What a hell of a year. Prince William County, the nation, the election, the economy, April 30.
We didn’t start the fire
It was always burning
Since the world’s been turning
We didn’t start the fire
No we didn’t light it
But we tried to fight it
Not to sound like Billy Joel….but as we say good bye to the old year we can look at our accomplishments with a great deal of pride. Granted, some of them were baby steps, but we did stop a run-away locomotive. We didn’t always win, but we chinked away some armor.
Please use this thread to reminisce and enumerate events of the year. There are also some revisionists floating about on other blogs. Feel free to make any corrections here if you know of them. If you put up corrections on the dark screen, they will last all of five minutes.
Meanwhile, let’s hope that the new year brings peace, prosperity, safety, solutions and good will towards all men, women and children. The torch has been passed.
The Kenny G Millenium Auld Lang Syne will bring back some reminders, not of 2008, but of benchmarks in your lifetime, if you are older than 8. This video was made 8 years ago. In some ways it seems like a life time. Everything looks different through pre-9/11 glasses.
Thanks Moon-Howler. Great video. I am just sitting here wondering where all the time went. Feels like many of these milestones in our history were yesterday. I am old enough to have lived through most of the events.
The words of John Kennedy’s Inaugural Speech are just a poignant today as they were in 1961.
“We observe today not a victory of party but a celebration of freedom–symbolizing an end as well as a beginning–signifying renewal as well as change.
We dare not forget today that we are the heirs of that first revolution. Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans–born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage–and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world.
And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you–ask what you can do for your country.
My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.
Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us here the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God’s work must truly be our own.”
Take time to read the entire speech at:
http://www.jfklibrary.org/Historical+Resources/Archives/Reference+Desk/Speeches/JFK/003POF03Inaugural01201961.htm
The speech is most fitting for this day and time. We will never know the great things that Kennedy could have accomplished as President because his time was cut too short.
I think Obama is cut from the same cloth.
Happy New Year to all the anti bloggers.
It will be most unfortunate if his end is the same as Kennedy’s was. I do not like Obama or his trail promises he has made, but I will support him as President. He will tax the wrong people. I am not one who makes a 6 figured salary, but the company I work for has a 7 figure income and his new taxes are going to raise the tax of the company I work for. The owner is already looking for ways to cover the new proposed taxes. Unfortunately, the small businesses, who can least afford to pay anymore tax than they do, will be the ones to suffer, which will trickle down to the middle class workers. This will happen when the small business can no longer afford to be open, especially in this economic down turn. What good will a “tax cut” be to middle class Americans if they are not employed? Taxing those with the 6+ figures of income will stifle the small business. You can not grow the economy from the ground up, you have to give incentives to those with the money to start and maintain businesses. Until that is realized, we will always have people on the welfare dole. Don’t punish someone because they got off of their ass and worked to make money, punish those who sit on their ass and expect a gov’t check every month.
Medic makes a good point – Obama’s tax plan will hurt a lot of small business owners. Small businesses are a big part of the economy, and if their growth is stifled it will not be good in the long run.
m64-How nice to see you.
I too am concerned for the small businesses. I work for one myself, and in an industry where most work for small business. However, I know many small business owners that voted for Obama. I hope it all works out.
Now, for those on the dole. Make those folks get off of their asses for sure and work. I know one woman who had a desk job as an editor, and is no longer able to work, and collects disability. Yet, this same woman is able to write 3page emails to bash others at the drop of a hat. Oh, let’s not forget these same people will be getting a 5.8% pay raise. How nice for them, and we all pay for it. While many of us will get no cost of living raise while working everyday. I have no problem with a federal retiree, or anyone on social security(over 62 that had worked until they retired getting a raise.
Defense contractors are also nervous because of the uncertainty of what he will do in that field as well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHzLWLFTPPI
HAPPY NEW YEAR and wishing COUNTLESS BLESSINGS to EVERYONE 🙂
Antibvbl was born. Happy New Year everyone.
I heard Obama address the small businesses on tv. He said they would not be taxed as described.
On the other hand, no one could have spent more money than George Bush.
Devil’s Advocate – yes, defense contractors are very very worried about Obama – those of us who work for Defense Contractors remember Clinton all too well… I got laid off thanks to Clinton delaying for more than a year a contract my company had won and was about to begin work on when we got the suspend all work order shortly after Clinton took office. I hope history does not repeat itself with Obama – but already he is eyeing some contracts my current company has – but fortunately not the contract I’m working on. Obama is in general not a good thing for defense contractors.
I forgot to say: Happy New Year to everyone on here.
Defense contractors should have done well the past 7 years. I am not so sure anyone gets to breathe a sigh of relief with the economy the way it is now. I think the economy is very scary at the moment. Bush seems to have quit. Obama seems to be surrounding himself with competent, proven people.
I don’t agree with the moderators of this board much of the time on issues, but I salute your level of class and the way you maintain this board for the sake of continued dialogue. Happy New Year to everyone.
Thank you, Rick. The salute is even more meaningful coming from you. We are glad you are here. Preaching to the choir gets old and we welcome your opinions. You and I agree on some and disagree on others. Alanna and Elena and I have the same situation, yet we remain, like you do, respectful of each other.
You know who else is worried, war profiteering industry, people who like to torture, people who like to defraud taxpayers in the name of corporate greed, people who base their companies at imaginary off-shore addresses so they can make billions of dollars in the United States but pay zero United States taxes, the oil industry is also worried. White supremacists, they’re pretty mad. Neo-Nazis and Neo-cons, furious! The old style KKK (hates blacks) is mad. The new style KKK (hates Latinos), they’re mad too.
It may be true that the wealthiest people in America payed a bit more taxes during the Clinton era, but everyone else in America did a hell of a lot better than they did during the Bush era. And, low and behold! The wealthiest people in America ALSO did better financially during the Clinton era, because we had a healthier economy where the average household income grew instead of shrinking, where consumers had money to spend. Yes, the wealthiest Americans did better under Clinton. Many of them have been trained not to admit it, but many of them will.
Meanwhile, the only people you hear blindly and ignorantly wailing about a proposed percent tax increase on the super rich are (drum roll please) not super rich, just Republican.
forgot the three: three percent.
M-H, I agree, defense contractors (i.e. war profiteers) have engorged themselves on the public trust for 8 years. They even got a trillion dollar war we didn’t even need!
Now that they know the Iraq disaster will not be profitable forever, they’ll have to learn to prosper in an America were wars are not created for the sake of profit.
For better or for worse, I keep coming back. Y’all wouldn’t be so entertaining if you weren’t so infuriating sometimes.
Happy New Year, all!
Freedom of speech, no censorship and great discussions. Thank you, Anti!
A safe and happy new year to all. Let’s help each other, our neighbors, and newcomers in 2009!
Neighborhood Leaders meeting, Thursday, Jan. 8 at 7 pm Room 202A, Dev. Services Bldg, McCoart Center.
PWC, Manassas and Manassas Park are planning a joint Neighborhood Conference in February 2009. There’s a planning meeting at 10 am on Jan 12 in the Occoquan Room, McCoart Bldg. Your input is welcome.
Well wonders never cease, a Happy New Years from both Rick Bentley & Emma!
“yet we remain, like you do, respectful of each other.”
I remain an angry, argumentive p**ck! But Happy New Year.
Argument remains the truest and most honest form of communication.
@Medic
“Until that is realized, we will always have people on the welfare dole. Don’t punish someone because they got off of their ass and worked to make money, punish those who sit on their ass and expect a gov’t check every month.”
You’re asking the Dems to punish their base. Fat chance. Which segues nicely into NGL’s ignorant rant:
“Meanwhile, the only people you hear blindly and ignorantly wailing about a proposed percent tax increase on the super rich are (drum roll please) not super rich, just Republican.”
Or, those that work for a living. *News Flash* More taxes = bigger govt. = less money in our pocket (unless, of course, you live off the govt.) = bad.
You may think defense contractors “engorged themselves on the public trust for 8 years”, but for one thing there is a lot more they do than the wars overseas. We’ll see what happens after Obama downsizes critical things such as anti-missile systems, satellite communication systems, etc. In this area a lot of people are employed by defense contractors – we’ll see what that does to the local economy if Obama goes ahead with his plans to cut defense spending in a lot of areas, none of which have to do with the war in Iraq.
How about if instead of worrying about cutting defense spending, we just worry about buying from American contractors? That decision to out source the Air Force tanker contract (40 BILLION dollars) was A-OK with most of our elected and appointed officials.
For God’s sake some of our military apparel is made in China.
Our political ruling class always has people up in arms about silly things while they play their corrupt little games and ensure continued flow of wealth to their wealthy friends.
Emma
Ya’ll from a good RI girl!!
Happy New Year to you.
Rick – I agree with you – outsourcing is a huge problem, both for defense contracts as well as many other industries. It is pathetic that as you say some US military apparel is made overseas.
Transplanted RI girl, Juturna, married to a Southern boy 🙂
Someone sent me a Del’s Lemonade on Facebook today. mmmm.
Happy New Year, everyone! It sounds as though the wind out there is trying to blow in a whopper of a change!
That wind out there has a bunch of people in the dark, Censored. I am hoping a tree doesn’t land on my roof.
Rick, it’s ok to be an argumentative prick. You are fairly courteous when you do it.
Emma, as many differing opinions as you will find here, you surely can’t find us all infuriating on every subject.
MH, note that I said “sometimes”
Peace.
The 9700 block of Damascus & Lafayette were both without power from about 9am to 11:30am this morning. NOVEC is sure to stay busy as long as this wind keeps up. My daughter said “it sounds like the Wizard of Oz”. We all laughed, and my husband said “hope we don’t see any witches on bikes flying by”. Needless to say, we all laughing. Those living in Sudley won’t have to worry as much, because their powerlines are underground, but they do NOT have street lights. 🙁
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
It is a little unsettling to have your house surrounded by tall trees when the wind is this strong. I guess we’re lucky that they’re leafless and offer less wind resistance. A friend tells me that she wants her trees in leaf if they fall on her house – thinks that the nice soft leaves and branches will cushion the fall and subsequent damage. Pffft. I’d rather them be leafless and not fall. Besides the sap’s down now and they weigh less.
I’m surprised that our power isn’t out. NOVEC has done a good job over the last ten years or so maintaining their lines here. I upped the thermostsat a bit just in case we lose it.
So Chris, see any little men with little parts behind the little screen? Monkeys will fly by as well as witch -bikers. The crew will still be sauntering around looking for a brain, a heart and some courage. Right now it is a booming voice behind a curtain.
Censored,
I’ve got a couple of really tall oaks, and all my neighbors have a bunch of tall trees too. We lost a Bradford Pear, and two 65′ oaks a few years back. We got real lucky we didn’t suffer and property damage. It was pretty wild the BP split three ways, and came within 6inches of two vehicles and the stoop. One of the oaks lost a few limbs in the pool, but luckily didn’t damage the pool. I don’t even want to think of a tree coming down on my roof.
RAR-
I’ve not dared to look outside in fear of what I might see flying by. I did loose a big red ribbon from the front door. 😉
To Everyone, to those who agree with me , to those who respectfully disagree, and to those who insult me, I wish you all a peaceful 2009! May we all search for the common ground that brings us together as opposed to tearing us apart.
This blog, Anti, was Alanna’s baby, and to her, I will be forever thankful 🙂
Chris, did you lose your trees in one of the hurricanes? Our neighbor had two fall on his house but they damaged only the gutters and fascia board. Bradford pears are notorious for splitting – as well as looking gorgeous but smelly stinky while in bloom.
Hmmm. Maybe I should add a wicked witch to one of my BVBL inspired tableaux. This has been a good year for politically inspired art work made from junk and I use the word “art” very loosely. Haha.
Emma – I married a guy from Tennessee. Makes for interesting dialog sometimes.
Del’s lemonade…. Yum. We have Dusty’s Dairy Bar in Westerly that sells that. Best Maple Walnut on earth as well.
I vote we lose the anger in ’09. Tell those stupid radio shows hosts we’re through and they’re through influencing our lives and encouraging rage. Rage is okay, but should be somewhat strategic. 🙂
Censored,
Lost the trees during a horrible wind/thunder/rain storm. I think there were even some tornado sightings in the Manassas area. Red Dawn loved my bradford. I don’t miss that smelly tree. Yes, it was beautiful in bloom, but in addition to that is was a “squirrel haven”. Those rascals(boys) would spend the day flying from the tree to the porch roof top chasing after the girls. The noise drove me almost as crazy as the year that the motorized scooters were buzzing all over WG.
I would love to see some “art” of the wicked witch.
Mando, thanks for proving my point. You have and you will live a more comfortable life when our government is run for and by the people; not for and by the corporations.
I understand that war is profitable. But it is not the only thing that is profitable. War profiteers are not the only employers around here. War profiteering has been the business of our federal government. But it need not always be the business of our federal government.
Mando, if you do not own stock in war profiteering companies or oil companies, you should be glad to see the Bush/Cheney Oil & War Inc. corporation dismantled, and a true democracy take root in its place.
Hey – look at this article. This is due to:
1) PWC VA RULE of LAW
2) Nativist’s Making an Impression
3) HSM/BVBL
4) The 2008 Presidential Election
5) The economy, stupid
___________________________________________________________________
Border-area arrests of immigrants at lowest level since 1976
USA TODAY
Published: 12.29.2008
EL PASO – The number of people caught trying to sneak into the United States from Mexico is at its lowest level since the mid-1970s, and it’s a sign of tougher enforcement and the weaker U.S. economy, officials said.
The Border Patrol caught 705,000 people along the U.S.-Mexico border in fiscal 2008, which ended Sept. 30, new agency figures showed. That’s nearly 2,000 a day and the lowest number since 1976, when 675,000 people were caught entering illegally between San Diego and central Texas.
The Border Patrol has long used the number of apprehensions as an indicator of how many people try to cross U.S. borders illegally. The latest figures show that recent steps – including building a fence, adding more Border Patrol agents and prosecuting more people caught sneaking across the border – are deterring illegal crossings, officials said. The weak U.S. economy also is discouraging immigrants, officials and analysts said.
“We’re definitely making it tougher on them,” Border Patrol Assistant Chief Lloyd Easterling said. “I’m not telling you that we’ve won the war, but we are making headway.”
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said in a Dec. 19 speech that there has been “a collapse in the number of people who come across the border illegally.”
Chertoff cited the weaker U.S. economy and “tough enforcement,” including the addition of 6,000 Border Patrol agents since mid-2006 and the construction of 526 miles of fence along the border since 2007. About 97 percent of illegal border crossers enter through Mexico and about 90 percent are Mexican, the Border Patrol said.
Josiah Heyman, a border expert at the University of Texas at El Paso, said it’s impossible to know why apprehensions are declining. “We know from the past that economic conditions of the U.S. affect migration. Word gets back to Mexico really fast what the job opportunities are or are not,” Heyman said.
He said, “It’s possible we’ve crossed some threshold where it’s risky and expensive to try to get to the U.S. (illegally) so it’s beginning to discourage people.” Illegal immigrants often pay a smuggler about $2,000, Heyman said.
Border apprehensions have fluctuated widely for decades. They peaked at 1.7 million in the mid-1980s, fell to about 1 million in the late 1980s, and hit 1.6 million again in 2000. Border Patrol staffing has climbed steadily to 18,000 agents from 4,000 in 1993.
The Congressional Research Service said in May that the number of apprehensions is “the most reliable” measure of illegal crossings but they do not give a complete picture because “there are no reliable estimates for how many aliens successfully evade capture.”
About 11.9 million illegal immigrants live in the United States, according to an estimate in October by the Pew Hispanic Center.
“You have and you will live a more comfortable life when our government is run for and by the people; not for and by the corporations.”
If you think that’s coming with Obama, ease up on the meds.
“If you think that’s coming with Obama, ease up on the meds.” Perhaps you’re right. So sometime in the future you can come back and say, “I told you so.” In the mean time, we’re just going to have to watch and wait. Nobody can predict the future, especially in this crazy world we live in today.
Chris,
It aggravates me to see people on SSI disability that could work if they had to. My father tried 3 times to get it. He had 2 heart valves replaced and had a severely broken leg that caused him great pain after it healed. They denied him disability each time. When my mom went after he passed away, the judge asked where was my dad, the attorney told him he had passed away. The judge said, well it looks like he was worse off than we thought. It was everything my mom could do to keep from going up to the bench and slapping the $hit out of the judge.
Mando,
I agree with you on that one!!
There are no miracle workers. I guess more people thought Obama would be better for the country than McCain. The jury is out on who is right and who is wrong.
Juturna, does that mean that PWC saved the nation with its resolution? sarcasm button on maximum overdrive.
Medic,
It’s horrible. I know of a couple people within a few years of retiring with similar health conditions that were denied. Yet, they will give it away for decades to lazy a$$ folks in their 30’s and 40’s. This is absolutely senseless to me. I’m sure it did take everything your mom had to keep her cool.
Your court sure looked festive! 🙂
“The jury is out on who is right and who is wrong. ”
I don’t think so. The two parties have colluded against the American people so vociferously for so long that I think it’s clear they’re both wrong for America. They’ve colluded to give us Joe Six-Pack bailing out Wall Street speculators, a mortgage and credit crisis, muddled foreign policies, open borders and degradation of American wages for the sake of the wealthy … both are corrupt, entirely.
I would agree with Rick that both parties are corrupt. I am not so sure Obama is part of that corruption though. If your theory is right, then no one can be president.
I got to the point where I was so sick of the entire election process I didn’t really care who won.
Wow, this thread took off. I, too, would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a Happy New Year. It’s hard to believe that February will be the one year anniversary for Anti. I really appreciate everybody and their continued participation in what usually is a very respectful dialogue, especially considering the heightened emotions that many have on some subject matters. And, let me say that I sincerely look forward to another year of continued discussion.
Happy New Year to everyone. May 2009 be the best year of everybody’s life!
Okay, I just heard a song that I had to play for everyone!!!!!!!
My computer is sick and I had to come over to my neighbor’s house to post it!!! LOL!!! They are over at OUR house helping us celebrate the old year and looking forward to the new year TOGETHER. I Love My Neighbors! 🙂
THE SONG HAPPENS TO BE KID ROCK’S “ROLL ON”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T211rf5aZnQ
ROLL ON EVERYONE 🙂 LOL