gdp's Comments

Library Grape : Quote of the Day: Friendly Fire

Fri, 26 Nov 2010 14:39:31 +0000

oh, i definitely agree with you on part of that point. although when you consider how influential all the teabagger townhall protests were on weak-spined centrist dems, i think the left needs a much more effective and aggressive protest wing as well. ps. I think the context of protest is important: President Obama deflected heckling by AIDS protesters during a Saturday rally, suggesting they take up their cause with “the other side” that’s opposed to funding. A group of people interrupted Obama’s speech before 9,000 in Connecticut chanting “Fund Global AIDS.” The president was quick to respond to the chorus of protesters saying, “You’ve been appearing at every rally we’ve been doing. And we’re funding global AIDS. And the other side is not. So I don’t know why you think this is a useful strategy to take.” if ppl think that global aids funding is inadequate, i don't see how protesting obama is the most effective thing they could be doing. i doubt he would refrain from signing a bill that increased global aids funding if presented to him.

Library Grape : Jeez Guys, Stop Hating On The TSA! What Could Go Wrong?

Thu, 25 Nov 2010 15:52:06 +0000

anyone want to take odds on when the huge corruption scandal borne of some shady scanner company exec ties to some politico will come out? I'm pegging 2014

Library Grape : A Special Portrait

Wed, 24 Nov 2010 19:18:02 +0000

yes, it is official, I am a cold cold monster :)

Library Grape : If I Ran The Country: How About A New Fourth Branch Of Government?

Wed, 24 Nov 2010 15:42:57 +0000

the idea would be to shame them and hold the threat of shame out there to deter shameful things.

Library Grape : If You Are Scared That Sharia Law Will Attack You In Oklahoma, You Should Be Put Out Of Your Misery

Thu, 11 Nov 2010 16:45:26 +0000

good point. our god is a wrathful god

Library Grape : Class Injustice

Thu, 11 Nov 2010 00:40:54 +0000

so so very true.it will only get worse as the plutocracy embiggens

Library Grape : Conan Returns As The Only Funny Thing To Happen In Late Night TV

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 14:11:06 +0000

i'm especially fond of his ability to be self-deprecating

Library Grape : IEA: 2009 Inaction On Climate Change Goals Cost Us $1 Trillion

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 00:28:14 +0000

rofl. excellent detective work my friend! the house of representatives really is the final refuge for southern high school football heroes, a few northeastern faux American royalty, a passel of countrywide narcissists and an avalanche of tenacious and earnest religious sociopaths.

Library Grape : Dueling sequiturs

Wed, 10 Nov 2010 00:21:57 +0000

"In libertarian theory, if consenting parties agree to something that only affects them, you cannot interfere with it--FULL STOP. " it is interesting that you would admit to operating from such a simple playing field on this. let's play around with your FULL STOP. how far exactly do you take the "only affects them" part? what consideration does your precious theory give to negative externalities? -- contracts for the sale of organs? ok to regulate/ban that due to negative externalities? -- contracts between an employee and an employer that say that the employee will never sue the employer for anything, no matter what the employer does? ok to regulate/ban that due to negative externalities? -- contracts between hospital patients and doctors to limit the doctor's liability? ok to regulate/ban that due to negative externalities? [ If you're have trouble understanding what the negative externalities in the above situations would be, feel free to ponder further or use the Google. ]

Library Grape : IEA: 2009 Inaction On Climate Change Goals Cost Us $1 Trillion

Tue, 9 Nov 2010 23:38:03 +0000

I'm sure his base eats this shit up like free bbq in front of a walmart.

Library Grape : Watching What You Eat And Exercising Are Liberal Plots

Tue, 9 Nov 2010 23:25:03 +0000

Religion rots the rational faculties.

Library Grape : Dueling sequiturs

Tue, 9 Nov 2010 22:54:34 +0000

i hope you're just being your usual devil's advocate self. i thought you were all about rampant unlimited liability for oil companies because: "Self-interest and self-preservation are the best motivators; companies should face a serious profit loss and possibility of bankruptcy for damages they cause." wouldn't bedside hospital liability caps eliminate some of the self-preservation motivation? hmm??

Library Grape : Watching What You Eat And Exercising Are Liberal Plots

Tue, 9 Nov 2010 18:28:35 +0000

from your mouth to jeebus' ears p.s.: http://www.librarygrape.com/2009/12/may-limbaugh-...

Library Grape : Dueling sequiturs

Tue, 9 Nov 2010 18:13:28 +0000

this is getting into dystopian/cyberpunk land. "hello mr smith, we can offer you a fine array of doctors to do your brain surgery. unfortunately, our good surgeons will all require you to limit their malpractice exposure to $50,000. we do however, have a another group of other surgeons down the street that might be more accommodating"

Library Grape : Dueling sequiturs

Tue, 9 Nov 2010 17:05:00 +0000

so now i'm confused. are both the top and bottom supposed be to be bullshit? are the cartoons in the 3 left boxes on the bottom line espousing views and cause-and-effect relationships that you agree with or not? i assumed that because the cartoon was created by a libertarian site, the three left-hand boxes on the top line were written to be foolish, while their bottom counterpoints were the sane reasonable response positions that libertarians would hew to. maybe i'm just too dense for the complex humor involved here. update: i see your line at the bottom now. so you tend to agree with the 3 left boxes on the bottom cartoon - which basically make the argument that "look, corrupt, piggish corporations ran rampant and fucked over millions of people -- but could GOVERNMENT do anything about it!? NO! in some cases, THEY WERE TO BLAME! So we obviously don't need any more gubmint/regulation because they are crap and can't protect us anyway, so why have them try harder or make them more effective." so, yes, I get it, and the points the bottom cartoons are making are bullshit. 1. energy markets and financial markets are necessarily a highly regulated environment, because it is the regulations that ensure a level playing field wherein investors/market participants feel comfortable putting their money/resources. enron found ways to evade detection and came up with ways to avoid liability. when detected, they were brought low by government and civil litigation and then new regulations were passed to monitor and guard against the kinds of bad things they did. problem solved just fine as far as i'm considered. bad example. 2. fannie mae is the new republican hitler isn't it? yes, we all agree that government was being stupid by encouraging home ownership. but fannie mae was created 1938 for gawd's sake. sure, yes, bush's "ownership society" added some more general fuel to the general fire, but the single most significant factor in both the housing bubble bursting and the collapse of the financial sector was the creation and subsequent orgy of (unregulatedcollteralized debt obligations whose genesis was in the newly created superbanks (i.e., banking, investment banking and insurance). we've had lots of housing bubbles burst since 1938. but none of them brought the country to its knees. because they didn't have CDOs. so, the financial collapse happened and now government regulates CDOs and similar instruments. and yes, let's also get gubmint out of pushing home ownership too. again, bad example. 3. hahahahahahahahahaha. you aren't seriously buying this one right? I hope you're not. you've heard of the exxon valdez verdict award modification right? not to mention the fact that with most of the hundreds of oil spills that happen every year, the perps pay off/settle with anyone that complains for fractions of a penny on the dollar. not going here.

Library Grape : Dueling sequiturs

Tue, 9 Nov 2010 14:47:45 +0000

of course i noticed, and the bottom set of cartoons are bullshit. or did i miss something? are the top line and the bottom line both supposed to be bullshit? maybe i'm confused.

Library Grape : Dueling sequiturs

Tue, 9 Nov 2010 14:11:03 +0000

what a discordant mess. a slew of examples of rampant corporate corruption and excess, most of which could have easily occurred with or without nefarious regulations - all used to make what i assume is an argument that... gubmint/regulations bad? what?

Library Grape : Self quote of the day

Mon, 8 Nov 2010 22:37:56 +0000

bravo