Quoting pampl: It's weird hearing a summary of the blogosphere pre-Palinnost. It's like opening a time capsule from some dark, distant age.

Heh, yeah. I haven't started listening to this yet, but ... Timing, boys, timing. ;^)

What could possibly be more important than the celebration of Sarah Palin announcing her pending resignation? "Take the CalWorks program, for example, which is designed to give low-income Californians a helping hand, temporarily, as they get back on their feet. Of the approximately 525,000 cases that currently involve cash assistance from CalWorks, only 22% are meeting the minimum program requirements. That means 78% aren't trying to get on their feet at all. They're not working, not looking for work, not seeking job training, not performing community service and not pursuing an education.
So here is a simple, common-sense reform: Make sure every Californian getting a CalWorks check has to check in just twice a year so a supervisor can keep tabs on their progress. If they make zero progress, their benefits run out after two years rather than the current five. By doing this, we could save $850 million over the next two budget years, and ultimately $1.5 billion per year -- and we could also save the CalWorks program........

........In 1999, state employees' pensions were increased to a point where some employees could retire after 30 years, at as young as 50 or 55, and continue to earn 90% of their highest salary

i wouldn't want to have to listen about palin.....she's even less important than michael jackson. anyway, the new rolling stone expose says goldman sachs is lobbying for cap n trade and al gore started an investment group in anticipation of being able to steal money from investors......wait! i mean so they can "invest" in cap and trade. hmm.....

Quoting harkin: While the Palin derangement gang is jerking themselves into a lather ...

Interesting phrasing from one of the loudest complainers about language on this site.

Matt, Isn't it interesting that the "Liberals and partisan Democrats" seem to maintain a scepticism of THEIR OWN LEADERS....and continue to ask the hard questions? Do Republicans-Conservatives in the media tend to keep this distance from their leaders ? From my perspective, the conservative media seemed to be very, very loyal to George W.

Boring. Fuck it, Matt. Let's rock.

http://bloggingheads.tv/diavlogs/208...0:43&out=10:49 Aren't they sorta opposites?

Quoting bjkeefe: Interesting phrasing from one of the loudest complainers about language on this site.

You mean I've descended to the level of the gang of 12 once in almost a year? Good heavens! [but 10 points on the thorough research - lol] Now that you've got past my (admitted) lack of class please feel free to deal with the substance of what Arnold said. The state of CA is reeling from 35+ years of buying votes from special interest groups, most of them Democratic, new teachers are being laid off while those with senority have untouchable benefits, the employees unions are trying to raid the coffers set up to provide assistance to special needs kids, many public employees are retiring with benefits (not including full medical) that are the equivilant of $2mil in the bank, do-nothing slugs are kicking back and getting benefits without even bothering to perform the minimum requirements, and all the democrats can say is that Prop 13 must be overturned, state property sold and fees increased. When you're done celebrating the resignation of a woman who had the nerve to not slaughter her handicapped fetus (or describing the baby as less-than human), let me know

Quoting harkin: You mean I've descended to the level of the gang of 12 once in almost a year? Good heavens! [but 10 points on the thorough research - lol]

I'll decline the points, though I do appreciate your offer. Hard as this may be for you to believe, it didn't take much to see the title of this diavlog, be reminded of one of your past meltdowns, and hit the Google with a comparatively uncommon keyword as a bonus simplifier. That was but one example of your history of being a priss and you know it. You would not have reacted so vehemently had not my jibe struck a vein of truth and you know that, too. As for the bug up your ass about California and how it supposedly ... what, shows how Obama is going to singlehandedly wreck the entire country? ... I'm not even going to bother. Even leaving aside your hysterical extrapolation, trying to blame the entire mess in your state solely on the Democrats and public service employees is as unhinged as blaming the collapse of the housing bubble on Those Irresponsible Greedy Poor People Who Tried To Live Beyond Their Means. Railing about "special

Hard to argue with that

I think a blurry line implies that there are not a hard set of rules that qualify or disqualify someone from being a "journalist", but by accepting blurry or fuzzy boundaries you increase the need for transparency so other people looking on (i.e the consumer of the media product) can decide whether they think the relationship is compromised or acceptable. whereas if the rules are well defined, you don't need transparency beyond the facts of whether someone fits the criteria or not.