Fuck its silent in here.......

[powen01]

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/01/25/whispering_at_autocrats

In one fell swoop, the candor of the cables released by WikiLeaks did more for Arab democracy than decades of backstage U.S. diplomacy.

Damn it, Tank. Stop ruining the narrative that Wikileaks is going to undo years of "good work."

Gill Gunderson will have you ingrates know that roughly 90% of government work should be conducted in complete secrecy (including his investigation into the possible unionization of Chicagoland exotic dancers). Wikileaks has gone and ruined that with their unpatriotic leakage.

This makes the idea of scabs even more distasteful.

[Gilgamesh]

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/01/25/whispering_at_autocrats

In one fell swoop, the candor of the cables released by WikiLeaks did more for Arab democracy than decades of backstage U.S. diplomacy.

Damn it, Tank. Stop ruining the narrative that Wikileaks is going to undo years of "good work."

Gill Gunderson will have you ingrates know that roughly 90% of government work should be conducted in complete secrecy (including his investigation into the possible unionization of Chicagoland exotic dancers). Wikileaks has gone and ruined that with their unpatriotic leakage.

This makes the idea of scabs even more distasteful.

Gil Gunderson would have you eat shit.

[CBStew]

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/01/25/whispering_at_autocrats

In one fell swoop, the candor of the cables released by WikiLeaks did more for Arab democracy than decades of backstage U.S. diplomacy.

Damn it, Tank. Stop ruining the narrative that Wikileaks is going to undo years of "good work."

Gill Gunderson will have you ingrates know that roughly 90% of government work should be conducted in complete secrecy (including his investigation into the possible unionization of Chicagoland exotic dancers). Wikileaks has gone and ruined that with their unpatriotic leakage.

Hey.  One of my Union clients here in San Francisco organized strippers into the union decades ago.  Everyone paid attention to their picket lines.

[Gilgamesh]

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/01/25/whispering_at_autocrats

In one fell swoop, the candor of the cables released by WikiLeaks did more for Arab democracy than decades of backstage U.S. diplomacy.

Damn it, Tank. Stop ruining the narrative that Wikileaks is going to undo years of "good work."

Gill Gunderson will have you ingrates know that roughly 90% of government work should be conducted in complete secrecy (including his investigation into the possible unionization of Chicagoland exotic dancers). Wikileaks has gone and ruined that with their unpatriotic leakage.

Hey.  One of my Union clients here in San Francisco organized strippers into the union decades ago.  Everyone paid attention to their picket lines.

I'm acutely aware of said strip club too.  The Lucky Lady, right?

[Bort]

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/01/25/whispering_at_autocrats

In one fell swoop, the candor of the cables released by WikiLeaks did more for Arab democracy than decades of backstage U.S. diplomacy.

Damn it, Tank. Stop ruining the narrative that Wikileaks is going to undo years of "good work."

Gill Gunderson will have you ingrates know that roughly 90% of government work should be conducted in complete secrecy (including his investigation into the possible unionization of Chicagoland exotic dancers). Wikileaks has gone and ruined that with their unpatriotic leakage.

Hey.  One of my Union clients here in San Francisco organized strippers into the union decades ago.  Everyone paid attention to their picket lines.

I'm acutely aware of said strip club too.  The Lucky Lady, right?

Stripclub unionizing is relevant to Gil's interests.

[Chuck to Chuck]

Paul Rand on how to save $500 billion per year.  I like some of it.  Probably more than half of it.  Some of it is standard right wing talking points crap (NEA, Public Broadcasting) and there's nothing about farm subsidies and ethanol.

But it's a good place to start a discussion.  Far better than Jan Schkowsky's ideas.

LEGISLATIVE BRANCH...............................$1,283,000,000. (23%)
Notes: The Government Printing Office is abolished.

JUDICIAL BRANCH......................................$2,434,000,000. (32%)

AGRICULTURE............................................$42,542,000,000. (30%)
The Agriculture Research Service, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Resources Conservation Service, and Foreign Agricultural Service are abolished. The Forest Service gets a $1.2 billion haircut.

COMMERCE...................................................$5,322,000,000. (54%)
National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is cut by $857,000,000.

DEFENSE.......................................................$47,500,000,000. (6.5%)

EDUCATION..................................................$78,000,000,000 (83%)
Only the Pell grant program survives.

ENERGY............................................................$44,200,000,000 (100%)
The Defense Department takes over all of Energy's remaining functions (nuclear waste, for example) and about $18 billion of its budget.

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES..............$26,510,000,000. (26%)
Notes: FDA is cut by $230,000,000; Indian Health Service is cut by $650 million; CDC is cut by $1.17 billion; NIH by $5.8 billion.

HOMELAND SECURITY.................................$23,765,000,000. (43%)
Notes: Coast Guard is shifted to Defense. TSA's funds are cut by $900 million.

HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT....$53,100,000,000. (100%)
Notes: Completely eliminated. Veterans' housing programs are transferred to the VA

INTERIOR........................................................$10,934,000,000. (78%)
Bureau of Reclamation and Bureau of Indian Affairs are abolished.

JUSTICE.............................................................$9,057,000,000. (28%)
Note: Office of Justice Programs is abolished.

LABOR....................................................$2,803,000,000. (2%)
OSHA, MSHA, and the The Employment and Training Administration are spared all cuts (no cuts to unemployment benefits)

STATE...................................................................$20,321,000,000. (71%)
Note: Massive foreign aid cuts. All international commissions and organizations are defunded.

TRANSPORTATION............................................$42,810,000,000. (49%)
Notes: Amtrak is completely de-funded.

VETERANS' AFFAIRS..........................................No cuts

CORPS OF ENGINEERS......................................$1,854,000,000. (27%)

EPA..............................................................$3,238,000,000. (29%)

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION.....$1,936,000,000. (85%)

INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS...$24,300,000,000 (100%)

NASA.........................................................................$4,500,000,000 (25%)

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION...............$4,723,000,000. (62%)

OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT.......$9,070,000,000.

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION.........No cuts

FCC...........................................................$2,150,000,000. (22%)

ABOLISH...............................................................$2,050,000,000. (100%)

(1) Affordable Housing Program.
(2) Commission on Fine Arts.
(3) Consumer Product Safety Commission.
(4) Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
(5) National Endowment for the Arts.
(6) National Endowment for the Humanities.
(7) State Justice Institute.

MISC

Collect delinquent taxes from Federal Employees........$3,000,000,000.
Freeze Federal Government employee pay...................$2,000,000,000.
Reduce Federal Government travel..............................$7,500,000,000.
Repeal Davis-Bacon..................................................... $6,000,000,000.
Prohibit union project labor agreements......................$2,000,000,000.
TARP repeal.................................................................$4,481,000,000.
Sell Federal Buildings..................................................$19,000,000,000.
Reduce Federal vehicle budget..........................................$600,000,000.

[Gilgamesh]

Paul Rand on how to save $500 billion per year.  I like some of it.  Probably more than half of it.  Some of it is standard right wing talking points crap (NEA, Public Broadcasting) and there's nothing about farm subsidies and ethanol.

But it's a good place to start a discussion.  Far better than Jan Schkowsky's ideas.

LEGISLATIVE BRANCH...............................$1,283,000,000. (23%)
Notes: The Government Printing Office is abolished.

JUDICIAL BRANCH......................................$2,434,000,000. (32%)

AGRICULTURE............................................$42,542,000,000. (30%)
The Agriculture Research Service, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Resources Conservation Service, and Foreign Agricultural Service are abolished. The Forest Service gets a $1.2 billion haircut.

COMMERCE...................................................$5,322,000,000. (54%)
National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is cut by $857,000,000.

DEFENSE.......................................................$47,500,000,000. (6.5%)

EDUCATION..................................................$78,000,000,000 (83%)
Only the Pell grant program survives.

ENERGY............................................................$44,200,000,000 (100%)
The Defense Department takes over all of Energy's remaining functions (nuclear waste, for example) and about $18 billion of its budget.

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES..............$26,510,000,000. (26%)
Notes: FDA is cut by $230,000,000; Indian Health Service is cut by $650 million; CDC is cut by $1.17 billion; NIH by $5.8 billion.

HOMELAND SECURITY.................................$23,765,000,000. (43%)
Notes: Coast Guard is shifted to Defense. TSA's funds are cut by $900 million.

HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT....$53,100,000,000. (100%)
Notes: Completely eliminated. Veterans' housing programs are transferred to the VA

INTERIOR........................................................$10,934,000,000. (78%)
Bureau of Reclamation and Bureau of Indian Affairs are abolished.

JUSTICE.............................................................$9,057,000,000. (28%)
Note: Office of Justice Programs is abolished.

LABOR....................................................$2,803,000,000. (2%)
OSHA, MSHA, and the The Employment and Training Administration are spared all cuts (no cuts to unemployment benefits)

STATE...................................................................$20,321,000,000. (71%)
Note: Massive foreign aid cuts. All international commissions and organizations are defunded.

TRANSPORTATION............................................$42,810,000,000. (49%)
Notes: Amtrak is completely de-funded.

VETERANS' AFFAIRS..........................................No cuts

CORPS OF ENGINEERS......................................$1,854,000,000. (27%)

EPA..............................................................$3,238,000,000. (29%)

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION.....$1,936,000,000. (85%)

INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS...$24,300,000,000 (100%)

NASA.........................................................................$4,500,000,000 (25%)

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION...............$4,723,000,000. (62%)

OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT.......$9,070,000,000.

SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION.........No cuts

FCC...........................................................$2,150,000,000. (22%)

ABOLISH...............................................................$2,050,000,000. (100%)

(1) Affordable Housing Program.
(2) Commission on Fine Arts.
(3) Consumer Product Safety Commission.
(4) Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
(5) National Endowment for the Arts.
(6) National Endowment for the Humanities.
(7) State Justice Institute.

MISC

Collect delinquent taxes from Federal Employees........$3,000,000,000.
Freeze Federal Government employee pay...................$2,000,000,000.
Reduce Federal Government travel..............................$7,500,000,000.
Repeal Davis-Bacon..................................................... $6,000,000,000.
Prohibit union project labor agreements......................$2,000,000,000.
TARP repeal.................................................................$4,481,000,000.
Sell Federal Buildings..................................................$19,000,000,000.
Reduce Federal vehicle budget..........................................$600,000,000.

Abolishing the Consumer Product Safety Commission is going to go over swimmingly with mothers and anyone that buys anything.

Also, abolishing the Bureau of Indian Affairs?  Really?

Guh.

[Chuck to Chuck]

Abolishing the Consumer Product Safety Commission is going to go over swimmingly with mothers and anyone that buys anything.

I did say there was some right wing crap in here.

Also, abolishing the Bureau of Indian Affairs?  Really?

What's the problem here?  We really need specific government oversight for this?

How about creating the the Bureau of Baha'i Affairs?  I'm sure there's a place in Commerce, or Interior, or Justice that can handle these issues.

[Bort]

Once again, white man turns his back on the treaties.

[SKO]

Once again, white man turns his back on the treaties.

We'll give them more firewater and muskets. The problem will take care of itself, if you catch my drift.

[Gilgamesh]

Abolishing the Consumer Product Safety Commission is going to go over swimmingly with mothers and anyone that buys anything.

I did say there was some right wing crap in here.

Also, abolishing the Bureau of Indian Affairs?  Really?

What's the problem here?  We really need specific government oversight for this?

How about creating the the Bureau of Baha'i Affairs?  I'm sure there's a place in Commerce, or Interior, or Justice that can handle these issues.

I'd be down for doing that if it was part of a government-wide reorganization.  And this Bureau is already in the Interior Department, for the record.

Just as long as it's not a wholesale abrogation of our treaty obligations with Native Americans.

[PenPho]

Once again, white man turns his back on the treaties.

We'll give them more firewater and muskets. The problem will take care of itself, if you catch my drift.

Not exactly taken care of.

[Chuck to Chuck]

Abolishing the Consumer Product Safety Commission is going to go over swimmingly with mothers and anyone that buys anything.

I did say there was some right wing crap in here.

Also, abolishing the Bureau of Indian Affairs?  Really?

What's the problem here?  We really need specific government oversight for this?

How about creating the the Bureau of Baha'i Affairs?  I'm sure there's a place in Commerce, or Interior, or Justice that can handle these issues.

I'd be down for doing that if it was part of a government-wide reorganization.  And this Bureau is already in the Interior Department, for the record.

Just as long as it's not a wholesale abrogation of our treaty obligations with Native Americans.

I'm not suggesting that we abrogate a treaty.  Just cut funding to those whose sole job is to monitor adherence.

Did we ever get rid of the helium reserve?

[CT III]

Abolishing the Consumer Product Safety Commission is going to go over swimmingly with mothers and anyone that buys anything.

I did say there was some right wing crap in here.

Also, abolishing the Bureau of Indian Affairs?  Really?

What's the problem here?  We really need specific government oversight for this?

How about creating the the Bureau of Baha'i Affairs?  I'm sure there's a place in Commerce, or Interior, or Justice that can handle these issues.

I'd be down for doing that if it was part of a government-wide reorganization.  And this Bureau is already in the Interior Department, for the record.

Just as long as it's not a wholesale abrogation of our treaty obligations with Native Americans.

I'm not suggesting that we abrogate a treaty.  Just cut funding to those whose sole job is to monitor adherence.

Did we ever get rid of the helium reserve?

WE NEEDED THAT FUCKING HELIUM!

[Gilgamesh]

Abolishing the Consumer Product Safety Commission is going to go over swimmingly with mothers and anyone that buys anything.

I did say there was some right wing crap in here.

Also, abolishing the Bureau of Indian Affairs?  Really?

What's the problem here?  We really need specific government oversight for this?

How about creating the the Bureau of Baha'i Affairs?  I'm sure there's a place in Commerce, or Interior, or Justice that can handle these issues.

I'd be down for doing that if it was part of a government-wide reorganization.  And this Bureau is already in the Interior Department, for the record.

Just as long as it's not a wholesale abrogation of our treaty obligations with Native Americans.

I'm not suggesting that we abrogate a treaty.  Just cut funding to those whose sole job is to monitor adherence.

Did we ever get rid of the helium reserve?

Don't even get me started on that clusterfuck.

WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF PRECIOUS HELIUM!!!!