So, how's that "hopey-changey" thing workin' out for ya? ;^)

Amazing Revkin Hard at Work

Seeded on Mon Nov 23, 2009 6:59 PM EST (The American Spectator)

On Friday the New York Times' house global warming author Andy Revkin, reporting on the breaking (Revkin would prefer it be braking) global Climategate scandal, said repercussions "continue to unfold" and that "there's much more to explore, of course."

politics, global-warming, andy-revkin, emails, lying-liars, settled-science-my-hind-leg, consensus

Is Tim Geithner tough enough to handle America's banks?

Seeded on Thu Nov 19, 2009 6:48 AM EST (Telegraph)

Remember the AIG bonus furore? It was mid-March, the global economy was in the depths of recession, and AIG – the insurer American International Group that once sponsored Manchester United – revealed that it was on the verge of paying $165m in bonuses to staff at the division …

politics, geithner, aig, tough-enough, poor-negotiator, rocks-in-his-head

Demi Moore's W Cover: Worst Photoshop Ever?

Seeded on Wed Nov 18, 2009 9:42 PM EST (Yahoo.com)

Everyone knows by now that magazines extensively airbrush the stars on their covers, and usually the celebs appreciate a little touchup and wouldn't want it any other way.

technology, photoshop, demi-moore, mystery-of-th-missing-hip

Palin angered by 'sexist' Newsweek cover

Seeded on Tue Nov 17, 2009 8:20 PM EST (Yahoo! News)

Originally published in the August 2009 issue of Runners World, the photo features the former Alaska governor in short runner's shorts.

politics, newsweek, sarah-palin, media-bias, sexism

The Greg Craig Resignation: Obama Goes to the Mattresses

Seeded on Mon Nov 16, 2009 7:42 AM EST (The American Spectator)

"[Bauer] knows where all the bodies are buried, and this indicates that there is something amiss with this White House, or at least someone is nervous about what is going on," says a former Obama transition team adviser.

politics, obama, rahm-emanuel, anita-dunn, greg-craig, white-house-counsel, bob-bauer

A Message from jsbach

Tue Nov 10, 2009 5:40 PM EST

Ellie, thank you for your lovely email. Your words are truly felt and I hold them as they are meant to be held. I mean, how can I properly thank people like you, Juno, Bruce and Gary, for being the first people to help me begin the ride of my life.

Continue reading this entry ...

jsbach, good-bye, meta

And For Other Purposes: Dispense with DC Weasel Wording?

Tue Nov 10, 2009 2:44 PM EST

One is hard-pressed to find any legislation coming out of Washington that excludes the phrase: and for other purposes. The phrase is legalese for "Pork." And it's been around awhile. William Polley describes "and for other purposes" this way:

Continue reading this entry ...

politics, legalese, congress, pelosi, health-care-reform, pork, stimulus, and-for-other-purposes

House Roll Call: Health care

Sun Nov 8, 2009 12:25 AM EST

By The Associated Press, Only on msnbc.com (Clipped by ElliePhat)

The 220-215 roll call Saturday by which the House passed a Democratic-written health care bill.

Continue reading this entry ...

house, rollcall, health-care, politics

North Carolina Students Sweep Regional Finals of Nation's Premier High School Science Competition for Research in Biochemistry and Computer Science

Seeded on Sat Nov 7, 2009 11:28 PM EST (Breitbart)

Regional Winners for 2009 Siemens Competition Announced at Georgia Institute of Technology; Will Move on to National Finals and a Chance at $100,000 Lanair Lett Wins Top Individual Prize; Neil Shah and Katie Shpanskaya Win Top Team Prize

us-news, siemans-science-competition, north-carolina

Augur's Carrot Cake!

Wed Nov 4, 2009 3:28 PM EST

By Augur Well (Clipped by ElliePhat)

I have been terribly remiss for too long now for not posting this baby here on the Vine. But most especially for my dear friends here among the vines! I am deeply sorry I haven't done it sooner, and only hope the act redresses the wait!

Continue reading this entry ...

entertainment, carrot-cake, dessert, food, cake, entertaining

Lessons from the 2009 election result

Seeded on Wed Nov 4, 2009 1:22 PM EST (Washington Examiner)

My Wednesday Examiner column, written as the 2009 election returns were coming in, stands up pretty well. But let me add some observations written as the course of the elections became clearer.

politics, barone, pelosi, 2009-election, house-majority

Lines in the sand: what conservatives should take from the loss of NY-23

Seeded on Wed Nov 4, 2009 12:37 PM EST (True/Slant)

So let's see – in Virginia a life-long social conservative, Bob McDonnell, ran as a pragmatist and beat the tar out of Democrat Creigh Deeds. Exit polls show a majority of Virginians still support President Obama.

politics, scozzafava, owens, hoffman, ny-23, conservative, republican, 2010

163

Chinese giant to buy US oil assets: company

Seeded on Wed Nov 4, 2009 8:05 AM EST (Breitbart)

Norwegian energy group Statoil said on Wednesday it was selling some of its oil assets in the United States to China's state-owned CNOOC, marking the first step by a Chinese energy major into the US market.

world-news, statoil, china, norway, united-states, oil, globalism, china-owns-us-oil

Paranormal Legislative Activity

Seeded on Sat Oct 31, 2009 9:53 AM EDT (Sunlight Foundation Blog)

Some really weird stuff went down when Sunlight gave a Congressional bill and a camera to a local couple. Please watch this and share. Totally unexplainable. WARNING: Scary Stuff!

politics, satire, health-care-bill, congress, sunlight

Socialized Medicine: Reagan Lashes Out From The Past

Seeded on Thu Oct 29, 2009 10:12 AM EDT (The Inside Straight)

This is both amazing and sad.

politics, reagan, obama, health-reform, false-empathy, socialism, statism

Household Debt Can Hasten Recovery, When It Goes Unpaid

Seeded on Mon Oct 26, 2009 6:27 AM EDT (Wall Street Journal)

The pain of millions of people across America losing their homes hardly inspires confidence in the future. But in a brutal way, it could be restoring the financial health of the U.S. consumer faster than many recognize.

us-news, household-debt, gnp, recovery, economics, financial-crisis

Obama Races for Cash

Seeded on Mon Oct 26, 2009 5:49 AM EDT (Wall Street Journal)

When President Barack Obama swings into Miami Beach Monday night to raise money for Democratic congressional candidates, it will be the 26th fund-raiser of his maiden year in office, compared with the six appearances by his predecessor, George W.

politics, obama, democrat, fundraisers, perpetual-campaign

The End of Federalism: How Obamacare Will Impact States

Seeded on Sun Oct 18, 2009 1:44 PM EDT ()

Mandated Expansions: All the health bills before Congress depend on a massive Medicaid expansion to expand coverage.

politics, obamacare, medicaid, federalism, states-rights, economics

121

Andrew Breitbart: Taking On the 'Democrat-Media Complex

Seeded on Sat Oct 17, 2009 3:12 PM EDT (Wall Street Journal)

Mr. Breitbart, 40, grew up in Hollywood, though his parents weren't in show business.

politics, andrew-breitbart, big-hollywood, big-government, alternative-media, conservative

Just for Fun: I'm Not Old. Really. I'm Not.

Seeded on Thu Oct 15, 2009 2:44 PM EDT ()

Recently, I have started telling myself that I'm not old; thinking if I say it enough I will begin to believe it. So far, it hasn't worked.

humor, aging

First stimulus jobs numbers unveiled: Costs more to create a job than the job pays

Seeded on Thu Oct 15, 2009 1:10 PM EDT (CNN)

The White House unveiled Thursday the first hard data on how many jobs the $787 billion recovery act has created.

politics, stimulus, job-creation-costs-more-than-job-pays

145

Rage at Government for Doing Too Much and Not Enough

Seeded on Tue Oct 13, 2009 7:52 PM EDT (Wall Street Journal)

Americans have historically swung between anger at big business and anger at Washington. This year their rage has targeted business and government with equal fury.

politics, angry, wall-street, government, democrat, republican, tea-party

Peak Oil: A Theory Running Out Of Gas

Seeded on Fri Oct 9, 2009 8:38 PM EDT ()

One year ago, Congress responded to the chorus of Americans calling for more American energy by lifting the ban on offshore drilling. For the first time in a quarter-century, it became legal to drill for more oil and natural gas reserves offshore.

politics, peak-oil, newt-gingrich, energy-policy

Obama's Nobel Prize: Membership Has Its Privileges

Seeded on Fri Oct 9, 2009 5:59 PM EDT ()

Dear BARACK OBAMA : Congratulations! On behalf of the selection committee, I am pleased to announce that you have been named a 2009 recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, in recognition of your tireless efforts to STRENGTHEN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMACY AND COOPERATION .

politics, iowahawk, satire, obama, nobel-prize

Why Do Public Schools Suck?

Seeded on Fri Oct 9, 2009 3:05 PM EDT (big hollywood blog)

What's most amazing to me, is that even among liberals there are very few people who can justify an anti-school choice stance.

politics, school-choice, steve-crowder, school-vouchers, teacher-unions

210

– Show More

Comments & Feedback

Thanks for the notice about my article. I was wanting to expand on it anyway. I too enjoy following your contributions on the vine. Always articulate, witty, well informed, and dead spot on point.

— Mark-702026

Thanks for accepting my friend request. It's really hard to be the voice of "reason" on some of these issues and being new to newsvine, sometimes I backslide and resort to sarcasm. I'm going to try to be more like you...

— kjmatisz

i have recently declared war on these lefty liberal dickwads, who attempt to advance their "progressive" agenda in a decidedly sexist way. i think we have that in common to a degree. you might be interested in my blog as well. the address is on my bio, visit and leave a comment if you have something to say!

— factcheckme

I like your new avatar :)

— Simplistic Reality

Hi Ellie,

I wish I had read through your comments in Velma's seed before I made a couple of MY comments. Most of mine were intended to simply "bludgeon" through the name-calling and back-patting of what I actually consider "fodder" for my reality stick. I could be nicer, but WHY?

You have QUITE a "sharp stick" of your OWN to poke 'em with! Also, you are LARNING me stuff, always a GOOD thing!

Thanks for being intelligent!

Take care!

— DTansy

Ellie, your Obama avatar is disturbing and funny(at the same time), like one of those nervous laughs....!

— DEATHNELL J.

Ellie, thanks for stopping by. I rarely am uninterested in the subjects you choose to discuss and always enjoy your perspective on the issue at hand. You may delete this comment if you wish. My article is listed under bailouts in my comments and seeds section but I'm not sure why all my articles have disappeared from my "front page". Maybe you could enlighten me as to how it might have occurred?

— Socrates1

Keep after them! I like your style and your comments. I like the We the people stimulus package.

There's a video on u tube that's funny but true as well. The Mr. Jefferson song. Don't know if you pay attention to Mike Church, but he wrote it. He cracks me up.

Anyway keep up the good fight!

— smpcompdude

ElliePhat I read your story and it brought tears to my eyes because I went through the same thing with my folks who are now deceased. I will continue to keep you in my prayers. I am originally from N.C. but live in Ga. now. I remember making the trips home all those years to help with mom and dad. So glad I did it too. Take care and God Bless you Pat

— Pat-396358

ElliePhat, you and I are on completely different ideological sides of the fence but I enjoy debating with you. On more than one occasion you have required me to look deeper at my held beliefs, I hope that you continue to do so.

Nice to have "met" you, I look forward to further debates.

— Blearc

Ellie- thanks you for the nice visit and comment. Enjoy your input, too. Freedom of thought and the pursuit of learning matters. These good conversations brighten my day.

— angela593

A better Vine-friend is hard to come by. Merry Christmas, Ellie!

— E.D.Kain

Ellie, I love the way you share truth sprinkled with a sense of humor! Thank you for being a bright spot wherever you go!

— average mom

Oh Ellie. There aren't enough adjectives in the world to describe how I feel about you. So, let me simply state, you are a woman of true spirit and heart. Your writing is informative, honest yet never hurtful. It is a pleasure to have you here on Newsvine and in my life.

May God Bless.

Susan

— jsbach

I love reading your comments. I like how you think! :) Cheers.

-Eric

— Simplistic Reality

Ellie,
Thank you for accepting my friend request. I have seen your comments on several articles and admire your intelligence and your courage in speaking the truth. I am a Christian who usually votes republican (after studying the issues) I look forward to joining you in many conversations in the future.

— formermormon

You are truly a breath of fresh air. Logical, articulate and a joy to read.

— Pat N

I am delighted to welcome you as my new friend and the first to post a comment. I love having new friends, and we all need them.

I too am new at Newsvine and am trying to understand how things work here.

You could call me a William F. Buckley, Jr. conservative, but no where near as erudite, nor talented. Blessings.

— Charlie Courtois