en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/329616 Comments by deadpan227 http://biggovernment.com/sahiller/2010/06/19/has-anyone-noticed-that-the-damn-hole-is-still-not-plugged/#IDComment81055161 Well, I didn't expect the government to be able to plug it. However, it has assigned itself the task of cleaning up oil spills. And Obama, who seems to think he has the answer to all that's wrong with America, seems to be at a loss. If he'd spend more time thinking about how unprepared the government seems to be for events like this, or like the underpants bomber or the Times Square bomber, he might have something to occupy his mind besides his next tee time. I didn't hold this against him, but the spectacle of him floundering, asserting command, then blaming others, then using his old standby, the inspirational speech, and never really taking charge of things really filled me with disgust. After the first couple of weeks the problem all about cleanup. It was pretty clear that this was no longer just a matter of plugging the hole. It probably won't be shut in until August now. But you'd think we'd be seeing more of the clean up efforts. All I've seen is reports about tarballs coming up on more beaches, dead pelicans, etc. Are we trying to clean this up or just run up BP's damages? Sun, 20 Jun 2010 09:09:21 +0000 http://biggovernment.com/sahiller/2010/06/19/has-anyone-noticed-that-the-damn-hole-is-still-not-plugged/#IDComment81055161 http://biggovernment.com/jloudon/2009/11/08/to-our-friends-in-europe-we-apologize-for-our-president/#IDComment42613630 I read Conscience of a Conservative when I was 16. I served an LDS mission in South Germany from 1967-1969, beginning in Coburg. I never saw the border fences between West and East Germany but I could feel their presence. I was there, not Coburg, but in Germany, when the Soviets sent tanks into Czechoslovakia. And when the wall fell, I felt that I was witnessing a miracle. Ever since, I've thought of the line "where troubles melt like lemon drops," when I remember how amazing that was. The Iron Curtain just popped like a bubble. I have always had the same feelin that you describe, that unless we aggressively spread freedom, slavery will enclose us. Obama's rock-paper-scissors diplomacy is as disgusting to me as illegal arms dealing. Mon, 9 Nov 2009 22:21:15 +0000 http://biggovernment.com/jloudon/2009/11/08/to-our-friends-in-europe-we-apologize-for-our-president/#IDComment42613630 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jtsimpson/2009/10/29/on-teabagging-and-other-oral-servitudes/#IDComment41463111 The Boston Tea Party was in 1773. Tea bags weren't invented until 1903 or 1904. And "teabagging" in the carnal sense was probably much later. Tea Parties are about dumping government taxed tea in the harbor, i.e. protesting government actions. If Maddow, Olbermann or the others prefer to think in sexual terms, well, it's probably nothing new for them. Liberals seem to revel in obscenity these days, even as the decry incivility from conservatives. All I'd say to them is that "teabagging" in the sense they use it requires special equipment that they don't seem to have. Mon, 2 Nov 2009 00:58:14 +0000 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jtsimpson/2009/10/29/on-teabagging-and-other-oral-servitudes/#IDComment41463111 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/chuckw/2009/10/30/boo-hoo-gays-lachrymose-last-resort-in-the-war-against-mormons/#IDComment41461957 My reason for opposing gay marriage is that I see it as more than just being allowed to be joined at a civil ceremony. It's not so much marriage they want as validation by society. Ever since the '70s I've been hearing people say "We don't need a piece of paper to say that we love each other!" Now all of a sudden, gays do need one? Andrew Sullivan's argument about wanting to stand before the Priest with his parents giving him away was as goofy and maudlin as you say this documentary is. Somehow, I just couldn't picture him throwing the bouquet to a group of his buddies. The thing that worries me is that, once they have this "right" (marriage is not a right or it wouldn't require a license), they will find that it doesn't allay their sense of being "queer" or having something wrong with them. And when that happens, they'll demand that not just government offices but all churches be required to perform gay marriages. Mormons have already seen government interference with our religious views on marriage to the point of having our rights as citizens revoked and the church being threatened with dissolution and forfeiture of its property, all of which was upheld by the Supreme Court. How ironic would it be now to have the government demanding that the church perform temple marriages for gay couples? It might sound silly to say that, but 30 years ago, would anybody have taken a demand for gay marriage seriously? Nobody has ever had the right to marry a partner of the same sex, whereas, the joining ot the two sexes has always been the essence of the concept of marriage. Gays have the same privilege of marrying a member of the opposite sex that straights do. What they are asking for is a new, unprecedented privilege, not some inherent natural right. It's a false analogy to race to call gay marriage a civil right. The place that marriage holds in LDS theology is far different from most other religions. It is performed not just "until death doth you part," but "for time and all eternity." Such marriage is essential for men and women to achieve the highest degree of heaven, called exaltation. We believe that it was ordained by God, and what are we supposed to do when the state says that this holiest of all ordinances must be granted to homosexual partners? I think I'd tell the government that it doesn't have the jurisdiction to put God on trial. Mon, 2 Nov 2009 00:38:22 +0000 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/chuckw/2009/10/30/boo-hoo-gays-lachrymose-last-resort-in-the-war-against-mormons/#IDComment41461957 http://biggovernment.com/ptuohe/2009/10/25/honey-i-shrunk-the-party/#IDComment40668661 I had decided not to vote at al rather than vote for McCain. However, the more I found out about Obama's background, the more I was convinced that McCain would be far better in many ways, as much as I dislike his need to be the center of everything and compromise on important priniciples. I knew how my state would vote, so I really didn't need to vote, but my basic sense of civic duty convinced me to vote for the lest objectionable. If I were in NY-23, I'd vote for Mr. Hoffman, since I don't see that much difference between Scozzafava and the Democrat, but in general, I think that third party movements are only a good thing if they draw votes from the Democrats. If they stand to draw votes from Republicans, I couldn't support them. Mon, 26 Oct 2009 06:59:56 +0000 http://biggovernment.com/ptuohe/2009/10/25/honey-i-shrunk-the-party/#IDComment40668661 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/lgrin/2009/10/24/for-conservative-movie-lovers-john-ford-john-wayne-and-they-were-expendable-part-2/#IDComment40620588 My uncle, Warren Starr, was in command of an anti-aircraft battery on Corregidor, a tiny speck of rock at the mouth of Manila Bay when the war broke out. He and his men lived on the island for 5 months being bombed and strafed by the Japanese and defending that strategic outpost until they were ordered to surrender. Reading his diary, which he kept in the margins of his copy of the Book of Mormon, really was a sobering glimpse of what our troops endure on our behalf. We really need more movies that show these heroes in their true light, because this world will never be free of people who covet power and are willing to resort to violence to get it. If we can't fight, we won't endure. Sun, 25 Oct 2009 22:31:55 +0000 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/lgrin/2009/10/24/for-conservative-movie-lovers-john-ford-john-wayne-and-they-were-expendable-part-2/#IDComment40620588 http://biggovernment.com/publius/2009/10/18/big-media-doesnt-like-tea-partiers-example-12456/#IDComment39473854 Oh my, Grandma! What big pores you have! And that clown hair! Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:50:12 +0000 http://biggovernment.com/publius/2009/10/18/big-media-doesnt-like-tea-partiers-example-12456/#IDComment39473854 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/sright/2009/10/16/nfl-owners-who-use-the-n-word-and-wet-their-pants-on-stage/#IDComment38987628 I was hoping someone more high profile than me would make this point. Rush isn't racist, but because he criticizes Obama he'll be tarred as if he were. The NFL grovels to the politically correct. All one needs to say to point out their hypocrisy is two words: Michael Vick. Fri, 16 Oct 2009 22:23:10 +0000 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/sright/2009/10/16/nfl-owners-who-use-the-n-word-and-wet-their-pants-on-stage/#IDComment38987628 http://biggovernment.com/abreitbart/2009/10/06/two-fish-one-barrel-deconstructing-andrew-sullivans-the-breitbart-standard-demolishing-conor-friedersdorfs-the-rights-lesser-media/#IDComment37543983 I really don't bother with The Daily Beast or A.S. I don't know who Conor Friedersdorf is, but I'm not going to look him up based on the fact that he attacks Andrew. All kinds of fools do that. A.S., for instance. Anybody who can't see the fallacy in claiming that gay marriage is the same as interracial marriages isn't worth wasting time on. Tue, 6 Oct 2009 23:18:54 +0000 http://biggovernment.com/abreitbart/2009/10/06/two-fish-one-barrel-deconstructing-andrew-sullivans-the-breitbart-standard-demolishing-conor-friedersdorfs-the-rights-lesser-media/#IDComment37543983 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjmnolte/2009/10/03/socialism-and-christian-bashing-crash-at-box-office/#IDComment37112021 How much does Moore's movie have to bring in to keep him rich? $21.5 million still sounds like a lot of money to me. I'd love it if his drivel drove him into bankruptcy, but he can always collect enough for one speech at Berkeley to live like me for several years. Couldn't they tax him for being fat to help finance health care reform? Sun, 4 Oct 2009 06:16:21 +0000 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/jjmnolte/2009/10/03/socialism-and-christian-bashing-crash-at-box-office/#IDComment37112021 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/abaldwin/2009/09/24/nea-call-not-meant-to-promote-any-legislative-agenda/#IDComment35825291 The best commentary is like this. It quotes their own words back to them and lets them sink in. You don't have to say that they're lying, because they leave no doubt. Thu, 24 Sep 2009 23:59:34 +0000 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/abaldwin/2009/09/24/nea-call-not-meant-to-promote-any-legislative-agenda/#IDComment35825291 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/abaldwin/2009/09/11/honoring-september-11th-we-will-prevail/#IDComment34080775 I'm so glad Adam Baldwin is no relation to Alec, Daniel, Billy or Stevie. I've always liked his acting and the characters he portrayed. Now, I'm glad to see him express himself in confidence in America. Alec can move to France, but I want Adam here with us, making movies and tv shows. Sat, 12 Sep 2009 02:25:39 +0000 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/abaldwin/2009/09/11/honoring-september-11th-we-will-prevail/#IDComment34080775 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/aklavan/2009/09/11/honoring-september-11th-the-price-of-liberty-is-great-the-gifts-of-liberty-priceless/#IDComment34066636 I've listened to this four times. I'd like to have a transcript. I occurred to me that the concept of rights depends on believe in a creator. If we all are just the results of blind, mindless evolution, where do our rights come from? If you believe that we come into existence sometime during gestation and disappear into the void at death, and that nothing in nature cares, why have laws at all? They are, after all, just tyranny, someone else telling us what to do. Fri, 11 Sep 2009 23:26:12 +0000 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/aklavan/2009/09/11/honoring-september-11th-the-price-of-liberty-is-great-the-gifts-of-liberty-priceless/#IDComment34066636 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/aklavan/2009/09/11/honoring-september-11th-the-price-of-liberty-is-great-the-gifts-of-liberty-priceless/#IDComment34064260 Off topic, but if they ever want to remake Twilight Zone again, Andrew Klavan should be the host. His delivery really resembles Rod Serling's. That's a good thing. And he also writes lucid and direct prose that makes Obama the communicator sound like a stutterer. Fri, 11 Sep 2009 22:46:24 +0000 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/aklavan/2009/09/11/honoring-september-11th-the-price-of-liberty-is-great-the-gifts-of-liberty-priceless/#IDComment34064260 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/eazlant/2009/08/06/dems-crank-up-class-warfare-what-about-hollywood/#IDComment29878667 I'd kind of like to see a case where the courts have to justify singling out one industry for regulating pay and ignoring the rest. Of course, if you're getting bailed out by the Feds you have to let them call the tune, but how many other industries get government welfare and tax breaks with no intrusion onto the salaries they pay. If it's fair for Wall St., it ought to be fair for professors and anybody else whose job benefits from federal subsidies. I'd bet that there are some Hollywood studios getting some corporate welfare. Fri, 7 Aug 2009 07:29:06 +0000 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/eazlant/2009/08/06/dems-crank-up-class-warfare-what-about-hollywood/#IDComment29878667 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/tslagle/2009/07/24/john-stewart-poll/#IDComment28282615 I'm trying to think of a paradigm. Animal House? Mad Magazine? Peggy Lee's "Is that all there is?" I'm sure that Stewart's fans largely believe that they'll never collect a dime of Social Security, but still support Obama's heath care edict, which he doesn't even understand. We're all Waiting for Godobama these days. Sat, 25 Jul 2009 01:31:16 +0000 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/tslagle/2009/07/24/john-stewart-poll/#IDComment28282615 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/bighollywood/2009/02/22/open-thread-81st-annual-academy-awards/#IDComment15669328 Shouldn't this site be The Incredible Shrinking Hollywood? Mon, 23 Feb 2009 05:11:30 +0000 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/bighollywood/2009/02/22/open-thread-81st-annual-academy-awards/#IDComment15669328 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/ggraham/2009/02/19/im-a-racist-coward/#IDComment15510142 I wouldn't mind Black History if it weren't so tied up in building resentment among Americans of African Descent (AADs*). It does little to encourage young AADs to participate in our prosperity through education, initiative and individual effort. Too often it gives them the message that they need not apply, because the system is rigged against them. Add that to AAD demagogues like Jeremiah Wright, and you get as much division and racial hatred as we've ever had. That's not progress. I like reading stories about Dr. King, G. W. Carver, and other AADs who are American success stories. I don't think it hurts anything to acknowledge the role AADs have had in our greater history. As for being cowards, I guess I'm guilty. I grew up during an era of Black Power and people using terms like "whitie" and "honky" and I always worried about trying to get to know brown-skinned people without being greeted with resentment for my own skin color. Thus there is an invisible barrier that neither of us knows how to break down. I hope that my children's generation are having better luck in this regard, but statement like Mr. Holder's don't help at all. The vast majority of whites never had any hatred for or mistreated dark skinned people, and they are put off by badgering and constant accusations of racism. A lot of AADs are racists themselves. If America were as cowardly and bigoted as Holder says, how is it that he is now the Attorney General in the administration of Barack Obama. Here's a suggestion. Redefine Affirmative Action so that it means helping "minority" students to achieve as much as others, without quotas and lowered standards. Who can imagine a racial quota system *I use that term, because most Americans with African ancestry also have Caucasian ancestry. President Obama, after all is as much white as he is black. Most AADs are viewed as "coloured" when they go to Africa. We need some term that deemphasizes blackness and emphasizes Americanness. Fri, 20 Feb 2009 00:50:59 +0000 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/ggraham/2009/02/19/im-a-racist-coward/#IDComment15510142 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/ebalogh/2009/02/19/opm-the-socialist-drug-of-choice/#IDComment15500156 This is a great piece! I like the OPM label too. I was just posting something similar on Dennis Miller's DMZ messageboards. It really is offensive the way people in Washington seem to forget that they're gambling with our money. Obama's website recovery.gov has an element on Accountability and Transparency with this intro: "This is your money. You have a right to know where it's going and how it's being spent. Learn what steps we're taking to ensure you can track our progress every step of the way." Imagine the surrealistic feeling when I read that the day after Congress passed the "stimulus" bill without reading it or making available to us. They had to pass it so urgently, that they couldn't give us 48 hours to read it. Then Obama took 72 hours before signing it, so he could use the signing as a photo op. Recovery.gov has another section for us to "Share Your Recovery Story" I wanted to tell them that we have paid our home off and have no debts, and I didn't appreciate them using our taxes to bail out people who didn't have the same prudence. I've never been able to see Obama's rumored great intelligence. Yes, he has a good education and is well spoken, but it's pretty obvious that he sees economics as a zero sum game and has a very naive idea of how foreign policy works or how to deal with dangerous dictators. I formed the impression during the campaign that he has a good ear for what his professors and others wanted to hear and was good at regurgitating it, but had never really thought it through. As he goes around giving speeches, that impression still comes through over and over. Thu, 19 Feb 2009 20:48:20 +0000 http://bighollywood.breitbart.com/ebalogh/2009/02/19/opm-the-socialist-drug-of-choice/#IDComment15500156