Political Hippo Circle Jerk - America, farg YEAH!

[phillymic2000]

oh no, they do  

I'll just go sit in the corner and think about it.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Protectionism in trade will continue to do damage.

How so?  Free trade is what is killing the blue collar workers now.

This is hilarious and proves a lack of basic understanding of the economy.

You cannot compete long-term by attempting to "protect blue collar workers" and blocking superior products from entry into our markets.  The new careers for such workers are being delayed artificially, and the resulting industries are being put on life support.  If America were to invest at all into promoting sustainable business and employing people in those industries, it would be a major win in trade and in employment.  Instead, the expectation, pandered to by both sides but more thoroughly pushed on the left, is that the "giant sucking sound" is a bad thing and that American workers can always do better if the government blocks their competition.

It's laughable, really.  Why do we have so many workers making GM cars but so few working to produce geothermal energy (for instance)?

[Cerevant]

(I'm assuming you meant, "sustainable energy business")

For starters, Obama has made big deal out of creating "green collar" jobs that "cannot be exported" as part of his plans for energy independence.

Other points:
1) Not all people are capable of holding a "better" job.  There are some people who cannot take advantage of retraining or whatever.

2) I'm all for importing superior products, what I have a problem with is importing the crap from China made with inferior materials and by what is effectively slave labor.

3) I think the US (and other western countries) could protect their economies without the traditional protectionist methods (massive duties).  Instead, establish minimum standards for quality control, materials traceability, work environment, relative pay and benefits.  The reason stuff from China is cheaper is because it costs more to do it right.  Another approach is to put a carbon tax on imports: right now we ship materials to China, they put them together, and then ship them back.  All stuff that makes sense on other levels than just blind protectionism.

[ice grillin you]

Biden gets mixed welcome in Northeast
Local Dem leaders say race is issue for many voters
By DAVE DAVIES
Philadelphia Daily News

daviesd@phillynews.com 215-854-2595

DEMOCRATIC vice-presidential nominee Joe Biden went stumping for votes yesterday in Northeast Philadelphia, where Democrats need to earn the love of Democrats who voted overwhelmingly for Hillary Clinton over Barack Obama in the April primary.

He worked a diner, gave a rousing speech on bread-and-butter issues at a union hall, and reeled off a memorable line tying the Republican candidate to the unpopular team in the White House.

"My friend John McCain and George Bush are joined at the hip," Biden said. "And we need a hip replacement very, very badly."

So how is the ticket doing with the Northeast's white working and middle-class voters?

Mike McAleer, the veteran Democratic ward leader of the 66th ward in the far Northeast, said Obama and Biden haven't closed the deal yet.

"The Dunkin' Donut crowd tells me that we've got everything going for us but Obama," McAleer said. "They can't give me a direct answer. Do I have them right now in the 66th ward? No. But I got 60 days to get them."

Asked what the problem is with Obama, McAleer paused and said: "It's his color . . . I tell them he's half white and half black. He's got a better perspective for everything in this country."

Joe Dougherty, business manager for Ironworkers Local 401, which hosted Biden's morning event, also said race is an issue for many Democrats.

"I hear it in the neighborhood, and I hear it in the union," Dougherty said. "But I remind them (Obama's) mother was white. He sees all sides, and he could be just what we need to bring this country together."

Biden talked to the crowd of about 200 senior citizens and union members about lower taxes, trade agreements that protect American jobs, and ending what he called the Republicans' "war on unions."

Later, Biden and Gov. Rendell worked the lunchtime crowd at The Dining Car, a neighborhood spot on Frankford Avenue.

Biden smiled, laughed, shook hands and sometimes hugged diners or slid into booths next to them. Sometimes he felt the love coming back, and sometimes he didn't.

Charles Daukas said he'd vote for the Obama-Biden team.

"Put it this way, if Hillary was running I would have really went hard for it," Daukas said. "But I'm a Democrat."

In a corner booth, Biden sat down and, after a moment's conversation, planted a kiss on the forehead of Carolyn Bauer, age 89. Bauer explained afterward it wasn't such a friendly encounter.

"I told him I'm not going to vote for him," Bauer said. "Anybody who runs with a guy with a name like that is not going to get my vote. It'd be disgusting to get a man named Barack Obama as president of the United States. No way. I mean it . . . I'm going to vote for McCain and the lady."

"[Obama's] a Muslim," Bauer added. "He pretends to be a Christian, and he isn't, he's a Muslim."

Obama has attended Christian churches for years, and his children are baptized.

After his stops in Northeast Philadelphia, Biden attended a rally in Langhorne. *

[rjs246]

The apocalypse can't come soon enough.

[Seabiscuit36]

i was worried about the LHC but now, im all for it, F this place.  Maybe the alternate dimension of Zombies will become reality

[rjs246]

The only problem with a zombie apocalypse is that all of my guns are at my parents' house 8 hours away. Better brush up on my shovel-wielding skills.

[Seabiscuit36]

you have 4 years to get guns, and under 4 months to get assault rifles it sounds... BUY BUY BUY

[Rome]

The apocalypse can't come soon enough.

Eagles Super Bowl win first, please.

[shorebird]

"I told him I'm not going to vote for him," Bauer said. "Anybody who runs with a guy with a name like that is not going to get my vote. It'd be disgusting to get a man named Barack Obama as president of the United States. No way. I mean it . . . I'm going to vote for McCain and the lady."

"[Obama's] a Muslim," Bauer added. "He pretends to be a Christian, and he isn't, he's a Muslim."

Obama has attended Christian churches for years, and his children are baptized.

Geez, I was starting to believe that people were getting away from this crap. Idiots.

[rjs246]

The apocalypse can't come soon enough.

Eagles Super Bowl win first, please.

Preferable, but not strictly necessary.



Either one will suffice.

[Diomedes]

nice ashtray

[PhillyGirl]

The Guv:

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/08/rendell-the-big-lie-strategy/

[ATV]

Eagles Super Bowl win first, please.

I'd rather see the Eagles win three thousand straight superbowls than see McCain/Failin win this election. Hell, I'd actually prefer to see Joe Gibbs giving head in a Minneappolis airport bathroom.

Which reminds me. Have fun with this FF,.....

http://hamptonroads.com/2008/09/text-and-video-joe-gibbs-speech-republican-convention

[PhillyGirl]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NBtbG5xjFBY

Obama hits back. Finally.