phil1336

I agree with most of Imawhosure and "Ron Pauls" comments. There is plenty of guilt to be shared by (both) major political parties. They are both beholden to K Street Lobbyists and not to the constituents that sent them to Washington to represent their interests and districts. Both Parties promised that the Social Security Trust Fund would be kept in a "Lock Box" which would never be touched except to provide payments for future benefits paid for and promised. There is however a complete disconnect and difference between the extremes on the Right & Left. You may not agree with their principles, theories, propositions nor philosophy but lets examine the "Messengers". Is their a objective comparison between what Louie Gohmert, Blake Farenthold, Michelle Bachmann, Sarah Palin attempts to argue on the Right to someone on the extreme Left such as Bernie Saunders, Al Franken,etc? The problem lies with three major shortcomings of our Government and none that I see that will be addressed in our lifetimes. First, the lack of a Parliamentary form of Government that either forces (compromise) or forces new elections to be held without waiting 2, 4, or 6 years to change Government if you can`t build and form a coalition. Term Limits since the majority of the electorate have been convinced that re-electing life time Politicians with tenure will result in bringing home the Pork and Bacon to their State and lastly, the folly of Primary Elections which simply encourages non electable fringe candidates that appeal to their (Base) in the Primaries but seldom if even can muster 51% of the Vote to win in the general Election. Simply hold (one) General Election with endless Candidates and either have a run off of the two top vote getters if no one gets 51% of the Vote or simply award the Election to whoever garners the largest percentage of Votes cast. None of the above will happen so unfortunately, we are pretty much stuck with the status quo. PS: While Obama haters are quick to point out his use of a "Teleprompter" when giving speeches like (most) Politicians routinely use rather then writing "talking points" on your hands like Sarah Palin chose as her preferred method, Ron Paul must stop giving Speeches where he continues to plagiarize other people`s past statements, word for word.. If he wants to be taken as a serious Candidate, hire a new speech writer and if your going to attempt to use someone else`s past remarks, mix it up a bit and either add or delete a few words!

I thought that the 2015 Mustangs that were destined for Export other then to possibly Canada, like Britain, Germany, Western Europe, Australia, and China were going to delayed until 2015. Maybe the "right hand" drive? Hope JOB 2 starts sometime in Sept to get those Convertibles rolling.

True, but Cubans have (both) "Naturalization & Immigration covered. First, they are given Automatic permanent legal residency if the reach our Shore before being apprehended. Green Card Status, no questions asked. Guess who goes to the head of the line if and when they choose to upgrade their Status to Citizens? Nice to have a "double Pass", huh? Also, only Cubans are allowed unlimited (legal) Travel to visit Cuba on special Chartered Flights where non-Cubans must acquire a special difficult to obtain Treasury Department License to permit travel there for Educational, Cultural, Humanitarian reasons or risk a major Fine and Prosecution if caught, even if they fly there through Counties such as Canada, Mexico, the Bahama`s England, and basically every other nation in the World but the U.S. Most think that the "Israeli Lobby" had clout? Compared to "The Miami Delegation"?

Guess (Chevy) is still searching for a Pencil,Sheet of Paper, and a Calculator to "crunch" the numbers I provided him on (my) Ford C-Max Hybrid experience. I`m still "on Topic" I hope?

Not allowed in, huh? Really? Your obviously (not) from South Florida, Miami-Dade, nor Cuban, correct? Thanks for the (info) but it does not apply to (anyone) of Cuban descent that is able to (illegally) get their "Dry" Foot unto the sand of a Florida Beach. Our Wet Foot- Dry Foot Immigration Policy applies (only) to Cubans. Nationals from (any) other Country in the World, including Canada,England, France, Germany, Italy must apply using your Downloaded Format. Thanks to our 50 year Embargo and Isolationist policy towards Cuba and Castro, this madness will continue forever just as long as both Democrats & Republicans court the pivotal Cuban American Vote in Miami that tilts the results of National Elections.

Name calling and racial comments cannot solve either Budget nor Social Security funding nor spending issues (but) it has everything to do with Political posturing. Without some sort of shared sacrifice with reasonable balance (not equally, of course) between the "Halves" and the "Have Nots", no solutions will be achievable.

Chevys: You got a Pen and a Sheet of Paper...You do the math! I bought a 2013 Ford C-Max SE Hybrid July 31, 2013. MSRP of $26.565 including (Delivery). I used X-Plan Pricing bringing the the price down to approx. $25K (+ -). Ford offered an extra $1000 Cash Rebate along with a Special Promotional extra $750 Cash Discount Offer I received by Mail. So, subtract another $1750 from $25,000, now we are closer to say, $23,250? Ford then Mailed (apology) Checks to Buyers to compensate for EPA inflated Fuel Economy Estimates. First one arrived last Fall for $550 and one arrived last week for an additional $475. Still calculating? Add in 36 months financing at .09% through Ford Credit. Now, considering the comfort, size, and performance of the C-Max Hybrid compared to a similar Vehicle, say a Ford Escape SUV, neither one being a (true) off the road Vehicle but sharing similar practicality and use. I have got a lifetime MPG average of 38.9. I drive in constant stop and go city driving and travel at 75 MPH on both I95 and the Florida Turnpike, not exactly "hyper-miling" behavior. Frankly, I have never bothered to (learn) the correct way to achieve optimum Hybrid Fuel Economy and really don`t care to. Being able to fill up once every 2 or 3 weeks while driving a decent size vehicle that has plenty of power, brakes and handles well is all I`m interested in. Averaging a constant 39 MPG regardless of driving conditions, to me, is enough reward. Please get back after you`ve sharpen (your) pencil a few times.

Spoken much like former President George W Bush. I assume you classify yourself (also) as a Compassionate Conservative"?

I know its "Off Topic" but since Posters have brought up the new F Type Jag Vert, you Gentlemen seem to be overlooking one important factor in regards to this drop dead beautiful F Type Jaguar Convertible. Whats this nonsense and talk about "entry-price, price comparisons, depreciation", etc? These Automobiles aren`t marketed to those that carry a "Lunch Pail" to work or "Punch a Time Clock"! Here in Palm Beach, FL, Braman Auto Sports has a (waiting list) for 200K to 400K Bentley`s, Rolls, Ferrari`s, Maz, Lamb,Borg,etc. I overheard a Owner of one of these high-end Vehicles saying to someone in the Service Department (Lounge) that "money in itself has (no) intrinsic value, quite frankly, the analogy was comparing it to a roll of Toilet Paper! You don`t pay much attention to it or dwell on it as your sitting on the Toilet assuming there is a (full roll). Only when staring at an empty dispenser displaying simply the (cardboard tube) does Toilet Paper suddenly seem to have any importance or value.

You wanna know what "Sad" is? I`ll tell you. "Sad" is not being able to order a 2015 Mustang Convertible until JOB2 whenever in the future that happens to be. While some are awaiting their VIN# for Vehicles Ordered back on May 20th, those of use desiring to order a Convertible are not even in the Unscheduled Order Bank yet. Now (that) is SAD!

Here in the Sunshine State, Florida, led by Gov Rick (Lets Get To Work..Part-Time Minimum Wage Service Jobs) Scott, but, lets not get picky, he wants to (Gut) Citizens Homeowners Insurance, the State run Insurance issuer of last resort by uncapping what are already the highest Homeowner Insurance Premium rates in the Nation. Sure, High Hurricane risk, high Premiums, right? He figures, by encouraging more competition, "Free Marketplace" abolishing the Insurance Rate Commission, more Companies will be writing Policies, wrong! Existing Companies are shedding and dropping Policies yearly. Guess who Gov Scott has allowed to be insured by the State run Citizen Homeowners Insurance. Everyone living in Mega-Mansions that are situated Ocean Front. High Risk? Kinda, you think? Has Gov Scott initiated "Citizens" to (only) insure private owner occupied dwellings up to say an valuation Cap of say 500K, Nope! Citizens insures (un-insurable) Properties worth 10`s of millions of dollars where otherwise, these Millionaire and Billionaire Homeowners would need to purchase homeowners insurance on secondary and third market places like "Lloyds of London" etc at (much) higher Premiums. Just taking care of those that helped put you in Office. No surprise "Americans For Prosperity" and the billionaire Koch Brothers are in Florida (helping) Scott out with his re-election bid! "Spending is Spending and it (all) needs to be cut, right? Just like in the Classic Novel, "The Animal Farm", the Pig declares, "All Animals are created Equal, that is, but (some) are "more" equal then others. That includes, those "unfortunate" enough to be living in Ocean Front Mansions.

Tell me if you would, do you also take issue with the waste,fraud, and reckless overspending that the Defense Department also better described as our Department of War has attributed to? Ok for our Military Industrial Complex to be given a "Blank Check" to keep the World safe. Just ask Dick Cheney or our other Neocons and Warfare Queens that (never) wore the Uniform or served.

Bet you don`t mind the Federal Governments (intervention) with Private Sector Banks with FDIC Insurance protecting your Assets from badly run Institutions after the 2008 fiasco.

Good Point! I would consider your suggestion once Millionaires and Billionaires have the "Cap" removed on the Income they pay FICA and MediCare Taxes on too! There is no "Cap" on Federal Taxes, why on Social Security and MediCare Taxes? If you`d like to refuse Healthcare and Medical treatment for the un-insured and the under-insured through our MediCaid Programs, have a better solution other then letting them die a slow death Curbside? Single Payer Health Insurance, National HealthCare, Socialized Medicine, Never! Only of course if your (over) 65 and then, MediCare is fine. I got (mines) mentality.

When your eligible for both Social Security and MediCare we will see if (you) will join the "give-me`s" or refuse (your) Entitlement in the effort to reduce the National Debt.

It appears that you only see a "Spending" Issue. Increased "Revenues" are needed to provide needed and desired Government services unless you want to see Bridges collapse and return to driving on Unpaved Roads. Do you think the Nations Interstate Highway Program could be built "today" with the constant Battle Cry of "Cut, Cuts, and more Cuts"? Want to see the results of having low Taxes and a weak Central Government? Look at Haiti. Nice Infrastructure there, huh?

You forgot to mention that led by one of the Republican Super Stars, Senator Ted Cruz, they caused the Federal Government shut down that simply (added) to our National Debt, proved and accomplished (Zero), other then doing some idiotic grandstanding, the equivalent to an Adult food fight!

Despite the fact that you and I in the Past and probably, in the future, will be unable to agree on virtually anything, I agree with your Post 100%. It`s true, regardless if your a Lap Dog Liberal Progressive such as myself or a Conservative Teabagger, the fact that the Senate is supposed to represent their respective States and the House is supposed to represent the People from their respective Districts, they merely act as Lobbyists for the Corporate interests that helped get them elected to office. The system is hopelessly broken and thanks to the recent Supreme Court ruling on the People`s United decision that Corporations are people too and have the same rights, our Republic will (never) be the same. The billionaire Koch brothers with their Super Pac, "Americans For Prosperity", I`m curious, is Membership open to anyone other then the top 2%ers?

I`ll take (mine) thank you as a Convertible, in Race Red with Option # 13D "Spoiler Delete" and adding Option # 66W Spare Tire!

You really think that would improve the "quality" of those selected to serve in the Senate if we let individual State Legislatures do the picking? States such as TX and FL have by "popular" Vote sent the likes of Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio to the Senate. Hows that working out for you? For Congress, what about All-Stars like Louie Gohmert and Blake Farenthold or Ted Yoho and John Mica. Returning to pre-17th Amendment days, the situation would only get worse.

The (real) Solution to much of America`s problems is our Constitution and the fact that we chose (not) to adopt the Parliamentary form of Governance that virtually every other Democracy in the Free World uses today. We needed to be (different ) then Britain when we broke away and we are now unfortunately stuck with lame Politicians that remain in Office for 2-4-or 6 years. Lets simply Elect Lobbyists and cut out the Middleman? The other easy fix would be to eliminate Primary Elections. All Elections, local, county/parish,state, and national would be General Elections. A massive free for all with endless Candidates. If no (1) Candidate gets 51% of the popular Vote, a run-off Election is held between the (2) top Vote getters, simple. This will eliminate 99% of the wacko fringe Candidates that can Win Primaries by throwing tons of Red Meat to their (base) but can never Win in the General Elections.

Regardless of what position you might have on either (de-criminalizing, or legalizing Pot for either Medical use, Recreational use, all or none of the above, it makes no sense to send non-violent people to Jail and have them carry the stigma of being convicted felons for the rest of their life, is just plan asinine and stupid. Thanks to the new business model of Pay for Profit privately run Prisons, they need near full occupancy. If need be, supplement the extra Cells to White Collar Criminals. Bad enough we need to find Wars to keep our Department of War and its Military Industrial Complex such as Halliburton happy, we now need to appease or privately run Pay for Profit Jails.

I am anxiously awaiting a call from my Dealerships Sales Manager of when I can order my 2015 Mustang Convertible, simple. I was hoping to take delivery before this Winter. Honestly, I`m only pissed off at Political discussions posted in the Off Topic Blog. I`m assuming its Commodities and Supply issues holding back Convertible assembly. Cheers!

Thank you for interjecting that important footnote. We had a "hands-off" approach to Saudi Arabia because of the Bush connection and Exon-Mobil which is one and the same.