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
- American_Way on Open thread 11/22
- American_Way on Health care reform would save state money
- satatom on Open thread 11/22
- satatom on Open thread 11/22
- cosmos_originally on Open thread 11/22
- American_Way on Open thread 11/22
- cosmos_originally on Open thread 11/22
- Raptor on Open thread 11/22
- cosmos_originally on Open thread 11/22
- Boxlock20 on Open thread 11/22
154 Comments
Update: Mountain Man’s been moved out of ICU to a regular room. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, don’t worry about it!
We now return you to your regularly scheduled program!
NOW THAT ANOTHER WHITE ELEPHANT 1/2 BILLION DOLLAR DOWNTOWN ICE HOCKEY ARENA SUPPORTER, CITY MANAGER GEORGE KOLB, HAS ANNOUNCED HE IS LEAVING WICHITA … its HIGH-TIME that Wichita’s form of city government be changed before hiring a new city manager.
As is often said, there can be two problems with local government organizations: the people who staff the organization and/or the organization itself. In the City of Wichita’s case, I believe the form of “strong” city manager government particularly combined with an imported out-of-town city manager is a fatal combination.
City Council should now appoint a local caretaker city manager in the position. But council should avoid appointing a current assistant manager who would presumably continue the same objectionable practices of Kolb.
Wichita’s city manager/city council form of government that in many respects dates back to its installation, I believe, of Bert Wells in the mid-1920’s, places way too much power in the hands of the appointed out-of-town city manager. It allows him to veto the mayor and city council’s wishes without consulting them.
The mayor for example must go hat-in-hand to the city manager to request to hire even a secretary. Incredibly, the mayor who is held responsible by the public can’t hire a single employee without approval of the out-of-town city manager and his staff.
Wrong, wrong, wrong … particularly in Wichita where the people are struggling to be heard but can’t get through the iron-wall to the real decision maker … the city manager.
Have you ever visited the Wichita city manager’s office. It is located on the top floor of the downtown city hall … a full floor surrounded by windows, a truly king-like place that gives a false image that “here is where the big decisions are made.” But this out-of-town city manager from the east had no inkling of what the citizens of Wichita really wanted. You can’t detect that by looking through those windows.
And now while Wichita is in the mood, County Manager Buchanen should hit the road also, along with Kolb. Perhaps they could hire the same moving company. And the top county political level should be reorganized and expanded to give taxpayers/citizens access there also. The three holdover county commissioners, Unruh, Norton and Winters, should voluntarily leave also along with their County Manager.
WICHITA AND SEDGWICK COUNTY DESERVE MORE, A LOT MORE, WHEN IT COMES TO POLITICAL REPRESENTATION.
“LOUIE, perhaps this will be the beginning of a beautiful friendship” between the people of Wichita/Sedgwick County and their local government organizations.
I agree JWink — time for somebody local to be City Manager… I have never known a time in my life here in Wichita, when we didnt have a City Manager/Commission(Council) form of City government… It has only been in recent years that the Mayor was elected by the People… Prior to that, the Mayor was elected from amongst the Commissioners… There have been rocky times in years past, but NOTHING like I have seen in recent years!!
Out of towner City Managers have no shared interests in the Community, and no knowledge of the heritage and history of our fair City… and no real stake in the future of Wichita, other than to make a good paycheck!!
Bring on a LOCAL City Manager… somebody with some history and heritage in this place we all call home!!
Support Fran Drescher for city manager
Whatever!
New City Manager will do what,nothing. That’s what rejectors want here.
What’s a local find, City Manager supposed to do? Nothing more?
Win that Bowling Tourney. Whee!
Fixing Century II, more expensive than the Arena. Get to that someday.
There was a development plan worth Hundreds of Millions in the Casino vote, nope. Not in Wichita, nor in Sedgwick County.
City property could have been sold. County property sold.
No-no’s want to keep those things on the tax rolls.
Didn’t let those Casino developers clamoring to be in Sumner County, use their Resort imagination and money right here.
That wasn’t Kolb’s fault. Civic idiots won that day and look at them celebrate him leaving.
Kolb left not understanding the Wingnuts name. I don’t either.
I still don’t understand the one Epic Tower and 1/4 of that plan left unfinished. Boathouse, with no dock and didn’t rent boats, cherished.
Corps that are letting a smaller Arena almost be constructed,where events will pass by because it has too few seats.
It’s great to have the new Arena, but needs a little more capacity and 18,000 seats for basketball.
I dislike people who claim they will never go in. They don’t want to civic participate yet deny projects in their votes.
I have to do business with the City Council soon but I’ll never make friends with those people.
I’ve made nice with some on the City planning and zoning, that’s enough to talk with informally.
It’s all formalities with the City Council and that’s a shame.
We should have been working together figuring how to use Casino development money and where the best place to put in Sedgwick County.
People don’t want things in this City yet live here.
This is a community that wants to revote, recall, do over decisions that lead to civic stagnation and nothing being accomplished as it should have been.
Collateral Damage Print Mail
By Anne Applebaum
Posted: Tuesday, November 20, 2007
ARTICLES
Washington Post
Publication Date: November 20, 2007
Adjunct FellowAnne Applebaum
Casualties are definitely down. Other places suddenly seem to need more urgent attention. News coverage is shrinking, as is public interest. All of which may help explain the breath of optimism one can now detect in Washington, and even in other places, about the war in Iraq. “It will all come right in the end; wait and see” is an expression I’ve heard more than once. Other versions of this include: “The surge is working” and “Why doesn’t the mainstream media tell the truth about our successes in Iraq?”
Though I don’t especially want to perpetuate any stereotypes about the mainstream media, I have to say that this optimism is totally unwarranted. Not because things aren’t improving in Iraq–it seems they are, at least for the moment–but because the collateral damage inflicted by the war on America’s relationships with the rest of the world is a lot deeper and broader than most Americans have realized. It isn’t just that the Iraq war invigorated the anti-Americanism that has always been latent pretty much everywhere. What’s worse is the fact that–however it all comes out in the end, however successful Iraqi democracy is a decade from now–our conduct of the war has disillusioned our natural friends and supporters and thrown a lasting shadow over our military and political competence. However it all comes out, the price we’ve paid is too high.
Though there are many examples of how this disillusionment has manifested itself–my colleague Fareed Zakaria has written repeatedly of how an America distracted by Iraq has steadily lost influence in Asia, for example–one of the most disturbing is unfolding as Europe prepares for another round of meetings with Iran’s nuclear negotiators. For those who’ve forgotten (and this, too, has dropped out of the news), it is not the United States but Britain, France and Germany that are trying to persuade the Islamic Republic to abandon plans to enrich its uranium and to accept assistance in building a civilian nuclear energy program instead.
What’s worse is the fact that–however it all comes out in the end, however successful Iraqi democracy is a decade from now–our conduct of the war has disillusioned our natural friends and supporters and thrown a lasting shadow over our military and political competence.From the start, however, all negotiations between Iran and the “EU-3,” as the group is known in diplomacy-speak, have been haunted by Iraq. Certainly no expert committee in existence could convince Europeans (or anyone else) that Iran really does have nuclear weapons or even that Iran intends to build them. So fresh are the memories of American claims about the extent of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, and so vast, therefore, is the skepticism about any assessments of anybody’s nuclear program, that even a report bearing any United Nations or European Union label would fail to convince, even if Iranian nukes were on display in downtown Tehran. All analysis coming out of the United States is, of course, automatically discounted.
Since no one takes analysis seriously, it’s hardly surprising that no one takes the possibility of a nuclear Iran too seriously either. There is no enthusiasm for sanctions, though they will probably be tried and will probably fail: Why would anyone ditch a lucrative trading partner because of some missiles they don’t believe in? As for the “military option,” the surest way to sell newspapers in Europe, at the moment, is to print an article hinting that the United States is about to bomb Iranian nuclear facilities. The very suggestion causes outrage, not because of rampant pacifism–”Americans are from Mars and Europeans are from Venus”–but because most commentators (and, off the record, most diplomats) believe it would fail. Either it would “fortify Iran’s nuclear hawks,” or it would kill thousands of civilians while leaving the Iranian nuclear program largely intact, or Iran would strike back in Iraq–or all of the above. Should the Bush administration try it anyway (”one last display of fireworks,” as a British friend of mine put it) international support would be minimal, fury maximal, diplomatic consequences appalling. Even European politicians who wanted to show support would be cowed by the antipathy of their voters. Thanks to Iraq.
What, then, are we left with? Fingers crossed, that those who say Iran’s nuclear bomb is years away are right. Fingers crossed, that maybe Iran really does just want a civilian nuclear program. Fingers crossed, that if Iran gets nukes, its government will behave responsibly. Fingers crossed, that all of the other crises whose resolution has been hampered or damaged by Iraq–Pakistan, Afghanistan, the broader Middle East–will somehow solve themselves, too. Fingers crossed, that it will all come out right in the end, after a decade or two. Just like Iraq.—–
I guess I forgot to mention that Mike Hayden is part of the axis of evil in Kansas when it comes to water? He helped Joe Harkins stack and steer the water policy in Kansas to send water from Cedar Bluff to Hays, when OTHER options and BETTER options were available. I wonder if this sudden conversion on his part, this little “come to Jesus” move by Mike on water is part of the push the governor and her merry band of water suckers will make to purchase the Circle K Ranch and bail Hays and Russell out of one of their DUMBEST water decisions ever?
You heard it here first about how Hayden, Harkins, Allegrucci and John Bird gang raped Cedar Bluff and NOW they will get their payoff when the state, with your tax dollars, purchases the Circle K albatross. Stay tuned….
http://www.midwestcoop.net/index.aspx?ascxid=fpQfStory&fpsid=31044&fpstid=2
Edited Repost here. Joe Harkins is the one who goes in FIRST when governor “leadership” has some dirty deal she wants to do behind closed doors. He “softens things up” so the rest of the storm troopers can subdue the opposition and steam roll the pre-cut deal.
He did it on water, he did it on ethanol, and now he’s done it on wind. If all these sebelius decisions and policies are so good, WHY do they have to be done secretly and under the table?
I said it before. Water as political capital.
Anyway, here’s the edited repost.
OMFG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
If you havent read this, you should.
http://www.kansas.com/news/story/238832.html
Hear me now and believe me later. I’ve been blogging about this for over a year, only to be dismissed as a conspiracy theorist and sebelius hater.
Well, OK, I am both of those things. However….
Mark my words, ALL EVIL IN KANSAS HAS JOE HARKINS AT THE BOTTOM OF IT ALL!!!!!!!
It is no coincidence that Joe was sent to the Kansas Water Office as “interim” director when Clark Duffy was so unjustly and unceremoniously fired. He set things “right” according to the seblius supporters there, and then moved on.
Where? To the Kansas Rural Life thing. And if you look at it, a number of appointments to that group are HIS and his alone. Water cronies. And now? In retrospect, there were lots of folks he had appointed that somehow have WIND FARMS in their particular counties. And compare his appointments to the places where ethanol plants, and the accompanying big corn irrigators, are located. See any similarities?
After Harkins totally dominated and controlled the rural life thing, where did sebelius send her own Darth Cheney?
You got it. To the newly formed Kansas “Energy” Council. Directed by non other than governor leadership’s favorite republican, Mark Parkinson. Joe Harkins was the “head staff” for that group.
And when dealing with Joe, what that means is that Parkinson worked for Harkins, not the other way around. I’m not kidding you one damn bit.
Look at the KEC and what they have all said and done. Ethanol plants all over, a nice hat tip to big corn and big irrigation. And who secured the water wasting rights for big corn and big irrigation?
Joe Harkins during his reign at the Kansas Water Office. He was an “interim” director who was somehow NEVER confirmed by the Kansas legislature. I guess sebelius took a play from the bushco book on THAT sneaky appointment. Maybe she didnt want too much scrutiny about why Clark Duffy was fired and about Harkin’s shady dealings?
And the KEC also, in addition to touting the water wasting ethanol industry… ALSO TOUTED WIND. And Harkins smoothed the way to steam roll communities who didnt want wind farms, but somehow, got them anyway. And put the farms in counties where, well, you know the rest.
I thought something smelled like week old fish when Harkins finished his dirty work at the Kansas Energy Council and then moved over to become a god damn MEMBER of the Kansas Corporation Commission.
You know, the one that sets utility rates? It stunk then and it ESPECIALLY stinks now that this story has surfaced.
http://www.kansas.com/news/story/238832.html
Yeah. I posted the link twice. You might have dimissed it earlier, but read it now.
ALL EVIL IN KANSAS HAS JOE HARKINS AT THE BOTTOM OF IT ALL!!!!!!!!!!
I dont give a rat’s ass if he recuses himself now. You can rest assured it is all a done deal, he has “softened up” the folks who needed softening, and he has THUGGED the ones who resisted.
Stink stink stink stink STINK!!!
I’ve said here before that you can track governor leadership’s next dirty and underhanded deeds and payoffs by watching Joe Harkins and his movements.
And I’ll be god damned if I wasnt right!
I can assure you, I wish I had been wrong…
Come to think of it, maybe Harkins isnt sebelius’ Darth Cheney.
He’s her Howard Hunt. Her Watergate Plumber. Except he seals the leaks and clears the money pipes BEFORE they become a problem.
I hope there is at least ONE journalist in Kansas who is willing to look at the WHOLE of the Harkins-Allegrucci-Sebelius axis of evil when it comes to the rape of Kansas.
But in all likely hood, no one will do more than make funny video out of it.
Kansas…as corrupt and STUPID as you think!
farmgrrl, This morning’s newspaper had an article about Ted Turner buying lots of land in several states including Kansas. Although I try to “keep up,” this was the first I heard on this subject.
Maybe the wealthy man just wants to own a lot of land. There were a few conspiracy theories printed in the article and there are probably many more floating about. The one that interested me is those who wonder if Turner is trying “to corner the land over the Ogallala Aquifer, the world’s largest underground water system, to gain power in the water-starved West.”
As you’ve pointed out many times (while we’ve ignored your warnings) humans won’t make it without water and food. So, does this wealthy man know what you’ve been trying to tell us and our apathy has allowed him to gain control of a precious resource.
Or does he just want to own a lot of land or any other many reasons for his purchases?
What do you think?
Here’s the article in today’s paper:
http://www.kansas.com/news/nation_world/story/240884.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5o-LVefOxE
Olbermann, Professor Turley on “state secrets” and the law:
Constitutional law scholar Professor Jonathan Turley: “THEY DON’T WANT A COURT TO SAY THAT THE PRESIDENT DID SOMETHING THAT IS A FEDERAL CRIME….THE (STATE SECRETS) PRIVILEGE IS NOW A TOOL USED TO PROTECT THE GOVERNMENT FROM ITS OWN CRIMES.”
******
I saw this on Keith O last night, and now some one has posted it to YouTube.
He’s exactly right–BushCo is using the “state secrets” excuse to hide its criminal wrongdoing.
I give the Eagle this, they try for contrast.
They’ve got the genius of Crowson and the sophomoric pap of Castillo. Today’s opinion page provides a stellar example.
So if this is a tool used by many in power doesn’t that make Turley’s and Olbermann’s words even more true — THE PEOPLE need to be sure this tool is taken away and laws are enforced.
More Paranoia from Max:
No reason to be pro-active in dealing with terrorist attacks though. Let’s do nothing until we are attacked again.
Hillary will protect us – AFTER the next attack.
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5ipT935CMr_ThHo38V3KPPguIE8wwD8T7D5PG1
Uranium Could Have Made Dirty BombBy KAREL JANICEK and WILLIAM J. KOLE – 52 minutes ago
BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP) — Two Hungarians and a Ukrainian arrested in an attempted sale of uranium were peddling material believed to be from the former Soviet Union, and it was enriched enough to be used in a radiological “dirty bomb,” police said Thursday.
The three, who were arrested Wednesday in eastern Slovakia and Hungary, were trying to sell about a pound of uranium in powder form, said First Police Vice President Michal Kopcik.
“It was possible to use it in various ways for terrorist attacks,” Kopcik said.
If you think you can police the world, good luck. It’s only a matter fo time before we get attacked again..and there isn’t a whole lot we can do. Homeland security is a joke..if someone wants to do us harm, they’ll find a way to do it.The best course of action would be to change our foreign policies so that we don’t have so many bent on destroying us. Bush has set us back lightyears when it comes to being respected in the world view.
Don’t worry Pat. Mary says there is nothing we can do to stop it anyway.
It’s fate.
We WILL be attacked again.
Nothing we can do about it.
Don’t worry, be happy. Hillary is here to save the DAy!
Let’s not make our enemies mad at us, so as to invite them to attack us.
Let’s just surrender now.
Pat, if we would have free HillaryCare!, then any injuries from a terrorist attack would be treated for free!
It’s too late, Max…the damage is done. If we can’t even keep the Mexicans out..how in the world are we going to seriously stop some crazy terrorist? Things will never be the same in this country..and we will have to deal with the damage caused by this administration for the rest of our lives. The whole war on terror has been seriously mismanaged by people who had other agendas.
“Don’t worry, be happy.”Cheek and Chong, right?
You can’t even get your pop culture facts right, Pat.
Mary, I have thought the same thing since 9/11. It’s not if we are going to be attacked it’s when and where and by whom.Max, what is your plan to prevent another attack, inquiring minds want to know.
Here’s a little song I wroteYou might want to sing it note for noteDon’t Worry — Be HappyIn every life we have some troubleBut when you worry you make it DoubleDon’t Worry — Be HappyAin’t got no place to lay your head,somebody came and took your bedDon’t Worry, Be HappyThe landlord say your rent is late,he may have to litigateDon’t Worry — Be HappyAin’t got not cash, ain’t got no style,ain’t got no gal to make you smileDon’t Worry — Be HappyCause when you worry your face will frownand that will bring everybody downDon’t Worry — Be Happy
© ProbNoblem Music (BMI)
Bobby McFerrin 1988
In my own experience, traveling out of the country and back quite often..it’s a mess. It would be so easy for someone to smuggle anything onto a foreign airline and bring it here..even in Mexico it seems the customs agents couldn’t care less about the safety of Americans…they barely, if at all, check my carry ons.
It’s so typical that Americans have this inflated sense of self importance..other countries I travel to resent our arrogance and don’t give a rip what happens to us.
Freebird, just do nothing.
Edwards said the war on terrorism is just a bumper sticker slogan.
Don’t worry about it.
Pearl Harbor.9/11.
We’ll get over the next attack. Or most of us will.
Crap, a pipeline explosion in MN yesterday drove our markets into a panic for a day, but if anything really serious happens, I’m sure we will be ok.
Mary doesn’t give a rip what happens to us either.
Why should anybody care?
The US deserves to be attacked anyway.
Hey, let’s blow ourselves up.
Never mind, that already happened in Oklahoma.
So I don’t get terrorism for 200?
O.K., I thought I saw an OLDER movie with the two in a VW eating MJ and that song was playing in the background.
I couldn’t tell you who wrote it or sang it.
I’ve got the munchies. What were you saying?
“Mary doesn’t give a rip what happens to us either.”
How so Max? I didn’t vote for Bush. It seems those who support his administration are the ones who don’t care about what happens to our country.I’m just pointing out the reality of the situation…go to other countries and you’ll see what I mean…only Americans care about our country…the rest of the world couldn’t care less if we all went to hell.
I’m starting to agree with Merle Haggard who is asking What are we afraid of?
Sure our enemies can hurt us, even kill some of us, they’ve proved that. But I also think that they know – even the BS crazy ones – that if they go too far, we’ll go too far, and it’s gonna hurt them a whole lot more than they can hurt us.
Primitive, but true.
BTW, I love my country..and I’m literally depressed over the way it’s changed. I hate what incompetent leaders have done in order to line their pockets and feed their egos..because of their greed and lust for power, they sold out our country and everything it stood for…and the rest of us will pay the price for as long as we live.
Max,In rereading the posts I can’t find anywhere that Mary said the US deserved to be attacked. Could you point it out? She is just pointing out that there is nothing we can do to stop every terroist that is bent on attacking us. I dont recall whether it was lincoln or JFK that said if someone wants to give their life to take mine there is nothing that can be done to stop them, I think that is a good analogy for the terroists that WILL attack this country again
“if they go too far, we’ll go too far, and it’s gonna hurt them a whole lot more than they can hurt us.
Primitive, but true.”
Unfortunatly, it’s that sort of spin and chest pounding got us into this whole mess and took us way off course in the terrorism crisis. Too many Americans are simple minded fools…and the Bush regime took full advantage of that fact.
Don’t worry about it, Free…when bloggers like Max can’t come up with a reasonable arguement, they always resort to personal insults and insinuations about the person they disagree with…It doesn’t bother me because it only makes them look more stupid.
BTW, I love my country..and I’m literally depressed over the way it’s changed. I hate what incompetent leaders have done in order to line their pockets and feed their egos..because of their greed and lust for power, they sold out our country and everything it stood for…and the rest of us will pay the price for as long as we live.
Posted by: Mary Caruso
Yeah, I felt the same way under Clinton.
Freebird, my plan to prevent another attack:
1. Seal the US borders.
Combination of electronic and physical fences. 50,000 Border guards on the northern and southern borders. Coast guard actually securing our coasts. Air Force defending from the air. Port security inspections to the point of actual security.
2. Strengthen the US military and intelligence to maintain a strong deterrent, a strong offensive force, and a strong national defense.
3. Identify threats and take pre-emptive action if necessary.
4. Make America Energy Indpendent in 20 years.
We won’t need to worry about offending the Mideast by drowning them in US Dollars anymore. A free market approach spurred by short-term tax incentives and profit to transition to: Wind power, wave power, geo-thermal, solar, nucleur power, garbage power, energy, water, and land conservation, recycling, rail transportation of freight and people, etc… Tax credits to expire in 20 years – so take these steps now. Some mandates for method of energy generation may be needed as well, though I don’t generally favor that.
5. Encourage Americans to be Indpendent and Strong.
Set a Fair or Flat tax policy to encourage job creation; minimize Social programs while ensuring people are not starving to death; private vouchers for schools to build a stronger and competitive educational system; fair trade policies that open our doors to free trade with those countries which do the same for us to encourage jobs; fix the Social Security/Medicare fiscal crisis; take the regulatory steps required to ensure a competitive and accoutable health care systeem is in place, minimizing legal and administrative costs, ensuring Doctors are making medical decisions, and patients choose their doctors and health plans.
Max,Basically that is a good plan, however I do have a couple of questions. Where are we going to get the money and manpower for the border and the military? Seems that our military is spread pretty thin right now. I am however in total agreement with you about point 5
It’s so typical that Americans have this inflated sense of self importance..other countries I travel to resent our arrogance and don’t give a rip what happens to us.Posted by: Mary Caruso | November 29, 2007 at 10:19 AM
I thought Mary was agreeing with the foreign countries’ opinions.
What countries have you gone to Mary? You some expert now you been overseas?
Well, so have I. People I’ve met in other countries have nothing but respect and admiration for America.
You Mary, have nothing but contempt for America.
You constantly attack without offering solutions. You are part of the Blame America crowd.
But, go ahead, as long as we have our 1st Amendment, you will be allowed to speak, and complain all you want about America.
If it’s so bad, leave. Or change it. Or just keep complaining and adding to global warming.
No Clinton fan but he had sense enough to see a quagmire waiting to happen(somalia) and got our troops out of there
I definately agree with #4…if we were’nt so dependant on Middle Eastern oil, we would never have invaded Iraq. It would be great if we couldn’t be blackmailed by oil producing ountries. It’s such a win/win to become energy independant, but you can count on the fact that the oil companies will contiue to fight for the lifestyle to which they’ve become accustomed.
Freebird do you think the families of the troops whose bleeding and dying bodies were dragged through the streets for the world to see agree with Clinton’s Somalia policy?
Rolling over and playing dead led to the worst attack on American soil ever. I wish it weren’t so. A strong defense and a prez who isn’t afraid to use it is necessary. Like it or not we haven’t been attacked on our home soil since9/11.
I get a little tired of those who tell us how much America is hated. The haters are the dregs of foreign societies who look at our prosperous nation and are envious.
1st Freebird. Not spending the money on border security is like not spending the money on door locks and waiting for your house to be robbed. We have to spend the money. Oh, and maybe some unemployed Americans could be taken off welfare and paid to do a job instead.
2nd. You can’t tell me that there is no room in the American budget to cut out pork, billions of it, corruption galore, to pay for 60,000 border guards. (A few weeks ago I posted links to ONE government report for the Federal Highway Department showing audit findings where 20 some Percent of accounting entries for expenses could not be supported with documentation! Where is this money being funneled? Someone’s pocket! And that’s just one small part of Government!)
3rd. What are we paying for now for border guards and security and what are they doing with this money today?
4th. Build a strong America that is self-reliant and employed, instead of one group being fed by another group. A strong education system, a tax system that is FAIR, a health care system that is accountable and more cost effective, a strong energy and environmentally friendly policy, Social Security solved, will make America strong enough to do what needs to be done to ensure we can afford to pay for national security.
No Clinton fan but he had sense enough to see a quagmire waiting to happen(somalia) and got our troops out of there
Posted by: Freebird
Sure did. After HE ORDERED THEM IN WITHOUT PROPER EQUIPMENT!Protected his political ass!After Black Hawk Down.
And thanks to his self serving protection, Osama Bin Laden lived to KILL OVER 2,000 Americans.
Thanks a lot Bill!
I saw just yesterday in Opinion Line a caller who stated (paraphrasing here), America hadn’t been attacked since he changed from boxers to briefs.
Made as much sense as to why as anything bushco have done! The current Administration has made this world a much more dangerous place!
So I have “contempt” for America because I think there was a better solution to 9/11 than invading Iraq and damaging our world relations? That’s really sad Max that you have such a narrow view of things. It’s the armchair warriors like you that have hurt and divided our country so much.I’d be interested to know what countries you have been to and when. Other countries USED to respect us…not so much now after Bush has been in office the last 7 years.I’ve been to Mexico several times, The Caymens, Palau, Bonaire, Provenciales, Honduras, Guam, and Puerto Rico since 9/11..and I can tell you that we are not held in the esteem that most Americans like to brag about.To say I hate my country is dispicable..and it really makes me sick that those like you have your blinders on when it comes to the damage caused by this administration. If I hate my country than you’re a fascist.
I agree with max on every point but as far as the military standpoint I think what we need to do is pull the troops off the South Korea sorder and put those military personnel on our border. also start pulling troops from the European theater.
Linda many would disagree with your stance but the evidence supports that whatever Bush is doing we haven’t been attacked on our own soil, no bombs attacking our carriers, no embassies bombed, no barracks in other countries attacked, do you see the difference? Even if you don’t respect the man he has had success with his policies.
Could you give a link to your claim that Clinton sent them in without proper equipment? not being overly critical but I had not seen or read anything regarding this. If he did send them without proper equipment it’s not much different than what Bush did,dont you agree?
Robert,
US troops were deployed to Somalia by President George H.W. Bush, under rules of engagement ordered directly by him. Clinton inherited a mess, and when our men were needlessly killed, he brought the rest home.
A fair of flat tax will NOT create jobs. It will cut jobs.
When I worked in aircraft, overtime was a thing I couldn’t do being a single parent. Others did LOTS of overtime.
This had a number of negative effects on workers. First, it fostered an expectation on the part of management that overtime was basically part of the job. Those who couldn’t or wouldn’t work it were looked on unfavorably. Too, with overtime being part of the job, management did not have to hire as many employees. That’s LESS jobs not more.
Now when those who DID work lots of overtime noticed the difference it made in their taxes? Well they were less inclined to work so much. Result was management was forced to treat workers better and hire more.
A flat or “fair” tax would give even MORE power to the management structure in this country. It would stifle and kill small business. And it would hurt the middle class and poor who pay just as much for a loaf of bread as Donald Trump.
But I like number 4 max. Run with that one.
ksgrm…would you please get a clue? You embarass me with your ignorance.Tell me again how invading Iraq was an effective way to deal with Osama bin Laden?
War on terror, is just a cover to invade any country we damn well get a hankerin’ to!
Tom telling part of the story is dishonest at best.
The rest of the story:
US President George Bush launches Somalia interventionDeteriorating security prevents the UN mission from delivering food and supplies to the starving Somalis. Relief flights are looted upon landing, food convoys are hijacked and aid workers assaulted. The UN appeals to its members to provide military forces to assist the humanitarian operation.
With only weeks left in his term as president, George Bush responds to the UN request, proposing that US combat troops lead an international UN force to secure the environment for relief operations. On December 5, the UN accepts his offer, and Bush orders 25,000 US troops into Somalia. On December 9th, the first US Marines land on the beach.
Well, Max…where have you been overseaas since 9/11?Are you going to ignore my question?
Clarification: I like Max’s plan A 4
The second one not so much.
Terrorism is a tactic. Ya can’t wage war on a tactic.
Say BG, your proposal to move US Troops from foreign bases to defend US soil directly was debated here months ago, and many agreed.
South Korea, Germany, Kosovo, the list is endless and I posted a link weeks ago showing the total distribution by country.
Some of our forces are overseas pre-deployed for a conflict on that side of the globe, should they be needed. Many of these troops, like those in S Korea, can now come home.
Many complain that US troops have been in Iraq for 4+ years.
We’ve been in Germany and Japan for 60+ years. South Korea for 50+ years. Kosovo for 15+ years.
Time to bring some home now!
Mary, just have to agree with you on your posts, it may take more then a generation to fix the ills this current administration will leave behind. Secondly, I’m just curious as to how max can enforce all these changes to safeguard this country by cutting pork/discretionary funding when NO ONE has been able to fix that yet. Hopefully with his wisdom/knowledge/accounting aptitude a letter to his congressman is forthcoming and we will see a sudden surplus in the budget to pay for all these “security” items. (Don’t hold your breath)
Mary I won’t try to justify a position I don’t support. Osama wasn’t in Iraq. If you go back and look at the actions leading up to the invasion and listen to both libs and cons talk you will see this wasn’t ever listed as the reason Iraq was invaded.
That said being such a well traveled person you surprise me with your ignorance of the base reason America is disliked.
Mary,I know!! Sadamm was going to give his WMDs to Osama, on second thought he didnt have any did he?
Mary,
MexicoCanadaBritainGermanyFranceItalyNetherlandsHungaryRomaniaBulgariaGreece
The people from the former Eastern Bloc in particular, are especially friendly to America. They were under the Nazis, then the Communists, and they see what America has done, and is trying to do to maintain freedom. They highly respect that because they do not take freedom for granted over there.
Mary, sounds like you’ve been to some snob posh resorts, full of liberal rich people.
Get out into the streets and meet some common folk for a change.
JR your assumption on the Flat tax is incorrect, it will actually help workers and hurt management, currently the more you work the more you give to the Government, with the fair tax you are not penalized. the more you work the more you get to keep. taxes are only paid when you consume products. the only jobs lost are in the accounting and federal tax regulators that track federal and state tax requirements.
We feed them, give them billions, and they still sh*t on us:
Bangladesh: U.S. Navy helicopters began delivering emergency supplies Monday to survivors of a deadly cyclone along the southern coast of Bangladesh in a joint relief operation, officials said. Helicopters from the USS Kearsarge started airlifting 5,000 water containers to remote areas of Dublar Char, Bagherat and Barguna, the worst affected districts in the Nov. 15 cyclone that killed more than 3,200 people.
U.S. troops will also deliver food and other supplies, help set up water purification plants, and provide medical care to victims in the coming days, army officials said.
“That said being such a well traveled person you surprise me with your ignorance of the base reason America is disliked.”
Like you know, ksgrm? Don’t make me laugh…I think you must listen to the neo cons on talk radio too much with the opinions you express here. Where have you been lately beyond our borders?
We feed them, give them billions, and they still sh*t on us:
(While US Marines are flying in and distributing aid TODAY:)
Bangladesh, United States tiff over aid figure
A disagreement has emerged between Dhaka and Washington over the figures on aid the United States has provided to Bangladesh since 1971.
The Independent Tuesday quoted highly-placed sources as saying that the spat over “discrepancy” in aid figures originated when the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development Andrew Natsios recently made a reference to the US’s contribution to the development of Bangladesh.
In a meeting with the officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh, he reportedly reminded them that his government had doled out 5 billion US dollars assistance to Bangladesh since the fiscal year 1971-1972.
The foreign ministry officials refused to accept the figures provided by the United States, saying Dhaka has so far received just over 3.45 billion US dollars, which was based on its own information.
The officials said the amount of 3.45 billion dollars aid was based on the actual amount the government received and not inclusive of US assistance to the private sector.
But they said that even if the US aid to the private sector wastaken into account, the total amount would not go beyond the 4 billion dollars mark.
No Max, I don’t go to the posh resorts., I stay with the locals…and if you actually think I’m going to believe that you went to England or France after 9/11 and found support for our action in Iraq..then you are delusional. Maybe you need to get off the tour buses.
To say I hate my country is dispicable..and it really makes me sick that those like you have your blinders on when it comes to the damage caused by this administration. If I hate my country than you’re a fascist.
Posted by: Mary Caruso | November 29, 2007 at 11:09 AM
That’s why we’ll never agree. The first thing out of a conservative’s mouth if you disagree with them is “Traitor!”Makes it kind of hard to work with people who label you as un-American because you disagree with Bush.
Ronald it is confusing to the ‘Hate America First’ crowd when you put things like this out. We are hated even though we are always the first and largest responders to national disasters.
They probably poured the water out rather than drink it because it came from Bush’s America.
This is probably not a good post because it will bring out all of the Katrina diehards thinking that Bush let NO down.
I do agree it’s about time we pulled all of our troops out of Europe and Korea..why in the world do we still have bases there? It’s time to put those military resources to work here at home.
“Some meteorologists, including former hurricane center director Neil Frank, say as many as six of this year’s 14 named tropical systems might have failed in earlier decades to earn “named storm” status.
“They seem to be naming storms a lot more than they used to,” said Frank, who directed the hurricane center from 1974 to 1987 and is now chief meteorologist for KHOU-TV. “This year, I would put at least four storms in a very questionable category, and maybe even six.”
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/5337583.html
Could this have something to do with the predictions of the GW crowd about the large increase in tropical storms because of GW?
Bush let NO down.Posted by: ksgrm
NO let NO down. The people in the affected area let the people in the affected area down. Just across the state line, buildings and homes are and were back up and operating!
And I apologize for posting Americans’ helping the world, on a liberal dominated blog, where Bush is only ruining foreign relations.
The “hate America crowd” is in your mirror, ksgrm…those of you that don’t want to make the effort to think so you believe all the spin and lies of our fearless and misguided leaders as they take our country and everything it stood for down the toilet.
Try to think for yourself instead of allowing right wing pundits with an agenda tell you what to think…I promise it won’t hurt too much.
Well as fun as this is..I have to go to work and try to make the world a better place than I found it this morning.See ya on the flip side!
Interesting that none of the Republic Party regulars are commenting on last night’s GOP debate. I guess they’re ashamed.
With good reason.
Last night’s questioners gave us a parade of the Republic Party’s lowest common denominator: gun fetishists, xenophobes, Mars Explorers, Confederate flag lovers and zombie-eyed-Bible-wavers… and eight intellectual dwarfs pandering to them.
The only way the Republic Party can control the White House in 2008 is if Shrub invokes NSPD-51, declares a “national emergency,” martial law, and suspends elections.
Of course, all of the Cons who contribute to this forum will tell us it’s a good thing.
Could this have something to do with the predictions of the GW crowd about the large increase in tropical storms because of GW?
Posted by: ksgrm | November 29, 2007 at 11:35 AM
Of course it does, ksgrm!
(cue Twilight Zone theme song)
Mary you are wrong about my positions. I have critized Bush and his policies on several issues.
You still will defend Clinton’s non aggression policy even when you are shown what that policy led to.
I am amazed that so many people are willing to share the opinions of those in countries that envy the country the Americans live in. Jealousy is a powerful stimulant. You have to be able to sift through the rhetoric and get to the truth.
Ksgrm,
Dishonest??? To point out Robert’s assertion that Clinton was the one who got the US involved in Somalia was inaccurate? For telling the truth, you call me a liar?
Good frickin’ grief. YOU are what’s wrong with the modern Republican Party.
Ah the Liberals come out like chimpanzees fighting over a banana.
Same sounds, arms in the air, flailing back and forth…
…and that distinct screaming sound with lips pursed for action.
“Traitor.” “Blame America first crowd.” “America-hater.” “Love it, or leave it.”
Goodness, I feel better already. That was much easier than thinking.
Monkey I was actually ignoring the debate because of the shame I was sure the libs were sharing today.
Imagine having a Clinton campaign worker planted in the audience to ask questions of the candidates.
Or how about have a panel made up of undecided republicans that had an admitted Hillary sitting on it?
The candidates preformed well even with the skewed audience and panel.
For shame I say CNN.
“Arm flailing chimpanzies.”
Ah… that felt good, too.
Democrapus Blogadytus
…the Liberal Chimp
Tom I didn’t accuse you of lying. What I did was point out that Bush 41 was responding to the UN when he sent in troops and that this is the reason Clinton inherited this problem.
The libs have told us all along that Bush 43 should have worked better with the UN and not gone in without their approval.
Can you all make up your minds. UN approval – No UN approval which is it? If you can’t decide who can?
Ksgrm,
Long ago, I joined the Republican Party for many reasons, the most important being that they were NOT the party that dragged this nation into stupid, unnecessary wars.
My how times have changed.
Of course it does, ksgrm!
(cue Twilight Zone theme song)
Posted by: XXX | November 29, 2007 at 11:42 AM
“Insurance companies use these trends to set homeowners’ rates. And such information is vital to scientists trying to determine whether global warming has had a measurable impact on hurricane activity.”
A little more info for those who can’t connect the dots and association to GW.
“ksgrm” wrote:
“Imagine having a Clinton campaign worker planted in the audience to ask questions of the candidates.”
Oh, horrors, “ksgrm!”
Armstrong Williams, “Jeff Gannon,” Shrub’s town meetings that required a loyalty oath to attend? And a career general’s question slips through the YouTube process to ask a question Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani (pro-gay before they were anti-gay panderers) didn’t want to answer?
I feel your pain, “ksgrm.”
Typical Con “blame the messenger” tactic. A “skewed audience?” Why would you say that? Just because no one asked about pit bulls?
Tom that wasn’t one of your best none answers. You made a statement and I simply posted the reason we were in Somalia.
Clinton’s pulling out of our troops considering the atrocities that were done to them gave the impression that we would lay down and play dead when attacked. IMOHO
I don’t support war. I wish there was never a reason to go to war. I realize that as Mary has pointed out we aren’t liked by alot of people. We have to have a strong prez that is not afraid to take action if necessary.
Monkey, Shrub town meetings were just that and I had nothing to say about Hillary’s planted questions in her own meetings.
The difference: CNN is supposed to be bringing us ‘independent’ news coverage. Do you get it now?
We have to have a strong prez that is not afraid to take action if necessary.Posted by: ksgrm | November 29, 2007 at 11:57 AM
The key word being “NECESSARY.” Iraq is unnecessary. Period. The End.
Bush is not “strong.” Bush is a stubborn fool who has used the blood of American men and women to hold onto political power. He’s an evil little man with the soul of a thug and the intellectual curiosity of a dimestore clerk.
Tom we are all entitled to our own opinions. You stated yours. I won’t even point out that many on both sides of the aisle were for the invasion, even your own Bill Clinton and the first lady Hillary.
We have argued this way too many times so I won’t bring it up again. I’ll just disagree with your opinion as to why we are in Iraq.
Ksgrm,
I never voted for Bill Clinton. He’s not “mine.” Nor did I ever vote for either Bush, even when I was a Republican. I voted Libertarian.
Quit pretending you know me.
Thanks.
Thanks for the info Ronald. I didn’t go far enough with my research.
Tom as with me we can only know each other by the information we choose to divulge about ourselves on the blog. Forgive me for assuming that you were a Clinton apologist.
“ksgrm” –
Maybe it’s CNN that’s “fair and balanced” instead of, you know, the Faux Noise Channel. (Even Fredrick of Hollywood Thompson accuses Faux News of bias!)
Besides, what’s supposed to matter at a candidates forum are the answers. Were the YouTube questions inappropriate? Obscene? Nope. The answers from the Republic Party candidates, on the other hand… simply pathetic.
Monkey you are so forgiving to CNN – just spread that to FOX as the need arises. They are fair and balanced whether you admit it or not.
This man had been on CNN several years ago where he attacked the Clinton position of gays in the military. Why then would he bring it up at a republican debate when it was a demo position?
I watched the debate. I thought the answers inadequate, confusing and evasive. It never dawned on me it was the questions fault! Now I see that someone who wants to be president of the United States shouldn’t be expected to have answers to all questions. If the question (or person asking the question) is suspect an answer isn’t needed. (sarcasm off and shaking head at the stupidity of that and many other excuses…)
But hey, I thought bushco was the best ambassador the Democratic Party could ever have and NOW, well we’ve got these guys trying to outdo him!
Linda I guess that is the reason you are looking at the dem candidates and I am looking at the repubs. I thought the answers showed me which candidates were prepared to think outside the box and which really had no new ideas just the same ole tired ones.
It was refreshing that one expressed interest in the fair tax plan. I thought many had good answers to the plant.
This will be an interesting election. Looking forward to it.
It’s been fun but work is calling.
I said I watched the debate. I’m looking at every candidate.
I’m glad you cleared up your opinion of the debate. Before that last post all I had seen was you blaming the questions, the people asking the questions and the netwoork holding the debate.
http://www.rawstory.com/news/mochila/Leahy_Bush_not_involved_in_firings_11292007.html
Leahy: Bush not involved in firingsJudiciary Committee Chairman Says Bush Not Involved in Prosecutor Firings
LAURIE KELLMANAP News
Nov 29, 2007 11:19 EST
A powerful Senate chairman acknowledged explicitly on Thursday that President Bush was not involved in the firings of U.S. attorneys last winter and therefore ruled illegal the president’s executive privilege claims protecting his chief of staff and former adviser Karl Rove.
The ruling by Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy is a formality that clears the way for his panel to vote on contempt citations if Josh Bolten, Rove and others do not immediately comply with congressional subpoenas for documents and information about the White House’s role in the firings.
The executive privilege claim “is surprising in light of the significant and uncontroverted evidence that the president had no involvement in these firings,” Leahy, D-Vt., wrote in his ruling. “The president’s lack of involvement in these firings — by his own account and that of many others — calls into question any claim of executive privilege.”
Leahy directed chief of staff Bolten, Rove, former political director Sara Taylor and her deputy, J. Scott Jennings, to comply “immediately,” but did not set a deadline. “I hereby rule that those claims are not legally valid to excuse current and former White House employees from appearing, testifying and producing documents related to this investigation,” Leahy wrote.
******
Uh, oh. Looks like Bush doesn’t get to have it both ways. If you believe he wasn’t involved as he says he wasn’t, then he can’t invoke “executive priviledge” to stop testimony of the people who were.
Let the frog-march of Rove and Bolton begin . . .
“ksgrm” –
Me? “Forgiving to CNN?!”
Perhaps you’ve forgotten last summer’s Democratic YouTube forum in which I carped about obvious “gotcha” questions that CNN allowed. Stuff like:
- “I’d like to know, if the Democrats come into office, are my taxes going to rise like usually they do when a Democrat gets into office?”
or
“To all the candidates: Tell me your position on gun control, as myself and other Americans really want to know if our babies are safe. This is my baby, purchased under the 1994 gun ban.”
or
“My question for all the candidates: How do we pull out now? And the follow-up: Are we watching the same blankin’ war? I certainly wasn’t a big fan of the invasion/liberation. It sickens me to hear about soldiers wounded and getting killed daily, not to mention innocent Iraqis, but how do we pull out now? Government’s shaky; bombs daily.
Don’t you think if we pulled out now that it would open it up for Iran and Syria, God knows who — Russia — how do we pull out now? And isn’t it our responsibility to get these people up on their feet? I mean, do you leave a newborn baby to take care of himself? How do we pull out now?”
or
“My question is for Mike Gravel. In one of the previous debates, you said something along the lines of, “The entire deaths of Vietnam died in vain.”
How do you expect to win in a country where probably a pretty large chunk of the people voting disagree with that statement and might very well be offended by it? I’d like to know if you plan to defend that statement, or if you’re just going to flip-flop. Thanks.”
or
“I’m a proud serving member of the United States military. I’m serving overseas.
This question is to Senator Hillary Clinton. The Arab states, Muslim nations, believe its women as being second-class citizens. If you’re president of the United States, how do you feel that you would be even be taken seriously by these states in any kind of talks, negotiations, or any other diplomatic relations?”
Further, during the July 23 debate, Democratic candidates were twice asked about their position on same-sex marriage:
“Hi, my name’s Mary; and my name is Jen — and we’re from Brooklyn, New York. If you were elected president of the United States, would you allow us to be married to each other?”
and
“I’m Reverend Reggie Longcrier. I’m the pastor of Exodus Mission and Outreach Church in Hickory, North Carolina. Senator Edwards said his opposition to gay marriage is influenced by his Southern Baptist background. Most Americans agree it was wrong and unconstitutional to use religion to justify slavery, segregation, and denying women the right to vote. So, why is it still acceptable to use religion to deny gay Americans their full and equal rights?”
As you can see, “ksgrm,” CNN gave the Democrats a bunch of hot potatoes that, realistically, few Democratic voters would broach in a partisan forum.
And you whine about an uncomfortable question slipping to the Republic Party candidates?!
Amazing.
(BTW, Fredrick of Hollywood Thompson thinks Faux Noise Channel is biased. You don’t have to take my word for it.)
One of the greatest mysteries to me is why H. Clinton, Edwards, Dodd, Biden, etc. bought that utterly unconvincing crap spewing out of the White House in 2002, particularly when this administration was already PROVEN to be a pack of liars by then.
Of course, they didn’t vote for “war”–they voted to unconsitutionally cede their warmaking authority to the Executive Branch. Kinda like they did in 1990, knowing full well that war was full-speed ahead.
As has been pointed out elsewhere, only Kunicich and Gravel on the Dems side, and Paul on the Repub side, had the common sense to oppose this madness.
I would also point out to some (cough!Edcough!) that Kucinich has also taken on AIPAC in addition to Paul.
I like John Edwards, and he’s running what for me is a pretty stirring campaign. But I can’t get past that vote, in addition to his waffling on basic rights for gay Americans.
Obama’s running on okay campaign, but he’s succeeding in annoying me in numerous ways. Unclear where he stands on AIPAC (though Ed seems to think he knows).
Ron Paul it seems to me can only improve the debate on the Repub side. I completely favor this. But he has less of a chance of winning the nom than Kucinich does, unfortunately. If he actually runs as an independent (he said he won’t), or starts polling high (thus winning media-annointed “front runner” status) I’ll have to give him a closer look.
P.S. While I’ve previous said Mike Gravel is nuts (he is), I’m glad he’s running too. He has some good points to make.
P.P.S. Monkeyhawk, I missed that question to Edwards on gay rights. How did he answer it?
KFG, forgive me but what I read in that memo was that the state is willing to pay for renewable energy. I think that’s great. So what’s the problem?
It would cost money to build other plants too, ones that are far more pollutant. I’d rather pay more for better electricity.
SO tell me what the problem is?
Posted by: Mary CarusoTry to think for yourself…
Should be read: Think like me.
Did anyone else noticed when Mcain was talking about opposing wasteful government spending he mentioned stopping the Boeing tanker deal that in his words “sent a lot of people to jail”
“Rage” –
On gay rights, Edwards waffled. But I get the feeling from him that it’s an “honest waffle.”
He’s a working-class southern male whose Southern Baptist faith is important to him, even as he’s grown and experienced real life that sometimes counters his childhood indoctrination.
It’s happened to all of us, if we’re honest with ourselves and our lives. Given his age and the era they grew up in, I’ll betcha all the coins and chalk in my pocket that John and Elizabeth had sex before they were married. Not a Southern Baptist tenet.
I know John Edwards has always been progressive regarding race relations. Not a traditional North Carolina value.
Part of the backlash against gay/lesbian/transgender rights is, I believe, the result of ignorance; people either denied or didn’t know “those people” existed in their lives. Awareness — that the old maid Junior High English teacher and the girls’ gym teacher who lived together might have actually *slept* together — is an evolution of tollerance and understanding. It’s not unlike, during my childhood, hearing grown-up white men talking about specific individuals as being one of the “good” niggers. Eventually, most of those guys had to come to grips with the idea that most of ‘em *were* good… people. And “nigger-ness” had nothing to do with it.
One of the things I admired about Mike Huckabee in last night’s debate was his response to the question, “What would Jesus think about capital punishment?” Huckabee had the line of the night when he responded, “Jesus had the common sense to not run for political office.” Something like that.
I wish John Edwards had come up with an equally rememberable response to the gay rights question. Something like, “It’s none of my business what two consenting adults do in bed unless I’m one of them in bed,” or “I married the one I love and can’t imagine the government preventing anyone else that joy,” or something.
It’s utterly ironic. If we were to judge a candidate on his/her attitude toward gay rights prior to becoming a candidate, Rudy Giulani is the most gay-friendly prospect. But Rudy is running away from that. John Edwards seems to be approaching an understanding that gender preference should not be an impediment to solving problems Americans face.
MonkeyHawk sure is fond of using the “N” word. I’ve seen him use it several times on this blog.
It rolls of his tongue so easily like he’s had lots of practice.
Maybe it’s cause Monkey can relate to that word in a far different way than you can, Kansas… Did you ever give that a thought??
Yeah Chas, you bet…justify the usage.
I thought we finally figured out that it was NOT o.k. for ANYone of ANY race to use the “N” word?
There is no reason why ANYone should use the word. Regardless of their background or circumstances?
Unless you are using it like FUK, or course.
No Chas why don’t you tell us why that is OK? No one should use a word that is demeaning to a race even if they think they are priviliged.
Nice attempt at diversion, “Kansas” –
Blame it on Lenny Bruce: Now what did he say?
“Are there any niggers here tonight?” I know there’s one nigger, because I see him back there working. Let’s see, there’s two niggers. And between those two niggers sits a kike. And there’s another kike— that’s two kikes and three niggers. And there’s a spic. Right? Hmm? There’s another spic. Ooh, there’s a wop; there’s a polack; and, oh, a couple of greaseballs. And there’s three lace-curtain Irish micks. And there’s one, hip, thick, hunky, funky, boogie. Boogie boogie. Mm-hmm. I got three kikes here, do I hear five kikes? I got five kikes, do I hear six spics, I got six spics, do I hear seven niggers? I got seven niggers. Sold American. I pass with seven niggers, six spics, five micks, four kikes, three guineas, and one wop. Well, I was just trying to make a point, and that is that it’s the suppression of the word that gives it the power, the violence, the viciousness. Dig: if President Kennedy would just go on television, and say, “I would like to introduce you to all the niggers in my cabinet,” and if he’d just say “nigger nigger nigger nigger nigger” to every nigger he saw, “boogie boogie boogie boogie boogie,” “nigger nigger nigger nigger nigger” ’til nigger didn’t mean anything anymore, then you could never make some six-year-old black kid cry because somebody called him a nigger at school.
What can I add MonkeyHawk? This says it all:
“Although we are not responsible for the content of the comments on this blog and have no obligation to monitor them, we reserve the right to remove any comments that are threatening, libelous, obscene or otherwise objectionable.”
It’s time for search engine math fun!
Type just like I do.
“arm flailing”+”kansas” (or “Kansas”
Or “arm flailing”+”JM”
Or “arm flailing”+”Eier”
or just type “arm flailing”+”WE Blog”
Til next time, this is uncle J R wishing you loads of arm flailing fun!
Actually J R, you forgot to add kfg.
I got the phrase from her.
Say who brought up Black Hawk down and made that stupid assertion?
Guess after Ron’s posts you decided to STFU.
If ever oh ever a wiz there was, it’s not Monkeyhawk.
That post needs to go. Someone please.
To object to Monkeyhawk’s usage on the term–particularly in the first instance–is like calling someone a racist for saying “You know, the word ‘nigger’ is extremely offensive!”
Stone him! He said Jehovah! Wait, don’t stone ME! I only said Jehovah because. . ..
I’ve had posts pulled for much LESS sensitive posts than the above. It is ridiculous to leave it out there.
Unless, the WEBlog considers your posts “special”.
Funny, “Rage,” isn’t it?
How the Cons get all politically correct when their noses are shoved into the s#it they spew?
“I used that word and people objected!” What an injustice!
Lenny Bruce faced that *40* friggin’ years ago!
And they still don’t get it.
P.S. –
“anonymous?”
We know who you are!
Booga-Booga!!!
OK you nuts that cant read… I never said it was OK… I said maybe there is a reason why MonkeyHawk feels close to the word… Actually, I would rather say it’s NOT OK… But that still means it can at least be understood!! And that was a few long hours ago!!
And of course, the Editors can pull the post too… and if in their wisdom they do, I am sure Monkey would understand…
No Clinton fan but he had sense enough to see a quagmire waiting to happen(somalia) and got our troops out of there
Posted by: Freebird | November 29, 2007 at 10:54 AM
Oh, NOW I remember! It was Freebird who brought up Black Hawk down and got blown outta da water by Ron!
Great Posts Ron!
Ouch! The TRUTH hurts!
Now, now, P H… That is assuming that “Ron” is right in what he said. And your proof is what, exactly??
“Clinton’s pulling out of our troops considering the atrocities that were done to them gave the impression that we would lay down and play dead when attacked. IMOHO” But you don’t think ths same thing about Ronnie’s reaction after Beruit attack?
But you don’t think ths same thing about Ronnie’s reaction after Beruit attack?
Posted by: The Phantom
There you go. Redirect and twist.
The discussion was not ABOUT the beruit bombing.
dickbreath.
We know who you are!
Booga-Booga!!!
Posted by: MonkeyHawk
You haven’t a clue shit for brains. Congratulations. You are famous for using the nigger word.
Reminds me of Eddie Murphy. He became famous not on talent, but for being a black man saying mother fuker every other sentence.
I’ll bet your mother is proud of you and your poddy mouth.
“Rolling over and playing dead led to the worst attack on American soil ever. I wish it weren’t so.”.ksgrm
It is my understanding what caused the decision to turn their attention to the United States. Was the extremists failure in their own countries, we are the “far enemy” and their own governments are what they call the “near enemy”. If you study the history of these Islamic extremists’ movements, there have been many through the century. They fail because of they end up being their worst enemy. They come to believe that THEY are the only true Islamic. Thus killing innocent and few of those that are their real enemy.
Bin Laden and Al-Qaeda only turn their attention to us when they found they were failing in rallying Saudi-Arabia and Egypt to their point of view. So they focused on the “far enemy”. Now our basing our troops in S.A. was the straw that broke the camel’s back for them. But it was their failure to get the people of S.A. to react to it that is when they changed their focus.
But sadly it is like the “twines defense” they lack the moral strength to resist the temptation that societies like our presents. Atta it is noted in his final writings to inspire the Hijackers. Focused on scarifies meant for attunement for passed sins, it is taken he meant for failing to have the strength to resist the temptations of the West. They do not hate our freedoms but their lack of control to resist them. It is kind of like the mindset of Rapists, they hate women because of feelings that women inspire in them and nothing women actually do.
What the hell was that writerdog?I’m tempted to say, “Yeah, so?”"And then what happened?”
I’m glad I’m not your kid, I’d leave home for the war.
That was a cheap shot, Obvious.
But then . . . your name says it all, doesn’t it.
Lack of action, when one blackhawk crew gets killed=encourages Al-QuidaLack of action for biggest terrorist attack against Americans (pre-911) =Good!Typicl Repub. think,(actually, lack thereof)
,(actually, lack thereof)Posted by: The Phantom
Have to start calling Phantom the scarecrow. Always wishing,”If I only had a brain.”
He tries so hard to create posts which make sense.
“I’ll bet your mother is proud of you and your poddy mouth.”
What is an “poddy” mouth? A mouth with an ipod stuck in it?
“You still will defend Clinton’s non aggression policy even when you are shown what that policy led to.”
Excuse me ksgrm, I have never defended Bill Clinton’s policies. Sometimes it’s necessary to be aggressive…but we went way off course by attacking Iraq and gave bin Laden the biggest gift he could have possibly imagined by inflaming most of the Muslim world. Like I said before, the whole war on terrorism has been grossly mismanaged by leaders who don’t have a clue but certainly had their hidden agendas. Anyone who bought into the spin and rhetoric from this administration is a fool.We should have stayed in Afganistan and finished what we started and then put more pressure on Pakistan to give up bin Laden. The Taliban have already gained back some control in Afganistan and bin Laden is in Pakistan along with most of the terrorist training camps. We don’t do anything because Musharrif is Bush’s buddy, even though he’s totally worthless as an effective leader. But you Bush lovers just keep listening to the right wing pundits gushing about how we’re winning the war on terror by focusing on our surge in Iraq…what a joke.
We don’t do anything because Musharrif is Bush’s buddy, even though he’s totally worthless as an effective leader. Mary
That is a little over simplistic of the situation Mary. There are many considerations with Pakistan which you completely ignore in your rush to judge Bush deficient.
At least, the democrats running for president have acknowledged that fact.
Manishkumar M. Patel, 34, of Appleton, WI was charged Thursday afternoon with first-degree murder of an unborn child, second-degree recklessly endangering safety, placing foreign objects in edibles, possession with intent to deliver prescriptions, stalking, burglary, possession of burglary tools, and two counts of violating a restraining order. He had caused his girlfriend, the mother of his 3-year-old child, to miscarry twice by secretly slipping her a dangerous abortion drug, RU-486. Patel will face spending the rest of his life in prison, if there is justice.- – -
“We are not delegates who are sent here to weigh our mail every day and then to vote accordingly. There are issues of transcendent importance that you have to be willing to lose your office over … I’m willing to lose my seat any day in the week rather than sell out.”. . . Congressman and World War II Navy combat veteran Henry Hyde- – -
“During more than 30 years as a congressman, he represented the people of Illinois with character and dignity — and always stood for a strong and purposeful America. This fine man believed in the power of freedom, and he was a tireless champion of the weak and forgotten. He used his talents to build a more hopeful America and promote a culture of life.”. . . President George W. Bush Thursday, on Congressman Henry Hyde- – -
You can download Focus on the Family’s pro-life handbook at pagehttp://focusonthefamily.edgeboss.net/download/focusonthefamily/pregnancy/sohlhandbook2008.pdf- – -
Thursday KMBC TV9 and the Johnson County health director told the public there are no known side effects to the Gardasil HPV vaccine being administered to young girls, other than some soreness where the needle is used, and occasional fainting, as injected girls are prone to do, insisting that thousands of reports of adverse reactions, including several cases of paralysis and deaths, should be ignored, as the FDA is doing.See news pagehttp://www.kmbc.com/video/14731045/index.html
Sorry, Ronald, Mary, as she often is, is right-on with her post.
Is Musharrif the best we can do? The Bush administration thinks so, some Dem candidates think so, and liberal Washington Post journalist, Dana Priest thinks so.
I am not sure, but this really is a decision for the Pakistanis to make. Is it not?
Hillary, puke me a river! (How much is this campaign promise to solve all of the worlds problems gonna cost?)
Hillary got religion now!(Ya believe that, then send me your donations in advance of the tax increases Hillary will mandate to pay for her Spending of Taxpayer Dollars to Buy Votes Plan!)
Gonna save the world like JR! (Since when did Hillary get religion?)
Sing along wit me now…
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,314023,00.html
Clinton Cites Her Faith, the Bible in Call for Worldwide Action Against AIDSThursday, November 29, 2007
E-Mail Print Digg This! del.icio.us
LAKE FOREST, Calif. — Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton used an appearance at one of the nation’s largest evangelical churches Thursday to sketch a broad agenda to take on disease around the globe, calling it “the right thing to do.”
The centerpiece of a speech laced with Biblical references and reflections on her own faith was a call to spend billions of dollars to combat HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases at home and abroad. She said she would try to stamp out malaria deaths in Africa within eight years.
Money and government alone cannot solve the problems, she said. AIDS “is a problem of our common humanity, and we are called to respond with love, with mercy and with urgency,” she said.
How can Abortion of an unborn fetus be murder?!?
Don’t men have the same right to kill fetuses as women?
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,313882,00.html
Man Charged With Murder for Slipping Abortion Drug to Girlfriend to Cause MiscarriagesThursday, November 29, 2007
E-Mail Print Digg This! del.icio.us
Police
Manishkumar M. PatelAPPLETON, Wis. — A married man has been charged with murder for slipping his girlfriend a drug that authorities say caused her to miscarry twice.
Manishkumar M. Patel, 34, of Appleton, was charged Thursday afternoon with first-degree murder of an unborn child, second-degree recklessly endangering safety, placing foreign objects in edibles, possession with intent to deliver prescriptions, stalking, burglary, possession of burglary tools, and two counts of violating a restraining order.
Sorry, Ronald, Mary, as she often is, is right-on with her post.
Is Musharrif the best we can do? The Bush administration thinks so, some Dem candidates think so, and liberal Washington Post journalist, Dana Priest thinks so.
I am not sure, but this really is a decision for the Pakistanis to make. Is it not?
Posted by: Steven Davis
Well Steven Davis, I’m almost at a loss for words. How can Mary be spot on in her post – if no one ELSE agrees with her? Including the majority in Pakistan!
You are an amazing person.
They have nukes. Can you fathom that? Their countrymen HATE Americans. The children play with dolls shaped like Osama Bin Laden and dream of joining him in killing Americans. They have riots. They have no control. Americans are kidnapped and filmed being beheaded in their country. You are NOT advised to go there by the state department.
Immediately following 911, we had ZERO friends in the area. By area, militarily we needed logitical support in order to attack Afghanistan next door. We made friends – quickly. We HAD to.
Now just how the heck would YOU do it differently than Bush?
For Mary to condemn Bush and say he didn’t do it CORRECTLY because he is “friends” with the Paki leader, is great.
Now tell me just exactly what YOU would do differently in that environment.
You have every right to say Mary is correct, and Mary to say evil Bush was buddies with the Paki Prez.
Ok genius – tell us what YOU would have done?
Remember – ALL your democrat leaders have now avowed Bush did what he had to do……
“Could this have something to do with the predictions of the GW crowd about the large increase in tropical storms because of GW?”
Posted by: ksgrm | November 29, 2007 at 11:35 AM
No. And AGW may cause tropical storms to have a higher PDI, due to higher sea surface temperatures.
ksgrm, if you are such an AGW and tropical storm expert, please explain how a few short-lived tropical storms are significant re PDI, compared to Cat. 5 hurricanes, like Dean and Felix.
And also list the economic costs from tropical storm Erin.
Mary and Steven are friggin EXPERTS.
They love to bi*ch, but where is their plan?
Ok, if you are going to accuse someone of being wrong, then what was the RIGHT approach?
You frickin coolaide drinkin morans. All you can do is repeat the Democrat Underground Propaganda of the day.
Chanting like brainwashed idiots.
You have no idea even of what you are saying.
You are so frigin stupid you just repeat whatever is told to you to tell.
Prove me wrong. Tell me in detail, how Bush should have dealt with Pakistan after 9/11.
Tell me in detail, how Bush should have dealt with Iraq after 9/11.
Ignoramous amoeba in the forms of human beings is all you are.
GW people are amazinly stupid and in the same category as those who blindly bi*ch without offering details of their solutions.
The Hurricanes (or lack of) in 2007 cannot be explained by any GW models.
This horrible lack of hurricanes was not forecasted by their GW models, at least not BEFOREHAND!
So, they come up with lame excuse after lame excuse.
Well, these tropical storms would not have formed at all, if it wasn’t for global warming!
You st*pid f*cking idiots!
Sigh…
Come on Wahawk.
That was over the line.
BUSH HAS BALLS!
WASHINGTON, Nov 29 (Reuters) – A U.S. aircraft carrier group sailed through the tense waters between China and Taiwan after it was denied entry last week to a Hong Kong port, the U.S. Navy said on Thursday.
The USS Kitty Hawk and eight accompanying ships passed through the Taiwan Strait, seen as one of Asia’s most dangerous flash points, on their way back to Japan after China barred the carrier group from entering the Hong Kong harbor for a long-planned visit, a spokesman for the U.S. Pacific Command in Hawaii said.
http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN29439533
“Remember – ALL your democrat leaders have now avowed Bush did what he had to do……”Posted by: Ronald | November 29, 2007 at 11:24 PM
Ronald,Time to take your night-time meds.Your psychosis requires it. You have no idea, what-so-ever, of what speak. Go away…
From the intellectual giant, Wahawk (joke, okay…?) this gem:
“Mary and Steven are friggin EXPERTS.
“They love to bi*ch, but where is their plan?
“Ok, if you are going to accuse someone of being wrong, then what was the RIGHT approach?
“You frickin coolaide drinkin morans. All you can do is repeat the Democrat Underground Propaganda of the day.”
First, put away your alcohol; second, learn to spell; third, figure out how to make cogent arguments; and finally, learn to think…
Mary and I will wait. Good that we are patient people. We expect that the above won’t happen in our life-times…
Whether the above idiots are just Kansas sock puppets, or not, the discourse on this blog is totally in the toilet. That is too bad, because it did not use to be that way.
Night all.
Ahhh yess Steven, how right you are!! Nite all!!
Steven, you ought to see the barrage I got hit with over on the Christmas Thread
Chas,
Stop acting like you are a victim when you have no problem turning threads into crap yourself.
Steven Davis resorted to name calling, and talks a lot. But he never ever answered my post.
Mary is probably in bed. But same applies.
My questions are rational,and reasonable based upon your posts.
You said Bush was wrong and friend with Pakistan’s leader and not handling it right.
Once again, without name calling:
Tell us what you would have done on 911?
And again (ho-hum) all your democrat candidates have now said Bush did what he had to do.
Either you tell us Steven Davis,or all your nasty words and put downs are not only a waste of time, but meaningless.
You could have answered the mail, instead of lowering yourself to name-calling. But that assumes you are able.
I guess Steven isn’t used to anyone disagreeing with him.
He doesn’t like the way the posts are going.
Unless he means his own name calling and put downs. What’s different?
Ronald Although this is late thanks for the info on Cl;inton and Somalia, you are right and I was wrong.
Pat,
No I didnt STFU,I have a job I have to go to everyday. And what was wrong with my post? Can I get an answer or are you going to treat me like you do others on this blog, just call them names and ridicule their points of view? Where does all that vitriol come from?
Ronald asks: Tell us what you would have done on 911?
******
I don’t know what Steven would say, Ronald.
But if I’d have been president, the first thing I’d have done is follow up on the USS Cole bombing, which took place just the fall before. I would have taken very seriously Sandy Berger and Clinton’s warnings that Al Qaeda was a bigger threat than all the other threats put together, instead of blowing it off because “that’s a Clinton thing.”
I would have read the intelligence reports like the one in August 2001 with the giant headline “AL QAEDA DETERMINED TO STRIKE IN THE US” and not said that since we didn’t have flight and seat numbers of the hijackers there was nothing we could do.
After the attack, I would have found out who didn’t follow normal protocol when airliners are hijacked and FIRED THEIR SORRY ASSES in a public display that would make it clear that incompetence will no be allowed. Ditto for the stupid asses COs at nearby air force bases who scrambled jets OUT TO SEA or didn’t scramble at all.
Next, as President, I wouldn’t have continued with a photo op at an elementary school when not one but TWO effing airliners were hijacked and flown into downtown Manhattan. I would have demanded to be flown back to D.C. instead of sneaking off to Nebraska like a coward.
Next, I would have commenced a full-scale invasion of Afghanistan to utterly destroy the Taliban and Al Qaeda with every man, woman, and dog that we’ve got. Instead, Commander Coward outsourced the job to locals and guess what, the worst terrorist in history got away?
Got away? Are you effing kidding me?
Lastly, I would have finished the job in Afghanistan instead of knowingly stepping into the quagmire of Iraq.
That’s what I would have done.
Coulda, shoulda, woulda.
Isn’t hindsight great?
Wahawk’s and PH’s comments are in no way a rebuttal.
The simple fact remains–Bush bungled every aspect of the “war on terror” before, during, and after the attacks of 9-11.