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A new American concensus is about to be formed around the Republican party similar to that old concensus around the Democratic party which ended in 1994. 2/3rds of Americans say they are conservative and there is no such thing as a conservative Democrat anymore. The Democrats killed their party in the year 2009 believing it was time for a second progressive movement. They were wrong.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2009-07-11_05:26:33", "killed": false, "user_key": "evangelical", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "4 months ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 1, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "12561153": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": true, "message": "Hey Mike, It is 2009. Bush isn't president. You left wing loons elected a moron to office who quadrupled the deficit in less than 30 days. <br><br>Get help for your \"Blame Bush\" syndrome. Bush may have sucked, but this new bozo makes Jimmy Carter look smart and makes Marx look like a Candy Striper.<br><br>Get over your messiah worship and realize we have the worst politicians in office that we have ever had on both sides of the aisle.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2009-07-12_21:08:55", "killed": false, "user_key": "terrycsa", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "4 months ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 3, "is_first_child": true, "email": "", "parent_post_id": 12555405, "depth": 1, "points": 1, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "12555405": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": true, "message": "Who can forget, now that we have the Internet:<br><br>Save Your Tax Rebate - You'll Need It<br>Bush has wiped out the budget surplus \u2014 now he's looking at Medicare and Social Security<br>If you get a tax rebate check this fall, consider yourself lucky. Many working families will get nothing from Bush's tax cut. And even though your $300 or $600 check is chump change compared to the million-dollar tax cuts that America's wealthiest families will realize, you'd better hang onto it. <br><br><br>Charles W. Jones<br>International President EmeritusYou're going to need every penny of it to start a retirement account or buy health insurance. President Bush's tax cut is his first step in a plan to take the \"security\" out of Social Security and the \"care\" out of Medicare. Workers retiring after 2020 will be the ones who get hurt the most, but all workers should pay close attention to what the White House is doing in these areas. <br><br>The problem is that Bush's tax cut and our economic slowdown have combined to completely eliminate the projected budget surplus. The surplus for 2001 will be only about $1 billion, not counting the Social Security surplus. A billion dollars may seem like a lot of money, but it is less than $4 for each American citizen. Not exactly savings you can count on in an emergency. <br><br>And even that billion-dollar figure is overstated. At the request of President Bush, the U.S. Treasury has changed its method for reporting the budget, shifting an additional $4.3 billion from the Social Security surplus to other government accounts. Without this accounting gimmick, the non-Social Security part of the budget would be in the red. <br><br>Keep this deceptive trick in mind when Bush claims his tax cut didn't force the government to dip into the Social Security surplus. They did. They just found a way to hide it. <br><br>Like his father, who, as president, oversaw the largest budget deficits in U.S. history, George W. Bush is determined to keep our country in the red. In less than nine months in office, he managed to reverse the trend toward surpluses that began appearing in 1998. <br><br>While many write off his penchant for red ink as incompetence, it is more likely part of a cunning plan to destroy Social Security, Medicare, and many other programs that help working families. Hints of the Bush administration's true agenda come from his advisers. He's too savvy a politician to tell the nation directly that he would like to dismantle our social insurance programs and make corporations exempt from federal taxes, but his lieutenants have been spreading that word. <br><br>An article this past May in The Nation magazine quoted Grover Norquist, a Bush spokesman and adviser, as saying his goal is \"to cut government in half. To get it down to the size where we can drown it in the bathtub.\" <br><br>I don't have to tell you what programs they will drown in the bathtub. They will start with Medicare and Social Security. <br><br>Secretary of the Treasury Paul O'Neill said as much in an interview with the Financial Times. He said he is committed to abolishing corporate income tax and capital gains taxes, shifting the entire federal tax burden to wage earners. <br><br>He then proposed doing away with Medicare and Social Security, saying people should put money aside for their retirement and medical needs. That advice is easy to follow when you make $59 million a year, the amount O'Neill made last year as CEO of Alcoa. Working families live in a different world -- a world where unexpected illnesses, layoffs, and other family emergencies can wipe out savings overnight. <br><br>We need the safety net of Medicare and Social Security. <br><br>During last year's election campaign, Bush promised not only to protect that safety net, but also to improve Medicare by adding a prescription drug benefit. But now that he's squandered the surplus on a tax giveaway to the rich, there is no money left to do so. His prescription drug plan for Medicare is a joke -- asking insurance companies to voluntarily sell low-cost plans to retirees. <br><br>His plan for Social Security is even worse -- reducing benefits through privatization. A Congressional Research Office study shows that the added administrative costs of privatizing Social Security would reduce retirees' benefits anywhere from 4.7 to 10.8 percent for those workers who retire after 2020. Privatizing would cost $40 to $800 billion annually -- mostly fees paid to financial managers; current administrative costs are less than $3 billion. <br><br>When you look at the long-term cost of the Bush tax cut, that tax rebate check seems awfully expensive. <br><br>If Bush continues to get his way, you'll need a lot more than $600 to get yourself back to even. <br><br><a href=\"http://www.boilermakers.org/resources/commentary/V40N4\" rel=\"nofollow\">http://www.boilermakers.org/resources/commentar...</a>", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2009-07-12_16:56:57", "killed": false, "user_key": "bae8c0d3bca9c89f4d7629f3889f292c", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "4 months ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 4, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "12612781": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "maybe because I listened to Bush's June 17th 2002 speech in Atlanta, when he asked bankers to make it easier for for people to buy with out a proper downpayment, loosen the requirements that people had wages that would pay for the morgage, get rid of the \"fine print\" that stopped people form buying.<br><br>But don't forget, Wall Street was living off Credit Default Swops and Derivatives - if you think home loans have gone south, wait for CDS and Derivatives to totally collapse (and then ask your self why Phill Gramm and the other Republicans who wrote the legislation easing oversight of Wall Street FORBADE SEC oversight fo thodse financial instruments).<br><br>Here's Dubya's 2002 speech to the bankers meeting in Atlanta:<br><br>HOMES LOANS EASIER TO GET.<br>\"Now, we've got a problem here in America that we have to address. Too many American families, too many minorities do not own a home. There is a home ownership gap in America. The difference between Anglo America and African American and Hispanic home ownership is too big. (Applause.) And we've got to focus the attention on this nation to address this.And it starts with setting a goal. And so by the year 2010, we must increase minority home owners by at least 5.5 million. In order to close the homeownership gap, we've got to set a big goal for America, and focus our attention and resources on that goal. (Applause.)\" - <br><br>Three-quarters of white America owns their homes. Less than 50 percent of African Americans are part of the homeownership in America. And less than 50 percent of the Hispanics who live here in this country own their home. And that has got to change for the good of the country. It just does. (Applause.)<br><br>And so here are some of the ways to address the issue. First, the single greatest barrier to first time homeownership is a high downpayment. It is really hard for many, many, low income families to make the high downpayment. And so that's why I propose and urge Congress to fully fund the American Dream Downpayment Fund. This will use money, taxpayers' money to help a qualified, low income buyer make a downpayment. And that's important.<br><br>One of the barriers to homeownership is the inability to make a downpayment. And if one of the goals is to increase homeownership, it makes sense to help people pay that downpayment. We believe that the amount of money in our budget, fully approved by Congress, will help 40,000 families every year realize the dream of owning a home. (Applause.) Part of the success of Park Place is that the city of Atlanta already does this. And we want to make the plan more robust. We want to make it more full all across America.<br><br>Secondly, there is a lack of affordable housing in certain neighborhoods. Too many neighborhoods, especially in inner city America, lack affordable housing units. How can you promote homeownership if people can't afford a home?<br><br>And so what I've done is propose what we call a Single Family Affordable Housing Tax Credit, to encourage the development of affordable housing in neighborhoods where housing is scarce. (Applause.) Over five years, the initiative amounts to $2.4 billion in tax credits. And that will help. It will help a lot to build homes where people can -- where when fully implemented, people will be able to say, I own my home.<br><br>A third major barrier is the complexity and difficulty of the home buying process. There's a lot of fine print on these forms. And it bothers people, it makes them nervous. And so therefore, what Mel has agreed to do, and Alphonso Jackson has agreed to do is to streamline the process, make the rules simpler, so everybody understands what they are -- makes the closing much less complicated.<br><br>We certainly don't want there to be a fine print preventing people from owning their home. We can change the print, and we've got to. We've got to be wise about how we deal with the closing documents and all the regulations, but also wise about how we help people understand what it means to own their home and the obligations and the opportunities. <br>George Bush June 17, 2002 ----- <br><br><a href=\"http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/06/20020617-2.html\" rel=\"nofollow\">http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/06...</a>", "is_last_child": true, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2009-07-13_21:11:21", "killed": false, "user_key": "bae8c0d3bca9c89f4d7629f3889f292c", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "4 months ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": 12565944, "depth": 2, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "12465690": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "I wish the finger pointing would stop.  Everyone needs to work together as a team to bring about change.  There needs to be some middle-ground where all parties can come together and get these issues resolved.  I agree that the stimulus hasn't had a huge impact on the economy.  It hasn't done a thing for me.  My family is not as well off as some, but doing better than others.  We still can't put money in the bank and are living check to check.  We lost tons of money in the market and I don't even want to talk about the 401K.  We still rent an apartment.  Would love to own a home, but can't afford the still inflated prices in my area.  More Government is the last thing I want to see grow.  Show me instead reasonable interest rates for loans.  Show me increased job growth.  Show me banks that give you more than .5% interest on your money to insure growth on your investment.  Show me a country that is willing to invest in it's own well being and people by encouraging companies to keep jobs here.  I ask you what do we manufacture in the United States.  I'll tell you, NATIONAL DEBT!", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2009-07-10_15:32:29", "killed": false, "user_key": "21e12bb79af9ea21e079e9398720697c", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "4 months ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "12562970": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": true, "message": "LOL - Did I get your white sheet in a twist?  You elected the stupid brother,not the smart brother, you do know that, right.<br><br>Oh well, soon you'll die out.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2009-07-12_22:44:21", "killed": false, "user_key": "bae8c0d3bca9c89f4d7629f3889f292c", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "4 months ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 1, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": 12561153, "depth": 2, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "12510240": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "The stupid! It burns!<br><br>The stimulus spending might be less effective than projected, and unemployment may be uncomfortably high heading into the 2010 elections. But a hell of a lot of whatever jobs there are next summer are going to be riding on federal government funding. And guess what a lot of the people holding those jobs are going to be eligible for unemployment again. Under those circumstance simply cutting off the stimulus throws even MORE people out of work while sticking the state and federal government with a huge unemployment tab.<br><br>I get that not everyone agrees with the Keynesian argument, even among those who think they actually understand it, but even those people who think all of this is just pork need to consider the reaction of the people collecting the paychecks at the time.<br><br>Plus exactly what we do with all the half-completed projects is a good question. The whole argument is moronic, maybe accounted for by the fact that the only people quoted in the story are politicians, pollsters, and political consultants. But then again this is the party that draws its expertise about FDRs stimulus spending effectiveness from a 'senior scholar' with a B.A. in English.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2009-07-11_14:05:55", "killed": false, "user_key": "bruce_webb", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "4 months ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "12473893": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Please, put the moronic corrupt crooks and tail chasers of the GOP's Schickelgruber Bund back in charge of the country they already ruined.  If Obama doesn't get off his shiny precious ass and start prosecuting the torturers and naming names on just who did what to the economy it will be no problem for the GOP to rebrand itself as \"not the guys who wrecked the country\" and shift blame to the milquetoast, sissy Democrats who did nothing when they had the chance.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2009-07-10_18:04:16", "killed": false, "user_key": "Swami_Binkinanda", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "4 months ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "12518054": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": true, "message": "I don't know if the Republican's can get America to forget who was in charge when the economy collapsed. I am sure the democrats will send out plenty of reminders during the next elections. I know they are adamant for Obama to stop blaming Bush and take ownership of this mess. Sure he is the president and it is his to fix but the out of control fall happened before he got the wheel.<br><br>I do believe, no one is forgetting who lead us into the great depression and now the greatest depression since the great depression. Now they are asking to be put back in charge with a promise to do better... Not this soon...", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2009-07-11_20:20:29", "killed": false, "user_key": "Soapm", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "4 months ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 2, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "12500391": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "If you have to find a \"message,\" then you obviously haven't got one.  Which is something I've never heard from a political party.  I would have thought some core beliefs come first, then a message - and then the political party, and certainly not the other way around.<br><br>So let's see - the sanctimonious hypocrite prattling on about sexual mores isn't getting any traction, even though when a Republican gets caught each week or so cheating on his wife or soliciting sex in a public toilet, it becomes an occasion for Republican Party to proudly point to how guilty the miscreant feels as an example of their moral superiority.  And the economic philosophy isn't working either, considering the Republican's rigid \"free market,\" and \"greed is good,\" ideology has ruined every financial instrument in the country, so that's not working either.<br><br>No, the GOP doesn't have a message.  They have a desperate strategy.  They're hoping they can use their media outlets to convince the American people that the Democrats are responsible for the pain associated with cleaning up the mess the Republicans made of everything.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2009-07-11_08:29:40", "killed": false, "user_key": "Dolmance", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "4 months ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "12500397": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Don't hold your breath.", "is_last_child": true, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2009-07-11_08:30:31", "killed": false, "user_key": "Dolmance", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "4 months ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": true, "email": "", "parent_post_id": 12498496, "depth": 1, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "12513454": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": true, "message": "I'll say it again, the Democratic party is dead. After 2009 Americans don't want to have anything to do with the liberals.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2009-07-11_16:40:06", "killed": false, "user_key": "evangelical", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "4 months ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 1, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 1, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "12520884": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": true, "message": "\"...if the Republican's can get America to forget who was in charge when the economy collapsed\"<br><br>Yep, we remember very well...a democrat controlled congress.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2009-07-11_23:47:52", "killed": false, "user_key": "terrycsa", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "4 months ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 1, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "12987191": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "When you disagree pull out the race card. That ship has sailed you nitwit.", "is_last_child": true, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2009-07-21_00:41:43", "killed": false, "user_key": "LONE_STAR_TEXAN", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "4 months ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": 12562970, "depth": 3, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "12565944": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": true, "message": "How do you not understand that the Democrats destroyed the Economy when they forced the real estate market to become vastly over-leveraged and created a huge artificial bubble?<br><br>How do you not know this you idiot.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2009-07-13_02:24:12", "killed": false, "user_key": "evangelical", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "4 months ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 1, "is_first_child": true, "email": "", "parent_post_id": 12518054, "depth": 1, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "12500413": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "The economy did go down big time.  And as a particularly loathsome Republican said recently - \"hunger is a wonderful motivator.\"<br><br>Somehow parroting the nonsense from a bunch of religious fanatic hillbillies doesn't seem so seductive when you're wondering how you're going to put food on the table.", "is_last_child": true, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2009-07-11_08:32:25", "killed": false, "user_key": "Dolmance", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "4 months ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": true, "email": "", "parent_post_id": 12497853, "depth": 1, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "12440958": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": true, "message": "Real Republican message:   We won't let you fix what we broke.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2009-07-10_09:29:10", "killed": false, "user_key": "d46fdb3d5501853a13dedbfbbcae6407", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "4 months ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 1, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 1, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "12612800": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "ROFLMAO!", "is_last_child": true, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2009-07-13_21:12:30", "killed": false, "user_key": "bae8c0d3bca9c89f4d7629f3889f292c", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "4 months ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": true, "email": "", "parent_post_id": 12513454, "depth": 1, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "12444349": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": true, "message": "So wait, they are literally promising voters cold, hard cash if they win?  That is the level of desperation they have arrived at?<br><br>Wow.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2009-07-10_10:17:44", "killed": false, "user_key": "bf0374ce4b35c09609be111a7fc252b9", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "4 months ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 1, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 1, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "12510407": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": true, "message": "Dean Baker should remember that 60% were in favor of the stimulus.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2009-07-11_14:16:18", "killed": false, "user_key": "Micheline", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "4 months ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 1, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "12562765": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Now that the GOP worships Palin, I would think you guys would ease off the messiah comments. But hey, we can say the GOP has a messiah soon to be without a kingdom.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2009-07-12_22:31:56", "killed": false, "user_key": "Soapm", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "4 months ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": 12561153, "depth": 2, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "12638678": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "You people actually believe that government somehow produces wealth.<br>================<br><br>Go study the history of government help in building the early canals, then later the railroads, then the Interstate Freeway system, all to help the Industrial Revolution get a firm grip here, then spread our industrial base to al lparts of the continent, then to expand the ease of movement of the goods, produce and peoplel within the United States.<br><br>Go study what DARPA does, go study how the government gave corporate America free access to the technology that came out of military reasearch paid for by our taxes and mostly given away for free).<br><br>Then go study how we the taxpayer, by increasing our taxes so that companies can have fewer taxes to pay, continue to support Corporate America.  <br><br>Ask your self why haliburton, receiver of such largesse, is now incorporated OUTSIDE of America.<br><br><br>But first you must get an education so that you don't make such dumb statements as \"You people actually believe that government somehow produces wealth\"  ever again.", "is_last_child": true, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2009-07-14_11:40:56", "killed": false, "user_key": "bae8c0d3bca9c89f4d7629f3889f292c", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "4 months ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": 12494969, "depth": 1, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "12511448": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Dems and their supporters ought to remember that Repugs had control of the whole government too and spent their way right out of it.  Dems will too and do it with the same arrogance the GOP did.  It's just too much power for hogs to have...<br><br>Americans understand frugality, desire it from their governments (federal, state and local) and they understand that government solutions always cost more than private sector ones.  We have too big of a government, the Founders were violently against that and if you read your colonial history you will realize that is a true statement.  Both sides need to shrink SIGNIFICANTLY, but won't until the people rise up and then it will be too late.<br><br>OK....go ahead hit me with your pithy little comments and go screw yourself...", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2009-07-11_15:04:02", "killed": false, "user_key": "8a1a750b3d9406adc97b12fc4f411425", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "4 months ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "12494692": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "........you missed the stamping of the feet.", "is_last_child": true, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2009-07-11_00:10:15", "killed": false, "user_key": "susanai56", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "4 months ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": true, "email": "", "parent_post_id": 12440958, "depth": 1, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "12510440": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "\"At the end of the day, when all the money is spent, no one will be able to point to any concrete evidence that our nation got diddly squat for all that money.\"<br><br>True enough, because if you squint really, really hard you can't see either Hoover Dam or the Golden Gate Bridge to point to as concrete evidence. And I-95? Gosh that too must be a mirage.<br><br>I did a little exercise over at the web-site Angry Bear when the Senate Stimulus package was released. The series was called \"Pick your Pork\" and asked for actual examples from the actual bills that in dollar or percentage terms made up a major portion of the stimulus. The response?<br><br>Chirp.<br><br>Anyone who doesn't understand that the wealth of this country in large part rests on past public works spending is frankly a moron himself. As to \"I can't wait\", well sorry all I can see is \"wait and watch\". It is people like you that seized on the post election dip in the Dow as \"Proof! Proof I tell you!\" that we were on course for Dow 4000 by now. That somehow didn't happen.<br><br>I fully expect double digit unemployment and soon, but I don't see even many right wing economists predicting 15% and still less guaranteeing it. I do see a lot of bluster and bullshit though.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2009-07-11_14:18:40", "killed": false, "user_key": "bruce_webb", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "4 months ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": true, "email": "", "parent_post_id": 12494969, "depth": 1, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "12449514": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Remember Bush's tax cuts?", "is_last_child": true, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2009-07-10_12:08:24", "killed": false, "user_key": "strangely_enough", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "4 months ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": true, "email": "", "parent_post_id": 12444349, "depth": 1, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "12471790": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "you could say the Dems have been trying out their 2010 strategy if NY20 &23 were such big targets and the Repugs are just now catching up(?)...", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2009-07-10_17:02:18", "killed": false, "user_key": "218df8812862ca97506a29fb819c1b7c", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "4 months ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "12497853": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": true, "message": "If the economy \"goes down big time\" (SWJ), it will rightly be put down to BushCo and his merry band of thieves.  So 2010 will not bring the masses back into the Republican fold, no matter their message. <br><br>I feel your pain though.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2009-07-11_04:15:09", "killed": false, "user_key": "4e35e7a6b848945919767a57a36e756e", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "4 months ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 1, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "12550129": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "Yes, in 2006, America began dismantling the effects of the Bush tax cuts which sent America's jobs overseas, rose the cost of seniors medicines and began voting to do something instead of do nothing and lets see what happens.<br><br>We remember... Boy do we remember how we got here...", "is_last_child": true, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2009-07-12_12:36:38", "killed": false, "user_key": "Soapm", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "4 months ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": true, "email": "", "parent_post_id": 12520884, "depth": 1, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "12471669": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "A 5 cent history of the Great Depression<br>1929 Stock Market Crash results in massive loss of paper wealth.<br>1929-1933 Little done by Federal government. Depression grips US with massive job losses and economic contraction.<br>1933-1937 - New Deal is adopted tough weakened by conservative opponents and Supreme Court. Depression remains, though some improvement in employment and economic activity occurs.<br>1937-1939 - Conservatives, both Democratic and Republican, slow New Deal spending claiming that the New Deal had failed to fix the Depression. Depression situation worsens in the US, unemployment begins to rise again.<br>1939-1941 - US begins to mobilize and increase production due to the prospect of war. Depression starts to abate as government begins to spend amounts of money that dwarf the New Deal in order to mobilize and arm the US, UK, USSR and other allies.<br><br>The New Deal wasn't successful because it didn't spend enough, not too much. Only the massive government spending that came with WWII forced the US to spend enough to move the country out of the Depression.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2009-07-10_16:59:08", "killed": false, "user_key": "626b240cae590d2e2ca0e5c480c84e9a", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": null, "votable": true, "date": "4 months ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "12489719": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "The republican's fail to acknowledge the stimulus that was passed has tax cuts for average American's and small businesses. The alternative they offered was going to make the Bush tax cuts permanent and cut taxes for corporations, not small businesses as they keep saying. If the Bush tax cuts were going to work, we wouldn't be in this mess since they are active now. If the easy fix for the economy and tax cuts for average Joe and small businesses, then the stimulus passed has that.<br><br>All of this talk about the stimulus and economy is to take American's focus off health care. The problem is it seems to be working. They believe if they can shift public attention from health care, then health care will loose the little steam it has getting through congress. I sure hope America wakes up and doesn't let this happen. We need health care reform and now.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2009-07-10_20:13:34", "killed": false, "user_key": "Soapm", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "4 months ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 1, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "12494969": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": true, "message": "It's really simple, but I'll have to explain for those on the left.<br><br>When our money goes through the government, on the way to being spent, loads of bureaucracy are funded, and dubious projects, that no one but a moron would approve, get funded and called stimulus.<br><br>At the end of the day, when all the money is spent, no one will be able to point to any concrete evidence that our nation got diddly squat for all that money.  <br><br>Do you people on the left, who trash business at every turn, actually believe that our prosperity (for 200+ years, even with the current difficulties) is somehow government's doing.  Do you actually believe that handing more money over to bureaucrats will make us wealthier??  I know the answer, and find it astonishing.  You people actually believe that government somehow produces wealth.<br><br>Remember you read it here.  When unemployment hits 15% (early next year, I guarantee it), and so much productive capacity has been shut down permanently that the mere whiff of increased demand sends prices skyrocketing, you won't be able to blame Bush any more.  Of course, you will try, but like the new person at work who takes over a mess, at some point around 9 months in, you can't blame the guy who got fired any more.<br><br>I'm no fan of much of what the Republicans did the past several years, but the crowd in there now is TRULY an embarassment.  Pelosi, Reid, Waxman, Obama, Markey, Kerry, Boxer etc.  If you actually think these people have a clue about running this nation, you're about to get a painful lesson.<br><br>This will, without a doubt, be one massive tidal wave of rejection for you and your crowd of treehuggers in 2010.<br><br>I can't wait.<br><br>PS:  I'm prepared for all your venom, secure in the certainty that you haven't a clue what you are talking about.  Mark my words, this economy is going down bigtime, and the left WILL get their backsides kicked in, severely.", "is_last_child": false, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2009-07-11_00:29:12", "killed": false, "user_key": "swj", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "4 months ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 2, "is_first_child": false, "email": "", "parent_post_id": null, "depth": 0, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}, "12510718": {"up_voted": false, "ip": "", "has_replies": false, "message": "<a href=\"http://data.bls.gov/PDQ/servlet/SurveyOutputServlet?data_tool=latest_numbers&series_id=LNS14000000\" rel=\"nofollow\">http://data.bls.gov/PDQ/servlet/SurveyOutputSer...</a><br><br>I think some of the commenters downthread need to examine the numbers on the BLS page linked above. Obama economic planners before and after the election predicted their stimulus package if enacted would keep unemployment below 8%. Well it didn't and the reason is pretty clear, at the end of Dec. 2008 the rate was already up to 7.2%, by the end of January up to 7.6%, by February up to 8.1%. The President's Budget was not released until Mid-March and was not scored until the 20th.<br><a href=\"http://angrybear.blogspot.com/2009/03/cbo-preliminary-budget-analysis.html\" rel=\"nofollow\">http://angrybear.blogspot.com/2009/03/cbo-preli...</a><br>That is by the time we STARTED debating Obama's actual budget and stimulus plan we were ALREADY well over 8%. Arguments that say the plan was a failure because it didn't keep unemployment below the figure used in preliminary planning six months plus before actual legislation was introduced is just special pleading. Some people need a calender and/or some links to the BLS website.", "is_last_child": true, "can_reply": true, "down_voted": false, "real_date": "2009-07-11_14:34:11", "killed": false, "user_key": "bruce_webb", "has_been_anonymized": false, "edited": false, "author_is_moderator": false, "from_request_user": false, "votable": true, "date": "4 months ago", "approved": true, "num_replies": 0, "is_first_child": true, "email": "", "parent_post_id": 12510407, "depth": 1, "points": 0, "author_is_creator": false, "is_realtime": false}}, "integration": {"receiver_url": "", "theme": 1, "reply_position": false, "disqus_logo": false}, "timer": {"timer_url": "http://localhost:8005", "thread_id": "24933774", "user_id": "anonymous", "forum_id": "34441", "hash": -6804820669579749059}, "thread": {"days_alive": 0, "slug": "republicans_test_2010_message_cancel_the_stimulus", "paginate": true, "num_pages": 1, "num_posts": 33, "per_page": 50, "total_posts": 33, "realtime_paused": true, "id": 24933774, "queued": false}, "reactions_limit": 10, "context": {"show_reply": true, "use_fb_connect": false, "forum_facebook_key": "", "use_yahoo": false, "subscribed": false, "use_twitter_signin": false, "use_openid": false, "realtime_speed": 5000}, "reactions_start": 0, "settings": {"debug": false, "disqus_url": "http://disqus.com", "media_url": "http://media.disqus.com"}, "media_url": "http://media.disqus.com"};
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	this.curPageId = 'dsq-comments';

	this.frames = {};
};

var disqus_popup_reference = null;

if(typeof DsqLocal == 'undefined') {
	DsqLocal = {};
}



/**
 * Dsq.Strings: UI strings
 */
Dsq.Strings = new function() {
	this.ADD_NEW_COMMENT = "Add New Comment";
	this.LOG_INTO_DISQUS = "Log into DISQUS";
	this.USE_MEDIA = "Use Media";
	this.LOGOUT = "Logout";
	this.SHARING_OPTIONS = "Sharing options";
	this.SHARE_ON = "Share on";
	this.TWEET_THIS_COMMENT = "Tweet this comment";
	this.SHARE_ON_NEWSFEED = "Share on news feed";
	this.SEND_UPDATE_TO_YAHOO = "Send update to Yahoo!";
	this.REBLOG_ON = "Reblog on";
	this.CONFIGURE_OPTIONS = "Configure options";
	this.POST_AS = "Post as";
	this.SORT_BY = "Sort by";
	this.SUBSCRIBE_BY_EMAIL = "Subscribe by email";
	this.SUBSCRIBE_BY_RSS = "Subscribe by RSS";
	this.POPULAR_NOW = "Popular now";
	this.BEST_RATING = "Best Rating";
	this.NEWEST_FIRST = "Newest first";
	this.OLDEST_FIRST = "Oldest first";
	this.HIGHLIGHTED = "Highlighted";
	this.UNSUBSCRIBE = "Unsubscribe";
	this.REQUIRED = "Required";
	this.OPTIONAL = "Optional";
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	this.SUBSCRIBE_TO_ALL_COMMENTS_BY_EMAIL = "Subscribe to all comments by email";
	this.DO_NOT_SUBSCRIBE_TO_COMMENTS = "Do not subscribe to comments";
	this.REALTIME_UPDATING_IS = "Real-time updating is";
	this.ENABLED = "enabled";
	this.PAUSED = "paused";
	this.PAUSE = "Pause";
	this.RESUME = "Resume";
	this.SHOW = "Show";
	this.JUST_NOW = "Just now";
	this.REPLY = "Reply";
	this.EDIT = "Edit";
	this.FLAG = "Flag";
	this.MODERATE = "Moderate";
	this.CANCEL = "Cancel";
	this.REPLYING_TO = "Replying to";
	this.REPORT_MISSING_REACTIONS = "Report missing reactions";
	this.POST_A_COMMENT = "Post a comment";
	this.FLAG_INAPPROPRIATE_COMMENT = "Flag inappropriate comment";
	this.FLAGGED = "Flagged";
	this.NO = "No";
	this.YES = "Yes";
	this.NEVER_MIND = "Never mind";
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	this.THIS_WILL_FLAG_COMMENTS_FOR_MODERATORS_TO_TAKE_ACTION = "This will flag comments for moderators to take action";
	this.TO_RATE_PLEASE_LOG_IN = "To rate, please log in";
	this.JUST_A_MOMENT = "Just a moment...";
	this.GUEST = "Guest";
	this.NAME = "Name";
	this.EMAIL = "Email";
  this.WEBSITE = "Website";
  this.SETTINGS = "Settings";
  this.MODERATOR_OPTIONS = "Moderator options: ";
};
// Dsq.Strings

/**
 * Dsq.FmtStrings: functions that return interpolated UI strings
 */
Dsq.FmtStrings = new function() {
	// Seems we have to use named interpolation for Django to translate. Investigate more.
	this.LOGGED_IN_AS = function(username) {
		return Dsq.Utils.interpolate('Logged in as %(username)s', {username:username});
	};

	this.LOGOUT_FROM = function(disqus) {
		return Dsq.Utils.interpolate('Logout from %(disqus)s', {disqus:disqus});
	};

	this.SHOWING_COMMENTS_FULL = function(total, num) {
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			return Dsq.Utils.interpolate("Showing <span id='dsq-num-posts'>%(num)s</span> of <span id='dsq-total-posts'>%(total)s</span> comment", {num:num, total:total});
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			return Dsq.Utils.interpolate("Showing <span id='dsq-num-posts'>%(num)s</span> of <span id='dsq-total-posts'>%(total)s</span> comments", {num:num, total:total});
		}
	};

	this.SHOWING_COMMENTS_WITHOUT_PAGINATION = function(num) {
		if (num === 1) {
			return Dsq.Utils.interpolate("Showing <span id='dsq-num-posts'>%(num)s</span> comment", {num:num});
		} else {
			return Dsq.Utils.interpolate("Showing <span id='dsq-num-posts'>%(num)s</span> comments", {num:num});
		}
	};

	this.NUMBER_OF_COMMENTS = function(num) {
		return Dsq.Utils.interpolate(
			(num == 1
				? '%(num)s comment'
				: '%(num)s comments'
			), {num:num});
	};

	this.NUMBER_OF_LIKES = function(num) {
		return Dsq.Utils.interpolate(
			(num == 1
				? '%(num)s like'
				: '%(num)s likes'
			), {num:num});
	};

	this.NUMBER_OF_POINTS = function(num) {
		return Dsq.Utils.interpolate(
			(num == 1
				? '%(num)s point'
				: '%(num)s points'
			), {num:num});
	};
};
// Dsq.FmtStrings





Dsq.CSRF_TOKEN = '4f0bfca82e06c976a1efdd7c783a5fd0';
Dsq.COMMENTS_RE = /(<li.*?id="?dsq-comment-(\d+)"?.*?>)((?:.|\s)*?)(<\/li>)/gim;
Dsq.POST_RE = /(<div.*?id="?dsq-comment-header-(\d+)"?.*?>)((?:.|\s)*?)(<\/div>)\s*(<div.*?class="?dsq-comment-body"?.*?>)((?:.|\s)*)(<\/div>)/gim;
Dsq.POST_BODY_RE = /\s*(<div.*?id="?dsq-comment-message-(\d+)"?.*?>)((?:.|\s)*)(<\/div>)/gim;
// HACK: Safari ends with "-->" while other browsers end with "--&gt;" as expected.
Dsq.MEDIA_POST_RE = /&lt;!--\[(.*?)\]--(?:>|&gt;)/gim;



// TODO: It might be faster to use string methods to find all <li (...) </li> blocks and pass to Dsq.PostHandler manually.
Dsq.CommentsHandler = function(str, head, post_id, content, tail, offset, s) {
	var prepend_post = Dsq.Templates.prependPost(post_id);
	var append_post = Dsq.Templates.appendPost(post_id);

	content = content.replace(Dsq.POST_RE, Dsq.PostHandler);
	Dsq.Templates.postLoopCounter++;
	head = Dsq.Templates.Filters.commentContainer(post_id, head);
	return prepend_post + head + content + tail + append_post;
};

Dsq.PostHandler = function(str, h_head, post_id, h_content, h_tail, b_head, b_content, b_tail, offset, s) {
	var prepend_header = Dsq.Templates.postPrependHeader(post_id);
	var append_header = Dsq.Templates.postAppendHeader(post_id);
	var prepend_body = Dsq.Templates.preBody(post_id);
	var append_body = Dsq.Templates.postBody(post_id);
	var append_footer = Dsq.Templates.postFooter(post_id);

	b_content = b_content.replace(Dsq.POST_BODY_RE, Dsq.PostBodyHandler);
	return h_head + prepend_header + h_content + append_header + h_tail + b_head + prepend_body + b_content + append_body + b_tail + append_footer;
};

Dsq.PostBodyHandler = function(str, head, post_id, content, tail, offset, s) {
	content = Dsq.Templates.Filters.commentContent(post_id, content);
	return head + content + tail;
};

Dsq.MediaPostHandler = function(str, args, offset, s) {
	args = args.split(' ');
	if(args[0] == 'seesmic') {
		return '<br />' + Dsq.Templates.mediaSeesmic(args[1], args[2]);
	}
	return '';
};


/**
 * Shorcuts
 */
Dsq.$ = function(element) { return document.getElementById(element); };
Dsq.$b = document.body || document.getElementsByTagName('body')[0];


/**
 * Dsq.Debug: Logging functions.
 */

Dsq.Debug = new function() {this.log=function(s){};this.profile=function(f){if(typeof f == 'function')return f();else return eval(f);};};


/**
 * Dsq.Urls: URL paths
 */
Dsq.Urls = new function() {
	this.LOGIN = '/profile/login/';
	this.LOGOUT = '/logout/';
	this.REPLY = 'http://disqus.com/forums/washingtonindependent/republicans_test_2010_message_cancel_the_stimulus/reply.html';
	this.REQUEST_USER_PROFILE = '/AnonymousUser/';
	this.REQUEST_USER_AVATAR = 'http://media.disqus.com/images/noavatar92.png';
};
// Dsq.Urls

/**
 * Dsq.Validators: Validation for form fields
 */
Dsq.Validators = new function() {
	this.VALID_EMAIL_RE = /^[a-z0-9\-\_\+]+(\.[a-z0-9\-\_\+]+)*\@(([a-z0-9\-\_\+]+(\.[a-z0-9\-\_\+]+)*)+\.[a-z]{2,}|([0-9]+\.){3}[0-9]+)$/i;
	this.name = function(name) {
		var error = false;

		if(typeof Dsq.Templates.placeholder !== 'undefined' &&
		   name == Dsq.Templates.placeholder.name) {
			error = true;
		}
		if(name.length <= 1) {
			error = true;
		}

		if(error) {
			return "Please enter a name to comment.";
		} else {
			return true;
		}
	};
	this.email = function(addr) {
		if(Dsq.Validators.VALID_EMAIL_RE.test(addr)) {
			return true;
		} else {
			return "Please enter a valid email to comment.";
		}
	};
	this.url = function(addr) {
		if(!addr || addr.indexOf('.') != -1) {
			return true;
		} else {
			return "Please check your website URL (this field is optional).";
		}
	};

	this.validate = function(bulk_validation, failure_callback) {
		failure_callback = failure_callback || function(e){ alert(e); };

		for(var i = 0; i < bulk_validation.length; i++) {
			v = bulk_validation[i];
			ret = v.validator(v.value);
			if(ret !== true) {
				failure_callback(ret);
				return false;
			}
		}
		return true;
	};
};

/**
 * Dsq.Utils: Generic utility functions.
 */
Dsq.Utils = new function() {
	this.ie = /msie/i.test(navigator.userAgent) && !/opera/i.test(navigator.userAgent);
	this.ie7 = (document.all && !window.opera && window.XMLHttpRequest) ? true : false;
	this.ie6 = (!window.XMLHttpRequest) ? true: false;
	this.webkit = navigator.userAgent.indexOf('AppleWebKit/') >= 0;
	this.gebiFromElementCollectionCache = {};
	this._styleSheet = null;

	this.gebiFromElement = function(el, id, tag) {
		// This only method only helps IE.
		if(!this.ie) {
			return Dsq.$(id);
		} else {
			var cacheKey = el.id + '-' + tag;
			tag = tag || 'div';
			if(typeof this.gebiFromElementCollectionCache[cacheKey] != 'undefined') {
				collection = this.gebiFromElementCollectionCache[cacheKey];
			} else {
				collection = el.getElementsByTagName(tag);
				this.gebiFromElementCollectionCache[cacheKey] = collection;
			}

			for(var i = 0; i < collection.length; i++) {
				if(collection[i].id == id) {
					return collection[i];
				}
			}
			return null;
		}
	};

	this.execOnReady = function(func) {
		var node = document.createElement('document:ready');
		try {
			node.doScroll('left');
			func();
			node = null;
		} catch(err) {
			setTimeout(function() { Dsq.Utils.execOnReady(func); }, 10);
		}
	};


	// Courtesy of http://www.quirksmode.org/js/cookies.html
	this.createCookie = function(name,value,days) {
		if (days) {
			var date = new Date();
			date.setTime(date.getTime()+(days*24*60*60*1000));
			var expires = "; expires="+date.toGMTString();
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		else var expires = "";
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	};

	this.readCookie = function(name) {
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		var ca = document.cookie.split(';');
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			var c = ca[i];
			while (c.charAt(0)==' ') c = c.substring(1,c.length);
			if (c.indexOf(nameEQ) == 0) return c.substring(nameEQ.length,c.length);
		}
		return null;
	};

	this.eraseCookie = function(name) {
		Dsq.Utils.createCookie(name,"",-1);
	};

	this.deleteNode = function(node) {
		if(node) {
			this.deleteChildren(node);
			if(typeof node.outerHTML != 'undefined') { node.outerHTML = ''; }
			else if(node.parentNode) { node.parentNode.removeChild(node); }
			delete node;
		}
	};

	this.deleteChildren = function(node) {
		if(node) {
			for(var x = node.childNodes.length-1; x >= 0; x--) {
				var childNode = node.childNodes[x];
				if(childNode.hasChildNodes()) { this.deleteChildren(childNode); }
				if(typeof childNode.outerHTML != 'undefined') { childNode.outerHTML = ''; }
				else node.removeChild(childNode);
				delete childNode;
			}
		}
	};

	this.findPos = function(obj) {
		var curleft = 0;
		var curtop = 0;
		if (obj.offsetParent) {
			do {
				curleft += obj.offsetLeft;
				curtop += obj.offsetTop;
			} while (obj = obj.offsetParent);
		}
		return [curleft,curtop];
	};

	this.getWindowSize = function() {
		var windowWidth = -1;
		var windowHeight = -1;

		if(typeof(window.innerWidth) == 'number') { //Non-IE
			windowWidth = window.innerWidth;
			windowHeight = window.innerHeight;
		} else if(document.documentElement) { // IE 6+ in 'standards compliant mode'
			windowWidth = document.documentElement.clientWidth || document.body.clientWidth;
			windowHeight = document.documentElement.clientHeight || document.body.clientHeight;
		}

		return [windowWidth, windowHeight];
	}

	this.getScrollPos = function() {
		var scrollWidth, scrollTop;

		if(document.documentElement && (document.documentElement.scrollTop || document.documentElement.scrollWidth)) {
			scrollWidth = document.documentElement.scrollWidth;
			// IE is weird here.  If no doctype is provided, document.body.scrollTop is 0,
			// otherwise document.documentElement.scrollTop is 0.
			scrollTop = document.documentElement.scrollTop || document.body.scrollTop;
		} else if(document.body.scrollTop && document.body.scrollWidth) {
			scrollWidth = document.body.scrollWidth;
			scrollTop = document.body.scrollTop;
		}

		return [scrollWidth, scrollTop];
	}

	this.addEventListener = function(instance, eventName, listener) {
		var listenerFn = listener;
		if (instance.addEventListener) {
			instance.addEventListener(eventName, listenerFn, false);
		} else if (instance.attachEvent) {
			listenerFn = function() {
				listener(window.event);
			};
			instance.attachEvent("on" + eventName, listenerFn);
		} else {
			throw new Error("Event registration not supported");
		}
		return {
			instance: instance,
			name: eventName,
			listener: listenerFn
		};
	};

	this.removeEventListener = function(event) {
		var instance = event.instance;
		if (instance.removeEventListener) {
			instance.removeEventListener(event.name, event.listener, false);
		} else if (instance.detachEvent) {
			instance.detachEvent("on" + event.name, event.listener);
		}
	};

	this.fixIframesIE = function(id) {
		var disqusThread = Dsq.$(disqus_container_id);
		var iframes = disqusThread.getElementsByTagName('iframe');

		if(id) {
			var container = Dsq.$(id);
		} else {
			var container = Dsq.$('dsq-content');
		}

		for(i = 0; i < iframes.length; i++) {
			if (container) {
				iframes[i].style.width = container.offsetWidth;
			}
		}
	};

	this.getElementsByClassName = function(oElm, strTagName, strClassName) {
	/* Credit: Jonathan Snook [http://www.snook.ca/jonathan], Robert Nyman [http://www.robertnyman.com] */
		var arrElements = (strTagName == "*" && oElm.all)? oElm.all : oElm.getElementsByTagName(strTagName);
		var arrReturnElements = new Array();
		strClassName = strClassName.replace(/\-/g, "\\-");
		var oRegExp = new RegExp("(^|\\s)" + strClassName + "(\\s|$)");
		var oElement;
		for(var i = 0; i < arrElements.length; i++) {
			oElement = arrElements[i];
			if(oRegExp.test(oElement.className)) {
				arrReturnElements.push(oElement);
			}
		}
		return (arrReturnElements);
	};

	this.postToUrl = function(url, post_data, opt_redirect) {
		var form = document.createElement('form');
		var iframe_container = document.createElement('div');
		var id = 'dsq-temp-iframe-' + (new Date()).getTime();

		form.method = 'POST';
		form.action = url;
		if (!opt_redirect) {
			form.target = id;
		}
		iframe_container.innerHTML = '<iframe style="display:none" name="' + id + '" id="' + id + '"></iframe>';

		for(var key in post_data) {
			if(post_data.hasOwnProperty(key)) {
				var input = document.createElement('input');
				input.name = key;
				input.type = 'hidden';
				input.value = post_data[key];

				form.appendChild(input);
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		}

		Dsq.$b.appendChild(iframe_container);
		Dsq.$b.appendChild(form);
		form.submit();
	};

	// Strips integer id from id of element in the form ('some-id-###')
	this.extractId = function(e) {
		var chunks = e.id.split('-');
		if(chunks.length <= 1) {
			return 0;
		} else {
			return parseInt(chunks[chunks.length-1]);
		}
	};

	this.getStyle = function(el, styleProp) {
		if(el.currentStyle) {
			var y = el.currentStyle[styleProp];
		} else if(window.getComputedStyle) {
			var y = document.defaultView.getComputedStyle(el, null).getPropertyValue(styleProp);
		}

		if(y == 'transparent' || y == '') {
			this.getStyle(el.parentNode, styleProp);
		} else {
			return y;
		}
	};

	this.execScript = function(url, append_qs, container) {
		var script = document.createElement('script');
		append_qs = typeof append_qs == 'undefined' ? true : append_qs;
		container = container || Dsq.container;

		if(append_qs) {
			var j = (url.indexOf('?') >= 0) ? '&' : '?';
			url += j + (new Date()).getTime();
		}
		script.type = 'text/javascript';
		script.charset = 'UTF-8';
		script.src = url;
		container.appendChild(script);
		return script;
	};

	this.pluralize = function(num, singular, plural) {
		return (num != 1) ? plural || 's' : singular || '';
	};

	this.getRequestParams = function(queryString /* optional */) {
		var pairs, tuple;
		var params = {};

		queryString = queryString || window.location.search.substring(1);
		pairs = queryString.split('&');

		for (var i = 0, pair; pair = pairs[i]; i++) {
			tuple = pair.split('=');
			params[tuple[0]] = (tuple[1] || true);
		}

		return params;
	};

	this.addCssRule = function(selector, styleText, index) {
		var stylesheet;
		index = index || 0;

		if(!this._styleSheet) {
			var styleEl = document.createElement('style');
			document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(styleEl);
			this._styleSheet = styleEl.sheet;
			if(!this._styleSheet) {
				// IE does not like our newly created stylesheet.
				this._styleSheet = document.styleSheets[document.styleSheets.length-1];
			}
		}
		stylesheet = this._styleSheet;

		if(stylesheet.insertRule) {
			var ruleText = selector + ' { ' + styleText + ' }';
			if(index == -1) {
				index = stylesheet.cssRules.length;
			}
			stylesheet.insertRule(ruleText, index);
		} else if(stylesheet.addRule) {
			stylesheet.addRule(selector, styleText, index);
		}
	};

	this.forEachIn = function(obj, callback) {
		for(var key in obj) {
			if(obj.hasOwnProperty(key)) {
				callback(key, obj[key]);
			}
		}
	};

	this._interpolateGlobalContext = {
		// values that get used a lot and are global to the request
		'profile_url': Dsq.Urls.REQUEST_USER_PROFILE,

		'disqus_url': Dsq.jsonData.settings.disqus_url,
		'media_url': Dsq.jsonData.settings.media_url,
		'request_username': Dsq.jsonData.request.username,
		'request_display_username': Dsq.jsonData.request.display_username,
		'forum_name': Dsq.jsonData.forum.name
	};

	this.renderFromContextStack = function(key, contexts) {
		// Returns the first instance of `key` in the array of objects `contexts` or else ''
		for (var i=0; i<contexts.length; i++) {
			if (contexts[i][key] !== undefined) {
				return String(contexts[i][key]);
			}
		}
		throw new Error('key ' + key + ' not found in context');
	};

	var that = this;
	this.interpolate = function(fmt, opt_localContext) {
		// Interpolate `fmt` named-format string with an assumed global context.
		// Based on `interpolate` in django.views.i18n
		var contextStack = [opt_localContext || {}, that._interpolateGlobalContext];
		return fmt.replace(/%\(\w+\)s/g, function(match){
			return that.renderFromContextStack(match.slice(2,-2), contextStack);
		});
	};

	this.stripTags = function(s) {
		// Removes HTML tags from `s`
		return s.replace(/(<([^>]+)>)/g,"");

	};

	this.assert = function(b) {
		if (!b) {
			throw new Error('Assertion error.');
		}
	};

};
// Dsq.Utils

/**
 * Dsq.Popup: Popup helper functions.
 */
Dsq.Popup = new function() {
	this.timeHide = new Array();
	this.timeShow = new Array();
	this.activePopup = {};
	this.profileCache = {};
	this.statusCache = {};

	this.showTimer = function(post_id) {
		// clear the hide timer
		clearTimeout(this.timeHide[post_id]);

		// start the timer
		if(!Dsq.Popup.profileIsOn && !Dsq.Thread.adminIsOn) {
			this.timeShow[post_id] = setTimeout("Dsq.Popup.popProfile(\"" + post_id + "\")", 400);
		}
	};

	this.hideTimer = function(post_id) {
		// clear the show timer
		clearTimeout(this.timeShow[post_id]);
	};

	this.updateProfile = function(username) {
		// Callback from /embed/profile.js
		if (this.statusCache[username]) {
			var statusEl = Dsq.$('dsq-profile-status-' + username);
			statusEl.innerHTML = this.statusCache[username];
			statusEl.style.display = 'block';
		}

		if (this.profileCache[username]) {
			var _cache = this.profileCache[username];

			var _genhtml = function(text) { return '<span><big>' + text + '</big></span>'; };
			var _no_comments = _genhtml(Dsq.FmtStrings.NUMBER_OF_COMMENTS(_cache.comments_count));
			var _no_likes = _genhtml(Dsq.FmtStrings.NUMBER_OF_LIKES(_cache.likes_count));
			var _no_points = _genhtml(Dsq.FmtStrings.NUMBER_OF_POINTS(_cache.points));

			var statsEl = Dsq.$('dsq-popup-profile-user-stats-' + username);
			statsEl.innerHTML = '';

			if (Dsq.jsonData.users[username].registered) {
				statsEl.innerHTML = _no_comments + _no_likes;
			}
			statsEl.innerHTML += _no_points;

			var activeSites = '';
			for (var i = 0; i < _cache.active_sites.length; i++) {
				var site = _cache.active_sites[i];
				activeSites += '<li><a href="' + site.url + '"> \
					<img src="' + site.favicon + '"/ width="16" height="16"/></a>\
					<a href="' + site.url + '">' + site.name + '</a></li>';
			}
			if (activeSites !== '') {
				Dsq.$('dsq-popup-profile-active-sites-' + username).innerHTML = activeSites;
			} else {
				Dsq.$('dsq-popup-profile-active-sites-' + username).innerHTML = 'This site.';
			}

			var moderatedSites = '';
			for (var i = 0; i < _cache.moderated_sites.length; i++) {
				var site = _cache.moderated_sites[i];
				moderatedSites += '<li><a href="' + site.url + '"> \
					<img src="' + site.favicon + '"/ width="16" height="16"/></a>\
					<a href="' + site.url + '">' + site.name + '</a></li>';
			}
			if (moderatedSites !== '') {
				Dsq.$('dsq-popup-profile-moderated-' + username).innerHTML = moderatedSites;
			} else {
				Dsq.$('dsq-popup-profile-moderated-wrapper-' + username).innerHTML = '';
			}
		}

		// Reposition popup after full HTML is rendered
		if(Dsq.Popup.activePopup && Dsq.Popup.activePopup.el) {
			Dsq.Popup.initPopup(Dsq.Popup.activePopup.el, Dsq.Popup.activePopup.id, Dsq.Popup.activePopup.type);
		}

	};

	this.showCookieMsgs = function() {
		var title = '';
		var message = '';
		var numAlerts = 0;

		Dsq.Utils.forEachIn(Dsq.jsonData.cookie_messages, function(k, v) {
			if (!v) return;

			switch(k) {
				// Cookie: Twitter
				case 'post_twitter':
					if (v === 'error') {
						title = 'Twitter Error!';
						message += '<li id="dsq-msg-twitter-error">Oops, we couldn\'t tweet this comment. Please check your <a href="http://disqus.com/account/services">account settings</a>.</li>';
					} else {
						var _msg = v.split(':');
						title = 'Tweeted!';
						message += '<li id="dsq-msg-twitter-success">Your comment was successfully tweeted. <a href="http://twitter.com/' + _msg[0] + '/status/' + _msg[1] + '">Click here to view the tweet</a>.</li>';
					}
					break;
				// Cookie: Unapproved Post
				case 'post_not_approved':
					title = 'Comment awaiting approval by a moderator';
					message += '<li id="dsq-msg-post-not-approved">Your comment must be approved by a moderator before appearing here.</li>';
					break;
				// Cookie: Profile Found
				case 'post_has_profile':
					title = 'Use your existing commenter profile';
					message += '<li id="dsq-msg-post-has-profile">You have just posted your commment as a <span class="dsq-badge-guest">Guest</span>, but you may already have a <span class="logo-disqus">Disqus</span> Profile.<br /><br /><a href="http://disqus.com/claim">Log in and claim this comment!</a></li>';
					break;
				case 'user_created':
					var _data = v.split(':');
					title = 'Profile created!';
					message += '<li id="dsq-msg-user-created">You have just created a <span class="logo-disqus">Disqus</span> Profile, the best way to claim, manage, and track your comments all over the web. \
					<br /><br />A confirmation is being sent to <strong>' + _data[1] + '</strong>. Please check for this email in order to verify your profile. \
					<ul class="dsq-list-tick"> \
						<li>Your username is <strong>' + _data[0] +'</strong>. <a href="http://disqus.com/people/' + _data[0] + '/" target="_blank">Click here to view your public profile</a>.</li> \
						<li>Be sure to set your profile picture, as well as connect your <span class="dsq-badge-facebook">Facebook</span> and <span class="dsq-badge-twitter">Twitter</span> accounts. <a href="http://disqus.com/account/" target="_blank">Click here for account settings</a>.</li> \
					</ul> \
					</li>'
					break;
				default:
					break;
			}
			numAlerts++;
		});

		if(numAlerts > 1) {
			message = '<ul class="dsq-list-bluebullet">' + message;
			message += '</ul>';
			title = 'Thanks for posting!';
		}
		if(numAlerts > 0) {
			if(typeof(disqus_cookie_msgs) == 'function') {
				disqus_cookie_msgs(message, title);
			} else {
				Dsq.Popup.popModal(message, title);
			}
		}
	};

	this.helpBadges = function(post_id) {
		var html = ' \
			<ul class="dsq-popup-help"> \
				<li><span class="dsq-badge dsq-badge-verified">Verified</span> has a <span class="logo-disqus">Disqus</span> Profile with a confirmed email address.</li> \
				<li><span class="dsq-badge dsq-badge-registered">Registered</span> has a <span class="logo-disqus">Disqus</span> Profile, but has not yet confirmed his or her email address.</li> \
				<li><span class="dsq-badge dsq-badge-guest">Guest</span> is not logged in with any account and has not claimed his or her comments.</li> \
				<li class="dsq-help-otheraccts">Other accounts</li> \
				<li><span class="dsq-badge dsq-badge-facebook">Facebook</span> is using his or her Facebook profile via Facebook Connect.</li> \
				<li><span class="dsq-badge dsq-badge-twitter">Twitter</span> is using his or her Twitter profile via Twitter Sign-in.</li> \
				<li><span class="dsq-badge dsq-badge-openid">OpenID</span> is using his or her OpenID.</li> \
			</ul> \
		';

		this.popModal(html, 'Help: Types of Commenters', post_id);
		return;
	};

	this.permalink = function(post_id) {
		var header = 'Link to this comment';
		var body = '<strong>You are anchored to</strong>:<br />' + document.location.protocol + '//' + document.location.host + document.location.pathname + document.location.search + '#comment-' + post_id;

		this.popModal(body, header, post_id);
	};

	this.login = function(header, body) {
		var h = header || 'Login or Register';
		var b = body || '';
		b += Dsq.Templates.frameLogin({id: 'dsq-popup-login'});
		b += '</iframe>'; // HACK: Sometimes there is something funky with the IFRAME SRC that causes no end tag
		this.popModal(b, h, null, true, 'dsq-popup-login');
	};

	this.blacklist = function(id) {
		var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[id];
		var userData = Dsq.jsonData['users'][_meta.user_key];
		var title = 'Add to Blacklist';
		var message = ' \
		Adding this person to the blacklist will block him or her from commenting on this site. Check the following types that you would like to add to the blacklist:'
		+ (userData['registered'] ?
			'<div class="dsq-blacklist-option"> \
				<input id="dsq-blacklist-username" type="checkbox" checked> \
				<label for="dsq-blacklist-username"><strong>Username</strong>: ' + userData['username'] + '</label> \
			</div>'
			: '')
		+ (_meta.email ?
			'<div class="dsq-blacklist-option"> \
				<input id="dsq-blacklist-email" type="checkbox" checked> \
				<label for="dsq-blacklist-email"><strong>Email address</strong>: ' + _meta.email + '</label> \
			</div>'
			: '')
		+ '<div class="dsq-blacklist-option"> \
			<input id="dsq-blacklist-ip" type="checkbox" onclick="Dsq.$(\'dsq-blacklist-ip-warning\').style.display=\'block\'"> \
			<label for="dsq-blacklist-ip"><strong>IP address</strong>: ' + _meta.ip + '</label> \
		</div> \
		';

		message += ' \
			<p id="dsq-blacklist-ip-warning" style="display:none">	\
				Note: Blocking this person\'s IP address may also unintentionally prevent others, who share his/her IP address, from commenting on this site. \
				This may include people who are sharing the same computer, living in the same house, or using the same Internet provider. Only block an IP address as a last resort. \
			</p> \
		';

		message += ' \
			<p style="text-align:center"><button onclick="Dsq.Post.blockUser(' + id + '); this.disabled=true; this.innerHTML=\'Just one moment...\'">Add to Blacklist</button></p> \
		';

		Dsq.Popup.popModal(message, title);
	};

	this.remoteAccountSettings = function() {
		var body = '';
		// Set up IFrame.
		var params = {};
		var base_url = 'http://disqus.com/forums/washingtonindependent/_auth/embed/remote_settings/';
		var attributes = {id: 'dsq-popup-account-settings'};
		if (typeof disqus_frame_theme != 'undefined') {
			params['theme'] = disqus_frame_theme;
		}

		body = Dsq.Templates._frameGeneric(base_url, params, attributes);
		this.popModal(body, 'Account Settings', null, true, 'dsq-popup-account-settings');
	};

	this.popModal = function(message, title, post_id, use_listener, extra_classes) {
		var container = document.createElement('div');
		var header, body;

		Dsq.Popup._closePopup(null, true);

		if(typeof(title) == 'undefined') { title = ''; }
		if(typeof(use_listener) == 'undefined') { use_listener = true; }

		if(post_id) {
			container.id = 'dsq-popup-message-' + post_id;
		} else {
			container.id = 'dsq-popup-message';
		}

		header = title;
		body = message;

		container.innerHTML = Dsq.Templates.popupModal(header, body);
		Dsq.Popup.initPopup(container, post_id, 'message', extra_classes);
		if(use_listener) {
			Dsq.Popup.popupListener = Dsq.Utils.addEventListener(document, 'mouseup', Dsq.Popup._closePopup);
		}
	};

	this.popAlert = this.popModal;

	this.loading = function(post_id) {
		var title = Dsq.Strings.JUST_A_MOMENT;
		var body = '<div style="text-align:center; padding: 5px 0 10px 0"><img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/loading.gif" alt="" /></div>'
		Dsq.Popup.lightbox(body, title, post_id);
	};

	this.lightbox = function(message, title, post_id) {
		// Wraps Dsq.Popup.popModal

		var overlay = document.createElement('div');
		overlay.id = 'dsq-overlay';
		overlay.className = 'dsq-overlay';
		Dsq.$b.appendChild(overlay);
		
		Dsq.Popup.popModal(message, title, post_id, false, 'dsq-lightbox');
	};

	this.popProfile = function(post_id, userKey) {
		var post = Dsq.jsonData['posts'][post_id];
		if (post && post.has_been_anonymized) {
			Dsq.Popup.popModal('This message was anonymized by its previous owner.', 'Anonymized', post_id);
			return;
		}

		if(post_id) {
			userKey = Dsq.jsonData['posts'][post_id].user_key;	
		}
		var userData = Dsq.jsonData['users'][userKey];
		var elId = 'dsq-popup-profile-' + userKey;
		var container = document.createElement('div');

		if(this.activePopup.el) {
			this._closePopup(null, true);
			if(this.activePopup.linkClicked) {
				this.activePopup.linkClicked = false;
				return;
			}
		}

		container.id = elId;
		container.innerHTML = Dsq.Templates.popupProfile(userKey);

		this.initPopup(container, post_id, 'profile');
		this.popupListener = Dsq.Utils.addEventListener(document, 'mouseup', this._closePopup);

		if(!this.profileCache[userKey]) {
			Dsq.Utils.execScript('http://disqus.com/embed/profile.js'
				+ '?username=' + userKey
				+ '&anon=' + (userData['registered'] ? 0 : 1)
				+ '&f=' + Dsq.jsonData['request'].forum);
		} else {
			this.updateProfile(userKey);
		}
	};

	this._closePopup = function(e, force) {
		var activePopup = Dsq.Popup.activePopup.el;
		var id = Dsq.Popup.activePopup.id;
		var link = 'dsq-avatar-' + id; // HACK: Specific to profile toggle target

		// HACK: This event should be gone if there is no active popup.
		if(!activePopup) {
			return;
		}
		if(force || !Dsq.Popup.isClicked(e, activePopup.id)) {
			// TODO: This is breaking iE?
			if(Dsq.Popup.popupListener) {
				Dsq.Utils.removeEventListener(Dsq.Popup.popupListener);
			}
			
			// Kill overlay
			var overlay = Dsq.$('dsq-overlay');
			if(overlay) { Dsq.Utils.deleteNode(overlay); }
			
			try {
				Dsq.Utils.deleteNode(activePopup);
			} catch(e) {
				// HACK: IE6 throws an error when using deleteNode() with a node containing a <table> in the html.
				activePopup.parentNode.removeChild(activePopup);
			}
			Dsq.Popup.activePopup = {};
		}

		if(!force && Dsq.Popup.isClicked(e, link)) {
 			Dsq.Popup.activePopup.linkClicked = true;
		}

	};

	this.initPopup = function(popup, post_id, type, extra_classes) {
		popup.className = 'dsq-popup dsq-popup-' + type + ' ' + (extra_classes ? extra_classes : '');
		if(Dsq.Utils.ie6 || Dsq.Utils.ie7) {
			// HACK: We can't modify the body before it's ready, so we need
			//       to use an IE-safe "DOMReady" workaround before loading
			//       our popup.
			Dsq.Utils.execOnReady(function() {Dsq.$b.appendChild(popup); });
		} else {
			Dsq.$b.appendChild(popup);
		}

		popup.style.display = 'block';

		var xPos = (Dsq.Utils.getWindowSize()[0] - popup.offsetWidth) / 2;
		var yPos = (Dsq.Utils.getWindowSize()[1] - popup.offsetHeight) / 2;

		if(Dsq.Utils.ie6) {
			yPos += Dsq.Utils.getScrollPos()[1];
		}

		popup.style.left = xPos + 'px';
		popup.style.top = yPos + 'px';

		Dsq.Popup.activePopup = {
			'el' : popup,
			'id' : post_id,
			'type': type,
			'linkClicked' : false
		};
	};

	this.isClicked = function(e, id) {
		var t = e.target || e.srcElement;
		while(t && t.parentNode) {
			if(t.id == id) {
				return true;
			}

			t = t.parentNode;
		}
		return false;
	};
};
// Dsq.Popup

/**
 * Dsq.Templates
 */
Dsq.Templates = new function() {
	/*
	 * Counter keeping track of the number of posts iterated over.
	 */
	this.postLoopCounter = 0;
	this.filters = {};
	this.addPostContainer = 'dsq-post-add';
	this.textareaContainer = 'dsq-post-add';

	this.registerTemplate = function(name, func) {
		this['$$_' + name] = func;

		if(typeof DsqLocal.Filters != 'undefined'
		&& typeof DsqLocal.Filters[name] == 'function') {
			// Push filters to this.filters to unify code.
			this.filters[name] = this.filters[name] || [];
			this.filters[name].push(DsqLocal.Filters[name]);
		}

		this[name] = function() {
			var ret;

			if(typeof DsqLocal.Templates != 'undefined'
			&& typeof DsqLocal.Templates[name] == 'function') {
				ret = DsqLocal.Templates[name].apply(this, arguments);
			}

			if(ret === undefined) {
				ret = this['$$_' + name].apply(this, arguments);
			}

			if(this.filters[name]) {
				var args = [ret];

				args.push.apply(args, arguments);
				for(var i = 0; i < this.filters[name].length; i++) {
					ret = this.filters[name][i].apply(this, args);
				}
			}

			return ret;
		};
	};

	this.registerFilter = function(name, func) {
		this.filters[name] = this.filters[name] || [];
		this.filters[name].push(func);
	};

	/**
	 * Dsq.Templates.Filters
	 */
	this.Filters = new function() {
		this.commentContainer = function(post_id, s) {
			var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id];
			var classes = [];
			if(Dsq.jsonData.request.page > 1) {
				classes.push('dsq-append');
			}

			//
			// Extra classes used for custom themes
			//

			if(_meta.depth) {
				classes.push('dsq-comment-child', 'dsq-depth-' + _meta.depth, 'dsq-parent-is-' + _meta.parent_post_id);
			}


			//

			if(_meta.author_is_creator) {
				// TODO: We need to deprecate the "special" class since it is not properly prefixed.
				classes.push('special', 'dsq-special');
			}
			if(_meta.author_is_moderator) {
				classes.push('dsq-moderator');
			}
			classes.push(['dsq-odd', 'dsq-even'][Dsq.Templates.postLoopCounter % 2]);

			s = s.substring(0, s.lastIndexOf('>'));
			return s + ' class="dsq-comment ' + classes.join(' ') + '" style="margin-left:' + _meta.depth*30 + 'px">';
		};

		this.commentContent = function(post_id, s) {
			var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id];
			if (_meta.killed) {
				return '<em>Comment removed.</em>';
			} else if (!_meta.approved) {
				return '<em>This comment was flagged for review.</em>';
			}

			s = s.replace(Dsq.MEDIA_POST_RE, Dsq.MediaPostHandler);
			return s;
		};
	};

	//
	// Thread
	//
	// TODO: These need to be stripped of all Django template tags.

	this.authPost = function() {
		if (!Dsq.jsonData.context.show_reply) {
			return '';
		}
		var result = [];
		result = result.concat([
				'<div id="dsq-auth"',
						Dsq.jsonData.integration.reply_position ? 'class="dsq-auth-bottom"' : '',
						'>',
					'<div class="dsq-by">',
						'<a href="http://disqus.com" target="_blank">',
							(Dsq.jsonData.integration.disqus_logo ?
								Dsq.Utils.interpolate('<img src="%(media_url)s/images/embed/by-disqus.png" alt="discussion by DISQUS">') :
								Dsq.Utils.interpolate('<img src="%(media_url)s/images/embed/dsq-button-120x19.png" alt="discussion by DISQUS">')
							),
						'</a>',
					'</div>',
					'<div class="dsq-auth-header">',
						'<h3 id="dsq-add-new-comment" class="dsq-h3-addcomment">',
								Dsq.Strings.ADD_NEW_COMMENT,
						'</h3>',
						'<div id="dsq-login">',
						(!Dsq.jsonData.request.is_authenticated && Dsq.jsonData.forum.allow_anon_post
								? '<p class="dsq-login-message" id="dsq-login-message">You are commenting as a <a class="dsq-help" title="Click for more information" href="#" onclick="Dsq.Popup.helpBadges(); return false">Guest</a>. You may log into:</p>'
								: '')
		]);
		if (!Dsq.jsonData.request.is_authenticated) {
			result = result.concat([
							Dsq.Utils.interpolate(
								'<a id="dsq-login-toggle" href="%(disqus_url)s%(login_url)s?next=article:%(thread_id)s" onclick="Dsq.Popup.login(); return false"><img class="dsq-login-icon" src="%(media_url)s/images/dsq-profile-btn.png" title="%(log_into)s" alt="%(log_into)s"/></a>',
								{login_url: Dsq.Urls.LOGIN, thread_id: Dsq.jsonData.thread.id, log_into: Dsq.Strings.LOG_INTO_DISQUS}
								),
							'&nbsp; ',
							(Dsq.jsonData.context.use_fb_connect ?
								'<div id="dsq-fbc-login" onlogin="DisqusFbcParentController.onLogin()" size="medium" background="light" length="short" style="display:inline; margin-right:7px"></div>' :
								''
							),
							(Dsq.jsonData.context.use_twitter_signin ?
								Dsq.Utils.interpolate(
									'<div id="dsq-twitter-login" class="dsq-twitter-login" onclick="Dsq.Twitter.startTwitterConnect();" style="display:inline; cursor: pointer"><img src="%(media_url)s/images/twitter-signin-short.png" style="margin-right:7px" /></div>', {}) : ''),
							(Dsq.jsonData.context.use_openid ?
								Dsq.Utils.interpolate(
									'<div id="dsq-openid-login" class="dsq-openid-login" onclick="Dsq.OpenID.requestURL();" style="display:inline; cursor:pointer;"><img src="%(media_url)s/images/openid-login-button.png"/></div>', {}
								) : '')
			]);
		}
		result = result.concat([
						'</div>', // dsq-login
					'</div>', // dsq-auth-header
					'<div id="dsq-authenticated" class="dsq-authenticated" ',
						Dsq.jsonData.request.is_authenticated ? 'style="display:block"' : '',
						'>',
						'<div class="dsq-authenticated-pic">',
								Dsq.Utils.interpolate('<a href="%(url)s" title="%(request_display_username)s">' +
																			'<img class="dsq-post-avatar" src="%(avatar_url)s" alt="" /></a>',
																			{avatar_url: Dsq.Urls.REQUEST_USER_AVATAR,
																			url: (Dsq.jsonData.request.is_remote
																					 ? Dsq.jsonData.request.url
																					 : Dsq.jsonData.settings.disqus_url + Dsq.Urls.REQUEST_USER_PROFILE) }),
						'</div>',
						'<div class="dsq-authenticated-info">',
							'<ul>',
								'<li>',
									(Dsq.jsonData.request.is_remote
										? Dsq.FmtStrings.LOGGED_IN_AS(
												Dsq.Utils.interpolate('<a href="%(url)s" title="%(request_display_username)s">%(request_display_username)s</a>', {url:Dsq.jsonData.request.url})
										  )
										: Dsq.FmtStrings.LOGGED_IN_AS(
												Dsq.Utils.interpolate('<a href="%(disqus_url)s%(profile_url)s" title="%(request_display_username)s">%(request_display_username)s</a>')
											)
									),
								'</li>',
								'<li class="logout">',
									(!Dsq.jsonData.request.is_remote
										? Dsq.Utils.interpolate('<img class="dsq-login-icon" src="%(media_url)s/images/dsqicon12.png" alt="%(logged_in_as)s"/>&nbsp',
											{logged_in_as: Dsq.FmtStrings.LOGGED_IN_AS(Dsq.jsonData.request.display_username)})
										: ''),

									(!Dsq.jsonData.request.is_remote
										? Dsq.Utils.interpolate('<a href="%(disqus_url)s%(logout_url)s?ctkn=%(csrf_token)s" title="%(logout_from_disqus)s">',
											{logout_url: Dsq.Urls.LOGOUT, csrf_token: Dsq.CSRF_TOKEN, logout_from_disqus: Dsq.FmtStrings.LOGOUT_FROM('DISQUS')})
										: ((Dsq.jsonData.request.remote_domain == 'twitter')
												? Dsq.Utils.interpolate('using Twitter (<a href="%(disqus_url)s%(logout_url)s?ctkn=%(csrf_token)s" title="Logout">Logout</a>)',
												 {logout_url: Dsq.Urls.LOGOUT, csrf_token: Dsq.CSRF_TOKEN})
												: ((Dsq.jsonData.request.remote_domain == 'openid')
													 ? Dsq.Utils.interpolate('using OpenID (<a href="%(disqus_url)s%(logout_url)s?ctkn=%(csrf_token)s" title="Logout">Logout</a>)',
													 {logout_url: Dsq.Urls.LOGOUT, csrf_token: Dsq.CSRF_TOKEN})
													 : ''
													)
											)
									),

									(!Dsq.jsonData.request.is_remote ? Dsq.FmtStrings.LOGOUT_FROM('<span class="logo-disqus">DISQUS</span>') : ''),
									'</a>',
								'</li>',
							'</ul>',
						'</div>',
					'</div>'
		]);
		if (Dsq.jsonData.context.use_fb_connect) {
			result = result.concat([
					'<div id="dsq-fbc-authenticated" class="dsq-authenticated">',
						'<div id="dsq-fbc-profilepic" class="dsq-authenticated-pic" uid="loggedinuser" type="FB.XFBML.ProfilePic" size="square" facebook-logo="true"></div>',
						'<div class="dsq-authenticated-info">',
							'<ul>',
								'<li>',
									'Logged in as <span id="dsq-fbc-name" uid="loggedinuser" type="FB.XFBML.Name" linked="true" useyou="false"></span>',
								'</li>',
								'<li class="logout">using Facebook Connect <a href="#" onclick="javascript:DisqusFbcParentController.logout();return false;">(Logout)</a></li>',
							'</ul>',
						'</div>',
					'</div>'
			]);
		}
		result = result.concat([
				'</div>', // dsq-auth
				'<div id="dsq-toolbar-items">',
				'</div>'
		]);
		result = result.concat([
					//
					//
					//
				((!Dsq.jsonData.forum.allow_anon_post && !Dsq.jsonData.request.is_authenticated) ?
					// Needs to be translated:
					('<p id="dsq-no-anon-msg">Required: Please log into <span class="logo-disqus">Disqus</span> ' +
					(Dsq.jsonData.context.use_fb_connect ? 'or connect with Facebook ' : '') +
					(Dsq.jsonData.context.use_twitter_signin ? 'or sign in with Twitter ' : '') +
					(Dsq.jsonData.context.use_openid ? 'or sign in using OpenID ' : '') +
					Dsq.Utils.interpolate('to comment on <strong>%(forum_name)s</strong>.</p>')) :
					''
				),
				'<div id="dsq-post-add"></div>',
				'<div style="margin:10px 0">',
				((Dsq.jsonData.forum.use_media) ?
						'<a href="#" id="dsq-media-link" onclick="Dsq.Post.showMenu(this, false, \'media\'); return false">' + Dsq.Strings.USE_MEDIA + ' <small>&#9660;</small></a>' :
						''),
				'</div>'
		]);
		return result.join('');
	};


	this.header = function() {

		var html = '\<h3 id="dsq-comments-count" class="dsq-h3-commentcount">\
	 Showing <span id="dsq-num-posts">33</span> of <span id="dsq-total-posts">33</span> Comments\
	 &nbsp;\
	 <span class="dsq-item-feed">\
	 <a href="http://disqus.com/forums/washingtonindependent/republicans_test_2010_message_cancel_the_stimulus/latest.rss"><img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/embed/bullet-feed.png"></a>\
	 </span>\
	 </h3>\
	 <div id="dsq-options" style="margin:15px 0">\
	 <span class="dsq-item-sort">\
	 Sort by\
	 <select id="dsq-sort-select" onchange="Dsq.Thread.sortBy(this.value);">\
	 <option value="hot" selected="selected">Popular now</option>\
	 <option value="best" >Best Rating</option>\
	 <option value="newest" >Newest first</option>\
	 <option value="oldest" >Oldest first</option>\
	 </select>\
	 &nbsp;\
	 </span>\
	 <span class="dsq-item-cp"><a href="http://disqus.com/forums/washingtonindependent/republicans_test_2010_message_cancel_the_stimulus/">Community Page</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>\
	 <span class="dsq-item-subscribe">\
	 <img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/embed/email.png" style="width:12px;height:12px;vertical-align:middle">\
	 <span id="dsq-subscribe">\
	 <a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Thread.subscribe(1); return false">Subscribe by email</a>\
	 </span>\
	 </span>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-alerts">\
	 </div>\
		';

		
			html = Dsq.Templates.authPost() + html;
		

		
		if (Dsq.jsonData.request.is_moderator) { 
			html = ' \
			<div class="dsq-alert-message dsq-upgrade-message"> \
				<strong>Disqus upgrade available.</strong> Hi ' + Dsq.jsonData.request.display_username + ', this message is being displayed to you because you are a moderator of this site. <a href="#" onclick="Dsq.$(\'dsq-upgrade-message\').style.display=\'block\';this.style.display=\'none\';return false">Click here for details.</a> \
				<div style="display:none; margin-top:10px;" id="dsq-upgrade-message"> \
					A new theme is available with added features. <a href="http://disqus.com/comments/settings/' + Dsq.jsonData.forum.url + '/?p=customize">To change your theme, click here</a> and choose the theme Narcissus. \
					If you do not upgrade, you are missing out on features such as: real-time commenting, new sign-in integrations, and an upgrade interface. \
					<strong>This message will automatically go away in one week.</strong> \
				</div> \
			</div> \
			' + html; 
		}
		return html;
	};

	this.footer = function() {
		var html = Dsq.Templates.pagination();

		

		html += Dsq.Templates.reactions();

		

		return html;
	};

	this.pagination = function() {
		var html = '';
		
		if (Dsq.$('dsq-pagination')) { Dsq.$('dsq-pagination').innerHTML = ''; }
		if (!Dsq.jsonData.thread.paginate) { return ''; }

		//
		// TODO: num_paginator still uses the template tag for pagination, 
		// 		while append_paginator does it all in JavaScript.
		//		This should all be in JavaScript.
		//

		if (Dsq.jsonData.thread.num_pages > 1 && Dsq.jsonData.request.page < Dsq.jsonData.thread.num_pages) {
			html = ' \<a class="dsq-paginate-append-text" href="#" onclick="Dsq.Thread.paginate(Dsq.jsonData.request.page + 1, this); return false">Show more comments...</a>\
	 <button class="dsq-button-small dsq-paginate-append-button" onclick="Dsq.Thread.paginate(Dsq.jsonData.request.page + 1, this);">Load more comments</button>\
			';
		}
		
		if (Dsq.$('dsq-pagination')) {
			Dsq.$('dsq-pagination').innerHTML = html;
			return '';
		} else {
			return '<div id="dsq-pagination" class="dsq-pagination">' + html + '</div>';
		}
	};

	this.trackbacks = function() {
		var html = '';

		if(typeof DsqLocal != 'undefined' && DsqLocal.trackback_url && DsqLocal.trackbacks) {
			var trackbacks = DsqLocal.trackbacks;
			var trackback_url = DsqLocal.trackback_url;
		} else {
			var trackbacks = [
			
			
			];
			var trackback_url = 'http://disqus.com/forums/washingtonindependent/republicans_test_2010_message_cancel_the_stimulus/trackback/';
		}

		html += '<div class="dsq-item-trackback">Trackback URL&nbsp;&nbsp;<input class="dsq-trackback-url" onclick="this.select()" readonly="true" value="' + trackback_url + '"></div>';

		if(trackbacks.length) {
			html += '<ul id="dsq-references">'
			for(var i = 0; i < trackbacks.length; i++) {
				var trackback = trackbacks[i];
				html += '<li><cite><a href="' + trackback.author_url + '" rel="nofollow">' + trackback.author_name + '</a></cite> \
						<p class="dsq-meta">' + trackback.date + '</p> \
						<p class="dsq-content">' + trackback.excerpt + '</p></li>';
			}
			html += '</ul>';
			html = '<h3 class="dsq-h3-trackbacks">Trackbacks</h3>' + html;
		}

		return html;
	}

	this.showRetweets = function(id, limit, element_id /* Optional */) {
		var source, html = '';

		for (var i = 0, reaction; reaction = Dsq.jsonData.reactions[i]; i++) {
			if (reaction.id === id) {
				source = reaction.retweets;
			}
		}

		if (source) {
			if (limit === 0) {
				limit = source.length;
			}

			for (var j = 0; j < limit; j++) {
				var rt = source[j];
				html += '<a href="' + rt.url + '">' + rt.author_name + '</a>'	+ ((j === (limit - 1)) ? '.' : ', ');
			}
		}

		if (element_id === undefined) {
			return html;
		}

		var element = document.getElementById(element_id);
		element.innerHTML = html;
		return element;
	};

	this.showMoreReactions = function(reactions, has_more, start, limit) {
		var link = document.getElementById('dsq-show-more-reactions');
		var container = link.parentNode;
		container.removeChild(link);

		for (var i = 0, reaction; reaction = reactions[i]; i++) {
			var el = Dsq.Templates.generateReactionHTML(reaction);
			if (el) {
				container.innerHTML += el;
			}
		}

		if (has_more) {
			var d = Dsq.jsonData.settings.disqus_url;
			var f = Dsq.jsonData.forum.url;
			var t = Dsq.jsonData.thread.id;
			var s = start;
			var l = limit;

			var handler = 'Dsq.Utils.execScript(\'' + d + '/forums/' + f + '/more_reactions.js?t=' + t + '&s=' + s + '&l=' + l + '\', true); return false;';
			container.innerHTML += '<li id="dsq-show-more-reactions"><a href="#" onclick="' + handler + '">Show more reactions</a></li>';
		}
	};

	this.generateReactionHTML = function(reaction) {
		if (reaction.body === null || reaction.body == '') {
			return;
		}

		if (reaction.author_name === '') {
			reaction.author_name = '&nbsp;';
		}

		if (reaction.url === '') {
			reaction.url = reaction.get_service_url;
		}

		/* Reaction HTML begins */
		var item = '<li class="dsq-reaction" id="dsq-reaction-' + reaction.id + '">'
			+ '<div class="dsq-reaction-header">'
			+ '<div class="dsq-header-avatar">';

		if (reaction.author_url && reaction.author_url !== '') {
			item += '<a target="_blank" href="' + reaction.author_url +'">';
		} else {
			item += '<a target="_blank" href="#" onclick="return false;">';
		}

		if (reaction.avatar_url && reaction.avatar_url !== '') {
			item += '<img src="' + reaction.avatar_url + '"/>';
		} else {
			item += '<img src="' + Dsq.jsonData.media_url + '/images/noavatar32.png"/>';
		}

		var service_icon = (reaction.get_service_name == 'trackback' || reaction.get_service_name == 'pingback' ? 'rss' : reaction.get_service_name.replace(' ', ''));
		item += '<img class="dsq-service-icon" src="' + Dsq.jsonData.media_url + '/images/reactions/services/' + service_icon + '.png"/>'
			+ '</a></div>'
			+ '<cite><span>' + reaction.author_name + '</span></cite>'
			+ '<span class="dsq-header-meta"><a class="dsq-header-time">' + reaction.date_created + '</a></span>'
			+ '</div><div class="dsq-reaction-body">'
			+ '<div class="dsq-reaction-message">' + reaction.body + '</div>'
			+ '<div class="dsq-reaction-footer">From <a class="dsq-service-name" target="_blank" href="' + reaction.url + '">' + reaction.get_service_name + '</a> '
			+ 'via ' + (reaction.source == 'backtype' ? '<a href="http://backtype.com/">BackType</a>' : '<a href="' + reaction.source_url + '">UberVU</a>')
			+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.is_moderator || Dsq.jsonData.request.is_global_moderator ? '&nbsp;&bull;&nbsp;<a class="dsq-hide-reaction" href="#" onclick="Dsq.Reaction.hide(' + reaction.id + '); return false;">Hide</a>' : '') + '</div></div>';

		if(reaction.retweets) {
			var num_retweets = reaction.retweets.length;
			if (num_retweets > 0) {
				item += '<div class="dsq-reaction-retweets">';
				if (num_retweets == 1) {
					item += 'One more retweet from <a href="' + reaction.retweets[0].url + '">'  + reaction.retweets[0].author_name + '</a>';
				} else {
					item += (num_retweets + ' more retweets from ');

					item += '<span id="dsq-reaction-retweets-' + reaction.id + '">';
					var n_tweets = (num_retweets > 15) ? 15 : num_retweets;
					item += Dsq.Templates.showRetweets(reaction.id, n_tweets);

					if (n_tweets != num_retweets) {
						item += '</span> <a onclick="Dsq.Templates.showRetweets(' + reaction.id + ', 0, \'dsq-reaction-retweets-' + reaction.id + '\');'
							+ 'this.parentNode.removeChild(this); return false;" href="#">Show all</a>';
					}
				}
				item += '</div>';
			}
		}

		item += '</li>'; /* Reaction HTML ends */
		return item;
	};

	this.reactions = function() {
		var html, reaction;

		if (Dsq.jsonData.reactions === undefined || Dsq.jsonData.reactions.length === 0) {
			return '';
		}

		html = '';
		for (var i = 0; reaction = Dsq.jsonData.reactions[i]; i++) {
			var item = Dsq.Templates.generateReactionHTML(reaction);
			if (item) {
				html += item;
			}
		}

		if (Dsq.jsonData.has_more_reactions) {
			var d = Dsq.jsonData.settings.disqus_url;
			var f = Dsq.jsonData.forum.url;
			var t = Dsq.jsonData.thread.id;
			var s = Dsq.jsonData.reactions_start;
			var l = Dsq.jsonData.reactions_limit;

			var handler = 'Dsq.Utils.execScript(\'' + d + '/forums/' + f + '/more_reactions.js?t=' + t + '&s=' + s + '&l=' + l + '\', true); return false;';
			html += '<li id="dsq-show-more-reactions"><a href="#" onclick="' + handler + '">Show more reactions</a></li>';
		}

		return '<h3 class="dsq-h3-reactions">Reactions</h3><ul id="dsq-reactions" class="dsq-reactions">' + html + '</ul>';
	};
	
	this.missingPermissions = function() {
		return '';
	};

	//
	// Post
	//

	this.prependPost = function(post_id) {
		var html = '<div id="comment-' + post_id + '"></div>';
		return html;
	};

	this.appendPost = function(post_id) {
		var html = '<div id="dsq-comment-reply-' + post_id + '"></div>';
		return html;
	};

	this.postPrependHeader = function(post_id) {
		var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id];
		var userData = Dsq.jsonData['users'][_meta.user_key];

		var _includeServices = function() {
			var userServices = Dsq.Post.getUserServices(null, post_id);
			var html = '';
			var hiddenThreshold = 3; // Define # of services to show before stuffing them in hidden div

			for(var i = 0; i < userServices.length; i++) {
				html +=
				(i == hiddenThreshold
					? '<li id="dsq-drop-hidden-' + post_id +'" class="dsq-drop-hidden"><ul>'
					: '')
				+ '<li class="dsq-drop-services"> \
					<a class="dsq-service-' + userServices[i].name.toLowerCase() + '" href="' + userServices[i].url + '" target="_blank"> \
						<img src="' + Dsq.jsonData.media_url + '/images/embed/services/' + userServices[i].name.toLowerCase() + '.png" alt="' + userServices[i].name.toLowerCase() + '">'
					+ userServices[i].name
					+ '</a> \
				</li>';
			}

			if(i >= hiddenThreshold) {
				html += '</ul></li> \
				<li id="dsq-drop-more-' + post_id + '" class="dsq-drop-more"><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Post.dropProfileMore(this, '+ post_id + '); return false"><small>&#9660;</small></a></li> \
				';
			}
			return html;
		};

		return ' \
			<div class="dsq-header-avatar" id="dsq-header-avatar-' + post_id + '" onmouseover="Dsq.Post.dropProfile(' + post_id + ')"> \
				<a id="dsq-avatar-' + post_id + '" class="dsq-avatar" href="' + userData.url + '" onclick="Dsq.Popup.popProfile(' + post_id + '); return false;">'
			+ (Dsq.jsonData.forum.show_avatar
				? '<img src="' + Dsq.jsonData.users[_meta.user_key].avatar + '" alt="" />'
				: '')
			+ '</a>'
			+ '</div> \
		';
	};

	this.postAppendHeader = function(post_id) {
		var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id];

		return ''
			+ (_meta.author_is_moderator
				? '<img class="dsq-mod-star" src="http://media.disqus.com/images/bullet-star.png" title="Moderator" alt="" />'
				: '')
			+ '<span class="dsq-header-meta"> \
				<a id="dsq-time-' + post_id + '" class="dsq-header-time" href="#comment-' + post_id + '" title="Permalink">' + _meta.date + '</a> \
			</span>';
	};

	this.preBody = function(post_id) {
		return '';
	}

	this.postBody = function(post_id) {
		// TODO: Deprecate flagging conditional
		var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id];
		return ''
			+ (_meta.edited
				? '<p class="dsq-editedtxt">(Edited by a moderator)</p>'
				: '')
			;
	};

	this.postFooter = function(post_id) {
		// TODO: Use media should be conditional
		var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id];
		if(_meta.killed) { return ''; }

		return ' \
			<div class="dsq-comment-footer" id="dsq-comment-footer-' + post_id + '"> \
				<div id="dsq-points-' + post_id + '" class="dsq-likedtxt">'
				+ (_meta.points
					? _meta.points + Dsq.Utils.pluralize(_meta.points, ' person', ' people') + ' liked this comment.'
					: '')
				+ '</div>'
				+ '<ul class="dsq-comment-options dsq-list-style">'
				+ (_meta.votable
					? '<li class="dsq-list-first dsq-rate" id="dsq-rate-cont-' + post_id + '">'
					+ (!_meta.up_voted
						? '<a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Post.rate(this, ' + post_id + ', 1); return false;">Like</a>'
						: 'You liked this.') + '</li>'
					: '')
				+ '<li class="dsq-report' + (!_meta.votable ? ' dsq-list-first' : '') + '" id="dsq-post-report-' + post_id + '"><a href="#" class="dsq-post-report" onclick="Dsq.Post.report(' + post_id + ', false); return false;">Report</a></li> \
				</ul> \
				<ul class="dsq-list-style">'
				+ (_meta.can_reply
					? '<li class="dsq-list-first"><a href="#" id="dsq-reply-link-' + post_id +'" onclick="Dsq.Post.toggleReply(this, ' + post_id +'); return false;">Reply</a></li>'
					: '')
				+ (_meta.can_reply && !_meta.has_replies && _meta.from_request_user
					? '<li id="dsq-edit-el-' + post_id + '"><a id="dsq-edit-link-' + post_id + '" href="#" onclick="Dsq.Post.edit(this, ' + post_id + '); return false;">Edit</a></li>'
					: '')
				+ '<li class="' + (!_meta.can_reply ? 'dsq-list-first' : '') + '" id="dsq-more-el-' + post_id + '"><a id="dsq-more-link-' + post_id + '" href="#" onclick="Dsq.Post.showMenu(this, ' + post_id + ', \'more\'); return false">More <small>&#9660;</small></a></li>'
				+ (Dsq.jsonData.forum.use_media
					? '<li id="dsq-media-el-' + post_id +'" style="display:none"><a id="dsq-media-link-' + post_id + '" href="#" onclick="Dsq.Post.showMenu(this, ' + post_id + ', \'media\'); return false">Use Media <small>&#9660;</small></a></li>'
					: '')
				+ '</ul>'
				+ '<div id="dsq-reply-bar-' + post_id + '" class="dsq-reply-bar" style="display:none"> \
						<div id="dsq-reply-bar-items-' + post_id + '" class="dsq-reply-bar-items"> \
						</div> \
						<div id="dsq-reply-bar-auth-' + post_id + '" class="dsq-reply-bar-auth"> \
							 \
								 \
								 	<a href="#" class="dsq-help dsq-reply-req-opt" title="You are commenting as a Guest. You may choose to log into an existing DISQUS Profile, your Facebook, Twitter or OpenID account to comment on The Washington Independent" onclick="Dsq.Popup.helpBadges(); return false">Optional:</a> \
								 \
								<img class="dsq-login-icon" src="http://media.disqus.com/images/dsq-favicon-16x16.png" alt="" /> \
								<a id="dsq-reply-login-' + post_id + '" href="http://disqus.com/profile/login/?next=article:24933774" onclick="Dsq.Popup.login(); return false">Login</a> \
								 \
								 \
								 \
							 \
						</div> \
					</div> \
					<div id="dsq-reply-' + post_id + '"></div> \
			</div> \
		';
	};

	//
	// Iframes
	//

	this._makeAttributes = function(attributes) {
		// Makes a tag attributes string out of an object.
		// Caller is responsible for making sure nothing needs to be escaped.
		var result = [];
		for (key in attributes) {
			result.push(' ' + key + '="' + attributes[key] + '"');
		}
		result = result.join('');
		return result;
	};

	this._frameGeneric = function(base_url, params, attributes) {
		if(typeof(disqus_callback_params) == 'undefined') {
			disqus_callback_params = '';
		}

		var default_params = {
			// TODO: These should be moved to Dsq.jsonData.
			'f'				: 'washingtonindependent',
			't'				: 'republicans_test_2010_message_cancel_the_stimulus',
			// Do we need encodeURIComponent here?
			'ifrs'			: encodeURIComponent(disqus_iframe_css),
			'to_redirect'	: encodeURIComponent(window.location),
			'cbp'			: disqus_callback_params,
			'ff'			: Dsq.Thread.ff,
			'fc'			: Dsq.Thread.fc,
			'ac'			: Dsq.Thread.ac,
			'default_text'	: disqus_default_text
		};

		base_url += '?' + (new Date()).getTime();
		// Add params to default_params.
		if(params) {
			for(var key in params) {
				if(params.hasOwnProperty(key)) {
					default_params[key] = encodeURIComponent(params[key]);
				}
			}
		}
		// Build querystring.
		for(var key in default_params) {
			if(default_params[key] && default_params.hasOwnProperty(key)) {
				base_url += '&' + key + '=' + default_params[key];
			}
		}

		return [
			'<iframe marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" hspace="0" vspace="0" frameborder="0"',
			(' allowtransparency="true" src="' + base_url + '"'),
			this._makeAttributes(attributes),
			'</iframe>'].join('');
	};

	this.frameLogin = function(opt_attributes) {
		var params = {};
		var base_url = 'http://disqus.com/embed/login.html';
		var attributes = opt_attributes || {};
		attributes['class'] = 'dsq-post-login';

		if(typeof disqus_frame_theme != 'undefined') {
			params['theme'] = disqus_frame_theme;
		}
		return this._frameGeneric(base_url, params, attributes);
	};

	this.frameReply = function(post_id, extra_params, attributes) {
		// Returns the HTML for a reply iframe. Called by Dsq.Iframes.setReplyIframeToContainer
		var _meta = (typeof post_id != 'undefined') ? Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id] : false;
		var base_url = Dsq.Urls.REPLY;
		var params = {
			'def_email'		: disqus_def_email,
			'def_name'		: disqus_def_name
		};
		if(extra_params) {
			for(var key in extra_params) {
				if(extra_params.hasOwnProperty(key)) {
					params[key] = extra_params[key];
				}
			}
		}
		if(_meta) {
			params['parent_post'] = post_id;
		}
		if(typeof disqus_per_page != 'undefined') {
			params['per_page'] = disqus_per_page;
		}
		if(typeof disqus_frame_theme != 'undefined') {
			params['theme'] = disqus_frame_theme;
		}
		if(Dsq.jsonData.request.is_authenticated) {
			attributes['class'] += '-authenticated';
		}
		return this._frameGeneric(base_url, params, attributes);
	};

	this.frameEdit = function(post_id) {
		var _meta = (typeof post_id != 'undefined') ? Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id] : false;
		var base_url = 'http://disqus.com/embed/edit.html';
		var params = {
			'p' : post_id
		};
		return this._frameGeneric(base_url, params, {'class': 'dsq-post-edit', 'name': 'dsq-edit_' + post_id + '-frame'});
	};

	//
	// Menus
	//

	this.menuMore = function(post_id) {
		// TODO: "Remove post" button should hide menu.
		var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id];
		var userData = Dsq.jsonData['users'][_meta.user_key];
		return ' \
			<li><a href="#comment-' + post_id + '" onclick="Dsq.Popup.permalink(' + post_id + ')">Link</a></li> \
			<li><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Popup.popProfile(' + post_id + '); return false;">Profile</a></li>'
	+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.is_moderator || Dsq.jsonData.request.is_global_moderator
		? '	<li class="dsq-menu-sep"></li>' + (_meta.email ? '<li class="dsq-admin-email">' + _meta.email + '</li>' : '')
		+ '	<li class="dsq-admin-ip">' + _meta.ip + '</li> \
			<li class="dsq-menu-sep"></li>'
		+ (Dsq.jsonData.request.moderator_can_edit
			? ' <li class="dsq-admin-edit"><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Post.edit(this, ' + post_id + '); return false;">Edit Comment</a></li>'
			: '')
		+ ' <li class="dsq-remove"><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Post.removePost(' + post_id + ', 1); return false;">Remove Comment</a></li> \
			<li class="dsq-report-spam"><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Post.reportSpam(' + post_id + '); return false;">Mark Spam</a></li> \
			<li class="dsq-block-user"><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Popup.blacklist(' + post_id + '); return false">Block User</a></li>'
		: '');
	};

	this.menuMedia = function(post_id) {
		return ' \
			<li><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Post.toggleMediaReply(this, ' + post_id + ', \'seesmic\'); return false;">Record video</a></li> \
		';
	};

	this.dropProfile = function(post_id) {
		var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id];
		var userData = Dsq.jsonData['users'][_meta.user_key];

		var _includeServices = function() {
			var userServices = Dsq.Post.getUserServices(null, post_id);
			var html = '';
			var hiddenThreshold = 3; // Define # of services to show before stuffing them in hidden div

			for(var i = 0; i < userServices.length; i++) {
				html +=
				(i == hiddenThreshold
					? '<li id="dsq-drop-hidden-' + post_id +'" class="dsq-drop-hidden"><ul>'
					: '')
				+ '<li class="dsq-drop-services"> \
					<a class="dsq-service-' + userServices[i].name.toLowerCase() + '" href="' + userServices[i].url + '" target="_blank"> \
						<img src="' + Dsq.jsonData.media_url + '/images/embed/services/' + userServices[i].name.toLowerCase() + '.png" alt="' + userServices[i].name.toLowerCase() + '">'
					+ userServices[i].name
					+ '</a> \
				</li>';
			}

			if(i >= hiddenThreshold) {
				html += '</ul></li> \
				<li id="dsq-drop-more-' + post_id + '" class="dsq-drop-more"><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Post.dropProfileMore(this, '+ post_id + '); return false"><small>&#9660;</small></a></li> \
				';
			}
			return html;
		};


		var menu = '<li class="dsq-drop-showlnk"><a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Popup.popProfile(' + post_id + '); return false;">Expand &#8663;</a></li>';
		var pointsMessage = '';
		if (userData['registered']) {
			pointsMessage = 'with ' + userData['points'] + ' points (more points are better).';
		}

		if (userData['is_remote']) {
			var domain = userData['remote_domain_name'];
			menu += '<li class="dsq-drop-badge" title="' + userData['display_name'] + ' is a ' + domain + ' user ' + pointsMessage + '" onclick="Dsq.Popup.helpBadges()">';
			menu += '<span class="dsq-badge-' + domain.toLowerCase() + '">' + domain + '</span></li>';
		} else if (userData['registered']) {
			if (userData['verified']) {
				menu += '<li class="dsq-drop-badge" title="' + userData['display_name'] + ' has a verified commenter profile ' + pointsMessage + '" onclick="Dsq.Popup.helpBadges()">';
				menu += '<span class="dsq-badge-verified">Verified</span></li>';
			} else {
				menu += '<li class="dsq-drop-badge" title="' + userData['display_name'] + ' has a registered, but unverified, commenter profile ' + pointsMessage + '" onclick="Dsq.Popup.helpBadges()">';
				menu += '<span class="dsq-badge-registered">Registered</span></li>';
			}
		} else {
			menu += '<li class="dsq-drop-badge" title="' + userData['display_name'] + ' has not claimed this commenter profile." onclick="Dsq.Popup.helpBadges()"><span class="dsq-badge-guest">Guest</span></li>';
		}

		menu += _includeServices();
		return menu;
	};

	//
	// Popups
	//

	this._popupGeneric = function(content) {
		return ' \
		<div class="dsq-popup-content"> \
			<div class="dsq-popup-top"></div> \
			<div class="dsq-popup-body" class="clearfix"> \
				<div class="dsq-popup-body-padding"> \
					<div class="dsq-popup-header"> \
						<a class="dsq-close-link" href="#" onclick="Dsq.Popup._closePopup(null, true); return false"><img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/modal-close.png" alt="" /></a>'
						+ content['header']
					+ '</div>'
					+ content['body']
					+ '<div class="powered-by"><a href="http://disqus.com/comments/">Powered by <img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/embed/disqus-logo.png" alt="Disqus Comments" style="margin-bottom:-5px" /></a></div> \
				</div> <!-- padding --> \
			</div> <!-- body --> \
			<div class="dsq-popup-bottom"></div> \
		</div> \
		';
	};

	this.popupProfile = function(user_key) {
		var userServices = Dsq.Post.getUserServices(user_key, null);
		var userData = Dsq.jsonData['users'][user_key];
		var headerHtml = '';
		var bodyHtml = '';
		var content = {};

		var _includeServices = function() {
			var html = '';
			for(var i = 0; i < userServices.length; i++) {
				html +=
				(i == 0
					? '<h4>Connections</h4><ul>'
					: '')
				+ '<li> \
					<img src="' + Dsq.jsonData.media_url + '/images/embed/services/' + userServices[i].name.toLowerCase() + '.png" alt="' + userServices[i].name.toLowerCase() + '" title="' + userServices[i].name.toLowerCase() + '" /> \
					<a class="dsq-service-' + userServices[i].name.toLowerCase() + '" href="' + userServices[i].url + '" target="_blank">'
					+ userServices[i].name
					+ '</a> \
				</li>'
				+ (i+1 == userServices.length ? '</ul>' : '');
			}
			return html;
		};

		headerHtml = ' \
			<table> \
				<tr> \
					<td> \
						<a class="dsq-profile-userurl" href="' + userData.url + '"><img class="dsq-popup-profile-avatar" src="' + userData['avatar'] + '" alt="" /></a> \
					</td> \
					<td> \
						<div class="dsq-popup-profile-user"> \
							<h3>' + userData['display_name'] + '</h3> \
							<div class="dsq-popup-profile-user-stats" id="dsq-popup-profile-user-stats-' + user_key + '">Loading...</div> \
						</div> \
					</td> \
				</tr> \
			</table> \
		';

		bodyHtml = ' \
			<div class="dsq-popup-profile-state"> \
				This is a&nbsp;<span class="'
					+ (userData['registered']
						? (userData['verified']
							? ' dsq-badge-verified'
							: (userData['is_remote']
								? ' dsq-badge-' + userData['remote_domain_name'].toLowerCase()
								: ' dsq-badge-registered')
							)
							: ' dsq-badge-guest') + '">'
			+ (userData['registered']
				? (userData['verified']
					? 'Verified'
					: (userData['is_remote']
						 ? userData['remote_domain_name']
						 : 'Registered')
					)
				: 'Guest')
			+ '</span>&nbsp;commenter profile.'
			+ '&nbsp;<a class="dsq-profile-userurl" href="' + userData.url + '"><strong>View more comments </strong></a>'
			+ (!userData['points']
				? '<p class="dsq-popup-notice">If this is you, <a href="http://disqus.com/profile" target="_blank">claim it now</a> to manage your comments.</p>'
				: '')
			+ ((userData['registered'] && !userData['verified'] && (Dsq.jsonData.request.username && (Dsq.jsonData.request.username == userData['username'])) && !userData['is_remote'])
				? '<p class="dsq-popup-notice"><strong>Alert</strong>: You have not verified this account. <a href="http://disqus.com/verify">Verify it now.</a></p>'
				: '')
			+ '</div> \
			<div id="dsq-profile-status-' + user_key + '" class="dsq-popup-profile-status" style="display:none"></div> \
			<div class="dsq-popup-profile-snapshot"> \
				<table> \
					<tr> \
						<td> \
							<div id="dsq-popup-profile-active-sites-wrapper-' + user_key + '"> \
								<h4>Most active sites</h4> \
								<ul id="dsq-popup-profile-active-sites-' + user_key + '"> \
									<li>Loading...</li> \
								</ul> \
							</div> \
						</td> \
						<td>'
							+ _includeServices()
							+ '<div id="dsq-popup-profile-moderated-wrapper-' + user_key + '"> \
								<h4>Moderator of</h4> \
								<ul id="dsq-popup-profile-moderated-' + user_key + '"> \
									<li>Loading...</li> \
								</ul> \
							</div> \
						</td> \
					</tr> \
				</table> \
			</div> \
			';

		content = {
			'header': headerHtml,
			'body': bodyHtml
		};

		return this._popupGeneric(content);
	};

	this.popupReblog = function() {
		var headerHtml = '';
		var bodyHtml = '';
		var content = {};

		headerHtml = ' \
			<cite><span>Reblog this comment</span></cite> \
		';

		bodyHtml = ' \
			<div id="dsq-reblog-form" class="dsq-reblog-form"> \
			</div> \
		';

		content = {
			'header': headerHtml,
			'body': bodyHtml
		};

		return this._popupGeneric(content);
	};

	this.popupModal = function(title, message) {
		var headerHtml = '';
		var bodyHtml = '';
		var content = {};

		headerHtml = ' \
			<h3>' + title + '</h3> \
		';

		bodyHtml = message;

		content = {
			'header': headerHtml,
			'body': bodyHtml
		};

		return this._popupGeneric(content);
	};

	this.alertContent = function(name, post_id) {
		var alert = {
			'post_not_approved': {
				'title': 'Comment awaiting approval by a moderator',
				'message': 'Thanks for posting. Your comment must be approved by a moderator before appearing here.'
			},
			'post_has_profile': {
				'title': 'Use your existing commenter profile',
				'message': 'You have just posted your commment as a <span class="dsq-badge dsq-badge-guest">Guest</span>, but you may already have a <span class="dsq-badge dsq-badge-registered">Registered</span> commenter profile.<br /><br /><a href="http://disqus.com/claim">Log in and claim this comment!</a>'
			}
		};
		return alert[name] || false;
	};

	//
	// Actions
	//

	this.voted = function(post_id, points, vote) {
		// Update number of points
		Dsq.$('dsq-points-' + post_id).innerHTML = points + Dsq.Utils.pluralize(points, ' person', ' people') + ' liked this comment.';

		// Update link text
		if(vote) {
			Dsq.$('dsq-rate-cont-' + post_id).innerHTML = 'You liked this.';
		}
	};

	this.subscribed = function(status) {
		var title, message;

		if(status) {
			title = 'Subscribed!';
			message = 'You have subscribed to this comment thread. New comments will be sent directly to your email inbox, where you may read and respond by email.';
			Dsq.$('dsq-subscribe').innerHTML = ' \
				<a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Thread.subscribe(0); return false">Unsubscribe</a> \
			';
		} else {
			title = 'Unsubscribed';
			message = 'You have unsubscribed to this comment thread. New comments will no longer be sent to your email inbox.';
			Dsq.$('dsq-subscribe').innerHTML = ' \
				<a href="#" onclick="Dsq.Thread.subscribe(1); return false">Subscribe by email</a> \
			';
		}

		Dsq.Popup.popModal(message, title);

	};
	
	this.highlighted = function() {
		Dsq.Popup.popModal('This comment has been highlighted.', 'Highlighted comment');
	};

	//
	// Media
	//

	this.mediaSeesmic = function(id, thumb) {
		return ' \
			<div id="dsq-seesmic-' + id + '_preview" class="dsq-seesmic-preview"><a href="http://www.seesmic.com/video/' + id + '" target="_blank" class="see_link">&nbsp;</a> \
				<div style="display:block;width:160px; height:120px; border:none; background-image:url(http://t.seesmic.com/thumbnail/' + thumb + ')"> \
					<div id="dsq-seesmic-' + id + '_hide" class="seePlayOverlay" style="display:none;"><img onclick="see_play_video(\'' + id + '\',false)" src="http://media.disqus.com/images/seesmic/stopOverlay.png" width="50" height="50" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand; padding-top: 30px; padding-left: 50px" alt="" /></div> \
					<div id="dsq-seesmic-' + id + '_show" class="seePlayOverlay"><img onclick="see_play_video(\'' + id + '\',true)" src="http://media.disqus.com/images/seesmic/playOverlay.png" width="50" height="50" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand; border:none; padding-top: 30px; padding-left: 50px" alt="" /></div> \
				</div> \
			</div> \
			<div id="' + id + '_content" style="display:block; width:100%; padding-top:5px"></div> \
		';
	};

	//
	// Callbacks
	//

	this.postComment_onSuccess = function(parent_post_id) {
		// Increment post count
		var num_posts = Dsq.$('dsq-num-posts');
		var total_posts = Dsq.$('dsq-total-posts');
		
		if (num_posts) { 
			num_posts.innerHTML = parseInt(num_posts.innerHTML) + 1;
		}
		if (total_posts) { 
			total_posts.innerHTML = parseInt(total_posts.innerHTML) + 1;
		}
	};
};
// Dsq.Templates


/**
 * Dsq.Post
 */
Dsq.Post = new function() {
	this.openedMenu = {};
	this.menuEventListener = null;
	this.stateReplyToggled = {};
	this.stateEditToggled = {};
	this.stateRecordLink = {};

	/**
	 * Inserts a new post into the document.
	 *
	 * @param after_id {Number}	Insert a post before specified id.  If after_id
	 *							evaluates to false, then post in the front.  If
	 *							after_id is -1, post at the end.
	 */
	this.insert = function(after_id, id, message, author) {
		// Skeleton template from thread_posts.html.
		var skeleton = ' \
			<li id="dsq-comment-%(id)s"> \
				<div id="dsq-comment-header-%(id)s" class="dsq-comment-header"> \
					<cite id="dsq-cite-%(id)s" class="dsq-comment-cite"> \
						<a id="dsq-author-user-%(id)s" href="%(author_url)s" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">%(author_name)s</a> \
					</cite> \
				</div> \
				<div id="dsq-comment-body-%(id)s" class="dsq-comment-body"> \
					<div id="dsq-comment-message-%(id)s" class="dsq-comment-message">%(message)s</div> \
				</div> \
			</li> \
		';
		var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[id];
		var _user_meta = Dsq.jsonData.users[_meta.user_key];
		var markup = Dsq.Utils.interpolate(skeleton, {
			id: id,
			message: message,
			author_url: _user_meta.blog,
			author_name: _user_meta.display_name
		});
		var div = document.createElement('div');
		markup = markup.replace(Dsq.COMMENTS_RE, Dsq.CommentsHandler);
		div.innerHTML = markup;

		if (after_id === -1) {
			Dsq.$('dsq-comments').appendChild(div);
		} else if (!after_id) {
			Dsq.$('dsq-comments').insertBefore(div, Dsq.$('dsq-comments').firstChild);
		} else if (Dsq.$('dsq-comment-' + after_id)) {
			// Get next node after "after_id", so we can insert before it.
			// If "after_id" is the last comment, the target node is the
			// last node.
			
			// var append_post_id = Dsq.Templates.appendPost(after_id).replace('<div id="','').replace('"></div>', '');
			var append_post_id = 'dsq-append-post-' + after_id;
			var node = Dsq.$(append_post_id);
			while (node = node.nextSibling) {
				if (!node || node.nodeType == 1) { // 1 == Node.ELEMENT_NODE
					break;
				}
			}
			if (!node) {
				node = Dsq.$(append_post_id);
			}
			node.parentNode.insertBefore(div, node);
		}
	};

	this.incrementPostCount = function() {
		
		var num_posts = Dsq.$('dsq-num-posts');
		var total_posts = Dsq.$('dsq-total-posts');

		if (num_posts) {
			num_posts.innerHTML = parseInt(num_posts.innerHTML, 10) + 1;
		}
		if (total_posts) {
			total_posts.innerHTML = parseInt(total_posts.innerHTML, 10) + 1;
		}
	}
	
	this.outlineComment = function(post_id) {
		Dsq.$('dsq-comment-' + post_id).className += ' dsq-comment-outline';
		setTimeout("(function () { Dsq.Post.clearOutlineComment(" + post_id + ") })()", 3000);
	};
	
	this.clearOutlineComment = function(post_id) {
		Dsq.$('dsq-comment-' + post_id).className = Dsq.$('dsq-comment-' + post_id).className.replace('dsq-comment-outline', '');
	};

	this.showMenu = function(el, id, name) {
		var anchorPos = Dsq.Utils.findPos(el);
		var menu = document.createElement('ul');

		if(this.openedMenu) {
			if(this.openedMenu.linkClicked) {
				this.openedMenu.linkClicked = false;
				return;
			}
		}

		switch(name) {
			case 'more':
				menu.innerHTML = Dsq.Templates.menuMore(id);
				break;
			case 'media':
				menu.innerHTML = Dsq.Templates.menuMedia(id);
				break;
			default:
				break;
		}

		// Add menu to document body
		menu.id = 'dsq-menu-' + id;
		menu.className = 'dsq-menu';
		Dsq.$b.appendChild(menu);

		// Position and show
		anchorPos[1] += 15;
		menu.style.left = anchorPos[0] + 'px';
		menu.style.top = anchorPos[1] + 'px';
		menu.style.display = 'block';

		// Set global reference
		this.openedMenu = {
			'el' : menu,
			'id' : id,
			'name' : name,
			'linkClicked' : false
		};

		// Set listener
		this.menuEventListener = Dsq.Utils.addEventListener(document, 'mouseup', this._hideMenu);
	};

	this._hideMenu = function(e) {
		var el = e.target || e.srcElement;
		var openedMenu = Dsq.Post.openedMenu.el;
		var id = Dsq.Post.openedMenu.id;

		if(!id) {
			var link = 'dsq-' + Dsq.Post.openedMenu.name + '-link';
		} else {
			var link = 'dsq-' + Dsq.Post.openedMenu.name + '-link-' + id;
		}

		if(!openedMenu) {
			return;
		}

		if(!Dsq.Popup.isClicked(e, openedMenu.id)) {
			openedMenu.style.display = 'none';
			Dsq.Utils.removeEventListener(Dsq.Post.menuEventListener);
			Dsq.Utils.deleteNode(openedMenu);

		} else {
			// Hide the menu if a link was clicked inside the menu.  We can't
			// completely remove the menu until the onclick event on the link
			// fires, but the menuEventListener will prevent multiple menus
			// from polluting the DOM.
			if(el && typeof el.href != 'undefined') {
				openedMenu.style.display = 'none';
				Dsq.Post.openedMenu.el = null;
			}
		}

		if(Dsq.Popup.isClicked(e, link)) {
 			Dsq.Post.openedMenu.linkClicked = true;
		}
	};


	this.getUserServices = function(user_key, id) {
		if(!user_key && id) {
			var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[id];
			user_key = _meta.user_key;
		}
		var userData = Dsq.jsonData['users'][user_key];
		var userServices = [];

		// Keep a full list of supported services. This is the order they will display in the drop-profile.
		// Each service must have a corresponding case in _buildServiceUrl()
		var supportedServices = ['blog', 'twitter', 'facebook', 'tumblr'];

		function _buildServiceUrl(serviceName) {
			var data = userData[serviceName];
			var services = {
				blog:		function(d) { return d; },
				twitter:	function(d) { return d; },
				facebook:	function(d) { return d; },
				tumblr:		function(d) { return 'http://' + d + '.tumblr.com'; }
			};
			return services[serviceName](data);
		}

		for(var i = 0; i < supportedServices.length; i++) {
			if(userData[supportedServices[i]]) {
				var serviceUrl = _buildServiceUrl(supportedServices[i]);
				userServices.push({'name' : supportedServices[i], 'url' : serviceUrl});
			}
		}
		return userServices;
	}

	this.dropProfile = function(id) {
		var dp = Dsq.$('dsq-drop-profile-' + id);

		// IE6 needs JS to display/hide. All other browsers use CSS.
		if(dp) {
			if(Dsq.Utils.ie6) dp.style.display = (dp.style.display == 'inline') ? 'none' : 'inline';
			return false;
		} else {
			dp = document.createElement('ul');
		}

		dp.id = 'dsq-drop-profile-' + id;
		dp.className = 'dsq-drop-profile';

		if(Dsq.Utils.ie6) { dp.style.display = 'inline'; }

		var container = Dsq.$('dsq-header-avatar-' + id);
		dp.innerHTML = Dsq.Templates.dropProfile(id);
		container.appendChild(dp);
	};

	this.dropProfileMore = function(el, id) {
		var hiddenItems = Dsq.$('dsq-drop-hidden-' + id);

		hiddenItems.style.display = 'inline';
		el.parentNode.style.display = 'none';
	};

	this._updateReplyLinks = function(el, id) {
		// Update "reply / cancel" links based on state.
		var displayDict = {};

		if(id) {
			if(this.stateReplyToggled[id]) {
				el.innerHTML = 'Cancel';
				displayDict['media'] = 'inline';
				displayDict['edit'] = 'none';
			} else {
				el.innerHTML = 'Reply';
				displayDict['media'] = 'none';
				displayDict['edit'] = 'inline';
			}
		}

		for(var key in displayDict) {
			if(displayDict.hasOwnProperty(key)) {
				var	linkEl = Dsq.$('dsq-' + key + '-el-' + id),
					spacer = Dsq.$('dsq-' + key + '-spacer-' + id);

				if(linkEl) {
					linkEl.style.display = displayDict[key];
					if(spacer) spacer.style.display = displayDict[key];
				}
			}
		}
	};

	this._updateMediaLinks = function(el, id) {
		// Update "use media / cancel" links based on state.
		var appendId = (id) ? ('-' + id) : '';
		var link = Dsq.$('dsq-media-link' + appendId);

		if(this.stateRecordLink[id]) {
			link.innerHTML = 'Cancel Media';
			link.onclick = function() { Dsq.Post.toggleMediaReply(link, id); return false; };
		} else {
			link.innerHTML = 'Use Media <small>&#9660;</small>';
			link.onclick = function() { Dsq.Post.showMenu(link, id, 'media'); return false; };
		}
	};

	this.toggleReply = function(el, id) {
		// Create reply IFrame
		if (window.disqus_use_postmessage) {
			if (!this.stateReplyToggled[id]) {
				Dsq.$('dsq-reply-' + id).style.display = 'block';
				Dsq.$('dsq-reply-bar-' + id).style.display = 'block';
				// Create IFrame if it doesn't exist.
				if (!Dsq.frames['reply_' + id]) {
					var _meta = Dsq.jsonData.posts[id];
					Dsq.frames['reply_' + id] = new Dsq.ReplyFrame(Dsq.$('dsq-reply-frame-' + id), id);
					Dsq.frames['reply_' + id].init();
					Dsq.frames['reply_' + id].setState(id, _meta.depth);
				}
			} else {
				Dsq.$('dsq-reply-' + id).style.display = 'none';
				Dsq.$('dsq-reply-bar-' + id).style.display = 'none';
			}
		} else {
			// DEPRECATED
			if(!this.stateReplyToggled[id]) {
				// Reply toolbar
				Dsq.$('dsq-reply-bar-' + id).style.display = 'block';
				Dsq.Iframes.showReplyIframeInContainerIfAllowed(Dsq.$('dsq-reply-' + id), id);
			} else {
				Dsq.$('dsq-reply-bar-' + id).style.display = 'none';
				Dsq.Iframes.hideAllInContainer(Dsq.$('dsq-reply-' + id));
				if(this.stateRecordLink[id]) {
					// HACK: Cancel media before canceling self.
					this.toggleMediaReply(Dsq.$('dsq-media-link-' + id), id);
				}
			}
		}

		this.stateReplyToggled[id] = !this.stateReplyToggled[id];
		this._updateReplyLinks(el, id);

		if(Dsq.Utils.ie) { Dsq.Utils.fixIframesIE('dsq-reply-' + id); }

		Dsq.Events.fire(Dsq.Events.REPLY_IFRAME_TOGGLED, {
			postId: id,
			opened: this.stateReplyToggled[id]
		});
	};

	this.toggleMediaReply = function(el, id, xtype) {
		id = id || 0;
		if(id) {
			var container = Dsq.$('dsq-reply-' + id);
		} else {
			var container = Dsq.$('dsq-post-add');
		}

		if(!this.stateRecordLink[id]) {
			Dsq.Iframes.showReplyIframeInContainer(container, id, {xtype:xtype}, 'dsq-post-video');
		} else {
			Dsq.Iframes.showReplyIframeInContainer(container, id);
		}
		this.stateRecordLink[id] = !this.stateRecordLink[id];
		this._updateMediaLinks(el, id);

		if(Dsq.Utils.ie) { Dsq.Utils.fixIframesIE(); }
	};

	this.edit = function(el, id) {
		Dsq.$('dsq-comment-message-' + id).innerHTML = Dsq.Templates.frameEdit(id);
		el.parentNode.style.display = 'none';
		if(Dsq.Utils.ie) { Dsq.Utils.fixIframesIE('dsq-comment-message-' + id); }
	};

    this.rate = function(el, id, vote) {
		if(Dsq.jsonData.request.is_authenticated || Dsq.jsonData.forum.allow_anon_votes) {
			if(vote == 1) {
                Dsq.$('dsq-rate-cont-' + id).innerHTML = '<img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/loading-small.gif">';
            }

            Dsq.Utils.execScript('http://disqus.com/forums/washingtonindependent/vote.js'
                + '?post_id='    + id
                + '&vote='        + vote);

		} else {
			Dsq.Popup.login(Dsq.Strings.TO_RATE_PLEASE_LOG_IN);
		}
    };

	this.report = function(id, confirmed) {
		if(confirmed) {
			Dsq.Utils.postToUrl('http://disqus.com/forums/washingtonindependent/republicans_test_2010_message_cancel_the_stimulus/post_report/', {'post_id': id});
			Dsq.Popup.popModal('Thank you. This comment has been flagged for moderator attention.', 'Successfully flagged');
			Dsq.Utils.deleteNode(Dsq.$('dsq-post-report-' + id));
		} else {
			var title = Dsq.Strings.FLAG_INAPPROPRIATE_COMMENT;
			var message = Dsq.Strings.ARE_YOU_SURE_YOU_WOULD_LIKE_TO_REPORT_THIS_COMMENT_TO_A_MODERATOR + '? \
			<br /><br /> \
			<button onclick="Dsq.Popup._closePopup(null, true)"><strong>' + Dsq.Strings.NO + '</strong>, ' + Dsq.Strings.NEVER_MIND + '</button>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<button onclick="Dsq.Post.report(' + id + ', true);"><strong>' + Dsq.Strings.YES + '</strong>, ' + Dsq.Strings.FLAG_INAPPROPRIATE_COMMENT + '</button><br /><br />'
			+ Dsq.Strings.THIS_WILL_FLAG_COMMENTS_FOR_MODERATORS_TO_TAKE_ACTION + '. \
			';

			Dsq.Popup.popModal(message, title, id);
		}
	};



	this.showAlert = function(id, msg) {
		var msgEl = Dsq.$('dsq-comment-message-' + id);
		var alert = '<div class="dsq-comment-alert">' + msg + '</div>';

		msgEl.innerHTML = alert + msgEl.innerHTML;
	};

};
// Dsq.Post


/**
 * Dsq.Thread
 */
Dsq.Thread = new function() {
	this.fc = null;
	this.ff = null;
	this.ac = null;

	
	this.adminIsOn = false;

	
	
	

	this.hlComment = null;
	this.hlCommentClass = null;

	this.getNextComment = function(el) {
		var start_id = el.id;
		while(el = el.nextSibling) {
			if(el.id && el.id.indexOf('dsq-comment-') != -1 && el.id != start_id) {
				return el;
			}
		}
		return null;
	};

	this.getActiveCommentId = function() {
		if (document.URL.indexOf('#comment-') >= 0) {
			var anchor = document.URL.slice(document.URL.indexOf('#') + 1);
			return anchor.replace('comment-', '');
		}
		return null;
	};

	this.highlightAnchor = function() {
		var i = this.getActiveCommentId();
		if (i == null) return false;
		var id = 'dsq-comment-' + i;
		var hash = window.location.hash;

		// Toggle the hash incase the comment isn't available when the page loads
		// for WebKit-based browsers.
		if (Dsq.Utils.webkit) {
			window.location.hash = '';
			window.location.hash = hash;
		}

		this.hlComment = Dsq.$(id);
		// Adding this conditional guard pending #289
		if (!this.hlComment) {
			return;
		}
		this.hlCommentClass = this.hlComment.className;
		this.hlComment.className += ' dsq-hl-anchor';

		setTimeout("Dsq.Thread.highlightClear()", 3000);
	};

	this.highlightClear = function() {
		if (!this.hlComment) {
			return;
		}
		this.hlComment.className = this.hlCommentClass;
	};

	this.login = function(toggle) {
		// toggle id is #dsq-reply-login-[id]
		var postId;
		if(toggle.id.indexOf('dsq-reply-login') != -1) {
			postId = toggle.id.slice(16);
			var container = Dsq.$('dsq-reply-' + postId);
		} else {
			var container = Dsq.$('dsq-post-add');
		}

		if(toggle) {
			if(toggle.className == 'dsq-login-active') {
				Dsq.Iframes.showReplyIframeInContainerIfAllowed(container, postId);
				toggle.className = '';
			} else {
				Dsq.Iframes.showLoginIframeInContainer(container, postId);
				toggle.className = 'dsq-login-active';
			}
		} else {
			Dsq.Iframes.showLoginIframeInContainer(container, postId);
		}

		if(Dsq.Utils.ie) { Dsq.Utils.fixIframesIE(); }
	};


	this.paginate = function(page, el_clicked, per_page) {
		// Use extra_params to pass any override parameters that we need to persist.
		var extra_params = '';

		// "Per page" can either be overriden by providing it as an argument
		// (per-call) or setting the disqus_per_page override variable (global).
		if(typeof per_page == 'undefined') {
			per_page = null;
		}
		if(typeof disqus_per_page != 'undefined' && per_page === null) {
			per_page = disqus_per_page;
		}

		if(typeof disqus_sort != 'undefined') {
			extra_params += '&sort=' + disqus_sort;
		}
		if(per_page !== null) {
			extra_params += '&per_page=' + per_page;
		}

		Dsq.$('dsq-pagination').innerHTML += '<img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/loading-small.gif">';
		
		if(el_clicked) {
			el_clicked.style.display = 'none';
		}
		
		Dsq.Utils.execScript('http://disqus.com/forums/washingtonindependent/thread.js'
			+ '?slug='	+ 'republicans_test_2010_message_cancel_the_stimulus'
			+ '&p='		+ page
			+ extra_params);
	};

	this.sortBy = function(sort) {
		var disqus_script = document.createElement('script');
		var disqus_date = new Date();

		if (location.hash != '') {
			location.hash = '#disqus_thread';
		}

		if(typeof(disqus_url) == 'undefined') {
			disqus_url = disqus_href;
		}
		disqus_script.type = 'text/javascript';
		disqus_script.src = 'http://disqus.com/forums/washingtonindependent/thread.js'
			+ '?slug='	+ 'republicans_test_2010_message_cancel_the_stimulus'
			+ '&sort='	+ sort
			+ '&title='
			+ '&'		+ disqus_date.getTime();

		Dsq.$('dsq-comments').innerHTML = '<img src="http://media.disqus.com/images/loading.gif">';
		Dsq.container.appendChild(disqus_script);
	};

	this.subscribe = function(status, email) {
		// `status` is an int -- 1 to subscribe, 0 to unsubscribe
		if(Dsq.jsonData.request.is_authenticated || email) {
			// If authenticated user OR anonymous email provided

			if(email) {
				Dsq.Popup._closePopup(null, true);
			}

			Dsq.Utils.execScript('http://disqus.com/forums/washingtonindependent/subscribe.js'
				+'?status=' 	+ status
				+ '&slug='		+ 'republicans_test_2010_message_cancel_the_stimulus'
				+ '&email=' 	+ encodeURIComponent(email));

		} else if(!email) {
			// If anonymous user and no email has been provided yet, prompt for email

			var title = 'Subscribe to this comment thread';
			var message = ' \
				New comments will be sent directly to your email inbox! \
				<div class="dsq-subscribe-submit"> \
					<p><strong>Enter your email address below.</strong></p> \
					<input type="text" id="dsq-subscribe-email"> \
					<button onclick="Dsq.Thread.subscribe(1, Dsq.$(\'dsq-subscribe-email\').value)">Subscribe</button> \
				</div> \
			';

			Dsq.Popup.popModal(message, title);
		}
	};

	this.showSettings = function() {
		if (!Dsq.jsonData.request.is_moderator) {
			return;
		}

		/* The form has to be re-designed when more options will come out. */
		var html = 'Automatically close comments after <input size="3" id="dsq-thread-days-alive" value="' + Dsq.jsonData.thread.days_alive + '" type="text" /> days. Existing comments will still be displayed.<br /><br />(Using 0 days will disable this feature)<br /><br />'
								 + '<button onclick="Dsq.Thread.updateDaysAlive();" class="dsq-button-small"><span>Save</span></button>'
								 + '<span id="dsq-thread-settings-status" class="dsq-options-status"></span>';
		Dsq.Popup.popModal(html, 'Settings');
	};

	this.updateDaysAlive = function() {
		var days = Dsq.$('dsq-thread-days-alive').value;
		var status = Dsq.$('dsq-thread-settings-status');
		Dsq.Utils.postToUrl('http://disqus.com/forums/washingtonindependent/update_days_alive.js', {days:days,thread:Dsq.jsonData.thread.id});
		status.innerHTML = 'Saved!';
		window.setTimeout(function() { status.innerHTML = ''; }, 1000);
	};
};
// Dsq.Thread

Dsq.Events = function() {
	var obj = {};

	// Private
	var handlers = {};
	var getHandlers = function(event) {
		if (handlers[event] === undefined) {
			handlers[event] = [];
		}
		return handlers[event];
	};

	// Public
	// Value keys : postId, node, xtype
	obj.REPLY_IFRAME_CREATED = 1;
	// Value keys : postId, opened
	obj.REPLY_IFRAME_TOGGLED = 2;
	obj.fire = function(event, opt_value) {
		if (!event) {
			throw new Error('Unknown event');
		}
		var value = opt_value || {};
		for (var i=0; i<getHandlers(event).length; i++) {
			getHandlers(event)[i](value);
		}
	};
	obj.addHandler = function(event, callback) {
		getHandlers(event).push(callback);
	};

	return obj;
}();

/**
 * Dsq.Realtime
 */
Dsq.Realtime = new function() {
	var initialized = false;
	var interval = null;
	var last_checked = Dsq.jsonData.request.timestamp;
	var new_posts = [];
	var ongoing_request = false;
	var prev_script = null;

	function updateNewPostCount() {
		Dsq.$('dsq-realtime-alert').style.display = new_posts.length ? 'block' : 'none';

		Dsq.$('dsq-realtime-queued').innerHTML = new_posts.length
		+ ' new '
		+ Dsq.Utils.pluralize(new_posts.length, 'comment', 'comments')
		+ Dsq.Utils.pluralize(new_posts.length, ' was', ' were')
		+ ' just posted.';

		Dsq.$('dsq-realtime-show').innerHTML = '(' + Dsq.Strings.SHOW + ')';
	}

	function insertNewPosts() {
		var post_id = null;
		var after_id = Dsq.$('dsq-sort-select').value === 'oldest' ? -1 : null;

		for (var i=0; i<new_posts.length; i++) {
			post_id = new_posts[i];
			Dsq.Post.insert(after_id, post_id, Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id].message);
			Dsq.Post.incrementPostCount();
			Dsq.Post.outlineComment(post_id);
		}
		new_posts = [];
	}

	this.enableInterval = function() {
		interval = setInterval(Dsq.Realtime.check, Dsq.jsonData.context.realtime_speed);
		Dsq.$('dsq-realtime-status').innerHTML = Dsq.Strings.ENABLED;
		Dsq.$('dsq-realtime-toggle').innerHTML = '(' + Dsq.Strings.PAUSE + ')';
	}

	this.disableInterval = function() {
		if (interval) {
			clearInterval(interval);
			interval = null;
		}
		Dsq.$('dsq-realtime-status').innerHTML = Dsq.Strings.PAUSED;
		Dsq.$('dsq-realtime-toggle').innerHTML = '(' + Dsq.Strings.RESUME + ')';
	}

	this.toggleInterval = function() {
		if (!interval) {
			Dsq.Realtime.enableInterval();
		} else {
			Dsq.Realtime.disableInterval();
		}
		return false;
	}

	this.initialize = function() {
		if (!initialized) {
			initialized = true;
			Dsq.$('dsq-realtime-toggle').onclick = this.toggleInterval;
			if (!Dsq.jsonData.forum.streaming_realtime) {
				Dsq.$('dsq-realtime-show').onclick = this.show;
				updateNewPostCount();
			}
			if (Dsq.jsonData.thread.realtime_paused) {
				Dsq.Realtime.disableInterval();
			} else {
				Dsq.Realtime.enableInterval();
			}
		}
	}

	this.show = function() {
		insertNewPosts();
		updateNewPostCount();
		return false;
	}

	this.check = function() {
		if (!ongoing_request && Dsq.jsonData.realtime_enabled) {
			if (prev_script) {
				prev_script.parentNode.removeChild(prev_script);
			}
			ongoing_request = true;
			prev_script = Dsq.Utils.execScript('http://disqus.com/forums/24933774/realtime.js?timestamp=' + last_checked);
		}
	};

	this.update = function(timestamp, posts, users) {
		ongoing_request = false;
		last_checked = timestamp;

		if (users) {
			for (var user_id in users) {
				if (users.hasOwnProperty(user_id)) {
					if (!Dsq.jsonData.users[user_id]) {
						Dsq.jsonData.users[user_id] = users[user_id];
					}
				}
			}
		}

		if (posts) {
			for (var post_id in posts) {
				if (posts.hasOwnProperty(post_id)) {
					if (!Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id]) {
						Dsq.jsonData.posts[post_id] = posts[post_id];
						new_posts.push(post_id);
					}
				}
			}

			if (Dsq.jsonData.forum.streaming_realtime) {
				insertNewPosts();
			} else {
				updateNewPostCount();
			}
		}
	};

}();

// DEPRECATED
Dsq.Iframes = function() {
	// Different style of object from the above. Hoping to switch to this for some reason.
	var obj = {};

	// Private
	var showIframeInContainer = function(container, id, markup) {
		// Look through container for iframes, hiding them, except show one that matches id
		// If none of them matched id, create a new iframe using markup and insert it.
		// Returns the iframe node if and only if it was newly created.
		var found = false;
		for (var i=0; i<container.childNodes.length; i++) {
			var child = container.childNodes[i];
			if (child.nodeName == 'IFRAME') {
				if (child.id == id) {
					child.style.display = 'block';
					found = true;
				} else {
					child.style.display = 'none';
				}
			}
		}
		if (found) {
			return;
		}
		// The iframe wasn't found, so construct it and add it to the container.
		// Don't use innerHTML because it might reload iframes
		var div = document.createElement('div');
		div.innerHTML = markup;
		var iframe = div.childNodes[0];
		div.removeChild(iframe);
		container.appendChild(iframe);
		return iframe;
	};

	// Public
	obj.makeReplyIframeId = function(opt_postId, opt_xtype) {
		var id = 'dsq-post-add-iframe';
		if (opt_xtype) {
			id += '-' + opt_xtype;
		}
		if (opt_postId) {
			id += '-' + opt_postId;
		}
		return id;
	};
	obj.makeLoginIframeId = function(opt_postId) {
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Dsq.container.className = "clearfix";
Dsq.container.innerHTML = ' \
<ul id="dsq-comments">\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-12513454">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-12513454" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-12513454" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-12513454">evangelical</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-12513454" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-12513454" class="dsq-comment-message">I\'ll say it again, the Democratic party is dead. After 2009 Americans don\'t want to have anything to do with the liberals.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-12612800">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-12612800" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-12612800" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-12612800">Mike</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-12612800" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-12612800" class="dsq-comment-message">ROFLMAO!</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-12489719">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-12489719" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-12489719" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-12489719">Soapm</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-12489719" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-12489719" class="dsq-comment-message">The republican\'s fail to acknowledge the stimulus that was passed has tax cuts for average American\'s and small businesses. The alternative they offered was going to make the Bush tax cuts permanent and cut taxes for corporations, not small businesses as they keep saying. If the Bush tax cuts were going to work, we wouldn\'t be in this mess since they are active now. If the easy fix for the economy and tax cuts for average Joe and small businesses, then the stimulus passed has that.<br><br>All of this talk about the stimulus and economy is to take American\'s focus off health care. The problem is it seems to be working. They believe if they can shift public attention from health care, then health care will loose the little steam it has getting through congress. I sure hope America wakes up and doesn\'t let this happen. We need health care reform and now.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-12440958">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-12440958" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-12440958" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-12440958">Name</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-12440958" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-12440958" class="dsq-comment-message">Real Republican message:   We won\'t let you fix what we broke.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-12494692">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-12494692" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-12494692" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <a id="dsq-author-user-12494692" href="http://susanais9.spaces.live.com" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">susanai56</a>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-12494692" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-12494692" class="dsq-comment-message">........you missed the stamping of the feet.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-12444349">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-12444349" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-12444349" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-12444349">Ron</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-12444349" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-12444349" class="dsq-comment-message">So wait, they are literally promising voters cold, hard cash if they win?  That is the level of desperation they have arrived at?<br><br>Wow.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-12449514">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-12449514" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-12449514" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-12449514">strangely_enough</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-12449514" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-12449514" class="dsq-comment-message">Remember Bush\'s tax cuts?</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-12465690">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-12465690" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-12465690" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-12465690">Name</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-12465690" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-12465690" class="dsq-comment-message">I wish the finger pointing would stop.  Everyone needs to work together as a team to bring about change.  There needs to be some middle-ground where all parties can come together and get these issues resolved.  I agree that the stimulus hasn\'t had a huge impact on the economy.  It hasn\'t done a thing for me.  My family is not as well off as some, but doing better than others.  We still can\'t put money in the bank and are living check to check.  We lost tons of money in the market and I don\'t even want to talk about the 401K.  We still rent an apartment.  Would love to own a home, but can\'t afford the still inflated prices in my area.  More Government is the last thing I want to see grow.  Show me instead reasonable interest rates for loans.  Show me increased job growth.  Show me banks that give you more than .5% interest on your money to insure growth on your investment.  Show me a country that is willing to invest in it\'s own well being and people by encouraging companies to keep jobs here.  I ask you what do we manufacture in the United States.  I\'ll tell you, NATIONAL DEBT!</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-12471669">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-12471669" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-12471669" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-12471669">Frustrated</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-12471669" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-12471669" class="dsq-comment-message">A 5 cent history of the Great Depression<br>1929 Stock Market Crash results in massive loss of paper wealth.<br>1929-1933 Little done by Federal government. Depression grips US with massive job losses and economic contraction.<br>1933-1937 - New Deal is adopted tough weakened by conservative opponents and Supreme Court. Depression remains, though some improvement in employment and economic activity occurs.<br>1937-1939 - Conservatives, both Democratic and Republican, slow New Deal spending claiming that the New Deal had failed to fix the Depression. Depression situation worsens in the US, unemployment begins to rise again.<br>1939-1941 - US begins to mobilize and increase production due to the prospect of war. Depression starts to abate as government begins to spend amounts of money that dwarf the New Deal in order to mobilize and arm the US, UK, USSR and other allies.<br><br>The New Deal wasn\'t successful because it didn\'t spend enough, not too much. Only the massive government spending that came with WWII forced the US to spend enough to move the country out of the Depression.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-12471790">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-12471790" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-12471790" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-12471790">Name</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-12471790" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-12471790" class="dsq-comment-message">you could say the Dems have been trying out their 2010 strategy if NY20 &23 were such big targets and the Repugs are just now catching up(?)...</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-12473893">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-12473893" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-12473893" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-12473893">Swami_Binkinanda</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-12473893" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-12473893" class="dsq-comment-message">Please, put the moronic corrupt crooks and tail chasers of the GOP\'s Schickelgruber Bund back in charge of the country they already ruined.  If Obama doesn\'t get off his shiny precious ass and start prosecuting the torturers and naming names on just who did what to the economy it will be no problem for the GOP to rebrand itself as "not the guys who wrecked the country" and shift blame to the milquetoast, sissy Democrats who did nothing when they had the chance.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-12494969">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-12494969" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-12494969" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-12494969">swj</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-12494969" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-12494969" class="dsq-comment-message">It\'s really simple, but I\'ll have to explain for those on the left.<br><br>When our money goes through the government, on the way to being spent, loads of bureaucracy are funded, and dubious projects, that no one but a moron would approve, get funded and called stimulus.<br><br>At the end of the day, when all the money is spent, no one will be able to point to any concrete evidence that our nation got diddly squat for all that money.  <br><br>Do you people on the left, who trash business at every turn, actually believe that our prosperity (for 200+ years, even with the current difficulties) is somehow government\'s doing.  Do you actually believe that handing more money over to bureaucrats will make us wealthier??  I know the answer, and find it astonishing.  You people actually believe that government somehow produces wealth.<br><br>Remember you read it here.  When unemployment hits 15% (early next year, I guarantee it), and so much productive capacity has been shut down permanently that the mere whiff of increased demand sends prices skyrocketing, you won\'t be able to blame Bush any more.  Of course, you will try, but like the new person at work who takes over a mess, at some point around 9 months in, you can\'t blame the guy who got fired any more.<br><br>I\'m no fan of much of what the Republicans did the past several years, but the crowd in there now is TRULY an embarassment.  Pelosi, Reid, Waxman, Obama, Markey, Kerry, Boxer etc.  If you actually think these people have a clue about running this nation, you\'re about to get a painful lesson.<br><br>This will, without a doubt, be one massive tidal wave of rejection for you and your crowd of treehuggers in 2010.<br><br>I can\'t wait.<br><br>PS:  I\'m prepared for all your venom, secure in the certainty that you haven\'t a clue what you are talking about.  Mark my words, this economy is going down bigtime, and the left WILL get their backsides kicked in, severely.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-12510440">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-12510440" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-12510440" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-12510440">bruce_webb</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-12510440" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-12510440" class="dsq-comment-message">"At the end of the day, when all the money is spent, no one will be able to point to any concrete evidence that our nation got diddly squat for all that money."<br><br>True enough, because if you squint really, really hard you can\'t see either Hoover Dam or the Golden Gate Bridge to point to as concrete evidence. And I-95? Gosh that too must be a mirage.<br><br>I did a little exercise over at the web-site Angry Bear when the Senate Stimulus package was released. The series was called "Pick your Pork" and asked for actual examples from the actual bills that in dollar or percentage terms made up a major portion of the stimulus. The response?<br><br>Chirp.<br><br>Anyone who doesn\'t understand that the wealth of this country in large part rests on past public works spending is frankly a moron himself. As to "I can\'t wait", well sorry all I can see is "wait and watch". It is people like you that seized on the post election dip in the Dow as "Proof! Proof I tell you!" that we were on course for Dow 4000 by now. That somehow didn\'t happen.<br><br>I fully expect double digit unemployment and soon, but I don\'t see even many right wing economists predicting 15% and still less guaranteeing it. I do see a lot of bluster and bullshit though.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-12638678">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-12638678" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-12638678" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-12638678">Mike</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-12638678" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-12638678" class="dsq-comment-message">You people actually believe that government somehow produces wealth.<br>================<br><br>Go study the history of government help in building the early canals, then later the railroads, then the Interstate Freeway system, all to help the Industrial Revolution get a firm grip here, then spread our industrial base to al lparts of the continent, then to expand the ease of movement of the goods, produce and peoplel within the United States.<br><br>Go study what DARPA does, go study how the government gave corporate America free access to the technology that came out of military reasearch paid for by our taxes and mostly given away for free).<br><br>Then go study how we the taxpayer, by increasing our taxes so that companies can have fewer taxes to pay, continue to support Corporate America.  <br><br>Ask your self why haliburton, receiver of such largesse, is now incorporated OUTSIDE of America.<br><br><br>But first you must get an education so that you don\'t make such dumb statements as "You people actually believe that government somehow produces wealth"  ever again.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-12497853">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-12497853" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-12497853" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-12497853">Guest</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-12497853" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-12497853" class="dsq-comment-message">If the economy "goes down big time" (SWJ), it will rightly be put down to BushCo and his merry band of thieves.  So 2010 will not bring the masses back into the Republican fold, no matter their message. <br><br>I feel your pain though.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-12500413">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-12500413" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-12500413" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-12500413">Dolmance</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-12500413" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-12500413" class="dsq-comment-message">The economy did go down big time.  And as a particularly loathsome Republican said recently - "hunger is a wonderful motivator."<br><br>Somehow parroting the nonsense from a bunch of religious fanatic hillbillies doesn\'t seem so seductive when you\'re wondering how you\'re going to put food on the table.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-12498496">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-12498496" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-12498496" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-12498496">evangelical</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-12498496" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-12498496" class="dsq-comment-message">This is the end of the Democratic party. A new American concensus is about to be formed around the Republican party similar to that old concensus around the Democratic party which ended in 1994. 2/3rds of Americans say they are conservative and there is no such thing as a conservative Democrat anymore. The Democrats killed their party in the year 2009 believing it was time for a second progressive movement. They were wrong.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-12500397">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-12500397" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-12500397" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-12500397">Dolmance</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-12500397" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-12500397" class="dsq-comment-message">Don\'t hold your breath.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-12500391">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-12500391" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-12500391" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-12500391">Dolmance</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-12500391" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-12500391" class="dsq-comment-message">If you have to find a "message," then you obviously haven\'t got one.  Which is something I\'ve never heard from a political party.  I would have thought some core beliefs come first, then a message - and then the political party, and certainly not the other way around.<br><br>So let\'s see - the sanctimonious hypocrite prattling on about sexual mores isn\'t getting any traction, even though when a Republican gets caught each week or so cheating on his wife or soliciting sex in a public toilet, it becomes an occasion for Republican Party to proudly point to how guilty the miscreant feels as an example of their moral superiority.  And the economic philosophy isn\'t working either, considering the Republican\'s rigid "free market," and "greed is good," ideology has ruined every financial instrument in the country, so that\'s not working either.<br><br>No, the GOP doesn\'t have a message.  They have a desperate strategy.  They\'re hoping they can use their media outlets to convince the American people that the Democrats are responsible for the pain associated with cleaning up the mess the Republicans made of everything.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-12510240">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-12510240" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-12510240" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-12510240">bruce_webb</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-12510240" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-12510240" class="dsq-comment-message">The stupid! It burns!<br><br>The stimulus spending might be less effective than projected, and unemployment may be uncomfortably high heading into the 2010 elections. But a hell of a lot of whatever jobs there are next summer are going to be riding on federal government funding. And guess what a lot of the people holding those jobs are going to be eligible for unemployment again. Under those circumstance simply cutting off the stimulus throws even MORE people out of work while sticking the state and federal government with a huge unemployment tab.<br><br>I get that not everyone agrees with the Keynesian argument, even among those who think they actually understand it, but even those people who think all of this is just pork need to consider the reaction of the people collecting the paychecks at the time.<br><br>Plus exactly what we do with all the half-completed projects is a good question. The whole argument is moronic, maybe accounted for by the fact that the only people quoted in the story are politicians, pollsters, and political consultants. But then again this is the party that draws its expertise about FDRs stimulus spending effectiveness from a \'senior scholar\' with a B.A. in English.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-12510407">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-12510407" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-12510407" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-12510407">Micheline</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-12510407" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-12510407" class="dsq-comment-message">Dean Baker should remember that 60% were in favor of the stimulus.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-12510718">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-12510718" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-12510718" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-12510718">bruce_webb</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-12510718" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-12510718" class="dsq-comment-message"><a href="http://data.bls.gov/PDQ/servlet/SurveyOutputServlet?data_tool=latest_numbers&series_id=LNS14000000" rel="nofollow">http://data.bls.gov/PDQ/servlet/SurveyOutputSer...</a><br><br>I think some of the commenters downthread need to examine the numbers on the BLS page linked above. Obama economic planners before and after the election predicted their stimulus package if enacted would keep unemployment below 8%. Well it didn\'t and the reason is pretty clear, at the end of Dec. 2008 the rate was already up to 7.2%, by the end of January up to 7.6%, by February up to 8.1%. The President\'s Budget was not released until Mid-March and was not scored until the 20th.<br><a href="http://angrybear.blogspot.com/2009/03/cbo-preliminary-budget-analysis.html" rel="nofollow">http://angrybear.blogspot.com/2009/03/cbo-preli...</a><br>That is by the time we STARTED debating Obama\'s actual budget and stimulus plan we were ALREADY well over 8%. Arguments that say the plan was a failure because it didn\'t keep unemployment below the figure used in preliminary planning six months plus before actual legislation was introduced is just special pleading. Some people need a calender and/or some links to the BLS website.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-12511448">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-12511448" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-12511448" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-12511448">Joe</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-12511448" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-12511448" class="dsq-comment-message">Dems and their supporters ought to remember that Repugs had control of the whole government too and spent their way right out of it.  Dems will too and do it with the same arrogance the GOP did.  It\'s just too much power for hogs to have...<br><br>Americans understand frugality, desire it from their governments (federal, state and local) and they understand that government solutions always cost more than private sector ones.  We have too big of a government, the Founders were violently against that and if you read your colonial history you will realize that is a true statement.  Both sides need to shrink SIGNIFICANTLY, but won\'t until the people rise up and then it will be too late.<br><br>OK....go ahead hit me with your pithy little comments and go screw yourself...</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-12518054">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-12518054" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-12518054" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-12518054">Soapm</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-12518054" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-12518054" class="dsq-comment-message">I don\'t know if the Republican\'s can get America to forget who was in charge when the economy collapsed. I am sure the democrats will send out plenty of reminders during the next elections. I know they are adamant for Obama to stop blaming Bush and take ownership of this mess. Sure he is the president and it is his to fix but the out of control fall happened before he got the wheel.<br><br>I do believe, no one is forgetting who lead us into the great depression and now the greatest depression since the great depression. Now they are asking to be put back in charge with a promise to do better... Not this soon...</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-12565944">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-12565944" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-12565944" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-12565944">evangelical</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-12565944" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-12565944" class="dsq-comment-message">How do you not understand that the Democrats destroyed the Economy when they forced the real estate market to become vastly over-leveraged and created a huge artificial bubble?<br><br>How do you not know this you idiot.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-12612781">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-12612781" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-12612781" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-12612781">Mike</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-12612781" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-12612781" class="dsq-comment-message">maybe because I listened to Bush\'s June 17th 2002 speech in Atlanta, when he asked bankers to make it easier for for people to buy with out a proper downpayment, loosen the requirements that people had wages that would pay for the morgage, get rid of the "fine print" that stopped people form buying.<br><br>But don\'t forget, Wall Street was living off Credit Default Swops and Derivatives - if you think home loans have gone south, wait for CDS and Derivatives to totally collapse (and then ask your self why Phill Gramm and the other Republicans who wrote the legislation easing oversight of Wall Street FORBADE SEC oversight fo thodse financial instruments).<br><br>Here\'s Dubya\'s 2002 speech to the bankers meeting in Atlanta:<br><br>HOMES LOANS EASIER TO GET.<br>"Now, we\'ve got a problem here in America that we have to address. Too many American families, too many minorities do not own a home. There is a home ownership gap in America. The difference between Anglo America and African American and Hispanic home ownership is too big. (Applause.) And we\'ve got to focus the attention on this nation to address this.And it starts with setting a goal. And so by the year 2010, we must increase minority home owners by at least 5.5 million. In order to close the homeownership gap, we\'ve got to set a big goal for America, and focus our attention and resources on that goal. (Applause.)" - <br><br>Three-quarters of white America owns their homes. Less than 50 percent of African Americans are part of the homeownership in America. And less than 50 percent of the Hispanics who live here in this country own their home. And that has got to change for the good of the country. It just does. (Applause.)<br><br>And so here are some of the ways to address the issue. First, the single greatest barrier to first time homeownership is a high downpayment. It is really hard for many, many, low income families to make the high downpayment. And so that\'s why I propose and urge Congress to fully fund the American Dream Downpayment Fund. This will use money, taxpayers\' money to help a qualified, low income buyer make a downpayment. And that\'s important.<br><br>One of the barriers to homeownership is the inability to make a downpayment. And if one of the goals is to increase homeownership, it makes sense to help people pay that downpayment. We believe that the amount of money in our budget, fully approved by Congress, will help 40,000 families every year realize the dream of owning a home. (Applause.) Part of the success of Park Place is that the city of Atlanta already does this. And we want to make the plan more robust. We want to make it more full all across America.<br><br>Secondly, there is a lack of affordable housing in certain neighborhoods. Too many neighborhoods, especially in inner city America, lack affordable housing units. How can you promote homeownership if people can\'t afford a home?<br><br>And so what I\'ve done is propose what we call a Single Family Affordable Housing Tax Credit, to encourage the development of affordable housing in neighborhoods where housing is scarce. (Applause.) Over five years, the initiative amounts to $2.4 billion in tax credits. And that will help. It will help a lot to build homes where people can -- where when fully implemented, people will be able to say, I own my home.<br><br>A third major barrier is the complexity and difficulty of the home buying process. There\'s a lot of fine print on these forms. And it bothers people, it makes them nervous. And so therefore, what Mel has agreed to do, and Alphonso Jackson has agreed to do is to streamline the process, make the rules simpler, so everybody understands what they are -- makes the closing much less complicated.<br><br>We certainly don\'t want there to be a fine print preventing people from owning their home. We can change the print, and we\'ve got to. We\'ve got to be wise about how we deal with the closing documents and all the regulations, but also wise about how we help people understand what it means to own their home and the obligations and the opportunities. <br>George Bush June 17, 2002 ----- <br><br><a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/06/20020617-2.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/06...</a></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-12520884">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-12520884" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-12520884" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-12520884">terrycsa</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-12520884" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-12520884" class="dsq-comment-message">"...if the Republican\'s can get America to forget who was in charge when the economy collapsed"<br><br>Yep, we remember very well...a democrat controlled congress.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-12550129">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-12550129" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-12550129" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-12550129">Soapm</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-12550129" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-12550129" class="dsq-comment-message">Yes, in 2006, America began dismantling the effects of the Bush tax cuts which sent America\'s jobs overseas, rose the cost of seniors medicines and began voting to do something instead of do nothing and lets see what happens.<br><br>We remember... Boy do we remember how we got here...</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-12555405">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-12555405" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-12555405" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-12555405">Mike</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-12555405" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-12555405" class="dsq-comment-message">Who can forget, now that we have the Internet:<br><br>Save Your Tax Rebate - You\'ll Need It<br>Bush has wiped out the budget surplus — now he\'s looking at Medicare and Social Security<br>If you get a tax rebate check this fall, consider yourself lucky. Many working families will get nothing from Bush\'s tax cut. And even though your $300 or $600 check is chump change compared to the million-dollar tax cuts that America\'s wealthiest families will realize, you\'d better hang onto it. <br><br><br>Charles W. Jones<br>International President EmeritusYou\'re going to need every penny of it to start a retirement account or buy health insurance. President Bush\'s tax cut is his first step in a plan to take the "security" out of Social Security and the "care" out of Medicare. Workers retiring after 2020 will be the ones who get hurt the most, but all workers should pay close attention to what the White House is doing in these areas. <br><br>The problem is that Bush\'s tax cut and our economic slowdown have combined to completely eliminate the projected budget surplus. The surplus for 2001 will be only about $1 billion, not counting the Social Security surplus. A billion dollars may seem like a lot of money, but it is less than $4 for each American citizen. Not exactly savings you can count on in an emergency. <br><br>And even that billion-dollar figure is overstated. At the request of President Bush, the U.S. Treasury has changed its method for reporting the budget, shifting an additional $4.3 billion from the Social Security surplus to other government accounts. Without this accounting gimmick, the non-Social Security part of the budget would be in the red. <br><br>Keep this deceptive trick in mind when Bush claims his tax cut didn\'t force the government to dip into the Social Security surplus. They did. They just found a way to hide it. <br><br>Like his father, who, as president, oversaw the largest budget deficits in U.S. history, George W. Bush is determined to keep our country in the red. In less than nine months in office, he managed to reverse the trend toward surpluses that began appearing in 1998. <br><br>While many write off his penchant for red ink as incompetence, it is more likely part of a cunning plan to destroy Social Security, Medicare, and many other programs that help working families. Hints of the Bush administration\'s true agenda come from his advisers. He\'s too savvy a politician to tell the nation directly that he would like to dismantle our social insurance programs and make corporations exempt from federal taxes, but his lieutenants have been spreading that word. <br><br>An article this past May in The Nation magazine quoted Grover Norquist, a Bush spokesman and adviser, as saying his goal is "to cut government in half. To get it down to the size where we can drown it in the bathtub." <br><br>I don\'t have to tell you what programs they will drown in the bathtub. They will start with Medicare and Social Security. <br><br>Secretary of the Treasury Paul O\'Neill said as much in an interview with the Financial Times. He said he is committed to abolishing corporate income tax and capital gains taxes, shifting the entire federal tax burden to wage earners. <br><br>He then proposed doing away with Medicare and Social Security, saying people should put money aside for their retirement and medical needs. That advice is easy to follow when you make $59 million a year, the amount O\'Neill made last year as CEO of Alcoa. Working families live in a different world -- a world where unexpected illnesses, layoffs, and other family emergencies can wipe out savings overnight. <br><br>We need the safety net of Medicare and Social Security. <br><br>During last year\'s election campaign, Bush promised not only to protect that safety net, but also to improve Medicare by adding a prescription drug benefit. But now that he\'s squandered the surplus on a tax giveaway to the rich, there is no money left to do so. His prescription drug plan for Medicare is a joke -- asking insurance companies to voluntarily sell low-cost plans to retirees. <br><br>His plan for Social Security is even worse -- reducing benefits through privatization. A Congressional Research Office study shows that the added administrative costs of privatizing Social Security would reduce retirees\' benefits anywhere from 4.7 to 10.8 percent for those workers who retire after 2020. Privatizing would cost $40 to $800 billion annually -- mostly fees paid to financial managers; current administrative costs are less than $3 billion. <br><br>When you look at the long-term cost of the Bush tax cut, that tax rebate check seems awfully expensive. <br><br>If Bush continues to get his way, you\'ll need a lot more than $600 to get yourself back to even. <br><br><a href="http://www.boilermakers.org/resources/commentary/V40N4" rel="nofollow">http://www.boilermakers.org/resources/commentar...</a></div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-12561153">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-12561153" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-12561153" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-12561153">terrycsa</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-12561153" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-12561153" class="dsq-comment-message">Hey Mike, It is 2009. Bush isn\'t president. You left wing loons elected a moron to office who quadrupled the deficit in less than 30 days. <br><br>Get help for your "Blame Bush" syndrome. Bush may have sucked, but this new bozo makes Jimmy Carter look smart and makes Marx look like a Candy Striper.<br><br>Get over your messiah worship and realize we have the worst politicians in office that we have ever had on both sides of the aisle.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-12562765">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-12562765" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-12562765" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-12562765">Soapm</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-12562765" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-12562765" class="dsq-comment-message">Now that the GOP worships Palin, I would think you guys would ease off the messiah comments. But hey, we can say the GOP has a messiah soon to be without a kingdom.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-12562970">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-12562970" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-12562970" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-12562970">Mike</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-12562970" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-12562970" class="dsq-comment-message">LOL - Did I get your white sheet in a twist?  You elected the stupid brother,not the smart brother, you do know that, right.<br><br>Oh well, soon you\'ll die out.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 <li id="dsq-comment-12987191">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-header-12987191" class="dsq-comment-header">\
	 <cite id="dsq-cite-12987191" class="dsq-comment-cite">\
	 <span id="dsq-author-user-12987191">LONE_STAR_TEXAN</span>\
	 </cite>\
	 </div>\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-body-12987191" class="dsq-comment-body">\
	 <div id="dsq-comment-message-12987191" class="dsq-comment-message">When you disagree pull out the race card. That ship has sailed you nitwit.</div>\
	 </div>\
	 </li>\
	 </ul>\
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