Ask Ping!
Friday, October 29, 2010 | 11:00 AM
ODI dates back to the 1980’s as the leader in grip manufacturing. Focusing primarily on the bmx and mountain bike industries through the 90’s and early 2000’s, ODI re-entered the motocross scene when they developed the patented lock-on grip system that eliminates wire and glue. Continuing to advance the way riders hold on to their bikes, ODI has worked closely with the teams they support such as Troy Lee Designs to create the product that is now being used by some of the top teams in the industry.
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PrintPing,
You’ve been a staple of the SoCal moto scene for years. You most likely have met/know members of the Metal Mullisha, Brian Deegan in particular. I was curious, as a lot of readers may be, of why he always is portrayed in print and advertising with the strained clenched teeth look? My take is that he is photographed whilst on the "throne" trying to drop a deuce that is reluctant to submerge. Or, my other thought was he is actually pained with the products that he signed on to endorse. This being said because I do not think I have seen any other Mullisha members striking such a pained expression in there print/advertisements. Any insight here?
Mike DeBlanco
Warwick, NY
That is the benchmark look for Brian lately, isn’t it? I’m tempted to send him a bottle of stool softeners. He and I don’t have a very friendly past. I think we realized we weren’t going to be buddies starting at Ponca City way back in 1992. We were both riding the 125 and 250 intermediate classes and I think I had a run-in with him or one of his friends. And things never got better. Deegan represented the "dark side" and I was the clean-cut kid wearing polo shirts and living a pretty normal life. And that was the way it was through our whole pro racing career. Once I quit racing I tried to bury the hatchet with Brian. He had made a lot of changes in his life and he seemed like a different person than the angry punk kid running around with his middle fingers in the air. I apologized for all the crap that happened in the past and told him that I hoped we could squash it and move on. Then, a few months ago, we got into it again over one of his ad campaigns and we were right back at each other’s throats. I think Deegan is a good guy. He’s in a difficult spot because I don’t think the guy that he is now meshes with the image he’s created for himself. Sometimes he has to play the part of gang leader/miscreant and it gets under some people's skin… mine included. Just know that under that flat-billed hat and black tee shirt is a genuinely nice guy.
PING
Ping,
To start off, the last "ask ping" article was amazing; smiles all the way through, I love it! I just wanted to say my piece about the 'Mowologist' fellow. Bullshit! I was so angry reading that letter because I work at 40k/yr job and I’m struggling to race maybe 6 times a year. This kid or Internet athlete must be just typing this to anger or just take a stab at you. Unless he’s cutting the grass of top Hollywood actors using their equipment, fuel, transportation, etc, he is lying. There is no way he’s mowing local lawns day and night to buy a truck, a bike, and the expenses to go racing. I own a rusted out Toyota I purchased when I was 18, I have a mortgage, a 09 CRF250, the same No Fear gear I bought when I started, the most holes you'll fine in a pair of A-Stars, and the list goes on. I can barely manage my upkeep on all of these without dipping into credit. My obvious point is that this kid or person will soon realize the real world and it’s expense and it doesn’t slow down for you. I said my peace, I had to vent out. Thanks, Pingree, I’m looking forward to seeing you guest star as a paramedic at some of the SXs. Oh yea, that picture of the PING was great… haha.
Kyle Henkel
197
Don’t let it get your panties in a twist, pal. That kid is clearly being subsidized by his dad and when he has to pull his big boy pants on one day and do things on his own he’ll realize that it’s much more difficult to stay in the black ink than when daddy was paying the mortgage. I commend his work ethic but mowing grass and delivering papers doesn’t afford you motocross as a hobby anymore. And if he does make it as a professional racer, someday down the road, we can all have a good laugh at him holding a giant PING in his hand.
PING
Ping,
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing" –Edmund Burke
"All that is necessary for the loss of our riding areas is for dirt bikers to keep their mouths shut and not vote" -Bill
I’ve read quite a few articles recently of how off road enthusiasts need to get out and VOTE! As an avid reader of your column I can tell you’re as frustrated at the current political landscape of our country as I am. The fact that you live in California, which is the most politically screwed up state in the union, you should have some pretty good insight on the future of our sport if we as enthusiasts don’t come together and let our collective voices be heard. I am confident there are many of your readers who are not planning on voting and as a result will be adding one more nail to the coffin of dirt biking. There has never been a more important election than the one we face on Tuesday November 2, 2010. Remember: When in doubt, vote the incumbent out!
Bill
True words, indeed. If you have recreation areas that allow motorized vehicle operation don’t sit back and think that it will never go away. There are organizations that are working on closing your riding area right now! The Blue Ribbon Coalition and the AMA and similar groups really do work to protect your right to ride and you should be supporting them and staying informed on what’s going on with land closures and proposed land closures. Hundreds of thousands of acres in Montana that I grew up riding on have been closed down in the past two years. And that is just one state! The crap that is going on in Washington right now is honestly frightening. And just as scary is the fact that many people don’t care enough to try and understand what is going on and do something about it. Do yourself, and everyone in this country, a favor and vote on November 2. And, no, I will not be on the ballot this year, sadly.
PING
Got a question for Ping? E-mail him at [email protected].
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Hey Kyle, The difference between me and you is that I'm 16 and you're old. Me, being a kid, doesn't require me to pay a mortgage, food, bills, etc. All I pay is moto expenses and for my truck. A kid doesn't have the same expenses as adults. Because of this, I am able to pay for motocross by mowing lawns. If I was 30 and on my own, then I would be unable to do this because of the extra bills. And since when is a 16 year old expected to pay for a mortgage. It's the parents requirements to care for the kids until they are 18. Mine just provide the basics. I pay for all of my truck and bike costs and also all the maintenance and insurance on both.
I ride dirty scooters! i like to go fast. mowin lawns sucks!
hey jeff, so you have insurance on your motorcycle. meaning you prolly dont have it payed off. that right there is enough to say you dont have the money to pay for motocross. how smart is it to finance a product that is worth half of its cost as soon as you sign the papers? my question to you is this. when you gernade you bike (which almost any real RACER has done) who pays for it? im guessing not your neighbor with the scalpled lawn. i know when i blow up my bike im pretty much SOL til i can save up a grand. but then again my father isnt my loan officer
Leave the kid alone, it is great that he can race by mowing lawns, whatever his level is.
I say leave the kid alone as well. If he is full of it.....he already knows. Life will rear it's ugly head at him soon enough. If he is out mowing and riding/racing ....he is getting exercise and breathing the air. It is unlikely he is one of us fat Americans....yet anyway. He is 16 and I can smell a touch of entitlement there....not much different than most of us at 16 though.
Jeff, how much do you charge? My lawn guy is ripping me off. I'd rather fund your MX habit than pad this guy's wallet.
ahh yes....i remember Deegan when he was like that...almost got in a fight with him when we where on 80's...he was a real idiot back then...but he has mellowed out alot since then...Ping called it...he's just pushing the tough guy image now...If clinching teeth gets you paid I'm all for it..
Hey ping, you are getting fat and look pretty stiff on a dirt bike. Need proof? Watch the comp. edge sx track grand opening video. Maybe you should talk less about surfing and surf more.
No i do not have insurance on my bike. I have it on my truck. I do have it paid off. I paid for it with crisp 100 dollar bills. When my bike grenades, I use the money that I had saved. I've always had enough saved because I don't waste my money on stupid things. And no, my dad is not a loan officer either. And yes, this is all true. No BS because unlike you guys when you were 16, I actually work to pay for my stuff. And no, I am not one of you fat americans who are sitting at their desk job eating donuts and drinking coffee all day. I'm one of the working americans whose job also provides them with some exercise (walking for a few hours per day). And I charge $25-$30 for mosts lawn. Most only take like a 45-60 mins. Although I can do a few in about 20 mins (those are like $20). So yeah, I'm making up to $60 per hour but mostly its about $30 per hour. And i do it for 3-4 hours per day. And then the only expenses for mowing lawns are gas which usually only comes out to about $2.50 per day. And then I bought my mower with birthday money for a few hundred dollars and and also some oil.
Anyone criticizing Jeff, including you Mr. Pingree should be ashamed of yourself. Here's a young guy obviously busting his a** everyday to do what he obviously loves, riding motorcycles. It sounds like he's pretty squared away to me. Unlike a lot of young people today I was actually raised by two parents, I didn't just grow up. I was taught what was important and how to make decisions. And yes, go-cart and motorcycle racing, college, learning to fly aircraft were all subsidized by parents that made me an equal partner in all of it. Until you know the facts, put your cynicism aside and support your local neighborhood 16 year in what ever endeavor he or she may explore. Remember, this young person could go on to be president one day.
Hey Jeff, I'm impressed. You not only know how to control your finances but you can spell and put a decent sentence together. Great job! As for Deegan, is his image helping the sport of motocross? Ever since he threw his bike away when he won a 125 supercross, I haven't had much respect for him.
Hey Jeff don't let the people on here that are bagging on you and making assumptions get to you. It sounds like you are heading down the right path to fiscal responsibility. Keep your head up, and get some theft insurance on that bike. It's cheap insurance, literally.
Thank you pxh911, rbmotox, and oktaneho. Finally people are starting to believe me. And for the theft insurance, that is covered under my parents homeowners (as long as the bike was in the garage).
@travis0215 - In my ten years of racing dirt bikes, I have never grenaded or blown up any bike. (and I ride 250F's! :0 ) I must not be a real racer. It's called maintenance, check it out.
Geez, let's put this whole lawn mowin' Jeff thing behind us. Are we really spending two weeks on it? Props to Jeff for buying his own bike, but enough with the bragging Jeff. It's cool you did it, but it's not really that uncommon. I worked all summer when I was a teenager to afford MX bikes too, as did 90% of my buddies that rode. So, props to you, but at the same time, get over yourself. And seriously, why did you even write to Ping if you were going to get upset at his response? Have you not read his column before? If you write to Ping, expect to get a smartass response, it's what his column is all about.
LOL!! You guys really don't much about the lawn maintenance? Seriously... there is some serious money to be made in it. Just look around you with all the lawn care trucks with mowers... I gave you some figures last week... Times that by 10 or more... You have the average lawn care business with multiple trucks and guys pushing them for 10 dollars an hour.
Jeff, i doubt if your homeowners insurance covers your bike!, My buddy had his stolen and it was not covered, do yourself a favor and check your coverage before its too late. Bike insurance is a great a bit cheaper than 8G s for a new bike, check with insurance companies for quotes, also keep up the good work on the lawns, stay with your parents until they want you out LOL! Its alot cheaper beacause sooner or later you will come into the real world!
I was expecting a smart ass response from him, because he says that you can't mow lawns anymore and still race 4 strokes. I didn't expect this reaction from the other people. And then for someone to write a letter about by letter. All of that was unexpected from you guys.
Ping, I'd vote for you buddy! I just don't think there is an "Ice cream Czar" position available at this time but, who are we kidding? There's still a couple years' worth of insanity still on the board and you just never know. Your constituancy is behind you and you couldn't have any worse grasp on reality than the tools that are driving our bus towards the cliff already. I've talked myself into it, Ping in '12!!! If this thing works out, is there any chance I could be introduced to some of your "interns"??? Also, I'd like to ride on the lawn of a goverment building, Sacramento would be nice but, I'd settle for Corona or some other podunk municipality.
kudos jeffery,,Does'nt Deegan kinda look like beavis when he does that..It makes me laugh when I see him. someone mentioned Maintance,,,even the best mechanics have lost a motor now and then. My guess would be that the guy whom has never suffered a blown motor does'nt ride that much or that bike has never been outta second gear let along out of the garage much,,just an observation..
I will say this. Here we have JEFF, a good kid it sounds like who will try and work to pay for his bike and racing and not exspect mommy and daddy to buy everything. And we have a bunch of keyboard jockeys trying to call this kid a liar and give him hell. It sucks, JEFF, dont let these jealous haters knock you down. You sound like a kid who has good priorities and isnt afraid to work for something you want. Keep up the good work ethic and you will make something of yourself. But dont forget what is most important, your grades at school..
What are all of you computer geeks on here for? shouldn't you be working instead of trying to prove a 16 year old wrong, when you haven't even met him. You're just making assumptions because you wish you had a work ethic like me. And besides, you have no way of knowing, so how can you say something. Only I know the truth (or if you guys know me), and the truth is that I pay for my racing by mowing lawns.
Don't vote for liberal/progressive, tree-hugging morons!!!
UAW- MEMBER wont U get in trouble for saying that?? I mean the Unions ALWAYS suport the DEM'S don't they?? How much money did they poor into Obama's campain?? Next Tuesday is take out the trash day!!! Lets hope the REP's at least take back the house so we can slow down this run away spending gov take over of our lives!!!
Jeff, Keep up the good work. I did the same at your age, I HAD to ride. $5 a lawn but the bikes were soooo much cheaper then. " Tuesday is take out the trash day" Love it!
If you were near me, Jeff, I'd have a rake in your hands.
Ping grew up as a spoiled moto brat. That's why it bothers him so bad that a 16year old kid pays his own way. I'd like to see Deegan **** slap the little twit.
HEY JEFF Do not let these idiots get to you. I started out just like you 22 years ago mowin and still do it at the ripe age of 41. Why? Cause it pulls in 10-12k a month 10 months a year (net 6-8). Hard work but I live on the lake and have no bills. It is not what you do, but how you do it. I do 10 - 12 yds a day avg $55 each.
Yeah, good job Lawnboy Jeff! I have no idea why anyone is bagging on a kid with a work ethic paying his own moto-way. You're learning that life requires hard work and if you want something bad enough you can get it through hard work. Lesson not learned by many that are 35 years old and have their parents paying their bills (or bail). I'm still laughing about Deegan and the clenched teeth!!!!! That really makes me want to buy some ProTapers seeing that ad!
Wow you guys are coming down on the lawn mowing kid hard. He's saying that he lives at home and has no bills except for his racing. Its not that hard to do mowing lawns even if he did some postage stamp lawns for $25 a cut and did 6 a day which should take 2-3hrs thats $150/day. Shoot my buddy started mowing lawns for a living like this kid 20yrs ago in high school and he was bringing in $2500/month in 1992 and today he has 30 trucks going out daily and grosses 4.5mil a yr to his lawn company,so kid keep it and keep your expenses low and the best time to buy lawn,motocross equipment is always in the off season cuz the people that cant save a dime are hurtin for a buck and will offload their stuff dirt cheap believe me. keep doing what your doing and you will be a succesful young man and don't listen to these bitter mad at life people cuz they are jealous. someday you will have a mortgage but you keep it up what your doing and how your living your life you will have the down payment for your house and not be these people who couldn't afford a apt but the banks financed them a house with a balloon payment and they took the bait and now living in a box or with mom n dad again at 45 yrs old. keep it up kid and dust the haters off
Let's all just settle down a bit. if you didn't read this column for the past two weeks then you have no context for my response or letter that was sent in this week. i made a comment several weeks ago about motocross becoming too expensive for a young guy with a minimum wage occupation to even pArticipate in anymore... That's where all this started. Then Jeff called me an idiot for saying all that because he has a lucrative lawn service, apparently, that has allowed him to buy bikes, a vehicle, gear, parts, tires, fuel, oils, etc, etc and still pay his way to go racing. I just had a hard time believing that he was pulling all that together without some help from dear old dad... Nothing wrong with that either!! This is, and has to be at times, a family sport. Kyle called BS in the above letter and while it might seem that we are picking on Jeff, that isn't the case. I'm disappointed that a sport as amazing as motocross is getting so expensive that fewer people are going to be able to experience it firsthand. Thats all, folks. Jeff, I admire someone who is willing to work as hard as you are. I really do. If more people had your work ethic this country would be a better place. My first job was cleaning pubic hairs out of mens urinals at a factory that made wood cabinetry. nothing Awesome about that. But it made me appreciate the value of a dollar, a good education and all the support my dad gave me in my racing career.
NOW LOOK WHAT YOU PEOPLE DID!! You got David so upset with this nonsense that he is unable to sleep. Posting at 1:30 in the morning?? Get some sleep sir. It's a big world out there and a new day is about to begin.
If more people had your work ethic this country would be a better place because people would stop looking to the GOV for a hane out!! Thats what the GOV wants though, If you work hard they want to tax the he!! out of you and give it to some lazy ass. Take ou the trash on Tuesday and get this country back top the way it started ... Where hard work was encouraged and appreciated and not punished!!!
Actually guys lawn mowing is a quite lucrative trade these days. I pay a guy named Jose (no that's not a racial joke, his name is really jose) $120 a month to do my lawn. That's 4x's a month on average so lets call it $30 a week. It literally takes Jose 20 min and he's on to my neighbors lawn. I live in a small sub division w/13 houses and Jose does at least 10 of them every Wed. 10 lawns at $120 a month brings him $1200 a month. He's usually in and out of my neighborhood in 3-4 hrs for 10 lawns. So 10 laws (avg $30 each time he cuts them) in 3-4 hrs is $75-$100 a hr. Jose , I'm sure has clients all over my city too. Lets say he has 7 other subdivisions like mine he takes care of w/and average of 10 clients in each subdivision. That's 8 subdivisions --80 total lawns (at $120 a month) he mows once a week at an average of 30 min a lawn. That equates to a solid 40 hr a week living of $9600 a month. and $115k a year. Seeing Jose's truck and trailer set up also leads me to believe he's pulling down that kind of dough. I'm of the agreement that racing is way to expensive and yes, most kids could not afford to race just cutting their neighbors lawns but it is possible. As far as Kyle , the guy that wrote the letter goes, maybe he should change his career choice to landscaper.
Your right BILL, lets take out the trash, but dont forget 22 months ago why we voted those idiots out too!!! Lets not let the same idiots in we pushed out in 2008. Dont forget why we got rid of them.
BD one big problem is its slim pickin's every year. No good person want's to get into it becuase they will get smeard and run over. I wish we could get rid of them all and start over, Give them a year or 2 to see what direction we are going if it does not look good get a new group in there that will do what's good and stop the BS.
Right-on kid, good job keep up the good work. Its always easier and you make alot more money if your using your brain for work so get a degree. Now go play somewhere
You're naive, jairtime. Under your Republicans, money moved from the middle class up to the top at a rate not seen since the time of the "robber barons." (If you don't know your history, look it up.) BillC is right, it's slim pickings out there, and the reason is because of the massive control held by mega-corporations who fund these evil campaigns anonymously and grease the palms of any candidate that is in a position to allow them to continue to F the American public (and brainwash them along the way). Repubs have proven to be worse than Dems in this sense, but they're ALL guilty. And some of you should think long and hard about what it would be like without the social programs we have in this country. Fk those old people and poor people and people without health insurance who get sick, right?
sef154: No sir, you are not only naive but unfortunately a puppet for the "collective good". For the love of all that is good & Holy...PLEASE do some research besides your beloved MSNBC & Huffington Post for your political talking points. You sound like an intelligent man. Step outside your little box & use a little common sense! As a Founding member of the Texas Off-Roaders Association (TORA), we saved a huge riding area several years ago that we have to fight to keep almost daily. Why? The Environmental groups will use the mantra of "destroying the land" but the # 1 "land killer"? Noise. Why? B/c seriously...who here is not going to state the sound waves of 4-strokes are approx. 3 times & travel twice as far as 2-strokes. This argument wins almost EVERY TIME. The reasoning is b/c the "Average" Citizen & taxpayer does not like to hear "noise". Know this folks, the Progresives/Democrats WILL CLOSE THESE AREAS DOWN. They are controlled by Socialist/Marxist groups & funded by George Soroz. Don't believe me? Goggle Soroz' empire & do a little research. Good Heavens people, look at the land-closures JUST in CA! The Golden State has been democratically (Marxist) for the past 20 years.
I'm no puppet, EAGLE. Do you honestly think MSNBC is more biased than Fox? Give me a break. We had a story on this site about how local gov't was giving Reedy a hard time about using his land for riding. The posters all came on and decried the "liberals." A little research showed that those local authorities are Republican. Imagine that! You are correct that noise is a huge issue with rights of both on- and off-road riding. I am of the opinion that land should be protected AND used, but this is by no means the only issue we should be concerned with. It amuses me that the Republicans have smeared so-called Obamacare, yet, a) Obama campaigned on universal health care - and won, and b) this law only vaguely resembles what Obama wanted. The process was flawed by Republicans’' political games ("Just say no") and by private (BIG MONEY) interests that influence EVERY politician and prevent the reform that is OBVIOUSLY needed. Now the Repubs declare "repeal and replace," but replace with what? They had chance after chance to improve health care, but did NOTHING. Meanwhile, their deregulatory ways helped who? BIG insurance, BIG pharma, BIG oil, BIG food (that's one that escapes most people, as money goes to make ethanol and HFCS, both DISASTEROUS policies, while 3rd world countries have healthier diets than us) ... in short CORPORATE America. Call me a liberal, call me a puppet, but what I am is someone who sees through the black and white bull**** being fed to us by BOTH sides of the aisle. It’s clear that some of you are blinded, and at this point in history, it’s the Conservatives that are controlling the message.
Sef, you are right that both sides have their ups and downs but come on. Why the heck should people get goverment supported this and that when alot of them are too damn lazy to work. No matter what the case is, I dont want the goverment in control of my health or anything else for that matter. You loose your freedom when you start relying on the gov. for handouts of any kind. Whether dem or repub, we need some people that are about pushing self reliance rather than goverment care. Two yrs of unemployment? Sounds more like welfare to me.
I would say about 90% of the people off work right now are not too lazy to work. That is crap written by someone lucky enough to still be working. Example. The guy who used to be my bosss, a 20 year ironworker, hasnt been off of work for 18 years. Was a truck foreman and supervisor for 12 years. Just got laid off in September. And with his resume, still cant find work. And if the Republicans here in Indiana get elected and have their way, this guy and all other construction workers would be "re-catagorized" as SEASONAL EMPLOYEES. Which means if they get laid off, they get no unemployment benfits. Like this guy or myself are part-time or something. Its typical of the Republicans to cut the throat of the blue-collar people in this country. The working people get screwed by the Republicans . I went to school for 4 years, and served a 4 year apprenticeship, have an Annuity, and a pension, my job is not seasonal. I havent been laid off in 10 years. I am lucky too. I will remember this on election day. NO REPUBLICANS FOR ME. NO MORE. I am not a rich millionaire. I didnt forget what they did to our economy 2000-2008..
Dont forget how good the economy was when Bush and the Repubs. took office in 2000. And how bad it was in 2008 when Obama took over. No, I dont support everything he ha done, but some of you and Fox News excpect a miracle in only 22 months. It took a long time to tear this economy down, and it is finally starting to move up some. Dont forget who was really in control when this economy went down the toilet. Which in turn has turned our sport upside down. People cant afford dirt bikes, and off road vehicles in general. And that hurts our sport if involvement decreases. If the economy suffers, so does our sport.
I think some of you are forgeting who was in charge when the economy started going down hill, THE DEM'S!!! When the dems took control of the house and Sen Thats when things got bad, look it up, 6 trillion in debt sence the DEM'S took over, I blaim Bush for some of it because he backed down to the pressure. But he is the one who said the housing crap was going to hit the fan and Barnny frank and Chris Dodd Two Dem's said all was fine and the rest of the Dem's backed them up and ran over Bush. The DEM's are the ones who ran up the debt and Obama has run it to the moon!! Sef You are out of your mind if you think MSNBC is more fair than Fox!!! Fox has BOTH sides of the story, How many REP's are on MSNBC??? Bet you there is no where near as many Reps on there as there are DEM's on FOX!! Why do you think FOX is kicking ass?? Also why is Obama's aproval at 42% now?? and 70% of the people HATE Obama care?? The REP"s were not alowed to help on Healthcare... Remember it was done behind closed doors?? He!! POS Nancy did not even know what was in it... Remember her sayin "we must pass this bill to see whats in it"... Nice right??
Thinking Fox is unbiased is proof positive of the brainwashing that's gone on in this country. BillC, you keep saying the Dems were in charge when things went bad. Bull****. George (or rather, the "real" decision maker, Mr. Halliburton, D Cheney) got us into two wars, unfunded. They conned a few Dems into going along with Iraq with their fake WMDs. Then they mismanaged both wars, costing us billions with less than the desired outcome in either. Dems got control of Congress in '06, but for the most part they weren't passing laws unless Bush signed them! You guys that are so anti-gov't involvement seem completely ignorant to the damage that deregulation has caused or the movement of wealth to the top in our society. The last time our gov't didn't have significant involvement in business was the early 1900s. Maybe you should go back and learn about the conditions of the "average" American back then. Big Business had ALL the power. Bush and the boys went a long way toward taking us back there, and the attention-deficient Americans now think that it ALL should have been fixed within 22 months - with an entire major party working against it! But you'll still blame Obama. Brainwashed.
As far as I'm concerned there is no such thing as unbiased in the media. FOX always gets singled out as being the only biased outlet which just could be due to the frame of reference available. When everything else is so far left anything close to center seems way far right. They're all biased.
BillC your post rocks! Sef and BD stick to mototalk!
SEF... I am sure there are very right shows on Fox but ALL the crap on the others IS LEFT, They don't even cover some stuff but HAMMERD Bush all the time on anything. I mostly watch Bill O'Reilly, If you think his show is far right You need help. Like BKR said FOX gets bashed by the sheeple like you because all you see is the FAR LEFT so anything just to the right of FAR left seems far right to you.I bet you think NPR is good right?? You say "Dems got control of Congress in '06, but for the most part they weren't passing laws unless Bush signed them!" Well see my post above... I said I blaim Bush for NOT standing up to the crap the Dems where passing. and you also say "the attention-deficient Americans now think that it ALL should have been fixed within 22 months" Well aint that what oBama told us?? You keep saying thing were worce that anyone though... well then oBama was either dumb or he was lieing to us... Witch was it?? And DON'T say "he had with an entire major party working against it" HE had th 60 dems he needed in the Sen and More than enough in the house be he STILL HAD TO bribe and twist arms to get the vote on healthcare!!! NO ONE knew what was in it but they passed it any way... YOU think that is OK???..... Thanks Miller821
You're a typical Fox follower, BillC. Are you saying O'Reilly is moderate? Good one. The best sign that you're a conservative is that you read my posts, which were in no way a compliment to Dems, but because I'm not a "right cheerleader" and a "left basher," you claim "all (I) see is the FAR LEFT." If that's what you think you see, you truly are blind (and I'm not at all surprised). Like BKR said elsewhere, the prez has limited power to effect major trends - and the economy was a snowball rolling down a big hill when Obama took over. If you think McCain would have turned this thing around by now, you're DREAMING.
And still not a word regarding the disaster to the middle class called deregulation. Without gov't intervention (and the establishment of unions), you and I are right back to the dark ages of labor, toiling away for peanuts while the robber barons get richer. Deny this, and you truly are ignorant.
Hey Sef. Yeah i'm still working. I started my own business 3 yrs ago, on my own without any help from anyone. I know that not all people who are off work are lazy but I have also seen some people have jobs lined up then comes along another unemployment extension so they sit on their buts and collect. Where are all of the infrastructure jobs we were told were going to start after the stimulus. I live in Indiana too and there isn't anything having to do with infrastructure jobs going on that I see. I said that both sides have ups and downs but none of what Obama promised has been put into place. What the heck does healthcare have to do with fixing the ecomomy? Cap and Trade? This guy said he was going to lower the oceans for gods sake. That right there should have told people it was a joke. I again say both sides have good points and bad points but you will never make me believe that what Obama has done so far is a good thing. - Bill c you da man!!!
What does healthcare have to do with fixing the economy? That's a good one, hondarider. Ask any of the 30 million+ w/o it how it affects their economy. Hey, no where here am I arguing that the gov't is a well-oiled, efficient machine. But those of you who think you want to go have yourselves a tea party are (apparently blindly) trading one set of problems for another. Despite the gov't's inefficiency (and corruption), it's the only mechanism we have to protect us from the power and greed of Corporate America. We'd all like to see them do a better job, but turning a blind eye to Wall Street, Big Oil , Big Pharma, Big Food, Big Insurance, Big Banks, etc, etc (which seems to be the Republican policy) is NOT the answer. And let's be honest: the people out here didn't buy the "next coming of Jesus" stuff when Obama was elected (nor did I), so why are you trying to hold him to it now? I'll repeat, with McCain, the economy would still be in the dumps. People just love a scapegoat. And if you think you can plug your "home economy" answers into something as complex as the mess we have in this country/world (the two are inseparable in the 21st Century), then you have no clue. Enjoy your tea.
FOX has both sides of the story?? HAHAHAHSAHA!!! thats a good one, all the media is biased, all of them.. And BILLC. the economy was going bad way before the Dems. got the Congress, way before.
Well sef O'Reilly has people from BOTH sides on there EVER day, Invites anyone on to give there side... Do the "OTHER'S" do that?? NO.. Show me how he is a shill for the Right... HE hammerd Bush many times and gave Obama the benafit way to many times IMO.. But the Others give oBama a pass for the same stuff they killed Bush for.Now some one like hannity I will agree with you is way right but I think Bill is very fair to all. and for someone who says there "not left" you sure blaim the Reps for Everything it seems, U can hide behind the fact that U did not prase the Dems but there are not to many side here.
The thing you leave out, BillC, is that you STARTED the whole political conversation ("Take out the trash on Tuesday"). That's the way it ALWAYS starts out here. No one ever starts these conversations on RacerXonline by saying, "The world's ills were caused by REPUBLICANS." Nope, it's always some bonehead that has to not only make it political, but make it ALL the Dems/Liberals fault. Then if someone like bd or myself points out the obvious flaws in your all-or-nothing opinions, we "blaim (sic) the Reps for Everything," according to you. We're just making a counterpoint to your biased bashing, but I suppose we're the fools for thinking you're even capable of acknowledging someone else's point of view. BTW, O'Reilly brings in non-conservatives so he can "prove" them wrong, which of course all his lemmings agree with. Isn't he the dope that said "Muslims killed us on 9/11"? Do we say that "Christians killed us in Oklahoma City"? Fox News were Bush cheerleaders for eight years. Pull your head out of the bias, Bill!
Gee SEF I do believe the people that were flying the air planes into our buildings WHERE MUSLIMS.... if I am wrong on that I will NEVER post on here again. Prove Bill and I wrong on that.... Can't wait for this one. Who was behind the attack on Pearl Harbor?? How about them " German's" didn't they do something also??? Your Oklahoma City comparison could not be more weak, One NUT VS a group that is raised TO HATE and KILL...WEAK at best. On your other point... Who is in charge SEF?? THE Dem's... They are the ones who did the Healthcare crap. Will U or Obama EVER man up and say we are running things now?? I mean its been 2years almost and HE STILL blaims BUSH!!!! He Told everyone he could "FIX" it when you say that it is YOUR mess so stop the not my fault crap
Funny how you take a point from "the View".. How do you feel about that POS Joy Behar calling Sharron Elaine a beotch?? Tell me what would happen if a conservative woman called some Dem woman a ****?? Well what would happen?? Funny how Behar gets away with it... But the byist media just over looks this... Yup you and BD are wright its fair out there.. LMFAO!!! Wake UP!!!
So out of the billion-plus Muslims in the world, a handful of them were responsible for 9/11, but hell, let's indict the WHOLE LOT! My comparison (that would be an analogy, actually) is not weak at all. "Christians" have been killing people throughout history. Let's indict the whole lot. BillC, maybe YOU are a terrorist! Feels good, doesn't it? And I'm not even on TV. O'Reilly and the rest of the Fox gang are a bunch of antagonists, and they produce people like you who attack everything you disagree with (even when you don't understand it). As to your question (who's in charge?), let me explain it to you (like I have about three times already on this page) ... BIG BUSINESS. If you doubt me, you're an idiot, plain and simple. They fund the campaigns. they bribe the politicians (Reps AND Dems), and if you try to take them down, they'll crucify you. THAT'S why health care reform didn't turn out as well as it should have (and DEFINITELY not what Obama wanted). So you can huff and puff and, um, well, you can **** me (down?), but go ahead and give gov't back to your precious Repubs. I can't wait. Then we can watch them cater to the corporations more than Obama EVER will, and we'll be even more F'ed than before.
So Sef who was responsible for the two atomic bombings against the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki?? Was that the 2 guys in the planes or the USA?? Man you are thick sometimes.
Now let me get this straight, Its Bushes fault up till Obama took over now its BIG BUSINESS thats causing all the problem... man oBama gets off the hook again!! and SEF it sounds like you might be GAY... U said I can BLOW you?? Sorry boy I like Girls so don't proposition me again. Funny how in the other thread you say you need to go talk to some more intelligent people than you come over here and start the 4th grade crap. Wow your are a piece of work. like so many from the left, Can't stop with the insults just like your pal Joy Behar, No Brains just insults because you can't help yourself.... its really quite sad.
Great battle guys! But after the Christian bashing and the Muslim sympathy, Sef154 take a seat better yet take a hike .
hondarider68, I have to agree. I sadly have to admit that I know people that are hoping to get laid off with the way unemployment benefits have been extended. These are people that have calculated that they will get close enough to their current pay in benefits and can spend the time looking for a new job at their leisure. Unemployment is supposed to be a helping hand when needed, not a calculated plan for an extended vacation while changing careers! I've never collected unemployment, but I'm hearing stuff like benefits are going for 18-24 months? I always thought it was a matter of weeks before they ended. How is this possible?
If you guys google what caused this, you will find that it was Clinton. When he was in office, he signed laws that went into effect during the Bush-era. Also, he said everyone should own a house and encouraged banks to make risk loans. Thus, the democrats caused the recession
Bill, you're definitely not my type. That aside, to a degree, business has always had the final say. Bush's buddies were in their back pockets in unprecedented ways. The legislature still is in their pockets because it's Dems AND Republicans that are guilty. That's why anything anybody tries to do gets bastardized or squashed. You'll forgive me (or don't; I don't give a flying....) for getting a little testy, but reading your twisted thoughts and blindly biased opinions bums me out, since I know that there are many more like you.
Hey Mark01, you can google just about anything, bud. Google how the CIA was responsible for 9/11. You'll find it. Going to believe that, too?
miller821, slow down and read carefully, dude. No Christian bashing (except for the hypocritical aspects). Bill says it's ok for O'Reilly to indict an entire religion; I'm sayin' it ain't cool, no matter what the religion. If you disagree, then maybe you're not cool with that pesky Constitution stuff. "The civil rights of none shall be abridged on account of religious belief or worship, nor shall any national religion be established, nor shall the full and equal rights of conscience be in any manner, or on any pretext, infringed." But hell, go ahead and indict an entire religion. Right, Bill? I'm sure that wouldn't infringe. A few people get roughed up because their Muslim ... oh well. Ok with gay bashing, too? What other bigotry do you approve?
Sef you once Again SKIP right over things, Answer my questions..."So Sef who was responsible for the two atomic bombings against the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki?? Was that the 2 guys in the planes or the USA??" "Who was behind the attack on Pearl Harbor?? How about them " German's" didn't they do something also???" No bigotrt just FACTS I now how you hate them but FACTS are FACTS. So Now Sef you are saying that Clinton Did NOT push for laws to help so everyone could own a house and encouraged banks to make risk loans? Please you can't be that far out there. or is it there has never been a DEM that did anything wrong just the REP's?? A big part of your problem is you don't see all the news just what you little world tells you I guess
It's not the Fox world Bill, that's for sure. Who was responsible for the atomic bombs? Are you for real? Were YOU responsible? Are you comparing a gov't sanctioned event with something carried out by a fringe group who CLAIM to be Muslims, but who the VAST majority of the Muslim world opposes? What bull****. Do you even know any Muslims? Are you also saying that encouraging home ownership is the same as making bad decisions on loans? Pretty sure Clinton was never a loan officer. I've never said everything Dems do is right (quite the contrary), but you seem to say everything they do is wrong. Who's the biased one? BillC, go vote for your Republicans, and then go argue with someone else.
There you said it, U say the 9/11 guys "CLAIM to be Muslims" If there not what are they?? And a Fringe group is down playing it severely!!! Yup look the other way and they will stop hating us right Sef??
Also i am not arguing, You are the one who seems pissed with all your slighted coments and innuendo's.
Hey Sef, I know you can find anything on Google. But, there are laws that Clinton passed, Clinton quotes. And yes, The CIA could have connected the dots in the coming days of 9/11. There were many trades on American Airlines, United, and a company that had many floors of the WTC, where they were betting the price would go down. And someone still hasn't claimed their $2.5 million from this. Also, why did the builidngs fall straight down? If they were hit on the side, they would fall over. Why did the building not hit by a plane collapse? 9/11 could have been figured out by the government, and there was more to it than just planes crashing into buildings
Also, there is more to every story than what the news reports. you have to research it more to get to the beginning of things to figure out who caused it and what all contributed. The Republicans didn't cause the economy, neither did the Democrats. You could argue either way and be right, depending on the facts you present and how you present them. Sef, you seem like you just go off of what the news say. They don't report the whole story, just what they want.
and SEF hears what he wants.
I think it's safe to say that SEF has selective hearing
Guess last night says the people are SICK of the DEM'S!!! Did you hear that SEF???
Are you comparing a gov't sanctioned event with something carried out by a fringe group who CLAIM to be Muslims, but who the VAST majority of the Muslim world opposes? Really sef, really? Is that why we see the leaders of the Muslim world coming out and saying NOTHING? They don't condem these acts, they say nothing. Pull your head out of there sef, or don't, you seem happy in that dark little world you live in.