Prediction Thread

[Dan]

My gandmother died from emphasema. My grandfather, a doctor, had half a lung taken out due to lung cancer and kept smoking. My father died of bladder cancer that quite possibly could be attributed to both his smoking earlier in life and his later use of smokeless tobacco.

So I equate smoking with death and more specifically tobacco with death. Not saying that is how it goes for everyone but I am pretty sure my genes aren't made for smoking.

[elmerfudd]

My gandmother died from emphasema. My grandfather, a doctor, had half a lung taken out due to lung cancer and kept smoking. My father died of bladder cancer that quite possibly could be attributed to both his smoking earlier in life and his later use of smokeless tobacco.

So I equate smoking with death and more specifically tobacco with death. Not saying that is how it goes for everyone but I am pretty sure my genes aren't made for smoking.

There is definitely no good thing associated with tobacco use. You're genetically blessed.

[Dan]

There is definitely no good thing associated with tobacco use. You're genetically blessed.

Nope. Just smart enough to be able to learn from other people's mistakes.  ;)

Based on my family history I shouldn't smoke or drink to excess. So I don't. When you watch someone you dearly love die from emphasema or cancer then it leaves a mark on you and it makes these kinds of choices a lot easier.

Not saying what anyone else should do. Just explaining why I think the way I do and why I make the personal choices I make regarding this stuff.

Unless I am being forced to take financial responsiblity for your healthcare, then your personal choices aren't any of my concern.

[elmerfudd]

Nope. Just smart enough to be able to learn from other people's mistakes.  ;)

Based on my family history I shouldn't smoke or drink to excess. So I don't. When you watch someone you dearly love die from emphasema or cancer then it leaves a mark on you and it makes these kinds of choices a lot easier.

Not saying what anyone else should do. Just explaining why I think the way I do and why I make the personal choices I make regarding this stuff.

Unless I am being forced to take financial responsiblity for your healthcare, then your personal choices aren't any of my concern.

But you are being forced to pay for others' healthcare.  Even without medicare and medicaid you would be.  People show up in hospital emergency rooms all the time with no insurance, no nothing.  They get treated because it's the law.  Paying patients pay for that.  Just like shoppers pay for shoplifting.  A fellow who overeats and ends up weighing 550 pounds and develops life threatening diabetes and heart disease as a result but has no ability to pay for his own care is going to get at least some care until he dies, and your (and my) dime will help cover it. 

[Dan]

But you are being forced to pay for others' healthcare.  Even without medicare and medicaid you would be.  People show up in hospital emergency rooms all the time with no insurance, no nothing.  They get treated because it's the law.  Paying patients pay for that.  Just like shoppers pay for shoplifting.  A fellow who overeats and ends up weighing 550 pounds and develops life threatening diabetes and heart disease as a result but has no ability to pay for his own care is going to get at least some care until he dies, and your (and my) dime will help cover it. 

I know. I was trying to be sarcastic. I guess sometimes sarcasm isn't easy to pick up online where you can't hear tone of voice or see facial expressions. But I was saying that bit before about taking financial responsiblity for others with my tongue planeted firmly in my cheek.

[Tennenbaum]

My gandmother died from emphasema. My grandfather, a doctor, had half a lung taken out due to lung cancer and kept smoking. My father died of bladder cancer that quite possibly could be attributed to both his smoking earlier in life and his later use of smokeless tobacco.

So I equate smoking with death and more specifically tobacco with death. Not saying that is how it goes for everyone but I am pretty sure my genes aren't made for smoking.

As a paramedic, a majority of my calls were related to smoking. It was heartbreaking and disturbing. So much preventable suffering. I would never wish a smoker's death upon anyone.

[arpad]

Well this thread's certainly drifted a bit but since I'm not a smoker but despise tobacco Nazis I'm just going to ignore all the tobacco talk and make predictions.

Republican majority expands in the House and the Republicans take over in the Senate. I'd like to think the White House will fall to the Republican candidate but that race is too dependent on factors which are entirely unpredictable.

Who would have thought a seasoned pro like Pa Bush, the incumbent, couldn't handle a challenger like Bill Clinton? But between Clinton's adroitness and Pa Bush's presidential pose of being above the hurly-burly of political campaigning Clinton won. I would've given odds against that outcome.

And Elmer? It's not the Tea Party but the Tea Party movement.

The former's a third party which in the midterms the Democrats had hoped to fan into a real, third party to help undermine the Republican push. Against all probability the Tea Party movement never coalesced into a third party somewhat to my surprise.

The latter is a sentiment with a label affixed to it which has resisted the self-important conceit of forming a third party and thus undermining the principles which drew them together. Like I wrote above, somewhat to my surprise.

My feeling is that the Tea Party movement represents a sentiment that's been building in strength for some time and finally grew strong enough and focused enough to require a name. That sentiment saw off the likes of Arlen Specter and other RINOs who were no longer representative but had hung on due to the advantages of incumbency.

Lefties, quite understandably, were happy to offer advice about the inadvisability of giving in to the rightward movement demanded by the sentiment that's come to be called the Tea Party movement and old-hand Republicans who came to their political maturity when it was tough to be anything other then a RINO were happy to listen. It was the performance of Tea Party-inspired candidates in the midterms that changed all that because like I've written before, in politics success is the just about the only factor that matters. The Tea Party movement was successful electing candidates so room had to be made at the table.

And just to rub salt in the wound, I don't think the Tea Party movement has achieved its full measure yet. Ron Paul's continued strength in polls suggests strongly that there's still more then a little way left to go before the Tea Party movement starts to become satisfied with the state of the nation.

[Dan]

Republicans will take the senate, expand their lead in the house and win tye presidency. Obama is damaged goods. Obama is a 1 term president. The economy has ended his political career.

[elmerfudd]

I'm laying up a good supply of crow.  If I have to eat it all, so be it.  But if you need a source, give me a ring. 

[Dan]

I'm laying up a good supply of crow.  If I have to eat it all, so be it.  But if you need a source, give me a ring. 

Ask yourself why you care so much about razzing people 18 months from now.  ;)

[quiller]

Elmer, if you think we aren't razzing you enough NOW, then we'd be pleased to pick up our pace, to while-away those 18 months until Obama's certain defeat.

[elmerfudd]

Elmer, if you think we aren't razzing you enough NOW, then we'd be pleased to pick up our pace, to while-away those 18 months until Obama's certain defeat.

Knock yourself out.

[Cryptic Bert]

How could Obama win? He can't..

[Cyborg]

I've been really busy. Storms, power outages and then my Computer died. Right now I pecking on a 2002 antique I had.

Predicting the future at this point is very chancy?


The zero jobs this month was not good. Traditionally there are some holiday temp hires, but the Libs have cut Xmas in half.
I think the big question is the AAA+ downgrade with S&P threatening another downgrade in Nov. That's where Obama's promise of shovel ready may come true. Shoveling  out economy off the cliff.

If that happens the Cost of everything goes up some. China could dump Treasuries if we see any Govt. recognized acknowledged inflation. Their investment becomes a drag and money loss. I think our dollar has already lost $ .18 in the last two years during the majestic reign of scarecrow Ob.
There is (-) zero outlook for the home market for the next year. With the promised 2000 new tyrannical regulations OB and his WH asylum are trying to pass - some through the EPA, FCC, Energy and Health Care, Consumer Safety etc: all serious job killers the future  looks black economically.
Sep 11 is coming and the question for me is. will some Islamic entrepreneurs try to spontaneously contribute to getting an early pass to the land of 72 Virgin boys and girls. There have been dozens of attempts in the past year - most of which the Media / Press has either totally ignored or barely reported and neglected to say Muslims were the perps. Wasn't it made official  the word Terrorist has been banned from the US language?

Although Blacks have been toe stepping for the Democrats for the last 40 years, I think there are many disaffected blacks that are starting to realize the Democrat / Progressive party is a lifelong sentence to mediocrity and failure. I think the coming election could register a sizable number of Blacks voting against the D - P.

I think it's far too early to crown Perry the defacto candidate.

I think it's (gladly) impossible for R Paul to become the anointed one.

If Sareh P runs all bets are off.

The Media / Press still hasn't attempted to eviscerate or neuter Perry and I believe they will.

I don''t like Perry because of his long time Democrat affiliation, he voted for nut bag Gore, he voted against the Arizona Immigration bill and he is in bed with the Islamists in Texas schools.  While Perry has been a successful Gov. it isn't all roses.   

I think were going to have another recession as if it could get worse!

I would carry signs and ring doorbells for Bachman or Palin.

The main thing is scarecrow Obama and as many Democrats as possible are out.

I don't think it is going to be a good election for D - P anywhere.

[Gunner]

My prediction is...

obama wins unfortunately  :-X because its hard to unseat a president.

I believe that gop control maintains in the house and the gop takes the senate :))

I personally am not a fan of one party controlling everything, although we may need that after this current douche bag