Arkansas Blog

Iconoclast is featuring Art Hobson's weekly article today. Here are some excerpts from Art's article and bluename link to the article -

MODERN TIMES : Beltway madness

The wealthy, powerful and self-appointed Northwest Arkansas Council, comprising the Waltons, Tysons, J. B. Hunts and other corporate interests, is pressing for quick Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission approval of a feasibility study of a new four-lane "western beltway. "It's a project that will change all of Northwest Arkansas massively, forever.
...............
The new highway will run from Greenland to west of Bella Vista, and lie several miles west of I-540. Although it's probably the most important Northwest Arkansas infrastructure project ever, the feasibility study is being pushed through with lightning speed: It was proposed only on July 16, and could receive final approval this Thursday, Aug. 7. It's an outrage that we are not being allowed time to fully digest and comment on this project. ...

But these discussions of a distant regional plan didn't really engage our individual towns, and they occurred before the present national energy crisis, which is transforming U. S. transportation.

The commission, an association of Washington and Benton County mayors and county judges, argues that it will be approving only a feasibility study, not the actual highway project. But the project will become a done deal once the feasibility study is approved. The NWA Council will settle for nothing less than a finding that the project is feasible, and this finding will make it practically impossible for our region to resist the council's campaign to build the highway

The western beltway is a bypass to bypass the bypass. It will bypass the stretch of I-540, completed only some 15 years ago, that bypasses U. S. 71 from Greenland to Bentonville. Predictably, I-540 became a magnet for cancerous growth. Northwest Arkansas "developers"have now completed the standard "geography of nowhere "along the entire bypass: instant suburbs, shopping malls, big-box stores, land-consuming parking lots, plastic eateries and even a mega-church. This of course caused congestion, a problem that was entirely self-inflicted by the folks who proposed I-540 in the first place, and who stood to profit from it.

Western women have careers. All other women are having babies. What is the inevitability of this demographic fact in light of the jihadist threat to the western world?

McCain Mistakes Arizona for Iraq
GOP Presidential Hopeful Says Phoenix Is 99% Pacified

(at my name)

Also.. Obama's exact words on airing up your tires..and how Newt Gingrich and strange lie about those words.

http://thinkprogress.org/2008/08/01/gingrich-tires-loony-tunes/

Oh the link to Iconoclast (above) is on my name.
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Let's take apart your question strange:

Western women, because of careers, do not have babies and hence Western Civilization (good idea) will disappear in 70-80 years?

The "inevitability" of what you assume to be the truth is that nothing is etched in stone.
By the way, "Western women have careers." is not a demographic.

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I thought there was a baby boom in this country.
My nephew's wife is a 20 something career woman, and happily pregnant, as are about half of her friends.
What exactly is your point Strange?

The replacement rate(2.1 children per family) is not happening in most western nations. In fact, it is well below that rate. In the US it is barely that rate but is going down. If western countries are not replacing their populations what do you conclude? That is demographics. Western women are having fewer babies because they are pursuing careers. Western women are marrying later in life. More western women are staying single. What is your conclusion? Other civilizations (non western) are having babies that exceed the replacement rate. What is your conclusion? No demographic impact or demographic impact?

I'm surprised by how resigned everyone is to McCain carrying Arkansas. I can completely understand why many Arkansans supported Clinton, but the only realistic choices left are between Obama and McCain. As Obama's positions are much closer to Clinton's than are McCain's, why shouldn't Arkansas be in play in November?

It seems to me that the tepid support from our elected officials is indicative of the tepid support from Democrats throughout our state. We've got too many Democrats who are looking for comparatively minor flaws in Obama, smarting from perceived slights from Obama supporters, or focusing on over-the-top rhetoric from liberal blogs that aren't even affiliated with the Obama campaign. Spending most of your time castigating anyone who you don't find to be sufficiently lukewarm to Obama's candidacy is not offset by simply saying you will hold your nose and vote for him. If you believe that Obama is even marginally better suited to lead the country than McCain, I believe you have an obligation to put some energy into attempting to ensure that he wins the election. Our elected officials are politicians and are going to follow the prevailing winds, as all politicians do. It is up to us to shift those winds by demonstrating that we expect our party apparatus to work hard and enthusiastically to attempt to deliver our electoral votes to the Democratic candidate in 2008. We've got too much at stake in this election to do otherwise.

What's not to love about this?????????
E. look at the guy with tuba.....rock on.

clicky

Do you really believe that the typical Arkansan is comfortable supporting a guy with a grand total of 135 + days in office vs a guy who has been in the Senate for over 20 years and serves on the foreign policy committee and was a wing commander in the Navy.

I guess strangelove wants the women of America-AT&T to FK for our Flag! I can't be against an idea like that, the Duggars are certainly holding up their end.

I think Arkansas will swing over to the Democratic side in large numbers when Hillary is named as Obama's running mate. Then we can start Googling the words to Happy Days Are Here Again! Obama/Clinton '08!

ergo my mother is non-Western?

It is not what I want it is about the consequences for us as a nation to cease populating our country and the rest of the west. The jihadist nations will eventually outnumber us. Do you think that has no consequence for each one of us? France is today 20% muslim. Europe will before the mid centry become majority muslim if the birth rate continues as is. Europe has nuclear weapons.

Do I pass muster???? Had 4, raised 5...........
enough silliness for tonight,,,didn't ya'll read the NYT today??? about TROLLS.

Hillary isn't even being vetted. I have a better chance of being named Obama's running mate than she does.

Strangelove,

Being in the Senate for 20 years does give us a longer record to examine to determine where he stands on issues; however, that doesn't mean Arkansans will agree with those positions. He has consistently voted for the war in Iraq and vows to continue it, he voted to cut student loan programs, he voted to privatize social security, he's been all over the map on tax cuts, but now seems to favor extending the tax cuts that he previously described as being too heavily tilted to the wealthy.

Holding the wrong positions is a losing proposition, whether you've held those positions for a few years or for 20 years. Did you support Christopher Dodd because he was in the Senate for over 25 years?

Obviously most of your fellow Arkansans disagree with your opinion. They seriously doubt that obama has the experience to be president. Would you hire someone as a CEO of a corporation who has his experience?

Strange...What exactly qualified George W. for President???
As I recall Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton,, and the dear departed Ronnie never served in the U.S. Senate.
Is that the criteria today??

George Bush served as Governor of Texas and had executive experience when he was elected President. Texas is one of our largest states and is a border state. This is pretty obvious in relation to a guy with a grand total of 135 + days of experience. Good grief!

McCain is certainly polling better than Obama at this point, but I don't think it's primarily due to the experience issue. Arkansas voted for George W. over Gore even though Gore had been Vice President for 8 years and in the House/Senate for 16 years. They voted for Clinton over the incumbent Bush who had been in Washington for years.

If I were hiring a CEO and one candidate had a long history of poorly-thought-out ideas and seemed confused about current issues and the other candidate had a relatively short tenure but had a better grasp on the current issues facing the company, as well as a better strategy for the future, I would hire the less experienced candidate in a heartbeat.

" grand total of 135 + days of experience."

Strange, how is this 135 calculated? I know the right is spewing this by email, blogs, etc. but wondering where it comes from.

I assume all know a brave Russian died today. Click on Cato

On the CEO question, if the experienced candidate claims to want to follow in the steps of his predecessor that is leading the company into bankruptcy, choosing the alternative candidate is a no-brainer.
Oops, i guess it's not a no-brainer, since there is support for the "experienced" candidate.

You need to brush up on your constitution, boy. The spending of money is solely the power of the Congress. The President spends no money that they do not authorize and appropriate. So who is spending us into obvlivion? The last time I checked ALL budgets approved during the Bush administration were approved and authorized by the Congress.

I'[m going with strange. Experience is important. McCain being one of the Keating Five has me convinced he fits in well with the scum that's running the country. Why change? Click on Cato

You're not going with me. I'm not voting for either McCain or Obama yo mama.

He has not served even a full term of his first Senate term. What difference does it make? He is inexperienced to be president.

Sorry Strange, the reason is NOT about leadership/experience, it's the same as it was when most 'rural' counties voted to LEAVE the Constitutional Amendment mandating "resisting racial integration in all public entities." We have simple needs: just someone who will QUIT prosecuting useless wars at HUGE expense, STOP considering cutting "human" programs to finance same, NOT BE STUPID about cutting revenues - BRILLIANT!! And who hasn't changed his postition on every major issue EXCEPT the one which needs changing: Iraq, and war in general.

HE'S TOO OLD, and there is evidence of that daily...
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McCain is polling well because most Arkansans are smart enough to know how much damage an Obama presidency coupled with nutcase Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid in charge of congress (huge tax increases to send money to UN, reparations to blacks, American Indians, and native Hawaiins, no new energy and higher fuel prices, gay marriage, abortion on demand, etc) .

Then why do most polls show them as even? That included polling of registered and most likely voters? Please explain. Obviously many don't agree with you. The republicans are in a bad way so why is their head candidate doing at least at break even. Why hasn't this agent of 'change' jumped at least 20 points ahead? Why hasn't he at least broken the 50%? Please 'splain this to me gringo.

AND Strange: you left out the most important "qualification" of Bush Lite: the governorship of Texas is one of the weakest, if not THE weakest in the land...REST of the story. He was a stooge BEFORE, way before he ever ran and remains one today - most people who are competent tend to "grow" in their jobs; this guy shrunk...if that's even possible. The. Worst. President. Ever.

No McSame for me!!
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Regarding your comment directed at perrobravo, it's quite a cop out to absolve Bush of our current fiscal irresponsibility because congress didn't stop him from screwing it up. The tax breaks that started us down this road occured while there was a Republican majority in congress that was mindlessly going along with whatever he wanted. Plus, the war in which we find ourselves entangled was instigated by Bush. Until we can get out in a responsible manner, we have to keep funding the troops who are there at great expense. While I agree that congress should have done more to check his wreckless spending, the ultimate responsibility lies with him.

As my mother says, there are no circumstances under which I'd vote for any Republican. They've screwed the country up, perhaps beyond repair, and they deserve by any standard of accountability to be fired.

Strange things coming from a guy who refers to himself as 'republican for obama'.

McClueless video............
there's OLLLLLLLD PUMPKIN HEAD....all confused again.

clicky

McCain being one of the Keating Five > Cato

I believe that is called guilt by association. I am not picking on you since that is all I am hearing from all the O's supporters on here. I know how big your hearts are.

Meanwhile we are burning the planet and O is against reprocessing spent nuclear fuel which is our only possible answer to life as we know it. No wonder I hit a nerve when I called him Bush Light. He is a religious bigot.

He has not served even a full term of his first Senate term. What difference does it make? He is inexperienced to be president.

Posted by: strangelove

The difference it makes.. is you lie and when confronted on the lie... you ignore the confrontation of facts.. in each and every thread.

The difference is your determination to operate dishonestly at each and every juncture.

You were asked to simply explain 135 days.. you failed to do so, not even an attempt. The pattern demands you be called a liar at every turn.

"...reprocessing spent nuclear fuel which is our only possible answer to life as we know it." ???

It is gratifying to know there is "only one possible answer" to ANYTHING - say WHAT?!!

Eureka Springs you have been backending too much. You figure it out. All you need to know is that he hasn't even served a full term of his first term.

Larry: do you know the issue?

Here's something to think about:
'He died because he was poor'
http://www.tampabay.com/features/humaninterest/article740940.ece

The Economy and Bush (The Decider)

Government announces plans to borrow billions
By Martin Crutsinger, AP Economics Writer
WASHINGTON - The Bush administration gave details Wednesday on how it plans to borrow the billions of dollars it will need to finance soaring budget deficits.

Those plans include raising $27 billion by selling a new 10-year note and a new 30-year bond at the regularly scheduled quarterly auctions to be held next week. The government needs to borrow $171 billion during the July-September quarter, second-highest quarterly borrowing on record.

Those plans include raising $17 billion by selling a new 10-year note Aug. 6 and $10 billion by selling a new 30-year bond Aug. 7.

The increased borrowing needs reflect the exploding federal budget deficit, which is projected to more than double this year and to hit an all-time high of $482 billion in the 2009 budget year.

The administration released the new deficit forecasts Monday. It blamed the surge on the sagging economy and the effort to keep the country from falling into a deep recession by mailing out 130 million economic stimulus payments.

Democratic critics say the soaring deficits show the total failure of the Bush administration to put the government's fiscal house in order,. They contended that whoever wins the presidency in November will inherit a huge financial mess that will severely restrain the next president's ability to fulfill his own campaign promises.
bluename

Perhaps, Phaedrus, you would be so kind as to enlighten us?
Seems to me that Larry made the point that there is always more than one answer to anything. It's up to thinking people to analyze all possible answers and choose the best one. Therein lies the rub, though -- details, details, details.
And incidently, "life as we know it" may be a wee bit overdone by some folks. Take the story of the former hedge fund guy, now a commercial real estate developer, who wants to downsize a bit. Six bedrooms, seven baths, a heated four car garage, and on and on and on. Yep, it's for sale, but he can afford to sit tight and get his price, so he says. Oh, and he's thinking of getting a hybrid to join -- join, mind you -- the two Mercedes in that garage. Yep, I'd call that downsizing.
But back to the nuclear reprocessing issue: why do you think this is the ONLY way to solve our energy problems? It seems to me that is a bit like putting all your eggs . . . well, you know the cliche.
And now that I think of it, isn't that something like what we've done with oil? I've always been told it's safer to diversify, in anything. Say one sector goes sour -- you might have a chance of saving your skin, your pension fund, you country . . .

I wonder about nuke waste. I really wonder when I look at the booklet I collected during a stay in a hotel in Russellville Arkansas and the Nuclear One emergency instructions says. In fact I am looking at it now. And it reads like "Heck of a job, Brownie" wrote it while at a horse show.

EMERGENCY INSTRUCTIONS ARKANSAS NUCLEAR ONE

STAY CALM! in big red letters. yeah right. /s

then it says

Listen to the radio. (all glow in the dark til you die, all the time)

Go to the designated care centers.

Put the NOTIFIED paper on your door so everyone knows you are not home.

Abandon your pets.

Then it says close windows, doors and turn off all AC or heat. (But I thought we were supposed to leave our homes and go to the care center?)

And that's it... that is all the care in the world you could hope for if an emergency spews three mile island in Russelleville.

The booklet ends by describing all kinds of radiation levels except what you can expect from, you know, a nuclear disater at a power plant.

That only covers a ten mile radius.

And we have no idea where the last few decades worth of waste from the plant are now being stored.. though I have heard (unofficially) much is stored at or very near the plant itself. (is it leaking/seeping into Lake Dardinelle aka the AR River?)

It is nice to some intelligent questions.

Take the nuclear waste site in Nevada. It would be the lesser of two evils to lose a small part of Nevada than to lose the planet.

Considering that most of the trainees for the ANO alert program's radio broadcasting program are college students...

and yes, I had my Arkansas Emergency Worker card there for a few years when I was up to date on my training.

Here's something to start your Monday. Over at Daily Kos, they've banned a blogger for mentioning the Edwards love child.

According to Gawker:

The "liberal" militants there excoriated Stanahan in the comments, with one well-rated response declaring, "you are violating site standards referencing the Enquirer [and its Edwards coverage], a bannable offense." That's funny, because just a few years ago multiple Kos diarists trumpeted an unflattering Enquirer story about Bush, including one who said, "Sometimes the National Enquirer reports things better than the Washington Post." That person is still active on the site, but Stranahan is not so lucky!

Clicky the blue name for some nice liberal hypocrisy.

Oh boy, the Fascists over on FOX "News" must have the neo-con trolls all stirred up here. Prouster, if you want to see hypocrisy look no further than your own party--Vitter, Craig, Foley, Stevens.

I'll agree with you on this one, prouster. It's outrageous and un-liberal to ban someone for 'violating site standards referencing the Enquirer.' And, I'm thoroughly disgusted with the narrowness some of my fellow libs have applied to the Edwards' stuff...and to critics of Obama. I can get fascist crap like that from Republicans; I'm not tolerating it from SO-CALLED liberals.

Clearly the two-party system sucks.

Don't be fooled by anything Prouster or any other conservative goon tells you without investigating, Zelda.

Prouster, let me say this slowly so that you and even strangelove can understand. You. Are. Lying. Idiots. At blue name (http://stranahan.dailykos.com/) are the diaries of the "banned" (I'm not even sure that's true, but I'll somehow assume you have it right despite the fact that the diaries are still there) poster from DailyKos. By their own admission *in the first sentence of the first diary*, they've written *four* diaries on this same subject. People were also banned from DailyKos for posting multiple conspiracy diaries regarding the GOP theft of the 2004 presidential election, among other "left-wing" causes; are you going to whine about that, too? If you scroll down further, it's obvious the poster is a repetitive conservative troll with unsubstantiated claims (sorry for being redundant) continually posting at DailyKos. This is a website whose stated purpose is to help get more Democrats elected to office. So you think it's hypocrisy if they don't allow this moron to continue to bombard their site with unsubstantiated crap? Obviously, they humored the diarist for three diaries on the same subject.

Prouster and the media want us to give equal time to Democrats and Republicans. That means we'll have to give equal time to the liberally-biased truth and to GOP lies--lies they know some people will swallow hook, line, and sinker. That's how they turn a candiate whose views are completely opposite those of the American people into a viable candidate.

Thanks Prouster, for proving again that you're a knee-jerk Republican hack, who hopes like hell that people won't investigate the B.S. you spew.

I don't care if Obama has ZERO experience hanging out with the DC gang. He's still light-years ahead of his competition. How anyone can argue that Obama isn't 'experienced' enough after the crap we've had to endure from one of the most 'experienced' gangs to rule our country...is beyond my understanding. Clearly, there ain't no 'change' to be had from any Republican. Plus I find it telling that though you say you're not voting for McSame, strange, all your anti-rhetoric is directed at Obama.

I do believe that there is much resentment in Arkansas toward Obama...and it's mostly from his treatment of Hillary...from his continued refusal to show her any respect. But any, ANY liberal who's voting for McSame is, well, cutting their nose off to spite their face.

>>I think Arkansas will swing over to the Democratic side in large numbers when Hillary is named as Obama's running mate. Then we can start Googling the words to Happy Days Are Here Again! Obama/Clinton '08!<<

If Arkansas swings over to the Democratic side, I think it will be because Republicans stay home. I don't find any ground swell for the Democratic ticket - just lots of disdain for McCain. This is the year for Dems to clean house and I wish I knew how to get some enthusiasm going for Obama, but I don't - don't even have any to share. This Dem is afraid we outdid ourselves this year and our Happy Days evaporated before they even began.

Here's why I don't care about the Edwards mess (it's also how I felt about Clinton and Henry Hyde): It's none of my business. If Edwards has 10 kids with 15 different women, that's between he and his wife to work out/deal with/resolve. It doesn't mean he supports bad programs or has bad ideas on how to govern. If Clinton caught every skirt he chased, it's Hillary's decision on how much to put up with, not mine. Doesn't change that I thought he was a wonderful president and a "not great at the start, but got better" governor. I even don't care that Henry Hyde had a long-term lady on the side. Again, not my business, BUT when he went on the rampage about Clinton's intern, THAT is what bothered me. Get the speck out of your eye, dude.

We're all humans and that means spots of imperfection here and there. Myself absolutely included. We have imperfect teachers, imperfect doctors, imperfect garbage collectors, imperfect website owners and yes, Virginia, imperfect politicians. Put there by imperfect voters. So while *whatever actually happened* may not have been Edwards's smoothest move, I can't say that I don't have things in my life that I really wouldn't want on the front page of any paper.

The next president....clicky

The next president # 2

Clicky

Gee, Hoser, you're awfully indignant. Before you call ME a liar, maybe you'd like to read Stranahan's own words on the subject. His personal website at the link.

Here is a request that Lu Hardin consider the best interest of UCA as an institution and do the right thing.