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Friday, March 29

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Fuel

Good Luck / March 30, 2009 9:20 AM

Hope and Change. That our problem now.

Let's face it. You were duped and we are all fucked.

Thank you so much.

Baldeesh / March 30, 2009 9:26 AM

My upstairs neighbor has overflowed his toilet for the third time in about 8 months, and that's damned gross. My lease is almost up, and if the landlord chooses to do nothing about it again, then I'm going to have to find a new place.

I hate moving.

Carrie / March 30, 2009 9:37 AM

I scraped my arm on a fence yesterday and now my arm hurts, like the muscle. Emergency doc said probably not tetanus, but currently, it's all I can think about. I'm pretty sure I got a tetanus/whooping cough shot last year, but I'm not positive. That's it... for now.

zoenotcool / March 30, 2009 9:45 AM

What's the point of any of this? That's my current problem.

Matt / March 30, 2009 9:49 AM

I have a problem ignoring idiots like Good Luck.

printdude / March 30, 2009 10:02 AM

I've got a faulty on/off switch on my good-time-o-meter.
I've got a very nice house that no one wants to sell for me.
I've got a hankering for hotdogs and it's still "breakfast time"

Irisheyes1212 / March 30, 2009 10:32 AM

A neverending craving for crappy food despite my better judgement. Like these chili cheese fritos. WTF.
Chronic sinus problems
Constant sick stomach
The fact that #2 and #3 are clearly caused by #1 yet I still do it
A case of the Mondays
Growing my hair out
Cancelling my NOL jazz fest plans - without hurting the other person's feelings (this will be a tough one)

jen / March 30, 2009 10:48 AM

currently temping at a job/place i hate. need a new job, probably in a new field, but have no idea how to go about it.

G. Maitland / March 30, 2009 11:22 AM

I want to switch careers, but starting over in your mid-30s with a child in tow is a bit tricky, no matter how much your wife encourages you to do so.

I also can't shrink the size of my to-do list, no matter what. Every day the list gets bigger and bigger!

DaveDave / March 30, 2009 11:27 AM

Stupid people... like Good Luck.

I'm with Matt. .. Like we weren't "fucked" a year ago? Two years ago? Like we weren't duped four years ago? Eight? Dumb asses like that who want try to cloak their dislke for Obama (you figure out your own reason) into some psuedo political/econimic reason when the paint isn't even dry on the "Office of the President" sign. That's my problem.

Well, that and finding a place to park.

Good Luck / March 30, 2009 11:49 AM

Rookie foreign policy blunders, let's recount the ways...

Obama administration's treatment of Allies:
UK (DVD - the gaffe episodes)
France (sent intro-letter to Chirac who isn't president, instead of Sarkozy, who is)
Poland (missle defense v. Russian helping with Iran)
Czech Republic (missle defense v. Russian helping with Iran)
Georgia (Russian invasion in ‘08, with big O saying nothing of substance)
Isreal (where to begin?)
Mexico (ignoring NAFTA treaty ignites $10 billion trade tariffs as retaliation)
Italy (reaching out to the president, which is largely ceremonial, instead of the prime minister, who is not)
Spain (Joe Biden praised them for support in Iraq, when they never helped in Iraq)
Saudi Arabia (first TV address, stresses American weakness and wrongdoing in region)

Obama treatment of non-Allies:
Iran (reaches out via You Tube video - blows up in O's face)
Cuba (seeks to normalize relations - blows up in O's face)
Russia (Secret letter rejected by Medvedev - blows up in O's face)
Syria (reaches out, but for what?)
China (reaches out to promote buying US debt)
Hamas ($1billion of aid thru UN to Hamas controlled territory - smart move, real smart move)
Taliban (Wants to negotiate with "moderate" Taliban - blows up in O's face)

Has anyone figured out why Obama likes authoritarian regimes more than democratic and liberal countries? I mean, sure its only 70 days in, but I'd figure that he'd realize that these authoritarian countries represent the opposite of what liberal and progressive values represent.

Its just intellectual incompetence at this point.

Andrew / March 30, 2009 12:22 PM

Remember kids, don't feed the trolls.

vise77 / March 30, 2009 12:30 PM

Idiots who confuse superficial propaganda talking points with real thinking.

There are more than a few brilliant or merely smart conservatives and anti-Obama writers out there. Unfortunately, none have graced this page yet today.

Other than that ... saving as much as I can to prepare for the inevitable layoff. Trying to get that grad-school money mentality back again is not easy, and I'm a recovering tightwad to begin with.

momo / March 30, 2009 12:36 PM

In January, I applied for grad schools all over the country, and in February, I started dating a really cool guy here in Chicago. My problem is figuring out what to do *if* I get into any of those schools.

Dunl / March 30, 2009 12:42 PM

Where to start!?

annie / March 30, 2009 12:56 PM

My purse was stolen and anyone who has experienced this knows it blows! Plus I'm sad and tired.

Good Luck / March 30, 2009 1:03 PM

Wow, I've been called an idiot and stupid and I'm pretty sure that these same people objected to being previously called "useful idiots". So much for the gentle sensibilities of GB readers.

I think it is funny that any response is ad hominem. It is to attack the messager rather than the message.

If you have the ability to think critically, you should be able to see that there is a clear dichotomy in the foreign policy approach of this administration, with authoritarian regimes being the favoured parties.

You have to ask yourself,"how does one support gay rights while trying to curry favour with a regime that hangs homosexuals in public - as they do in Iran." How do you support women's rights while seeking dialogue with ideologies that view women as property, as the Taliban does"

These are not superficial talking points. If anything is superficial, it would be the committment to the values that Obama preached on the campaign trail.

spence / March 30, 2009 1:10 PM

My problem is with the idiots who are hoping the nation fails. Weren't they the same idiots calling people against the war in Iraq "unpatriotic?"....seriously, the hypocrisy....

spence / March 30, 2009 1:21 PM

Good Luck, you and the handful of Rush Limbaugh listeners in the world are the only people who think the foreign policy approach by the Bush administration was successful. and you act as if the Bush Administration wasn't proping up it's own dictators... hell Bush's unrestrained/unconstitutional use of executive power is viewed as many as the first American dictatorship...Hopefully we'll soon start seeing his his administration prosectuted by the Justice Department.

DaveDave / March 30, 2009 1:29 PM

It is to attack the messager rather than the message.

You're not a mere "messenger", you're attempting to be an interpreter. Big difference, if you couldn't tell, which leaves you open to said criticism.

The assement stands and is, in fact, now intensifed thanks to your ability to distinguish the above face.

DaveDave / March 30, 2009 1:29 PM

Should be "...the above fact."

Val / March 30, 2009 1:38 PM

@ Good Luck: The problem is you didn't even answer the question... "What's YOUR problem?" - not ours - but you've already answered that in subsequent inappropriate quips.
@ Baldeesh: I feel your pain. It is really hard to find a good landlord (no offence whoever is a good one).
@ Matt: You rock. Thank you.
@ printdude: Hot Dogs for breakfast is acceptable... hilarious.

... My problem is my good-time-o-meter is having trouble operating while snowing and I'm living out of suitcase for the next 1.5 months and I hope I didn't forget anything... :o)

Bagger Vance / March 30, 2009 1:41 PM

My problem?

That a President who campaigned on a theme of "change" lets the same old insiders like Pelosi, Reid and Frank handle "fixing what's broken," resulted in a pork laden piece of legislation that addresses the "unique problems" of their disricts but not the general problems American face.

A President who campaigned on "hope" for the future proposes the biggest, most bloated budget in history on which he can't even make an accurate projection of how it will turn out. A President who does everything possible to discourage investment in any sector of our economy.

A President who promises to stop the murder of innocents in Iraq endorses the procedure of partial birth abortion as an acceptable practice.

A media who drags a political candidate's underage daughter through the mud for being pregnant and choosing life, while turning a blind eye to the transgressions of Ashley Biden, who was once arrested right here in our fair city for assaulting a police officer.

Those are my problems.

Bagger Vance / March 30, 2009 1:45 PM

@spence

Last I checked Limbaugh had a lot more than a handful of listeners. Compare his numbers to your beloved Maddow or O'Franken and you'll see there's quite a gap.

spence / March 30, 2009 1:46 PM

...I'll add that reaching out Iran and supporting Iran are two different completely things...during the last 8 years, we saw exactly what ignoring problems turns into (Iran with Nuclear capabilities)...at least Obama is confronting the issue. Your example of Iran's human rights abuses is way off base. Of course Obama doesn't support the human rights abuses perpetrated by IRan, but how can that change if we continue to ignore them? It can't- the best way is to open them up and allow them to change themselves. Look at China, China is light years ahead, in terms of Human Rights, than it was 30 years ago. It's because a dialogue was started with them, with, by all of who people? Richard Nixon. Anyone with any sense knows this isn't true, but you, being a Rush listener, lack common sense. You are and you will just continue regurgitate his talking points. None of which are relevant.

spence / March 30, 2009 1:53 PM

that first sentence should read:

....I'll add that reaching out to Iran and supporting Iran are two completely different things....

@Bagger Vance

I listen to none of the above, so I couldn't care/wouldn't know. I have hear Limbaugh and can spot his "kool-aid" drinking listeners a mile away. And the couple million extremist who listen to Limbaugh are a only a handful when taken in context with the rest of the world (as I stated above)...

spence / March 30, 2009 2:01 PM

Sorry about the poor grammar in my above posts, when I get excited about something, I tend to forget how to spell... :)

DaveDave / March 30, 2009 2:02 PM

Last I checked Limbaugh had a lot more than a handful of listeners. Compare his numbers to your beloved Maddow or O'Franken and you'll see there's quite a gap.

Could it be that "liberals" like to think for themselves and don't need to flock to someone to tell them what to think?

I dunno, just a theory.

DaveDave / March 30, 2009 2:03 PM

Wow, this board got way off track, didn't it?

and yes, I did my part...

supergirl / March 30, 2009 2:03 PM

Spence: It happens.

See post #1 hahaha

:o)

spence / March 30, 2009 2:20 PM

Regarding pork in the budget: Out of 100 senators, only 3 did not have pork in that piece of legislation: 2 Republicans and a Democrat. Republicans were just posturing with their vote against the budget...If the budget wasn't passed, the federal government would've shut down (the budget was 6 months overdue - Bush apparently couldn't get it passed). This was just opportunism at it's finest by the GOP.

Bagger Vance / March 30, 2009 2:26 PM

@spence Bush couldn't get it passed, or the spiteful Party Of Pelosi refused to pass it?

spence / March 30, 2009 2:36 PM

@ Bagger Vance, aka Good Luck, AKA Machode

It doesn't matter, you're off-point.The point was that your whining about "liberal" pork is hypocritical. You act if Obama personally inserted it, it was inserted by 97 out of 100 senators. Lastly, the point was if it wasn't passed, the federal gov't would've shut down all operations if it wasn't this passed....which is a very bad thing. Go on listening to Rush...

Irisheyes1212 / March 30, 2009 3:02 PM

My current problem is it seems like every thread turns into a boring political mine is bigger than yours throwdown.

Good Luck / March 30, 2009 3:03 PM

Spence,

You have thus far blamed Bush (who I didn't mention, good or bad), created a strawman of me being a Rush Limbaugh listener, that I am recycling "talking points" (pulling a Journolist, so to speak), and now are saying that I am three people.

You have spent quite some energy on tangential points to my original problem - naive foreign policy and the fact that authoritarian rulers are held in higher esteem than allied democracies that share our same values.

I imagine that I am wasting my energy responding to someone who was gullible enough to think that hope and change meant more than my turn at the trough.

I hope for your sake you are in your late teens or early twenties so that you can blame it on a phase.

Bye

Spook / March 30, 2009 3:17 PM

I think Good Luck has broached some salient points and has certainly been paying attention more than I have, and certainly more than most Obama supporters.

I think credit needs to be given when credit is due and perhaps he’s not a republican? I certainly feel that Obama has been playing Ward Cleaver while the Banking industry runs amok

And Ashley Biden should have been front page news. I didn't even know about it until now, either we are for change or we are not. And I'm not just talking about tinkering around the edges or re arranging chairs on the deck of the Titanic

Spook / March 30, 2009 3:20 PM

p.s when I say not paying attention I mean I've been focused more on our economy as opposed to the international front, not that I’ve been completely ignoring it

spence / March 30, 2009 3:21 PM

I say you are Bagger Vance/ Machode because you all sound the same, regardless if you are or you are not them. It's the same ol' tired BS, the same thing that Rush is saying. You're all mindless robots. The foreign policy blunders pail in comparison to that of the Bush Administration. And if those blunders are all you got...well then that speaks volumes. Trying to attack me, personally (calling me a teenager?) is a nice attempt to discredit what I've said, but you can't ignore it. I'd say my point about Iran rebuts your point on supporting "authoritarian" regimes quite well.

Bagger Vance / March 30, 2009 3:28 PM

Ok Spence, how about instead of attacks you tell me what's right with this gov't and its policies in its current form. To bring the topic back around, what problems are there, and how are they genuinely being addressed?

Spence / March 30, 2009 3:33 PM

I don't know what's right with the this gov't...it's too soon to see which policies will work and which will not. I do know that what you said is just superficial attacks that originate in talk radio.

Mucky Fingers / March 30, 2009 3:33 PM

This kind of flaming is so tired even stand-up comics who are computer illiterate have jokes on this kind of idiocy. You're all screaming and bound to convince NO ONE of your beliefs. I can't believe a troll this obvious has - once again - gotten you fools to take the bait. Is everybody commenting here 25 years old and new to the internet?

If so, you humorless freaks need to move your stale political arguments over to Craigslist.

Bagger Vance / March 30, 2009 3:43 PM

Oh Spence, I only wish I had time to listen to talk radio in between working 50 hours a week and (gasp!) raising a family like all those other "breeders" you look upon with such scorn. Think about us humpbusting Americans scuffling to put food on our tables tonight while you're twittering away about the latest Tortoise album while you're waiting in line at Hot Doug's, OK?

David / March 30, 2009 3:43 PM

My problem is that the world is always on the verge of a radioactive zombie cannibal frenzy on the internet, but never in real life.

That, and the persistent inability of people to realize they're not going to change anyone's opinion because of a throwaway question on an otherwise great site.

Webster Dictionary / March 30, 2009 3:56 PM

Good Luck - uh, did you mean "missile"?

DaveDave / March 30, 2009 4:12 PM

Thanks for the laughs today, fellas.

Baldeesh / March 30, 2009 4:22 PM

So... much... wank...

fluffy / March 30, 2009 7:44 PM

deciding if I should get a part-time job in addition to my regular full-time job so I can help pay for my niece's school. My other problem is that Mr M is having some health issues and it's freaking me out.
I have no problem ignoring desperate attention-seeking behavior. Like, Good Luck didn't know he'd get the type of responses he/she/it did? The wanker is just trying to piss people off.

Rich / March 30, 2009 7:54 PM

What's my problem?

I have no place in mainstream talking points.

I thought Bush was a complete jackass...and I think Obama is so FOS I can't stand it.

Someone please label me!

That, and I have a problem with Baldeesh's landlord.

Leelah / March 30, 2009 9:45 PM

I keep getting this damn fever, cold, sore throat, cough combo. This week's version is also leading to watery, crusty eyes, cracked lips (always in danger of turning into cold sores), stopped up ears, sore abs (from the coughing), and I think I am losing the middle part of my nose to attrition.

Steven / March 30, 2009 10:24 PM

Wow. After reading all of this, apparently I have no problems. All I have to say to all of you is just let go and have a cocktail. Unless of course you like wallowing in misery. But I find it wrinkles my clothes so I don't do it. I just let go and have a cocktail. Time for one now!

The Fuel Poll / March 31, 2009 9:45 AM

Waah! Waah! Please change me Andrew. I'm full of crap!

Mich / March 31, 2009 10:15 AM

Whats YOUR problem?!?!

spence / March 31, 2009 10:37 AM

sorry for getting off-topic... by all means, please, go back to talking about your overflowing toilets, sinus problems, cheese fritos and medical histories.

Anon / March 31, 2009 12:26 PM

Umm, I thought fuel was set up as a fun diversion from work...not today, I guess!

DaveDave / March 31, 2009 12:31 PM

OK, I'l try to get it back on track: My problem today? Trying to stay focused on doing actual work. I start off fine, but then veer off into checking out websites (this one included), etc. What is wrong with my attention span today?

(Waiting for the Bagger Vance post to turn this into a political rant again: "You know who should stay focused on his work? Obama. His unfocused approach to solving our econimics problems are... blah blah blah")

flange / March 31, 2009 1:22 PM

i can't get back to paris fast enough or long enough. ideally for the rest of my life.

Andrew / March 31, 2009 1:43 PM

Spence, chastising people for not being supportive of a flamewar is almost as poor form as engaging in a flamewar to begin with.

Spook / March 31, 2009 1:50 PM

My problem?
When people who raise legitimate political issues and questions i.e. PROBLEMS get branded as “internet trolls “with “desperate attention-seeking behavior”

I guess now that Obama is president every body is suppose to go back on intellectual auto piolet?

Its like the Red Eye, I don’t like it, so I don’t pick it up

Yall don’t like serious issues then don’t respond.

Oh and Spence, how could you leave “cold sores” off the list? Disgusting.

My problem? Dumb A$S Americans!

And folks wonder why News papers are folding and book stores are closing down

DaveDave / March 31, 2009 2:02 PM

Mr. Spook, I personally have no problem with people who want raise "legitimate" (not that I think this Good Luck/Bagger character had a legitimate point... "we're fucked" is not a legitimate political point and therefore not worth serious treatment or response), but I would prefer it better if the conversation organically went in that direction, not forced there by some guy with an obvious agenda. That "not responding" goes both ways. You don't have to drink the Obama kool-ade but don't force your Haterade down my throat.

OK, I'm done with the liquid refreshment references.

spence / March 31, 2009 2:03 PM

I'm not chastising anyone for not being supportive. I'm simply saying that people sure seem eager to go back to talking about their mundane, daily, and in some cases - private problems/lives. If that's what the public wants, then give it to them! And that "flame war" if that was even what it was, provided more entertainment than any other post in this entire thread, you have to admit that. In all seriousness, it's a bit disturbing what some people are willing to share...it's embarrassing actually.

vise77 / March 31, 2009 2:10 PM

My problem?

Elevating a word such as "haterade" from some stupid ironic, simpleton phrase that adults now use without being embarrassed. Leave the haterade to giggly 12-year-old girls. For the rest of us, enjoy the wonderful richness of the English language--or, at least, make up a word that doesn't sound stupid and childish and unsubtle.

Rich / March 31, 2009 2:17 PM

Vise77...just to be clear, you have a problem with a word?

You must be a white chick from the suburbs with so many outlets in life taken care of to even give a fuck about a....word.

So, do you also burn books? There might be words in those books you have a problem with!!!

vise77 / March 31, 2009 2:58 PM

I burn books because I CARE about words and the degradation of the English language?

Uh, OK.

Yes, I am a white chick from the 'burbs, and wall those other assumptions ... What on earth do the 'burbs have to do with this?!?

madachode / March 31, 2009 3:42 PM

Wow I wished I had commented earlier but it seems that whenever I do , some self entiltiled free speech crusher changes the whole thread. My problem right now is how the IOC is going to view Chicago, Chicago won't get the green light because of North Halsted and the people running around there unsupervised. Need to chase all of them out like the pied piper but instead of music, Words of an upcoming military draft will chase everyone away.

madachode / March 31, 2009 3:49 PM

Spence,
I am one person, not three. Go and join the Military and contribute to society instead of milking off of mommy and daddys bank account/trust fund.

SD / March 31, 2009 3:57 PM

Working until 1am last night and working at 6:30 when I get home tonight. Seriously overwhelmed at work, with no letup in sight.

spence / March 31, 2009 3:58 PM

"Chicago won't get the green light because of North Halsted and the people running around there unsupervised. Need to chase all of them out like the pied piper but instead of music, Words of an upcoming military draft will chase everyone away.

Spence,
I am one person, not three. Go and join the Military and contribute to society instead of milking off of mommy and daddys bank account/trust fund.
"

Now that is what I would define as "flaming," not the political banter that went on above it.

DaveDave / March 31, 2009 4:27 PM

My ongoing problem? People who wouldn't know sarcasm if it put their heads in a "vise" and twisted until their eyes popped out.

See that last sentence making a snide reference to "phrases involving liquid refreshment"? It was meant as a nod to acknowledge the intentional use of the word "haterade", not in a serious legitimate-part-of-the-English-language way but a yeah-this-is-a-dumb-word sort of way.

I'm guessing a team of unicorns with rainbows tattooed on their collective asses couldn't pull the bug out of that butt.

fluffy / March 31, 2009 8:37 PM

I have a problem with people putting down unicorns. They are majestic creatures. Hatorade is fattening, but kool-aid is bad for you.
Let's not get our good lucks in a vise. Maybe I'll go on auto-piolet and join the military.
I'm with Steven- let's go have a drink and try not to madachoke on it. There's a flamewar in my pants!
Come to think of it, compared to you all, I have no problems.

fluffy / March 31, 2009 8:39 PM

p.s.- I've been drinking.

Baldeesh / March 31, 2009 9:17 PM

fluffy - I want to be your drinking buddy.

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