[Mark Holmes]

Perry, ZK, I couldn’t agree more. The reasons I support Barack are simple; he’s intelligent, well-educated, well-spoken and of a different generation than the leaders who have made such a mess of things. It seems that it is time for new blood in Washington, at least. But more than any of those reasons is his approach to partisanship. He repeatedly reminds us that we are not Republicans, Democrats, Libertarians, black, white, Jewish or Christian only. First of all, we are Amnericans, and we are all in this together, like it or not. This country faces enormous challenges in the coming years, and a divide and conquer strategy is not appropriate in governing a country. Should we divide and conquer the terrorists? Yes. Should we divide and conquer in Iraq? If it will work. But divide and conquer,when you are talking about the citizens of this country, is not only counterproductive to good governance, it is morally wrong. Wedge issue politics need to be left behind if we are to tackle the coming housing collapse, the SSI / Medicare crisis, immigration and many more issues that are currently being pushed to the side. We can only tackle these problems together, in a civilized and sensible way; through reasoned debate. I hope Obama is sincere in his wish to do this.

[Mark Holmes]

jg, perhaps you’re right on numbers, assuming your source is better than the LA Times – I simply choose to trust one of the top five papers in the country while you choose to not. I think if the LA Times was fudging their numbers so publicly, there would be hell to pay once people started stepping forward to refute them. And yes, these people do want to wipe us off the face of the earth; but their capability to do so has been greatly exaggerated in the past six years. As it stands, I have a greater chance of being killed by an asteroid than by international terrorists. I don’t think our response has been commensurate to the risk is all. We should be doing all we can to stop terrorists, but this country faces many greater risks to its well being than terrorism. I love this country as much as you do, but simply disagree with the current administrations tactics in its response to September 11th.

[Mark Holmes]

jg, Just have to respond to your comment about 600B not equalling 600B today and the Manhattan for $28… the article clearly states that they are talking in 2006 dollars, in other words, their numbers are adjusted for inflation. Some would say this doesn’t make sense, considering the number of troops involved, but think about it. We today are far more reliant on incredibly high tech (and incredibly expensive) weapons systems. At the rate we’re going, if this isn’t wrapped up soon, we could very well bankrupt the country. Sounds impossible? History says otherwise…countless countries, governments and empires have been brought to their knees by foreign wars. I hope the current congress can stop Bush before we join the list.

[Mark Holmes]

Well, yes, of course. But now is the time to be gracious. Evidence is finally seeping into the mainstream media that the ride is over. The last thing you want to do is rub salt in these people’s wounds. Remember that for a lot of them, it’s not just paper wealth they’re losing. For those who refinanced and took out loads of cash, or for those who bought at or near the peak, they could quickly end up upside down on their homes. Not pretty. In fact, as someone who dreams of a modest home in San Diego, I find it very very sad. I wouldn’t want to be in the same situation. I do, however, see friends and family facing these very situations. Be understanding. Don’t gloat. No one likes to hear “I told you so.”

[Mark Holmes]

Well, lostkitty, I can only agree with you wholeheartedly. I know exactly how you feel. If I have to go to AMC24 one more time to see a good old-flashioned action flick, only to be surprised half-way through it by Tom Cruise suddenly getting nasty with some buxom blonde/brunette/redhead… I mean, it’s OK to be heterosexual, but why does it constantly have to be shoved down my throat? And didn’t I pay 10 bucks to see an ACTION flick?!

My point is, lostkitty, and trust me on this… from my side of things, there is far more “promotion” of straight life out in the media. I know, I know, not a fair comparison, you’ll say. But this is how it feels being gay. Just try for a moment to imagine a world where 95% of the world is different in the most fundamental of ways and half of that 95% actively despises you. It’s not fun, trust me. And then having those same people telling you that you made “a lifestyle choice”… is, well, infuriating.

Why exactly do conservatives even care how gay people even lead our lives? If we’re being decent, honest, law-abiding, tax-paying citizens, then, for God’s sake, just let us be.

And if the gay agenda is to simply be given the same legal rights you already have and always will have, what exactly is your objection?

From my standpoint, the only honest answer is simply bigotry. Call it what you will, but that is what I see.

But I do think that as the younger generation, the Xs, the Ys, the 2Kers, grow into adulthood and middle-age, these points will become moot. I hope.

[Mark Holmes]

Exactly, buyerwill, I don’t want to “time the market,” I want to buy a house. But at 75K household income, we cannot afford a fixer-upper in Normal Heights – not at 450K plus. When our mortgage and insurance on a 2 bedroom cottage in this neighborhood matches or slightly exceeds our $1600 monthly rent, then we will be able to afford to buy.

[Mark Holmes]

Yeah, after all, it was posted originally in off topic, so it’s fair to bring it up. But Kerry is right. If you’re really honest, and look at the demographics of the military, it’s primarily made up of the poor and the uneducated. Most people who are serving are there because they have very few options. That doesn’t take anything away from their service; it’s simply the truth.

And the way he has responded has garnered him untold press, where he has been allowed to soapbox endlessly about Bush’s failures in Iraq. It isn’t exactly great for Bush, seven days before the election, to be dragged through the Iraq debate once again.

[Mark Holmes]

Um, yeah, North County Jim. The NY Times is awful. In its 155-year history they have won 116 Pulitzer Prizes. The Jayson Blair incident was a blemish on their record, but only that. One mistake does not discredit their entire news staff.

[Mark Holmes]

Yes, maybe they are the top rated, or top viewed, programs. But this doesn’t say anything about their quality or veracity. How about the news shows with the most journalism awards. You won’t find Hannity on that list. Jackass #2 and the Texas Chainsaw Massacre were two of the biggest grossing films this year but that is not a testament to their quality. And Fox has been losing viewers all year, so my question is, where did you get those figures? Last I read, O’Reilly had lost a third of his viewers in the last twelve months.

[Mark Holmes]

Yes, exactly. We renters have no choice but to sit it out. Our household income is just above the median and we cannot come close to affording a house in this town, fixer-upper or not. I would assume that prices will drop until people can afford them again. It’s as if the average price of a car went from $20,000 to $60,000 in the last 10 years. I’m not going to buy a $60,000 Hyundai either. I spent some time talking to a bank employee last night whose job it is to “help people hold onto their homes” who are on the verge of foreclosure. He says the numbers of people in over their heads due to the last few years of irresponsible lending (my words)are huge. I’m a little nervous what the next few years will bring but my partner and I hope that we will eventually be able to afford a small fixer-upper house in San Diego. But if three years from now, a 1950s run-down cottage in Normal Heights is still over $300,000, we can always move to another state.

[Mark Holmes]

Well, to be completely honest, my mind is made up. I will simply vote against any Republicans and initiatives. Notice I said against. I’m not terribly enthusiastic about voting for too many Democrats, but given the nuttiness of the current right-wing Republicans running the GOP, I could not in good conscience participate in any way to keep them in power. Remember when conservatives were fiscally conservative, pro-states rights and small governement? Now they’re spending like drunken sailors, consolidating all power at the federal level and intruding in the most private of our citizens (not consumers) decisions. As far as initiatives go, I’ve lost any faith in a process started as a way to empower little people that has been co-opted by monied interests. No worries though: with the economic precipice of the bursting of the credit bubble quickly approaching, I have a feeling that Republican will soon be considered a four-letter-word. RPLN?

[Mark Holmes]

Well, Sun Devil, yeah I do hope there is a crash. Why? Because I want to buy a house to live in. Not to slap a coat of paint on, throw in some granite counter tops and sell to the next flipper. To spend the next twenty years making a HOME. I haven’t been willing to buy a half-a-million dollar fixer-upper in Normal Heights (moved here four years ago and wanted to buy two years ago) so have watched in frustration from the sidelines. Common sense has told me that this mania was unsustainable, especially with the prevalence of exotic lending and insane income to valuation ratios. So yes, maybe I and others are impatient for this to end.

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