The Respectfully Republican Conversation

Anonymous

Welcome Starla and clarion ..... it seems that even the newspapers are turning around and wondering how Obama didn't get vetted.  I saw one article in msm that said this :

Working on a tip from opposition sources, Kenneth Vogel found a survey with Obama’s handwriting that he had previously denied handling. It shows that Obama himself established much more liberal positions on gun control, abortion, and other issues than he has admitted in his campaign:  so what were Obama's positions in 1996, according to the questionnaire that bears his handwriting?

* Opposed to parental notification on abortions. He amended this to say that he might possibly support it for 12- or 13-year-olds, but no older.
* Flatly opposed the death penalty, a position he denied ever having.
* Supported bans on the sale, possession, and manufacture of guns, again a position he denied ever taking.

pzl

Sherri,

You are absolutely right that media would have no choice but to turn on Obama and Democrats. Let's face it the negativity sells. And they can no longer berate Bush and Chenney or Republicans as they are not in power right now. I also have a feeling that our president does not handle criticism all that well. There were a few moments during his campaign when the media actually tried to do their job by  asking him somewhat tough questions.and Obama did appear angry a few times at being questioned. I think he's got used to all this love fest and will not handle well back-to-normal transition.

Daffodil

Joy Behar on Larry King, lamenting that comedians will have only Joe Biden to joke about, as the "Obamas are pretty much perfect."

Rosemary44

They still have Sarah Palin.  Which will ultimately be good because they'll be keeping her in the forefront.  Olbermann was doing an interview and he was talking about her.  I don't even remember what he said, but there she was again in the room, and on national TV and she hasn't said one word.  

Rosemary44

I was listening to a report that was being given on the radio about the state of our economy in Texas and Oklahoma.  We still have jobs, and affordable housing.  You get quite the bang for your buck here in houses.  The oil companies are still hiring because a lot of their employees are at retirement age.  Since Texas will be the last in to this economic downfall, history has shown, we should be the first out of it also.  This is why we who live in OK and TX don't see evidence of the downturn.  Last year we actually bought more new houses here in TX then what they had in inventory, so that means building is still going on.   So come on down!  Oh, as an added enticement, those lucky people who get jobs in oil companies, and stay there, usually retire with a boatload of money.

Anonymous

OMG - that Utube - ! What a bunch of slobs! They were looking for keepsakes in the garbage cans? - LOL- OMG! Just when I thought I'd heard it all!

Perhaps there wasn't any garbage cans because they were all stolen to be kept as keepsakes or to be sold on e-bay as keepsakes! LOL

Paulette531

Ahhhhhhhhhhh Rosemary...be careful with that "come on down"...we don't want a bunch of freakin' crybaby dem/libs down here trying to change the way we do things!

That being said, my dgd has an apartment and when I go over there I see all kinds of "Yankee" license plates in the parking lot so I think it's already started. Our economy here where I live (about an hour south of you, Rosemary) is booming and blooming. People still shopping and buying, homes being remodled (I am doing a huge remodel), stores closing, new stores taking their places. Out on the freeway near the coast, three new extended stay hotels just went up. New restaurants opening and people still eat out every night of the week here by 6:00 p.m. and on the restaurants are full.

vivre

Laura, what a great idea! We can sell Obama garbage cans on Ebay. There should be about 56 million people looking for one of those! LOL

Rosemary. I agree. The country is going through a tough time because everybody from the government down, spent too much! So now Congress decides it is going to spend more? It is so illogical. I wish the Congress would just say they are going to spend the bare minmum for 6 months. Obama should stop shouting the sky is falling. And people should move into houses they can afford. If everyone lowered prices on houses, everyone would be able to buy new homes. We sold our home 3 years ago, right before the dums got into office and caused this crisis. Since that time, housing prices should have gone down or stabilized. Yet I can see houses all over my town, that are priced higher than what my one of a kind, custom home sold for. And they wonder why no one is buying? If they would lower their prices, they would sell! The over inflated housing market caused a lot of this problem, and the home prices need to readjust to help things get back to normal. My realtor friend, had her best year ever last year. WHY? because she said houses that are priced fairly are selling. It is a matter of mindset. Americans should get realistic  about what they can afford and the governemnt should stop telling us how bad it is, and come up with an optimistic plan that includes belt tightening.

McCain is on with Chris Wallace. He says he is going to fight the "stimulus package". I sure hope someone does.

vivre

Oh, come on Paulette, can't I please send you some OBOTS? Pretty please with sugar on it? Now that Obama is taking his thugs to DC with him, Laura and  I are hoping to make the Land Of Lincoln red again. After all, this is where Reagan was born. Bama only pretends to be from Illinois. He has probably never even been out of crook county.

Anonymous

lol lol lol

I love CROOK COUNTY - ROFL - and... how about Land of Crooks

While traveling to Western Univ last week, I passed by Dixon, IL... the birthplace of Reagan (I think?)

vivre

Hey Laura, Do you have kids at WIU? my alma mater. I won't tell you when. LOL I loved going to school out in the country. When I see how much money kids are spending these days on all these elitists schools, racking up huge college loans, I think they are crazy. I went to WIU because it was a bargain even though I was accepted at my dream school. I had to be realistic. I know a lot of WIU grads who are doing very well. Including Mary Matalin. A prestige school may get your foot in the door, but if you have talent, it does not matter. Students today need to look at what they want to come out with, a big shot diploma and years of debt or a diploma that gives you a chance to breathe. Loved those keggers at the Lake! Haven't had a beer since. LOL

Anonymous

No - I don't have kids...didn't want to continue my gene pool! LOL Had some business to take care of there. When I was just out of highschool, I dreamed about going to a large university and living in a dorm, but didn't have the direction or the money. I put myself through a local Art School by pumping coffee out of the back of a roach coach every morning before school - starting at 4 AM at the corner of Wacker and some other street downtown. I would meet the roach coach there...freeze my a** off for 3 hours while pumping coffee for all the office workers as they headed to their nice warm cozy offices...hop on a bus...go to art school. Did this for 2 years... as a result - I have had an awesome career... it truly paid off! And taught me to never complain about what I don't have and to not take anything for granted. I live by the quote: I will either find a way, or make one!

Cairo - OMG - what a shame! Shame on Obama... that is so awful.

vivre

Starla, sadly there are lots of Cairo's in America. Wonderful little towns, once full of promise. My husband's company had a plant in Southern Illinois, that they had to close because of all the business taxes. The town, totally died.  This is what happens when tax and spend dems take over. They believe business tax is the answer, and the businesses say adios. That is why the southern states are faring better right now than the north.

Laura, you are an example of how many of us had to work our way up. We had to take the crap jobs to work our way through school. Humbling experiences make us more appreciative. I had so many waitress jobs, and really respect what a tough job it is and how much flack you get from people. I am always nice to waitresses and give good tips now! Kids no longer have to suffer, so they do not appreciate what they have. They want it all given to them. I still see young college grads in my family sitting around waiting for the perfect job. We took anything we could when we graduated until we worked our way up.

Anonymous

You're so right... my dad died when he was 34... four kids in our family - under the age of 10. My mom was a "housewife" (gawd what an awful title). My dad had been sick with cancer for a year, so there was no life insurance or savings or anything. We didn't have a car...she put us four on a train every Sunday and took us to the VA hosp to visit him. After he died, she immediately signed up for Nursing school during the day...AND worked nights to support us. I remember one night after she had returned home from the night job...it was really late. I woke up and found her sitting at the kitchen table asleep with her head on a nursing text book! She refused to go on welfare or NOT be independant. So I learned at an early age to work my way up. She was a great example for me.

pzl

Vivre,

 You are right thata lot of  kids today are spoiled (mine included).  I guess we felt that we went through a  lot and wanted to make our kids lives easier. But sometimes I feel they maight have  benefited from a bit of adversity as it builds a character. I think my kids actually really appreciated what's given to them but they never had to worry about paying for food or shelter.

abinneb

I had to start paying rent at the end of my senior year in high school.  I had a job, I bought my parent's 11 year old car, had to pay my own car insurance.  That wasn't tough love - that was just reality!   We were all brought up to carry our own weight (6 kids) - there was no slacking.  We did chores because that is what was expected of people who lived in a house.  There was always love and respect and though we sometimes didn't know where the money for meals was coming from, I never thought of myself as poor or disadvantaged or 'at risk'.  Couple years after highschool, I worked overtime, extra shifts, gave up things my friends were doing, to save money to pay for a trip to Europe.  I overheard someone ask my dad if they were 'sending' me and he said 'hell no, she did it all by herself'  with such pride!  That was one of my proudest moments.  To know that I did it, I was responsible, and I could accomplish what I put my mind to.  My childhood was a great learning experience for life!!!

Anonymous

Inside sources say Caroline was not really considered, just Paterson being polite  ......

Friends said Paterson was adamant that she was never going to be appointed, even though she was considered the front-runner.
Paterson was turned off when Kennedy first called him and asked if she "could" be considered for the seat.

By asking if she could, rather than saying she wanted to be considered, Paterson immediately felt she wasn't really interested, the source said.
In meetings, the governor and his aides decided she had no political depth, the source said.

She had no firmly held views and little idea about why she wanted the job, the source said.
Her abysmal public rollout cemented the governor's fears that she had no political instincts.

The governor felt the sheltered Kennedy had no communication skills and absolutely no empathy with the voters, the source said.

"She just lives in a bubble," the source said. 

Paulette531

WOW Rock! I agree with all of what was said (about Kennedy) just find it interesting that it came out in the open. Wonder if Paterson has other plans when his term is finished? LOL!

Anonymous

Maybe BO will increase the assistance rolls to help middle class moms with child care and health care ... and not just people who make under 25K a year!!  I heard that he broke another promise .. tax increases set for people who make over $75K .. not the $200+ he promised.

jerseymaria

i feel sorry for all the "smart ones" who actually believed that man.  $75K is not alot of money these days to raise a family on, certainly not in nj.  i'm sure we'll all hear the uproar over that one, lol.

glad to see you're back rock.  i was beginning to think everyone ran off with ibc spouse and left me here all alone.

vivre

National Geographic did a great doc tonight on AF1. That is some plane. I bet GB is going to miss it. I am sure he is sitting back and enjoying the fact that he does not have the weight of the world on his shoulders.

I need a vacation! Any good suggestions? What is the best vacation you ever took? And sorry Daff, don't suggest DC. Been there, done that, in better times. Not sure I want to visit the WH these days. If MO decorates the way she dresses...

hyacinthe

!

Paulette531

OK...Best vacation? I can think of a lot but...Jerome, AZ. We stayed at The Grand Hotel which is way up at the top of a mountain and the hotel is haunted, it was fascinating! The next day on to Sedona to tour the vortexes. We hired a guide and she was awesome. She was so knowledgable about the vortexes. We went out into the canyons and she did a sage cleansing ceremony. The next day up to Flagstaff, we went to White Rock Canyon on the climb up to Flagstaff. Then on to Williams and The Grand Canyon. We spent two days up there on the top of the world and it too was awesome. The next day on to Quartzite to buy Quartz crystal. Since we were ahead of schedule we zipped on out to Malibu and then to Hollywood and Rodeo Drive for some shopping. The trip was way cool! I love Arizona, always have. Can't wait to go back!

This year starting in March I am going out to San Francisco to visit my son and daughter-in-law for a week, then a trip to Norway in the summer and I want to go back to Switzerland (Bern) and Paris but that might be in 2010. Not sure the exact dates for Europe. 

vivre

Happy you came to RIGHT thread. We are always in a good mood here, even though others try to crash our party at time. 

Gee you guys Thanks for the advice, but I need some more. We went to Palm Springs on a company trip one year. My husband played a lot of golf so he was happy. It was a bit too hot for me, but we had a nice time. Been to the Grand Canyon and Sedona, twice. We hiked all over there last year, but my husband would not do the vortex thing with me, though I thought it would be fun with a guide. We even walked around Jerome, which was really great. But I missed the quartz place. Where was that? I love to collect rocks!  Not a of fan of San Fran, too many wierdos,  but we spent a wonderful trip in Northern Ca. at Point Reyes. We stayed in this amazing tree house, then went to Sonoma and then back down south of SF and checked out several beaches. We were almost mugged in SF so I have no desire to ever go there again. Starla, one thing I will never do again is sleep in a tent. Did too much of that as a kid. Now I value a soft mattress and hot shower too much! Been to Paris 3 times because of my job. I love it so much. I wish I could go every year. We are considering the south of France. I have a few friends there who can put us up, so it makes it more affordable. Nothing compares to mediterranean food!

Now I bet you all think I am a snob!!! We do travel every year, but I am such a great bargain hunter and I always find great deals. We do not stay in fancy places, except on the few company trips we had back in the days when companies did those kind of things.

Has anyone been to Italy? Scotland Ireland and Wales sounds great Sherry. How long were you gone and how did you get around?We love visiting historic places.

pzl

hi vivre,

I was away from the thread for most of the day so I saw you request for cacation ideas. And then I saw your last post where you said that you were thinking of south france.  We had great time in Provence and South France (Nice) last September. It's so beautiful and there is so much to see. We stayed in some very nice places, you can PM me for details if you like. I would strongly suggest that you go a bit off season like May or September: the weather is great and there is not crowds. 

pzl

OK I have a movie that you all must see if you haven't done so " Slum Dog Millionaire".

It has a few hard moments, but it's so uplifiting.

Rosemary44

Thanks pzl,  It's on my list. 

Best vacation, went to Paris, rented a car and drove throughout Europe.  If you give the rental agencies notice they'll get an automatic for you.  I can't even remember all the countries we visited.  Best coffee, Switzerland, best pastries...all of them.  Europe has pastries we've never seen before.  Worst food...Germany, best beer though... Their summer wheat beer is the best from Paulaner.

What's nice about renting a car, there are towns there that are so picturesque, they can't be described.  We were driving in Germany, and we turned a corner and up comes in view a beautiful snow capped mountain.  As we got closer to the town at the base of this mountain, was a U.S. Army post.  Boy that had to be hard duty for our guys and gals.  We stayed in that town that evening, it made me feel comfortable. 

 So we hit Paris, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and a couple of others, and it was like driiving through a few of our States in distance, but instead its countries.  Back to Paris to drop the car off. 

Paulette531

Another good one (vacation)...Southern Germany, into Austria, climb through the mountains (by car), into Lichtenstein and over to Switzerland. Rosemary, I agree with your synopsis of the food and beverages in Europe except for one thing...there is NOTHING like a bratwurst, brochen and a bag of pom frittes (with German mustard for the wurst) from the little fast food kiosks on the street corners in Germany! Good Lord those were good!

Checkloslavikia for crystal! Awesome.

Quartzite is on the California/Arizona border. Interstate 10 out to CA.(heading west if you fly into Phoenix) and you come to Quartzite, it sits at the top of a (not quite a mountain) but if you make the drive at night you can see the valley lights sprinkling through the towns near the CA. border. Really cool drive, Indio and on to Palm Springs on the CA. side. If you Google Quartzite, you can find out when they have the BIG crystal fest. People come from all over the world to display their crystal. Off season there are a few places open where you can purchase as well. You can also buy awesome sage there for use at home...doing a sage cleanse to balance the chi. 

vivre

Okay, Paulette , Quartzite is on my list, next time we hit Arizona. We have family in Phoenix so we go there often.

I am glad you mentioned driving in France, because this is something I would like to do but after being driven around in France, by my French friends, I am a bit worried. They drive like maniac. I swear we were going over 100 and being passed and we had to move over twice after being cut off by trucks. But you are right about this being the way to see all those small towns. Any advice on car rentals? Gas is so high too.

Paulette, how long were you gone? It seems like you coverered a lot of territory.

Pzl, I would love to have some recommendations for places to stay. What city to you fly into to visit Provence? I would like to fly into another place beside Paris. I also want to skip Nice. I have been there and found it to be really filthy. I could not even look around there was so much dog poop everywhere. You have to really watch where you walk!

Rosemary44

Paulette,

Your making my mouth water.  I never saw one piece of sausage in any restaurant we went to in Germany.  Everything was chicken.  Thus the chicken dance, I guess.

Do you go to the Ocktoberfest in Fredricksburg?   We haven't gone in a couple of years, great sausage and good music everywhere playing.