Democrats opposed the nomination of Sam Fox to be ambassador of Belgium because Fox donated $50,000 to the despicable Swift Boat Veterans for Truth smear campaign against Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass. And when President Bush withdrew the nomination last week, they applauded Bush.
They should have held their applause. Wednesday, Bush made a recess appointment of Fox, bypassing Senate confirmation.
Weekly Standard Editor William Kristol cheered the appointment: "It’s good; it shows he’s fighting back. He had a ‘kick me’ sign on his back, and it shows he’s taken the sign off."
Democrats rightly saw it as a poke in the eye. "It’s sad but not surprising that this White House would abuse the power of the presidency to reward a donor over the objections of the Senate," Kerry said. "Unfortunately, when this White House can’t win the game, they just change the rules, and America loses."
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
Registered?
Commenting on WE Blog now requires you to be a Kansas.com member. Use the links above to register, if you haven't already, or to log in.Contact us
Follow us
Daily Archives
-
Recent Comments
- Chas on Open thread 11/24
- Monkeyhawk on Open thread 11/24
- ANTI on Open thread 11/24
- ANTI on Open thread 11/24
- Monkeyhawk on Open thread 11/24
- DavidB on Open thread 11/24
- donndublin on Open thread 11/24
- JimJohnson on Open thread 11/24
- JimJohnson on Open thread 11/24
- Pleefer on Open thread 11/24
177 Comments
Should read-
Swift Boat Veterans for Truth campaign against Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass for his despicable smear of his fellow soldiers-
There, I fixed it.
I guess this would be the uniter uniting? Or the divider dividing?
A very telling look at what the preznits terms “bipartisan”.
There was NO OTHER PERSON who could have been nominated?
And why is it that law and order, flag wavin’ military supporting folks are cheering an end run around a duly elected congress?
Why do you hate our government?
heheheh
The democrats played politics with a political appointment? Isnt that what republicans like to cry about?
Whew. Sure glad the republicans are not playing politics with political appointments HERE the way they did at the Department of Injustice….
“It’s sad but not surprising that this White House would abuse the power of the presidency to reward a donor over the objections of the Senate,” Kerry said. “Unfortunately, when this White House can’t win the game, they just change the rules, and America loses.”
Kerry should have not been involved in the decision process since an issue of a contribution directly involved him.
If I make a contribution to the ACLU, I wouldn’t want my fellow Republicans to make an issue out of it. My contributions are my private affair and as long as they are lawful should have nothing to do with appointments, hirings or firings.
I don’t know the law in regards to Campaign Contributions, but it seems to me Kerry violated in “principle” at least the intent on using a Public Office to control who does what and for what reasons.
I’m sure Sam Fox is just as qualified to be the the ambassador to Belgium as Michael Brown was to head FEMA.
Heckuva job, Bushie.
“I don’t know the law in regards to Campaign Contributions, but it seems to me Kerry violated in “principle” at least the intent on using a Public Office to control who does what and for what reasons.”
WTF?
So, being a member of a committee and exercising his ONE vote means he is using his public office to control, uh, what?
“who does what and for what reasons.”
Translation please.
And yeah, go figure. We elect senators and house members and preznits to control “who does what and for what reasons.”
???
methinks golfnut is still sore, and forgets, like Inhofe, that control of both houses changed hands in the last election.
Maybe that is why he is so cranky about Kerry performing the duties the folks of Massechusetts elected him to do. I guess if they dont like him, they’ll vote him out.
I expect they are not too thrilled with Brownback, aka god’s senator, and Roberts, aka bush’s senator. And they dont get to vote on them either.
You know ksfarmgrll, you and others keep referring to as JM, golfnutz and someone named Durden.
Would you like to bet everything you own that I am not any of those?
I dont gamble, remember?
And I guess we will just never know who you really are, now will we?
…oh, and just for the record…
I know you are golfnutz, but I dont know who golfnutz really is. Nor to I care to know.
Please post where I have ever said you were durden or jm. I didnt. I know you are golfnutz, and so does anyone who ever read this blog.
You cant hide behind your writing every time. All trollers and nic switchers slip sometime.
Is there something you want to share about your identity? heheheh
Well, let’s see …this guy golfnutz is named Dave, am I correct?
No where in my names is there the letter “D” or the name Dave. I don’t have a long beard or goatee or even a beard at all, except for the daily stubble.
I hate to play golf.
Other than that what makes you think I am golfnutz?
My identity? No I don’t want to share anything about it. This is a blog that anyone in the world can read and I do mean anyone.
Anything to take the “eye” off Iraq. The evening news now ends their broadcasts with “BTW X amount of soldiers died today.”
They’ll use just about anything for a “filler” to kill time.
“Today the billion dollar Homeland Fire department lifted a “terrorist cat” out of a tree.” The “terrorist cat” had links to al Qaida” by passing secret messages to “terrorists squirrels.”
Thats what I thought Republican. We will never know who you are, so you cant prove you are not golfnutz.
We just have to take your word for it. hehehhheheheehehehehehheheheh
Ya!
Actually, you could have had proof ksfarmgrrl.
I offered to meet up with J R. Since he allegedly has seen this golfnutz, he could have confirmed the odd identity mix up or confirmed it was not true.
GOOD FOR BUSH!
John Kerry worked with a man who NEVER served in Vietnam.Kerry had that man speak at his propaganda shows against the Vietnam War.The man never stepped foot in Vietnam but lied about that, and lied about alleged war crimes.Kerry lied repeatedly about Vietnam, about Cambodia and a host of other issues.Again, the Swift Boat Veterans advertising was effective because it had the ring of truth.Kerry could not respond because Kerry wanted BOTH sides of this issue:Kerry wanted the votes of Vietnam Vets who thought the war was a noble, but lost, cause.Kerry wanted the votes of Vietnam Vets and other liberals who thought the Vietnam War was wrong and evil.Kerry could not respond.Kerry did not want to advertise his role as a collaborator with the Communists.
What a surprise that paulie the shilie doesnt like Kerry and loves the swiftboaters.
Who’d a thunk it?
“Swift Boat Veterans advertising was effective because it had the ring of truth.”
The “ring of truth”? heheheheheheh
Isnt that Steven Colbert’s very definition of “truthiness” heheheh?
It has the ring of truth but it isnt really the truth? Nice job Paul. Your Freudian slip is showing.
“smear campaign”?
How come when it is a Republican Political Action Committee it is a “smear tactic” and when it is from the Democratic Party loyalists like MOVEON.ORG it is just “freeedom of expression”?
Need to get some perspective there Mr. Brownlee. Your “reporting” is nothing more than Liberal and democratic Party “talking points”. You should get paid by the DNC and MOVEON.ORG.
If there’s a surer sign of Bush’s impotence than use of recess appointments, I wonder what it would be.
However, Bush may have to sit and spin on the very middle finger he has extended toward the Democrats. This is because it looks like Sam Fox’s willingness to work for free violates employment rules regarding compensation for government workers.
Apparently, Federal rules prohibit any agreement to work voluntarily without compensation when a fixed rate of pay exists for the position in question.
**********************************
This is from Mary Ann Akers at the WaPO:
“But here’s the rub that makes Democrats view Bush’s recess appointment of Fox as a major-league no-no: Federal law prohibits “voluntary service” in cases where the position in question has a fixed rate of pay, as an ambassadorship does. That’s how the Government Accountability Office, an arm of the Democratic-controlled Congress, interprets the law.
In other words, according to senior Democratic Senate aides, the salary is a “statutory entitlement” and cannot be waived. While Fox would not be receiving a salary, he would still be entitled to live in government-owned housing and receive other benefits due any ambassador.
“How to reconcile this clear conflict between the pay restriction, which says that Fox cannot be paid, with the voluntary services provision, which says that the State Department cannot accept voluntary services from Fox?” queried one senior Democratic aide who asked for anonymity to speak frankly about the matter.”
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/sleuth/2007/04/democrats_outraged_over_fox_re.html
I think Bush doesn’t quite get that he’s up against folks who know how to use the rules and who have everything to gain by smacking him down. I hope this escalates all the way to impeachment.
Bush’s numbers are in the tank, the public already hates him, and he thinks he’s going to win these kind of fights?
OMG, too funny.
“OriginStephen Colbert introduced the word truthiness on the premiere episode of The Colbert Report, on October 17, 2005. According to Newsweek, he came up with the idea of truthiness just moments before filming for the show began.[2]
He used truthiness in a monologue that emphasized its role as an ironic political polemic compressed into a single word, as demonstrated in the following excerpts:[3]
“ I will speak to you in plain, simple English. And that brings us to tonight’s word: ‘truthiness.’
Now I’m sure some of the ‘word police,’ the ‘wordinistas’ over at Webster’s are gonna say, ‘hey, that’s not a word’. Well, anyone who knows me knows I’m no fan of dictionaries or reference books.I don’t trust books. They’re all fact, no heart. And that’s exactly what’s pulling our country apart today.
‘Cause face it, folks; we are a divided nation. Not between Democrats and Republicans, or conservatives and liberals, or tops and bottoms. No, we are divided between those who think with their head, and those who know with their heart.
Consider Harriet Miers. If you ‘think’ about Harriet Miers, of course her nomination’s absurd. But the president didn’t say he ‘thought’ about his selection. He said this:
(video clip of President Bush:) ‘I know her heart.’
“http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truthiness
Correct you are CF2K. As Madam Speaker pointed out, there is a new congress in town. And it isnt beholdin’ to bushco.
On another note, I am still howling about that “ring of truth” comment. More on “truthiness”.
[edit] American Dialect Society’s Word of the YearOn January 6, 2006, the American Dialect Society announced that truthiness was selected as its 2005 Word of the Year.[16] The Society described its rationale as follows:
“In its 16th annual words of the year vote, the American Dialect Society voted truthiness as the word of the year.
First heard on The Colbert Report, a satirical mock news show on The Comedy Central Channel [sic], truthiness refers to the quality of stating concepts or facts one wishes or believes to be true, rather than concepts or facts known to be true.”
farmgirl
Kerry flat out lied.
You cant tell me that Kerry has never lied about Vietnam. Kerry has lied repeatedly.
I don’t think the Swiftboat Vets lied. Of course, there are always conflicting reports from witnesses to anything.
The most effective thing the Swiftboat Ads did was to make people examine Kerry.
Kerry did not brag about his anti-war past. If Kerry was proud of that past, why didnt he brag about it?
Instead, Kerry bragged about his service in Vietnam!
I don’t much care what Kerry did in Vietnam. After all, Benedict Arnold “served” honorably until he changed sides. Likewise, Tim McVeigh served honorably before he went nuts.
The story on John Kerry is what he did when he came home. Kerry DID use blantant lies and propaganda to support his cause. Kerry did take part in events where people with NO Vietnam record at all claimed to be combat vets. Kerry DID attend a meeting where assasination of US officials was discussed. (To Kerry’s credit, he argued against such action, but he never called the authorities, as he should have. Especially so, if he was still a Naval Reserve member at the time!)
Kerry betrayed YOU farmgirl. If Kerry had been true to one side or the other, he might have won. Instead, he made lots of people mad at him!
Again, if Kerry is proud of his anti-war past, why did he hide it?
Kerry was ashamed of his past.
Not his uniformed past, his anti-American past.
Oh, and CF2K, the preznit doesnt care what the public thinks. He doesnt care what congress thinks. Hell he doesnt care what his own advisors think. He doesnt care if only “Barney and Laura” support him.
He’s the DECIDER!!!
Oh, and btw, he isnt running for anything and he doesnt care about any of the republicans who are.
As you once said “who cries for the baby elephants”.
heheheheh. Not me!
fap fap fap paulie. Heheheh. Maybe Kerry didnt LIE, his words were just “mistakes” like you guys say about bushco.
’cause ya know, “mistakes were made” is the new apology from bushco.
Oh, and if what Kerry said was a lie, then I think we can safely start listing the bush lies, er “mistakes”.
ksfarmgrrl,
Indeed. If only Econ101 had the brainpower to match his volume, he might actually have an impact.
Calling somebody a liar is cheap and easy, Econ101, especially if one wasn’t anywhere the events that took place–as political character assassain WAS NOT.
Sorry, “as political character assassain Sam Fox was not.”
“Actually, you could have had proof ksfarmgrrl.
I offered to meet up with J R. Since he allegedly has seen this golfnutz, he could have confirmed the odd identity mix up or confirmed it was not true.”
But but but but… I thought the blog king and queen declared in their own rules and edicts that “thou shalt not ask for face to face meetups”.
I guess I forgot that those “new rules” only apply to the little people.
ksfarmgrrl,
Indeed–we’re such children, after all. Not the august personages for whom every rule is made to be broken.
I’m glad he did it. This dispels any vestiges of the idea of “bi-partisanship” that Bush “claims” he wants.
heheh. Well Ben, it’s not like 70% of the country needed more proof, and it’s not like the 30 percenters would believe ANY proof.
This is from another site and it is entitled
The REST of the Recess Appointments
“With all of the talk about Sam Fox as U.S. ambassador to Belgium, *I* sort of missed the importance of the other recess-appointments. Now that I see who they are, Andrew Biggs and Susan Dudley, let me say that I am shocked and appalled, but NEVER surprised by *co’s choices.
The president appointed Andrew Biggs to serve as the next deputy commissioner of Social Security, despite the fact that Biggs is an aggressive advocate of privatizing the Social Security system. His nomination in November was considered ridiculous by Senate Democrats, and with this recess appointment yesterday, Bush effectively announced that he no longer wants to even consider negotiations over reforming the system.
And then there’s Susan Dudley, who Bush appointed to oversee federal regulatory policy at the Office of Management and Budget, despite her anti-regulatory career at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University.
The Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs holds sway over federal regulatory agencies like the EPA and helps set regulatory policy for a wide range of issues, from workplace safety to water quality….
As the director of regulatory studies at the industry-backed Mercatus Center she has worked to oppose vital public health regulation as a “hidden tax” that hinders profits.
Some of her targets have included EPA health standards for smog, opposition to lower-polluting cars, opposition to air bags, and opposition to stronger regulations for arsenic in drinking water. For some reason, the Senate had some concerns about her nomination. The White House not only doesn’t care about the concerns, it also decided it doesn’t care about the constitutional nomination process.
http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/04/05/the-other-rece … /
Ben Huie,
Indeed. I say let the Constitutional games begin. Bush is going to try to put this Unitary Executive theory into practice. And this Democratic Congress appears to have grown the cajones necessary to go head-to-head.
Congress has certain powers. I say they should use every single one of them–subpeona, investigative, budgetary, legislative. Bush is so universally hated by the American people that taking him on is a winner going into 2008.
The media, of course, remains invested in the meme that Bush is a “popular President.” Well, he isn’t. And the more the Democratic Congress cuts him down to size, the bigger they’ll become.
As ksfarmgrrl’s link demonstrates, in the meantime, these new appointees WILL be making lots of mischief. No doubt about that. I think Congress should look into using the power of the purse in a hardball way to stop the implementation of bad policy.
Hegemony is pointless if you don’t use it. Having tasted a bit of Presidential blood, Congressional Democrats are looking to spill more of it. And if Bush wants to fight, let’s go all the way to impeachment.
I think Speaker Pelosi has been looking mighty Presidential of late. More than one can say for the Miscreant-In-Chief.
C2FK
Joseph Wilson worked for FREE when Wilson went to Niger on behalf of his Wife.
“Weekly Standard Editor William Kristol cheered the appointment: “It’s good; it shows he’s fighting back. He had a ‘kick me’ sign on his back, and it shows he’s taken the sign off.”
The fact that William Kristol thinks it’s a good thing only means that no possible good can come from it. Just seeing Kristol’s name in print makes the little hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
Why is it so difficult for people to recognize evil when they encounter it?
C2FK
Joseph Wilson worked for FREE when Wilson went to Niger on behalf of his Wife.
“Joseph Wilson worked for FREE when Wilson went to Niger on behalf of his Wife.”
Joseph Wilson wasn’t appointed as ambassador to Niger, nor was he sent “on behalf of his wife.”
Really Econ, you need to try harder.
Econ101,
So, refresh my memory: was Joseph Wilson appointed as ambassador on a recess appointment when he did so?
And if he was not, does that not render your “Democrats do it too!” objection both juvenile AND worthless?
Well, I have a solution.Fox can accept his pay, keep the amount necessary to pay taxes, and forward the rest to his favorite charity:Swiftboat Veterans!
Well, I have a solution.Fox can accept his pay, keep the amount necessary to pay taxes, and forward the rest to his favorite charity:Swiftboat Veterans!
I was making a point.I think the point is made.It is possible to serve the country without pay.If you anal types dont like that arrangement, then Fox can simply donate the money and, in effect, work for free.
So, in other words, your attempt to justify the appointment went nowhere, and now you’re making a joke because you feel embarrassed.
Not even a particularly good try, Econ101. You’re going to have to work harder to keep up.
Screw that. Rules are rules. And if the Administration is going to push the envelope, then so will the Congress.
The rules are for the President. He isn’t a King. He isn’t Jesus Christ. He doesn’t get to break the rules just to make a point. And if he tries, the Congress should tell him to go to hell.
I just think Bush should be reminded about this next time he pleads for bipartisanship. Reid should tell him to go to hell.
“…this next time he pleads for bipartisanship.”
Bipartisanship is not a one-way street. Fox is free to give money to whoever he wishes. The Dems shot him down. That doesn’t sound very bipartisanship-y to me.
Ben Huie,
Indeed. If there’s anything more disingenuous than any member of this “Administration” calling for bipartisanship, I don’t know what it would be.
Along those lines, check out the Rude Pundit on Harry Reid. Just a sample:
“Reid must have special pants made to accomodate his gigantic balls. Really. There’s legends around Las Vegas of mob bosses, ready to have Reid whacked back in the day, who were shown pictures of his balls and, in deference to such titanic testicles, called off the hits.”
Read it for yourself.
http://www.rudepundit.blogspot.com
fleetwood,
Bipartisanship does not consist of submitting nominees for Senate approval who you already know are completely objectionable, and then thumbing your nose at the confirmation process by going around it.
rudepundit, democratunderground, salon, moveon. You people can’t think for yourselves?
“…the despicable Swift Boat Veterans for Truth smear campaign against Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass.”
Tell me again, just how conservative is this paper?Flaming libs who refuse to hire anyone of “color” to the Board, that’s what they are.
Little Green Footballs, Free Republic, Michelle Malkin, Fox “News,” Rush Limbaugh, the National Review Online, the Wall Street Journal, Instapundit, Weekly Standard, Michael Savage, Joe Scarborough, blah blah blah blah blah.
Is that the best you got, fleetwood?
Scary window into fleetwood’s ideological bizarro world.
When was the last time a conservative linked to any of those sites? That’s the difference. We don’t need no stinkin’ websites to tell us what to think.
HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!
Oh, you mean like earlier, when Heckler posted the following discussion of Nancy Pelosi’ wearing the Hijab to the Open Thread?
http://blogs.kansas.com/weblog/2007/04/open_thread_4.html#comments
Which was a direct lift from Little Green Footballs, right here, under the heading “Syrian Reformists”:
http://www.littlegreenfootballs.com/weblog/
Hate to be accused of startin’ something, but fleetwood seems to be saying that Heckler isn’t a ‘real conservative’–whatever THAT means.
Please. We all know very well who you take your marching order from.
OkYes, I called Kerry a liar.John Kerry is a liar.Some say that is a low form of debate?Oh really?So, you think that the Swift Boat ads are true, then, but you think they were too harsh for voters and to hard on Kerry?The truth is the truth.You think that the Swift Boat ads werent true, but you refuse to prove your point?Which is it?Why do you object to the ads if they are true?Why do you object to the ads if you arent willing to point out where they arent true?As for me, the best part of the Swift Boat ads were the parts about Kerry colaborating with the Communists when he got home, Kerry meeting with the Communists in Europe, etc.
As for Kerrys service in Vietnam?
Kerry repudiated his own service, why should I honor service he, himself, found to be criminal?
Kerry repudiated his own medals, why should I respect medals that Kerry, himself, repudiated? (Espeically the Silver Star with a “combat V” — the ONLY such medal in history, a medal that goes against every military manual and regulation?)
Kerry, himself, claimed that he was guilty of “war crimes” — so why should anyone defend Kerry’s recollection of any particular fire fight?
Kerry, himself, aided and abetted the false “testimony” of a man that never went to Vietnam, who claimed that he had, also, committed “war crimes.”
Anyway, If we were talking about someone who had never attacked the honesty or character of any other person in his life, maybe that person should be protected from honest questions about his past.
Kerry based his political career on attacking the integrity and honor of thousands of veterans.
Kerry doesnt deserve the benefit of the doubt, and the doubt, in his case, is enormous!
Let’s see: CK2K has kicked around Econ101 and fleetwood, and have both of them dead to rights.
Which B-List Right Winger will be next? Republican? GSheridan? Or will CF2K draw one from the A-List like Heckler?
Econ101,
So nice of you to return to a subject with which you feel comfortable: trashing John Kerry. This wasn’t the subject of the thread, but, after all, one must play to one’s own perceived strengths.
Here’s a nice posting from FactCheck.org, which goes through the original statements of many of the principals, their subsequent retractions and clairifications, so the rest of us don’t have to.
http://www.factcheck.org/article231.html
Bottom line: none of the men on Kerry’s boat that day, nor the man he rescued from the water under enemy fire, corroborate the version of events given by the members of “Swift Boat Veterans for Truth.”
Beyond that, Econ101 is entitled to interpret John Kerry’s actions in any way he pleases, but in so doing, is NOT entitled to impute his interpretation to Kerry. Throwing away his medals doesn’t mean John Kerry didn’t earn them; indeed, it is only because he DID earn them that throwing them away is a significant gesture.
What does Econ101 think was John Kerry’s point in throwing away the medals? What does he think was John Kerry’s point in testifying before the Senate? What does he think was John Kerry’s point in helping to organize and conduct the Winter Soldier hearings?
Econ101, frankly, isn’t smart enough or honest enough to acknowledge that John Kerry put his political future at grave risk–fatal risk for his Presidential ambitions, it turns out–in order to call attention to something he felt to be wrong.
One can disagree with John Kerry’s conclusions regarding Vietnam, though I personally share his convictions. But to watch Econ101 attack the character and conviction of someone who stood up for his own beliefs and who defended his country, both at equally great risk to himself–well, Econ101, I can see why you’re so invested in defending the Swift Boat Character assassains: you’re cut from the same cloth.
Liar. When you repeat lies, you’re a liar.
The Congress should just refuse to fund the ambassadors office until he is removed. Let’s see if they have any BALLS
factcheck.org is another commie group supported by the Annenberg group. The same Annenberg group you hear about on the NPR (another commie group). factcheck has been caught too often leaning Lib. Non-partisian, my ass.
My big relief is bush can’t use the recess rule to appoint supreme court justices. My God, we already have Clarence the clown, john “oral” roberts and sam, “the sham”, alito. I can just imagine goofy and donald shmuk added to the zoo.
After being a viet vet, and contemplating the whole picture of korea, viet nam and iraq, I have to come to the conclusion republicans like to kill just about anybody (provided they live in a foreign country), unless they’re unborn. Anybody else seeing this?
“The Congress should just refuse to fund the ambassadors office until he is removed. Let’s see if they have any BALLS”
The current leadership has shown differently. They can’t cut funds for the war, the can’t impeach, they can’t even get a minimum wage bill through.
CFThe Swiftboat Vets ARE about Kerry, so I am ON TOPIC!
As I understand it, John and Robert Kennedy accepted their government checks, but did not cash them.
Could Fox do the same thing?
Heckler – A-List? I am not sure about that characterization.
fleettwood – the minimum wage bill went through the house in the 100 hours. The Republicans are blocking it now.
However, I strongly suspect Bush will have difficulty getting a rubber-stamp war funding bill through.
“factcheck.org is another commie group supported by the Annenberg group. The same Annenberg group you hear about on the NPR (another commie group). factcheck has been caught too often leaning Lib. Non-partisian, my ass.”
Mercy, a delusional mind speaks. It must be frightening to live with such crazy/paranoid thoughts.
And, I assume you have objective evidence of these idiopathic paranoid beliefs? Or, is this a case of you calling them names that you can’t back up because you don’t like what they say?
Methinks the latter…
Here are two. It’s not that hard. You know where Annenberg leans because you listen to the taxpayer funded NPR.
“AZ Republic, FactCheck.org lobbed misleading claims in attempt to debunk Vote Vets ad criticizing Allen”
“It’s a sad commentary on the state of public discourse when you have to fact-check FactCheck.org. But that’s what it’s come to. The non-partisan project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania was a reliable guide to the issues during the last presidential election, even-handedly finding fault and favor with statements made by both candidates. But now that the debate over Social Security reform has gotten increasingly nasty and complex, FactCheck.org seems to have lost its way.”
Bush is now only hurting other republicans. The american people are counting.
It is difficult to evaluate what evidence you provide given that you did not provide a link to your source. I have no idea where that came from, if you made it up, etc. Boy, am glad I never grade any of your papers, they would have been bleeding profusely.
It is impossible for me to say that the Annenberg Center or FactCheck never got anything wrong. As your own sources acknowledge they are generally considered even handed and fair. The objection your source raises looks as though it could be a difference of opinion he holds, rather than a factual inaccuracy.
This is a link to the Annenberg Center which is a part of Penn University (an Ivy league school). They make no claims about being communists there. But you can be sure if they are smarter that Fleetwood, he would have to think they are communists or some similar thing.
http://www.annenbergpublicpolicycenter.org/
On topic: The appointment should not come as a surprise on a number of issues. Fox is a partisan person and did a favor for the party and it is common to reward those that do that. Both sides do that and it is only hoped that in any appointment that the person does have the qualifications to do the job. I guess if Belgium suddenly declares war on the United States we will know that Fox is a boob!
Sen. Kerry should have excused himself considering that Fox did play a part in the whole swift boat thing.It would be the proper thing to do and would have been understandable. As to the method of the appointment I can see how the power struggles will only increase in the future. Perhaps it is need to define each branches power.
NOW on a personal level: The whole Swift boat campaign was deplorable, unethical, and a insult to those that served this country in our military. Yes Kerry did make a point out of his serve and rightly so, as he had earned every right to critique and criticize that serve and the war. He enlistment up and free to speak him mind. Many stated they understood that Nathan by his obligation could not be critical of the Administration or the actions in Iraq. Prior to his deployment to active service in Iraq, since returning I will also value his opinion on the subject whether it be positive or negative.
AND I will get equally defensive of his service as I am of Kerry’s if someone were to try and degrade his opinion by saying “Well its not like you were doing a real dangerous assignment!” or “Gee did the armory have any windows?”. IN a war where there are no hard fronts and just a walk down a street could be your last EVERY one who is wearing the uniform of this nation is a hero to me!
The only positive thing I could say about the “Low Life’s” of the Swift Boaters is that at least this group of morally corrupt people were Bipartisan. Under another name they also attacked Sen. Mc Cain service when he was running against President G.W. Bush.
http://mediamatters.org/items/200609220002
http://www.nationalreview.com/nrof_luskin/luskin200501250808.asp
They are too smart to claim being commies.
The vast majority of NPR’s money comes from its investments and listener contributions. The widow of the guy who started McDonalds left them the largest financial gift in history. That’s why Steve Innskeep is always saying “I’m loving it” – actually that was a joke…
Haliburton gets a much larger percentage of annual funds from the U.S. government than does NPR.
William Kristol was one of the founders of PNAC { Bush’s “stay the course” Bible }.
http://www.newamericancentury.org/
“Haliburton gets a much larger percentage of annual funds from the U.S. government than does NPR.”
At least Haliburton pays an incredible amount of taxes. NPR is sponsered now. They are not too far from being able to enter the market, you know, like everybody else. Like most Lib ideas, they are no longer needed.
So, we have clearly established that the claim of Annenberg being communist is just another ad hominem attack backed by nothing, correct?
“…the claim of Annenberg being communist…”
Call it what you want. Would you prefer Progressive or Socialist?
“At least Haliburton pays an incredible amount of taxes.”
Wrong.
“Halliburton paid only $15 million of their $80 million in total taxes (or 19 percent) to the U.S. government in 2002. The remaining 81 percent of the company’s taxes went to foreign governments. Although Halliburton is an “American” corporation on paper, it is actually a foreign corporation that has no allegiance to the United States.”
http://www.halliburtonwatch.org/about_hal/taxhaven.html
Yes, Ed, the same William Kristol who believes that American global leadership is good for America AND the world.
I wonder how many conservatives here agree with that concept.
Well, Fleetwood, you had 6 years of full Republican control, and it looks like Americans (including republicans) are pretty sick of it.
The PNAC is some scary ass shit.
It’s the ambassador to Belgium people, get over it.
hehehehehhehehe
Hank
It’s the ambassador to Belgium people, get over it.
hehehehehhehehe
Hank
im096 – not American leadership; they want American RULE! That is why they favor killing anyone who disagrees with us. They also believe that we are to bring about the Second Coming:
http://www.cufi.org/
bloggus,
So, they payed the majority to foreign taxes because they were working in foreign countries and obeyed their laws?
I have investments in American Companies who have been purchased by Canadian Companies. Guess where I have to pay taxes on any profits? I’ll give you a hint, it ain’t the U.S.
Now, once those profits pass the Canadian border into my U.S. bank account, guess what? I have to pay U.S. taxes on an already taxed profit.
So, get over it bloggus.
“So, get over it bloggus.”
No, I believe I won’t.
If you had bothered to read the information at the link I posted, you would know that Halliburton is moving its subsidaries offshore to lessen its tax liability, all at the expense of the American taxpayer.
Why do you hate America?
Why do you hate America?
Posted by: bloggus | April 05, 2007 at 08:59 PM
What left field Liberal mantra did you pull that out of?
“What left field Liberal mantra did you pull that out of?”
Methinks you do not know what a “mantra” is.
Google is your friend.
Republicans love it when their rich friends or heros can get millions from the government and not pay any taxes. They are all about themselves and how much wealth they can hoard while the peasants scrounge for scraps. It makes them feel superior in a sadistic sort of way. I think their mommies denied them a fifth twinky when they were kids.
Republicans probably hate America because of an immense self-loathing. They hate the fact that America has been a huge success and just want to destroy everything that progressives have built up.
Fifth twinky? Do you have a weight problem Doug? :)
Exactly Doug.
They want to win by dying with the most toys.
Me thinks bloggus does not realize the current use of Mantra -
“A commonly repeated word or phrase”
Oh and bloggus, explain how I hate America.
This should be interesting. I bet it has to do with the Taxmemorecrats.
“Yes, Ed, the same William Kristol who believes that American global leadership is good for America AND the world.”
You’ve got to be kidding.
The globe hates our guts and America isn’t leading anything, only taking directions from Israel, right off the cliff.
“Me thinks bloggus does not realize the current use of Mantra -
“A commonly repeated word or phrase”
If it’s so danged common then why did you ask me where I got it?
Please, feel free to share.
Republican, you hate America because you have no problem with Americans going overseas and dying while you sit home and watch them die as part of your nightly entertainment.
Over 3,100 Americans dead, over 650,000 Iraqis dead, just so you can boast about how brave you are from behind your computer screen.
This should help you out so you can join up with the Army. I bet you’ll piss your pants during basic training.http://usmilitary.about.com/od/joiningthemilitary/Joining_the_United_States_Military.htm
The famous Ariel Sharon said: “The Arabs may have the oil but we { Israel } have the matches.”
Brilliant thinker.
How to win friends and influence people: Keep killing them until they blow your ass away { stay the course }.
Next stop: Cliff.
Bottom Of.
Ah Doug, you’re so gullible. You know how John Hopkins got those numbers of 600,000. They surveyed 1000 families and statistically extrapolated death figures out of that.
The Iraq government which does actual body count says the figure is less than 60,000.
Also, a quote for you from someone who received daily briefings on Iraqi dead.
“At a separate Pentagon briefing, Gen. George Casey, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, said that the figure “seems way, way beyond any number that I have seen. I’ve not seen a number higher than 50,000. And so I don’t give it that much credibility at all.”
Iraqi government spokesman Ali Dabbagh said in a statement that “these numbers are far from the truth, and the Iraqi government is making efforts to protect the Iraqi citizens from forces of terror.”
Go ahead and believe those “cooked” figures Doug, that by interviewing 1000 families you can conclude 600,000 people were killed. Yeah right…
I had no problems in the U.S. Military Doug. Evidently you tend to talk about anything and everything you don’t have a clue about.
Come on Doug, I know you can do better than you have.
It’d be nice if the great Republicans on this blog were remotely interested in the truth. Fact is, they are not. And I don’t blame them for that. Facts defeat their pathetic crap every time.
*****”…the claim of Annenberg being communist…”
Call it what you want. Would you prefer Progressive or Socialist?Posted by: fleettwood | April 05, 2007 at 07:07 PM*****
Yes, you are welcome that you were directed to the truth. Name calling is the best your reptile mind can do? That is what I suspected…
Thought you punks over here were going for the high ground. What a joke… and not especially funny, I might add.
Yeah, Doug. Get with the program.
We’re WINNING in Iraq, dude. Just ask Republican or Hank or Nathan or SOB (oops, also Republican).
The 50,000 refugees leaving Iraq every month mean nothing. See, now they have the freedom to travel. Isn’t that great for them?
And we like our success so much in Iraq, we’re encouraging former Taliban in Pakistan to attack Iranians.
The only thing this administration likes better than killing Muslims itself is helping them kill each other . . .
Yeah, those dumb butts at Johns Hopkins surely don’t know what they are talking about when it comes to statistical sampling. Not when you compare their knowledge to that proffered by Republican (and many other suspected blog nics). Hell no, Republican is the master of all knowledge.
Would someone please disable his keyboard before he embarrasses himself any more? Repub/JM/Golfut – whoever you are today: read the article, refute it point by methodological point. Oh heck, don’t bother, you are a joke, and we all know it. Pathetic…
Yes, Republican, everyone knows John Hopkins is an extreme leftist organization trying to make the Bushites look bad.
BTW, you not a statistician, are you?
Thought not.
I owe Steven Davis a coke.
:)
The 650,000 figure is something the UK government also came up with:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6495753.stm
I suppose we’ll have to the Republican claiming some huge worldwide conspiracy. Facts are always so inconvenient for the deluded.
I’m aghast that anyone would defend the Iraq war by saying there were “only” 60,000 civilian casualties.
But stepping back, I don’t even want to argue about the numbers. I want to know why the President keeps offering different justifications as the political winds change, why he keeps moving the bar to “mission accomplished,” and why he can’t just accept responsibility for so horking up the post-war strategy in the beginning that there’s little hope for any successful outcome.
It’s all obfuscation; it’s all tricks with words. Arguing about whether the number is 600 thousand or 60 thousand lets everyone off the hook for what the real issue is: This President has dragged us into a war of choice that has caused this nation grievous damage that will take generations to heal.
Read your own sources Doug. The BBC report was derived from this (quote from article.)
“It was conducted by the John Hopkins School of Public Health and compared mortality rates before and after the invasion by surveying 47 randomly chosen areas across 16 provinces in Iraq.”
The John Hopkins survey (again I repeat this) by interviewing 1000 Iraqi civilians and extrapolating figures.
This is not the way to do death counts that are accurate. The study was flawed in its conception and outcome.
This is not the way to do death counts that are accurate. The study was flawed in its conception and outcome.
No, you’re wrong.
Explain to me how you would conduct a survey.
I’ll wait right here.
“It was conducted by the John Hopkins School of Public Health and compared mortality rates before and after the invasion by surveying 47 randomly chosen areas across 16 provinces in Iraq.”
Once again I ask:
Are you a statistician?
The original article from the John Hopkins researchers who are public health experts (I know Repubs hate these folks) published their data in _Lancet_ a long established, well respected, English Medical Journal (peer reviewed and all that stuff – the repukes hate) – they found:
http://iht.com/articles/2006/10/11/africa/web.1011casualties.php(but that is a lib paper, you know, so they could be lying)
Here is the original study:
http://download.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/0140-6736/PIIS0140673606694919.pdf
I would really like to see Dave, the know-it-all take down the logic and methodology of this study. I need some laughs, fat boy, please step up to the plate. Please.
Republican–
And you got your degree in statistics from where was it again?
The major polls estimate who’s ahead and who’s behind in presidential races based on a sample of . . . wait for it . . . 1000 responses.
Given that Iraq has a population of only about 15 percent of ours, a thousand interview-es is very robust.
Try to stop talking about s*** that you know absolutely nothing about.
Of course, that would mean you’d be literally limited to talking about how to wank off to internet porn, but you get the idea.
Going to bed. Check your pathetic crap tomorrow, Dave.
1,800 civilians isn’t 1000. I’m also mentioning the Lancet study. The John Hopkins study admitted it figured low but didn’t come anywhere near your dreamed up figure of 60,000. The study showed that 46% of the deaths were children but I’m sure you think they are all guilty anyway.
So Republican, the question has been asked if you are a statistician. I got my M.S. in experimental psychology so I’m quite familiar with statitistics and scientific study. You, on the other hand, are an uninformed coward who has been proven wrong on numerous accounts.
How is it the progressives can keep on providing fact after fact and the conservatives can keep on providing excuses?
Hey Doug, explain NOVA to me really quick. Should be simple as it’s taught in the very basic statistical courses at Universities.
I’m a coward now am I? How many years have you served in the military Doug?
How am I uniformed Doug, the General in charge of Iraq at the time quoted the figure of around 50,000. Now who I am to believe, the General who gets daily briefings or some statisticians who extrapolate figures out of interviewing 1000 civilians? Note: Not all of these civilians had death certificates either.
Oh and Doug, you know why Iraqi civilians were eager to give death figures? Hint: it’s an Arab custom.
I’ll let you figure it out. :)
If we didn’t kill a million Iraqis, then we wasted four years and tons of daily bombings and a gazillion bullets.
There were 28 million Iraqis when we started. Count whatever is left, besides the 2.5 million refugees in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, etc.
JMKorean war started under?Truman, Democrat.Korean war ended under?Eisenhower, Republican.
Vietnam war started under?LBJ, Democrat.Vietnam war ended under,Nixon, RepublicanFord, Republican(Because a Democrat Congress turned its back on our allies, we never lost a battle in Vietnam!)
Republican, with all due respect, I doubt many of us here are eager to believe anything that comes out of the mouth of anyone who takes their orders directly from George W. Bush. The past several years have seen far too much manipulation of the truth, of facts, to trust this administration any further than we can throw it.
Wow, this “Republican” character isn’t very bright, and certainly knows less than nothing about statistics.
He sure does like to flap his gums though.
Doug–
You’ve hit on the essential difference between neo-cons and everybody else.
The rest of us believe in reaching conclusions by looking at the facts. The neo-cons start with the conclusions first and then minimize or rationalize and facts that don’t fit the preconceived conclusion.
Take tax breaks for the rich, for instance. Neo-cons still believe that this helps the economy and that tax revenue will grow if one taxes income less.
Reagan tried it. HW Bush tried it. It failed. Clinton raised taxes and balanced the budget several years in a row and actually REDUCED the NATIONAL DEBT.
Then Worst. President. Ever. cut taxes for the rich again and put us into the most debt (as a percentage of GDP) since WWII. He also had the slowest job growth in the first four years since Hoover.
But never mind that, tax breaks work! Just ask the neo-cons . . .
Republican–
NOVA?
Do you mean ANOVA? Or analysis of variance? Then there’s MANOVA or multiple analysis of variance . . .
Jeez, what a maroon.
…and paulie the shillie slips in the ol’ “stabbed in the back meme”.
There were 28 million Iraqis when we started. Count whatever is left, besides the 2.5 million refugees in Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, etc.
Posted by: Ed Friedemann | April 05, 2007 at 10:50 PM
Okay Mr. Friedemann, I accept your challenge.
According to the 2006 estimate there are 26,783,383 Iraqis.
Now, according to you, 2,500,000 are refugees.
That adds up to 29,283,383.
Houston, I think we have a problem. The population in Iraq has grown 1,283,383 since the start of the Invasion. :)
WriterdogMuch of John Kerry’s anti-war activism occured while Kerry was still a member of the Naval Reserve.Therefore, his obligation was NOT up.For that reason, many still believe that Kerry was officially reprimanded, perhaps even receiving a less than honorable discharge.President Carter and President Clinton could have cleaned up his records rather easily.I am not saying that was not perfectly legal.There is still an Amnesty law in effect, for anti-Vietnam War activity.This would expain the “V” on his Silver Star.Some moron that didnt know much about medals could have easily mixed up the paperwork. It is easier to understand if it happened AFTER the war was long over.During the war? Most clerks would have caught the error quickly!
Hey Republican, I’m not an advocate of the military industrial complex and wars for profit. So by my not being in the military is not a sign of hypocrisy. You, on the other hand, love the slaughter and you hide here, safely in America. That makes you a hypocrite. So why aren’t you signing up for the war you support? Why aren’t you offering to write a check to pay for the bill? C’mon, put up or shut up. I helped you out in being able to enlist. To find the recruitment center you just need look in the Yellow Pages. What are you waiting for?
TomPresident Bush has said nothing about the justification for this war that wasnt, previously, said by Kerry, Gore, Clinton and Clinton.
Yeah, he’s got the excuse of every shirker you’ve ever met, Doug: he’s got a bad back.
Good enough to hunch over a keyboard all day long.
Funny how that works . . .
How pathetic, Paul has resorted to attacking John Kerry as if it has anything to do with anything. With defenses like these no wonder the vast majority of Americans hate the war and hate Bush. Why aren’t you cowardly frauds in Iraq?
The difference Econ is that Kerry, Gore, and Clinton DIDN’T INVADE and get us bogged down in a quagmire.
Jeez, how dumb can you get?
Kerry, Gore, Clinton and Clinton didn’t order deployments, invasions, and four-year occupations.
Halliburton?
What about Democrat Senator DianeFeinstein?
http://www.metroactive.com/metro/03.21.07/dianne-feinstein-resigns-0712.html
Feinstein diverted defense money to her husbands company.Feinsteins husband also had a role in facilities that are used to care for our wounded veterans!
Doug and Capn,
They don’t take disable Veterans into the military at my age. If they would let me, I’d join up tomorrow.
Now go ahead and make fun of my disability Capn. You’re good at personal attacks.
Oh and Doug, I do contribute by helping out at the VA center and McConnell. Got anything else you would like me to do?
I’m happy to see the Republican nut cracked open by the 110th congress, and there’s not a dang thing the bushites can do about it except squeal and cry like the little piggies they are.
Which reminds me, I need to buy more popcorn.
Doug,Try to contain yourself, please.Take a look at what opened this thread.You are mad at me for calling John Kerry a liar.Facts in clear evidence support my case.However, you on the left, including the Eagle, call the Swift Boat Vets “liars” and dont want to be challenged.The topic of this thread IS John Kerry:”I VOTED FOR THE WAR, BEFORE I VOTED AGAINST IT” —The problem with John Kerry is this: History will get confused about which war Kerry was talking about!Kerry wants everything both ways.
Again folks, the Swift Boat ads worked because Kerry was ashamed of his antiwar past.Kerry bragged about his military service, but Kerry kept his meetings with Communists as quiet as he could.
It can not be denied that Kerry worked for the benefit of the enemy while our men were still fighting in the field.Kerry is a hero to the Communists in Vietnam, to this day!:
http://www.tinyvital.com/Misc/KerryHonoredByCommunists2.htm
CapnThe left attacks Bush for what Bush SAID.It is only fair to remind all of you that Gore, Kerry, Clinton and Clinton all said exactly the same things that Bush said, prior to the war.
Sorry Repub, they are taking disabled veterans back to Iraq:
http://www.congress.org/congressorg/bio/userletter/?id=130424&letter_id=1093679606
There’s still time to go. What are you waiting for? Die for your country you coward!
John Kerry and John McCain have worked hard to normalize relations with Vietnam, in large part as a means of finding the remains of Americans lost there during the war and bringing them home. To smear one with this is to smear them both, and is disrespectful to the memories of the soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines who have finally been brought home to their families.
I was hoping that Republican could give us a crash course in NOVA.
I have some idea of ANOVA, Fisher’s statistical method of the analysis of variation of means and MANOVA or multiple analysis of variation, but until today, I had never heard of NOVA applied to statistics.
Maybe that’s when somebody’s fake knowledge of statistics BLOWS UP spectacularly?
I mean who are you gonna believe? A Johns Hopkins Research Team and the prestigeous journal The Lancet or a blogger who doesn’t know how to spell ANOVA?
Hey Paul, John Kerry isn’t the President. John Kerry doesn’t support the war. John Kerry was supplied false information from the Bush regime. John Kerry isn’t holding up the return of the troops. John Kerry isn’t sending injured and untrained soldiers to Iraq. John Kerry isn’t supporting terrorists. John Kerry isn’t the motherfucking President!
“Sorry Repub, they are taking disabled veterans back to Iraq:There’s still time to go. What are you waiting for? Die for your country you coward!”Posted by: Doug | April 05, 2007 at 11:24 PM
Doug, already tried that and I’m too old.
And thanks again for calling me a coward, it shows how you use name calling to bolster your “discussion.” Sad man, really sad.
Sam Fox stated that he gives a lot of money to many groups, without necessarily knowing how the money is to be used, and in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation-process hearing, he said he considered Kerry to be a “hero”, and repudiated 527 organizations, such as “Swift Boat Veterans for Truth”.
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/editorialcommentary/story/F024387F4A762DE1862572920083B392?OpenDocument
Anyway, most ambassadorial appointments are acts of appreciation for political contributions. The career staff deal mostly with State Department supervisors in D.C. Most ambassadors primarily perform ceremonial duties. For example, Richard Nixon didn’t make Shirley Temple ambassador to Ghana because she was an expert on postcolonial Africa.
Econ–
That lie about Commies loving Kerry has been debunked so often, if I had a nickle for every time you Ditto Heads bring it up, I could retire the national debt.
The “commies” were fighting the French for about thirty years before Kerry gave his testimony and they would have fought us for thirty years more whether Kerry testified or not.
Note to self–scroll over Econ from now on . . .
LMMFAO!!
$50,000 isn’t chump change. It’s not like dropping a buck into a Salvation Army bucket. I’m not buying that story for even a fraction of a second.
DougJohn Kerry was one of many in Congress who signed a letter to President CLINTON asking for Clinton to forcibly remove Saddam from power!
Yeah, Capn it was a mistake. When I took statistics it was spelled aNOVA, with a little “a” at the beginning. For some reason I remembered NOVA and wrote it down.
I already went over how John Hopkins did their study. I’m not going over it again.
Let’s just say they didn’t count any dead bodies.
And no one has answered me why some Iraqi civilians were so eager to give deaths in there family to the John Hopkins researchers.
It has to do with an Arab Custom.
Any takers out there or do you wish to deny that the study was skewed and not recognized by the US Government as valid.
Too old Repub? Halliburton is still hiring have you applied? Probably not. You are too busy making excuses. You probably never served in combat. You were probably like Rush and complained of a boil on your ass or like some other pro-war Republicans who whined there were too many Blacks in the military. Conservatives are cowards.
Republican,
Halliburton is looking for truck drivers, and pay starts at 125,000 a month.
Seems like phat cash for a gung-ho patriot like yourself.
Still looking for the Kerry letter to President Clinton, but this will keep you busy, it is a lhttp://www.snopes.com/politics/war/wmdquotes.aspiberal website:
Ah, now I gotcha Doug. You just hate anyone that doesn’t agree with you.
I thought there might have been a glimmer of hope for a reasonable discussion.
I guessed wrong didn’t I Doug? :)
Sorry bub, my friends argue with me all the time. It’s our form of entertainment. Unlike them you can’t present a good argument, and you are a coward. Nice try in your pathetic attempt to change the subject. So why haven’t you filled out that enlistment form or application for Halliburton? What are you waiting for? For your mommy to change your diaper?
Note Doug’s style, the maturity of a middle schooler; name-calling, the often used word “pathetic” and making job proposals for someone he doesn’t know.
A research psychologist Doug?
I don’t think so Doug. All the researchers I have known, have objectivity which you are sorely lacking.
Tell us more about your beliefs in Crowley and the Kabal. I bet you really get off on those Satanic rituals.
S***, when did you take statistics?
Because I took two statistics classes at the graduate level in 1984, and I don’t remember any “little a” in front of NOVA. In fact, it doesn’t even make sense because the AN stands for “analysis,” not “a nalyisis.”
So I’m going to have to conclude that you’re talking outta your ass again.
Which brings me to my second point, what Arab custom? The old Arab custom of lying to researchers?
And how are you familiar with Arab customs, anyway? Did you study Arabic in the same college where you studied “aNOVA”?
This is Kerry’s address at Georgetown University, 23 Jan 2003:
“Second, without question, we need to disarm Saddam Hussein. He is a brutal, murderous dictator, leading an oppressive regime. We all know the litany of his offenses. He presents a particularly grievous threat because he is so consistently prone to miscalculation. He miscalculated an eight-year war with Iran. He miscalculated the invasion of Kuwait. He miscalculated America’s response to that act of naked aggression. He miscalculated the result of setting oil rigs on fire. He miscalculated the impact of sending scuds into Israel and trying to assassinate an American President. He miscalculated his own military strength. He miscalculated the Arab world’s response to his misconduct. And now he is miscalculating America’s response to his continued deceit and his consistent grasp for weapons of mass destruction. That is why the world, through the United Nations Security Council, has spoken with one voice, demanding that Iraq disclose its weapons programs and disarm.
So the threat of Saddam Hussein with weapons of mass destruction is real, but it is not new. It has been with us since the end of the Persian Gulf War. Regrettably the current Administration failed to take the opportunity to bring this issue to the United Nations two years ago or immediately after September 11th, when we had such unity of spirit with our allies. When it finally did speak, it was with hasty war talk instead of a coherent call for Iraqi disarmament. And that made it possible for other Arab regimes to shift their focus to the perils of war for themselves rather than keeping the focus on the perils posed by Saddam’s deadly arsenal. Indeed, for a time, the Administration’s unilateralism, in effect, elevated Saddam in the eyes of his neighbors to a level he never would have achieved on his own, undermining America’s standing with most of the coalition partners which had joined us in repelling the invasion of Kuwait a decade ago.”
Now Douggie do-wrong —- How on EARTH is George W. Bush responsible for the “false inteligence” you blame for Kerry’s vote?I believe Kerry’s take, mentioned in the Gerogetown speach, is wrong — But, Kerry uses the same intelligence in this speach as he did under Clinton and Bush!
By the way, did anyone, besides Kerry, vote AGAINST the 1st Iraq War and FOR the 2nd Iraq war?
http://www.electricvenom.com/index.php?p=6548
DougieHere it is, the letter signed by Kerry and other members of Congress, written to President Clinton:http://www.electricvenom.com/Venpics/Document.jpg
speach speech, I always get that wrong.You dont get to mark up my work if I catch it first!
Econ–
While we normal Americans are irritated by what Bush says–the lies and the mangling of the language of Shakespeare, of Milton, of Martin Luther King–we hate him for what he DOES:
cutting taxes for the rich during wartime plunging the country into debt, cheap political pay-back like Valerie Plame, and of course the 3,200 dead Americans for that POS country called Iraq.
Capn,
Ask a Muslim or look it up on “Diya.” It has been sort of perverted from what it used to mean. Now it is used to pay for compensation when a death occurs in the family. Now do you understand why there were so many volunteer Iraqis on the John Hopkins study? They wanted to get payed.
I imagine there were many fictious Walids and Ali’s made up for the people of John Hopkins.
This is a well known fact for anyone who has been to the Middle East.
It’s even worse if you run over an animal. But I won’t go there as it is irrelevant to the conversation.
Yes, I went to college before you Capn and no I don’t have my old textbooks to show you how it was spelled.
Numbers from the Iraqi government mean nothing. You should know that is propaganda.
The 2.5 million refugees comes from Jordan, backed by credible sources.
If you want to make the Israeli case, brag about all the killings.
Oh please Econ, it was a statement to get the weapon inspectors in there, not a demand for invasion. Your lies are expected from conservatives.
Republican, if you are a scientific study then I’ll be objective. However, you are an idiot, a liar and a coward and certainly not a part of any research project. Nice try, but as usual you don’t know what you are talking about and you still haven’t filled out that application for Halliburton. When you grow a pair perhaps you can talk back to me. Until then I’ll just bitch slap you for awhile.
Talk about hiding behind a computer…(points and laughs at Doug)
There are lots of Veterans groups that don’t like John Kerry.This group, the Vietnam Veterans Legacy Foundation, is filing suit against Kerry associates for violations of the Dragonetti Act, or using frivolous lawsuits to violate free speech:http://www.vvlf.org/default.php?page_id=76
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6040054.stm
Here it is…
It’s even worse if you run over an animal. But I won’t go there as it is irrelevant to the conversation.
No, it’s not, and yes, you just did.
You are a racist coward.
What am I hiding from Republican? Do you want me to join the war I don’t support but you do? Not joining doesn’t make me a hypocrite. You’re the only hypocrite here, you stinking coward. Your excuses are absolutely pathetic. Tell you what, I’ll apologize for everything I’ve said the moment you sign up for the military, move out of your mommy’s house and get potty trained. How about that?
Yeah, Doug, Republican’s MO is to expel so much gas he finally permanently stinks himself up, so he “moves to Mississippi” and logs on with another nic.
Lucky for you, Republican, I know some retired mathematicians, so I’m going to follow up on this.
If you’re right, I will publically apologize for doubting you. If you’re wrong, you will have shown yourself to be a liar . . . again . . .
Gotcha Capn,
Insult first, meaningless apology later. Interesting personal policy.
Steven, the conservatives don’t care about Iraqis, they have brown skin. Econ101 and Republican only care about white skinned people with 401k plans.
CapnFederal Revenues are at RECORD highs!http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8NQPOCG0&show_article=1
Tax increases during a recession are a great way to bring about a complete collapse in the economy.
Capn, you are more like HOOVER and FDR than JFK or Reagan!http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8NQPOCG0&show_article=1
Deficit? Since when did that become a good thing? Oh right, it became good after Clinton had a surplus because everything Clinton did was bad. Surpluses are bad.
Thanks goodness “fiscal conservatives” don’t balance my checkbook because I’d be homeless.
DougHave you SEEN my skin?
Granted, I would be considered an Anglo by most “Latino’s” but a distant relative of mine, with the same last name, also came from Ottoman Spain and settled in Puerto Rico.
You are the bigot, as you lump peple together, stereotype and demonize, rather than accepting me as an individual.
My mother is Scotch Irish.My dad is Heinz 57, but I know where my name came from. We have done the Geneology.
Yup, I lump all conservatives together as idiots. Guilty as charged.
The Bush administration’s firing of US attorneys just took an interesting turn:
“The four top administrators in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Minnesota have resigned their administrative positions. According to highly placed sources, the administrators have quit in protest over the job being done by Rachel Paulose, the U.S. Attorney for Minnesota.
The resignations came in the aftermath of the controversial firing of eight U.S. Attorneys across the country.
The Bush Administration did not want to see this happen and in an eleventh hour attempt to prevent it, sent a top justice official to Minneapolis Thursday to mediate the situation. The mediation failed.
“http://wcco.com/topstories/local_story_095231032.html
This is getting good.
The meeting would have gone better if they sent in Cheney with a shotgun. That guy will shoot you in the face and make you apologize.
Back to the TOPIC
How can any of you, Phillip included, call the Swiftboat Vets”dispicable” — since not one of you is able to refute their charges?
The important charges against Kerry concern what Kerry did in America and in Europe, AFTER his four months in Vietnam.
Bush had an exit plan for Viet Nam.
OMG, this thread is so damn funny I just cant stop laughing!
Republican just cant admit when he’s had his ass kicked. Hehehehe.
Sorry republican, but you denying it doesnt mean the readers here cant see it. I mean, they can read!
And Paul Rossell spinning and spitting at his screen about the V on Kerry’s medal. Uh, Paulie, I cant remember. Are you a yellow elephant too?
Hee hee hee hee. But please continue to focus on Kerry and defend the swiftboaters. The rest of the nation has moved on while you are still whining about an election you won.
Just keep busy living in the past. 08 is not very far away!
Who do you want to trust, bloviating blowhard bloggers, or scientists with expertise in the subject? Take your pick:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=cluster+sampling%2C+public+health+research&btnG=Google+Search
FarmgirlThe Senate Democrats did NOT move on, the Democrats wanted to Punish Fox, and Bush, for speaking the truth and beating Kerry.Now, when I defend Bush, and defend the Swiftboaters, is it me that can’t move on?How does that work?If the Eagle/Phillip had opened this thread with:”Well these are political apointments, the Senate registered its displeasure, Bush asserted his legal authority, Fox was appointed, now lets move on” — And I had followed by attacking Kerry — well then you MIGHT have a point!That is not how this thread opened.The Swiftboat Vets are honorable people.John Kerry said, at one time, that attrocities happened EVERY day at the hands of US forces.Kerry insulted everyone.Brownlee is mad (as are the rest of you libs) because someone insulted Kerry!Kerry has not apologized for his insults, almost of which were not true.The Swift Boat Vets told the truth, as they saw it. They had a right to do what they did.Now, farmgirl, YOU get over it OK?(You, too, Phillip!)
This comment was a ways up, but Kansasfarmgrrl said:
“Kerry should have not been involved in the decision process since an issue of a contribution directly involved him.
If I make a contribution to the ACLU, I wouldn’t want my fellow Republicans to make an issue out of it. My contributions are my private affair and as long as they are lawful should have nothing to do with appointments, hirings or firings.
I don’t know the law in regards to Campaign Contributions, but it seems to me Kerry violated in “principle” at least the intent on using a Public Office to control who does what and for what reasons.”
My question is this: if a nominee had made contributions to the Ku Klux Klan, would you require all African-American members of the committee to recuse themselves?
“The Swift Boat Vets told the truth, as they saw it. They had a right to do what they did.”
Paul, you have just made a claim that truth is relative. Indeed, “the truth, as they saw it.” Sure, they are entitled to their version of truth. However, it doesn’t make it the correct and unbiased version of the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, does it? Go on box the glacier, Paul.
Leonicenio, you are an idiot who cant read.
I didnt say that, I was quoting another poster. You know, the little quotation mark thingies that YOU copied? Those mean.. wait for it.. that someone else said it and I was quoting them.
But dont let a little thing like the truth get in your way…
Well since Paulie is STILL pushing truthiness over the truth, and since he clearly thinks the truth is relative, and since “as they saw it” is a justification for lying…
The truth as I see it is that Paulie is a paid republican shillie, and he wouldnt know the truth if it bit him in the ass. He is a bigot and associates with known criminals.
SO.. THAT is the truth as I see it. I guess I can publish it and advetise it and tout it publicly with NO repercussions, according to Paul Rossell.
Maybe that is why bonbon hue took such an ass whoopin’ last november. The voters really see through the whole “republicans love truthiness over truth” mode of operation.
BTW, how did that truth denial thing work for the republicans last november?
Here ya go leon… the real culprit who posted that bullshit. Note the quotation marks….
“snip
I don’t know the law in regards to Campaign Contributions, but it seems to me Kerry violated in “principle” at least the intent on using a Public Office to control who does what and for what reasons.
Posted by: Republican | April 05, 2007 at 01:36 PM
It was republican showing HIS ass again. Please read and think before posting.
Heheheheh. I laughed all the way through this thread. If ANYONE needed some insight into how the reich wing republicans like paulie the shillie regard THE TRUTH…
…all they have to do is read this thread for the TRUTHINESS according to paulie and republican.
FarmgirlThe Swiftboat Vets did NOT lie.
Eyewitness accounts of anything can be flawed. Police know this. Insurance companies know this.
Eyewitness testimony often conflicts.
Can I be more clear? “I don’t care what John Kerry did in Vietnam” ??? That is what I said.
I think it is odd that Kerry, an officer, traveled with a movie camera and a typewriter. But, he admitted at the time that he was going to use Vietnam to launch his political career.
Even so, Kerry spent 4 months in Vietnam, never spent the night in the hospital and brags about his service. I am willing to accept that he has some level of courage that many do not have. He had the abililty to get through a life and death situation in one piece. Any VA hospital is full of similar, honorable folks. However, I would NOT want most of those Vets to be President, either.
Even if we accept Kerry’s word that he is a combat “hero” we must also temper that acceptance with the fact that Kerry, himself, also claimed to be a war-criminal, at one time.
Also, regardless of any combat courage Kerry might have, Kerry is a political coward.
Admit it, Farmgirl:
Don’t you wish Kerry had bragged about his anti-war activity rather than his war-time heroics?
Kerry is ashamed of his anti-war past.
This fact is obvious. This is the truth.