The top Republican on the House Intelligence Committee defied the Bush administration Sunday and pledged to investigate the destruction of CIA interrogation tapes.

"We want to hold the community accountable for what's happened with these tapes. I think we will issue subpoenas," said Rep. Peter Hoekstra, R-Mich.

"You've got a community that's incompetent. They are arrogant. And they are political," Hoekstra said. "And I think that we're going to hold (CIA Director) Mike Hayden accountable."
 

Amen! Thanks BFP . . . the comments have been getting very nasty lately, hopefully this will make for a more enjoyable comment-reading experience!
 

Yeah, and can we do without the Junior High name calling?
 

In the spirit of the holidays, how about this for an idea.

Take someone from opposing political party and give them some plaudits for what they accomplished, or worked towards, in a bi-partisan fashion this year.
 

Remember when Jim equaled Jobs?

Well today we see that Qimonda is leaving Vermont, laying off at least 75 professional people.

Jimmy never did live up to that campaign promise.
 

Suggested Douglas '08 Campaign Slogans:

Devoid Of Ideas Since 2002

I'm Chicken Little And, Trust Me, The Sky is Falling

Three Terms And I Still Can't Find Anything Positive To Say About Vermont

Second Graders Can't Match My Scissor Skills

George W. Who? Don't Blame Me. I Was Just His Vermont Campaign Chair

Jim = Lost Jobs

Whining About Property Taxes Since 2002, Yet Doing Nothing

Don't Agonize, Privatize

I'm Only Dorothy. Mike Smith's The Wizard

I Was Born To Be A Career Politician

Living Off The Public Dime Since 1979
--------------
Feel free to add to the list!
 

Qimonda leaves the state and it's Douglas' fault? Can he wave his wand and make VPIRG, CLF, and all of the "smart growth" people go away? Can he cut taxes or do you think maybe the legislature should do this? Can he make all of the flatlander trust-funders that want Vermont kept as they THINK it was in 195o go away? If you want to keep REAL jobs in the state, get rid of all of the above, not to mention Symington, Shumlin and company. Then we'll see how Douglas does when his hands aren't tied!
 

Governor Douglas said that he would bring jobs to Vermont.

He hasn't. Now he has a ton of excuses -- he points fingers. He blames others.

The only thing he won't do is lead.
 

You can lead a horse (in this case, donkey) to water but you can't make him drink.
 

As fast as Douglas brings the jobs here, CLF, VPIRG, VNRC, and Shumlington drive them out.
 

Blaming only the Governor for the loss of jobs, and saying nothing about the anti-business policies of the Legislature, is totally and completely unfair, irresponsible, and partisan.
 

"As fast as Douglas brings the jobs here, CLF, VPIRG, VNRC, and Shumlington drive them out."

"Blaming only the Governor for the loss of jobs, and saying nothing about the anti-business policies of the Legislature, is totally and completely unfair, irresponsible, and partisan."

Ditto!

I am facing the same quandry with my business....high tech, good paying jobs, environmentally friendly, been here a long time but finding VT very difficult and expensive to do business in.
 

There are a ton of businesses thriving here. You should use them as a model instead of complaining about the government.
 

Douglas made the promise "Jim = Jobs"

Turns out he doesn't have the juice to get it done.
 

"There are a ton of businesses thriving here. You should use them as a model instead of complaining about the government."

See the logic here, Anonymous 6:08? If some businesses "thrive" here, as the poster says, you must be totally off base if you are having a hard time. It's YOUR fault! This state isn't anti-business, it's just YOU! Now that you've been set straight, you can go out and thrive!

Thank Goodness Anonymous 8:22 used his laser-like logic that all business experiences are the same, to set you straight!
 

I am deeply indebted to Anonymous 8:22 and have modified my plan to reflect his input.

Here's the point you don't get 8:22. I am not competing against the B&B down the street or the coffee shop around the corner. My business is not subsidized endlessly like diary farmers are. My competition is against other businesses in the global marketplace situated in areas that offer significantly more attractive environments than VT. The days of isolationism are long gone.

Many factors effect profitability from taxes to living costs to available labor pool of skilled talent. As a state we are on the losing end of most of these criteria. It's not fatal. It can be fixed but won't be if this partisan bickering and denial continues. My two cents.

To answer one of the questions asked, the $80K jobs won't be replaced easily and certainly not be an economy of B&B's, fast food outlets and diary farms.
 

Anonymous said...

As reported on WCAX(see below).... You can poke holes at it's validity all you want but it's just one more in a continued stream of reports with the same conclusion. The Qimondo announcement is simply another in the series of businesses that have left the state.

"Everyone can believe the "facts" people like D Hoffer post rationalizing things are fine here but the basic proof is businesses are voting with their feet and leaving VT. On this path the state is headed towards a financial train wreck."

Everyone but the ignorant, ill-informed likes of you, that is.

As always, if you have any "facts" contradicting Hoffer's evidence or supporting yours, feel free to provide it, little fella.

Ya haven't done so in the month that I've been here and I see no evidence that did so prior to that or that you have either the capacity or the inclination to do so in the future.

That said, if you could you probably would so I attribute most of your failure to do so to the weakness or your arguments and your lack of a legitimate case than your ham-handed attempts to change the subject.

In other words, you're more ignorant and ill-informed than evil.

You're welcome.


------------------------------------

Study Gives Vermont Worst Economic Rating

Washington, D.C. - December 17, 2007

Which state has the worst economic rating in the country? According to the American Legislative Exchange Council-- Vermont does. A new report puts the Green Mountain State dead last in a ranking of all 50 states.

According to the report, it's because Vermont has some of the highest taxes in the country-- personal income, business, estate and property taxes. In addition, the ALEC cites a high minimum wage and rising workers comp costs. The study looked at 16 variables that impact the migration of people and investment capital.

-----------------------------------------

And according to "Source Watch,"

"ALEC" is an anti-environmental, right-wing scum site founded in 1973 by Paul Wingnut Weyrich to advocate for Big Tobacco and other scum bag concerns.

To wit:

American Legislative Exchange Council
From SourceWatch

This article is part of the Tobacco portal on Sourcewatch, sponsored by the American Legacy Foundation. Join our team of citizen journalists researching and exposing tobacco industry secrets.

The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) was established in 1973 by Paul M. Weyrich of the Free Congress Foundation. It is a membership organisation of state legislators across the U.S. that drafts "model legislation" that is then often drafted into law.

ALEC is a conservative organisation that pushes legislation that favours big business and rollbacks environmental regulations. ALEC says that its membership exceeds 2,400 state legislators from both political parties, which is over 30 percent of all state lawmakers in America.....

In other words, ya got bupkis, bozo.

Right Wing Scum Sites ain't evidence, little fella. Until ya get some, ya got no case.

Always a pleasure.
 

"Right Wing Scum Sites ain't evidence, little fella. Until ya get some, ya got no case."

two thoughts:

1. Then I take it take Left wing sites are evidence? JW, ya go no case. My point stands.

2. Also, thanks for complying with the BFP's request for cleaning up the site.

..."and other scum bag concerns" ...."Right Wing Scum Sites ain't evidence" You are certainly an eloquent guy but obviously not very good at following instructions.
 

It does, eh?

Nice try, little fella.

"Then I take it take Left wing sites are evidence?"

Such as?

That's what I thought.

Ya had no case when I got here. Ya gots no case now?

Dismissed
 

Pollina for Governor
 

jwcoop for governor
 

"Nice try, little fella.

"Then I take it take Left wing sites are evidence?"

Such as?

That's what I thought.

Ya had no case when I got here. Ya gots no case now? "

Wow you are clever. It makes no sense versus the question asked but par for the course with you.

Didn't they learn you readin any better then that at the Jethro Bodine School of Higher Edekation.
 

You've discovered that jwpoop is an incoherent, ranting nitwit who specializes not in rational thought but only in insults?
 

Anonymous said...

"Nice try, little fella.

"Then I take it take Left wing sites are evidence?"

Such as?

That's what I thought.

Ya had no case when I got here. Ya gots no case now?

"Wow you are clever. It makes no sense versus the question asked but par for the course with you."

In other words, you've still got no evidence or case?

I'm shocked.

Always a pleasure.
 

Anonymous said...

"You've discovered that jwpoop is an incoherent, ranting nitwit who specializes not in rational thought but only in insults?"

Ya mean like this slop of yours directly above here, little fella?

Nice try.

Always a pleasure.
 

Anonymous said...

"There are a ton of businesses thriving here. You should use them as a model instead of complaining about the government."

"See the logic here, Anonymous 6:08? If some businesses "thrive" here, as the poster says, you must be totally off base if you are having a hard time. It's YOUR fault! This state isn't anti-business, it's just YOU! Now that you've been set straight, you can go out and thrive!"

So, what's your point? Are you saying there are no thriving businesses in the State of Vermont?

If so, feel free to dredge up some evidence and prove it.

If not, how do you explain the fact that there are Vermont businesses that are thriving if the State is so anti-business?

Knock yourself out.
 

Oh, so a state can't be anti-business if there are ANY businesses that are doing well?

Knock yourself out what that logic, sport.

Dismissed.
 

Pretty sad when the liberals of this state have to send out a psychotic like jw to "defend" their nut-cake policies! Or.....is jw REALLY a REPUBLICAN OPERATIVE just trying to emphasize what nitwits the left is!
 

"Or.....is jw REALLY a REPUBLICAN OPERATIVE just trying to emphasize what nitwits the left is!"

I believe JW is a dyed in the wool GOPer. He just has too much insight and knowledge of EXACTLY what is going on in the White House, the VT State House and Fortune 500 Big Business.

He is clearly a FAT CAT.

JW, Everyone down at GOP headquarters sezs hey.
 

Bubba, Terri has asked people on this blog to clean it up. I'm hoping jw gets the message, or leaves, or gets banned. But you should tone it down, too.

Using the term "nut cake policies" does not inform the debate.

Don't be like jw.
 

Here, Here!
 

JWCoop10 has left a new comment on the post "Oh those controversial rankings":

Anonymous said...

"Oh, so a state can't be anti-business if there are ANY businesses that are doing well?"

Oh, so a mere unproven allegation that a State is "anti-business" is proof that a State is "anti-business", little fella?"

That's what I thought.

Nice try, but you're gonna have to do better than stealin' my lines and citing some bogus wingnut, whack-job, lunatic-fringe gop front group with ties to big tobacco's website along with the coalition of the clueless rantings of the likes of you, yourself and bubbles to polish that turd, sport.

Once again, while I consistently find your pathetic attempts to prove you have a legitimate, factually-based argument merely by claiming that you have a legitimate, factually-based argument to always be good for a chuckle, little fella, nevertheless, it ain't evidence and you ain't got no case.

Dismissed.

4:05 PM, December 19, 2007

bubba said...

"Pretty sad when the liberals of this state have to send out a psychotic like jw to "defend" their nut-cake policies! Or.....is jw REALLY a REPUBLICAN OPERATIVE just trying to emphasize what nitwits the left is!

Thanks, bubbles. Once again, if nothing else, you prove a consistent desire and ability to make my case for me by not even pretending you know what the hell you're talking about or to have any supporting evidence to substantiate your consistently-clueless allegations and I want you to know just how much I appreciate it."

6:55 AM, December 20, 2007

Anonymous said...

"Or.....is jw REALLY a REPUBLICAN OPERATIVE just trying to emphasize what nitwits the left is!"

I believe JW is a dyed in the wool GOPer. He just has too much insight and knowledge of EXACTLY what is going on in the White House, the VT State House and Fortune 500 Big Business.

He is clearly a FAT CAT.

"JW, Everyone down at GOP headquarters sezs hey."

Well, little fella, if I'm the "dyed in the wool GOPer" you claim me to be, just how would that be news to me, little fella?

Nice try.

Once again, you prove to be a full-service operation.

Not only do you dig your own grave, you fall in it and pull the dirt in behind you with your consistently-clueless nitwit nonsense and I just want you to know how much I appreciate it in this holiest of seasons, little fella?

7:10 AM, December 20, 2007

Anonymous said...

"Bubba, Terri has asked people on this blog to clean it up. I'm hoping jw gets the message, or leaves, or gets banned. But you should tone it down, too."

Using the term "nut cake policies" does not inform the debate.

"Don't be like jw."

7:40 AM, December 20, 2007

Nice try. Is this where you call me an ass, refer to me as jwpoop and tell me how high-brow and what a good and loyal "dues-paying" Democrat you are now that you've abandoned any and all pretense to pretend you have a case and have taken up the task of attempting to have me banned full-time for unmasking you for the fraud you are, little fella?

How sweet.

Nice try.

Anonymous said...

"Here, Here!"

And what have we here? It's another chorus of "Send in the Clones."

At least you've sold one of your invisible, imaginary, anonymous little friends on this latest coalition of the clueless load of rubbish, little fella.

Always a pleasure.