DocJay - The system has been broken for awhile.  Here's the thing, we don't know what things cost until the procedures have already been performed.  2 years ago my youngest son got in the way of a swinging bat by his older brother (it was an unintended accident but was the fault of my youngest, not my oldest).  It was a gory accident.  We drove him to the emergency room which was just a few miles away.  He received excellent treatment.  We were there for about 90 minutes and his lip was sewn up.  It's not a perfect fix but there is no way it could have ever been fixed perfectly.  When all was said and done the gross charges for the emergency bill was just shy of $10,000.  Now, as I said we had excellent service.  But was that worth $10,000 for 90 minutes of care?  Thank God we have insurance and a HSA.

http://politi.co/12f0Zvu

Saying and believing that "this is Nixon" is one thing.  Proving it is another.  That takes time, patience, and preparation.  

I've read in a couple of places today that the phone taps were legal.  I don't know.  But it appears to be in debate.  

The head of the IRS has now been fired and this deserves more investigation.  However, having a strong IRS is necessary in the overall sense.  I'm a banker and I see plenty of examples every year where people are clearly not being honest with their taxes.  And many times those people are caught and punished.  But often they are not.

It's not looking like Benghazi was a cover up.  It looks like it was a collosal case of too many cooks in the kitchen.

The president didn't rule out military help.  The military did.  And I believe the military has it's reasons that will prove to be adequately supported by logic.  

The Republicans may have an opportunity here.  They need to step it up.  That's all I'm saying.  I'm not defending Holder.  Anybody can badger the witness but then it will just be a cheap sideshow with nothing to show for it in the end.

Are you sure this wasn't done as recommendation from the school's attorneys?  There are childhood disorders that include "defiant" as one of the characteristics.  I may be wrong, but I'm guessing the word "defiant" needed to be taken out and more specific language added.

DocJay - N0, I was not aware of that.

I think the arrogance factor from both parties was on spectacular display.

It appears to me that Issa is only fighting this battle for political points.  If he was really in it to "win" then he'd be much more calm, respectful in demeanor and better prepared.  Anybody sitting in the seat Holder was in would've responded the same way given the delivery from Issa.  If the Republicans are going to succeed with these actions then they have to nail it on the front end.  Going for short-term political points won't get them to the end game they want. 

It appears to me that Issa is only fighting this battle for political points.  If he was really in it to "win" then he'd be much more calm, respectful in demeanor and better prepared.  Anybody sitting in the seat Holder was in would've responded the same way given the delivery from Issa.  If the Republicans are going to succeed with these actions then they have to nail it on the front end.  Going for short-term political points won't get them to the end game they want. 

Skype.  I can call and have wonderful, long and relaxing conversations with my aging parents which are 4 hours away.  My kids can easily stroll through and have a visit with their grandparents too.  Eases my mind that I can see and talk to them so easily.

I miss the childhoods that many of us had.  I'm 48.  When I grew up and wasn't in school, my friends and I would go for miles and miles on our bikes and play in the woods and build tree houses.  We'd be back by dinner time or dark depending on the ruling of the parents for that day.  The freedom was wonderful.  Kids today don't have that freedom.  Kept much closer to home and more highly managed.  

Unfortunately, the mutual disrespect from both sides isn't helping the country.  I don't blame Holder for fighting back.  Issa's comments required the appropriate response.  

Unfortunately, the mutual disrespect from both sides isn't helping the country.  I don't blame Holder for fighting back.  Issa's comments required the appropriate response.  

Unfortunately, the mutual disrespect from both sides isn't helping the country.  I don't blame Holder for fighting back.  Issa's comments required the appropriate response.  

DocJay: 20 years ago I would probably have answered yes, they are trashy.  Life experience, however, has shown me that many, many people have tattoos and many of them are great people.  Being a banker I have met many people who "look like" they have money and many people who "don't look like" they have money.  Appearance really doesn't tell the story.  One of my best customers, most financially responsible and least beholden to debt is a highly talented tattoo artist that runs a few businesses.  He has one of the highest credit scores I've every seen.  I do my best not to judge people by their outward appearances anymore.  That has come with age and experience.  I'm a hobbyist musician and I don't have any tattoos.  Although earlier in my life when I thought I wanted to pursue being a musician I thought I "needed" a pierced ear.  I never did it.  That would have been an interesting discussion item in my early interviews for banking positions.  Being in a conservative industry and in the south, it might have greatly hindered my employment opportunities.  However, I will never know.

Great post Fred.  Where is the box I can check for "like"?

I'm a 48 year old Democrat, which I know is not the usual case for a Ricochet subscriber.  I'm a banker.  My wife is a public school librarian.  We have 2 boys, a 15 year old and an 8 year old.  The first half of my childhood was in Seattle, Washington and the second half was in Hot Springs, Arkansas.  I went to a liberal-leaning college, Hendrix College, in Conway, Arkansas.  I was raised as a Lutheran (in Seattle) and then a Presbyterian (in Hot Springs and Tyler, TX) and am now a Methodist.  I've lived in Northwest Arkansas now for almost 6 years, which is one of the most conservative parts of the state.  However, the college town of Fayetteville has it's share of liberals.  I grew up watching all the coverage of Vietnam, NASA space flights, repeated coverage of the 1960s assassinations, Watergate, etc.  I have voted for many people of both parties over the decades.  However, since the Bush / Kerry election I have not voted for a Republican.  I don't expect this to be permanent but have grown very concerned about the extremes that seem to dictate Republican policy now.

Great post and discussion.  This is why I subscribed.

I thought he was hilarious in is appearance. I liked the "we have windows" line. The fact that he as a good sense of humor and appeals to non-Republicans too appears to be offensive to some. Not me.