WND Poll: Who’s To Blame?

55 comments on this post so far. Add yours!

• 

  toadman on February 11 at 9:58 a.m.

  Greed and douchebaggery on the part of everyone. You, me, everyone.

• 

  Charlie on February 11 at 10:16 a.m.

  Congress in general, They were supposed to watch over these agencies that they regulate. Didn’t happen..

• 

  Aerie on February 11 at 10:21 a.m.

  That is exactly right, Charlie. Dem’s will be quick to accuse the Republicans of “deregulation” under the Bush years, but they ignore his frequent calls for more regulation at the beginning of his terms.

  On top of it, the deregulation really hit high gear under their infamous hero, Clinton.

  I have the feeling that history will note that this “recession” really started when America and American businesses realized that a Democrat was very likely to take over the White House with a full majority of Congress. People probably started saving more, knowing that everything would be taxed to death soon enough.

• 

  zelda on February 11 at 11:27 a.m.

  You left a few out. My additions to this hall of shame are —
  - Ayn Rand
  - Milton Friedman
  - Alan Greenspan
  - Ronald Reagan

• 

  Bob on February 11 at 12:21 p.m.

  Sorry Toad, but I don’t see how I, a hardworking retiree with a houseboat on Fishtrap Lake (nearly scraped clean of Upper Columbia Freshwater Marine Barnacles, by the way) and a simple yet deadly trapline for snagging Upper Columbia Wolverines, the most dangerous and efficient predator of the Coniferous Shrub-Steppe Channeled Scablands Transition Zone, is to blame for a failed economy.

  Help me out.

  I contribute to my community by donating my time and labor to take stuffed Wolverines to grade schools to teach kids about predators, I grow my own vegetables and particularly herbs and sell the extra veggies and herbs via informal channels amongst my retired neighbors and some of the salt-of-the-earth locals, I purchase weapons through local gun shops and sporting goods stores, and I buy all my vast quantities of booze from WSLCB stores paying one of the highest booze taxes in the Milky Way.

  How is this my fault?

• 

  thawtfulreader on February 11 at 12:24 p.m.

  Lust, gluttony, GREED, sloth, anger, envy and pride.

  http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/onfaith/lauren_artress/2008/01/the_cold_sin_of_greed.html

  The Cold Sin of Greed

• 

  keithincda on February 11 at 12:25 p.m.

  Bob, it’s because you do all of that on that while prancing around on that damn freaky pinkish-purplish avatar you have….;)

• 

  toadman on February 11 at 12:27 p.m.

  HA!

  I wish I had a ripping and witty come-back for you bob.. but you’ve once again outdone both yourself, and myself. I can’t get the image of “you” in front of screaming kindergartners with your dead Wolverines.

  Nicely done, and point well taken as well.

• 

  Bob on February 11 at 12:34 p.m.

  Thanks Toad.

  Keith, honest to God, I was surfing the internet last night for a pink and purple glittery unicorn t-shirt WHICH I FOUND BY THE WAY, because I thought it would be cute to wear to Blogfest.

  But since recent events here on HBO I’m not sure I’m coming, I don’t like attack dogs being unleashed on me, a FIVE YEAR REGULAR who has contributed massive amounts of uncompensated text here, much of which was entertaining and value added.

  But if I did, I was gonna wear a totally over the top unicorn t-shirt because, afterall —

  The wondrous and magical unicorn is my mythical spirit-animal totem guide beast.

• 

  DFO on February 11 at 12:48 p.m.

  >I don’t like attack dogs being unleashed on me — Bob<

  No one has unleashed anyone on you, Bob. After watching you for five years, I know that you’re trying to marginalize The Joker for basically using the same tactics on you as you’ve used on others here regularly. You’re trying to drive him out because he’s rattled you. You want to insult him and others but you don’t want to be insulted. You want to criticize people’s (OrangeTV, Digger, The Bard) published writings, but you don’t want your scribblings criticized. I certainly can rein in Joker (although he really hasn’t done much to deserve that, other than take you on). But I’d have to rein you in, too. As I asked you in our personal e-mail exchange, you really want me to crack down on The Joker? Then, I have to trim your sails, too. It would be a long-overdue reining in. Seems to me that you want to do onto others. But you don’t want others to do onto you. Just saying.

• 

  Sisyphus on February 11 at 12:53 p.m.

  “Who or what is most to blame for plunging stocks and worsening economy?”—Dave. I blame Dave.

• 

  Bob on February 11 at 12:59 p.m.

  DFO, thanks for letting your readers know just how personal your personal email exchanges are with folks here.

  I could share some we’ve had, including you outing people to me, including you turning me loose on Dave Tolle and others. But I won’t.

  What I told you is exactly what I said here, I’m tired of the crackpots threatening to kill me or bringing up crap about my kids they shouldn’t even know.

  I criticized the Bard once and his next poem was a huge leap from the doggerel he’d been writing. OTV has thanked me, while admitting it was unpleasant, for my feedback. Digger writes crap and if he doesn’t like hearing it he should ignore me or write better.

  I go after those who write crappy for money, who are published. I don’t go after bloggers and their blogs. There is a difference. I couldn’t care less if he rants about my blog, it’s his personal attacking, constantly, that was getting old. Attacking you let go. Trust me, you’d rein me in in a half second if I tried that with a regular here. Hell, you’ve been hammering the delete key with the liberals here and letting the wingnuts slide.

  Good luck with that.

  So, nice job keeping it classy as always Dave. At least now your readers know how you regard personal emails. Lucky for you I have a higher standard for the ones I have saved on my email.

• 

  Bob on February 11 at 1:01 p.m.

  For the careful reader, DFO is trying to bait me into the cooler. But I’m not biting. :-)

• 

  Escapee on February 11 at 1:05 p.m.

  A lot’s been said about the Housing Industry being the initial cause of this economic situation we’re dealing with. Bad loans that all of a sudden, can’t get paid back due to food and gas and other expenses increasing all over the place. I know I didn’t hear about all the economic problems the U.S. is having until Gas went up to $4.00+ per gallon, and that seems to have been the balance point that the economy fell through on. I’m encouraged that Democrats and Republicans are working to bridge their differences on the economic stimulus package; I hope that helps…

• 

  Sisyphus on February 11 at 1:08 p.m.

  Where’s Thom? He came back just long enough to get ejected.

  Bad dogs! No biscuit.

• 

  DFO on February 11 at 1:29 p.m.

  Actually, Bob, you’re the one who has taught me not to exchange many personal e-mails with you. I’ve told you a number of things privately that you’ve spouted here. BTW, this is the second time you’ve made the accusation re: outing people. I challenged you about that last fall and you backed off, admitting that it basically meant Ziggles. Who’d baited us to try to discover who he was. I admitted then that I made mistakes in the early going — one of which was taking you into my confidence at times. You want to continue to be the playground bully here, determining who gets attacked and who gets to play through. And you’re chafing that I’m not letting you.

  BTW, you made a false accusation against The Joker. He has said nothing about your family. You have him mixed up with Dawg Gone. Who I banned immediately after he made a crack that was way over the line. You need to keep your cyber characters straight.

  BTW2, you have now on several occasions complained that you’re being treated unfairly here b/c you’ve been around 5 years and have provided much copy for the front page. Indeed, you have. I appreciate that. However, I’m tired of you throwing that in my face. If i don’t post you, you complain. If I do post you, you use that to try to justify in-the-face behavior. Say the word, and I’ll quit posting you out front.

• 

  Cabbage Boy on February 11 at 2:17 p.m.

  wow, did the blog just die?

• 

  OrangeTV on February 11 at 2:28 p.m.

  This thread is like a rowdy mollusc aching with post full moon blues.

• 

  Bob on February 11 at 3:41 p.m.

  Dave,
  I’m unsure why you’re so cranked at me but I’m certain I never accused joker of threats. Where did you get that from? I thought I wad pretty clear. I’m thinking no manly hugs at blogfest between us? Will you at least autograph my unicorn shirt? You can even sign it Batman or that other guy if you’d like.

• 

  DFO on February 11 at 4:16 p.m.

  Bob; earlier today, I learned that the city prosecutor’s office has decided not to pursue criminal charges against Family Phil re: that pre-Christmas dust-up between the two of you. I’m not surprised at all re: that finding. I’ve asked the police for the full report. I’ve also sent a note to Phil to say that he’s welcome back at any time. But I suspect he’s going to keep his distance. Which has been — and remains — a great loss for this blog.

• 

  Cabbage Boy on February 11 at 4:39 p.m.

  That reminds me

  http://devcentral.f5.com/weblogs/images/devcentral_f5_com/weblogs/macvittie/WindowsLiveWriter/CongratulationsYouareamoron_7EBF/InternetToughGuy_2.jpg

  http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i288/The_Game21/E-thug2.jpg

• 

  idawa on February 11 at 5:02 p.m.

  “Cabbage Boy on February 11 at 2:17 p.m. - wow, did the blog just die?”

  As a long time regular here (albeit a below average poster), I’ve had the notion that this blog began to loose momentum around the 1st blogfest. (I know will be pilloried just for mentioning this). I know you celebrate the annual gathering, but I think the introduction of a personal dynamic spoiled things a little here. Sure, it did make things more civil, which is nice, but I think the price of that benefit doesn’t offset the unintended cost. You now have an inner cabal of people who know one another personally and generally post inside-items that are, well, frankly boring. This is book ended by the anonymous trolls. Admittedly, occasionally we still get some good discussions and debates, but those seem pretty far and between these day (or perhaps they just occur on the days I don’t read). I’m sure that the blog hit-stats tell a different story, but this blog has lost a lot of its luster. At least in this customers opinion.

  Of course, I’ll continue to post and read. One, it’s tough to kick a 5 year habit; and two, this is, aside from a few friends I rarely speak to now, my only connection to my hometown. And, it is still the best blog in Cd’A.

• 

  Bob on February 11 at 5:21 p.m.

  Wow, I think that first image of Patch’s blinded me. Scary stuff ;-)

• 

  hmoffsuite on February 11 at 5:22 p.m.

  idawa. I enjoy your posts and the arguments that you present. Always well reasoned and thought out and presented in a nice adult fashion. We aren’t always on the same page but I do respect your opinion and posts. Just to let you know, fwiw.

• 

  idawa on February 11 at 5:56 p.m.

  thanks hmo, fwiw, I enjoy your posts here as well and find that you actually try to engage on an issue level, which is nice - I may find your notion of economics as stale as a 50 year old loaf of bread, but I do respect what you offer. ;)

• 

  Nick_Adams on February 11 at 6:08 p.m.

  idawa: well-written post, although I’m not sure what you mean by the blog losing its luster. HBO has undergone several major transitions over five years, yet retained many of the original posters while picking up commenters from Boise, AZ, New Hampshire, Seattle, as well as other parts of the Northwest.

  I believe that DFO does a good job of mixing content from external sources with HBO-generated content. Not only does this make for interesting reading/commenting, but also is just enough of an ego stroke for some of the regulars that it keeps them coming back and aiming higher in the quality of their posts.

  I disagree with you on the source being the fact that many of the contributors know each other personally. I’ve known many of the contributors here for years—well before the invent of HBO. I’ve never attended a blogfest. Living in Boise, the only one I have any contact with on a face-to-face basis is Sisyphus.

  As to the quality of debate, HBO is reflective of national politics in many ways. No one wants to give up any point, ever. Even though, most of us aren’t probably as unbending policy-wise in person as we are online.

  HBO is not just the best CdA blog, it’s the best Idaho blog. Hands down.

• 

  idawa on February 11 at 7:11 p.m.

  Thanks for the response Nick. I don’t really contest anything you wrote, I was merely reflecting over the lifetime arch of this blog, in my perception, the high point came years ago and the decline seemed to start with the blogfest. The two events are probably not related, and then again, perhaps it is only my perception.

  While I still like it here, I don’t think it is as “interesting” as it used to be. Perhaps the pace has slowed down or maybe the same drama gets old. Or, maybe (and this is the more probable answer) is that I’ve changed. Perhaps this blog is the same good old romp is always has been but I just enjoy it less for some reason. But, I guess that is just the nature of things…

• 

  Nick_Adams on February 11 at 7:24 p.m.

  Idawa: I hear you. Sometimes, things do seem a bit repetetive, although IMHOFF, Joker and Sis are relatively new voices who I believe have contributed to freshening some of the debates.

  Perhaps, like you, this is simply a way for me to keep up on Coeur d’Alene and an online community I hold dear. It probably says something that even having left CdA several years ago, HBO is still my home page. You can take the boy out of North Idaho, but you can’t take North Idaho out of the boy (or something equally smarmy).

  Now, I’ve got to go to another thread and challenge IMHOFF on something else.

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