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Re: Types of People Post on this Forum

Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 3:55 pm
by Pete92FS
Mr.72 said "The "progress we so desperately need" is not the same thing as an overreaching federal government taking over the formerly-free market one piece at a time. The "progress we so desperately need" is to stop Obama and congress from further destroying this country's economy and undermining the very purpose of our Republic's form of government.

The "progress we so desperately need" would have been to let banks that took bad risks fail. Let the car companies that can't figure out how to make a profit fail. Those who made this country great did so by finding a better way to do things, not by begging the taxpayers to bail them out when their plans and businesses failed. "


:iagree: Below is the latest from the Houston Chronicle. I guess this is what these guys deserve for taking the bailout money but I think Obama is stepping way out of bounds demanding people take pay cuts.

Administration plans big pay cuts at bailout firms
By MARTIN CRUTSINGER Associated Press
Oct. 21, 2009, 3:29PM
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Print Share Del.icio.usDiggTwitterYahoo! BuzzFacebookStumbleUponWASHINGTON — The Obama administration plans to order companies that received huge government bailouts last year to sharply cut the compensation of their highest paid executives, according to a person familiar with the decision.

The seven companies that received the most assistance will have to cut the annual salaries of their 25 highest-paid executive by an average of about 90 percent from last year, said the person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because it has not been announced.

This person said today that the Treasury Department will announce the deep pay cuts within the next few days.

Kenneth Feinberg, the special master at Treasury appointed by Obama to handle compensation issues at the seven firms getting exceptional assistance from the government's $700 billion financial bailout package, is making the pay decisions.

The seven companies are: Bank of America Corp., American International Group Inc., Citigroup Inc., General Motors, GMAC, Chrysler and Chrysler Financial.

Total compensation for the top executives at the seven firms will decline, on average, by about 50 percent, according to the person familiar with the administration's decision.

At the financial products division of AIG, the giant insurance company which has received taxpayer assistance valued at more than $180 billion, no top executive will receive more than $200,000 in total compensation, the person familiar with Feinberg's plan said. The administration also will warn AIG that it must fulfill a commitment to significantly reduce the $198 million in bonuses promised to employees in its financial services division, the arm of the company whose risky trades caused its downfall.

The pay restrictions for all seven companies will require any executive seeking more than $25,000 in special benefits — things such as country club memberships, private planes and company cars — to get permission for those perks from the government.

Feinberg's decisions on pay come after administration officials voiced sharp criticism in recent days of the plans of Wall Street firms to pay huge bonuses at a time when the country is still coping with rising unemployment and the effects of the recession.

Obama senior adviser David Axelrod called the bonuses “offensive” on Sunday.

“They ought to think through what they are doing and they ought to understand that a year ago a lot of these institutions were teetering on the brink and the United States government and taxpayers came to their defense,” Axelrod said in an appearance on ABC's “This Week.”

Re: Types of People Post on this Forum

Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 4:06 pm
by Abraham
Well, hold on there pardner, maybe I'm a liberal after all, well in spirit anyways.

Dark Rum: Oh yeah, love it. My current favorite after Venezuelan Pamplona is ron Cenenario Fundacion twenty year old - from Costa Rica and not available in the states. Hand down the best siping rum in the world.

Bush Mills Single Malt Irish whiskey 16 year old - another favorite

Macallan is one of my very favorite single malt scotch and the 12 year old is just fine

1792 Bourbon aint bad for sipping, but the rough and ready Knob Creek remains one of my favorite bourbons

Friday I'm picking up a bottle of Starka, a brown vodka. I'm not a vodka fan, (with the exception of a Bloody Mary) but when I heard about this being of sipping quality and few us U.S. types knowing about it, well, I had to try it.

Now, (hic) get offa ma lwn...

Re: Types of People Post on this Forum

Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 4:12 pm
by OverEasy
My 'late' $.02:
Quote from original post: "I hope the that the core readers of this forum know that there are very diverse opinions and views out there and to be respectful and tolerant of alternative views. We may be needed if and when a serious threat to our rights is presented to us. Please don't alienate us."

You just need to get comfortable with people not liking you. I don't let the people that don't like me bother me. If I did I'ld be bothered a lot. If I have to listen to your opinion, politely, then you have to listen to my opinion. Fair enough? My house, my rules, your house your rules, TexasCHLforum, Mr. Cotton's rules. In my opinion nobody is entitled to respect, we all must earn it.

Anyway, welcome to the forum! It's OK with me for anyone to express their opinion. If I don't agree with it you will probably never know it anyway.

I don't send Christmas cards to everybody I know, only to the people I like!

Regards, OE

Re: Types of People Post on this Forum

Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 4:50 pm
by mr.72
FWIW, I am not exactly emotionally involved in this debate. I know good and well that my political and ideological positions are more often than not counter to the common opinions on this forum, and any forum, and even included amongst my own close friends and family.

It's a good point that if you are going to come in with unpopular opinions, you should expect those opinions to be criticized whenever you express them. I expect that if I were to share how I really feel about most of these issues, you guys would hammer me on it. So what? If my own beliefs or opinions cannot withstand some attack by people on an internet forum, then they are not exactly worth believing IMHO.

But like was said before, just because your opinions are unpopular or criticized, it does not mean you are unwelcome on this forum because of those beliefs or opinions. You are more than welcome to share, however there is no requirement as far as I can tell that we all have to conform to your beliefs in order for your participation to be welcomed in this forum.

And in case any of you want to mistake my ideas for Republican ideas, don't even bother. I am probably as extreme of a fringe libertarian as you could ever find. But I will make every effort to discuss the issues based on reason and logic rather than based on emotion.

I am sorry I was drawn into a conversation about the "A" word.

Re: Types of People Post on this Forum

Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 4:53 pm
by Oldgringo
android wrote:

How about let's legalize marijuana, gambling and prostitution?
Capital idea, sir! Let's do that and keep our Texas money in Texas. :txflag:

Re: Types of People Post on this Forum

Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 5:56 pm
by dicion
Pete92FS wrote: Print Share Del.icio.usDiggTwitterYahoo! BuzzFacebookStumbleUponWASHINGTON — The Obama administration plans to order companies that received huge government bailouts last year to sharply cut the compensation of their highest paid executives, according to a person familiar with the decision.
That's what they get for begging for Uncle Sam to bail them out. They gave away their freedoms in how the companies were run, and how people got paid, and how the capitalist system worked for them in exchange for some 'security'.

"Those who would sacrifice freedom for temporary security deserve neither." -Ben Franklin

Yet that is exactly what these companies did. I feel no remorse for them. I feel sorry for their employees that had nothing to do with it and are getting slammed, but the management that was directly responsible for the situation they got themselves in, and the acceptance of the 'bailout' funds, I feel absolutely no pity for. Oh, you guys messed up, ruined a company, and had to beg for money to keep it afloat? And now you're complaining about paycuts? Too freaking bad. Cry me a river.

Re: Types of People Post on this Forum

Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 6:22 pm
by joe817
Fiddlesticks. I check in this morning and see this thread is half way down on page 1. Then I come back late this afternoon and see it's gone to 5 pages, AND there is finally something I can comment on, and now the complexion of the thread has changed again.

Does nothing ever remain the same? :lol:

I love scotch, but I'm a conservative....scotch drinker. I prefer the Iverson's Scotch at $11.99 per litre! How's THAT for fiscal responsibility? :cheers2:

Re: Types of People Post on this Forum

Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 6:27 pm
by TLE2
You can have and express any opinion you want, within the confines of the board's rules. :rules:

Just expect to hear opposing views! If you hold your views to be truths, then expect them to be challenged.

We all voted for somebody, have views on war, capital punishment, etc. etc. You will find many who disagree and a few that agree.

My views? Not now, not this forum, although I will tell you I'm passionate about 1911's, so don't go there! :mad5

Re: Types of People Post on this Forum

Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 6:30 pm
by dicion
TLE2 wrote: Just expect to hear opposing views! If you hold your views to be truths, then expect them to be challenged.
Now now, I'm pretty sure that pretty much all of us at least hold SOME Truths to be self-evident... :thumbs2: :patriot:

Re: Types of People Post on this Forum

Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 9:35 pm
by The Annoyed Man
frazzled wrote:Clearly this thread needs to deviate and pronto to this:

Single malt scotch is fine. However I prefer a nice dark rum, or lighter rum and water myself.
Once again, we must respectfully disagree! Rum is for headaches. But Lagavulin lowland single malt scotch is the nectar of the gods. :smilelol5:

It has a deep, peaty, smokey flavor... ...real sippin' whiskey.

Re: Types of People Post on this Forum

Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 9:42 pm
by Pete92FS
dicion wrote:
Pete92FS wrote: Print Share Del.icio.usDiggTwitterYahoo! BuzzFacebookStumbleUponWASHINGTON — The Obama administration plans to order companies that received huge government bailouts last year to sharply cut the compensation of their highest paid executives, according to a person familiar with the decision.
That's what they get for begging for Uncle Sam to bail them out. They gave away their freedoms in how the companies were run, and how people got paid, and how the capitalist system worked for them in exchange for some 'security'.

"Those who would sacrifice freedom for temporary security deserve neither." -Ben Franklin

Yet that is exactly what these companies did. I feel no remorse for them. I feel sorry for their employees that had nothing to do with it and are getting slammed, but the management that was directly responsible for the situation they got themselves in, and the acceptance of the 'bailout' funds, I feel absolutely no pity for. Oh, you guys messed up, ruined a company, and had to beg for money to keep it afloat? And now you're complaining about paycuts? Too freaking bad. Cry me a river.
Don't get me wrong; I wasn't complaining about them taking pay cuts - my point is that I don't think "ANY" president has the right to regulate salaries. Some of these clowns need to be fired without the benefit of their golden parachutes but that should be up to the stock holders and board of directors; not the POTUS.

Re: Types of People Post on this Forum

Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 10:00 pm
by longhorn_92
The Annoyed Man wrote:
frazzled wrote:Clearly this thread needs to deviate and pronto to this:

Single malt scotch is fine. However I prefer a nice dark rum, or lighter rum and water myself.
Once again, we must respectfully disagree! Rum is for headaches. But Lagavulin lowland single malt scotch is the nectar of the gods. :smilelol5:

It has a deep, peaty, smokey flavor... ...real sippin' whiskey.
Would that be the Lagavulin (16 yr) or the Lagavulin (12 yr -Special Release)?...

I definitely prefer the Lagavulin 16...
might I also suggest the Laphroag (15 yr) - it comes from the Islay Region (as does the Lagavulin).

:thumbs2: :thumbs2:

Re: Types of People Post on this Forum

Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 10:14 pm
by The Annoyed Man
longhorn_92 wrote:
The Annoyed Man wrote:
frazzled wrote:Clearly this thread needs to deviate and pronto to this:

Single malt scotch is fine. However I prefer a nice dark rum, or lighter rum and water myself.
Once again, we must respectfully disagree! Rum is for headaches. But Lagavulin lowland single malt scotch is the nectar of the gods. :smilelol5:

It has a deep, peaty, smokey flavor... ...real sippin' whiskey.
Would that be the Lagavulin (16 yr) or the Lagavulin (12 yr -Special Release)?...

I definitely prefer the Lagavulin 16...
might I also suggest the Laphroag (15 yr) - it comes from the Islay Region (as does the Lagavulin).

:thumbs2: :thumbs2:
That would be the 16 year old. I've never even tasted the 12 year old. Does the Laphroag have the same pronounced smokiness as the Lagavulin?

Re: Types of People Post on this Forum

Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 10:22 pm
by chabouk
Charles L. Cotton wrote: I received a PM from a member who no longer feels welcome at TexasCHLforum because he describes himself as more liberal than what he believes to be the average TexasCHLforum member.
....

I truly believe that many who claim that “nothing but conservative opinions are welcome here” are upset that their personal opinions are not more widely shared here on the forum. But this is not a matter of their opinions not being welcome, they simply are not in the majority.
Maybe someone who is more drawn towards a collectivist worldview isn't very comfortable being an individual who stands apart from the crowd.

My estimate of the demographic here (at least those who have spoken up about it), is that it's overwhelmingly Republican, socially conservative, and Christian. Someone who self-identifies as "liberal" might not feel comfortable in such a crowd, but from what I've seen of this forum, they won't get shouted down for having a different opinion.

Oh, and as to the liquor question: The Macallan 12yo is great, but if your pursestrings are as Scottish as your tastes, you'll go for the 1.75 liter Famous Grouse for the same price. ;-)