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
- okobserver on Open thread 11/23
- Chas on Open thread 11/23
- Chas on Open thread 11/23
- Chas on Open thread 11/23
- okobserver on Open thread 11/23
- Chas on Open thread 11/23
- Chas on Open thread 11/23
- Chas on Open thread 11/23
- outlander on Open thread 11/23
- Chas on Open thread 11/23
Open thread
- By Phillip Brownlee
- Posted May 1, 2007 at 1:05 a.m.
- Filed under Open thread
- Permalink
- Comments RSS
- Both comments and trackbacks are closed
109 Comments
Will the REAL Hillary please stand up?
Fat chance. This gal even scares the socks off seasoned Watergate reporters….and it seems she reinvents herself every time the wind changes directions.
[quote]“Drawing on a trove of private papers from Hillary Clinton’s best friend, the legendary Watergate journalist Carl Bernstein is to publish a hard-hitting and intimate portrait of the 2008 presidential candidate, which will reveal a number of “discrepancies” in her official story.
Bernstein, who was played by Dustin Hoffman in the film All the President’s Men, has spent eight years researching the unauthorised 640-page biography, A Woman in Charge: The Life of Hillary Rodham Clinton.
“Bernstein reaches conclusions that stand in opposition to what Senator Clinton has said in the past and has written in the past,” said Paul Bogaards, a spokesman for Knopf, which publishes the book on June 19.
With the thoroughness for which he is famous, Bernstein spoke to more than 200 of Clinton’s friends, colleagues and adversaries. He stops short of accusing the New York senator of blatantly lying about her past, but has unearthed examples of where she has played fast and loose with the facts about her “personal and political life”, according to Knopf. . . .
Bernstein’s biography is likely to touch some raw nerves. One writer who has crossed swords with Clinton advises Bernstein to watch his back. “She has the most powerful war machine that has ever been developed and it is led by people who have been to hell and back.” [end quote]
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article1719879.ece
The book sounds like good journalism instead of a hit piece. I look forward to it.
http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/news/2007-04-23-hillary-clinton_N.htm
So a 51 yr. old VP of academic affairs at Friends University wants to have sex with a 15 yr.old. His minister says Morgan is a ‘good, honest, decent christian man’ a ‘great church member’. Can’t anyone say, ’sexual predator’? Get this guy’s computor and find the rest of the 14 & 15 year olds that he has been online with, then all of those trite phrases ‘good, honest…etc’ will be heard no more.
Of course, he is ‘innocent until proven guilty’..which probably won’t be too difficult, with the ability to keep logs of chat activity.
Associated Press
This photo released by the U.S. Military at a press conference in Baghdad, Iraq Thursday, June 15, 2006, purports to show Abu Ayyub al-Masri who is the al-Qaida in Iraq leader. Iraqi officials have received reports Tuesday May 1, 2007, that the leader of al-Qaida in Iraq was killed by Sunni tribesmen, but the chief government spokesman said Tuesday the information has not been confirmed. (AP Photo/U.S. Military)
BAGHDAD — Iraqi officials have received reports that the leader of al-Qaida in Iraq was killed by Sunni tribesmen, but the chief government spokesman said Tuesday the information has not been confirmed.
Funny, prior to our invading Iraq, there were no Al-Quida in the country. How dare they!
Thinkfirst, they already took two computers out of his house this weekend. I don’t think any of those people were necessarily trying to defend him with those “trite phrases” just giving their opinion from their interactions with him. I keep expecting to here that Chris Hansen from NBC’s Dateline was there…
C-SPAN broadcast a Senate Commerce Subcommittee hearing yesterday. It seems that the Halliburton Company, using the cover of a Cayman Islands headquartered subsidiary, Halliburton Products and Services, Ltd., has been doing business in one of the three “axis of evil” countries, Iran.
Halliburton used a loophole. It is illegal for American companies to do business with Cuba and North Korea using dummy offshore-registered subsidiaries. But this restriction doesn’t apply to other unfriendly nations whose American-registered corporate parents are not allowed to trade with.
(Worth noting: the Cayman Islands have no oil or gas reserves, and Halliburton P&S doesn’t conduct any business whatsoever relating to the Caymans.)
A Halliburton Company VP testified that this was completely “legal”. She stated that Halliburton P&S is no longer pursuing new business contracts, but is only dealing with some residual matters, in Iran. She testified that Halliburton decided to exit Iran in 2005 NOT BECAUSE of patriotism issues, but solely because Halliburton wasn’t making much money in Iran. The decision wasn’t based on ethics, according to the VP, it was simply economics.
What wasn’t discussed in the hearing was Halliburton’s Company’s corporate-charter relocation to Dubai, which doesn’t have a beef with Iran. Will this enable the company to “legally” reestablish business with Iran?
http://www.halliburtonwatch.org/about_hal/iran.html
Thanks for that good information on a thoroughly disreputable and treasonous company, Halliburton.
As soon as outlander manages to arise, he’ll re-iterate Rush O’Hannity’s talking point that “Cheney has severed all ties to Halliburton,” except for the stock options and the deferred salary, of course.
For those of you that missed it yesterday, Republican said that the Kyoto Protocals will mean “the end of free society as we know it, [we] will become a socialistic state under the blackmailing thumb of the U.N.”
Just had to re-post that for the enjoyment of those who had not enjoyed it yet.
Visualize Republican there in his mom’s damp basement, in his tacky bathrobe, cup of warm grape NeHi left over from yesterday sits near the keyboard devoid of fizz, Fox news blaring from the black & white tv on the shelf, carefully folding a new tin-foil hat to wear on his head while blogging.
Oh yay, SD and GS agree that a second hand biography with statements by her best friend (in college?, 2nd grade?). True journalism at its finest!
yawn.
I do so wonder how much of that website I posted the other day will be included.
I wonder if Bush will wear his flightsuit today when he vetoes the war funding bill.
Why, good morning Capn.
So, since Cheney is hated by liberals, that makes it OK for you to misrepresent his financial dealings?
And in the universe of ideas and ideology, you apparently find the facts insufficient raw material to work with?I would think that you would avoid getting embarrassed like that. It affects your credibility.
Cheney still has deferred compensation and unexercised stock options. The latter he promises to give to charity, but if he exercises them after the 2008 election, who’s gonna care, and what is anybody gonna gain, by saying, “Cheney’s a Big Fat Liar”?
He’s rich. He’s old. He’s already enjoyed the experience of being one of the most powerful people on the planet. He may very well have enough money to buy a 20,000 acre cattle ranch in Wyoming or Montana, with a 20,000 square foot rustic log mansion and a 20-full-time-person resident staff, plus a villa in the Caribbean, if not a small island to site it on. Plus buy, lease, time-share or charter a trans-oceanic Gulfstream IV/V or Dassault Falcon 7x, to enable him to travel anywhere in the world he wants to get to, in high luxury, and never have to submit to the unpleasantries and delays of commercial flights.
If he didn’t have as much money as he wanted upon leaving government, some of his oil friends could easily set up an SEC-unregistered private company, say in the Cayman Islands for example, make him CEO/COB, and pay him $20-$100 million, even if the company never made a nickel. The company could go out of business after a few years, Dick would have his payoff from his friends, and the American public would never even hear about it.
Thanks, Mark.
Exactly! and well-said to boot.
Outlander, one of these days you’ll grow up and see how the world works.
The idea that Cheney is hanging on to stock options “for charity” is so stupid that only a useful conservative idiot could believe it . . .
A question about the war funding bill the Bush is so upset about. Why is this supplamental needed? After all the entire war will only cost about $50 billion and will be entirely paid for with oil revenues!
A heartwarming story from the Chicago Tribune:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/lifestyle/living/chi-0704250348apr29,1,1085387.story?coll=chi-living-hed&ctrack=2&cset=true
That’s a lot of diapersCouple has taken in 109 foster babies in 28 years
If, if, maybe, could, might . . . .
The truth is my friends Cheney and his wife give a lot to charity. They always have.
Therefore, when he says that he will give more to charity is a lot more credible than you endless strings of
If, if, maybe, could, might . . . .
Interesting opinion on Clarence “Hey, I’m not really black” Thomas in USA today:http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2007/05/blacks_cant_sha.html#more
An excerpt:”In his judicial opposition to affirmative action, he’s the classic example of a black who made it across the moat of discrimination and then raised the drawbridge so others could not follow. And in another twisted ruling, when two prison guards pulled a black inmate from his cell and beat him senseless, Thomas argued that the action didn’t amount to “cruel and unusual punishment” because the beating didn’t result in serious injury.”
A true representative of the republican creed: Do unto others, then make a law against it so they can’t do it to you.
P-Mom,The Bernstein book is 650 pages and he has a good reputation for being thorough. Why don’t you wait and see if you HAVE to defend your ego-ideal. The book is not out until 06-19-07.
Liberals, especially black liberals, hate black conservatives. They don’t play the victim like they’re suppose to.
Mark and other libs I certainly see how Cheney looks to be feathering his own nest. It reminds me of the Kennedy family trust which are all located in Fiji so they can avoid American taxes. I think politicans that do this are wrong,wrong,wrong. I will take a wait and see attitude with Cheney because after all he hasn’t done anything wrong YET.
And how dare black conservatives try to raise the futures of young black men and women. They should just back off and allow them to remain victims thinking someone else should pay for their upkeep. What a great way to keep them loyal to the ‘great father in DC’. Shame on you Clarence Thomas, Bill Cosby, Oprah Winfrey, etc..
I will just wait and see.
The idea that Cheney is hanging on to stock options “for charity” is so stupid that only a useful conservative idiot could believe it . . . CapnA…..
http://www.factcheck.org/kerry_ad_falsely_accuses_cheney_on_halliburton.html
It is irritating that Doc Schooley and CapnA…, throw out allegations without checking them out.
Here is a link that even has the documents showing that the stock option proceeds are assigned to charity and an insurance policy that Cheney took out that provides that even if Halliburton goes bankrupt, he gets his deferred compensation. Thus, Cheney has no interest in Halliburton’s financial performance.
An opinion piece from the L.A. Times on why the attorney general might not be asked to resign. I’d forgotten about the conditions placed on Mr. Richardson upon his appointment during Watergate.
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-holtzman1may01,0,3365495.story?coll=la-opinion-rightrail
VT the part about the torture of detainees in this article reminded me of something I heard on the news today. Here we in Sed. co. are getting in trouble for not fixing meals that are more palatable there is a prison now acting on Cheryl Crows suggestion and limiting the squares of toilet tissue each inmate is allowed to use daily. The riots can’t be far away.
By the way Tenet, the new darling of the left leaning media, in his ABC interview said there was no over the top torture. He said this 5 times because that was how many times he was asked the question.
Thanks VT. Haven’t seen anything from Holtzman for years! She raises good points.
Shakes head, amazing how you defend the beating of any inmate.
” no over the top torture”
Quite a broad definition there ksgrm.
Ben those were the words of Tenet. Now I’m sorry you don’t agree but if a detainee is strongly suspected of having information that will save the lives of American military, then yes I think torture is justified.
I know that is not a popular opinion among liberals. Yes Pmom inmates are tortured. This is one of the main issues we differ on. War is ugly. Terrorism is real, these are realities. Like it or not.
Hank’s right.
No need to talk about “if’s” and “maybe’s.”
Just look at reality. Cheney’s approval ratings hover in the high teens.
Nobody is buying the kindly “Uncle Dick” routine . . .
Outlander writes that “black liberals hate blacks who don’t play the victim.”
Hmmm . . . ignoring for a second that outlander probably hasn’t actually spoken to a black person in the last month except perhaps to say, “yes, I’ll have fries with that,” Barack Obama doesn’t play the victim.
Strangely, blacks don’t hate him.
ksgrm – I know. I watched the interview. And I have to admit, if it will get useable information then using such tactics might make sense. Just remember, we ran some trials based on that back in the late 40s.
GSheridan, where was Bernstein when we needed him to warn us about Commander “Mission Accomplished” Cod-piece?
Torture works really well to get the person to talk.
Unfortunately, what they say is anything that will stop the torture.
Ben I to have studied the Nuremberg trials. There are valuable lessons to be learned there. One thing I am struck with here is that we are fighting in a new world in a new way. The stakes are much higher because of the new technology and the ease of travel.
We then need to adapt to these changes. I have trouble stepping on a bug. I would rather just kick it off in the grass if it is coming for me. I don’t have a problem with protecting our democracy for my grandchildren and their children. It will take strength and not acquiessence to achieve this. This is a reality I have embraced.
ksgrm says,”The stakes are much higher because of the new technology and the ease of travel.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqax13oZ-ng&mode=related&search=
ksgrm,
On yesterdays thread, you claimed:”… because there are many scientists that say it is simply a climate change and not a man made happening.”
Since you believe them, would you please list their names.
Is their science peer-reviewed? Do observations and data support their theories?
Mr. al-Maliki seems very interested in retention of power, even if the new office set up allegedly for this purpose operates contrary to the interests of the U.S.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/05/01/iraq.office/index.html
The Cheney’s gross income for 2005 was $8,819,006.00. They donated $6,869,555.00 to charity.
What a devious, evil, disengenous man Cheney must be. Thankfully, he hasn’t fooled the Capt!
Hank
Cosmos I don’t have the time for the research today. I have to leave but one that comes to mind immediately is the prof. from MIT, that bastion of conservatism.
Hank, I don’t know why we conservatives can’t look at the real truth about our elected leaders. I know the libs did the year Al Gore’s tax return showed that he contributed $9, I think it was, to charity.
Try as we do we just can’t attract real men like Al to the GOP.
Thank Goodness!!
Cosmos likes scientists listed ksgrm, so he can build his “hit list” and discredit anything they’ve ever done in their lifetime.
Cosmos is a freelance character assassin. I wonder who pays him?
No one else would be that dogged in proving a point by discrediting others besides an insane person.
Are you insane Cosmos?
Al Capone ran soup kitchens and other charities for the poor in the 1930’s. That must make him a good guy right?
.morg,
We’ll never know for sure, he didn’t file with the IRS.
If you go by the liberal standards he was a good guy, all they got him on was a few tax technicalities!
Hank
So Hank; the Cheney’s donated 77% of their income to charity? Hmmm… Do most greedy, evil, money grabbing CEO types do that?
Of course, to conspiracy minded Dems this means that he is somehow getting paid illegally. Otherwise how could he afford to be able to give that much to charity? Because he is evil and greedy. Everyone knows that.
your right Hank, Al c. was ignorant in the tax dept. But it looks like our hero big dick c was a little more informed:
By exploiting a law that was meant for people to donate to Katrina relief, Cheney was able to net a $2,000,000 tax refund.
At least half, if not more if this refund was solely due to their exploiting of this law.
In order to do this, they had to write a personal check for over $2,000,000 at the end of 2005.
None of the donations were to any Katrina relief organizations.
The donations were from income related to Halliburton, which Cheney supposedly had no financial ties to.
In any other year, they still would have received a few hundred thousand in tax refunds from this “non-financial tie” to Halliburton, if they donated the proceeds to charity.
In each of the prior three years, their donations were never more than 4%-5% of their 2005 totals, the only year that this law applies to.
Once again, they flat out lie in their press release by obscuring the million or so that they personally benefited from this transaction.
The timing, while not illegal, is extremely self serving and shady, especially in light of the fact that they should not be benefiting financially from any ties to Halliburton.
Well, outlander, actually a lot of CEO’s do give a lot to charity! However, if you examine the tax returns of the dems running for the presidential nomination you’ll find them somewhat lacking in their ‘brotherly love’ as compared to the average consaervative politician.
Hank
And how dare black conservatives try to raise the futures of young black men and women. They should just back off and allow them to remain victims thinking someone else should pay for their upkeep. What a great way to keep them loyal to the ‘great father in DC’. Shame on you Clarence Thomas, Bill Cosby, Oprah Winfrey, etc..Posted by: ksgrm | May 01, 2007 at 11:21 AM
Sounds great coming from a 100 year old white woman. Black conservatives? Where? There is no such thing. I as a black man applaud Bill Cosby and Oprah for challenging black people to get off their a**es and do better. And no they should not be ashamed of themselves.
Come on .morg!
How incredibly dense and biased do you have to be to believe all that crap?
http://charitygovernance.blogs.com/charity_governance/2006/04/vicepresident_c.html
Cheny has always given a lot to charity. In past years it has been as low as 5% of his gross but that measly 5% in one year is signifigantly more than Gore’s lifetime of giving.
So, I guess that in your little world, paying 6.8 million dollars to get a 2 million dollar refund is prima facia evidense for an evil tax avoider?
Hank
HankPut down your Dick Cheney pom pons for a minute. Are you standing up for Cheney as a giver? Do you expect us to believe that this guy is Santa Claus? Trust me Dr. Evil is doing just fine financially. Very generous of him to give 6 mill of the 8 million he didnt work to earn. Come on…some of us actually have brains.
Republican,
“Cosmos likes scientists listed ksgrm, so he can build his “hit list” and discredit anything they’ve ever done in their lifetime.”
The credible, peer-reviewed scientists discredit them, not me.
Republican refuses to list the scientists(sic) that support his opinion, because he knows their theories do NOT withstand peer-reviewed scientific scrutiny, and are wrong.
Hank,I have donated to charity in the past. Drum roll please yes to avoid taxes yes it’s legal at least for me it was.
Remember these were funds from haliburton money that was not suppose to exist.
I mean really Hank what do these sleazy pukes you admire so much have to do to get you to at least raise an eyebrow.
Mike–
Are the people listed below not black? Or not conservative?
Ken Blackwell, former Secretary of State of Ohio, former Ohio gubernatorial candidateKeith Butler, minister, former Detroit councilman, former candidate for U.S. Senate from MichiganWallace Jefferson, chief justice of the Texas Supreme CourtAlveda King, niece of Dr. Martin Luther King, senior fellow at the Alexis de Tocqueville InstitutionRod Paige, former Secretary of EducationColin Powell, former United States Secretary of StateMichael Powell, former FCC chairmanCondoleezza Rice, United States Secretary of State, former National Security AdvisorJanice Rogers Brown, U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia CircuitWinsome Sears, former member of Virginia House of Delegates, former candidate for U.S. HouseMichael S. Steele, former Lieutenant Governor of Maryland, former candidate for U.S. Senate from MarylandThomas Stith, town councilman of Durham, NC, former candidate for Lt. Gov. of NCClarence Thomas, associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, former Equal Employment Opportunity Commission chairmanJ.C. Watts, former U.S. Representative from Oklahoma
Talk show hostsAlan Keyes, radio host, U.N. Ambassador, presidential candidate, authorJesse Lee Peterson, president of The Brotherhood Organization, television and radio hostArmstrong Williams, author of “Beyond blame”, TV host of On PointLarry Elder, author of “10 things you can’t say in America”, Radio show hostColumnistsLa Shawn Barber, columnist, bloggerStephen L. Carter, Christianity Today columnist, author of “The Culture of Disbelief”Ken Hamblin, Denver Post columnistDeroy Murdock, National Review columnistStar Parker, president of the Coalition on Urban Renewal and Education, columnist, authorThomas Sowell, Hoover Institute fellow, economist, author of “Basic economics”Walter E. Williams, economist, columnist, author of “More liberty means less government”Athletes and EntertainersT.D. JakesYaphet Kotto, actorKarl Malone, basketball player, two-time Olympic gold medalistJoseph C. Phillips, actor, commentatorLynn Swann, football player, Pennsylvania gubernatorial candidateJimmie Walker, actor, comedian[edit] OtherHerman Cain, President of Godfather’s PizzaWard Connerly, University of California regent, activist and businessmanEzola Foster, president of Americans for Family Values, author of “What’s right for all Americans”Robert A. George, journalist, pundit and blogger.Niger Innis, director of Congress of Racial Equality (CORE)Roy Innis, Hudson Institute fellow, chairman of the Congress of Racial EqualityT.D Jakes, televangelistDon King, boxing promoterMichael King, National Advisory Board Member of Project 21, former radio talk show hostJohn McWhorter, author of “Losing the race” and Senior Fellow at the Manhattan InstituteJames Meredith, former civil rights activistDeroy Murdock, Wall Street Journal Opinon Contributor, Cato Institute ScholarGerald A. Reynolds, president of the Center for New Black Leadership, member of Project 21Vernon Robinson, Air Force intelligence officer, business professorGeorge Schuyler, journalist, novelistShelby Steele, Hoover Institute fellow, author of “The content
How many black Congressmen or women and Senators are black?
Quite a little list there LJ. Its good that you list Don King, Karl Malone etc.. Very good examples of black GOPer’s involved in the community. Karl Malone said that he would not play a game that Magic Johnson was playing in, in fear of getting AIDS. Don King…..need I say more? And how many times did you say “former candidate”….plenty I counted.
And let’s not go into the talk show hosts/entertainers. We both know why they claim GOP. Different kind of show/Different kind of host. That whole marketing scheme.
Just name one current house or senate member that is a black republican. Just one. And Condie is off the list
Yeah! Good question, Clark.
How many elected Congress people are Republican?
Let me think . . . well, there’s . . . and there’s . . . that would make a grand total of . . .
ZERO.
Still waiting LJ. Just need one name. And I will shut up the rest of the day.
The answer is zero – there has not been a black Republican in Congress since J C Watts (R – Oklahoma) left in 2003. There has not been a black Republican Senator since Edward Brooke (R – Massachusetts) left office in 1979.
lmao! WASP Democrats using the Black race like a trophy to show how “good” they are.
Pathetic.
Huh? The response was in reference to LJ’s list.
Your response is pathetic.
HEY REPUBLICAN–
I challenged you to a bet after you claimed Barack Obama’s star is fading. 50 bucks says Obama will take the Democratic nomination.
Any guts behind the mouth?
If not, then please explain why you are a coward.
Thank you.
If you are so confident Capn, why not make it $5000.00? :)
No RepublicanWhats pathetic is your party trying to claim that they represent blacks at all. And last time I checked I was talking to KSGRM and Littlejohn. Who farted and asked for your opinion? Funny thing I heard over the weekend….29% of Americans support Bush. And 25% of Americans think Christ will return in 2007. Sounds like another “faith based initive”.
I understand that there are plenty of things that I do not always understand about the race issue. I try to treat people on how they act, not how they look. Do I always succeed? No. Do I look at things through the eyes of a middle aged white guy from the midwest? Sure. Are there people and places that people that look different or have a different heritage are unwelcome and oppressed? Sure,all over the whole damn planet. But, i do not understand statements like “there are no black conservatives” To me, that is just another racial statement. THe list above lists people that are at least African American, and claim to be conservative. Some are GOOD examples, some are not. There are GOOD liberal, and wacky liberals, Good conservatives and nutso conservatives. It doesn’t always HAVE to be about race,does it?
Well, I’m not that confident.
He could have a heart attack, heaven forbid.
Take it or leave it, chump.
What’s it going to be?
Bwaak bwaak bwa-aak bwaakkaak
That’s how Republican says, “I don’t even believe what I say.”
Bwaak bwaak bwa-aak bwaakkaak
That’s how Republican says, “I don’t even believe what I say.”
When a black Republican is nominated and runs for office, he is attacked with a vengance by the Democrats. Witness the Maryland Senate campaign of Michael Steele last year.
The Democrats really can’t afford to let a black Republican win. The idea that they don’t really need the Democrat party might catch on in the black community. Why does a race belong to political party?
You are right, there are no current house or senate members that are black and republican. That is another statement altogether than the your original.I think that by and large, the Democrat party has reached out to the Afican American community with words, but not deeds. Perhaps the Republican party has done neither.
Outlander-WHile I understand your thoughts, I think regardless of race, a Democrat will attack the Republican candidate, and a Republican candidate will attack a Democrat one.
Littlejohn,
There are all kinds of people who like to argue for argument’s sake. They’re the same people who love to play the race card, on *both* sides. The Lacrosse and Imus controversies come to mind as very recent examples.
The arguers for the sake of arguing don’t care about being reasonable. They care only about making debating points. What they really do is just end up looking silly.
There are plenty of people on this blog who get their jollies by baiting and bashing the “other side.” I think one of last night’s thread’s is a good example. You were being ironic and sarcastic, and some who consider themselves “liberal” were intentionally taking your statements out of context. There’s no shortage of that kind of behavior on the so-called “conservative” side, either. Just watch the daily dog-pile on Cosmos.
There are some here who are honest about their beliefs and the positions they take on the issues posted here. Those are the people I like to talk to, even when I disagree with them. The rest can go to hell :)
And the Republicans don’t attack black Democrats running for office?
“Harold, call me!”
OK, children, we’re getting a little off point now.
If I remember correctly conservatives were being disparaged for believing that Cheney would give some money to carity as promised.
I was merely pointing out that he had a history of giving to charity.
Now, because of the many lies and half truths about Haliburton you libs think that all you have t do to win an argument is scream ‘Haliburton! Haliburton!’ and you some how make yor point.
Haliburton is another topic. If we apply the lib legal standards to Haliburton, what have they been convicted of? Name one company in the world that can submit a bid against them.
What laws have they broken?
Hank
Name one company in the world that can submit a bid against them. [Halliburton]Posted by: Hank Price | May 01, 2007 at 03:42 PM
I’d love to. The problem is, the Feds aren’t accepting bids against Halliburton; it’s mostly being done on no-bid contracts.
—There are some here who are honest about their beliefs and the positions they take on the issues posted here. Those are the people I like to talk to, even when I disagree with them. The rest can go to hell :)
Posted by: Tom | May 01, 2007 at 03:38 PM
And on that, we agree.
I do have to say, LJ, that you are much more reasonable about stating your opinions than most.
It is my gut feeling that the leaders of both houses (political parties) have used their many resources available to divide and conquer the people they serve—The citizens of the United States. The only way we can take it back is by talking to each other, not at each other. I think we can and will have differences,as we are all individuals. With reasonable discussion, and give and take, we can be one people, even if we disagree.I am not always good at this, but I am trying to be an agent of change, not an agent of either party of the status quo.
man, as i read what I just wrote, I think what the crap is all that?
I just think that being reasonable is far more productive than screaming and pointing fingers
Since this is too long for the Opinion Line, I’ll have to post this here. Sorry about this being off-topic, but this thread seems much more civilized than the mud-slinging Opinion Line……
With all of the cynicism, racism, skepticism, pessimism, hypocrisy, poor grammar and probably many other “isms” on the Opinion Line, I can’t believe that anyone would still want to live here anymore! Anyone outside the city of Wichita who reads this must think we lead angry, hate-filled, and complaint-filled lives. As a young resident of Wichita, I am appalled at how base and impolite my fellow Wichitans have become. Stop throwing mud, pointing fingers and placing blame. Suck it up and make an effort to make Wichita a better place!
Republican,
“More multi million dollar contracts for so-called Global Warming Scientist’s pockets.”http://blogs.kansas.com/weblog/2007/04/open_thread_29.html#comment-68118192
You’re discrediting the over 600 scientists who wrote IPCC’s WG1 report. And also the expert reviewers.http://ipcc-wg1.ucar.edu/wg1/wg1-report.html
Such as the authors from MIT,FOREST, ChrisMALANOTTE-RIZZOLI, PaolaPRINN, RonaldRIZZOLI, PaolaSOKOLOV, Andrei
And expert reviewers from MIT,EMANUEL, Kerry A.STONE, PeterWAITZ, Ian
And you call ME a “character assassin”?
Is your “so-called” label for all of those scientists based on your personal, scientific opinion?
LJI was responding to a post upthread by KSGRM. I appreciate your list and have made enough money in the last few years that the GOP’s tax cuts benefit me. However, I don’t care how much money I make I cannot and will not support a party that does not represent me.
Blacks have been used by BOTH parties as a tool for their respective beliefs. The call for Imus’ firing for his statements concerning the female basketball team, and how it was brought about, shows racism is still alive and well in BOTH parties.
I long for the day when any candidate can run for office, be they black or any other race, and the only thing brought up is: what do they stand for? I think that day is a long way off.
As long as there are Imus’s, Sharpton’s, Jackson’s, Hillary’s, and the like, that will not happen. As long as the press presses the issue in a cowerdly way to sell news, it will not happen. As long as the gangsta rappers persist in using the “n” word, it will not happen.
Words do mean something, and there are too many people out there sitting in righteous indignation, with agendas of there own, who will not allow it to happen.
Racism is alive and, sadly, well in America.
Mike-I understand. And actually, i agree that you should not support those whom you feel do not represent you.
Who the hell cares that Bernstein is writing a book about Senator Clinton. Why didn’t he write a book about Governor Bush when he announced his run for the Presidency?
I love how everyone whines about the ‘liberal media’ when we have things like this. They treat Bush with kid gloves while they target the Clintons.
Not all science is bad :-)
“Scientists are developing a pill which could boost women’s libido and reduce their appetite. The hormone-releasing pill has so far only been given to female monkeys and shrews who displayed more mating behaviour and ate less.”–BBC, April 30″
Married men everywhere are clamoring for acceleterated development
Sorry, this just struck my funnybone. Why in the heck is someone actually spending money on this? Still funny to me.
I am with you LJ. Give me my bottle. The wife is going out to eat again with her girlfriends…..lol
female monkeys – Just as long as they don’t get that estrus skin hanging down from their backsides…
Does it work on middle aged, overweight gay men?
here’s the other big oil field services company.I don’t think big dick has his hand in this till.
HOUSTON, April 20, 2007 – Schlumberger Limited (NYSE:SLB) today reported first-quarter operating revenue of $5.46 billion versus $5.35 billion in the fourth quarter of 2006, and $4.24 billion in the first quarter of 2006.
Net income reached $1.18 billion-an increase of 4% sequentially and 63% year-on-year. Diluted earnings-per-share were $0.96 versus $0.92 in the previous quarter, and $0.59 in the first quarter of 2006.
Oilfield Services revenue of $4.76 billion increased 3% sequentially and 28% year-on-year. Pretax business segment operating income of $1.41 billion increased 6% sequentially and 47% year-on-year.
WesternGeco revenue of $706 million decreased 2% sequentially but increased 33% year-on-year. Pretax business segment operating income of $266 million increased 2% sequentially and 79% year-on-year.
Mike sorry I was gone when you took the opportunity to attack me. I am a white female, the 100 years is a little to old for me. I am probably a bigger fan for black youth to succeed than you are by the way you talk. Don’t ask me when I last had a black guest in my house because you would lose. Your attitude is a bigger detriment to your race than anything a Repub could do. The demo party has enslaved the black race, yes I used that word, by keeping their allegiance and giving nothing back in return.
Until people like you wake up and demand something back for the blind allegiance you give, your race will lag behind and many good people will not be able to crawl out of the quagmire they are stuck in. Call me anything you want but don’t accuse me of not caring because I do very much. Many members of my own family will continue to suffer if this doesn’t change.
I read outlander’s FactCheck link. That’s a very credible source (run by the Annenburg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania).
The report says that Cheney created an irrevocable trust that will give his stock option profits to the University of Wyoming, George Washington University, and an education-advocacy group. FactCheck provides a link that is supposed to show a reprint of the original trust document, but clicking the link (at least on my computer) shows, “the system cannot find the file specified”.
A caveat is that private legal documents’ veracity cannot be independently verified.
But let’s assume the trust is genuine. What would this imply? One, it’s highly doubtful that this bequeathment represents Cheney’s giving away his entire fortune, present or future, or anything close to it. How much money did he make between 1995 and 1999? If he received large stock-bloc grants, he could have sold them and invested the money in real estate or non-dividend-paying stocks, or for that matter gold ingots, which would not generate a reportable income so long as they were not sold. Same for 7-8 figure cash performance bonuses.
Normally, people deduct property tax payments on their individual/husband-and-wife 1040’s. But if the property is in a real estate trust that pays all maintenance costs, including taxes, the trust files a tax return, and if it’s offshore, there may be no U.S. filings of any nature for it. So your ownership of substantial valuable assets can be invisible on your 1040. And this is not illegal.
After leaving the Bush I administration, Cheney could have headed a university or charitable foundation, but he chose business. The oil business can’t adhere to the niceties of absolute ethics. If an oil company wants to drill and transport oil in a Third World country, it may be unavoidably necessary to bribe tribal or other regional leaders to get contracts, as well as protect assets. If a local sheik does a sheikdown, alerting a company that its pumping and piping assets are at risk of destruction by unfriendly elements, and if he offers protection, which will cost him to enlist able-bodied guardians (and maybe he needs weapons too, to protect your facilities), what are the company’s options? Cooperate and make money in this dangerous place, or go home.
If the sheik or other clan, tribal, ethnic leader actually provides security from other parties, paying for the security is totally legal. If, on the other hand, the leader and his followers constitute the potential destruction-wreakers, and once they are paid, no security force is employed, this would be a bribe. Not legal under federal statute.
But the rub is, America needs foreign-source energy, so strict law enforcement would be counterproductive. This being said, publicly-traded companies can’t list “bribes” as expenses on their tax returns and SEC reports. So subterfuge is necessary.
Bottom line: if a person is comfortable working in a milieu that relies on the art of illusion, it probably isn’t conscience-wrenching to apply the principle to his own personal interests’ advancement. As in, for instance, “I’ve done this to make my company competitive–if we didn’t do it the French, British, German, Dutch companies would–and it is in my country’s interest. I deserve commensurate compensation for my strategically vital work on behalf of my company, its shareholders, and the American people.”
I’m not adducing a proof. I’m just pointing out that the oil business attracts fortune seekers (see Daniel Yergen’s “The Prize”; also see former Exxon Mobil CEO Lee Raymond’s $400 million sendoff). For someone in a leadership position in this fortune-seeking industry to forgo a personal fortune-making opportunity would be a quite unusual event.
We have the fact that Halliburton’s KBR division got several BILLION dollars of NO-BID contracts in Iraq. Halliburton got a sweetheart deal, not having to submit bids against other capable contractors. Doesn’t somebody in the decisionmaking/influence chain deserve a reward for this?
Bottom line: I just wouldn’t be surprised if Cheney retires to a big cattle ranch located in a nicer part of the country than Bush’s dinky Waco homestead.
Another story has come out today with chickens being fed tainted Chinese guten. This is following stories about tainted pet food and tainted pork. Wouldn’t it be nice if America could place an embargo on such tainted food?
Problem is that is illegal. The American government can not take measures to protect the health of Americans because it violates international trade policies as determined by the WTO (if they came through Mexico or Canada that would violate NAFTA rules).
So people, while Republicans and corporate owned Democrats are in charge watch what you eat.
Mike,
It’s too bad you didn’t share in my political upbringing. I’m black, but my mother has always been Republican, Catholic, hates abortion and gambling.
Did vote for the downtown arena!
My father has been lifetime Democrat, straight ticket.
He’s not Catholic.
I think he supports Pro Choice, even though he created 6 boys.
He’ll vote for the gambling too!
He voted no on the downtown arena!
Political balance is important in families. Let adults who had their past, keep those values.
My mother’s politics are from her father’s time. He was Republican when Democrats were arguing for “states rights”. Political racism and denial of rights, loud and proud Democrats.
When Civil Rights were being fought for, it wasn’t political, they were human rights desired. Political bastards created seperate laws based on race and not good for anybody.
Both political parties stink today! Don’t value either one over the other.
People have to choose the best political person that represents some of their values.
Forget giving either party the key preference.
Racist Democrats became Republicans. Racist Dems still exist in the party. Times change, so do alliances.
I’m hoping for a cross party government in the White House someday. Cross party candidates somehow.
If Obama doesn’t win the Dem nomination, he should still try to run as an independent. Hillary could do the same thing if she doesn’t win.
Someday a White House staff will be made up with both party individuals. The best people chosen from either party, not just glorying values of one party over the other.
Congress can stay one party majority. We should never again have a one party complete government. Too much rubber stamping happens. We all saw that.
Doug – I think you are incorrect. We CAN set STANDARDS for food and other products. The key is that they must be reasonable and consistently applied. In the case of food adulterants that should not be a problem.
Castro’s friend Hugo Chavez decided to celebrate May Day by nationalizing Venezuela’s Orinoco Basin oil fields.
Exxon Mobil, Chevron, and BP are not happy campers, but they’ve agreed to hand over control. They’ll still be around, albeit as junior partners. They realize it’s “just business”.
Communist China is probably not displeased with this development.
Interesting Mark,
Name one international company that can bid against Haliburton.
There is no company that has their ability to fulfill the contracts in Iraq. Not one.
If Haliburton is so corupt, why don’t the dems start investigating them?
Hank
That was me,
Hank
sclumberger can bid againest haliburton
INVESTIGATIONSuse the google, halliburton investigations
Nigeria bribery probe: The U.S. Department of Justice is conducting a criminal investigation into an alleged $180 million bribe paid by Halliburton and three other companies to the government of Nigeria. The alleged bribe was paid in exchange for awarding a contract to the companies to build a $4 billion natural gas plant in Nigeria’s southern delta region. The bribes were paid during the time when Dick Cheney was CEO of Halliburton. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission opened its own formal investigation on June 11, 2004. Click here for a chronology of events in the bribery case.
Nigeria bribery probe: The French government is conducting an investigation of the same Nigeria bribery allegations as the U.S. Justice Department. France is also investigating a former Halliburton executive for his role in the scheme. Investigators said $5 million of the bribes intended for Nigeria was deposited into the Swiss bank account of former KBR chairman, Jack Stanley, who retired from the company on December 31, 2003.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is investigating a second bribery case involving Nigeria. Halliburton admitted that its employees paid a $2.4 million bribe to a government official of Nigeria for the purpose of receiving favorable tax treatment.
The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating allegations that the Army Corp of Engineers illegally favored Halliburton for contracts by excluding competitors from bidding on war-related work. In particular, the FBI is investigating the Army’s $7 billion firefighting contract for Iraqi oil wells, which was awarded to Halliburton without competition in March of 2003. An Army whistleblower told the FBI that the line between government officials and Halliburton had become so blurred that a perception of conflict of interest existed. The conduct appears to have violated specific regulations and calls into question the independence of the contracting process.—–
Nigeria – my favorite country. Seems people die there every day and leave me millions of dollars!
Republican,
“Cosmos is a freelance character assassin. I wonder who pays him?”
I’m not a “character assassin”, and no one pays me.I just strongly believe that the future of Earth is VERY important, and it’s wrong to spread lies about human-caused climate change.
Who pays YOU to insist that the peer-reviewed scientists are wrong — and insist that inaccurate op-eds, and unsupportable theories are correct?
Or do you do it for free, because you HATE the U.N., and carbon taxes?
Science is based on data and theories, not hatred.
People who refuse to see the confusion, doubt, etc. caused by fossil-energy and right-wing media since the late 1980’s are very foolish. Or insane.
http://www.ucsusa.org/global_warming/science/skeptic-organizations.html
People who refuse to see the confusion, doubt, etc. caused by fossil-energy and right-wing media since the late 1980’s are very foolish. Or insane.Posted by: cosmos | May 01, 2007 at 09:00 PM
See I was right…character assassin. :)
Cosmos,
Drop the polar bear/greenhouse thread already, it’s over. Or are you one to hold a grudge forever?
(appears to be a liberal identifier-grudgeholding)
If you can’t switch gears and move on to the topic at hand then we have nothing further to discuss.
Posted by: StillJM | January 03, 2007 at 12:41 AM
And isn’t it interesting how similar that post is to this one?
“Remember Cosmos, we are done discussing GW.
Posted by: Republican | April 25, 2007 at 07:47 PM”
You can’t take Capn seriously, he won’t even do a serious bet. Guess that’s what you get with an empty pallet fluff bunny.
When the Eagle was giving us a semi-weekly Open Thread several months ago, I proposed a DAILY Open Thread. Not because I was partisan, but because it was statistically obvious to me that Open Thread was the most popular thread, and it got too long for people to follow.
It may be in order now to ask the editors to create a twice-daily Open Thread. I’m not sure about this idea, but if you think it’s a good idea, or not worthwhile send emails to Phil and Randy to give them guidance.
Mark,
One thread-full of name calling each day is plenty. Exhibit A: The last post immediately preceding yours.
I don’t have 5,000 dollars to throw around on bets as you well know JM-Eier-Republican.
Who do you think I am, DICK CHENEY?
However if you grow a pair, my 50 dollar bet offer still stands.
Chickensh*t.
Bwaak bwak buk buk BWAKK.
…or that last one, too.
Republican,
“You can’t take Capn seriously, he won’t even do a serious bet. Guess that’s what you get with an empty pallet fluff bunny.”
Republican, why don’t you give Capn 50 to 1 odds in his favor?If Capn loses, he pays you $50. If Capn wins, you pay him $2,500.
A few years ago, someone said that there was about a 50% chance of something happening, and wanted to bet on it.
But he also wanted 50 to 1 odds in HIS favor.
He’s a real “empty pallet fluff bunny”… Republican’s hero, MIT’s Lindzen.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20070413/sc_livescience/gamblingonglobalwarminggoesmainstream“Richard Lindzen’s words say that there is about a 50 percent chance of [global] cooling,” Annan wrote about the bet. “His wallet thinks it is a 2 percent shot. Which do you believe?” “