64 responses to “Sandbox – 30jan16”

1. 

   Russ Steele

   30 January 2016

   I read The Union Editorial and when I got to the pull quote, I almost did not read the rest of the text. What a clueless response to an issue that has been discussed in Other Voices, Letters to the Editor and Columns for years. What dream world does The Union Editorial Board live in?
   This issue has always been about the lack of rural representation. Having to deal with regulations put in place by congressional representatives that may have never set foot in rural California other than to pass through to someplace else.
   I will give you an example. When the California Public Utilities Commission does broadband service surveys with the Public Policy Institute of California, they do not survey any citizens in the rural counties, with the exception of Placer County, and then only the populated western half of the County. This gives policy makers a distorted view of the real world conditions in rural counties. Legislators using PPIC data would come away with additional distorted views.
   Most of the rural counties are conservative with Republican representatives. Rural representation which has little, or no power to deal with the liberals from all the blue Counties that dominate the Legislature in Sacramento. It is hard to get a seat at the table when who gets invited to the table is controlled by liberal Democrats.

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2. 

   Russ Steele

   30 January 2016

   A Former Editor of The Union writes on his blog:
   Who cares about the SOJ steering committee response? This is why The Union does not have a good Op-Ed page. It should be focusing on more pertinent issues in our community than seceding from the state of California. It is a “non issue” for the vast majority of us.
   Yea, I remember the Measure S “non-issue” and how it was going to pass without any problems, because the majority of the community supported the Measure. How did that work out?
   Why does the Board of Supervisors in some rural Counties not want to let the public to have a voice on the issue? A vote on the ballot. Why does the Former Editor of the Union what to stifle public voices on this issue? Simple deduction, they are both afraid of the answer.

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3. 

   Don Bessee

   30 January 2016

   Russ, the FUE was also on the wrong side of history in the LaMalfa and McClintock congressional races in 2014. Who remembers Art Moore? Nobody. 😉

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4. 

   Bill Tozer

   30 January 2016

   We all need to investigate the pros and cons of the SOJ.
   You know, if I lived in The Santuary City By The Bay (or LaLa LA) and was a liberal pinko, I would be puzzled with the notion of SOJ. Whatz the deal? We own the state, we are bluer than blue, all our friends are Enlightened and life is pretty good. We are on the cutting edge of PC, no need to even discuss legal immigration because illegal immigration is allowed, and the wages are pretty good. We have everything we want, including city workers going through our garbage cans looking for the Nazi who threw in an empty glass bottle. Cite the bastard, make them pay.
   We have special laws and our beloved Pelosi’s district is exempt from Air Quality standards. Heck, we write the laws, all the laws, and you second class “citizens” are too stupid to know what is best. And if we do not know, 3,000 miles away in Washington has the answer and force of law to help us micromanage your hick lives, youtoothless wonders.
   It takes just one county in Oregon to control the other 52 counties. The county that contains Portland. Last election in Ore. had every county in the state vote red, except one, which voted blue and took the won the whole enchilada. It is worth repeating that Seattle and Portland are more looney left than Frisco Land is. Portland is now King, followed by Seattle. No wonder Eastern Washington, NE Oregon, N. Idaho and W. Montana want to form their own state as well. No representation of local issues in the no clue State Capitals. Frisco may be in Northern California, but it ain’t nothing but an isle in a sea of red.
   Hey, doesn’t the Klamath Falls area want to join up with a SOJ as well? Whatz up with dat??
   This is why common sense will never prevail in States controlled by a few counties or even one. Makes for a tryannacal center of power. Majority rules with no minority rights.
   http://patriotpost.us/posts/40354

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5. 

   George Rebane

   30 January 2016

   Nevertheless, we are informed by progressive betters that we should just let democracy work within the historical jurisdiction that is currently called California. Funny how the Left countenances their minority voting blocks protesting the sins of the majority, however if other minority voting blocks not loyal to them attempt the same thing, then they’re told to shut up and get the Democracy Lecture.

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6. 

   Gary Smith

   30 January 2016

   If the State of Jefferson is a loony waste of time it will go down in defeat. If the people think there is something to it, then it will pass. The SOJ supporters followed the law so now let democracy work. I really bothers me when I hear people say it should not be on the ballot, this is America. It will cost the County very little unless the extra measure being on the ballot pushes some ballot types to an extra ballot card. Even then it is worth it, that is how democracy works. There are plenty of ballot measures I did not agree with that had every right to be on the ballot. You don’t like it, vote against it.

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7. 

   George Rebane

   30 January 2016

   GaryS 722pm – Exactly. I understand that the looney local Left again maintains that if they are not interested in letting the people vote on SoJ, then no one should be interested in it. This is the longstanding socialist cum communist policy that started being implemented in Europe with Lenin and the Bolshevik Revolution. It has never ceased to be the aim of the Left to use that argument to shut off public debate.

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8. 

   Gregory

   30 January 2016

   The loony left (like Pelline) will see anything the right does as loony.
   SOJ will not be going anywhere but I’d not expect to convince you guys to give it up. Stranger things have happened. Personally, I expect Friedrichs v CTA is more likely to balance the DP v GOP dynamic in California in the next few years than SOJ. Another Scalia or two would also be useful for the GOP… if you guys don’t blow your chances in November.

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9. 

   fish

   30 January 2016

   Now you’ve done it…..jeffy is talking to himself again.

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10. 

    Russ Steele

    30 January 2016

    Gregory@09:17 PM
    You may be right, the political pendulum will swing to more GOP control in Sacramento in the next few years. This could dampen the need for the SOJ. Politics will follow the path of least resistance and the path to a SOJ is not going to be easy.

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11. 

    Gregory

    31 January 2016

    Here’s how Jeffie puts it:
    January 30, 2016 at 9:32 pm
    This post from Gregory Goodknight is a classic: “The loony left … will see anything the right does as loony.” No, Gregory. As I said many people who voted against Measure S also are opposed to SOJ.
    The appropriate counter would have been some past comment of Pellines regarding a local or national Right wing initiative that he didn’t ridicule. I doubt I’ve ever seen this.
    Ideologues like Gregory see the world in black or white when it is gray. So much for a Harvey Mudd education.
    This is one of Pelline’s standard attacks … done from behind the moat he hides behind, free from any rebuttal in front of what passes for his friends. Repeated often because he doesn’t have anything else in his quiver. The man doesn’t know me, he has no clue about what I have done or am doing, or what a science education entails. I’ve also never lorded my education over anyone; that was an invention of one of the Lickspittles who also has no self control.

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12. 

    Bill Tozer

    31 January 2016

    Sure, the SOJ may be DOA, but no harm kicking around the idea. This is, after all, the Sandbox in addition to being Dr. Rebane’s blog. A safe zone if you will.
    Sort of reminds me of some ideas that are not allowed to be kicked around on today’s college campuses. Shut it down! The free exchange of ideas here is alive and well, much to the horror of those who claim to champion truth, justice, and the world’s largest apple pie.
    The mechanics of a creating new State carved out of an existing state is way down the road and at first glance almost insurmountable.. Pensions, building new gov’t offices, new college campuses, existing CA infrastructure such as our water systems, contracts with other states and municipalities, etc. appears enormous. But, let’s at least kick it around, as we do concerning the future through the eyes of AI for example.
    Great minds talk about ideas. Smaller minds talk about events. Ok, had to throw that in.
    “Can’t never accomplished nothing.” Is this too scarey to even look upon??

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13. 

    fish

    31 January 2016

    Posted by: Bill Tozer | 31 January 2016 at 07:24 AM
    Sort of reminds me of some ideas that are not allowed to be kicked around on today’s college campuses.
    Or local parks in your area…..
    Never denied my baseball sized brain Bill…..it allows me to recognize others like myself.
    Off to finish painting the garage.

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14. 

    Bill Tozer

    31 January 2016

    Hmm. Maybe “Can’t never accomplished anything” makes more sense upon reflection. It’s shorthand for the American Dream, American values, the idea of America. No need to fear ideas.

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15. 

    Bill Tozer

    31 January 2016

    The looney left are sneaky bastards. I give them that.
    http://nypost.com/2016/01/31/this-was-all-planned-former-ig-says-hillary-state-dept-are-lying/

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16. 

    Todd Juvinall

    31 January 2016

    What has the Pelline character actually accomplished for his fellow man? Nothing of course. And no one likes him either. Gregory has at least done things and used his education well. His writings are well done and though sometimes I can’t understand some of it, as well as George’s it shows me and others they are very intelligent. But I am just a simple guy who takes people at their word. No nuance. Pelline is not intelligent. GeorgeR and Gregory prove their so much mor than the FUE. I would be behind the moat too.

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17. 

    George Rebane

    31 January 2016

    re Gregory 917pm & RussS 1010pm – I must disagree on the ‘swing to GOP’ scenario for the simple reason that I’m not smart (imaginative?) enough to come up with a plausible path back to GOP control or even neutralization of the currently progressive Sacramento and the state’s rabid love affair with socialism. What possible arguments could convince the millions of voters addicted to the government tit to opt for promises of a future in which they will have to do with smaller government checks, work more in an economy with no jobs for them, and generally fend for themselves in ways that have been bred out of their worldview?
    A more plausible scenario is for the state’s welfare fraction to grow while voting for more liberal la-la land promises like subsidized ‘green jobs’ that won’t materialize. We can’t even elect a Republican governor as the last RINO in office proved, never mind attempting to better the 39 Dem vs 14 Repub districts that in this state can only go one way. Look at the coastal idiots and new illegals moving into these mountains.
    No, were I betting man, I’d give better odds for the SoJ movement’s success than the conservative minority regaining a seat at the table as is The Union’s counsel to the patiently dimwitted. Absent progress toward splitting the state, it’s easier to join those who set their affairs in order and moved to more inviting pastures, and there put up a stand for sustainable liberty.

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18. 

    Peter Van Zant

    31 January 2016

    Hi George:
    Thanks for the new title. This column usually contains lots of negative descriptions of the dreaded ‘left’. But I accept the new one.
    Signed,
    Peter Van Zant
    Progressive Better

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19. 

    George Rebane

    31 January 2016

    PeterVZ 1117am – With all due respect Peter, wear it proudly.

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20. 

    Todd Juvinall

    31 January 2016

    The SacBee had the article on the young folks of America who voted for that “progressive” Obama and now they are crapping their diapers as the IRS is now after them for the fines. Gotta love those sneaky progressives. Pass it so we can know what’s in it.

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21. 

    fish

    31 January 2016

    Posted by: Peter Van Zant | 31 January 2016 at 11:17 AM
    Yes……an apt title indeed. Don’t let yourself be tripped up by a homonym though. Progressive Bettor is really the more appropriate label.

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22. 

    Todd Juvinall

    31 January 2016

    I consider the “progressives” as “limousine liberals”.. OK for them but not for others. All for affordable housing but not in their neighborhood. All for a homeless shelter in your neighborhood but not theirs. All for having the government give your money to others but not theirs. And when you see how mush money they give to charity in comparison to conservatives you will see their total vacuous life and its meaning.

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23. 

    George Rebane

    31 January 2016

    ToddJ 1248pm – Agreed, and this fact bears repeating. Progressives contribute little to charities because they strongly believe that the function of private charities should be carried out by government bureaucracies. A more direct explanation would be ‘why give away my money when I can get the government to take and give away your money?’

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24. 

    Don Bessee

    31 January 2016

    Speaking of take and give away, who would have thought that an old white self proclaimed socialist with gout (of all things for a socialist to have) would be tied with madam liar liar pantsuits on fire on the eve of Iowa? Can you imagine the odds you could have gotten in Vegas on that. Saw madam liar liar pantsuits live in Council Bluffs Iowa a minute ago, the crowd behind her on stage was not just lacking enthusiasm they looked like they all were on Ambien. LOL

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25. 

    Todd Juvinall

    31 January 2016

    GeorgeR, exactly. I experienced the “limousine liberals” when I tried to build a affordable housing project in the early 90’s. I never heard of the term until the County Housing guy used it as he phlegmed them as he spoke. The “progressives” defeated my project and no project in the county has been done since. So I know who those louts are and have no use for them.

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26. 

    Bill Tozer

    31 January 2016

    Liberals view of the world per Bill Maher. Love him or hate him (no in between), you got to admit he sometimes gets things spot on.
    http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2016/01/30/bill_maher_liberals_would_have_same_intolerance_for_muslims_christians_at_home.html

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27. 

    jon smith

    01 February 2016

    TJ 1/31 13:30
    “….when I tried to build a affordable housing project in the early 90’s. I never heard of the term . . .. The “progressives” defeated my project and no project in the county has been done since.”
    Well, Todd. In Truckee alone nearly 900 affordable housing units have been built since 1985. I didn’t bother Googling the number built on the west end of the county. I’ll leave that for you to do. You were a building contractor and hadn’t heard of HUD housing in the early 90’s? I find you very hard to believe. Or maybe you are just that far in dark.
    http://affordablehousingonline.com/housing-search/California/Truckee/

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28. 

    Todd Juvinall

    01 February 2016

    OK western Nevada county. Sorry.

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29. 

    George Rebane

    01 February 2016

    jons 923am – you and ToddJ might make sure you’re both talking about the same thing. ‘Affordable housing’ is a political enterprise usually enforced by the government gun. Do not confuse it with ‘low cost housing’ which is a free market offering by the developer. Low cost housing is built to satisfy a market demand, while affordable housing is built by diktat for subsidized consumption in a government mangled market.

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30. 

    jon smith

    01 February 2016

    GR
    And then there is blend of the two. In Crystal Bay a partly government subsidized affordable housing tract was built behind the Crystal Bay Club. When it was all said and done the starting price was around $400k per unit. Most were flipped immediately after the two year required residency was met. I believe the contractor was Robert Laxalt out of Carson City (undoubtedly a relative of Paul’s). He made a killing.

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31. 

    Todd Juvinall

    01 February 2016

    True GeorgeR. I was trying to build free market housing affordable to teachers, cops, etc. The local libs including Paul Emery and his pals defeated it.

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32. 

    Paul Emery

    01 February 2016

    odd
    The “progressives” did not defeat your project, the conservative Board of Supervisors did. I was there when Dave Tobiasson decided to oppose the project ensuring defeat and you pulled it from the agenda rather than being publicly defeated. the whole thing was a piece of crap ramshackle development with no school bus service in the neighborhood. It was something like 23 units in around three acres or something like that.

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33. 

    Todd Juvinall

    01 February 2016

    Paul Emery. sorry but your memory is kaput. Dave was for it. It lost 3-2 after you and your pals trashed it and went door to door jinning the opposition You are a limousine liberal and you should embrace your hypocrisy.

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34. 

    Todd Juvinall

    01 February 2016

    Oops, I am missing the action as well. I withdrew the project and there was never a vote. Age I guess. Anyway, you and your ilk defeated a free market affordable housing project and all for political purposes. The savior was the defeat of your candidate. Now over all those years you and your ilk cry about “affordable” housing. You really don’t understand what a hypocrite you and they are do you?

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35. 

    George Rebane

    01 February 2016

    ToddJ 1131am – “free market affordable housing project”?? – an oxymoron. Did you mean ‘free market low cost housing project’?

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36. 

    Todd Juvinall

    01 February 2016

    Yes thanks. I wanted to prove I could do it but the libs and the government would have none of it. And it was only 23 units! Apartments are the libs favorite. No ownership for the people and jam them into 20 units per acre.

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37. 

    Gregory

    01 February 2016

    Nice ghetto of affordable housing at the top of broad street..nearly on hwy49; looks like it was designed by a committee of urban planners thinking that caught the feel of an area they didn’t grok

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38. 

    Todd Juvinall

    01 February 2016

    And it is on the old burn dump!

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39. 

    Scott Obermuller

    01 February 2016

    “In Crystal Bay a partly government subsidized affordable housing tract was built behind the Crystal Bay Club.”
    then –
    “I believe the contractor was Robert Laxalt out of Carson City (undoubtedly a relative of Paul’s). He made a killing.”
    Good ol’ crony capitalism. Our tax dollars at work to line the pockets of the wealthy and well connected.
    I know you lefties claim to not like it, but I seem to always see the left supporting these schemes.
    Sen DiFi’s husband is rolling in tax payer money and the left just yawns.
    Total hypocrisy.
    How about the ‘low income’ housing units off of Searls north of Ridge? They let them bend the rules so ‘low income’ folk could have affordable housing. Power boats parked in the street because there’s no room to put them on the lot. Must be nice to be ‘low income’.
    Govt interference in housing is what creates the whole ‘low income housing’ mess. Then we tax payers get hit with the bill to clean up the mess.
    And don’t even get me started on rent control.
    https://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20140430/new-york-city/rent-stabilized-apartments-are-being-occupied-by-millionaires-records-show
    And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
    We could have a free market, but no – too many rich kids might have to pay their own way.
    And the ‘progressives’ lap it up every day like honey.

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40. 

    Jon

    01 February 2016

    Man, the anger and bitterness followed you to Idaho, Scotty! 🙂 Glad you’re not around here anymore with that attitude.

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41. 

    Don Bessee

    01 February 2016

    Its baaaacck.

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42. 

    Scott Obermuller

    01 February 2016

    Jon at 8:25 checks in. I notice you can’t dispute anything I have written, Jonny-boy.
    “Glad you’re not around here anymore with that attitude.”
    Must be that ‘inclusive’ BS you progressives claim you have.
    If the left didn’t have double standards, they wouldn’t have any standards at all.
    Good night Jonny-boy. Have your mommy figure things out for you in the morning.
    Not anger and bitterness, just moving away from the darkness into the light. Good to know you progressives enjoy lining the pockets of the wealthy.

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43. 

    Jon

    01 February 2016

    Hey Don, only one thing to say tonight 🙂
    GO TED CRUZ! I love it.

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44. 

    Todd Juvinall

    02 February 2016

    And go Bernie “jon”. Even Ted will crush him.

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45. 

    Todd Juvinall

    02 February 2016

    And so it begins. I think this has been a fun political season so far and I hope we have many more twists and turns. Sanders and Clinton in a dead heat. Cruz on top of Trump. Rubio coming on. Now on to New Hampshire. We get to see a wide variety of views from the unbridled capitalism of Trump to the pseudo communism of Sanders.
    We all get to see the lack of education from our colleges though. The colleges apparently scorn the gifts of capitalism and praise the socialism. What could explain the rabid applause of Bernie Sanders by the students? Since he will tax them into oblivion once they start a career and he will send that money to Zimbabwe. We are allowing the colleges to pollute their minds and ruin the next generation. If we even have one.

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46. 

    Russ Steele

    02 February 2016

    IN CASE YOU MISSED IT YESTERDAY: BREAKING: Hillary Clinton Put Spies’ Lives at Risk: It’s not the ‘nothing-burger’ Clinton allies have tried to portray — lives are literally at stake.
    Discussions with Intelligence Community officials have revealed that Ms. Clinton’s “unclassified” emails included Holy Grail items of American espionage such as the true names of Central Intelligence Agency intelligence officers serving overseas under cover. Worse, some of those exposed are serving under non-official cover. NOCs (see this for an explanation of their important role in espionage) are the pointy end of the CIA spear and they are always at risk of exposure – which is what Ms. Clinton’s emails have done.
    Not only have these spies had their lives put in serious risk by this, it’s a clear violation of Federal law. The Intelligence Identities Protection Act of 1982, enacted due to the murder of the CIA’s station chief in Athens after his cover was blown by the left-wing media, makes it a Federal crime to divulge the true identity of any covert operative serving U.S. intelligence if that person has not previous been publicly acknowledged to be working for our spy agencies.
    People really go to jail for breaking this law. John Kiriakou, a former CIA officer, recently emerged from two years in prison for unauthorized disclosure of classified information, including exposing the identity of an Agency colleague who was serving under cover. . . .
    Hillary’s emails also include the names of foreigners who are on the CIA payroll, according to Intelligence Community officials. Since it can be safely assumed that several foreign intelligence agencies intercepted Ms. Clinton’s unencrypted communications, this directly threatens the lives of the exposed individuals. “It’s a death sentence,” explained a senior Intelligence Community official: “if we’re lucky only agents, not our officers, will get killed because of this.” (Agents are foreigners working for U.S. intelligence while officers are American staffers.)
    CIA and the entire Intelligence Community are in panic mode right now, trying to determine which of our intelligence officers and agents have been compromised by EmailGate. At a minimum, valuable covers have been blown, careers have been ruined, and lives have been put at serious risk. Our spies’ greatest concern now is what’s still in Hillary’s emails that investigators have yet to find.
    She should be in jail, not running for President!

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47. 

    Walt

    02 February 2016

    Only a Clinton could rig a coin toss…. And how did the “experts” in weather forecasting
    trip over their dicks and fail to call for SNOW in PV?? I know,,, I know…. It’s AGW.

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48. 

    George Boardman

    02 February 2016

    Re Todd’s 7:33 a.m.:
    College students rooting for Bernie Sanders is no more significant that Iowa Republicans going for Ted Cruz. College students have a well documented history of backing political losers (think John Anderson, Gene McCarthy, and George McGovern) much like Iowa Republicans back losers (think Mike Huckabee, Rick Santorum).

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49. 

    fish

    02 February 2016

    Obamacare scores another kill!
    http://newsok.com/article/5476144

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50. 

    Todd Juvinall

    02 February 2016

    : George Boardman | 02 February 2016 at 10:08 AM
    You are correct. However when the oldsters brainwash the youngsters into socialism/communism they have an advantage. When you have to work and pay taxes things change. How those mind full of mush can clap ardently for someone who will take their money and stuff is beyond my comprehension.
    Santorum and the others never said they would do that so there is a huge difference. You may not like those R’s for their religions.

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