Everytime I see "Sully", it makes me smile. He is a great reminder of alot of the very good things that America represents. I am glad that he and his crew are getting some well deserved recognition.
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I didn't want to double post this, but I think I missed the deadline before so . . .


Anna Molly,

Thanks for the back up on the previous thread. Who knew leaving out one little word would cause such a fire storm!

When I reread my comment, I realized that it could be interpreted a little harsher than I meant it, and I am sincerely sorry about that.

But I feel that your post made a very good point. I have heard alot of people interpret that passage in the Bible to mean that judgement is not allowed.

But you are right to point out that the real meaning is that we will be judged using the same standards we use to judge others.

And so I was! :)

2 great Americans who care about people greet each other. This is very good.

Sully's 'My Turn' in Newsweek was quite a 'get' for the magazine and quite an eye opener for me.  This idea of celebrity for the sake of distraction is becoming more what America has become about.  He captures that very well.  Read it if you have a chance.
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and from earlier:

“…No President in History has been able to negatively impact the Stock Market in his first month by simply opening his mouth.”  Ed Crane, Middlebury, IN (Sent Tuesday, February 24, 2009 1:25 PM) {some would argue Hoover did a fine job in his final month, though - tongue in cheek 97%}
Ed, you’ve made a couple of interesting points in the past week or so.  I really think the conclusion you have reached regarding the market and its relationship to Obama opening his mouth is quite a leap of faith (or I guess in your case, non faith).  Markets ‘self’ correct.  We all know that many houses that have hundreds of thousands of dollars of mortgages on them aren’t worth what they have ‘traded’ for.  Much like the housing ‘bubble’ we have a stock ‘bubble’.  Many stocks are trading lower due to the fact that their balance sheets NEVER supported their trendy price point in the first place.  

Simple financial equation:

Assets (things you own – house, stocks, retirement funds, cash on hand) must be equal to liabilities (the debt you owe) added to your ownership valuation or equity (net worth).  Citizen A buys a house for 5K cash and 95K mortgage.  Citizen A’s assets = 100K and their liability = 95K and their equity = 5K.  Now, if you flood the market with inventory (foreclosed homes) your asset may drop in value to 85K, here is what your balance sheet looks like – 85K asset = 95K liability and negative 10K equity.  The buzz word here is ‘underwater’.  The question, do we offer a life vest, or do we let our neighbors drown?

Obama speaking has nothing to do with the fact that many people and companies owe more in debt than they own in assets.  Every single day we are confronted with another bone headed management decision in boardrooms and on Wall Street.  People are reeling from the realization that all of these ‘trusted’ fiscal servants have been putting themselves at the front of the greed wagon.  They have even gone so far as to use tax payer money to pay themselves UNEARNED bonuses.  This continual rape has consumers completely shaken.  I for one prefer Obama’s honesty about the situation than “W’s” myopia and lies.  

Most of the financial Stocks (Citigroup, Merrill Lynch) are trading south because these companies haven’t done anything to adjust their books.  They are deferring these write offs or write downs until the government gives them a formula.  That is just disingenuous, as accounting rules are clear – you take the loss when they are known or estimable.  You defer the gains until you earn them.  If you have remained unscathed by these facts from the field, my hat is off to you; but if you are like more than 90% of Americans you’ve been affected in one way or another.  Either your 401K has tanked, your property value has tanked, your investments have tanked or your ability to earn a living has tanked (either through health or disability OR layoffs).  May G-d and the Democrats save you if it’s a combination of more than one of these factors.  When we’ve gotten fat and sassy on binge eating, the diet is inevitable.  The market will not stop dropping until a floor is established.  Either government can step in and establish the floor, or Warren Buffet, Bill Gates and the tooth fairy can do it.  This poppycock about companies going over seas because we are hostile to corporations is just an urban legend.  Companies have already figured out that they can make far more money embracing loopholes here while utilizing cheap labor abroad and avoid the 38% Corporate tax rate, then move offshore and actually have to pay the flat 20% (and higher) tax rates abroad.

Wealth is a good thing.  I’m happy for you that you achieved it.  But if you did so on the back of a fellow American, or while breaking the law, or exploiting someone’s lack of education or intelligence, well then shame on you – and I do believe in some form of Karma, it will eventually catch up with you.

In uncertain times, when people are scared, like 9/11, whoever's in charge trots out people who are lauded as heroes to make the rest of us less skittish. I genuinely admire the captain's skill and the crew's bravery---my own father was a test pilot, so I like pilots generally---but they're turning these people's 15 minutes of fame into a TV miniseries of fame. (Next will come the literal mini-series, no doubt!) Also, it's a great photo op for politicians...

Waaaaaaaay too much is being made of this plane splash down in the Hudson River. Like the Everready Bunny it keeps going and going and going and going and going and going. Enough, already. Captian Sully is a great guy and did his job very well. The crew did their jobs well too. That is what they are paid to do. The gratitude expressed by passengers and perhaps by the President because of the safe touch down should be plenty of adulation. Instead these people are being treated like gods, rockstar gods at that.

Gee its great shes got time for  Sully but she didnt have time for the american people to review the stimulus that she put together with others taking care of them selves...I wonder if Chuck Schumer signed her copy of the peoples magazine...The fellow that says the american people like pork...She just came back from a vacation payed by the taxpayers while ignoring the American people...Send her some pork so her and Chuck can have a nice meal, knowing that the package that just got passed was put together to take care of her needs and some Chairmans of committees.....Thank you Pelosi hope your time with the pope was better than your time with the american people....And if this country is going to be physically responsible it got to start in washington, fat chance of that....

Sully is a true and gifted PROFESSIONAL! Nancy Pelosi is my heroine!!!

Chris M, this morning, you referred to the Treasury Sec as a "weasel".  Why, Just why, I ask you?

The true weasels/snake oil salesmen just left the White House.  Where is the name calling for 8 years of the past administrations horrific deads?!!!

The transparency of the current administration has got everyone tripping over their own words..suggest the media slow- down, and be more thoughtful!!  We are ONLY 30 days in and the rabid media is going crazy to cover this administration......PLAY NICE!!!

In the previous post about the chimp bill, the comment from MSierra that refers to Obama's mother-in-law as an ape needs to be taken down. Who is vetting these comments???????

Is there a politician who hasn't been photographed with sully? He should shy away from any hunting invites from dick cheney though.

I'm getting a little sick of this hero worship.

The guy is obviously an excellent pilot who performed brilliantly, but IT'S HIS JOB.

A "hero" puts his life at risk to save someone else - the pilot of an airplane has his butt on the line just as much as a passenger.

Superb pilot, yes. Hero, no.

Pelosi and the Democrats just love crash landings. They are so used to them.

Pelosi - please shut the fuKC up!!!

no one wants to hear you - please stay in Italy.

Sulley's landing is kind of like Obama's economic plan. All wet.

Tracey Rivers, NY------

Obama's economic plan.....all wet.

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May be all wet, but EVERYONE walks away safely!  'nough said!

Hey First Read, how about the whole story?
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From the Huffington Post:

"US Airways flight 1549 Capt. Chesley B Sullenberger III, seated, center, and First Officer Jeffrey B. Skiles, seated, right, receive a standing ovation on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2009, as they prepared to testify before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee."
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Come on guys, you make it sound like they are just hanging around in DC for kicks.  Sheesh.

By the way, Sulley was testifying about how his pay and pension have been severely cut over the past several years.  Nice, huh?

OH PLEASE!!!!  Those people have been traumatized enough!  They don't need to add salt to the wounds by being forced to see Pelosi!!!

Everybody loves Sully but if he were a Republican who didn't vote for BHO but McCain and Palin then he'd be dissed and taken apart on First Read.

So let's find out who he really is politically.

If he's a flaming liberal I'd still think he was a great guy who did a great thing and saved lives.

One person Pelosi will never greet is her maker.

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