it’s nice to know we’re comrades! 🙂
Latest news 11/10/2008- Wasilla residents compare their beloved Sarah to Queen of England – read it and puke – includes a REAL photo of Sarah proudly wearing a “Proud to be Valley Trash” tee-shirt (circa 2004):
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/nov/10/sarah-palin-republican
Sauerkraut aka road apple palin (18:17:30) :
ah, nuts.
forgot about the avatar.
——–
ha ha! busted!!
halcrow (18:13:45) :
Clothes do make the woman, and Meg is just 12 outfits away from running for President in 2012 (just think what an attraction she’d be to the Repugs: a candidate with a prepaid wardrobe!!).
———-
Yeah, Meg, you need to sidle up next to Newt. You’ve probably got a lot less baggage (surely you can get 12 outfits in less than 17 suitcases) than Sarah and aren’t you single? Latch onto Newt and y’all could both get another 15 minutes of fame.
Here’s a metaphor:
Always, always… keep an eye on the deceiving Republican dragon and it’s tail.
The dragon cannot be trusted. They who were ready to give Palin a tiara along with power and authority. Do not assume that the current defeat is a mortal wound.
Keep watch on Sarah, that wild beast of a woman who started out owning 7 pairs of glasses like John McCain’s 7 houses: http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/retail/2008-09-03-palin-glasses_N.htm
“…Palin told Leedham that she owned seven pairs of glasses. The frames that Palin picked ‘help her look fashion-forward,’ Leedham says….”
No wonder Sarah has such a good imagination, having grown up around creatures which come out of the sea, and other wild animals including a cougar, a bear, a mountain lion, and the jaws of a mammoth. Where do you think that wild beast personality comes from? And, don’t doubt that she continues to seek prey.
Natural first parents. Chuck and Sally Heath’s lives emphasize an affinity with wilderness. By Melissa DeVaughe, Anchorage Daily News, 11/18/07: http://www.adn.com/sarah-palin/background/story/142260.html
“…Hanging along the railing of the house’s loft are enough furs to keep a village warm.
Chuck Heath can identify each one — and its origin. There are seals, otters, foxes, wolves, beaver and wolverines. Even a cougar.
There’s a story in almost every item. The antlers with the scratches? They’re from squirrels, which gnaw on the hard antlers for nutrition, he said.
The chunk of what looks like petrified wood? It’s a mammoth femur. Right next to it is a mammoth jaw with two upper teeth, two lower teeth. The massive animals used those jaws to grind their food with unimaginable force…”
Sarah Heath Palin, an Outsider Who Charms. By William Yardley with Jo Becker, Mike McIntire and David D. Kirkpatrick, 8/29/08, NYT: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/30/us/politics/30palin.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
Check out the link for a picture of Governor Palin’s office with a grizzly bear her father shot and whose hide is now draped over her office sofa and a giant crab on the coffee table…
World’s gaze falls on Wasilla, Palin’s parents. Amid swarm, Chuck Heath says: ‘I just hate not being hospitable’. By Beth Bragg, Anchorage Daily News, 9/1/08: http://www.adn.com/sarahpalin/story/512321.html
“…From the New York Daily News, whose reporter visited Chuck and Sally Heath: ‘Scores of reporters descended Saturday on the A-frame wood hunting lodge where Sarah Palin’s parents live amid hundreds of sets of trophy antlers and a taxidermy collection that includes a giant moose head and a full-grown mountain lion.’…”
As Dorothy would say, “Lions and tigers and bears! Oh, my!” Just “follow the yellow brick road, follow the yellow brick road, follow the yellow brick road”… and you’re sure to get to Oz…
But please, no rider on a snowmobile wearing bright red shoes and permitted to take peace from the earth. And no pale hydroplane or helicopter with lots of horsepower and with a rider allowed to kill directly and by gaining wealth, imparting poverty, and destroying our land and water.
which reminds me?…have you been here/…I laughed so hard I think I hurt myself..check it out..
http://www.teenmomsforpalin.com/
Deborah and Whabs,
I’m with ya!
Walmart is just plain evil. I’ve been boycotting for years. But don’t blame MO for having sat on the board for one of their suppliers. I’d be willing to bet it was back in her corporate law firm days. Those law firms will send their associates to be on the board of just about anything that moves. Good for her for quitting (and abandoning the law firm for something worthwhile, also)!
AKM & Les Gara, thank you for the guest update.
I was so happy to see the “Russian” ode to sarah again (oh, c’mon, those guys live in Jersey). I’d forgotten how happy it made me when I saw it the first time.
Some reason my posts keep ending up in the spam cache?
Northern Quilter AK (18:23:48) :
Deborah and Whabs,
I’m with ya!
——-
Hooray!! We should start a mudflats chapter for those committed to going local! Charter members: Whabs, Northern Quilter, Deborah (upnorth)! What shall we call ourselves?
I do my part when ever I can to spread the message of “don’t shop at Walzmart” and why they should not shop there. Got my current husband to stop, got a friend to stop, got family members to stop. And I too don’t care how “green” they think they are…they are still black at heart
@Lance
No fair making me almost wet my pants with your Palin name for “Our Friend” Meg
oops sorry “mudpuppy” name. should have looked before typing *blush*
Must see:
Just when I thought I might get to bed I come across this account of Obama’s first meeting with Bush:
The two men shook hands and then, according to Obama, Bush turned to an aide, “who squirted a big dollop of hand sanitizer in the president’s hand.”
http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/11/09/bush-obama-meeting-hard-feelings-hand-sanitier/
I don’t have it left in me to even comment.
RE: Walmart – hated in Canadian labour movement (yes, we spell labour with a u). closed a store in Jonquière, Quebec because some of the employees (not even all of them, just the garage) had the audacity to join a union:
Jonquiere, Quebec (22 Dec. 2005) – Wal-Mart has been found guilty by the Quebec labour board of closing its Jonquiere store last spring to avoid dealing with unionized workers – not because it was losing money as it claimed at the time.
After hearing four of 79 illegal dismissal complaints filed by workers at the store, the board concluded that the Arkansas-based retail giant had acted in violation of Quebec law and that it fired the workers unfairly.
The employees were dismissed because they were engaging in legal union activities, the board ruled.
One fact entered in evidence was that the company has yet to rescind a 20-year lease on its premises in Jonquiere. No attempt has been made to sublet the space, indicating that the company is keeping its options for the future open.
The board has ruled that Wal-Mart must compensate workers for its actions. Appropriate remedies will be decided later.
http://www.nupge.ca/news_2005/n22de05a.htm
Born in Honolulu? Mayb, but the Irish have claimed Obama as being of Irish descent!!
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/us_elections_2008/7718583.stm
deborah aka upnorth (also hose hotrod) (18:27:56) :
Northern Quilter AK (18:23:48) :
Deborah and Whabs,
I’m with ya!
——-
Hooray!! We should start a mudflats chapter for those committed to going local! Charter members: Whabs, Northern Quilter, Deborah (upnorth)! What shall we call ourselves?
How about “Rich Enough To Choose”? *Sigh*.
You do realize that there are a few million people in this country who can’t afford mom-and-pop prices, right?
@Forty Watt
Hand Sanitizer? Say it ain’t so! All right. That’s it. No mercy! None, zero, zip, nada. If that doesn’t unleash vigilance and determination, nothing will.
Problem,
I’m at peace with my choice to continue to support Obama after Michelle stepped down!
Nisperos – I see and read your comment with the many links! Going to check out the items on those links now.
What shall we call ourselves?
Ummm…Intelligent?
I realize it is a vicious cycle and that people who shop there because they have to, can’t be faulted for what was allowed to happen to our local business.
I am only one…but I am not alone!
@Ira2—
How about “Rich Enough To Choose”? *Sigh*.
You do realize that there are a few million people in this country who can’t afford mom-and-pop prices, right?
—–
Ouchy, ouch, ouch! Well said, Ira. And, yes, of course I realize that. My greatest hope is that we can somehow eliminate the breaks and taxcuts and loopholes and exploitative labor of the Walmarts, so that Mom and Pop have a more level playing field and can get their prices down too. But thanks, thanks, thanks for the wise words.
Fire Patriot Palin….Sarah Palin would be Flack Gobbler Palin….Todd is Khaki Salmon. Somehow Flack Gobbler seems so fitting somehow… AKM (aka Engine Nighthawk Palin)
Loved every one of those names–I am Comando Coalfire…! Who ever came up with that name generator was a genius! Whoever came up with that Palin as President site is also a genius.
AKM (aka Engine Nighthawk Palin), you are definitely a genius!
Speaking of taking awhile to count votes, I heard that Missouri may still be in play, not that it matters a great deal. I belive McCain won the state by only about 4,000 votes and there are more than 7,000 provisional ballots to go through. The odds are long but every red state that changes color brings a smile to my face.
Gag just heard SP will be on the Today show on Tuesday showing off her home to Matt Lauer. Gotta milk the last of her current 15 minutes of fame. I’d like to treat her like a troll…turn my back and ignore the monster.
deborah aka upnorth (also hose hotrod) (18:27:56)
Hooray!! We should start a mudflats chapter for those committed to going local! Charter members: Whabs, Northern Quilter, Deborah (upnorth)! What shall we call ourselves?
________________________
I’m with you. Whabs, et al, on this. It’s nice to see so many of us here who vote with our pocketbooks, too. It also bothers me that Wal-Mart imports so much from China (of course, plenty of others are just as guilty).
FYI – if you haven’t had enough of Sarah – she apparently will be interviewed by Matt Lauer on the Today Show tomorrow – in her Alaskan home. Everyone from Wasilla area – take notes of the interior of her home and look for comparisons to the Hockey Stadium!
Good night, all. I will join you again tomorrow when we hopefully will have a plan to bring down both Wal-Mart and the remaining repugs. (Always audaciously hopeful.) Love and peace.
Nisperos (18:20:10) :
“…Palin told Leedham that she owned seven pairs of glasses. The frames that Palin picked ‘help her look fashion-forward,’ Leedham says….”
NO DOUBT IN AN EFFORT TO KEEP HER FROM APPEARING SO @SS BACKWARDS!
Can someone from Alaska please explain to me (uneducated Canadian on US elections) why on earth Alaska is so far behind the lower 48 states and the counting of ballots? I just can’t come to any understanding of this all. So confused. : \
Because the election was so close in the Senate and House races, and some local races, it’s reasonable to assume that absentee ballots coming from outside the state would potentially make a difference in the outcome. Absentee ballots are accepted up to 10 days after election day. So that’s why they are waiting. AKM
Thank-you, AKM for answering my question.
deborah aka upnorth (also hose hotrod) (18:54:42) :
@Ira2—
How about “Rich Enough To Choose”? *Sigh*.
You do realize that there are a few million people in this country who can’t afford mom-and-pop prices, right?
—–
Ouchy, ouch, ouch! Well said, Ira. And, yes, of course I realize that. My greatest hope is that we can somehow eliminate the breaks and taxcuts and loopholes and exploitative labor of the Walmarts, so that Mom and Pop have a more level playing field and can get their prices down too. But thanks, thanks, thanks for the wise words.
Yer welcome :o) It really grates on me that I’m one of the many who have no choice. “Local” shopping would be 7 miles down the highway. I like the little grocery store, I like that it has a gas station attached, the drug store is in that same town, a small hardware store, banks – pretty much everything I with my little lifestyle could possibly need. And yet – I just can’t shop there.
Gas is usually about 10 cents higher per gallon than what I pay at Walmart with my 3-cents-off-per-gallon card. My monthly gas budget is $20 no matter what the gas prices are (even when they hovered around $4 a gallon). Milk is consistently about 80 cents more per gallon in town than it is at Walmart. I use a LOT of milk, and since I got a hand-me-down fridge that’s almost full-sized, I buy it 5 gallons at a time. Produce is totally out of reach at the “local” store and almost unaffordable at Walmart… if I want anything fresh, I have to grow it myself or “splurge” occasionally at the big store of bad ethics.
If it was a matter of making a choice between “no candy this month in favor of a head of lettuce”, it’d be doable. But with $44 in food stamps, I’m wayyyyy beyond that kind of thing. It’s more like “eat or don’t eat”.
It sucks.
Oh well. One of these days, a miracle will happen and I’ll find a way to earn money and then I’ll join the club :o)
I think that WalMart operates with profit margins which mom and pops can only dream of.
That is mainly because WalMart has the clout and buying power to squeeze price concessions from manufacturers, and they in turn pass some of those concessions on to the customers; however, squeezing manufacturers in Asia who already exploit their workers only reduces the workers’ wages, as raw material costs are pretty much fixed.
I try to avoid buying from-China goods, mainly because of the unknown quality and potential hazards, but it’s very difficult to buy real made-in-USA or Canadian-manufactured product anymore.
The garment industry in Canada in the 1980s employed tens of thousands of workers at decent wages; the flood of imports killed their jobs and, because they were basically unskilled workers, they had to scramble to try to get something in the service industries…where the employers want cute.
The retail price on T-shirts may have dropped from $10 bucks to $9 bucks, but the retailer was buying them out of Asia for $3 and marking them up 200 per cent. The $10 shirt was bought for $4.20, and marked up only 140 per cent.
Tom,
Where are the top great American Universities? Harvard, Priceton, Yale, Dartmuth, Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Stanford, University of Chicago, West Point,
Air forse Acadamy, Chapel Hill, Penn, Amherst, Carnegie Mellon, MIT, CIT etc., etc. etc. etc. Blue states. Cannot think of many TOP universities in red states except maybe Rice.
Where are the great centers of business and innovation? Silicon Valley, Wall Street, Chicago, etc. etc. etc.
Blue states
What states have populations with the highest average education and IQs for the general population?
Georgia? (no) Mississippi? (no) Alabama? (no) West Virginia (no),
Hmmm. I can only name blue states.
I suspect if the red states were to split off, I don’t think we would be missing much ecomonically.
No disrespect to Alaska. It belongs with the blues but is presently enslaved by red polititians who have sayed in power by bringing home ear marks.
264 Crayons (19:04:20) :
Gag just heard SP will be on the Today show on Tuesday showing off her home to Matt Lauer.
~~~
Is she freaking STUPID?
Air Force (which there was spell check on this)
grrrr. I mean wish.
This just in (from Greta of FOX News interview to air tomorrow):
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/homepage/story/55562.html
Sarah says “I am Trig’s mom.” She asks if we want to see medical records to prove it. Yup, I DO, I DO!
264 Crayons (19:04:20) :
Gag just heard SP will be on the Today show on Tuesday showing off her home to Matt Lauer.
~~~
Is she freaking STUPID?
Whabs – if you are still here. No, I didn’t know George Karn. I’ll bet he was one heck of a guy! 🙂
Been surfing…
That lovely ‘Yes we can’
{http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jjXyqcx-mYY&feature=related}
Love it 😀
ira2 (18:50:18)
I understand. We are not rich, by any means. Single income (thankfully,greatfully union) and I have a serious illness. We give up a lot for my by local/organic obsession. You buy what you can afford. The hope, atleast from my perspective, is that the more people that we can get to buy local the more it will become the norm and hopefully affordable for all. If you can only afford, say the farmers market once the whole summer, that counts for me and you’ve bought local and that helps. More important to live within your budget. I’m not going to disinclude (is that a word?) anyone who would if they could. We eat a lot of rice at our house….
Whabs, Seattle, WA. (19:19:11) :
264 Crayons (19:04:20) :
Gag just heard SP will be on the Today show on Tuesday showing off her home to Matt Lauer.
~~~
Is she freaking STUPID?
————–
Pretty smart, lol. The show was taped before the State of Alaska/ Town of Wasilla slapped the lien signs on (remember Housegate?).
I see where Greata V is in Alaska tonight. Ate Moose chile that Sarah made. YIKES!!!! Dude gave her a ride on his snowmobile.
Wonder if Bristow will be in any of the video to be shown on Fox News tomorrow night. Still PG???? Will be interesting to hear /see just what they are all up to.
Odd question I know, but he knew a lot of people in Anchorage.
This may be news too:
Source: McClatchy Newspapers
WASILLA, Alaska — Gov. Sarah Palin blames the Bush administration for the failure of the McCain-Palin ticket, thinks people need to move on from the so-called “troopergate” controversy and has no plans to stop charging the state per diem for time at her home in Wasilla or having state-funded travel for her children.
Palin also said she loved her time in the national spotlight and won’t rule out a run for president or vice president in 2012.
Those were some of Palin’s responses to questions posed Sunday afternoon in a wide-ranging interview with the Anchorage Daily News and KTUU Channel 2 at the governor’s Wasilla home.
i have posted this before..but for those of you have not read it is really cool….our new president elect has always been a nice guy….this is a letter from a women 20 years ago that he helped out at a airport….he paid to have her lugggage sent home for her….I had another link at one time that actually showed the business card with his name on it……..
http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/25/654354
…another…?
Obama wire sculpture
{http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNUIFJ7xBNc}
Further to my last post, thanks to everyone else that gave an explanation of why the voting system in Alaska seems slow.
I didn’t realize that they allow 10 days, and I’m assuming 10 business days for absentee ballots to come in. I don’t remember how our Canadian Absentee Ballot works, but it seems in Canada, the election is over pretty much by the next morning with close counts in areas. It sounds like absentee voting in the U.S. is allowed to take place right up, and until the time the poles open as to when you send your ballot in the mail. It seems a little obscure to me, but then again, Canada is a small nation as compared to the U.S.
halcrow (19:21:15)
Pretty smart, lol. The show was taped before the State of Alaska/ Town of Wasilla slapped the lien signs on (remember Housegate?).
Seriously, Halcrow? wow
Exponentially Ignorant.
Is that applicable?
HAHAHA
Exponentially Ignorant
Palin 2012
You’re kidding me, right???
@ Sparky (19:24:03)
Well, there won’t be any lien signs in evidence on the show, and hopefully, if the Housegate allegations are correct, then someone would want the gimmes paid for.
Only wishful thinking at this point in time.
Lacy Lady (19:21:39) :
I see where Greata V is in Alaska tonight. Ate Moose chile that Sarah made. YIKES!!!! Dude gave her a ride on his snowmobile.
Wonder if Bristow will be in any of the video to be shown on Fox News tomorrow night. Still PG???? Will be interesting to hear /see just what they are all up to.
You are kidding, right?? Please tell me you are kidding? lol
Ira2
You grow some of your own food – you’ve got me beat! More power to ya!
Thanks Les, and everyone for the entertaining comments. I never, ever shop at Walmart. We have a family owned grocery store within a mile. We have a family owned anything within a mile. I love this place.
The thing that would kill Walmart is unionizing. When the new labor law is passed and people begin unionizing again, Walmart can’t close them all.
I shop in Walmart for certain things I can’t get anywhere else. In the sticks it is like that. However, I’ve noticed that their prices are going up and the crowds are not what they once were.
Can anyone explain to me why they rearrange the store every few months. It makes me and everyone I know nuts. How can it make good business sense? For price savings Aldi’s is better and they pay top wages (German company) as well as see that their workers aren’t on their feet all day
I don’t like Wal*Mart, and don’t shop there unless it saves me a trip to “town”. Wal*Mart is 7 miles away, while “town” (Las Vegas NV) is almost 70 miles. There are times and instances that one simply can’t vote with their wallet, not without wasting too-precious resources in the process, in this case fuel and money. Sometimes, resistance really IS futile.
Hick Town in W PA
if you have to wander around the store looking for what you came in for, walmart is hoping that you will find and buy things you “need” that you wouldn’t have bought had you been able to go straight to your item. They are hoping to make more money off you.
I’ve probably only shopped at WalMart twice – out of desperation when I couldn’t find what I needed elsewhere – but I confess to buying gas at Sam’s Club. I rationalize this by thinking that I’m only “hurting” big oil, and that doesn’t worry me one bit! I’ve been annoying my friends with my anti-WalMart message for years, and now most of them don’t shop there, either, although I can’t seem to convince my spouse (grrr) – he hates to shop (so doesn’t do this often) and WalMart definitely has a “one-stop” appeal.
But w/ the economy tanking, I think the number of people who can’t afford alternatives is going to get higher. The main alternative around here is Target – anyone know if their corporate policies are any better? Sad to say, not many mom-and-pops left.
This is sad news – if the baby wolf cubs dare to explore outside their dens, they will be treated as adults and killed. Makes me cry.
Associated Press – November 9, 2008 6:44 PM ET
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) – The Alaska Department of Fish and Game says the killing of wolf pups in dens will still be allowed, but only if there are no other options.
The agency clarified its policy at a state Board of Game meeting in Juneau on Friday.
The action comes in the wake of public outrage for the killing 14 wolf pups without the agency telling the public or the Board of Game beforehand.
Critics say the agency did not do enough to find homes for the pups, which were orphaned in June after adult wolves were killed as part of the state’s predator control program.
Under the Fish and Game policy, pups found outside dens will be treated as adults.
ira2 (19:13:08) :
deborah aka upnorth (also hose hotrod) (18:54:42) :
@Ira2—
How about “Rich Enough To Choose”? *Sigh*.
You do realize that there are a few million people in this country who can’t afford mom-and-pop prices, right?
____________________________
Ira, I’m sorry if my comment offended you. I do understand that you, like millions of others in your situation, are not in a position to chose where you shop. There was certainly no disrespect or insensitivity intended, although I do understand your response. While I pride myself on being a bargain shopper, I am well aware that there is a difference for those whose resources and choices are limited. However, I am by no means rich, and I suspect others here aren’t either. We may be in a better financial position than you are right now and have more options. I hope that your situation, as well as the millions of others like you, will one day improve so that these types of companies can be put out of business.
I think “Rich Enough to Choose” doesn’t reflect the intent of our position on Wal-Mart and might even be seen as somewhat haughty. For a number of reasons, some of us are in the fortunate position to either chose to pay a little extra to shop elsewhere or chose to do without.
I am a Wal-Mart shopper – there are times I feel like I am betraying my own community to drive 50 miles to Wally-World. Hubby & I make that trip about once a month & buy in bulk – guess that would be the equilivent of a “city” Sam’s Club or Cosco. We shop locally for the “in-between” store runs, Milk, bread, fruit & fresh veggies etc.
If the local stores didn’t try to “gouge” so much…. Box of Cereal locally is about $5.75 Wally World — $3.25 and that is generally the family size box. We buy & Seal a Meal the 5# frozen veggies, bulk cheese, pasta, meat on sale, etc. Even with the cost of gasoline – we save money.
@ Hick Town in W PA
Two automotive departments in two WalMarts in the Province of Quebec were unionized (Quebec is highly unnnionized, bless them): Walmart closed down the departments almost immediately.
For some reason, union has become a dirty word in Canada, as my three sons speak most disrespectively (and ignorantly) about the drawbacks of belonging to a union: union dues.
They say this despite the fact that their mouths are filled with expensive dentistry paid for by the incredible medical benefits negotiated by my wife’s union (benefits which will carry on after she retires).
Decent wages for all workers are a basic right, and goods which undercut North American wages should not be allowed into our countries. Tariffs used to take care of that, and American electronics were the leaders then in innovation (Sylvania, Zenith, Sylvania, Motorola).
I used to work in the same office that Les did back in the 90’s. I was very impressed with him, he’s the real deal. I said this threads ago – when people know a politician before they get into politics they have a feeling about who that person is. Especially in Alaska – there are cities in the States that are larger than the entire state here. That’s why I don’t understand how Sarah was governor – much less VP nomination. I think things will change now with the power of the inter-tubes. It has made a big difference with this election. And hopefully it will make a big difference in this state. Thankyou to AKM and the other Alaskan progressive blogs out there. Never again!
@Northern Quilter
The first time I went to WalMart, I asked a salesperson why they didn’t have better directional signs so I could find what I was looking for. He told me, smiling, that it was because if I wandered around I might find more things to buy. I couldn’t believe 1) that was their policy (OK, that was years ago and I’d never seen a WalMart before) and 2) that they’d admit it. I left immediately.
The second time I entered WalMart, the greeter wanted to staple my bag (from another store) shut – presumably so I wouldn’t shoplift. I left immediately.
It’s was only later I learned about their corporate policies – but their customer service was rotten from the start.
les, thanks for the update
my question is…is troopergate now dead?
it appears that palin may have perjered herself in front of her handpicked board…but are you guys just gonna forgive and forget? cuz it doesnt seem that monegan will
as for palin’s offer to finally release her records…sounds like when all those ball players who were offering to take drug tests…then never did
we will never see those records…and trig aint her baby
@ira2
If it was a matter of making a choice between “no candy this month in favor of a head of lettuce”, it’d be doable. But with $44 in food stamps, I’m wayyyyy beyond that kind of thing. It’s more like “eat or don’t eat”.
It sucks.
———-
Man, that does suck. And you really laid it out well, Ira2. Now, let’s figure out how to make your keen insights based in experience and your powerful way with words PAY! And I mean pay you and pay off for Obama and the good guys! I am hearting you big time!
Let’s skip the club. It wont’ be any good without you anyway. Big hugs.
Deborah
Same here, they shut down entire meat packing plants when empolyees tried to unionize.
I am sure unions will grow stronger, people will begin earning union wages and not HAVE to stay within the cycle, causing Wal*Mart to lose all it’s illegal undocumented workers and close it’s doors!
I can dream can’t I?
Here’s the REAL election update:
http://michaelsavage.wnd.com/?pageId=2256
This is a two-parter, each part only about 6-1/2 minutes long. You don’t want to miss this!
Phil Berg is a lifelong Democrat and member of the ACLU. He is also the former Deputy Attorney General for the State of Pennsylvania.
In Part 1, at about 03:51:
Savage: Why won’t he release his college records; What do you think that’s about?
Berg: We think it’s because it probably indicates that he’s either from Kenya or Indonesia, and he probably applied for, and received, foreign aid.
Savage: Oh my God! Oh my God!
Check this out: Berg also says that Obama may be an illegal alien!! Listen to find out why.
@ pamela
I do know that Target sponsors a Habitat for Humanity house for each new store — and in that community.
Add me to the list of WalMart boycotters. I much prefer to buy local when possible — although here in the desert, it’s hard. No viable farmers market options nearby, either. Just please don’t ask me to give up on Costco! From what I hear, they treat their employees much better.
Lori W.
hasnt it been shown that predator control does more damage than it fixes?
predators kill off the weak and sick of the herd, therefore there are more caribou and moose, because disease does not spread
hope the next sec of the interior is from alaska, and puts a stop to this practice
You go Les. You will always hold a special place in my heart for the way you tried to get lil’ ms meg to apologize to Walt Monegan. Shame she has no conscience. But thanks for the effort.
Zim in Oz (19:20:52) :
2 more must see…
That “Yes We Can” is classic Will.i.am I have been following his work with Black Eye Peas for years. They have been bustin ass for our side for many years. (Yes We Can, went from concept to completion in less then 48 hours!!!)
If you haven’t seen… Wills new…
It’s A New Day – (look for me in the Chicago rally shots)
And this one is unreal too, they both make me cry.
We Are the Ones – OBAMA
Home Depo is the same…when they do their scheduling they start with all the part time people first then fill in with full time people….makes you wonder how many full time people really get full time hours……..all these big companys are trying to get out of paying for health care ..and what i HATE is the self check out lines…which means…for every self check out line they can hire three less checker……..they make even more money
I don’t believe Wally world will ever go out of business –
it is a necessity in todays America.
They truly have a streamlined operation from the produce fields to processors to delivery. The entire innovation of “cutting out the middle man” has made their costs low, in addition to oversea’s manufacturing.
Its a great place for college kids & retiree’s to make extra money.
We may not like their employment policies and their effect on local business, but admire their innovation. They are the UPS of stores.
Northern Quilter AK (19:42:18) :
Hick Town in W PA
if you have to wander around the store looking for what you came in for, walmart is hoping that you will find and buy things you “need” that you wouldn’t have bought had you been able to go straight to your item. They are hoping to make more money off you.
Exactly. It’s the science of commerce. Drives me nuts.
pamela (19:50:15) :
you explained that so much better than I did – Thanks!
Just please don’t ask me to give up on Costco!
~~~~~
No they just treat their customers like thieves at the exit door, saying they need to check the receipt to make sure you weren’t over charged. What they want to do is ink your receipt so you can’t pull something sneaky over on them. I just read a funny article about this guy who plays a game at leaving Coscto without letting them check the receipt or hold him against his will for refusing.
It was interesting.
He plays the same game at any store that pulls the check receipt as you exit game.
I hope Steven’s loses, then Sarah can’t get the Senate seat. She stays Governor and maybe just maybe she’ll get voted out.
@ More light than heat.
Just please don’t ask me to give up on Costco! From what I hear, they treat their employees much better.
I spoke with someone in British Columbia recently whose wife is a long-term employee of Costco, and she makes about $20 an hour (quite good money) and has medical benefits of some sort.
I got the impression from her husband thet she believe that Costco would like to replace her with an employee who wouldn’t be paid as much, but that there will be no attempt to force her out.
Did anyone watch the Witness to Jonestown tonight on A&E ?
Enjay – I caught part of it…:(
Just wondering – they are running it again
Northern Quilter AK (19:42:18) :
Hick Town in W PA
if you have to wander around the store looking for what you came in for, walmart is hoping that you will find and buy things you “need” that you wouldn’t have bought had you been able to go straight to your item. They are hoping to make more money off you.
Okay, I went to Walmart only once, and that was to take my friend (honest). But what I noticed was that all of the shoppers were in a zombie state…really…their eyes kinda dazed, looking but not looking, just up and down aisles looking at low prices, grabbing cr@ppy stuff, and slowly zombie-ing on. Very dazed…blank looking. Buying stuff that was ridiculous.
…just saying
This old gal’s hitting the hay. Goodnight mudpuppies. You’re the best!
And a reminder. If you have any suggestions for stuff to do on the Blue-States Road Trip I’m planning, please visit me here:
http://upnorthbynorthwest.wordpress.com/2008/11/09/upn-x-nw-blue-state-road-trip/
Sweet dreams!
Oh sorry its on MSNBC not A&E
‘nite Deborah…cool avatar
I have been looking into the whole issue of co-ops for a couple of years (waiting for the guvmint to change). The Department of Agriculture actually has a whole section based on it and can help fund (when all the money doesn’t go to agi-business). This is for the more rural areas. Also included are child and elder care centers and other social requirements of such areas. That’s what the grange was once.
Pittsburgh has a very successful co-op in Shady Side. I am sure that there are more around the country. This is what community organization is about.
Power to the people.
Enjay – I would have but I wasn’t sure if I wanted my 10 year old to see it -even though she is a history nut. How was it? Besides crushingly sad.
Maybe now that people are a bit more energized politically they can be more motivated.
deborah aka upnorth (also hose hotrod) (19:50:52) :
Man, that does suck. And you really laid it out well, Ira2. Now, let’s figure out how to make your keen insights based in experience and your powerful way with words PAY! And I mean pay you and pay off for Obama and the good guys! I am hearting you big time!
Let’s skip the club. It wont’ be any good without you anyway. Big hugs.
Deborah
Oh hell, you’re making me cry! No fair!!
But seriously, I do need help with finding out how to earn a living. I’m sick and tired of being dependent on government handouts and people’s charity, and I’m always, always, always stressed out about the possibility that those handouts will go away somehow. Stress ain’t good. PLUS, being kept at the bottom of the economic ladder will never ever allow me to save up the money it takes to apply for citizenship.
“Will work for income”… how’s that for a cardboard sign? LOL! Now to find the kind of work that I can do, that’s a different story. Takes input, that.
I doubt the Republicans will run SP in 2012. She appeals only to their “right-wing Christian base,” just as she did this time, and there aren’t enough of those people to get her elected. If the Reps. want to win, they will have to find someone who appeals to a broader range of our population. Also, they will have to realize that the majority of us care about the same things–jobs, homes, health care, and safety–and that we are tired of divisiveness and arguing. Those who want an adversarial system with the angry, bitter hatefulness are in the minority; and that is the crowd to whom SP appeals.
oops—forgot to sign in ….that Anon above is me : )
Nice post shikago…almost missed those to add to my you tube faves!
Everyone who hasn’t read it should read ‘Nickel and Dimed’ by Barbara Ehrenreich. Then you can consider where and how you might like to shop.
Australia has a supermarket duopoly. My little town has no supermarket but – surprise, surprise – I can shop more cheaply in my town. This is because the supermarkets charge an awful lot more because they can – they give away fuel discount vouchers and the sheeple think they are getting something for nothing, so they all shop there religiously.
If I wasn’t already determined to support the Mom & Pop traders I would never have learned that it’s cheaper to shop there. 😉
@More Light than Heat
Nice to know that about Target. I do shop there, but not during the holidays. A few years ago, the local Target banished the Salvation Army bell ringers – which seemed so weird to me I just had to ask. I was told that it was corporate policy b/c if they let the Salvation Army solicit, they’d have to let anyone/everyone. That doesn’t make sense since I see bell ringers at all the malls, and wouldn’t those malls have similar issues? Anyway, I know very little about the Salvation Army, but IMHO, it seems we need organizations helping those less fortunate – so I migrate to Sears during December 🙂 Guess there are few, if any, perfect retail stores!
Intrigued (19:53:18) :
Consider your source ~ M. Savage real name is M. Weiner.
Radio listening audience rating below Limbaugh & Hannity.
Nuf’ said.
Okay, haven’t quite nodded off yet 🙂
Halcrow: have you read Michael Pollan’s work? I love all of it, esp. Omnivore’s Dilemma. I think he’s coming out with something new based on his “Farmer-in-Chief” letter to the next President. It was in the NYTimes Mag a few weeks ago.
Power to the People, indeed.
‘night Sparky
‘night Ira2 (I’m thinkin’ on it)
Whabs, Seattle, WA. (19:59:48) :
I never stop for those “Let me check your receipt people”. Unfortuneately at Cosco you can’t do that because you agreed as… “members-only discount stores require their customers to give consent to be searched by an employee as a condition of membership. For example, the Costco membership agreement contains an unconditional consent to search on page 29. Customers who sign such an agreement (as all Costco customers must) would seem to have no grounds to complain if they are later required to submit to a receipt-check.”
…Took me a moment to get my mits on the legal mumbojumbo…
Can I just ask what would happen if there were a schism in the GOP and the US electorate ended up equal thirds Democrat/Republican/American Taliban. What’s the bet there would be a R/AT coalition at election time?
I remember when it happened, held onto the Newsweek mag that carried the story for a long time, just “uncomprehendible” (sp) and so very sad. Seems every time I see something like this – I learn something else that I didn’t know.
So far – fairly basic info – up to the Calif. part with the riots in the 60’s 70’s —
It was a community socialist society -with shared responsibility Right now I am thinking “a Christian Manson Family”
Whabs, Seattle, WA. (20:15:18) :
Nice post shikago…almost missed those to add to my you tube faves!
——-
They are great, I love Will. They did several fundraisers for Kerry in 04. Black Eye Peas are an alright group of folks frosure.
it is really hard to figure out what you could steal at costco from the check out to the door the way the stores are set up.
deborah (20:17:41) :
Night Deb…
That may be the case, but this guy makes a game out of walking past them and refusing. He likes it when they touch him and hold him against his will. I wish I could find the link because it was a funny read.
Enjay – I watched all two hours of the Jonestown documentary. It was very powerful and included excellent interviews with many of the survivors. This was an event we will never/should never forget. I was just starting my family at the time. and it was so horrific.
The beginning of Jonestown – the early descriptions of the People’s Temple even sounded like how many of us feel about Mudflats – a place of inclusion, caring, integrated, progressive. But one man’s insane power trip betrayed them all and led so many trusting sheep to slaughter.
I thought it was ironic — this is where the “drink the Kool-aid” term came from, that we’ve been using on here frequently.
Here it is.
http://www.standuptowalmart.com/article_walmart-receipt_checking_reaction_the_right_way_through_civil_disobedience.html
Bec, I watched it too. Sad.
I believe that was the first non natural, and man made tragedy I saw as a young child. I remember it.
Reposting this… How to dispose of SP forever…
Baracks Energy Commission invites Palin to an open hearing for input on energy solutions.
She sit’s down. First question from Jeff Bingamen, Chairmen.
“Governor Palin, this committee would like to get your opinion on what you feel the effectiveness of low frequency geophysical solutions to the upstream oil and gas industry and if you feel it is efficient to find and produce hydrocarbon reserves, further reducing risk beyond conventional surveying and seismic techniques?”
Had to laugh when ‘Bec Hussein in Illinois’ posted SP’s response…
“In what way Jeffrey”
For those of you interested in the ‘vote with your wallet’ principles, I posted this information a couple of weeks ago about
‘The Blue Book: A Directory of Companies Rated by Their Politics and Practices’.
It gives information about which political parties a company donates to as well as any issues, problems or lawsuits it has encountered.
An example: Barnes & Noble donates 100% to Democrats, while Books-A-Million sends 79% of their donations to Repubs.
You could probably find more info by Googling ‘The Blue Book’.
I thought how ironic the kool aid term was this morning when I decided to watch it, in fact I posted on a different thread I would be thinking of HER because she has HER kool aid drinkers and SHE scares me still. They would drink the kool aid out of her red pumps.
After you watch something as depressing as the Jonestown doc — spend some time looking at these fabulous photos that capture the Obama campaign. (It uses Flash – so might be difficult on some browsers without the right add-ons.) Scout is such a talented photographer and she sure got some amazing shots.
http://www.scouttufankjian.com/main.php
Off the subject – but does anyone know about – no more dual citizenship since 9/11. I heard this from a Canadian tonight and couldn’t believe I hadn’t heard about it.
@ Aussie If the Reps. split into 2 groups, they will lose even more badly than they did this time; their minority of votes would be divided in half. At least this is what I hope would happen. : )
Re: checking receipts I cut past the long line of people at Costco once, deciding that I did not want to wait for 10 min. to prove I wasn’t a thief. I was tired from waiting in line so long the pay, and my feel just hurt too much to wait any longer. Anyway, all the nearby employees rushed out of the store after me; then, treating me as if I were a thief, they checked my receipt and then let me leave. It was much faster than waiting my turn. : )~ Also, I have arrived home from Costco two different times to discover that I had items which they did not ring up; so they don’t do all that good a job of checking anyway.
At other stores, I have learned not to stop when the buzzer goes off. I know that I am not a thief, and I figure if it is so important, then their clerks should do a proper job of deactivating the security tags. I was stopped once by Target on my way out the door and treated humiliatingly because the clerk had not put my large pkg. of tp in a bag. I pointed out that it was THEIR fault, but they still acted as if I were stealing something. Yes–I HAD paid for it! The last time the buzzer went off (Walmart this time) I just kept walking. Their greeter was busy and asked me to wait in line, but after waiting 20 min. in the checkout line, I was too tired to be searched. I guess I have a bad attitude. : )
Good night all, and as always, thanks again AKM.
I ONCE CREATED AN INCIDENT IN A WALMAT
A couple years ago I stopped in a Walmart to pick up a few items my wife had urgently requested me to bring home. I sat the purchases on the counter. The elderly cashier was a little distracted and looked tired. She silently and effeciently rang me up and bagged the merchandise. I had no cash on me, only a debit card. When I swiped my card, a survey popped up on the screen. It asked: “Did our cashier greet you today?” She had not.
I was not about to rat on her to big brother so I tried to bypass the screen. Impossible. It would not let me pay without informing first. I told the cashier about the mandatory survey. She had no idea to that point. No one had told her that all of her card paying customers were being required to report on her. I had no cash, only the debit card. I was frozen.
I demanded a manager to bypass the survey screen. A store manager arrived and also told me he was unaware of the survey. He could not figure out how to get past the screen. I should have just walked out, but then I would have gone home itemless to face an annoyed spouse. So I completed the survey …and lied. I said that she had cheerfully greeted me.
When I got home, I eventually emailed the account of what happened to the Michel Moore site. Hopefully they can use it in a documentary some day.
What RIGHT did Walmart have to force me to give my opinions and report on their employees conduct? In hindsight, I really wish I had left the purchases on the counter. At least I protected the employee.
I realize that this is one of those David and Goliath issues, but it just makes me so angry to hear just how these “big box stores” are subsidized by state and local governments. Just in case you missed it, here’s an interview with Amy Goodman and David Cay Johnston, author of “Free Lunch,” on Democracy Now. Part of it gets into something called tax incentive financing that benefit these corporate behemoths at taxpayers expense.
http://www.democracynow.org/2008/1/18/free_lunch_how_the_wealthiest_americans
And there’s more on the corporate welfare of Wal-Mart here from the Portland Independent Media Center:
http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2005/07/320707.shtml
It’s not a good idea to read it before bedtime, though.
@ deborah
No, I haven’t read Michael Pollan’s work…but I have just requested Omnivore’s Dilemma and In Defense of Food from the local library. Thank you for the heads up.
Lance–don’t be mad at me–Sunday evening slaphappy!
I know there was a Fire Patriot on here a while back–remember?
Went away for dinner and come back to killings of wolf puppies in dens, Oh MY!
@ Bec -Yes We Did – in Illinois
Pastor Thomas Muthee is another charismatic preacher…in a country where female genital mutilation is commonplace. Pass the Kool-aid?
Hick Town in W PA (20:08:18) :Pittsburgh has a very successful co-op in Shady Side.
((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((
The Point Breeze neighborhood of Pittsburgh also has one.
‘The Blue Book: A Directory of Companies Rated by Their Politics and Practices’.
Thanks, Augie, I’ll have to check it out.
Just read that receipt-checking link. That man is my hero!
@ BS (20:38:34) :
Off the subject – but does anyone know about – no more dual citizenship since 9/11. I heard this from a Canadian tonight and couldn’t believe I hadn’t heard about it.
All that you want to know (and, yes you can, seemingly).
With U.S. in slump, dual citizenship in EU countries attracts Americans
By ANDREW ABRAMSON
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Saturday, June 07, 2008
For millions of Europeans who braved the Atlantic Ocean for a glimpse of the Statue of Liberty and dreams of a lavish life, there was little thought of ever emigrating back.
Yet for a new generation of Americans of European descent, the Old Country is becoming a new country full of promise and opportunity.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/2008/06/07/s1a_dual_citizenship_0608.html
I’m hearing from a lot of serious news outlets and commentators (not most MSM) that Obama haters are really going overboard and need to be censured or stopped in some way they are inciting nuts to descend on Obama…
PLEASE…. visit Sean Hannity’s website Forums, especially “Washington Politics”. Dig around a little and you will find absolutely outrageous examples of his bigoted, racist and hate-filled “associates”.
Send topic/post/reply titles to advertisers and program manager’s at radio stations that carry him, asking them “Is this what you want your company associated with”?
http://forums.hannity.com/
Sue (20:40:43) :
@ Aussie If the Reps. split into 2 groups, they will lose even more badly than they did this time; their minority of votes would be divided in half. At least this is what I hope would happen. : )
——————————————
Sue, you’re missing my point. Sure the American Taliban would have their own party, and then all the moderate conservatives (who may have voted Democrat this year) would come “home” to the GOP. Previously uncommitted members of each ‘group’ would also come out of the woodwork. To the point where it could be one third of the electorate each.
But if at election time they created a coalition, then the Democrats can win every election but not have the numbers to govern, unless they beat both parties combined.
Woud you put such a thing past either of these groups?
BS (20:38:34) :
Off the subject – but does anyone know about – no more dual citizenship since 9/11. I heard this from a Canadian tonight and couldn’t believe I hadn’t heard about it.
The US has never recognized dual citizenship. You are either from the USA or not. It is other countries who recognize it.
Aussie Blue Sky (21:06:14) : The American Taliban will fall on their own excesses in a time of financial hardship. That is what has happened historically. They don’t want their own political party because they would lose their tax exempt status (and should and may lose it anyway). They simply planned to take over the Republican Party and have effectively done so.
There is no leadership at the moment to create another large scale party. The issues haven’t quite coalesced. The fun thing will be Newt and company trying to control the fundies. It will be a great show.
@ Hick Town in W PA (21:08:57) :
BS (20:38:34) :
Off the subject – but does anyone know about – no more dual citizenship since 9/11. I heard this from a Canadian tonight and couldn’t believe I hadn’t heard about it.
The US has never recognized dual citizenship. You are either from the USA or not. It is other countries who recognize it.
—
Hey and good morning! I just joined you guys. My sons have dual citizenship. Once when going through passport control at JFK airport in NY, I pulled out my sons Am passport and realized that it had expires, so I pulled out and handed the guy his French passport. The quy quickly said “Don’t ever pull out both passports, we don’t want to see that! We just don’t want to know about it!” Though this past summer I saw women hand two passports through the window and the guy didn’t seem to care. I think for each country, mostly the US, you are or are not THEIR citizen, the rest they ignore. Only real problem is if you serve in the military of one country you lose citizenship of the other.
Hick Town in W PA (21:17:01) :
Hick, thanks for that reassurance. 😉
On another note, I understand the reason that Mrs Thick-Skinned Palin resorted to name-calling (“jerk, coward” and my favourite “stinker”) instead of denying that she is utterly stupid, is — she is apparently fearful that there will be a tape recording somewhere – potentially showing she is even more stupid than they said.
@Aussie Blue Sky –
“But if at election time they created a coalition…”
Hey Aussie! Good to see you. I said something about this yesterday – I don’t think a coalition would be possible, at least so soon. If they split it would be because they hate each other, llay heavy blame on the other for losing this election, and are trying to pull themselves away from the ideology of the other. I really don’t think that even desiring power would make one team or the other want to be seen as associating with the other.
Huh. Interesting about dual citizenship. Both my parents have dual citizenship (American and Taiwanese). I didn’t realize that in the eyes of America, they only had one citizenship.
Add Les Gara to my list of political crushes. I hope he runs for governor in 2010. I admire him greatly. Maybe AKMcan be Lt. Gov., with a bag over his/her face to protect her/his anonymity.
Here is an international version of Yes, We Can:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PJa3jaEVyM
Here is a folk/hip-hop version:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8LGFNX9M4g
Both are pretty good. Not as good as the original, but still, quite good.
P.S. I am grateful that I don’t have to shop Wal-Mart. I have only been in one, in rural WA, and one greeter walked away from me. Another store person followed me around the store. Needless to stay, I did not stay there very long.
One more story about dual nationality –
when I married in 1987, GB I was President. I went to the American Consulate in Paris to register as a citizen resident. I asked him about asking for French Nationality. He said “The relationship between the US and France is not good under this administration, so if you ask for and receive French nationality you risk heavily losing your American nationality.”
A few years later we moved to Milan, Italy. Bill Clinton was President 🙂 I went to the American Consulate in Milan to register my family as citizen residents. The guy looked at my paperwork and asked “Why don’t you have dual nationality?” I explained. He said, “Oh no, everything has changed. The relationship between the two countries is great and you would practically have to go up to the President himself, spit on his shoes and say ‘I don’t want your damn nationality’ in order to get it taken away.”
So there you go. I am sure that under Bush and thanks to the disagreement over the Iraq War things are now impossible for Americans who ask for dual citizenship. The problem is, you can’t ask BEFORE you make the demand (“Do I risk losing my Am. cit. if…..?”) You have to RECIEVE the other citizenship and THEN ask (or not!). As for people like my sons – American mother, French father – they really can’t say anything!
Aussie Blue Sky, I think she honestly doesn’t think she’s stupid or that she’s done anything wrong. Amazing. I just want her to fade away to nothing.
Good news: Looks like Al Franken will be ahead before the first count is finished. Hey, Normie! Be a man and concede, to start the ‘healing process’. Snicker. Oily Normie. He’s gotta go.
For a little uplift this morning (1:30 EST) read .http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/10/opinion/10cohen.html?ref=opinion
Good morning Jaime
I got all excited by that article about citizenship in EU counties, but realize it is generations too late on one side of my family and who wants to go to Roumania on the other. Sigh.
@ Hick Town in W PA (21:36:09) :
Re: declaring citizenship in Roumanie – you have to look into citizenship requirements in each individual country. I have a friend who asked for and got her Italian passport in her twenties because I think in Italy they require that either one parent or even one grandparent have been born in Italy. And don’t forget, if Roumani is a member of the European Union, then with a Roumanian passport/citizenship you can travel, live waork in any EU member country!
And another good one .http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/10/opinion/10mon4.html?ref=opinion
All of this must be the post-election thoughts of what happens next.
Hick Town in W PA (21:36:09) :
I got all excited by that article about citizenship in EU counties, but realize it is generations too late on one side of my family and who wants to go to Roumania on the other. Sigh.
——————————————–
Hick, if it makes you feel better, there are about 2 million ways you can qualify for Italian citizenship. Being Italian, these methods are naturally complex and convoluted – but worth the trouble for excellent gelato, beautiful shoes, fast cars and the smell of culture. 😉
Aussie Blue Sky – I am with you on that – gelato, fabulous shoes, great food and a beautiful country!
My grandfather walked out of Roumania all the way to France, crossed to England, and somehow got to Scotland because it was the place of cheapest passage to NY. He was 19 and avoiding the 20 year draft for Jews. My grandmother came from Russia and died years before I was born. No one seems to know much about her but I found her ship and she was 20 years old and married when she came. Her town isn’t listed and my cousin can’t find the marriage records.
I forgot that Roumania is EU. Interesting.
I lived one summer in Sicily. It was wonderful.
I still have the most wonderful clogs in the world. Now they would cost the earth. They are practically antique.
“Mr. Obama doesn’t have to tell anyone what to do, only to do something good. All you phone-bank callers and door-to-door volunteers, you envelope stuffers and canvassers, who worked countless hours and now may have a little time and energy left over: Help homeless and hungry people.
Work for an environmental organization, a food pantry or a community garden, or all three. Veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan will soon be flooding colleges on the new G.I. Bill, many of them wary and troubled by traumas overseas, unready for the shock of immersion. Some local cause is struggling even now. Find it and pitch in.”
so good, Hick
Wow–lots going on in this thread tonight!
Some comments:
In re: Target– I refuse to shop there b/c they allow their pharmacists to refuse to distribute birth control if they have a ‘religious objection’ to it. This includes EMERGENCY birth control.
In re: The Salvation Army — they actively discriminate against homosexuals and were in cahoots with the Bush Adminstration, getting special favors in return for SA’s lobbying in support of Bush’s Faith-Based Initiatives. Please donate your Christmas change to a charity that doesn’t discriminate.
Okay, stepping off soapbox now.
Watched the Jonestown documentary on MSNBC. I was a young teenager when it happened. Hard to believe it’s been almost 30 years. Seeing the images again was chilling. A good reminder about the danger of charismatic leaders drunk on their own desire for control and power. Ahem. Also.
Doubt there is ANY actual Italian blood in me, but Italy is my favorite place on Earth. Maybe while I’m there later this month I will look into one of the “2 million ways” just in case the need arises in 8 years. 😉
Bea, wait, is this all Targets? Or just the ones in your state? If it’s all Targets, then I will have to stop shopping there as well.
Like the Dwights and Lyndons of Old, Baby Baracks All Over
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/10/us/politics/10babies.html?ref=world
I didn’t know you could apply for dual citizenship from your ancestors. I knew someone in 1998 who was German and married an American GI, came to US, then applied for citizenship and was told she could also keep her German citizenship too. She opted to not do the dual citizenship. But then tonight I met a Canadian who has a green card and she told me this is no longer an option for her. If she becomes a US citizen, she cannot also be dual Canadian. ???
@BS :
Like I said, every country has their own rules on who can be considered a citizen and if they recognize dual citizenship.
In re: Target– I refuse to shop there b/c they allow their pharmacists to refuse to distribute birth control if they have a ‘religious objection’ to it. This includes EMERGENCY birth control.
WHAT???!!!
@Hick Town in PA:
Look into your family’s history now while their still may be people alove who can give you leds. I spent 5 years on my geneology and was absolutely amazed at what – and who – I found!
@Bea :
You are so lucky to be going to Italy on vacation!
Man, I must still be asleep – so many typos in my post to Hick Town. I meant :
Look into your family’s history now while there still may be people alive who can give you leads! I actually got my hands on photos and letters people had squirreled away.
Sadly, it’s ALL Targets… more info here:
http://www.plannedparenthood.org/newsroom/press-releases/refusal-policy-10307.htm
Jamie, Floridian in France (22:31:19) :
@Bea :
You are so lucky to be going to Italy on vacation!
___
We do feel SO lucky to have good friend there that we can stay with, making the cost of a visit MUCH more affordable. We found very cheap tix back in May and jumped on them. And the exchange rate has even improved to under $1.30 to the euro. Thanks, worldwide economic collapse!
Off topic I know – any Alaskans out there – now Dan Fagan is kissing Sarah’s butt. What’s up with that twerp? I knew I didn’t like him. And that Dave Dittman – ick! But even he (he’s a pollster) thought Begich will win when all is said and done. I surely hope he is right about something.
I’ve done my bit & volunteered to count votes, so now I can go off topic —
I used to love to read Dave Barry’s column. Now I am a David Sedaris follower. But Andrew Sullivan had a link to this Barry column, and it’s amusing. Particularly amusing is the message of the column and then the utterly ridiculous comments. Wonder if they even READ the column?????
http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/dave-barry/story/756596.html
How will the Obama girls like life in the White House?
http://www.kansascity.com/703/story/880750.html
Bea, well crap. Thanks for the info. They are off my list of designated shopping places!
@BS — Dan Fagan sucks. He’s a repub neo-con fundie type, and so must blindly follow where Bible Spice goes now that she’s shown to have support from those who are most likely to listen to his radio show &/or read his column.
I can’t bear to read his column because he’s so asinine. He says whatever he thinks will get him the most readers/listeners, sometimes it’s “controversial” in that it, GASP, rebukes Bible Spice, but 99,9% of the time it is sycophancy at its worst a la Hannity/Limbaugh.
Vomitous stuff. He’s an a-hole.
OK that’s it. I am not going to patronize the new Target store in town.
@Bea :
And the exchange rate has even improved to under $1.30 to the euro. Thanks, worldwide economic collapse!
Boo hoo for me! A few months ago when the euro would have gotten us $1.50 we thought about sending money over, but didn’t.
SMR, I am jealous. I want to count votes, too! I wonder if Al Franken, er, the state of MN needs someone to count votes…
I am too lazy to find the link, but one leftist blogger I read suggests that we now relegate the rightwingers to the garbage heap by ignoring them. We don’t need to pay attention to them any more because they are irrelevant. Sure, we want to make sure they aren’t totally out of hand (not more than usual), but as they will have much less influence in the upcoming four years, we can, for the most part, ignore them.
@Bea,
Thanks for the info. Just got a brand spanking new Target here that Alaskans are all crazy for as they are with any new store imported from the “lower 48.” I was utterly unimpressed when I went, it sucks compared to their stores in other states. Bible Spice’s home town, Wasilla, also got a new one, she must be loving having that new box store perpetuating hate & ignorance in her backyard!
Anyway, my daughter got a gift certificate for her bday, so we will make one last journey to Target, stock up on Hello Kitty & Fancy Nancy, then never shop there again. I will also tell family/friends to avoid them like the plague.
No votes to count here in New Jersey!!!
Wait a minute. Didn’t Mayor Palin have a big Walmart built in Wasilla? And now they also have a Target? For a town with a population of less than 10,000? Boy! What a life they must lead!
Sarah “Flash Card” Palin…..lol
Jamie – yes and also Fred Meyer and Sportsman’s Warehouse. I really don’t know how they all stay in business what with all the competition.
OT I have been closely watching the bailout and am getting angry. More millions for AIG????? I bet like all big companies when they laid off they got rid of the people who really work and kept the deadwood. I think new management should be forced. I really wonder about all these millions. Are they mostly going down a rat hole?
@Jamie —
Yes, WalMart, Target, big Fred Meyer, Lowes or Home Depot in Wasilla. It’s good, though, that they have all of that out there, keeps them from coming into town to shop. I like it that way! Stay out of my stores!
I had to go out to Wasilla to pick up some photos a month ago, stopped at the Fred Meyer store. It was so YUK. Our Fred Meyer is shiny & clean & nicely stocked. That Fred Meyer is dingy and dirty and in the clothing section for children there were clothes all over the floor everywhere (I am not joking here, at least 50 items on the floor). It was so depressing. It was a little Wasilla microcosm — a symbol of how little people in that area care about anything besides themselves, their guns & their churches, not enough pride or respect for others to pick up the stuff that they drop on the floor. It was so gross.
Anyway, keep those people out of my stores! Their Target will soon look like a down on its luck WalMart.
By the way, I don’t shop Walmart, principally opposed. Now have to add Target to that list.
Hick Town in W PA, I also read that many of the execs are salting away millions of ‘their’ money, claiming that it’s not the money given to them by the feds. Apparently, there’s a loophole in the bailout that allows them to do this.
I say, throw them all in jail. It’s outrageous and sickening. Have they no shame?
The 2008 election: Where are they now?
Salon catches up with some of the also-rans, has-beens and future standouts from the 2008 election cycle.
.http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2008/11/10/where_are_they_now/
great video! 😀
Boy, no wonder they said that the Sports Center was always empty. They are all out shopping! What a mayor! What a governor! As my cousin would say “That’s America!” I say it’s a crime against nature. Maybe even a crime against humanity. Aren’t there enough people who oppose stuff like that? Well, I guess it’s the same in France, what with all the hypermarchés popping up, the Leory Merlin and Castorama, But, Ikea, the suburban shopping complexes that seel sporting goods and cheap clothing and cheap furniture where you have to get in your car and drive and park in those massive parking lots. We have been witnessing the death of small business people, bakeries and butchers and the like closing up one after the other. That ends up being the death of community as well.
At least the French are no longer hung up on guns and church.
Whoa – Not everyone in Wasilla is a scumbag – only like 70% of them!
Yeah! Just got my last order of Obama gear – tote bag and t-shirts. Will wear them with pride!
Yo, Mudflatters! NEW THREAD!
@BS – we know that there are great people everywhere! The question should then be – how can that 30% stand living in the middle of those other 70%? Yipes and scary, non? I heard that before all the building Wasilla was beautiful.
mhrt oregon (20:27:20) :
it is really hard to figure out what you could steal at costco from the check out to the door the way the stores are set up.
—————————
What they are worried about is that people will walk out, and then go right back in and load up on the exact same stuff. Not necessarily the same person. This could be done many times in the course of a couple of mins. if the carts were preloaded and they switched people to walk the cart out.
@BS — I’ve got lots of family & friends in Wasilla, had several of them over for a party this weekend, even the one who voted M/P. My Wasilla/Palmer experience is that you exactly right with the numbers — 70-30 split ick/nice.
And I lived there in my teens… yuk.