Art Sandusky

There are a few things that are mildly unsettling about all this. First, the use of executive orders. No no no. What next, Bush-esque signing statements? Fucking checks and balances, goddammit. I don't care if it's something great for the nation, there's still a process that must be honored. Second, Detroit. The post from earlier about Ford going back to larger, thirstier models is crap. The importation of the Euro-spec C1 platform Focus (Americans have gotten a second-rate version) and other measures put them ahead of the pack. GM blew its last huge R&D/advertising wad on the GMT9000 platform SUVs (Tahoe, Suburban, Escalade, Yukon) in 2004-2005, with these being released into the market in the fall after Katrina. These bastards have done their damndest to promote beancounters who wanted to cut their way to profitability and couldn't conceive an automobile that the American public wants and needs if their life depended on it. It wasn't low gas prices that made GM the most profitable, biggest corporation on the planet in the 50s. It was a belief of "a vehicle for every pocketbook," with cohesive brand identities and genuine differences between, say, a Pontiac and Chevrolet product beyond the badge on the front. Dealership bloat is also killing off the Big Three. Relative to market share, these companies have far too many stores for small demand. Various franchise laws make it impossible to kill them off, and shuttering a brand can financially hurt more than help (Oldsmobile's mothballing in 2002 cost GM $2b). In Chrysler's case, they shouldn't be eligible for any federal aid, as they're owned by a private firm (Cerberus) which had no intention of making them profitable when they bought the company from Daimler. The point was a "strip and flip." They have nothing in terms of new product in the pipeline and have no intent or capital to improve their lot. Chrysler is damn near worthless in every way, shape, and form with the exception of the Jeep brand and even that was raped with no fewer than three brand diluting products introduced in the last few years. Ford had the sense to bring in someone from the outside (though the Ford family still holds massive pull) and has had to make some hard choices but is in the best financial position of the three Detroit automakers. GM is simultaneously too big to be allowed to fail but also too big to survive. Chrysler is a rotting corpse, a sad end for a once semi-prestigious marque. Anyone who blames the unions with no qualification is a retard. The unions have had unrealistic demands relative to their employers' balance sheets, but beyond the factory floor the blame ultimately lies with the fuckers who allow promising, desirable, and market relevant concepts to be cost cut, delayed, and parts binned into oblivion. It's an extremely difficult situation for both sides of the aisle. Also complicating matters is that many of the suppliers for the automakers, the manufacturers of the transmissions, glass, and interior bits just to name a few are in terrible straits as well. If automaking firms can't get parts for their cars, no one goes anywhere. Any bailout must be structured in the same fashion that Chrysler got in the early 80s: A plan for recovery is required for government money, and the current boards of directors have to be tossed for the most part. It worked and a new one can too but only if done properly. Third, the answer to Afghanistan isn't necessarily more soldiers on the ground. That the militaristic angle is considered before others in American foreign policy is a crime of the highest order. Yes, the fuckers killed 3,000 civilians seven years ago. Yes, they swear up and down that they'll do it again. What happened to the hardline diplomatic stance that won the Cold War? We might be the Great Satan, but people sure do dig the devil's entertainment and blue jeans and representative government. Winning hearts and minds doesn't involve bombs, it involves a hardball diplomatic line that forces our enemies to consider alternatives rather than sending them running for the nearest cave to reload. Fourth, the world is going to keep spinning between now and January 20th and beyond. We can't afford to sit around and put the burden of recovery on a new administration and new Congress. Solutions have to be hammered out quickly. The Q1 reports will start coming out before Obama takes office against the backdrop of what will surely be a lean Christmas season for consumers. Then what? Wait for the magic man to take office while markets collapse? The last week and a half has reeked of euphoria at the expense of a deteriorating situation. I'm as happy as anyone at the conclusion the electorate has reached but there's still a stupiddumbhuge list of problems that need to be addressed.

I found some good, good stuff by telling a homeless dude half a block away from the hostel that I'd spare some coin if he could hook me up. I'm good on that front if anyone wants to have a chill session. I visited the Ghostbusters firehouse today, in fact. Funny it would come up, and that I ate at Tom's Restaurant the first night I was here. I saw it from the bus on the way from the airport and freaked. By the way, I need addresses if you want to hang out, people. I'm living and dying with the navigation on my phone, especially when I've gone downtown and nice, organized numbers don't really apply anymore. KANERULESFAN or someone like that called me last night using the IP Relay thing, but the operator was retarded. Then someone sent me a picture of a spoon and gave me five guesses as to who it was. I demand answers!

I do so hate paying for the internets. That's right NYC people, 843-364-0367. I'm starting to go a little nuts since no one besides fellow out-of-towners are willing to talk to me, not even the freaks at the Lost and Found in Bedford-Stuyvesant. You think a bunch of tattooed, skinny jean wearing, pierced-ass, scuzzy lookin' muh'fuckas would delight in anyone who doesn't look homeless talking to them, but noooo. That and it's a bitch and a half trying to find weed here without knowing anyone. I have an eye for smokers in Charleston, but here it looks like almost everyone between 15 and 30 is on drugs. I am indeed staying at 237 W107th, but am willing to meet people wherever. In fact, somewhere in the outer boroughs is almost better since I've been lazy and haven't left Manhattan yet except for last night. Not like that's a huge problem, since I had a fuckin' awesome time at the karaoke bars 'round Koreatown. Getting drunk in this town is expensive as shit, so I bought a bottle of rum and immediately felt like an alcoholic when I took it back to my room. I spent the afternoon watching the NFL games at The Back Page on 3rd Avenue and was much more impressed with the spirit for pro football than the sad lack of passion for the college games yesterday. I'm here through Thursday so gimme a shout, people!

This kinda rules. The whole country just up and started partying. Who knew?

No more Great Pumpkin! It's about time Tennessee got on the crazy ass offensive scheme bandwagon instead of continuing this stone age bullshit. I have no idea who could offer this, but get them to Knoxville stat. Losing to South Carolina is inexcusable.

So according to Nate Silver, there's only a 1.9% chance that I'm going to be angry drunk tomorrow night. I like those odds.

I envision those kinds of "people on the streets with flags n' shit, cheering and spontaneously celebrating" scenes that are really foreign to America on election nights, if anything. Those Europeans always look like they're having so much fun.

Of course that happened to South Carolina. Most inept major conference team, I swear.

... as compared to the "Kerry win = 9/11 part 2" narrative in 2004? Which part of what Biden said is inaccurate? A crisis of any stripe is still a crisis. It could be anything from the Russian invasion of Georgia this summer (far away but still international in nature) to a foreign terrorist taking out the Capitol building. Say Pakistan implodes due to economic instability and violence and we get an unstable nation with (established as factual in this case) nuclear capabilities. The President of the United States has implied involvement in these matters due to our highest of profiles. This is what Biden meant, not that something terrible is guaranteedly going to happen to America.

Who told Captain of Outer Space that he could use my Christian name.

(ding!) The greatest crime in this nation, as per the programming, is to have a mind. That sounds like some CronoT shit, but it's true.

'bout damn time. I've said for the last two underacheiving years that they needed to can his ass. The Bowden period lasted two or three years too long.

True, but it was meandering at the time. I had no idea the thread would get a second, third, and fourth wind soon after.

When your only way out of a mess is to attack your own supporters, you need Jesus because no one's going to like you then.

This is what's left of his support, huh. I am getting so wasted on election night.

(FOX Photo Wire - Violent madman Barack Obama contemplates strangling Republican nominee John McCain during their town hall style debate Tuesday night in Nashville, TN.)

"MULTIPLY IT BY" NOT "TIMES IT BY" GOD I HATE THAT

There are never really good messageboard fights, it's usually more like messageboard gangings. EDIT: Here, here, and here are some examples.

More like a self-proclaimed elitist group of self-righteous, arrogant, immature, circle-jerking punks trying to make themselves feel powerful and in control. Well, personally, I find it utterly pathetic, and I'm glad I'm not the only one. The only reason I'm even posting here again is to let you all know that I'm on to your "I have no life, so I'll just play tough and smart 'cause I'm online, and no one can hurt me" bullshit. @ Lt. Jon Kavanaugh - If I were to go to Calgary, I'd waste you dude, so watch what you wish for, you just might get it. You have no idea... Now, I'm all done here, so feel free to continue wasting your time insulting someone that has no time to waste on useless pieces of shit like you. If you're not a useless piece of shit (and you all know who you are), I'll talk to you later... AWWWW Y'ALL POSTED AGAIN NIGGA

This thread was like a retarded person figuring out how to masturbate.

From a great height.

In an interstellar burst, I am back to save the universe!

It's not going to be how either candidate performs, it's how much BS the moderator puts up with. I hope for very direct questions tonight of both. It won't be beating up on the little girl (fucked up line of thought, that), it'll be Biden who's forced to answer to things as well. Tell me about coal, Joe Biden.

Despite what I posted here in the preseason threads, a 9-7 year with a division title and a #4 seed is what I told people away from the internet and all of its readily usable stuff to pump up your confidence in your team. It's looking more and more like that, but it's cool. It'll be another year before this team is truly Nasty McFuckoff anyway.

Some dudes just aren't into dudes. Sorry, bro. Were you also aware that you just told someone in a thread where you invited someone across the country to fight you that they were bitches for starting things on the internet? Again, sorry bro.