Friday Open Comments

Well, Boehner is the new Speaker of the House.  Pelosi has been relegated to minority status, temporarily if we are to believe her Democrat friends in Congress.  In my opinion, she must have dossiers on a lot of them, for them to continue to support her.
A partial transcript of Boehner’s comments:

“…We gather here today at a time of great challenges. Nearly one in ten of our neighbors are looking for work. Health care costs are still rising for families and small businesses. Our spending has caught up with us, and our debt will soon eclipse the size of our entire economy. Hard work and tough decisions will be required of the 112th Congress. No longer can we fall short. No longer can we kick the can down the road. The people voted to end business as usual, and today we begin carrying out their instructions.”In the Catholic faith, we enter into a season of service by having ashes marked on our foreheads. The ashes remind us that life in all its forms is fragile our time on this Earth, fleeting. As the ashes are delivered, we hear those humbling words: ‘Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return.’
“The American people have humbled us. They have refreshed our memories as to just how temporary the privilege to serve is. They have reminded us that everything here is on loan from them. That includes this gavel, which I accept cheerfully and gratefully, knowing I am but its caretaker. After all, this is the people’s House. This is their Congress. It’s about them, not us. What they want is a government that is honest, accountable and responsive to their needs. A government that respects individual liberty, honors our heritage, and bows before the public it serves.
“Let’s start with the rules package the House will consider today. If passed, it will change how this institution operates, with an emphasis on real transparency, greater accountability, and a renewed focus on the Constitution. Our aim will be to give government back to the people. In seeking this goal, we will part with some of the rituals that have come to characterize this institution under majorities Republican and Democratic alike. We will dispense with the conventional wisdom that bigger bills are always better; that fast legislating is good legislating; that allowing additional amendments and open debate makes the legislative process ‘less efficient’ than our forefathers intended.

/snip
“Legislators and the public will have three days to read bills before they come to a vote. Legislation will be more focused, properly scrutinized, and constitutionally sound. Committees, once bloated, will be smaller, with a renewed mission, including oversight. Old rules that have made it easy to increase spending will be replaced by new reforms that make it easier to cut spending. We will start by cutting Congress’ own budget.

/snip
“To my friends in the minority, I offer a commitment. Openness once a tradition of this institution, but increasingly scarce in recent decades, will be the new standard. There were no open rules in the House in the last Congress. In this one, there will be many. With this restored openness, however, will come a restored responsibility. You will not have the right to willfully disrupt the proceedings of the People’s House. But you will always have the right to a robust debate in open process that allows you to represent your constituents . . . to make your case, offer alternatives, and be heard.
“In time, this framework will, I believe, restore the House of Representatives as a place where the people’s will is done. It will also, I hope, help rebuild trust among us and the people we serve, and in so doing, provide a guidepost for those who follow us in the service of our nation.
/snip
“We will not always get it right. We will not always agree on what is right. A great deal of scar tissue has built up on both sides of the aisle. We cannot ignore that, nor should we. My belief has always been, we can disagree without being disagreeable to each other. That’s why it is critical this institution operate in a manner that permits a free exchange of ideas, and resolves our honest differences through a fair debate and a fair vote. We may have different sometimes, very different ideas for how to go about achieving the common good, but it is our shared goal. It is why we serve.
“Let us now move forward humble in our demeanor, steady in our principles, and dedicated to proving worthy of the trust and confidence that has been placed in us. If we brace ourselves to do our duty, and to do what we say we are going to do, there is no telling what together we can accomplish for the good of this great and honorable nation. More than a country, America is an idea, and it is our job to pass on to our posterity the blessings bestowed to us.
“I wish you all the very best. Welcome to the people’s House. Welcome to the 112th Congress.”

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bob42
January 7, 2011 9:59 pm

It’s time to wind down on a Friday night following a stressful week. I’ve got Sara Bareilles’ Many the Miles pretty much down pat. So it’s time to begin my next conquest (strictly musically speaking of course) Nora Jones’ version of Bessie Smith.

mharper42
mharper42
January 7, 2011 9:45 pm

#83 Hammy
Well, I guess galoot might have been a bit harsh. But I didn’t seen none a youse guys comment back on the milk glass, now did I?

Hamous
January 7, 2011 8:54 pm

Galoot??? Ain’t heard that word in a while. Prolly since this song.

mharper42
mharper42
January 7, 2011 8:22 pm

#71 TT
I can’t believe you’re showing milk glass collectibles to this bunch of galoots!
(Pssttt – I collect ruby red depression glass…)

mharper42
mharper42
January 7, 2011 8:16 pm

#54 Bones I really enjoyed the “I’m Tired” piece, but I wanted to check something about the actor on CSI. (Coroner Dr Al Robbins is a great character on a show I like.) Googling “Robert A Hall” and CSI turns up the fact that the piece was not written by the actor. The actor’s name is Robert David Hall. http://urbanlegends.about.com/od/dubiousquotes/a/robert_a_hall.htm… Read more »

wagonburner
Editor
January 7, 2011 7:53 pm

#76 crazy aunt
That’s one good thing about those Aggies.
When they score, you score.
Gag ’em, Iggies.

Darren
Darren
January 7, 2011 7:13 pm
Lawrence
Lawrence
January 7, 2011 5:50 pm
squawkbox
January 7, 2011 5:11 pm

Seems appropriate, although I cannot say why.

wagonburner
Editor
January 7, 2011 4:13 pm

#68
yep
I was wondering if anyone would catch that.

Katfish
January 7, 2011 4:03 pm

TGIF yall Hamoustonians™
If we’re voting………………….I miss Schmacktle, DJ (the original) and Shakey a quadrillion times more than the aforementioned agitator of kitchen ware……………
I’d like to see the newer DJ pop in occasionally but I reckon he’s a very busy fellow!

Lawrence
Lawrence
January 7, 2011 4:03 pm

#61. You mean, like ol’ Ripper:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1KvgtEnABY

Super Dave
Super Dave
January 7, 2011 3:50 pm
wagonburner
Editor
January 7, 2011 3:45 pm
Super Dave
Super Dave
January 7, 2011 3:34 pm

This is neat! Teaching old dogs new tricks. NASA style

Simple Simon
Simple Simon
January 7, 2011 3:29 pm

Bonehead,
The guy on CSI is Robert David Hall.
Robert A. Hall was a two time State Senator from Mass.
Simple

Bonecrusher
Bonecrusher
January 7, 2011 3:27 pm

#61 Pyro: I am unaware that there are any scientifically valid (double blind) tests where floridated water, in the absence of regular floridated toothpaste use, had any positive effects on dental health. Nor have I seen any studies that indicate that floridated water in the presence of regular floridated toothpaste use had any increase of dental health. In short, has… Read more »

wagonburner
Editor
January 7, 2011 2:53 pm

This is what happens when you contaminate your precious bodily fluids and lose your purity of essence.

Bonecrusher
Bonecrusher
January 7, 2011 2:47 pm

358 Crazy Aunt: That is really degrading. . . . . . . . . . . to the floor. At least the floor serves a useful function.

Adee
January 7, 2011 2:33 pm

Shammy shrank pretty well if you just ignored him.

Lawrence
Lawrence
January 7, 2011 2:11 pm

#56. The one on the right is looking pretty good for her presumed age.
I was always partial to natural blondes, though.

squawkbox
January 7, 2011 2:08 pm

Here is proof what chemtrails can do to people. uou will never see me do this or be around the people that do unless i am sprayed with chemtrail mist.

bob42
January 7, 2011 1:55 pm

#47 Harper, my distinguished fellow commenter.

Bob, you ignorant wisshole, I never posted about chemtrails.

No, you didn’t. But this is what you wrote yesterday afternoon.

Not only that frothing-at-the-mouth thing the other day about the contrails/chemtrails, but then today a shabby attack on Sarge.

I merely attempted to clarify what appeared to be misunderstanding.

Bonecrusher
Bonecrusher
January 7, 2011 1:38 pm

The following just came in my inbox: If you don’t like the nasty label, stop living the stereo-type. I’m 63 and I’m Tired ” ………. Robert A. Hall is the actor who plays the coroner on CSI if you watch that show. He is also a Marine Vietnam War veteran and past Senator of Massachusetts. “I’m 63 and I’m Tired”… Read more »

Dude42
January 7, 2011 1:34 pm

I miss Shammy. But my aim is improving!
/bah dump… bump

Hamous
January 7, 2011 1:32 pm

The best leaders always encourage diverse points of view Let me say this about that – I certainly encourage diverse points of view here. Izzy was someone that most of the time had another viewpoint. A whacked-out viewpoint IMO, but a viewpoint nonetheless. Shamaarlatan was, plain and simple, a troll of the first order. He rarely offered anything to a… Read more »

Bonecrusher
Bonecrusher
January 7, 2011 1:29 pm

#46 I don’t much care for the character either.

Bonecrusher
Bonecrusher
January 7, 2011 1:28 pm

#46 Simple: Opposing views are great, well thought out and supported positions that do not agree with mine – no problemo. I have ZERO tolerance for a libterdnozzle mooooslim/terrorist apologist who merely comments to stir the pot. There is not ever any thing edifying in dealing with a stain like the shamwow.

squawkbox
January 7, 2011 1:01 pm

FWIW
I miss Shammy and the exchanges he and I had. Shame he is not around. Guess he did not follow the link to hamous.org.

wagonburner
Editor
January 7, 2011 12:44 pm

There’s a new post on the front porch, if you’re interested.

mharper42
mharper42
January 7, 2011 12:41 pm

Thursday Bobby #54 Just to be clear M42, I’m skeptical of everything for which there is insubstantial or questionable evidence. This includes conspiracy theories such as chemtrails Bob, you ignorant wisshole, I never posted about chemtrails. I merely commented that I was agreeing with what I thought you had said, namely there was a nice clear sky that day. And… Read more »

Simple Simon
Simple Simon
January 7, 2011 12:37 pm

44 Bonehead, I don’t know where Shammy went, but I miss him to the same degree that I would miss you or Sarge. A steady diet of the same gourmet meal over and over would become unappealing after a while. Sometimes it is a good thing to hear opposite points of view. The best leaders always encourage diverse points of… Read more »

Super Dave
Super Dave
January 7, 2011 12:18 pm

#44 Bonecrusher

I miss having the dry heaves and explosive diarrhea at the same time

Thanks for visual. 😕

Bonecrusher
Bonecrusher
January 7, 2011 12:06 pm

From #54 yesterday’s o/c

Sometimes I actually miss Shammy. And sometimes I think a few of y’all do too.

Not no but HE!! NO NOT EVEN A LITTLE BIT! I miss him like I miss having the dry heaves and explosive diarrhea at the same time with a splitting migraine.

Super Dave
Super Dave
January 7, 2011 12:06 pm

OK the last one to leave please turn out the lights.
Illinois Lawmakers Propose 75 Percent Income Tax Hike.
Yup That’ll lower the population in this “Rust Belt” state.

wagonburner
Editor
January 7, 2011 12:00 pm

Tiger 1: Those big metal things sure are hard to catch and if you do, they’re really tough.
Tiger 2: Yabbut, sometimes you get lucky and the meaty filling comes out. Now, THAT’s tasty!!

wagonburner
Editor
January 7, 2011 11:56 am
bob42
January 7, 2011 11:24 am

It should have been obvious from the start, but they’ve finally figured out what caused all those birds to die mid flight.

Hamous
January 7, 2011 11:13 am

Uh oh. It’s on now! He’s a hero of the looney left for saying Bush hates black people. But he’s gone too far now. They’ll crucify him.