Cubicle Hermit

Too good not to share, too long for facebook, not good enough to spam everyone with… that’s exactly what this blog is for.

Top 10 Reasons the GOP Would Let the World Be Destroyed by an Asteroid

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Assume that a huge “planet killer” asteroid on a direct collision course with the earth has been spotted – nine months before its projected impact. President Barack Obama proposes an emergency program, in conjunction with the Russians, to knock the asteroid off course before it destroys our planet. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/eu_russia_asteroid_encounter

The Republicans in the Senate promptly mount a filibuster against the enabling legislation, thereby delaying action, leading to the destruction of the planet and to the end of all human life.

Now for the top 10 reasons why the GOP let the world be destroyed:

10. Didn’t want to offend teabaggers who believed Obama was an alien born on the asteroid.

9. Furious over Obama’s refusal to declare the asteroid’s approach an act of terrorism and then bomb Iran in response.

8. Believed tax cuts for the rich would be a more effective response.

7. Just trying to prevent another big tax and spend government program.

8. Said, “Hey, if the asteroid hits in 2010, it will be during the one year gap when there is no inheritance tax, which means we’ll all avoid the ‘death tax!’”

7. Trying to save the world sounded like more of that sissy environmentalism crap.

6. Preferred private enterprise based solutions like corporate sales of anti-asteroid ointment.

5. Refused to accept the scientific consensus on the asteroid’s trajectory until they had absolute proof in the form of the earth’s destruction.

4. Said, “There were no asteroid attacks during Bush’s term. So it’s Obama’s fault and why should we bail him out?”

3. Insurance lobby wanted action delayed until they’d sold more “asteroid policies” (payable only in the event everyone on the planet was killed in an asteroid impact and if claim was then promptly made thereafter).

2. Wouldn’t support Obama’s proposal because the asteroid protection would have applied to illegal aliens as well as U. S. citizens.

And the number one reason why the GOP let the world be destroyed . . .

1. Allowing Obama to save the world could have helped the Democrats in the 2010 and 2012 elections and even the apocalypse was better than that!

Note: If you look closely, you’ll see that there are actually 12, not 10, reasons given. Somehow, when it comes to right-wing lunacy, 10 just isn’t enough.

disclaimer: not original, collected on the internets tubes

via Flyertalk

Congratulations to our new President, and good riddance to Shrubbo.

via Flyertalk: A housing crusade that went awry

Today, administration officials say it is fair to ask whether Bush’s ownership push backfired. Paulson said the administration, like others before it, “over-incented housing.”

Keith B. Hennessey, Bush’s current chief economics adviser, put it this way: “I would not say too much emphasis on expanding homeownership. I would say not enough early focus on easy lending practices.”

Also, another good site to look at is the Doctor Housing Bubble/ blog.

What the real crisis is like!

No quote: the linked-to site is billed as “humor”, and the lead-in and text are minimal, but it’s fascinating to put some pictures to the facts.

Latest news seems to be on $200M notes.

via AmericaBlog:
Somali Pirates in Discussions to Acquire Citigroup

November 20 (Bloomberg) — The Somali pirates, renegade Somalis known for hijacking ships for ransom in the Gulf of Aden, are negotiating a purchase of Citigroup.

The pirates would buy Citigroup with new debt and their existing cash stockpiles, earned most recently from hijacking numerous ships, including most recently a $200 million Saudi Arabian oil tanker. The Somali pirates are offering up to $0.10 per share for Citigroup, pirate spokesman Sugule Ali said earlier today. The negotiations have entered the final stage, Ali said.

“You may not like our price, but we are not in the business of paying for things. Be happy we are in the mood to offer the shareholders anything,” said Ali.

The pirates will finance part of the purchase by selling new Pirate Ransom Backed Securities. The PRBS’s are backed by the cash flows from future ransom payments from hijackings in the Gulf of Aden. Moody’s and S&P have already issued their top investment grade ratings for the PRBS’s.

Head pirate, Ubu Kalid Shandu, said: “We need a bank so that we have a place to keep all of our ransom money. Thankfully, the dislocations in the capital markets has allowed us to purchase Citigroup at an attractive valuation and to take advantage of TARP capital to grow the business even faster.”

Shandu added, “We don’t call ourselves pirates. We are coastguards and this will just allow us to guard our coasts better.”

Continue reading “Somali Pirates in Discussions to Acquire Citigroup”

Congratulations to the new President Elect.

I hope that we’ll be able to heal the divide in this country, but at the same time it’s time to start holding the Democratic party’s feet to the fire on progressive issues – if Bush could claim a mandate after the squeaker in 2004, this is a landslide, and we should take advantage of it.

1) PA called early, had figured Obama would probably get it but to have it close instantly was a huge surprise.
2) VA not called early. I figured it was the bellwether for Obama, and at this rate he may make it to 270 without VA called yet.

8:02pm Pacific time – MSNBC called the national election for Obama after CA, HI, OR, and WA closed. A little skeptical of how early the PA and OH polls closed earlier, but too many outstanding he could still win.

It’s a proud day to be an American.

8:19pm – McCain’s concession speech, showing quite a bit of class so far.

San Mateo county is expecting 82% turnout, half of which (thus 41% total) is vote by mail.

As for the results, VA is still too close to call. My bet is that it’s the bellweather this year.

If you haven’t voted yet, and are registered, go vote.

I don’t care who you vote for — good turnout and healthy democracy is more important than any partisan victory.

Interesting. Via Flyertalk.

The following statement can be found here

Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the United Nations
136 East 67th Street
New York, NY 10065

STATEMENT

20 October 2008

ON FUNDRAISING LETTER FROM JOHN MCCAIN ELECTION CAMPAIGN

We have received a letter from Senator John McCain requesting financial contribution to his Presidential campaign.

In this connection we would like to reiterate that Russian officials, the Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the United Nations or the Russian Government do not finance political activity in foreign countries.

via Flyertalk, although you may need to be signed in there to see it.

Krugman on McCain’s healthcare plan vs. Obama’s:
Health Care Destruction
Skipping to the punchline:

I agree: the McCain plan would do for health care what deregulation has done for banking. And I’m terrified.

Jumping back:

Barack Obama offers incremental reform: regulation of insurers to prevent discrimination against the less healthy, subsidies to help lower-income families buy insurance, and public insurance plans that compete with the private sector. His plan falls short of universal coverage, but it would sharply reduce the number of uninsured.

Better than nothing.

via Atrios.