Imperfect Women

IW’s February Open Forum

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By Samantha

You come to love not by finding the perfect person, but by seeing an imperfect person perfectly.

 ~ Sam Keen

 

February already? Our oldest child loves buying gifts for family members, making cards for her classmates and especially receiving Valentines in the mail… but for me February is a reminder that spring is around the corner. Even though winter has been very mild this year, I’m hoping that pesky groundhog doesn’t see his shadow. Whether February fills your head with thoughts of true love and candy hearts or cynicism for yet another “greeting card” holiday- this is your forum to chat and tell us what’s on your mind.

Related posts:

Sweet September Days ~ Open Forum
April Is A Promise ~ April's Open Forum
IW’s December Open Forum
IW's March Open Forum

Comments

  2. HB says

    ;0) funny, Samantha. Nope in trying to include that pesky R! BUT have to admit I don’t say ‘li-berry’ for library.

  3. Pam@IW says

    We have quite a few birthdays in our family this month. Happy 88th to my Dad! Also a big Happy Birthday to my nephew and my brother!

  4. HB says

    Pam, what a grand age for your Dad!

    It’s a Leap Year…& I always think of my own Dad who decidedly was NOT interested in marrying for a 2nd time, but finally settled down after some 20 yrs. of bachelorhood. HE chose Leap Year for marriage #2. Back in the day…it was proof positive he’d found a wife w. a good sense of humor. She needed one!

  5. Pam@IW says

    HB….I forgot about it being Leap Year! Is that the key? To get married when there is a leap year? 😉

  7. Pam@IW says

    Kmom2, Feb is a great month for birthdays! Happy early birthday and I will try and remember to come back here on the 28th.

  13. Mo says

    Thank you Kmom and Pam!

    We are still trying to figure out what we are going to do. We usually don’t get to celebrate on the day of… who wants to babysit 2 kids on Valentines Day… so the kids are staying the whole weekend (Fri-Sun) the following weekend at my sisters. 😉

  14. Teresa E. says

    Happy Anniversay, Mo. My husband and I will be married 10 years on Feb.14. Don’t you think its so clever to have your anniversary on Valentine’s Day? I do!

  15. SOR says

    My husband’s BD is the 12th. My daughter is a leap year baby. It will special that she actually has a real day to celebrate on.

  17. Pam@IW says

    The American Heart Association’s National Wear Red Day is Friday, Feb. 3.
    .
    If you retweet this, Macy’s will donate $2 to the cause-
    GoRedForWomen GoRedForWomen
    Retweet for a cause from the #heart. Each retweet sends $2 to @GoRedForWomen from @Macys.
    .
    Here is their website – http://www.goredforwomen.org/
    .
    They also have a Facebook page you can follow or get more information from:
    .
    http://www.facebook.com/GoRed?ref=pb

  18. Roozerdo says

    SOR, My daughter too is a leap year baby. She will celebrate her “7th official” birthday. Happy Anniversary and Birthday to all the Feb”R”uary people out there.

  19. SOR says

    Roozerdo,
    I can remember my husband telling the doctor to hurry up and get her out. He thought it would be terrible to be born on leap year. I thought it would be unique. But I did want him to hurry up and get her out also. LOL

  20. Roozerdo says

    SOR,
    yep. Our babies knew they wanted to be special. So they waited to “LEAP” into this world at just the right time. When she was little, she thought it was unfair. now she is grown, she likes that, she will live to be much older than the rest.

  22. momsby says

    The Canadian Groundhog Willie has a different prediction than the American Phil’s.

    Hope that does not mean we get an eary spring & our nighbours to the South don’t!

    We’ve had the mildest winter in 100 yrs, so I guess I won’t complain regardless of who is right 🙂

  23. SOR says

    Leap year babies are special. My daughter was featured in the newspaper because of her bd. They asked her what she wanted for her bd and she said a bale of hay for her horse. So her teacher brought her a bale of hay in the back of her cadillac, lol, and they took a picture and put it in the paper.

  24. snickers says

    FYI,

    Betty Crocker is offering up to $70.00 off in coupons on their web site. If you are having a Super Bowl party, here’s some savings.

  26. carol says

    SOR. my birthday is on the 12 also and I share that birthday with my brother who is four yrs. older.

  29. Ann@IW says

    Happy Birthday Carol!
    Happy Anniversary to Mo& hubby and Teresa E. & hubby! That is a sweet Anniversary. Boy, there is no forgetting that anniversary (or there’s double trouble.)
    .
    I heard two robins today. i didn’t see them, but I know what they sound like, and they are two months early. (Yea!)

  30. Ann@IW says

    Thank you HB- for the Betty Crocker coupon tip. I have $7.00 of savings ahead tomorrow morning.

  32. carol says

    Thanks to everyone for the b-day wishes, and SOR Happy B-Day to your husband and daughter . Happy B-Day to your daughter also Roozedo.I think it is so neat that your girls have a leap year birthday.

  33. Pam@IW says

    A big shout out and Happy Birthday to my Dad who is celebrating his 88th birthday today! Love you Dad.

  34. snickers says

    HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Pam’s Dad!! Hope you enjoy the Superbowl Game or what ever you are going to do to celebrate!

  36. Holly says

    I really like Ellen and found this absolutely disgusting! The power of One Million Moms could collectively create so much good and this is what they focus their attention on,getting rid of Ellen! Seriously,this is so sad and pathetic! Who’s next?

    Anti-Gay ‘One Million Moms’ Campaigns Against J.C. Penney for Hiring Ellen DeGeneres as Spokesperson
    J.C. Penney hired Ellen DeGeneres to get some attention — and so far, she’s delivering.

    OneMillionMoms.com — a project of the uber-conservative American Family Assn. in Tupelo, Miss. — is upset that the retailer hired DeGeneres — the openly gay host of the daytime talk show “Ellen” — as a spokeswoman to help retool its brand.

  37. Eydie says

    Happy early Valentine’s Day, ladies! Long time no speak. I wandered in wondering if there would be a discussion about the Komen controversy… Wow, how the site has grown! Good job ladies 🙂

  38. Eydie says

    Oh, and Holly I agree with you!

    I worked at JCPenney during all school breaks while in college, and it treated its people pretty fairly. Much friendlier and kinder to its workers than the more “hip” department store I tried for one Christmas season. That, along with merchandise at a certain price point, is what I believe makes a business promote “family values.”

    And while I don’t watch Ellen a ton, to me she’s more like Phil Donahue than a sociopolitical storm center …

  39. Lily@IW says

    Holly, I agree. One Million Moms would do better directing their focus elsewhere. I’m disgusted that they took a stance against Ellen as a spokesperson. I loved Ellen’s Amex commercials. They were a hoot and so is she.

  40. Pam@IW says

    Hi Eydie! Nice to see you again. I am trying to talk Jennie into writing something about that.
    .
    I don’t know that much about One Million Moms or this controversy. I don’t understand why there is a controversy.

  41. Lynn says

    Well I got a non-defective mixer yesterday. I made the most awesome pita bread today and stuffed them with BLT makings. OMG they were so good. So I guess I love my new mixer.

  44. Kmom2 says

    Ok…..great game last night! Congrats to NEW YORK and their fans! Kelly Clarkson did an amazing job on the National Anthem, such a hard song to sing, Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton did a fantastic job as well. Not much of a Madonna fan, like some of her music but her personality turns me off, but the show was good. I would like to put on record that I am not going to do a Super Bowl snack spread again! Next year I will make a pot of chili or cheese soup or chicken noodles or something and that’s it. I tried a bunch of new recipes and the only thing that turned out good were my bacon wrapped tater tots, but just a few of those will do ya. Gah! I hate to try new recipes and they turn out like poo! But I did enjoy the game!

  45. Pam@IW says

    Sorry to hear that Kmom2. I have kind of given up on all of that too and now when we do have Super Bowl parties resort to ordering pizza and I just do the desserts and maybe salad and a fruit, chips and dip. No one really seems to care anyway. They are too into the game and the commercials.

  46. Kmom2 says

    Yeah….I wish I would have done chips & dip, pizza or Subway, and fruit and dip. Not going thru all the trouble of “appetizers” any more. I had a recipe for this nacho bean dip from Betty Crocker and thought it would be fabulous, but it was terrible. I was really disappointed. Oh well….on to next year!

  47. Momsby Jones says

    Kmom2, I hate it when that happens! I’ve done it too, especially at Christmas..this year I only tried a couple of new recipes & stuck to my tried & true. Way less stress!

    We unfortunately don’t get all the really cool commercials..(my favorite part) but I did watch a sneek peak of the Ferris Bueller one & enjoyed it. One of my favorite movies..I would have liked to have seen this Becks one everyone is talking about ;0
    I spent most of my time at the party we were at, feeding & entertaining kiddies so I didn’t actually watch anything other than Madonna rock the halftime show;) We rushed home so I could catch it!

  48. Momsby Jones says

    I don’t understand this Ellen controversy at all! Seems ridiculous to me…
    Happy belated Bday to Carol & Pam’s Dad 🙂

  49. snickers says

    Pam,

    I love all the dog ones Pam, they are just too cute. The E-trade babies steal my heart. LOL.

  51. Holly says

    I didn’t know where to put this but I had to share it with someone so who better than the ladies of IW! I have lived in L.A my whole life and have seen tons of movie and TV stars everywhere and never get “starstruck” but today while I was eating lunch at a little restaurant in Studio City CA I had to do a “double take”! Sitting at a table near me was Gilles Marini! For those of you who don’t know who this handsome Frenchman is, he was on Brothers and Sisters and Dancing With The Stars but he is most famous for being the sexy neighbor of Samantha Jones in the Sex and The City Movie. He was naked in the movie so he was difficult to forget! Even more handsome in person, even with his clothes on! Wow!

  55. Holly says

    Adele,
    Yummy is a great way to describe him! He looked better and younger in person. Anya you are right, he is very handsome and his accent is great. As I said I see famous people quite often but there was something about seeing him. In fact my Husband was with me and he said: “what’s the matter with you,why are you so interested in watching that guy”? Like I always say: “I’m married, I’m not dead”!

  56. JennieIW says

    Yeah, Anya is not big on European guys – she likes the all-American type. I tend to like British guys more than she does but not necessarily French guys. But Gilles Mariani is DREAMY. I am so jealous!

  62. snickers says

    Did anyone see that the Bates family is getting a show?? They are friends wih the Duggers and just had their 19th child. Hope we can have a post on this sometime.

  64. Anya Tennyson says

    Interesting, Snickers. Do you know if it’s on TLC?
    .
    I’d be willing to check it out. I’m sure we will discuss it here. On that note, I wonder if/when “Sister Wives” is coming back? I know a lot of us watched that one too.

  67. snickers says

    Anya,

    All I saw was what People Mag was saying about the Bates. I wonder if there was any discussion going on anywhere? I have been out of the loop so much this month.

  68. Pam@IW says

    Anya, I don’t see anything about Sister Wives on the TLC site but I think last year it aired more around May, didn’t it?

  69. Holly says

    I loved the Grammys last night. I thought LL Cool J was a great host and really liked that he opened the show with a prayer. Adele was my favorite but I also liked Bonnie Raitt, Deadmau5,The Band Perry,Taylor Swift, and the tribute to Glen Campbell.

  70. Pam@IW says

    I didn’t watch last night. I am not sure why. I would have liked to have seen the tribute to Glen Campbell.

  71. Jennie@IW says

    I have loved LL Cool J for a long time but I hate his cap. Does he wear that thing all the time now? It looks stupid. It can’t be to cover baldness because I don’t know that I’ve ever seen him with much hair!
    .
    Adele was fabulous. So glad she won a lot. Did anyone see her on “60 Minutes”? Totally charming.

  72. Holly says

    Jennie,
    I have loved Adele since Chasing Pavements. I saw the 60 Minutes interview and liked it. I cannot believe how young she is, but at heart she is an “old soul”.
    Pam, the tribute to Glen Campbell was great. Some of the songs like Wichita Lineman made me feel really nostalgic for those pure folk songs. Even though he has Alzheimers I think he did pretty well. I did not realize that he was 75, but then it’s hard to comprehend that the song game out in 1968 and I was 11!

  75. Teresa E. says

    Thanks Pam. Happy Anniversary Mojito. I loove mojitos, by the way.
    .
    Hope everyone is having a loving Valentine’s Day.

  76. Lily@IW says

    Happy Birthday to all of our IW posters born in February! And, to Pam’s dad.

    /
    Happy Anniversary Mo & Teresa E! Many more years of blessings for you both! 🙂

  80. Mo says

    Thank you for all the anniversary wishes! 🙂

    @Pam.. I can’t believe it either. Just a few months left of the school year too. It’s flying by!

  82. stu says

    I am very curious..Now that gas prices are at $5 a gallon at some places in my area…which in of itself is disgusting…..but I want to have the conversation about when the oil men were in the White House and they were gouging the public with High gas prices to line their pockets and their friends…The left went nuts along with the media blaming the President and the VP. The vilifying of them was off the charts. So I ask where are you now? Where is the media and the left? Why is there no outrage that the gas prices are sky rocketing? Do we currently have Oil men in the White House now?

  83. snickers says

    Lynn,

    I don’t start my garden vegs from seed, except for the decortive broom corn, etc. We have had such a mild winter, it will be interesting to see what the spring weather will be like. I look for my crocus to be popping up at any time now. I am so ready to garden! We had rain all day yesterday, not something you see much here in Feb.

  84. snickers says

    Stu,

    It’s almost 4 bucks a gallon here, this will hurt the travel season for many again this year. Many will have a staycation again.Seems like this is not being discussed much in the news, although the Today show had a small clip this am concerning gas prices.

  85. Mo says

    Gas is $3.05 here right now. Two weeks ago it had dropped down to the $2.90’s. It took it about 3 weeks to get there… and about a 4-5 days to jump back up. Makes zero sense to me!

    We heard on the news that gas is supposed to be $4.25 by April. We are thinking we won’t end up driving to Cali this summer… we might just plan a staycation instead.

  86. stu says

    Right now I would love to see 3.05 a gallon. I just don’t understand the left and the outrageous hypocrites on this issue. They were like rapid dogs. Don’t you love the low gas prices because we went to war to steal all the oil!
    Don’t forget way back when the Obama Admin. said they wanted gas to rise to 8 bucks a gallon so we will use public transportation. Can you imagine if he gets another term and doesn’t care about re-election.

  87. snickers says

    Stu,

    Public transportation might be an answer for big cities, but rural America has to drive everywhere. Too bad Obama is so out of touch with the real world. We can’t afford 4 more years of his policies. In my area, his numbers are so low, he doesn’t need to stop on his re-election swing.

  88. snickers says

    Ln,,

    I should have added lettuce and carrots from seed, right into the garden. I don’t start seeds in my home. Seed potatoes, might be included in this. In the country, I plant pumpkins, gourds, etc from seed.I have been pawing at the dirt for a month now, but Mar-Apr weather could be very rainy. The seed catalogs have arrived. 🙂

  92. SOR says

    Does Obama ride in an electric car? Will he use the public transportation system? Is he going to ride in an electric airplane? Hell no, he won’t. Trump was on Wendy Williams this morning talking about cutting our strings with China and do something about the gas issues. I wish he would put up or shut up. If he would run,l would vote for him. Can’t stand him, but at least he is an open book, and would get something done. I don’t have public transportation either, and after all the shootings recently, I would not ride the damn thing anyway.

  93. Ann @ IW says

    We put gas in 4 cars and the closest commute is my daughter’s- half an hour in mostly city traffic. I really pay attention to gas prices and we can’t afford this much longer! The gas prices are NUTS. Tell me why we aren’t drilling in Alaska more?

  94. SOR says

    Ann,
    Somebodies wife needs a new vacation home. I don’t know why we cannot drill here. Anybody have an answer?

  95. Cheri says

    I live in a state where oil drilling has become very popular as of late… You might even call it an oil boom! But, right now, our gas is $3.49 a gallon. Hurts the pocket book!

  96. stu says

    the reason we don’t drill here is because of the left. Plain and simple. They have elevated their anti oil movement to a religious fever. The White House had the balls to blame Republicans today for Obama killing the oil pipeline. They even went as far as to say he didn’t veto the pipeline. Are you kidding.

  98. snickers says

    Stu,

    Gas went up her 25 cents within 10 minutes yesterday. We are over 4 bucks now. Instead of singing last night, maybe he should be paying attention to the gas prices, which does not effect him as we pay for his. Look for unemployment rates to sky rocket now, it’s a trickle down affect. No tourism, trucking sur-charges etc.

  101. stu says

    They will be against it because it is a religion to them. The only ones who might break away are those who might have to run for office and are being threatened.

  102. HB says

    Snickers…stu, I suppose we’ll find out where ‘cadidate in chief’ has to say about the spiking oil prices today. Just look at the price of oil futures…! Can anyone say IRAN & Syria? It’s NO secret that Obama said he’d like to see U.S. prices match Europe’s…so we are FORCED to focus on alternatives. IF he mentions tapping into our ‘reserves’ again – we are cooked! Our gas prices in & around DC have been over $4 for a week…went up 7 cents overnight! Our ‘neighborhood Exxon’ reflects where we’re heading…’supreme’ is $4.79. (The hdqtrs. for Exxon/Mobil is visible from said gas station?)

  103. Jennie@IW says

    I guess I don’t get why people think they are entitled to cheap gas. People who are so for “free market” and supply and demand get very indignant when the financial burden is theirs. If it’s too expensive for you, take the bus.

  106. Holly says

    Jennie,
    Once the Government gets involved in an industry it is no longer a “Free Market”! I truly believe that this gas increase is a direct result of the President’s actions and more importantly inaction.
    This is from Investors Magazine (for those of us that don’t get a pension or have a 401K and have to figure out how to make our money grow enough to last until retirement!)

    During his presidential campaign, Obama admitted he didn’t have a problem with sky-high gasoline prices, he just “would have preferred a gradual adjustment.”

    His choice for energy secretary, Steven Chu, certainly doesn’t mind them. Before joining the administration he said that “somehow we have to figure out how to boost the price of gasoline to the levels in Europe.”

    And last year, Chu claimed “the price of gasoline over the long haul should be expected to go up.”

    At the same time, Obama has repeatedly feigned an inability to do anything about oil prices. Last April, he said: “I’m just going to be honest with you. There’s not much we can do next week or two weeks from now.”

    Again this is not a Free Market as Companies are not able to compete on price (Capitalism is what brings prices down) because the Government is regulating the production of Oil and making us dependent on the Middle East in these ways:

    Immediately after taking office in 2009, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, canceled 77 leases for oil and gas drilling in Utah.
    The EPA announced new rules mandating the use of 36 billion gallons worth of renewable fuels (like ethanol) by 2020.
    Last summer President Obama needlessly instituted, not one, but two outright drilling bans in the Gulf of Mexico.
    After rescinding his outright offshore drilling ban, President Obama has refused to issue any new drilling permits in the Gulf, a policy that the Energy Information Administration estimates will cut domestic offshore oil production by 13% this year
    Interior Secretary Salazar announced that the eastern Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic coast, and the Pacific coast will not be developed, effectively banning drilling in those areas for the next seven years;
    The Environmental Protection Agency has announced new global warming regulations for oil refineries;
    Interior Secretary Salazar announced new rules making it more difficult to develop energy resources on federal land.
    The EPA is slowing a pipeline that would expand U.S. access to Canadian oil sands.
    As far as taking the bus! Seriously, not everyone can be a State,City,or Federal Gov’t Employee and work from 9-5. Some of actually have to travel far at all hours of the day and night to earn a living!That was really a ridiculous comment on your part!

  108. HB says

    Jennie, that may have been a cheap shot…but NOT all who fill their tanks are commuting to jobs as you might be. Tell a plumber, a contractor…you know where I’m going!

  109. stu says

    HB…Cheap shot?? Not Jennie.
    Again a post based on feeeelings. Point out..again..where someone said anything about entitlement. Jennie with that statement you just showed either your ignorance or your complete lack of knowledge about the free market. Your President sure as heck doesn’t know.

  111. HB says

    Holly, I appreciate your taking the time to include FACTS. I am sorry to have been behind the 8-ball. I started to ‘thiMk’…& just pushed ‘post’ – as dinner was MORE than ready! ‘Take a bus’…denotes thoughtlessness to the extreme…to me. That comment coming from someone who admits to being left of liberal. ‘TAKE A BUS’??? It reminds me of….’let them eat cake’.

  112. Lynn says

    Sorry for being off topic.
    Snickers,
    I am starting all my plants. I am giving myself a week to get 250 plants started.Think I can do it? As far as wotking outside this weather is so unpredictable. One day it is 70 and windy next day its 28 and snowing. So I think the outside work will wait until April. Not much to do out there anyways did most of it in the fall. Besides I need to be able to see my feet again before working out there.

  114. snickers says

    Lynn,

    Off topic back to you. We went from 50’s to having a blizzard today. Wow, that’s a lot of seeds to plant. Ya, you can do it!! I never plant garden until Mother’s Day and we can still have the threat of a frost. I have ordered some new things from several plant catalogs already.. Green corn this year for decorating. Interesting! Every day I get new offers in the mail, crazy, how many lillies can you buy. LOL.

  115. JennieIW says

    HB, Lily, Holly: I was trying to make a point and obviously hit a nerve. The “take a bus” suggestion was a commentary on the conservative habit of making it sound like it’s so easy for poor people to get a second job or jump whatever ridiculous hoop you think they should jump through in order to pull themselves up by their bootstraps. I’ve noticed conservatives never think those rules should apply to them. They are happy for government aid when it benefits them.
    .
    I’m pretty sure the government gets involved in plenty of industries. Corn subsidies, anyone?
    .
    Final comment: I clearly recall the gas prices spiking and dropping EXACTLY THE SAME WAY when George Bush was president. But I guess that’s someone else’s fault. Bill Clinton’s, or some other Democrat, no doubt.

  116. Lynn says

    I dont plant the garden until the first week in May but my makeshaft green houses let me start some stuff early. Want some lettuce? I got a ton growing in there now.

  117. Anya@IW says

    Oy vey, some of you seem to have failed to grasp that Jennie’s “take the bus” comment was meant as satire. Communicating on blogs is apparently a (very) imperfect way to communicate.
    .
    Does anyone want to discuss the positive news on the jobs front? I read today that Feburary is another strong month for jobs creation. I’m sure that is something we ALL can be happy about!
    .
    Happy Weekend, you all! 🙂

  118. Holly says

    Jennie
    Can we stop with the stereotyping? Who are you talking about exactly? As someone who has lost over 50% of my income over the last two years I would never say that it was “easy for poor people to just pull themselves up by their bootstraps” or any of the other things you have attributed to “all Conservatives”. Once again I do not consider myself a Conservative as I believe in Same Sex Marriage, Roe vs Wade, legalizing Marijuana and a host of other “Liberal Ideas”! Saying that “all Conservatives think this way” is like saying: “all Democrats think like Senator Alan Grayson that: “All Republicans want Seniors to die rather than pay for their healthcare”! Would you want that person to represent “all Democrats”? There are ridiculous politically driven comments from both Parties but those are from the Politicians you cannot believe that that “whole Party feels that way” based on a soundbite.
    I also find it surprising that just because people have a legitimate concern about rising gas prices and I think my last post listed why the Administration is hampering many methods of increasing gas production in the US and lowering the prices, somehow that transfers into a fight against the poor and a pro Conservative stand! This doesn’t even make sense.
    As far as your ” satirical”,”let them ride the bus” blame game, that should be placed on President Obama for not working to lower the gas prices anyway he can. Everything from the cost of food, supplies, public transportation, even disposable income will be affected as the fuel costs go up!Directly hurting the poor! Same thing with the Payroll Tax, acting as if that $40 a month that most workers will get is going to be “life changing” because they can order Pizza for their families! What the President neglects to mention is that money comes out of their Social Security and is money that will not be contributed. They may need this sooner than retirement if they get sick or injured.

  119. MAC says

    Next time I am showing property, I will tell my clients we are going to take the bus. Oh I forgot, there are not any buses where I live. Maybe we can hitch a ride on the school bus.

  120. HB says

    Anyone remember ‘stagflation’ in the 70’s? What frightens me the most is Obama doing something STUPID…as did most of all the presidents before him, when the cost of fuel skyrocketed. We have all the components for every American to be weeping…that being a weak dollar, onerous regulations & HIGH taxes! One doesn’t have to go back too far to remember Jimmy Carter’s odd – even line-ups at the gas pump…not to forget chopping off 20 mph on highways etc. Obama MADE affordable alternative sources of fuel one of the keystones of his ‘hope & change’.
    /
    Anya, yes a rise in the jobs market is noteworthy. Unfortunately most are a 2nd or 3rd job to help households meet the demands of just staying above water. Considering the fact that less than 50% of us pay income taxes might be a wake-up call. I am sick & tired of hearing this president say what he thinks ‘fair share’ is. He sings to the choir of those who expect that government will take care of them! We ALL have skin in the game! How I LOATHE this class warfare. NEVER in my lifetime did I think another president could make that dear peanut farmer look good.

  121. Lily@IW says

    HB, Lily, Holly: I was trying to make a point and obviously hit a nerve. The “take a bus” suggestion was a commentary on the conservative habit of making it sound like it’s so easy for poor people to get a second job or jump whatever ridiculous hoop you think they should jump through in order to pull themselves up by their bootstraps ~Jennie
    /
    Thanks for clarifying Jennie, totally missed your intent and read it in a literal sense. I was surprised because it’s not like you to be so glib. I should have known.

  122. Holly says

    Anya,
    I think it’s a little too early to celebrate the job situation as I just read this yesterday:
    POSTED ON FEBRUARY 21, 2012 BY JOHN HINDERAKER IN 2012 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, ECONOMY
    UNEMPLOYMENT RISING AGAIN?
    The Gallup organization reported today that its mid-February survey found unemployment increasing to 9%:

    The U.S. unemployment rate, as measured by Gallup without seasonal adjustment, is 9.0% in mid-February, up from 8.6% for January. The mid-month reading normally reflects what the U.S. government reports for the entire month, and is up from 8.3% in mid-January.
    That is a very sharp jump, probably due in part to seasonal factors, and it is a little hard to believe that the official, seasonally-adjusted number that comes out in a couple of weeks will increase by as much.
    Everyone would rally behind the President if he could lower Unemployment and create more jobs (not Gov’t jobs) but jobs that will bring revenue into the economy.
    Oy Vey is right!

  123. Anya Tennyson says

    Holly, I was just trying to point out some less than dire news. I understand the economy is in flux and has yet to stabilize. I understand that there is still a lot of economic uncertainty out there. Unfortunately.
    .
    HB, I agree with portions of what Obama says about individuals and corporations paying their fair share. Believe me, I don’t want the government to take care of me. I want to continue to take care of me and don’t think much of folks who think they are owed a hand out. (Although I do believe in reaching out to those in true need). Not everyone who wants corporations to not have such an easy time skirting the taxes they owe wants something from the government.
    .
    To those who want Obama to work on lowering gas prices, I am sure he and his administration believe they are doing their best. The president has limited ability to make a meaningful difference, in my opinion. There are those who want to drill in Alaska, but many energy experts don’t believe that drilling would have a long-term positive effect on global oil prices and he would certainly face opposition from the Democrats in Congress.

  124. Adele says

    I always wondered about that 50% statement in connection with federal income taxes. Here are some facts I found in connection with those numbers.

    As for the half of Americans who don’t pay income taxes, there are some good reasons for that. About 30 percent of this group are either seniors or students and have very little income. Many others don’t pay taxes because they don’t make enough money and their tax liability is offset by tax deductions or the Earned Income Tax Credit. In other words, millions of working Americans are too poor to pay taxes — a problem that we should be worried about. It’s also worth noting that nearly half of all adults are not in the workforce at all right now. Millions who do work are underemployed.

  125. HB says

    Anya, I agree, Obama can NOT wave his magic wand & lower the prices of GAS, much less any other commodity. Yes, there is a BUT…he is so mired in WHAT HE THINKS is the best as far as energy. There is such a thing as a President backpedaling & allowing those who already have access to oil – drill. After the Gulf Oil spill…there are rigs ready for business & they’ve YET to be given the go-ahead. (He’s PULLING permits.) It’s ALL foot dragging & milking BP. Actually Obama has the power of the podium. He uses it as he did when he was a community organizer.

    As far as Jennie…I can not begin to tell everyone just how much I enjoy her! The truth be known…she reminds me of my much loved (VERY LIBERAL), left coast SIL of over 50 yrs. Unfortunately my fingers don’t connect to my thoughts as deftly. Nor would I dare pit my wit (or lack thereof) against hers! With that said…Jennie, I think you should write copy for Jon Stewart!

  126. snickers says

    HB,

    Oh, please, not another peanut man in office. 🙂 Remeber the 21% interest rates, and the the grain rotting sitting on ships. Wonder if his Habit for Humanity would love some of that product today that spoiled?

  127. stu says

    I think those who don’t pay tax’s should be thankful to those who do. It”s the tax payer that allows the other 50% not to pay into the tax system and also receive other benefits. So maybe people should stop yelling about paying their fair share….because right now not everybody does.

  128. JennieIW says

    Holly, I don’t think I’ve ever said “all” conservatives think this or that. That doesn’t sound like something I’d say, since it’s certainly not something I believe. Anyway, if you’re not a conservative, and if you don’t believe x, why get so defensive about it? You can just assume it doesn’t apply to you, since you’re not a conservative anyway, and I’m not talking about all conservatives.
    .
    I’m still curious whose fault it was when gas prices rose to the exact same heights in 2007.

  129. Holly says

    In 2007 when the gas prices rose, the Administration did not try to hamper domestic oil production. The difference with the current Administration is that restricting domestic oil production is all part of an “agenda”!
    These are the reasons we are not producing enough domestic oil:
    First, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar canceled 77 leases for oil and gas drilling in Utah in his first month in office. According to the U.S. Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Land Management, there are 800 billion barrels (a moderate estimate) of recoverable oil from oil shale in the Green River Formation, which goes through Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming. This is three times greater than the proven oil reserves of Saudi Arabia.
    Then last summer, President Obama needlessly instituted not one but two outright drilling bans in the Gulf of Mexico. The Energy Information Administration estimates that President Obama’s offshore drilling ban will cut domestic offshore oil production by 13 percent this year.
    Last fall, Interior Secretary Salazar announced that the eastern Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic coast, and the Pacific coast will not be developed, effectively banning drilling in those areas for the next seven years. At least 19 billion barrels of easily recoverable oil lie off the currently restricted Pacific and Atlantic coasts and the eastern Gulf of Mexico.
    President Obama has also failed to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, where an estimated 10 billion barrels of oil lie beneath a few thousand acres that can be accessed with minimal environmental impact. Those 10 billion barrels are equivalent to 16 years’ worth of imports from Saudi Arabia at the current rate.
    I am quite certain President Bush did not have an Energy Secretary like Chu who hoped our gas prices would go up to $8.00 or $9.00 a gallon so we could be more “European” and drive less.

  131. Ann @ IW says

    Anyone remember ‘stagflation’ in the 70′s?
    I was just a kid, but I do remember the WIN buttons we were that stood for “Whip Inflation Now.” What the heck were kids wearing them for? I think I still have one- and the old smiley face buttons- remember the smiley face? Sort of like this one–> 🙂

  132. stxmom says

    Can’t believe this month is almost over. The older I get the faster the time goes.

    I’ve been sick with pneumonia, I think I’m finally on the mend.

  134. Pam@IW says

    Stxmom,
    So good to hear from you. I am glad you are on the mend. You have too much on your plate to be sick.

  136. Kmom2 says

    Silly Snickers! While I appreciate the healing thoughts, I’m not sick….lol I wrote hoping stxmom was feeling better. But thank you!

  137. snickers says

    Sorry Kmom, don’t wish you to be sick, enough of those around these days!! Take care anyway! 🙂

  139. Anya@IW says

    Sxtmom, I was worried about you based on some tweets. Glad to hear you are heading in the right direction health wise. I’m sure it’s been hard with all you have on your plate. Thinking of you and hope the recovery continues at a rapid pace! <3
    .
    I need to weigh in on Adele's post and other political stuff, but I will save that for tomorrow.
    .
    Glad March is just around the corner!

  140. snickers says

    March is so close, but we have winter weather now that we should have had at Christmas. My first garden seeds arrived in the mail today, but they will just sit in the basket for awhile yet. I’m so ready to dig in the dirt!

  143. Pam@IW says

    Happy Birthday to the Leap Day people that were born on this day. They get to celebrate on their actual birth date!

  144. snickers says

    Last day of Feb, in like a lion out like a lamb?? 60 mph winds with snow and ice, but melting underneath. Sending thoughts and prayers to the people in Mo. Ill. and Kansas that were hit by tornado’s or very bad weather.

    Happy Birthday Leap Day babies.

  146. Holly says

    I heard the clip that Stu posted on the Larry Elder Show and was amazed at how brave and honest this woman’s video was. She is already experiencing Death Threats in the US for expressing her opinion. I totally agree with her that the President should not have apologized to Karzai and it did not “calm things down” as the President said. I read that two more American Soldiers were killed today in Afghanistan bringing the total to 6 in the last two weeks in retaliation for burning for Qurans!