Sorry Happy Democrat. You haven’t got a clue. If you weren’t viewing the new administration through rose colored glasses you would see that he is kissing the rear ends of leaders who are laughing behind his back, lowering our defenses on terrorism that brings our country into immenent danger and preparing to destroy our economy for a crackpot theory on the environment that doesn’t have a shred of actual proof. I am not prepared have my money stolen by the government to give to others who won’t work, have my job in the hands of government officials who couldn’t manage a lemonade stand or give in to idiots like yourself who want the government to manage every aspect of our lives. I want the country to succeed and in order for us to succeed, the policies the liberals such as yourself have to fail. Blowback is coming as more people recognize the real danger we are in now. Apologize to everyone who you think we ever offended? Start by apologizing to me for offending me with these destructive policies. You don’t want disagreement of course. The mind police from the book 1984 are here, a little late, but we are no longer allowed to have an opinion because this president won an election by a few percentage points? Not in this country fool.
So all the people who have worked their entire life to be able to leave a few dollars to their children now get to give it to the “unfortunate, unemployed, welfare recipients”……who says this isn’t socialism?
We are going to be a society under Obama that will be paying more taxes. I remember during the campaing that he stated Americans will be able have more money in their pocket. Now that Obama is president, and he is going to make all American pay a lot more taxes.
Yet again, empty campaign promises. I think we all saw this coming though. In every debate he evaded the questions about how he intended to fund all his grand (socialist) plans without increasing taxes.
IJ has become a forum for the disgruntled conservatives. And come on “Help the Unfortunate”, really. Oh no your children are going to be taxed on the portion of your estate that is over $3.5 million. How are they ever going to live?
And Sips, do you make over $250k. I don’t and my taxes have not gone up, so what the @#!? are you talking about. In fact less is coming out of my paycheck these days.
I will probably stop reading comments as they offer no value other than hearing a bunch of baby’s cry and make stuff up because their guy did not win the election. (And I thought democrats were supposed to be the pansies.)
Obama’s idea of change is to have everyone pay higher taxes. So much for his stimulus plan, and I have to pay hiher income tax beacuse my State of California goverment does not know how to do their job.
^^ This is all part of the socialist agenda, with the ultimate goal of forcing America to join the world economy and relinquish its entrepreneurial ways. At least I can say I did not vote for this man, even though he is but one cog in a larger machine spanning many previous presidencies.
As it exist now, you only get taxed for the portion over 3.5 million. It does not define BO’s plan. Also, just because it likely will not apply to what I do or do not leave behind, does not make it right. People should be able to set their families up w/o uncle BO taking a share.
Didn’t he say “no tax increases” when he was running?
How does the lame assed public think we are going to pay for all the new benefits. WAKE UP AMERICA. This is a total restribution of wealth. All the government is doing is buying the votes of the “tax users” for the next election. What they haven’t figured out yet is that the “tax payers” have about had enough.
If you had a brain cell left, you would realize that you haven’t seen a tax increase……Yet. these programs are just rolling out. I will be interested to see what you post 12 months from now.
Your paycheck might not be smaller now, but it could be in the future. The cost of living continues to go up, and at some point the gov’t is likely to decide that you too can afford a tax increase. Unlike those serving in Gov’t, we don’t get a raise based on the increased cost of living. The gov’ts economic policies bring us more taxes, more lay offs, fewer jobs, higher prices, etc.
Just wait till Obama announces that we can afford to tack a dollar or two more in taxes onto a gallon of gas because we already showed that we can afford $4 a gallon. He’s on record saying that higher gas prices are good.
$3.5 mil per individual / $7 mil per couple…these folks have done a pretty good job of saving a “few dollars”. Where will the taxes come from ? Better it comes from estates that have a “few dollars” to leave their kids. With any kind of estate planning those kids will be just fine. Even w/o any estate planning I could get along w the proceeds.
^^ Easier said than done I am sure. If that was your estate’s value and you were facing a large tax increase (whatever it may be), I am sure you’d be singing a different tune.
How about this concept — do NOT eliminate the effectiveness of Clinton’s welfare reform act and continue making those on welfare/unemployment to earn their keep?
Well now that Colin Powell agrees with VP Bidden everyone should be happy to pay more taxes. Anyone who thinks the taxes are just going to hit those over $250k is naive at best.
you all are a bunch of conservative idiots who want everything for yourselves at the expense of others.Try paying your fair share for a change.We all know that the tax laws are written by the “rich” and for the “rich”
This was promised on the campaign trail. Stripping more wealth from the private sector. Nobody is surprised by this I hope… Our country survived Woodrow Wilson, it shall survive BHO…
What will happen when those in this great country decide that they have had enough and decide to let the government take care of them instead of them taking care of whoever the government wants to take care of… (at that time)
You think it’s a joke? There is getting to be less and less incentive to go out and strive to become better off. Pterry soon we’ll all just give up and let Uncle Sam give us whatever he (or she) feels we deserve and when that happens…
In the 60’s LBJ declared a “War on Poverty”. Since then we have spent the wealth of this country on that war and poverty/hunger remain unchanged! The democrat party answer is more taxes and more spending. My God, the well is dry!!!
It’s my money! I earned it, paid taxes on it, and many times double taxes. I want my wealth to go to my kids. That’s my kids, not yours or any other’s!
Wll folks, I was not talking about a rich family, I was taking about an 87 year old World War II veteran who served in France, Germany, Battle of the Bulge who has worked since he was 19 years old. According to his financial planner, he can depend on the tax threshold going down substantially from 3.5 Mil. He worked at a labor job for 40 years sometimes 12 hour days, 7 days a week and I really don’t think his money should go to the “unfortunate” There are many people who can’t help their circumstances however, there are just as many or more that want the government to take care of them, There actually must be millions of them because they elected a president who does want the government to pad their pockets, take care of their children and make everything right in their world.
What is my ‘fair share’ you idiot? 30%, 40%, 50%, 60,70,80%?
How much of the taxes do the top 5% of wage earners already pay in this country?
The new ‘disenfranchised’ in this country are those who have worked hard and smart enough to better themselves – and accomplished their dreams. They’re disenfranchised because they are a minority at the ballot box. They DO NOT have EQUAL rights. How may times does a single dollar need to be taxed before, by your definition of ‘fair’, it’s taxed enough?
History will – and always does – repeat itself. This country is headed for the trash heap.
It appears we are becoming very socialistic and I’m sick of it – get off your lazy duffs and earn you money as I, along with many many others have – I’m sick of “govm’t” involvement as they are only SELF SERVING – campaign promises! huh, what a bunch of crap!!
Well said, Help. Was your father serving the 82nd Airborne with mine in WWII?? Or perhaps you know my dad….work hard all your life to support the government because the government doesn’t know how to budget appropriately? I don’t think so.
If the “Average Joe” can budget their expenses so can Uncle Sam….
Well said, Help. Was your father serving the 82nd Airborne with mine in WWII?? Or perhaps you know my dad….work hard all your life to support the government because the government doesn’t know how to budget appropriately? I don’t think so.
If the “Average Joe” can budget their expenses so can Uncle Sam….
Bob. As I remember it, he never said “no new taxes”. George Bush Sr. was the one who said that. He stated that the target for tax increases was for those earning $250K and above. That increase is supposed to partially offset the decrease for 90% of the middle and lower class earners. Read this article a little closer, the inheritance OVER $3.5 is the target for an increase. The world is not going to end tomorrow, bro. Take it easy. Read and get the facts before you scream about the coming of Armegedon.
I have worked my butt off to get to the income level that I am currently at. It is a good living, but no where near rich. I for one am absolutely fed up with the never ending stream of new federal programs that are being proposed and ramrodded through congress. Wake up! somebody has to pay for these. Stop Crying, don’t you think that eventually this is going to mean you and your children? Do you thnk all this debt is going to just go away? The people in this forum are not “whining”, they have the foresight to see what is coming. Sooner or later, the bills have to get paid. The right thing to do is STOP the new spending. YOU CAN’T HAVE IT ALL UNLESS YOU WORK FOR IT! so get busy, Stop Crying, you’ve got a lot to do to pay this bill. If you find that you are not happy with your lot in life and need more, find a way to do better, just like our forefathers and mothers did, instead of waiting on the government to give you something. You’ll find many conservatives got to where they have in life by doing just that.
TxLady, which federal program are you objecting to? Fixing old crumbling roads and bridges? Have you been to the Northeast lately? I use that as an example of money well spent. It prevents road fatalities and puts people to work. Where was the outrage when the hard earned surplus we had in 2000 was wasted over the last 8 years. At least Obama is now puting spending for the war IN the budget as apposed to Cheny/Bush who kept it out. Now that money is attempted to be directed at sensible DOMESTIC spending rather than paying for a war that was never fully justified, people start jumping up an down? Your rant is typical of the disgruntled, reading impaired, neo-cons who listen to FOX news and complain about “all these wasteful federal programs” without knowing about any of them. Read something else besides “The American Spectator”.
Let’s face it… whether we like it or not the only solution that the government sees to this never ending problem is more taxes
Until we as a nation no longer provide long term support to an ever expanding population of people who have absolutely no incentive to improve themselves or society, there is no alternative.
That leaves us with only two choices…
1. accept the taxes and be glad that the governement doesn’t take everything, or
2. stop this welfare system that has proven time and again that it just doesn’t work.
Pesident Obama is only going to raise our taxes if we make more than 1.2 million a year. We should all be more patriotic and send him more taxes if we make that much. Taxes are good and they will end the Bush/Cheney depression we have been in for the last 16 years.
I would like to know why it is considered “mean-spirited” by taxophiles that I want to keep as much of what I work my butt off to earn but it’s not “mean-spirited” to take it from me to pay for benefits for those completely unmotivated to work or who come into our country illegally? I think that people who want to rip the fruits of my labors from me are the penultimate Nazis.
Look in the mirror Slap Happy Democrat. Who will you blame when I decide it’s not worth the effort anymore? Who will you enslave next?
To all who wanted “change”….how are you liking your messiah now and his tax and spend policy now. I don’t think he could spend more money if he tried….well played obama.
Not trying to turn this into a political debate b/c as I’ve said previously , i hate ALL politicians equally (cept maybe ron paul).
I still say we kick everyone out of washington and either hold a lotto appointing average everyday citizens to office. Either that or the altnerative…monkeys with roller skates and funny hats run the show. Either way its win win for us once Osamba is ousted.
Never heard of “The American Spectator”, sorry.
Perhaps the 4.2 billion for Acorn or the 50 billion for the National Endowment for the Arts, or maybe the 600 Million for the new cars for the government could have gone towards your crumbling roads. When you don’t have enough money, you have to BUDGET, ever heard of that? You can’t have everything. If you want your roads fixed, be willing to sacrifice some of your other pet projects to get them fixed. Decide what is most important. I can do with out the NEA, Acorn, Film Makers getting money to make movies, greener schools, money for the honey bees, and the endangered fish, smoking cessation, etc, etc, and on and on.
Thanks for the advice….I’ll switch to MSNBC, NY Times, Wash Post and Oprah for my news like you do.
Looks like Happy Demo get his education from the same.
Part of this article has not been commented on from what I’ve read so far….taxes on company’s with punitive damage claims against them.
So any business with a lawsuit against them (punitive damages are almost always plead) will lose their tax deduction potential….am I reading & interpreting this correctly?
Now that will certainly stimulate the economy….at least for trial lawyers and IRS agents! Sounds like it is time for a career change.
It is done of any of your business about my size 11 $500.00 bowling shoe sneakers. I worked hard to get to live in the Whitehouse with my narcisistic husband. You people just shut up and do what you are told and you will be happy. It takes a lot of money to fix everything the Clintons and Bushs wrecked.
June,
You know how you could fix this? If you would get a new television show where you are the maid for the Obamas. We could call the show, Leave it to the messiah. Each week the messiah would spend his way to solving another of the worlds problems. There would be no unhappy people and everybody like you would know their place.
FYI, I don’t make $250k , but that $ is just a starting point for this socialist bunch. I heard Biden talk about $200k or $150k and, Yes, now you’re getting to my neck of the woods. Why not dfrop it to $100k or $50k – when will you feel the squeeze? Also, just because your take home pay has increased $10-15, your cost of living is going up even more and will continue to do so if this administration’s spend and tax and print policies are not reigned in.
The real ******** about this proposal is that the inheritance is money,property the person already earned – already paid taxes on in his lifetime. Now we are supposed to accept being taxed again?
TOO MUCH
This type of garbage is taught to people in the liberal media so that the general public thinks anyone who has money obtained it by cheat and fraud. If they don’t take it away the children will be lazy idiots. Class envy. Those who make the large money should keep the same share as those who make less. Let’s just make sure nobody has any money beyond what is needed live and the government can decide how much that will be. Remove any incentive to make that evil money. Oh, that’s already been tried in the failed communist states. Sorry. IT’S NOT YOUR MONEY TO REDISTRIBUTE FOOLS. One of the primary stated purposes in setting up this country was protection of property. Why do you feel that you should decide what others should do with the money they earned? Who gave you that right? Obama was not elected king, just president.
Actually Obama was elected to change the way the United States is seen by free countries. His destiny is to repair our tarnished image worldwide, establish better relations with the Middle East and N. Korea, to bring about true world peace and to save the enviroment from the carbon footprint of the rich.
Oh, Happy Democrat, how long have you wanted to “Free Tibet”? My God, your party continues to feed the delusion of the underclass by pretending they’re going to help them by sticking to the rich. It hasn’t worked yet but still they persist. Don’t you feel just a little dishonest about it all? It’s been tried before and intelligent people know that you can’t make poor people rich by making rich people poor. The world is laughing at our weakness and apologies. The Messiah has no clothes.
All these comments seem to assume the “estate” is a big pile of cash about to be dropped on some heir’s lap. What if the “estate” is a family business? Got to sell the business to pay off the government, give the balance to the kids and throw them out of business?
Web for Man’s inhumanity to man you tube
YouTube – causes of man’s inhumanity to man – visual essay http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otuwNwsqHmQ its not just us we a part of the world. MAY WE NEVER FORGET IT.
The man has barely moved in the WHitehouse and so many critics and Liberals flipping over to the dark side. People have proved that the government should make the rules for the people because the people are inept and greedy. Obama gets it. He will make lots of rules for us to follow and we will be better for his rules. We are like a bunch of African killer bees in a confined hive that is growing daily. Self government can not work so we need a big powerful well funded goverment to create a better life for all of us. He is our chosen one, he is the leader, he is the way of the world.
Well Obama will just manage to find some money or raise some money or issue some money and together we will fix Darur. Have you figured out how suddenly there is no longer a money shortage. Loans are getting refinanced, roads are being fixed, free healthcare is coming. Guess the conservatives were hiding our money. Obama will find the money and fine the greedy.
For those of us who are obviously wasting our time trying to influence the likes of Happy Democrat and others so deceived by the president, Congress, Washington, the media, & Hollywood; may I suggest we rely on Proverbs 23:9 (New International Version)
9 Do not speak to a fool,
for he will scorn the wisdom of your words.
EGAD!!!
First, I think that Happy Democrat should change her name to Delusional Dumbocrat!!!She obviously drank the Kool-Aid and inhaled!!! Do you have trouble standing straight up? Are you the one I see driving on the left? Is there peroxide in your shampoo?
Second, 16 years of depression! Well at least there is one dumbocrat who acknowledges that the Clinton/Clinton/Gore years weren’t all that fruitful. After all, when they left office the country was in a recession. But it’s ok. They were Democrats.
One thing not mentioned is the fact that raising the taxes on the rich will not raise enough revenue as there are simply not enough rich people to support the country. That is why the middle-class brunts most of the burden.
Noone should have to pay outrageous taxes so that others can lose their ambition to do better for themselves. Hand-outs lead to complacency. Who will work if they don’t have to?
Everybody has their opinion as to what is fair, but c’mon. Noone should have to give up 40% or more of their sweat to the gov’t (except Delusional Dumbocrat).
Ask yourself this. Are you not better off than you were for the last 8 years. Your answer should be yes. Universal ObamaCare is coming. Socialized medicine will work here. Once the president sits down and works things out with the healthcare industry. You’ll see. For 8 years we have had bridge collaspe and devastating hurricanes. Since our new president took power our country has had no bridges collaspe and no more hurricanes. This is real hope and change. Your taxes have not gone up. The president is making up new jobs everyday to clean up the enviroment and police offenders.
This gets better and better. President Obama can prevent hurricanes?!?! Can he do anything about tornados and baseball sized hail? And socialized medicine, I can’t wait for the 6 month long wait to get an appointment. I just know things will be better. If you beleive this junk, Happy Democrat, your life must be really sad.
The first problem with estate taxes is that the IRS overstates the value of estates and their numbers are based on pure speculation. If there isn’t enough life insurance to pay the taxes then, estates get sold off at a small percentage of what they were worth, many people loss their jobs at the small business that must be liquated and the owners and ex-employees no longer make enough income to pay income taxes each year. Estate taxes never have been logical and now Obama is going to make them worse than they already are.
Hungry for change: Pullman woman on hunger strike to bring attention to Darfur conflict
Pullman woman on hunger strike to bring attention to Darfur conflict
By Hillary Hamm, Daily News staff writer
Posted on: Friday, May 01, 2009
Melanie Hodges has her choice of warm or cold water for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The Pullman resident hasn’t touched food for more than 93 hours in what she hopes will be a 21-day hunger strike to support the people of the Darfur region of Sudan.
“I’m going through this by choice. Those people have no choice,” said the 5-foot-1, 100-pound Hodges, who is particularly concerned about children. “A hunger strike does hurt. But what I’m feeling right now is only a little part of what they’re going through.
“I want my body to feel the pain so my brain knows this injustice is not OK.”
Hodges was inspired by actress Mia Farrow’s Monday appearance on “Larry King Live,” during which she spoke about her hunger strike in protest of the ongoing conflict. Hodges went to bed that night and had vivid dreams about the rapes, murders and starvation of children and families in Darfur.
She woke up the next morning and decided she also would go without food to raise local awareness and urge people to demand Congress push for peace in Darfur.
She said the potential swine flu pandemic, layoffs at the local universities and other issues are insignificant compared to the situation in Darfur.
“I just can’t understand how we can close a blind eye,” she said. “I just want people to wake up.”
War broke out in Darfur in 2003 and more 300,000 people have reportedly died in the conflict between nomadic Arab tribes and native African peasant tribes. Thousands of people have been driven from their homes, and the Sudanese government expelled international aid agencies from the country last month.
Hodges’ husband, Alan, wasn’t surprised by her decision to fast.
He also didn’t try to talk her out of it.
“I know better than that,” he said. “She’s very quick to realize when there’s a cause that touches her heart. I certainly wasn’t surprised she’d do something that would raise awareness.
“I’m just really proud of her and wish I had the strength to latch on to a cause and feel so strongly about it as she does.”
Hodges is taking the fast slow for now. She’s pared back work at her downtown shop, Lily Bee’s Consignment, as days with no caloric intake have drained her strength and caused bad breath, headaches and concentration issues.
She’s not bothered by the effects, but she isn’t prepared to die to make a statement, either.
She’s spoken to her daughter, a nurse, and she and her husband are paying close attention to her body’s changes.
“We know what limits she can reach without causing some physical damage,” he said. “I think Melanie is a pretty intelligent women and she’s not going to do anything that would limit her future with her grandbabies.”
Hodges said she expects some people to be upset by her act and think it’s selfish, but added that she doesn’t deal well with complacency – especially from the people who are living comfortably across the world.
“We’re in the 21st century,” she said. “We can educate ourselves. The only reason people don’t is because they choose not to. … I’m sickened that we can just close our eyes to this.”
Let’s face it. Happy Democrat is infatuated with Gov’t control. The real answer on fixing the economy is to allow people to keep more of their money and to stop taking more and more money from those who use that money to expand business and create more jobs.
The federal deficit under Obama will ultimately make George Bush’s spending sins look like pocket change. We have to cut the wasteful spending and balance the budget. We can’t continue to print money, which is being done at a record pace, because there is nothing to back up that money. It is worthless paper. If the value of our money goes down the toilet, we’re all screwed.
The answer on healthcare, and a much cheaper answer, is to allow those who want insurance but can’t afford it, to choose insurance through a private carrier and just have the Gov’t write a check to cover the cost. The answer is not some bloated program that covers millions who don’t need it, or forces people to take it even when they don’t want it. If we continue down the socialist healthcare road, the day is coming when everyone will be forced onto Gov’t healthcare. Private healthcare will go away, and the gov’t will be able to control everyone’s future medically speaking. People like Happy Democrat seem to want that. It might not seem like a big deal to you until it affects you directly. When you are in the midst of a difficult medical situation and you find that Gov’t healthcare isn’t all it was cracked up to be, you’ll be begging for change. You’ll finally realize how good we’ve had it all these years.
Having it good, and having a benevolent socialist state don’t go together. You can’t have one with the other, in my view. I guess some people just want socialism, and they want it now!
The news is buzzing that Dick Cheney would welcome a commission to investigate Bush-era torture – but we need to make it clear that a mere investigation is not enough. What we need is a prosecution.
The buzz intensifed on May 10, when Cheney told CBS’ Bob Schieffer that he hopes for a public discussion of the CIA memos on torture – or, as he refers to it, “enhanced interrogation techniques.”
Why would Cheney hope this? Because he believes the torture was justified. As Andrew Sullivan put it, Cheney “believes that freezing naked prisoners to hypothermia or strapping them to a board for a 175th near-drowning or stringing them up in stress positions so long the shackles rust up is in line with America’s constitutional history and custom.”
Cheney told Schieffer that he hopes CIA memos on torture will be released and examined by journalists and the public.
Mr. Cheney, we’d like to do you one better. We’d like those memos to be examined by a special prosecutor.
Only after a thorough investigation by a U.S. attorney will we know for sure whether and to what extent Cheney broke the law and besmirched the Constitution while serving in the Bush administration. And if he did break the law, he deserves to be prosecuted and sent to prison.
Sign this petition today to tell Attorney General Eric Holder to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate Bush-era torture and what role Dick Cheney played in making it happen.
Top 5 Reasons Insurance Consumers File Complaints Against Insurers
National News • March 6, 2009
The top three reasons consumers filed formal complaints against their insurance companies in 2008 were delays, denials of claims and unsatisfactory settlement offers. According to the National …
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Insurance Journal is not responsible for the content of the message below.
Subject: RE: RE: Complaints”As I was watching these tapes
Posted On: March 8, 2009, 10:18 pm CDT
Posted By: The biggest Ponzi Scheme
Comment:
By Anita Lee
McClatchy Newspapers
Advertisement
BILOXI, Miss. (MCT) — In some cases, State Farm’s top leadership prefers not to share or even keep records that offer insight into how policyholder claims are handled, according to court records.
Chairman and CEO Edward B. Rust Jr. said in sworn testimony earlier this month that no minutes are kept of quarterly meetings held by the company’s top management, the Chairman’s Council, and that policyholders have no right to information about an investigation State Farm Insurance Cos. has ordered of its relationship with Haag Engineering Co.
State Farm spokesman Phil Supple said the company doesn’t “intend to-;try this-;case in the media.”
“State Farm stands by testimony given by President and Vice Chairman Vince Trosino, who said when asked about these allegations, ‘It’s not part of our system. It’s not part of our core values. It’s not what made us the most successful property and casualty insurer, life insurer, in the country.'”
Juries in two states, Texas and Oklahoma, have found Haag provided biased reports to State Farm to minimize or deny policyholder claims. Mississippi’s attorney general currently is conducting a grand jury investigation to determine whether State Farm and other insurers denied Hurricane Katrina claims through the use of fraudulent engineering reports.
Haag denies bias, but State Farm suspended business with the company in June and ordered an independent investigation after an Oklahoma jury awarded a total of $13 million to a policyholder over tornado damages. Subsequent trials are set to determine damages for 70 other policyholders, all of whom had claims investigated by Haag.
In past court cases, judges have chastised and even fined State Farm for withholding records the company was ordered to produce. Evidence the company destroyed documents has been presented in several cases.
In the Oklahoma case, after State Farm finally turned over to the court a “claims legal research” DVD and other records, Judge Richard G. Van Dyck told company attorneys
“As I was watching these tapes I just want to say this for the record, the hair on the back of my neck did — did stand up because I was seeing things there that early on in this case I was told by (State Farm) defense counsel didn’t exist and couldn’t be produced. So I’m not real happy with that and I want to remind all counsel that their ethical responsibilities as attorneys outweigh the wishes of their clients.”
Gary T. Fye, an expert in the analysis of disputed insurance claims who lives in Nevada, often testifies in insurance cases. Fye, who said he has testified on behalf of policyholders and insurance companies, has provided the courts information on State Farm’s history of destroying and withholding records.
In 1998, Fye wrote in a Florida case
“I have been witnessing document destruction, concealment, and obstruction of discovery by State Farm for many years in connection with my review of internal claim practices documents of the insurer. I have accumulated certain Exhibits which show the company’s goals and objectives for document handling by its employees. The documents show close to 28 years of intentional destruction, concealment and distortion of claim practices records.”
In some cases, company executives did not keep records.
Jeff Marr, the attorney suing State Farm in Oklahoma, took sworn testimony Sept. 6 from Rust. Topics included Rust’s Chairman’s Council, made up of top State Farm executives. The group, which includes the company’s general counsel, meets quarterly.
Marr was fishing for records of those meetings that he could subpoena for his lawsuit.
“Certainly,” Marr asked Rust, “you keep records of the quarterly meetings where the entire Chairman’s Council is present?”
“We have an agenda,” Rust said, “but minutes in that, no.”
“Why not?” Marr asked.
Rust replied, “Never felt a need to.”
Marr later asked, “Are there any written agendas that are available should I choose to request them in the lawsuit?”
“I’m not sure what might be available,” Rust said.
Rust also said policyholders, who essentially own the private mutual company, are not entitled to know what the Chairman’s Council discusses or decides about litigation against State Farm, citing attorney-client privilege.
Marr questioned why the company would withhold information from policyholders, who own State Farm.
“Well, again,” said Rust (who has a law degree), “I’m not an expert in the area, but I think as you find — even if I’m a shareholder in a publicly traded company, there are things that are not — you know, I do not have access to.”
Marr later asked if policyholders have a right to see documents from State Farm’s investigation of Haag.
“No,” Rust said.
“Why not?” Marr asked. “Is it privileged?”
Rust said, “I believe so
Subject Posted By Posted On
ED RUST JR TOJail with Alberto R. Gonzales criminal investigation Jan 12, 2009, 7:11 pm
Besmirching the Constitution is competitive sport for liberals. Your liberal Supreme Court Justices site foreign law time after time to justify their ridiculous decisions.
You need to stop worrying about what makes you FEEL good and start worrying about what actually works.
Thanks for letting us all know that you know how to “copy & paste”.
I thought the subject was torture. Switching topics doesn’t make you right and putting a “Free Tibet” bumper sticker on your car does nothing to actually free Tibet. I didn’t need Mia Farrow to call attention to Darfur. George Clooney did it years ago. If you want to have a real impact in the world, stop peddling bumper stickers and get your sorry behind out in the world and DO something. Paid bloggers do nothing constructive for the world. And name calling isn’t a policy position.
Well I would say if they tortured terrorists that have the potential to harm americans, go for it! What do you suppose they would do to americans in prison in their county. Being nice guys does not get you too far.
If you listen to our president speak instead of just blaming him for everything you will understand. President Obama inherited this mess from the previous administration. At least when President Bush was in office the Democrats treated him fairly and did not blame him for everything.
Dems treated Bush fairly? What fantasy land did you live in for the past 8 years? yes, Obama can give a great speech, no doubt about. However, the ability to read well out loud does not make one a great leader. It makes him a great reader.
What a joke…did Busch not get the blame for the housing mess caused by Carter and Clinton as well as Ted Kenneday and Barny Fife…sorry Franke? democrats all!!
Well its to bad for Busch but those things happened on his watch. Look at how well the war in Afghanistan and Iraq have been going since January when President Obama took office. When Bush was the President all we heard was we were losing in Iraq and Afghanistan and could never win. Because of the Democrats vote to support our military and the troop surge our military is now winning. Let’s give credit to the Democratic party for our military’s victories.
Happy Democrat, did you just learn how to read after Obama took office. The Irag war took a turn for the better after the surge last year – when Bush was president. The Demos took forever to admit the surge turned the war around. The demo vote for our troops ????? – you obviously have no idea what you are talking about.
The problem this article demonstrates with Obama is that he has reversed his stand on numerous issues. Obama said what got him votes and to heck with what he really intended to do – which he probably never was sure of. The issue with the estate taxes shows that he does not have a complete and/or adequate understanding of the full ramifications of the end results of his policies.
George Bush hardly got fair treatment. He, Obama, Clinton, McCain, Bush the first, and any other progressive politician from the last century should have been, or be, run out of town on a rail. They’re all to blame for this.
I would guess that for many Americans, their opinion of the wars is not based in fact, but on what the media reports. You don’t hear the body counts any more, or the nonsense about mission accomplished.
To be truthful, it has been up and down over there. We’ve made great strides, and also taken big steps back. During Bush’s term, the media did all they could to paint the war as a disaster everyday.
Allow me to be loud and clear one more time, speaking for myself. George Bush bears blame for much of the mess we are in now because he abandoned conservative principles and policies, and allowed congress to run wild. Obama bears equal blame because he has taken the failed progressive policies of Bush and turned them up a notch.
The Republican party used to stand for something and it was not the Democratic Party. You idiots took the path of appeasement trying to promote a war hero to Democrats. Look here is some free advice to all you Republicans. Go back to your roots and values. Don’t try to sell your GOP as Democrat Light. Your moderate attitude simply meant no true Republican could vote for you and why would we Democrats when we had Senator Liberal to vote for. It just doesn’t get any better than this last election. Republicans thought they could destroy Hillary and no one in their right mind would elect some crazy liberal with no track record that never did accomplish anything while a US Senator. Shame on you. Look at the money and connections of who was promoting President Obama. Once you idiots took Hillary out the rest was easy. We had the money, we had ACORN, we had AlJazeera, we had MoveON.org, CNN, MSNBC, Teddy Kennedy, Oprah, Jack Kennedy’s daughter, Hollywood, the class B actors guild. Your stinking old war hero didn’t have a chance. Thanks for letting Democrats finally get their dream of a socialist sitting in the Whitehouse. Kiss your constitutional rights thing bye bye.
You mean socialist democrat intellectuals. There are conservative intellectuals with wildly different ideas. The republicans are just wannabes. Someone you will wake up and realize that the United States as we know has been ruined and that Keith Oldermann either wanted a Communist Gov’t or he was too dumb to see it coming.
114 days since the troops started coming home from Iraq. Oh wait, they’re still there.
Bubba,
You get it don’t you? Over here at the far left we have been told for nearly the last 50 years or more that if we kept pushing our agenda we could install a socialist (communist) government without firing a shot. Now that we have the Obamba there is nothing to stop us unless we piss off all of the illegals and the special interest groups that got us here. While America was worried about getting overrun by wetbacks and terrorists the real terror was within. Don’t worry about the good life. As long as you are in the party elite or have good friends that are you will still have access to autos, medical needs, and food that were of like kind and quality to what you had in your old republic form of government.
This is just the beginning. Obama’s plan to rape anyone with any assets and give to the deadbeats is the cornerstone of his socialistic agenda. The irony is, when you kill the goose that lays the golden egg, where’s the money going to come from? This idiot of a president couldn’t run a profitable lemonade stand and is WAY out of his league.
It will be interesting to see how the “unfortunates” that he wants to give our money to will fund his next election; after he has no “business” friends left..just the welfare receipants and the rest of the poor downtrodden.
Well! He may be way out of his leaugue but when he is compared to Senator McCain or Bill’s wife he is younger, women desire him more than Hillary or McCain, he is better looking than Hillary, more more efiminate than Hillary, sinnier than McCain and he is tech savy when it comes to IPODs, texting, face booking, likes cool music, and has a wife with cool tastes in tennis shoes. Obama is just really a cool dude so that is why we elected him. Admit it. In a beauty contest who is the most beautiful person to the new age voter? A crusty old war hero with stiff arms? An ugly hog joweled former first lady? Or the Obama? The people have spoken and the M-TV crowd has spoken for the Obama.
The draft caused the age to be lowered, now there’s no draft, so raise it back to 21. Who evr knew what was ging on at age 18?
Further, bring back to “Poll Tax” so the people making the money the Gov is spending have a say in where it goes. Then, all Socialists take a crash course in “Human Nature 101” followed by “History 101”.
Sheesh!
I want some of what you are smoking. The Democraps fought and trashed every court nominee, trashed the attorney general, made fun of the president and criticized every move he made. What planet are you living on. Pull your head out.
I actually heard a noted French sociologist refer to the current generation aged from 20 to 30 as The Dumbest Generation.
Looking at who the M-TV kiddies elected this sounds like a valid statement of fact.
I am 29. I have held a job since the age of 16. I have been employed full time for almost 7 years. I do not live at home. I have no debt other than a small car loan. I owe my parents a lot for getting me off to a good start. What I owe them the most for is teaching me the value of hard work. Several of my closest friends, however, still live at home, pay no rent and their parents’ even cook and clean for them. The majority still have student loans and even credit card debt despite their lack of monthly expenses. Guess who they voted for? I voted for McCain…
I’m not sure what planet this person is on, we’re talking about taxes NOT looks, age etc…we pay enough TAX now why would i want to pay more for persons that DO NOT AND NEVER HAD paid any taxes to subsidize their health benefit. I certainly understand the need for health benefits, but need to start reducing the hosp rates, look at the MED BILLS they submit, they create more fraud then you can shake a stick at, review your bills, challenge the provider-we can save $$$there. THis whole thing is insane including some of our “leaders”. Enuff said
Sorry Happy Democrat. You haven’t got a clue. If you weren’t viewing the new administration through rose colored glasses you would see that he is kissing the rear ends of leaders who are laughing behind his back, lowering our defenses on terrorism that brings our country into immenent danger and preparing to destroy our economy for a crackpot theory on the environment that doesn’t have a shred of actual proof. I am not prepared have my money stolen by the government to give to others who won’t work, have my job in the hands of government officials who couldn’t manage a lemonade stand or give in to idiots like yourself who want the government to manage every aspect of our lives. I want the country to succeed and in order for us to succeed, the policies the liberals such as yourself have to fail. Blowback is coming as more people recognize the real danger we are in now. Apologize to everyone who you think we ever offended? Start by apologizing to me for offending me with these destructive policies. You don’t want disagreement of course. The mind police from the book 1984 are here, a little late, but we are no longer allowed to have an opinion because this president won an election by a few percentage points? Not in this country fool.
So all the people who have worked their entire life to be able to leave a few dollars to their children now get to give it to the “unfortunate, unemployed, welfare recipients”……who says this isn’t socialism?
We are going to be a society under Obama that will be paying more taxes. I remember during the campaing that he stated Americans will be able have more money in their pocket. Now that Obama is president, and he is going to make all American pay a lot more taxes.
Yet again, empty campaign promises. I think we all saw this coming though. In every debate he evaded the questions about how he intended to fund all his grand (socialist) plans without increasing taxes.
is the current amount exempt per person $7MM per couple- that’s not a “few dollars”-
If this is change we can believe in, I’ll take the status-quo!
When will the public realize that no matter what the questio is government isn’t the answer…
IJ has become a forum for the disgruntled conservatives. And come on “Help the Unfortunate”, really. Oh no your children are going to be taxed on the portion of your estate that is over $3.5 million. How are they ever going to live?
And Sips, do you make over $250k. I don’t and my taxes have not gone up, so what the @#!? are you talking about. In fact less is coming out of my paycheck these days.
I will probably stop reading comments as they offer no value other than hearing a bunch of baby’s cry and make stuff up because their guy did not win the election. (And I thought democrats were supposed to be the pansies.)
Obama’s idea of change is to have everyone pay higher taxes. So much for his stimulus plan, and I have to pay hiher income tax beacuse my State of California goverment does not know how to do their job.
^^ This is all part of the socialist agenda, with the ultimate goal of forcing America to join the world economy and relinquish its entrepreneurial ways. At least I can say I did not vote for this man, even though he is but one cog in a larger machine spanning many previous presidencies.
As it exist now, you only get taxed for the portion over 3.5 million. It does not define BO’s plan. Also, just because it likely will not apply to what I do or do not leave behind, does not make it right. People should be able to set their families up w/o uncle BO taking a share.
Didn’t he say “no tax increases” when he was running?
How does the lame assed public think we are going to pay for all the new benefits. WAKE UP AMERICA. This is a total restribution of wealth. All the government is doing is buying the votes of the “tax users” for the next election. What they haven’t figured out yet is that the “tax payers” have about had enough.
Fedup w/ Y’all.
If you had a brain cell left, you would realize that you haven’t seen a tax increase……Yet. these programs are just rolling out. I will be interested to see what you post 12 months from now.
Will your kids have to pay taxes up to 40% of the value?
Your paycheck might not be smaller now, but it could be in the future. The cost of living continues to go up, and at some point the gov’t is likely to decide that you too can afford a tax increase. Unlike those serving in Gov’t, we don’t get a raise based on the increased cost of living. The gov’ts economic policies bring us more taxes, more lay offs, fewer jobs, higher prices, etc.
Just wait till Obama announces that we can afford to tack a dollar or two more in taxes onto a gallon of gas because we already showed that we can afford $4 a gallon. He’s on record saying that higher gas prices are good.
$3.5 mil per individual / $7 mil per couple…these folks have done a pretty good job of saving a “few dollars”. Where will the taxes come from ? Better it comes from estates that have a “few dollars” to leave their kids. With any kind of estate planning those kids will be just fine. Even w/o any estate planning I could get along w the proceeds.
^^ Easier said than done I am sure. If that was your estate’s value and you were facing a large tax increase (whatever it may be), I am sure you’d be singing a different tune.
How about this concept — do NOT eliminate the effectiveness of Clinton’s welfare reform act and continue making those on welfare/unemployment to earn their keep?
Well now that Colin Powell agrees with VP Bidden everyone should be happy to pay more taxes. Anyone who thinks the taxes are just going to hit those over $250k is naive at best.
you all are a bunch of conservative idiots who want everything for yourselves at the expense of others.Try paying your fair share for a change.We all know that the tax laws are written by the “rich” and for the “rich”
This was promised on the campaign trail. Stripping more wealth from the private sector. Nobody is surprised by this I hope… Our country survived Woodrow Wilson, it shall survive BHO…
What will happen when those in this great country decide that they have had enough and decide to let the government take care of them instead of them taking care of whoever the government wants to take care of… (at that time)
You think it’s a joke? There is getting to be less and less incentive to go out and strive to become better off. Pterry soon we’ll all just give up and let Uncle Sam give us whatever he (or she) feels we deserve and when that happens…
Dear Mrs. B.O. (aka: Fed Up):
Wow….who would have known that you read and respond to IJ blogs!
PS: Love those $500+ tennis shoes!
In the 60’s LBJ declared a “War on Poverty”. Since then we have spent the wealth of this country on that war and poverty/hunger remain unchanged! The democrat party answer is more taxes and more spending. My God, the well is dry!!!
You should also be disgruntled.
It’s my money! I earned it, paid taxes on it, and many times double taxes. I want my wealth to go to my kids. That’s my kids, not yours or any other’s!
Well said Rick…although LBJ himself said it even better:
12/13/63 “We can draw lessons from the past, but we cannot live in it.”
From each according to their abilities, to each according to their needs… See the pattern yet?
Wll folks, I was not talking about a rich family, I was taking about an 87 year old World War II veteran who served in France, Germany, Battle of the Bulge who has worked since he was 19 years old. According to his financial planner, he can depend on the tax threshold going down substantially from 3.5 Mil. He worked at a labor job for 40 years sometimes 12 hour days, 7 days a week and I really don’t think his money should go to the “unfortunate” There are many people who can’t help their circumstances however, there are just as many or more that want the government to take care of them, There actually must be millions of them because they elected a president who does want the government to pad their pockets, take care of their children and make everything right in their world.
What is my ‘fair share’ you idiot? 30%, 40%, 50%, 60,70,80%?
How much of the taxes do the top 5% of wage earners already pay in this country?
The new ‘disenfranchised’ in this country are those who have worked hard and smart enough to better themselves – and accomplished their dreams. They’re disenfranchised because they are a minority at the ballot box. They DO NOT have EQUAL rights. How may times does a single dollar need to be taxed before, by your definition of ‘fair’, it’s taxed enough?
History will – and always does – repeat itself. This country is headed for the trash heap.
“The way to crush the bourgeoisie is to grind them between the millstones of taxation and inflation.”
Lenin
Welcome to ‘change’.
It is not about economics… it is about power.
The Fair Tax would eliminate this entire mess. No IRS. No federal income tax. No April 15th deadline. No tax prep fees. Imagine that!
Check it out….fairtax.org
I could not have said it any better myself, so I won’t.
It appears we are becoming very socialistic and I’m sick of it – get off your lazy duffs and earn you money as I, along with many many others have – I’m sick of “govm’t” involvement as they are only SELF SERVING – campaign promises! huh, what a bunch of crap!!
Well said, Help. Was your father serving the 82nd Airborne with mine in WWII?? Or perhaps you know my dad….work hard all your life to support the government because the government doesn’t know how to budget appropriately? I don’t think so.
If the “Average Joe” can budget their expenses so can Uncle Sam….
Well said, Help. Was your father serving the 82nd Airborne with mine in WWII?? Or perhaps you know my dad….work hard all your life to support the government because the government doesn’t know how to budget appropriately? I don’t think so.
If the “Average Joe” can budget their expenses so can Uncle Sam….
Bob. As I remember it, he never said “no new taxes”. George Bush Sr. was the one who said that. He stated that the target for tax increases was for those earning $250K and above. That increase is supposed to partially offset the decrease for 90% of the middle and lower class earners. Read this article a little closer, the inheritance OVER $3.5 is the target for an increase. The world is not going to end tomorrow, bro. Take it easy. Read and get the facts before you scream about the coming of Armegedon.
I have worked my butt off to get to the income level that I am currently at. It is a good living, but no where near rich. I for one am absolutely fed up with the never ending stream of new federal programs that are being proposed and ramrodded through congress. Wake up! somebody has to pay for these. Stop Crying, don’t you think that eventually this is going to mean you and your children? Do you thnk all this debt is going to just go away? The people in this forum are not “whining”, they have the foresight to see what is coming. Sooner or later, the bills have to get paid. The right thing to do is STOP the new spending. YOU CAN’T HAVE IT ALL UNLESS YOU WORK FOR IT! so get busy, Stop Crying, you’ve got a lot to do to pay this bill. If you find that you are not happy with your lot in life and need more, find a way to do better, just like our forefathers and mothers did, instead of waiting on the government to give you something. You’ll find many conservatives got to where they have in life by doing just that.
TxLady, which federal program are you objecting to? Fixing old crumbling roads and bridges? Have you been to the Northeast lately? I use that as an example of money well spent. It prevents road fatalities and puts people to work. Where was the outrage when the hard earned surplus we had in 2000 was wasted over the last 8 years. At least Obama is now puting spending for the war IN the budget as apposed to Cheny/Bush who kept it out. Now that money is attempted to be directed at sensible DOMESTIC spending rather than paying for a war that was never fully justified, people start jumping up an down? Your rant is typical of the disgruntled, reading impaired, neo-cons who listen to FOX news and complain about “all these wasteful federal programs” without knowing about any of them. Read something else besides “The American Spectator”.
Let’s face it… whether we like it or not the only solution that the government sees to this never ending problem is more taxes
Until we as a nation no longer provide long term support to an ever expanding population of people who have absolutely no incentive to improve themselves or society, there is no alternative.
That leaves us with only two choices…
1. accept the taxes and be glad that the governement doesn’t take everything, or
2. stop this welfare system that has proven time and again that it just doesn’t work.
You make the choice!
Pesident Obama is only going to raise our taxes if we make more than 1.2 million a year. We should all be more patriotic and send him more taxes if we make that much. Taxes are good and they will end the Bush/Cheney depression we have been in for the last 16 years.
You people wanted to taste commie socialism. How’s it tasting now?
http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/State-Dept-Listed-Texas-as-Foreign-Country.html
Obama needs to quit pissing off the people in the states that pay more in than they take out.
I would like to know why it is considered “mean-spirited” by taxophiles that I want to keep as much of what I work my butt off to earn but it’s not “mean-spirited” to take it from me to pay for benefits for those completely unmotivated to work or who come into our country illegally? I think that people who want to rip the fruits of my labors from me are the penultimate Nazis.
Look in the mirror Slap Happy Democrat. Who will you blame when I decide it’s not worth the effort anymore? Who will you enslave next?
To all who wanted “change”….how are you liking your messiah now and his tax and spend policy now. I don’t think he could spend more money if he tried….well played obama.
Not trying to turn this into a political debate b/c as I’ve said previously , i hate ALL politicians equally (cept maybe ron paul).
I still say we kick everyone out of washington and either hold a lotto appointing average everyday citizens to office. Either that or the altnerative…monkeys with roller skates and funny hats run the show. Either way its win win for us once Osamba is ousted.
Never heard of “The American Spectator”, sorry.
Perhaps the 4.2 billion for Acorn or the 50 billion for the National Endowment for the Arts, or maybe the 600 Million for the new cars for the government could have gone towards your crumbling roads. When you don’t have enough money, you have to BUDGET, ever heard of that? You can’t have everything. If you want your roads fixed, be willing to sacrifice some of your other pet projects to get them fixed. Decide what is most important. I can do with out the NEA, Acorn, Film Makers getting money to make movies, greener schools, money for the honey bees, and the endangered fish, smoking cessation, etc, etc, and on and on.
Dear Tired:
Thanks for the advice….I’ll switch to MSNBC, NY Times, Wash Post and Oprah for my news like you do.
Looks like Happy Demo get his education from the same.
Part of this article has not been commented on from what I’ve read so far….taxes on company’s with punitive damage claims against them.
So any business with a lawsuit against them (punitive damages are almost always plead) will lose their tax deduction potential….am I reading & interpreting this correctly?
Now that will certainly stimulate the economy….at least for trial lawyers and IRS agents! Sounds like it is time for a career change.
It is done of any of your business about my size 11 $500.00 bowling shoe sneakers. I worked hard to get to live in the Whitehouse with my narcisistic husband. You people just shut up and do what you are told and you will be happy. It takes a lot of money to fix everything the Clintons and Bushs wrecked.
Ward,
I’m worried about the OBAMA.
June,
You know how you could fix this? If you would get a new television show where you are the maid for the Obamas. We could call the show, Leave it to the messiah. Each week the messiah would spend his way to solving another of the worlds problems. There would be no unhappy people and everybody like you would know their place.
Depression last 16 years????
You are a typical Democrat that needs more reading and life experience.
FYI, I don’t make $250k , but that $ is just a starting point for this socialist bunch. I heard Biden talk about $200k or $150k and, Yes, now you’re getting to my neck of the woods. Why not dfrop it to $100k or $50k – when will you feel the squeeze? Also, just because your take home pay has increased $10-15, your cost of living is going up even more and will continue to do so if this administration’s spend and tax and print policies are not reigned in.
The real ******** about this proposal is that the inheritance is money,property the person already earned – already paid taxes on in his lifetime. Now we are supposed to accept being taxed again?
TOO MUCH
This type of garbage is taught to people in the liberal media so that the general public thinks anyone who has money obtained it by cheat and fraud. If they don’t take it away the children will be lazy idiots. Class envy. Those who make the large money should keep the same share as those who make less. Let’s just make sure nobody has any money beyond what is needed live and the government can decide how much that will be. Remove any incentive to make that evil money. Oh, that’s already been tried in the failed communist states. Sorry. IT’S NOT YOUR MONEY TO REDISTRIBUTE FOOLS. One of the primary stated purposes in setting up this country was protection of property. Why do you feel that you should decide what others should do with the money they earned? Who gave you that right? Obama was not elected king, just president.
Actually Obama was elected to change the way the United States is seen by free countries. His destiny is to repair our tarnished image worldwide, establish better relations with the Middle East and N. Korea, to bring about true world peace and to save the enviroment from the carbon footprint of the rich.
Are those her feet?
I thought they were gunboats!
Oh, Happy Democrat, how long have you wanted to “Free Tibet”? My God, your party continues to feed the delusion of the underclass by pretending they’re going to help them by sticking to the rich. It hasn’t worked yet but still they persist. Don’t you feel just a little dishonest about it all? It’s been tried before and intelligent people know that you can’t make poor people rich by making rich people poor. The world is laughing at our weakness and apologies. The Messiah has no clothes.
All these comments seem to assume the “estate” is a big pile of cash about to be dropped on some heir’s lap. What if the “estate” is a family business? Got to sell the business to pay off the government, give the balance to the kids and throw them out of business?
I guess we’ll see how everyone likes higher taxes as Obama’s definition of “RICH” changes in order to meet his ever increasing spending.
I have no doubt that pretty soon anyone making more than $50,000 a year will find their tax bill going up as he continued to redistribute OUR wealth.
Then we’ll see who the real liberals are… I bet that once the higher taxes hit them, they’ll be a big switch to the conservative side.
this is yr of greed my dear friend.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otuwNwsqHmQ
Web for Man’s inhumanity to man you tube
YouTube – causes of man’s inhumanity to man – visual essay
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otuwNwsqHmQ its not just us we a part of the world. MAY WE NEVER FORGET IT.
The man has barely moved in the WHitehouse and so many critics and Liberals flipping over to the dark side. People have proved that the government should make the rules for the people because the people are inept and greedy. Obama gets it. He will make lots of rules for us to follow and we will be better for his rules. We are like a bunch of African killer bees in a confined hive that is growing daily. Self government can not work so we need a big powerful well funded goverment to create a better life for all of us. He is our chosen one, he is the leader, he is the way of the world.
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0:30How will history judge us? (Save Darfur Ad)
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2:28Barack Obama on Darfur
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savedarfurcoalitionAdded
2:54The Darfur Genocide: A Present Reality
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0:30Never Again (Save Darfur Ad)
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3:22Be a Voice for Darfur
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d
Well Obama will just manage to find some money or raise some money or issue some money and together we will fix Darur. Have you figured out how suddenly there is no longer a money shortage. Loans are getting refinanced, roads are being fixed, free healthcare is coming. Guess the conservatives were hiding our money. Obama will find the money and fine the greedy.
Friends:
For those of us who are obviously wasting our time trying to influence the likes of Happy Democrat and others so deceived by the president, Congress, Washington, the media, & Hollywood; may I suggest we rely on Proverbs 23:9 (New International Version)
9 Do not speak to a fool,
for he will scorn the wisdom of your words.
Sincerely,
“clinging to guns and religion”
Judging by your last comment another old saying comes to mind…ignorance is bliss.
I loved your comment! Best laugh I had today.
9 Do not speak to a fool,
for he will scorn the wisdom of your words.
MY CHILD, NEVER FORGET THE THINGS I HAVE TAUGHT YOU.
EGAD!!!
First, I think that Happy Democrat should change her name to Delusional Dumbocrat!!!She obviously drank the Kool-Aid and inhaled!!! Do you have trouble standing straight up? Are you the one I see driving on the left? Is there peroxide in your shampoo?
Second, 16 years of depression! Well at least there is one dumbocrat who acknowledges that the Clinton/Clinton/Gore years weren’t all that fruitful. After all, when they left office the country was in a recession. But it’s ok. They were Democrats.
One thing not mentioned is the fact that raising the taxes on the rich will not raise enough revenue as there are simply not enough rich people to support the country. That is why the middle-class brunts most of the burden.
Noone should have to pay outrageous taxes so that others can lose their ambition to do better for themselves. Hand-outs lead to complacency. Who will work if they don’t have to?
Everybody has their opinion as to what is fair, but c’mon. Noone should have to give up 40% or more of their sweat to the gov’t (except Delusional Dumbocrat).
Ask yourself this. Are you not better off than you were for the last 8 years. Your answer should be yes. Universal ObamaCare is coming. Socialized medicine will work here. Once the president sits down and works things out with the healthcare industry. You’ll see. For 8 years we have had bridge collaspe and devastating hurricanes. Since our new president took power our country has had no bridges collaspe and no more hurricanes. This is real hope and change. Your taxes have not gone up. The president is making up new jobs everyday to clean up the enviroment and police offenders.
You said it yourself. Give Pesident Opie, um Obama, more time!!!
This gets better and better. President Obama can prevent hurricanes?!?! Can he do anything about tornados and baseball sized hail? And socialized medicine, I can’t wait for the 6 month long wait to get an appointment. I just know things will be better. If you beleive this junk, Happy Democrat, your life must be really sad.
The first problem with estate taxes is that the IRS overstates the value of estates and their numbers are based on pure speculation. If there isn’t enough life insurance to pay the taxes then, estates get sold off at a small percentage of what they were worth, many people loss their jobs at the small business that must be liquated and the owners and ex-employees no longer make enough income to pay income taxes each year. Estate taxes never have been logical and now Obama is going to make them worse than they already are.
Hungry for change: Pullman woman on hunger strike to bring attention to Darfur conflict
Pullman woman on hunger strike to bring attention to Darfur conflict
By Hillary Hamm, Daily News staff writer
Posted on: Friday, May 01, 2009
Melanie Hodges has her choice of warm or cold water for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
The Pullman resident hasn’t touched food for more than 93 hours in what she hopes will be a 21-day hunger strike to support the people of the Darfur region of Sudan.
“I’m going through this by choice. Those people have no choice,” said the 5-foot-1, 100-pound Hodges, who is particularly concerned about children. “A hunger strike does hurt. But what I’m feeling right now is only a little part of what they’re going through.
“I want my body to feel the pain so my brain knows this injustice is not OK.”
Hodges was inspired by actress Mia Farrow’s Monday appearance on “Larry King Live,” during which she spoke about her hunger strike in protest of the ongoing conflict. Hodges went to bed that night and had vivid dreams about the rapes, murders and starvation of children and families in Darfur.
She woke up the next morning and decided she also would go without food to raise local awareness and urge people to demand Congress push for peace in Darfur.
She said the potential swine flu pandemic, layoffs at the local universities and other issues are insignificant compared to the situation in Darfur.
“I just can’t understand how we can close a blind eye,” she said. “I just want people to wake up.”
War broke out in Darfur in 2003 and more 300,000 people have reportedly died in the conflict between nomadic Arab tribes and native African peasant tribes. Thousands of people have been driven from their homes, and the Sudanese government expelled international aid agencies from the country last month.
Hodges’ husband, Alan, wasn’t surprised by her decision to fast.
He also didn’t try to talk her out of it.
“I know better than that,” he said. “She’s very quick to realize when there’s a cause that touches her heart. I certainly wasn’t surprised she’d do something that would raise awareness.
“I’m just really proud of her and wish I had the strength to latch on to a cause and feel so strongly about it as she does.”
Hodges is taking the fast slow for now. She’s pared back work at her downtown shop, Lily Bee’s Consignment, as days with no caloric intake have drained her strength and caused bad breath, headaches and concentration issues.
She’s not bothered by the effects, but she isn’t prepared to die to make a statement, either.
She’s spoken to her daughter, a nurse, and she and her husband are paying close attention to her body’s changes.
“We know what limits she can reach without causing some physical damage,” he said. “I think Melanie is a pretty intelligent women and she’s not going to do anything that would limit her future with her grandbabies.”
Hodges said she expects some people to be upset by her act and think it’s selfish, but added that she doesn’t deal well with complacency – especially from the people who are living comfortably across the world.
“We’re in the 21st century,” she said. “We can educate ourselves. The only reason people don’t is because they choose not to. … I’m sickened that we can just close our eyes to this.”
MIA, MY GOAL WAS TO WAKE UP MY COMMUNITY.
Also, please visit http://fastdarfur.org and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USLDoIiFzzg&NR=1
I’m ignoring my advice….can’t resist the temptation to keep trying.
Liberals: Here is some JFK advice.
“We cannot negotiate with those who say, ‘What’s mine is mine and what’s yours is negotiable.'”
And another good one:
“The ignorance of one voter in a democracy impairs the security of all.”
complacency not good.
Let’s face it. Happy Democrat is infatuated with Gov’t control. The real answer on fixing the economy is to allow people to keep more of their money and to stop taking more and more money from those who use that money to expand business and create more jobs.
The federal deficit under Obama will ultimately make George Bush’s spending sins look like pocket change. We have to cut the wasteful spending and balance the budget. We can’t continue to print money, which is being done at a record pace, because there is nothing to back up that money. It is worthless paper. If the value of our money goes down the toilet, we’re all screwed.
The answer on healthcare, and a much cheaper answer, is to allow those who want insurance but can’t afford it, to choose insurance through a private carrier and just have the Gov’t write a check to cover the cost. The answer is not some bloated program that covers millions who don’t need it, or forces people to take it even when they don’t want it. If we continue down the socialist healthcare road, the day is coming when everyone will be forced onto Gov’t healthcare. Private healthcare will go away, and the gov’t will be able to control everyone’s future medically speaking. People like Happy Democrat seem to want that. It might not seem like a big deal to you until it affects you directly. When you are in the midst of a difficult medical situation and you find that Gov’t healthcare isn’t all it was cracked up to be, you’ll be begging for change. You’ll finally realize how good we’ve had it all these years.
Having it good, and having a benevolent socialist state don’t go together. You can’t have one with the other, in my view. I guess some people just want socialism, and they want it now!
Tell Holder: It’s time to prosecute Cheney.
The news is buzzing that Dick Cheney would welcome a commission to investigate Bush-era torture – but we need to make it clear that a mere investigation is not enough. What we need is a prosecution.
The buzz intensifed on May 10, when Cheney told CBS’ Bob Schieffer that he hopes for a public discussion of the CIA memos on torture – or, as he refers to it, “enhanced interrogation techniques.”
Why would Cheney hope this? Because he believes the torture was justified. As Andrew Sullivan put it, Cheney “believes that freezing naked prisoners to hypothermia or strapping them to a board for a 175th near-drowning or stringing them up in stress positions so long the shackles rust up is in line with America’s constitutional history and custom.”
Cheney told Schieffer that he hopes CIA memos on torture will be released and examined by journalists and the public.
Mr. Cheney, we’d like to do you one better. We’d like those memos to be examined by a special prosecutor.
Only after a thorough investigation by a U.S. attorney will we know for sure whether and to what extent Cheney broke the law and besmirched the Constitution while serving in the Bush administration. And if he did break the law, he deserves to be prosecuted and sent to prison.
Sign this petition today to tell Attorney General Eric Holder to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate Bush-era torture and what role Dick Cheney played in making it happen.
Top 5 Reasons Insurance Consumers File Complaints Against Insurers
National News • March 6, 2009
The top three reasons consumers filed formal complaints against their insurance companies in 2008 were delays, denials of claims and unsatisfactory settlement offers. According to the National …
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Insurance Journal is not responsible for the content of the message below.
Subject: RE: RE: Complaints”As I was watching these tapes
Posted On: March 8, 2009, 10:18 pm CDT
Posted By: The biggest Ponzi Scheme
Comment:
By Anita Lee
McClatchy Newspapers
Advertisement
BILOXI, Miss. (MCT) — In some cases, State Farm’s top leadership prefers not to share or even keep records that offer insight into how policyholder claims are handled, according to court records.
Chairman and CEO Edward B. Rust Jr. said in sworn testimony earlier this month that no minutes are kept of quarterly meetings held by the company’s top management, the Chairman’s Council, and that policyholders have no right to information about an investigation State Farm Insurance Cos. has ordered of its relationship with Haag Engineering Co.
State Farm spokesman Phil Supple said the company doesn’t “intend to-;try this-;case in the media.”
“State Farm stands by testimony given by President and Vice Chairman Vince Trosino, who said when asked about these allegations, ‘It’s not part of our system. It’s not part of our core values. It’s not what made us the most successful property and casualty insurer, life insurer, in the country.'”
Juries in two states, Texas and Oklahoma, have found Haag provided biased reports to State Farm to minimize or deny policyholder claims. Mississippi’s attorney general currently is conducting a grand jury investigation to determine whether State Farm and other insurers denied Hurricane Katrina claims through the use of fraudulent engineering reports.
Haag denies bias, but State Farm suspended business with the company in June and ordered an independent investigation after an Oklahoma jury awarded a total of $13 million to a policyholder over tornado damages. Subsequent trials are set to determine damages for 70 other policyholders, all of whom had claims investigated by Haag.
In past court cases, judges have chastised and even fined State Farm for withholding records the company was ordered to produce. Evidence the company destroyed documents has been presented in several cases.
In the Oklahoma case, after State Farm finally turned over to the court a “claims legal research” DVD and other records, Judge Richard G. Van Dyck told company attorneys
“As I was watching these tapes I just want to say this for the record, the hair on the back of my neck did — did stand up because I was seeing things there that early on in this case I was told by (State Farm) defense counsel didn’t exist and couldn’t be produced. So I’m not real happy with that and I want to remind all counsel that their ethical responsibilities as attorneys outweigh the wishes of their clients.”
Gary T. Fye, an expert in the analysis of disputed insurance claims who lives in Nevada, often testifies in insurance cases. Fye, who said he has testified on behalf of policyholders and insurance companies, has provided the courts information on State Farm’s history of destroying and withholding records.
In 1998, Fye wrote in a Florida case
“I have been witnessing document destruction, concealment, and obstruction of discovery by State Farm for many years in connection with my review of internal claim practices documents of the insurer. I have accumulated certain Exhibits which show the company’s goals and objectives for document handling by its employees. The documents show close to 28 years of intentional destruction, concealment and distortion of claim practices records.”
In some cases, company executives did not keep records.
Jeff Marr, the attorney suing State Farm in Oklahoma, took sworn testimony Sept. 6 from Rust. Topics included Rust’s Chairman’s Council, made up of top State Farm executives. The group, which includes the company’s general counsel, meets quarterly.
Marr was fishing for records of those meetings that he could subpoena for his lawsuit.
“Certainly,” Marr asked Rust, “you keep records of the quarterly meetings where the entire Chairman’s Council is present?”
“We have an agenda,” Rust said, “but minutes in that, no.”
“Why not?” Marr asked.
Rust replied, “Never felt a need to.”
Marr later asked, “Are there any written agendas that are available should I choose to request them in the lawsuit?”
“I’m not sure what might be available,” Rust said.
Rust also said policyholders, who essentially own the private mutual company, are not entitled to know what the Chairman’s Council discusses or decides about litigation against State Farm, citing attorney-client privilege.
Marr questioned why the company would withhold information from policyholders, who own State Farm.
“Well, again,” said Rust (who has a law degree), “I’m not an expert in the area, but I think as you find — even if I’m a shareholder in a publicly traded company, there are things that are not — you know, I do not have access to.”
Marr later asked if policyholders have a right to see documents from State Farm’s investigation of Haag.
“No,” Rust said.
“Why not?” Marr asked. “Is it privileged?”
Rust said, “I believe so
Subject Posted By Posted On
ED RUST JR TOJail with Alberto R. Gonzales criminal investigation Jan 12, 2009, 7:11 pm
Besmirching the Constitution is competitive sport for liberals. Your liberal Supreme Court Justices site foreign law time after time to justify their ridiculous decisions.
You need to stop worrying about what makes you FEEL good and start worrying about what actually works.
Thanks for letting us all know that you know how to “copy & paste”.
You need to stop worrying about what makes you FEEL good and start worrying about what actually works. O DOSE THIS SEEM TO BE WORKING? C
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USLDoIiFzzg Darfur in 10 Minutes: An Overview of the Conflict in Sudan
I thought the subject was torture. Switching topics doesn’t make you right and putting a “Free Tibet” bumper sticker on your car does nothing to actually free Tibet. I didn’t need Mia Farrow to call attention to Darfur. George Clooney did it years ago. If you want to have a real impact in the world, stop peddling bumper stickers and get your sorry behind out in the world and DO something. Paid bloggers do nothing constructive for the world. And name calling isn’t a policy position.
Please stay on the subject matter or take your conversation elsewhere!
Well I would say if they tortured terrorists that have the potential to harm americans, go for it! What do you suppose they would do to americans in prison in their county. Being nice guys does not get you too far.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LO0sCs8jI4k ISAAC ASIMOV THREATS TO HUMANITY PART 1 Being nice guys does not get you too far.
OR DOSE IT?????????
If you listen to our president speak instead of just blaming him for everything you will understand. President Obama inherited this mess from the previous administration. At least when President Bush was in office the Democrats treated him fairly and did not blame him for everything.
hahahahahahahaha Put down the crack pipe, Dem!
Dems treated Bush fairly? What fantasy land did you live in for the past 8 years? yes, Obama can give a great speech, no doubt about. However, the ability to read well out loud does not make one a great leader. It makes him a great reader.
What a joke…did Busch not get the blame for the housing mess caused by Carter and Clinton as well as Ted Kenneday and Barny Fife…sorry Franke? democrats all!!
Well its to bad for Busch but those things happened on his watch. Look at how well the war in Afghanistan and Iraq have been going since January when President Obama took office. When Bush was the President all we heard was we were losing in Iraq and Afghanistan and could never win. Because of the Democrats vote to support our military and the troop surge our military is now winning. Let’s give credit to the Democratic party for our military’s victories.
Happy Democrat, did you just learn how to read after Obama took office. The Irag war took a turn for the better after the surge last year – when Bush was president. The Demos took forever to admit the surge turned the war around. The demo vote for our troops ????? – you obviously have no idea what you are talking about.
The problem this article demonstrates with Obama is that he has reversed his stand on numerous issues. Obama said what got him votes and to heck with what he really intended to do – which he probably never was sure of. The issue with the estate taxes shows that he does not have a complete and/or adequate understanding of the full ramifications of the end results of his policies.
Let’s take a chill pill and turn off Limbaugh and Hannity. I will be so glad when the fairness doctrine is reinstated by the President.
I’m with you on this one, Dem. I can’t wait for the antidote (balance) to Olbermann, Maddow and Matthews. Bring on the (Un)Fairness Doctrine!
I for one have thoroughly enjoyed your outlandish sarcasm, Happy Democrat! Thanks for the lunchtime entertainment!
George Bush hardly got fair treatment. He, Obama, Clinton, McCain, Bush the first, and any other progressive politician from the last century should have been, or be, run out of town on a rail. They’re all to blame for this.
I would guess that for many Americans, their opinion of the wars is not based in fact, but on what the media reports. You don’t hear the body counts any more, or the nonsense about mission accomplished.
To be truthful, it has been up and down over there. We’ve made great strides, and also taken big steps back. During Bush’s term, the media did all they could to paint the war as a disaster everyday.
Allow me to be loud and clear one more time, speaking for myself. George Bush bears blame for much of the mess we are in now because he abandoned conservative principles and policies, and allowed congress to run wild. Obama bears equal blame because he has taken the failed progressive policies of Bush and turned them up a notch.
I must take a bow and remove my hat, for Happy Democrat is the best reading I have witnessed for many moons now. Plueeeze don’t stop!
The Republican party used to stand for something and it was not the Democratic Party. You idiots took the path of appeasement trying to promote a war hero to Democrats. Look here is some free advice to all you Republicans. Go back to your roots and values. Don’t try to sell your GOP as Democrat Light. Your moderate attitude simply meant no true Republican could vote for you and why would we Democrats when we had Senator Liberal to vote for. It just doesn’t get any better than this last election. Republicans thought they could destroy Hillary and no one in their right mind would elect some crazy liberal with no track record that never did accomplish anything while a US Senator. Shame on you. Look at the money and connections of who was promoting President Obama. Once you idiots took Hillary out the rest was easy. We had the money, we had ACORN, we had AlJazeera, we had MoveON.org, CNN, MSNBC, Teddy Kennedy, Oprah, Jack Kennedy’s daughter, Hollywood, the class B actors guild. Your stinking old war hero didn’t have a chance. Thanks for letting Democrats finally get their dream of a socialist sitting in the Whitehouse. Kiss your constitutional rights thing bye bye.
Just because we are the party of intellectuals you don’t need to rub it into their face.
You mean socialist democrat intellectuals. There are conservative intellectuals with wildly different ideas. The republicans are just wannabes. Someone you will wake up and realize that the United States as we know has been ruined and that Keith Oldermann either wanted a Communist Gov’t or he was too dumb to see it coming.
114 days since the troops started coming home from Iraq. Oh wait, they’re still there.
Bubba,
You get it don’t you? Over here at the far left we have been told for nearly the last 50 years or more that if we kept pushing our agenda we could install a socialist (communist) government without firing a shot. Now that we have the Obamba there is nothing to stop us unless we piss off all of the illegals and the special interest groups that got us here. While America was worried about getting overrun by wetbacks and terrorists the real terror was within. Don’t worry about the good life. As long as you are in the party elite or have good friends that are you will still have access to autos, medical needs, and food that were of like kind and quality to what you had in your old republic form of government.
This is just the beginning. Obama’s plan to rape anyone with any assets and give to the deadbeats is the cornerstone of his socialistic agenda. The irony is, when you kill the goose that lays the golden egg, where’s the money going to come from? This idiot of a president couldn’t run a profitable lemonade stand and is WAY out of his league.
It will be interesting to see how the “unfortunates” that he wants to give our money to will fund his next election; after he has no “business” friends left..just the welfare receipants and the rest of the poor downtrodden.
Well! He may be way out of his leaugue but when he is compared to Senator McCain or Bill’s wife he is younger, women desire him more than Hillary or McCain, he is better looking than Hillary, more more efiminate than Hillary, sinnier than McCain and he is tech savy when it comes to IPODs, texting, face booking, likes cool music, and has a wife with cool tastes in tennis shoes. Obama is just really a cool dude so that is why we elected him. Admit it. In a beauty contest who is the most beautiful person to the new age voter? A crusty old war hero with stiff arms? An ugly hog joweled former first lady? Or the Obama? The people have spoken and the M-TV crowd has spoken for the Obama.
You may very well be the party of “intellectuals” but the majority of you have the common sense of a rock.
RMCSUSNRET
The draft caused the age to be lowered, now there’s no draft, so raise it back to 21. Who evr knew what was ging on at age 18?
Further, bring back to “Poll Tax” so the people making the money the Gov is spending have a say in where it goes. Then, all Socialists take a crash course in “Human Nature 101” followed by “History 101”.
Sheesh!
I want some of what you are smoking. The Democraps fought and trashed every court nominee, trashed the attorney general, made fun of the president and criticized every move he made. What planet are you living on. Pull your head out.
I actually heard a noted French sociologist refer to the current generation aged from 20 to 30 as The Dumbest Generation.
Looking at who the M-TV kiddies elected this sounds like a valid statement of fact.
A lot of Democrats are only 18 – 20. Some are actually older than 30 too.
I am 29. I have held a job since the age of 16. I have been employed full time for almost 7 years. I do not live at home. I have no debt other than a small car loan. I owe my parents a lot for getting me off to a good start. What I owe them the most for is teaching me the value of hard work. Several of my closest friends, however, still live at home, pay no rent and their parents’ even cook and clean for them. The majority still have student loans and even credit card debt despite their lack of monthly expenses. Guess who they voted for? I voted for McCain…
Well said, Member. My three sons,all on their own and successful, youngest is 27, all voted like you.
Thank you, Realist. The sad thing is Syed’s comment has some truth to it.
I’m not sure what planet this person is on, we’re talking about taxes NOT looks, age etc…we pay enough TAX now why would i want to pay more for persons that DO NOT AND NEVER HAD paid any taxes to subsidize their health benefit. I certainly understand the need for health benefits, but need to start reducing the hosp rates, look at the MED BILLS they submit, they create more fraud then you can shake a stick at, review your bills, challenge the provider-we can save $$$there. THis whole thing is insane including some of our “leaders”. Enuff said