Will Bain be the Bane of Mitt?

[Minor Axis]

Wow, who'da thunk that the Franciscans would brag about shunting their sworn responsibility off onto self-possessed politicians.

Most prominent Christians and Republicans who claim to be Christians are just posers when it comes to Christian values, a smoke screen to reinforce the illusion of being blessed.

So which protest group was holding that sign, I wonder.

 

[Tim]

It's a natural effect. College tuition acts just like any other part of the market. Suppliers will charge what demand is willing to pay. When there is more money available, prices naturally go up. The fingers that hold the purse strings in Washington don't have the strength (or even inclination) to close the purse, and the purse is bottomless, for all intents and purposes. Virtually unlimited funding means virtually unlimited demand of a very limited product. Prices naturally soar.

One possible solution might be to increase/maintain the rate of increase in tuition for international students while drastically decreasing or eliminating federal aid (especially since it takes creative interpretation to find constitutional grounds for the expenditure in the first place). Colleges would be pressured to lower domestic tuition to more reasonable levels or face massive drops in enrollment.

Go look at that chart again and show me where federal aid is accounting for the rise in tuition.
Of all the numbers there the only true federal aid is the Pell grants. And are you trying to tell me that because of that small blue area represented by Pell grants tuition is up as high as it is???

That stretch is so thin it boarders on being dishonest. You would NEVER buy this argument if it came from anyone else, so why are you making it?

 

[Accountable]

Most prominent Christians and Republicans who claim to be Christians are just posers when it comes to Christian values, a smoke screen to reinforce the illusion of being blessed.

Yup. What's also sad is that so many people think that turning the gov't into a charity equates to personally helping others. I guess it's cleaner. You don't have to actually interact with "those people".

 

[Accountable]

Go look at that chart again and show me where federal aid is accounting for the rise in tuition.
Of all the numbers there the only true federal aid is the Pell grants. And are you trying to tell me that because of that small blue area represented by Pell grants tuition is up as high as it is???

That stretch is so thin it boarders on being dishonest. You would NEVER buy this argument if it came from anyone else, so why are you making it?

Gov't aid has no appreciable upper limit. They set "reasonable" maximums so the colleges charge those maximums, whether they would otherwise or not. It would be kinda stupid not to; it leaves money on the table. Then they use the fact that they spent all that money as proof that they need more ... and they vote. So they get more. I'm not telling you anything you don't already know, whether you accept it or not. They're not unique by any means. It's simply the nature of the beast.

 

[Minor Axis]

Gov't aid has no appreciable upper limit. They set "reasonable" maximums so the colleges charge those maximums, whether they would otherwise or not. It would be kinda stupid not to; it leaves money on the table. Then they use the fact that they spent all that money as proof that they need more ... and they vote. So they get more. I'm not telling you anything you don't already know, whether you accept it or not. They're not unique by any means. It's simply the nature of the beast.

When I was in the military, around a training base, all the surrounding long term occupancy hotels knew the exact amount that a military person would be paid during temporary duty, for off base housing. In the San Jose area (Ca.), back in 1980 it was about $1700 a month, which I recall seemed like a lot at the time. These hotels all knew the amount and charged it exactly.

A similar, but different dynamic played out in military fiscal planning. If a squadron did not use all the gas it was budgeted for the year, the next year their budget would be reduced. So they made sure they used all that gas whether they needed to or not. End result the policy did not encourage frugal-ness.

 

[Accountable]

When I was in the military, around a training base, all the surrounding long term occupancy hotels knew the exact amount that a military person would be paid during temporary duty, for off base housing. In the San Jose area (Ca.), back in 1980 it was about $1700 a month, which I recall seemed like a lot at the time. These hotels all knew the amount and charged it exactly.

A similar, but different dynamic played out in military fiscal planning. If a squadron did not use all the gas it was budgeted for the year, the next year their budget would be reduced. So they made sure they used all that gas whether they needed to or not. End result the policy did not encourage frugal-ness.

Thank you! That's exactly my point. The same thing is happening with gov't aid to colleges and universities. The same thing will happen with the insurance industry. This is what encourages $200 hammers & such. Imagine what it will do with bedpans & aspirin.

 

[Minor Axis]

Thank you! That's exactly my point. The same thing is happening with gov't aid to colleges and universities. The same thing will happen with the insurance industry. This is what encourages $200 hammers & such. Imagine what it will do with bedpans & aspirin.

Your welcome.

$200 hammers or $500 toilet seats has to do with contractors who in some cases manufacture custom items to government specs, when it would be just as easy to buy it off the shelf or they charge what they are allowed to get away with. But that is not an excuse for such unreasonable pricing.

Sorry, but I have to say it. When the GOP goes ape shit over the military, it's not the Grunts getting shot to pieces and coming home dead or as the walking wounded. You'll remember not one word was uttered at the Convention (least I did not hear any) in reference to our boys and girls serving over seas. It's for all the money that the military contractors can extract from the U.S. Govt. War is big business, don't believe anything else. And it's because they get a hard-on thinking about bending uppity infidels over a barrel and using their "big sticks" on'im. But the guys who are fantasizing are usually sitting at home in a plush chair with a cigar and whiskey in their hand. I admit, it's a harsh characterization.

 

[Accountable]

Just before I retired my supply troop asked me what size gloves I wear. He'd found some really cool hi-tech ones. I told him I didn't need any because the leather work gloves I'd used for 3 years would make it to retirement. He bought me two pair anyway. One with padded palms for using jack hammers or some shit that I never did, and another with sticky grip fingertips in case I drop something I wouldn't have to go through the hassle of taking a glove off to pick it up. they were over $50 each. The supply troop said he had to spend the money or lose it in next year's budget. Then he cut my tags off with his brand new Leatherman.

Get your head out of your ass.

 

[Minor Axis]

Romeny Trip an embarrassing Disaster- CNN

Mitt Romney's Position On Libya Christopher Steven's Death Full of Mistakes- Newsday


The bare face of political/diplomatic incompetence.

As of today I will mentally change the name of this thread, Will Mitt Be The Bain of Mitt?... Someday the GOP will figure out that putting up UNQUALIFIED CANDIDATES FOR PRESIDENT does not work. But Mitt made one person happy:

Rush Limbaugh.

 

[Accountable]

That's right. Only dems can do that. :24:

 

[Minor Axis]

That's right. Only dems can do that. :24:

It's also a confirmation of incompetence, that Romney said nothing of today's victims in his rush to attack Obama. It was satisfying to see Obama act Presidential while Romney came across as a poser, an incompetent poser, lol.

 

[Accountable]

I don't know why you quoted me to write that.


Okay, I do, really. Being a born-again partisan, you think everyone else is, too.

 

[Minor Axis]

I don't know why you quoted me to write that.


Okay, I do, really. Being a born-again partisan, you think everyone else is, too.

Saying it does not make it true. It's just not very fair or mature to begrudge me my opinion. Somehow you have yourself up on a pedestal of neutral reasoning. Please, continue to kid yourself.

 

[Accountable]

Saying it does not make it true. It's just not very fair or mature to begrudge me my opinion. Somehow you have yourself up on a pedestal of neutral reasoning. Please, continue to kid yourself.

Do me a favor? I'm really busy IRL (no, really!) and don't have time to find your post ranting about President Obama's embarrassing incompetence these last couple of days. Can you give me a link?

 

[Tim]

Do me a favor? I'm really busy IRL (no, really!) and don't have time to find your post ranting about President Obama's embarrassing incompetence these last couple of days. Can you give me a link?

Would you please point out to me where he has been embarrassingly incompetent these last couple of days?

 

[Accountable]

Would you please point out to me where he has been embarrassingly incompetent these last couple of days?

Really?? Wow. So you approve of his actions (or lack of) since the murder of our ambassador and the burning of our consulate?

 

[Tim]

Really?? Wow. So you approve of his actions since the murder of our ambassador and the burning of our consulate?

Absolutely. I wish you would point out what you are specifically talking about so I can at least address it.

And yes I have watched this all play out very closely.

 

[Accountable]

Absolutely. I wish you would point out what you are specifically talking about so I can at least address it.

And yes I have watched this all play out very closely.

Well good, maybe you can set me straight, because what I've heard on the radio during my commute is that his first response was an apology [which he later adjusted) then he went right back onto the campaign trail. Has he returned to Washington to do his job? (his job as President, that is, not partisan corporate lackey)

 

[Minor Axis]

Really?? Wow. So you approve of his actions (or lack of) since the murder of our ambassador and the burning of our consulate?

For being Mr. Neutral you really do seem to be lapping up the Republican approach to foreign policy, starting with getting all your facts wrong. What basis do I have to say this? You saying that Obama has been incompetent in the last couple of days. You are going to have to explain this, what has he done wrong? What should he have done that he has not, invaded, hmm?

What is really appalling about the GOP is that they used to be known as the statesmen. I'm sure there are some hovering in the shadows, but who they have promoted as their top dogs, Dubya and Mittens are jokes when it comes to International relations.

Well good, maybe you can set me straight, because what I've heard on the radio during my commute is that his first response was an apology [which he later adjusted) then he went right back onto the campaign trail. Has he returned to Washington to do his job? (his job as President, that is, not partisan corporate lackey)

Bingo! Your clueless. I suggest you come up with better news sources. Stop listening to whatever knuckle draggers you prefer... This is part of the reason our electoral process is so screwed up. Blatant lies fly around the airways, but it's ok, if you are conservative and believe the end justifies the means.

Allow me to assist: Mittens, his Campaign, (or maybe his Campaign first) followed by Ryan decided to criticize a statement put out by U.S. Embassy personnel trying to distance official U.S. policy and views from a crackpot inflammatory anti-muslim movie that was causing widespread unrest and public protests in the entire region. Except Romney described it as an apology for "American Values". Yeah we promote free speech, but is this movie what we want to promote as our values??? LOL. Stike 1.

His timeline was wrong. Strike 2. The Embassy statement was released before the U.S. Consulate was attacked by an organized, opportunistic militia/possibly terrorist group. He implied that after the Consulate was attacked and 4 Americans killed (I also heard, along with 9 Libyan guards protecting the Consolate), that the Obama Administration through our Embassy apologized for our "American Values"!! This would be too funny if not so tragic. The two events are not connected other than (apparently) the protests set up a situation where it was convenient to attack the Consulate. Romney's initial criticism, followed by reinforcing his view in front or reporters the following day, displayed an appalling lack of restraint, good judgement, and basic understanding of the facts. Strike 3. A little too fast out the gate and he STILL has not apologized for fucking this up so badly. Strike 4- A candidate for U.S. Presidency, not privy to sensitive/classified information elects to inject himself into the middle of U.S. foreign policy during a crisis questioning our leadership in front of the world. I think he hopes it will blow over, just like his tax returns... I imagine him in a future confrontation with the Russians and pushing the button. Oops. :smiley24:

 

[Tim]

Well good, maybe you can set me straight, because what I've heard on the radio during my commute is that his first response was an apology [which he later adjusted) then he went right back onto the campaign trail. Has he returned to Washington to do his job? (his job as President, that is, not partisan corporate lackey)

There are a lot of different places where you can get this timeline, but this one is laid out nice and clean.

<Read it here>

​

please go and check it out. You can follow this article up with youtube videos of each of their statements, so you can hear it in their own voices in full context. I did and it was rather enlightening.

When you are done with that, come back and we can have an honest conversation about the actions of the president over the last few days.

I am actually surprised that you heard something on the radio, didn't bother to fact check it and assume that the president was embarrassingly incompetent these last couple of days.