I thought it was very interesting that Jack Pelton, the CEO of Cessna Aircraft, has an editorial column in the paper today in which he endorses the Governor’s energy plan. If a few more CEOs come out of the closet against the coal plants - at least that is what I read in between the lines -
then maybe next legislative session the Republican non-leadership can get around to doing the work of Kansas, instead of playing political games with the Governor.
It’s not just that it’s disappeared from media headlines this year - shoved off by the credit crunch and natural disasters, for example. It can’t be ignored that 2007 came and went as another very warm year - the 7th hottest on record since 1850 according to the World Meteorological Organization. But it wasn’t a record. In fact that was 1998, a full 10 years ago - the year of an exceptional El Nino, a Pacific weather pattern which heats the whole globe. So is global warming not living up to the hype?
Two weeks ago Leibniz Institute’s Noel Keenlyside stirred an academic hornet’s nest by saying that we may have to wait longer - a decade or more - for another peak year, because a natural weakening in ocean currents may be cooling sea temperatures. Many scientists flatly rejected the idea, saying Keenlyside had over-estimated the effect. But some pointed out that a recent switch in a weather pattern called the North Atlantic Oscillation could indeed cool temperatures globally.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said last year recent warming was “unequivocal” and most of it “very likely” manmade. And almost all scientists in the latest debate, including Keenlyside, agree that any temporary cooling doesn’t alter that - blips due to natural effects are to be expected.
But how long is a blip? No-one knows. It could be many years before there’s an El Nino as bad as 1998, scientists say. And in the meantime the doubts will grow, just as policymakers try to negotiate one of the most complex global treaties ever. A new Kyoto Protocol will affect issues of equity and poverty: in the case of poor countries the right to grow, for island states perhaps the right to exist, and for rich countries the right to compete on a level economic playing field.
Meanwhile one or two doubters are already saying the present lull in warming casts doubt on just how far manmade greenhouse gases are influencing the climate. MIT’s Richard Lindzen reckoned that if it was as bad as all that temperatures would be rising faster.
sorry mr. EVANGELICAL…………….I dropped an “a”. Shame on me! Imagine, sitting here on an early Sunday morning grading LAB reports and multi-tasking on the web.
Shame on me for dropping that “a”.
Of course, a LAB report is irrelevant to you since you don’t believe in real science anyway …………denial of global climate change, your belief in the lie of creationism, etc.
Sorry price, the word “diAtribe” very accurate;y reflects the vast majority of your posts.
Look at the fundie Hank belittling Apophis for a typo. Why are so many evangelicals so unforgiving? Apophis is right most of us could do without Hanks cut and paste jobs.
Please fellow posters, please. We sort through the personal insults to find substance in the evening posts. Now will it be an all-day event?
The East High School IB Recognition Ceremony is this afternoon. Then a special reception and dinner, followed by a party. It’s a good day to be a Grandma!
We have some great youth in our city. I’m very proud of what they’ve accomplished and their future aspirations. It’s a good day to appreciate our youth!
HLP
Posted May 18, 2008 at 8:32 am | Permalink
Poor sentence structure, improper use of quotation marks, misspelled words, failure to capitalize proper nouns. . .
………since when does GRAMMAR matteron a blog? (I guess only to an anal retentive, evangelical)
All signs of an uneducated man.
………andTHIS statement coming from a price.
Never adds anything constructive to the conversation; seemingly obsessed with a poster that is obviously happy and self assured. . .
………anyone who doesn’t agree with a price is considered non-constructive to their narrow minds. As to the “obsessed” statement, I won’t even go there.
All signs of man that has reached middle aged and is very unhappy with his life.
………not quite middle aged yet and actually very happy with my life. I make a difference in our society and obviously you do not.
Claiming to grade lab reports this time of the school year? An obvious lie just to further his morning diatribe!
………at my school, we provide productive learning experience through the last day of the term. Sorry to burst your bubble mr. “christian”, I won’t be showing movies this last week of school.
We have an obvious unhappy, middle aged so-called-educator that resorts to lies and anonymous personal attacks to boost his self esteem.
……..Name ONE lie I have ever posted.
……..Oh, I have plenty of self esteem, unlike you. I don’t have to lean on some mythical sky god to survive in this world.
You are correct, the IB program at East produces some great graduates. Of course, many of the the comprehensive high schools do as well. Many of my former students have gone through the IB program and gone on to post graduate studies and productive careers.
One note, there are some who post here who will openly critcize the IB program.
Two years ago when my first grandson graduated the IB program I was criticized, the program was criticized… I think I’ve grown thicker skin for the second grandson’s special day. ;-)
We have outstanding youth in each school! It’s worth pausing to know our future is in such good hands.
And, a special thank you to you, Apophis, and every other teacher at every school and every level! You have my admiration and gratitude!
OK I am not trying to pick a fight, I am serious and curious too. Of those that are supporting Hillary Clinton, other then your thinking she will be in the trenches giving Conservatives a bloody nose and making their political lives a living hell. Do you have any other reasons? And please try not limit it to using phrase and platitudes. If you like her health care plan, what is it about her health care plan? Her economic plan, her foreign policy, what is it beyond the meaning less platitudes?
And it is my personal belief that even if Obama was electable, he might be worse than McCain.
There is nothing so dangerous as a cornered, wounded animal. That is what the GOP is right now. Reaching out to work with them can only cause the worst of them to come out.
How exactly do you see Hillary earning the nomination of our party? I agree that she is the better candidate to take on McCain, but it is unlikely that she will get the opportunity.
I hope you know that an inter-party civil war is just what the republics want. Now is the time to unite.
Apophis I agree but yet it seem to continue and focus not on differences in policy and the experience that is focused on is her fighting the right wing conspiracy. Not on sound decisions and track record of her voting leans. And it is true the media seems to fuel the fire because the election is not as interesting as a possible car wreck of a divided Democratic party. Yet another recent poll stating that a large group of Democrats would rather vote for Mc Cain than Obama.
To be blunt the only difference I see between Hillary and John is the R and D! Both are showing more platitudes and pie in the sky promises than substance. Granted that from what I have been seeing out of the major Republicans they still seem to think it is just a matter of more platitudes, catch phrase and finding bigger brighter shiny objects. You know fooling the American people and not actually change the direction the party had went that caused the down fall. So in a sense the same tactics as before so maybe it would take a trenches fighter. But that is if the status quo were to continue and the Democrats will not gain more seats in the house and Senate. So why make the same mistake the Republicans did, gain the White House, the Congress and the senate. But keep the hollow promises without real change?
The Deniers use the very nature of the scientific process against science. Either they do not understand how the process works, or they deliberately misconstrue it.
” And almost all scientists in the latest debate, including Keenlyside, agree that any temporary cooling doesn’t alter that - blips due to natural effects are to be expected.”
In 1913, black came up at the Monte Carlo roulette table 26 times in a row. The casino made millions, as usual, because the gamblers doubled and tripled their bets because they thought there was a pattern. They did not understand the nature of random chance.
The Warming Deniers jump on any mere indication that appears to support their views. All the while, the scientific community continues to discover more and more evidence that warming is a real phenomenon.
We, as a nation, could use this to develop new technologies and new industries and new jobs and new exports. But the Denier’s diseased ideology prevents them from looking forward and compels them to attack the theory and to cheer for dirty coal and petroleum trying to make a supposed political point.
One wit here referred to Al Gore’s private jet. Al Gore does not own a private jet. But anything goes for these guys.
Truth or lie; facts or distortions … all the same for these guys, apparently.
Very well put writerdog, I agree. People are hungry for some real change in D.C. The status quo doesn’t cut it anymore. There needs to be some fundamental changes in the way the government does business.
J what the Cons hate is being countered with logic and reason, they just do not know how to act if it is not about mudslinging and name calling. Why was Obama so sure when he said to a debate of foreign policy, “bring it on!”. Its because the current foreign policy that Mc Cain wants to continue is not better then a 12 y.o. school yard bully could have came up with!
In a sense the Cons love Hillary, they know that she would be playing on their level.
Jay I do not need to remind you what is at stake, he is somewhere in your house right now!
“How exactly do you see Hillary earning the nomination of our party? ”
It is my belief that Obama is unelectable. I think this will grow more and more clear as time plays out.
I wonder how many people there are out there now who already voted for Obama, and now regret that choice.
It is the job of the super delegates to determine the candidate best able to win. By August, it will be clear that Obama is not the man. The convention may choose Senator Clinton.
Or a floor fight may give us an entirely different candidate.
It bears mentioning again. The cons great hero Ronald Reagan was a corrupted Democrat and union sellout. A good and thoughtful man. But reprogrammed by the most vile people. I see Barack Obama as very susceptible to the same manipulation.
BlueJay - we obviously cannot count ‘remourse’ - in any direction. My concern is that if Obama wins a plurality of the popular vote but Clinton wins the nomination we will see 1968 all over again. I remember that all too well. So, my question to you is simple: If Clinton loses at the ballot box - using her own benchmarks - do you exit gracefully?
As I have noted before - there are things I like about BOTH of them. However I am very hard pressed to find ANYTHING I like about McBush any more.
As I said I was not wanting to start a fight, I was hoping that someone could point to a reason to vote for Hillary that I just do not see. If Hillary did win I do not see anything change from the way it was yesterday, if that is good or bad depends on where you stand.
Lindainks55 and other IB program supporters: The Wichita East High School IB program and, indeed, other advanced educational programs in the USD 259 school system provides a way for serious students to advance in their chosen fields along with other like-minded students who have dedicated themselves to a preparatory course for serious higher education. Obviously when these students move on to the college level they will be in competition with students from across the nation who have prepared themselves for serious studies at universities.
Frankly, students with less rigorous preparation at the high school level are going to be hard pressed to compete later in either college or military leadership positions.
So, here, let’s congratulate our East IB students as they approach another goal in their education.
As I have stated, I have been a Hillary Clinton supporter all along. I was elected a delegate for her at the Caucus in February to the 4th Congressional district caucus. The fact remains that Obama has more support within the party. I accept that and will openly support him when/if he is elected by the Convention to be the Democratic nominee.
It isn’t up to me so much Ben. I’d say Senator Clinton is entitled to exercise all of her options.
The arguement that it hurts the party? Well that works both ways.
IF Senator Clinton takes it as far as it will go, Obama supporters aren’t going to like it no matter the result. IF Senator Clinton is unduly pressured to withdraw, HER supporters are going to be unhappy. It’s likely a wash either way.
I can’t say I know much about the 68 convention. I was very young. And I tend not to want to read too much about it for fear of biases in a fight after the fact. I get that it was …contentious.
Which I should think such an important part of our political process SHOULD be.
I wish I had known you were at that caucus Apophis. I was there too and would like to have met you.
That caucus was what really got me to worrying about Obama.
I’ve just got a feeling. And admittedly, another way to say this is I have a cockeyed hunch.
Something just does not feel right about Obama. And I KNOW I’m not alone in that. I’ve posted those concerns elsewhere and I’m sure I will again.
As to his electability? I doubt that because people don’t like an unknown. Yeah Senator Clinton has her baggage. But that’s all out in the open. I think people will get more and more aprehensive about Obama as time comes closer to commit to him.
And that’s just based on what we DO know about him. I have to keep wondering what we don’t know.
I know the Obama supporters get impatient with me. But I would not be honest or giving you my best if I just shut up and sing.
Good question, which “BlueJay” never seems to support with, y’know, evidence?
I mean, if Barack Obama is such as inferior candidate, how is it he’s leading Senator Clinton?
I admire Senator Clinton a lot. She’s the fighter “BlueJay” wants and gets down and dirty with the worst of ‘em. But IT’S NOT WORKING!!
Moderate Republic Party voters (and “BlueJay” seems convinced those people don’t exist) aren’t strong for McSame, but would likely turn out in droves simply for the chance to vote against a Clinton again. She’s a wingnut lightning rod. She has a safe Senate seat, would be a superb Majority Leader with a Democratic president in the Oval Office….
“BlueJay” tries to spin straw into gold with thinly-veiled “Manchurian Candidate” scenarios about Obama which defy logic.
To his credit, “BlueJay” has not played the race card, but that’s beginning to appear like a code that really means, “America will not vote for a black man.” And it stinks.
The people (West Virginia, anyone?) who say they’d never vote for a black man are the same people who’d never vote for a woman or a Clinton. Or a Democrat, for that matter.
We should probably give McBush the Queen of Diamonds test. If he says, “Barack Obama is the kindest, bravest, warmest, most wonderful human being I’ve ever known in my life,” we’re in trouble.
I “stood for” Senator Clinton last February. Since that snowy day I have changed my support to Senator Obama, because I know more about him and (sadly) I’ve learned more about her too.
I am not in support of Florida and Michigan delegates being seated. If a compromise acceptable to both candidates is worked out, I too will accept it. I think any after-the-fact concession to the stated rules and consequences for breaking those rules puts the party in the position of having more states break / bend the rules. Why not? Why not make sure whatever your state does accomplishes your desired outcome? Florida’s Republican-dominated legislature wanted to cause havoc. If they get their desired outcome and there are true consequences will voters will allow that to happen again? Just maybe it will have a further affect of UNelecting some of those Republican legislators!
If Senator Clinton becomes the Democratic nominee in a fair way that reflects the will of the voters I will vote for her. If the Super Delegates choose her over the candidate with the most popular votes I will need to do some very serious thinking about what I will do. I know I will be sad, disillusioned and probably angry. I will see it as another part of business as usual that is corrupt and needs to be changed!
I also think I can overcome my personal feelings for the good of America! ‘Cause that’s what I see this election being — a choice between business as usual or a chance for improvement.
I don’t think stickin’ it to the Republicans makes anything better for Americans. It’s the same as I feel about torture — other countries torture doesn’t make it right, doesn’t make it something America should copy. America is bigger than other countries and shouldn’t stoop that low! Democrats are bigger than Republicans and shouldn’t stoop to the level we’ve see for the last almost eight years! Business as usual will get Democrats UNelected as quickly as it will Republicans. Allow history to show what bushco did and don’t dignify it as something worth emulating. Business as usual, especially what bushco has done to our country, MUST END!
Yes, Obama clearly has a solid record of ???, and consistently votes ‘not present’ on sensitive issues that may affect his political career.
Other than pandering to those who “were ‘agin’ him before they were ‘fer’ him, Obama has minimized his deception through his stealthy “change” message, by disguising any clear message through a barrage of muddled backpeddling.
The ‘chameleon’ candidate refractory attitude and sensitivity towards anything that might ruin his pristine record of ???, has proven to be Obama’s greatest asset.
That is, the art of tefloning the public’s view of a candidate is more important than making a stance on issues.
McCain is getting it easy from the media —- rumor has it that he frequently invites them to the back of the bus / plane plies them with free booze and regales them with tales of his philandering — they find that incredibly “HONEST” of him —— wait til the photos come out — film at eleven ….
Ok now that I have brought up the subject and to be fair to the Conservatives/ Republicans. Why would you vote for John Mc Cain other then he is the Republican in the race and the heir apparent to the GOP? Or why will you not vote for him, many of us do have our own candidate that if it was solely up to us we would have in place of Mc Cain. Mine is Ron Paul and because of Mc Cain stance of basically continuing Bush’s Iraq policy and economic policy I can not vote for him. Which if Hillary would become the Democratic candidate I would be hard pressed in November. I at first thought of just a write in protest but this is too important to me to simply throw my vote away. Having been raised to believe if one does not vote then they have no right to complain. LOL I could always tell when Dad voted or not in the Presidential race, either four years of content complaining or four years of silence on the matter.
Oedipus,
I got a chuckle out of it at your expense and that’s all that really matters.
By the way if you think my caustic personality is directed at everyone…you’re wrong, it’s pretty much reserved for you and a few other DemLibs on this blig that I hold in low respect.
I’ll take my chances. I know what the options are. And, I think more people are paying closer attention. I give credit for that to bushco. The few areas I can offer praise — made his father’s presidency look much better, taught us new ways to accomplish corruption and made us more aware of how watchful we should be. Oh, and, united many people. United those many against anything that smacks of continuing his failed policies.
Bush, Obama, and Dobson are riveted on Israel and Iran. They’re not alone.
By Joel C. Rosenberg
(Washington, D.C., May 15, 2008) — The eyes of the world are riveted today on Israel, the epicenter of the momentous events that are shaking our world and shaping our future.
President Bush delivered an important and controversial address to the Israeli parliament this morning. A few excerpts worth noting: “Some seem to believe we should negotiate with terrorists and radicals, as if some ingenious argument will persuade them they have been wrong all along,” the President noted. “We have heard this foolish delusion before. As Nazi tanks crossed into Poland in 1939, an American senator declared: ‘Lord, if only I could have talked to Hitler, all of this might have been avoided.’ We have an obligation to call this what it is - the false comfort of appeasement, which has been repeatedly discredited by history. Some people suggest that if the United States would just break ties with Israel, all our problems in the Middle East would go away. This is a tired argument that buys into the propaganda of our enemies, and America rejects it utterly. Israel’s population may be just over 7 million. But when you confront terror and evil, you are 307 million strong, because America stands with you. America stands with you in breaking up terrorist networks and denying the extremists sanctuary. And America stands with you in firmly opposing Iran’s nuclear weapons ambitions. Permitting the world’s leading sponsor of terror to possess the world’s deadliest weapon would be an unforgivable betrayal of future generations. For the sake of peace, the world must not allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon.”
Sen. Barack Obama — sounding quite defensive, in my judgment — quickly fired back, though the President did not mention the junior Illinois Senator by name, and may very well have been thinking more of former President Jimmy Carter.
“It is sad that President Bush would use a speech to the Knesset on the 6Oth anniversary of Israel’s independence to launch a false political attack,” Sen. Obama replied. “It is time to turn the page on eight years of policies that have strengthened Iran and failed to secure America or our ally Israel. Instead of tough talk and no action, we need to do what Kennedy, Nixon and Reagan did and use all elements of American power — including tough, principled, and direct diplomacy - to pressure countries like Iran and Syria. George Bush knows that I have never supported engagement with terrorists, and the President’s extraordinary politicization of foreign policy and the politics of fear do nothing to secure the American people or our stalwart ally Israel.”
Meanwhile, Dr. James Dobson — the most-listened-to evangelical Christian on radio anywhere on the planet, with more than 9 million listeners a week in North America alone — begins the first of two programs on God, evangelicals and Israel. Today, he, author Tom Doyle and I explore the Biblical theology of the miraculous and prophetic rebirth of the modern State of Israel 60 years ago this week, God’s everlasting and unconditional love and plan for the Jewish people and all the people of the epicenter, and the prophecies concerning Israel’s future. Tomorrow, we will focus on the work of The Joshua Fund, Tom’s organization, and some of the ways that evangelical Christians can pray for the people of the epicenter and bless Israel and her neighbors in the name of Jesus. Please tune in on your local Christian radio station, or go to our weblog for a link to listen on-line.
At the same time, hundreds of churches, conferences and radio stations around the country are also focusing on Israel over the next few weeks.
This weekend, for example, more than 500 radio stations will be airing the “Epicenter Radio Special,” a two-hour broadcast of the major speeches and key moments from the Epicenter Conference we held in Jerusalem last month. Please check local listings, or listen on-line at http://www.epicenter08.com.
On Saturday, May 17, Tim LaHaye and I will address the Southern California Strategic Issues Conference in Los Angeles. My subject will be, “All Eyes on the Epicenter: Russia, Iran and The Future of Israel.”
On Sunday, May 18, I will will speak on God’s plan and purpose for the nation of Israel at Calvary Chapel of Chino Valley, California.
On Saturday, May 24, I will have the privilege of serving as the closing night speaker at the “Past, Present & Future Conference” at the Tucson Convention Center in Arizona, before an expected audience of some 10,000 people. The event has been organized by pastors from all over the Tucson metro area. Randy Travis is the headlining musical act. Pastors Skip Heitzig and Robert Furrow will speak the first two nights. I will talk about Bible prophecy, Israel, and how we can know the God who knows the future.
For details on any of these events, please check on our weblog. Please keep my family, my team, and me in your prayers, if you would, as we have these remarkable opportunities to help millions of people to better understand God’s heart for the Israel and her neighbors at this critical moment in world history. Thanks so much.
Bush to Arab World: ‘Freedom and Peace Within Your Grasp’
Sunday, May 18, 2008
AP
SHARM EL-SHEIK, Egypt — President Bush lectured the Arab world Sunday about everything from political repression to the denial of women’s rights but ran into Palestinian complaints he is favoring Israel in stalled Mideast peace talks. “Freedom and peace are within your grasp,” Bush said despite scant signs of progress.
Winding up a five-day trip to the region, Bush took a strikingly tougher tone with Arab nations than he did with Israel in a speech Thursday to the Knesset. Israel received effusive praise from the president while Arab nations heard a litany of U.S. criticisms mixed with some compliments.
“Too often in the Middle East, politics has consisted of one leader in power and the opposition in jail,” Bush said in a speech to 1,500 global policymakers and business leaders at this Red Sea beach resort.
“America is deeply concerned about the plight of political prisoners in this region, as well as democratic activists who are intimidated or repressed, newspapers and civil society organizations that are shut down and dissidents whose voices are stifled,” Bush said.
“I call on all nations in this region to release their prisoners of conscience, open up their political debate and trust their people to chart their future,” Bush said.
Bush headed back to Washington with little to show for the trip. Saudi Arabia rebuffed his plea for help with soaring oil prices, Egypt’s leader questioned his seriousness about peacemaking and there was not enough progress in the peace talks to warrant a three-way meeting of Bush with Israeli and Palestinian leaders.
The Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, did not conceal his disappointment over Bush’s remarks to the Israeli parliament. The speech barely mentioned Palestinian hopes.
“We do not want the Americans to negotiate on our behalf,” Abbas said Sunday after talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. “All that we want from them is to stand by (our) legitimacy and have a minimum of neutrality.” Abbas had talked with Bush over dinner Saturday.
“As for the Israelis, we are in negotiations with them,” the Palestinian leader said. “But we don’t want to sell delusions (to the world) and say that the matters are solved or will be solved tomorrow. … We haven’t sealed a single case yet.”
The trip was Bush’s second to the Mideast this year. His national security adviser, Stephen Hadley, said Bush might return again before his term ends in January if “there is work for him to advance the peace process.”
The White House made clear that Bush’s goal for a peace accord before his leaves office does not mean it will be put into place by then or produce an immediate Palestinian state. “That would be a process that would take years,” Hadley said.
Bush ended his visit with an address to the World Economic Forum on the Middle East, an offshoot of the annual gathering of political and business leaders in Davos, Switzerland.
After talking privately with key leaders, the president in public touched only broadly on Mideast peacemaking. He did not suggest concrete steps to resolve the generations-old differences standing in the way of an agreement.
“Palestinians must fight terror and continue to build the institutions of a free and peaceful society,” Bush said. “Israel must make tough sacrifices for peace, ease the restrictions on Palestinians. Arab states, especially oil-rich nations, must seize this opportunity to invest aggressively in the Palestinian people and to move past their old resentments against Israel.”
“And all nations in the region must stand together in confronting Hamas, which is attempting to undermine efforts at peace with acts of terror and violence” from the Gaza Strip, Bush said. Hamas, which the U.S. considers a terrorist group, controls that territory; the U.S.-backed Abbas is in charge of the West Bank.
The heart of Bush’s speech was a warning that Mideast nations lag behind the developing world and cannot count on their oil wealth forever.
Bush urged countries to make their economies more diverse, open to free trade, with lower taxes and protection for intellectual property rights.
He called for political changes that bring competitive, legitimate elections where leaders are held to account and appealed to nations to push back against the negative influence of “spoilers” such as Iran and Syria.
He urged an expansion of women’s rights as “a matter of morality and of basic math. No nation that cuts off half its population from opportunities will be as productive or prosperous as it could be. Women are a formidable force, as I have seen in my own family and my own administration.”
At the same time, Bush hailed democratic advances in countries such as Turkey, Afghanistan, Iraq, Morocco and Jordan and said, “The light of liberty is beginning to shine.”
Bush’s speech recalled his promise in his second inaugural address to work in every nation for “ending tyranny in our world.” One of the obvious targets of his message was Egypt, the country hosting the conference.
Egypt has often been publicly singled out by his administration, especially in its early years, as a country that needs to do more in terms of political liberalization and democracy. Egypt did hold its first presidential elections in 2005 but pulled back following strong gains by the Muslim Brotherhood in later parliamentary elections.
The most prominent secular leader was jailed, independent newspaper editors were sentenced to prison for criticizing the president and his government, and hundreds of members of the Muslim Brotherhood were put behind bars. Public criticism of Mubarak’s government by the Bush administration, however, has been increasingly muted in recent years as the situation in Iraq worsened and worries grew over Iran, and as the U.S. sought Egypt’s help on a Palestinian-Israeli peace deal.
Bush said political changes must accompany economic ones in Egypt.
Our dysfunctional media, and the Republic’s “family values” candidate,
‘What will we do in Campaign 08 when the press corps helps voters “imagine?” ‘ http://www.dailyhowler.com/dh090106.html
“But in December 1999, Nancy Gibbs and John Dickerson, writing in Time, described the way their cohort was covering — and covering up for — their champion:
GIBBS/DICKERSON (12/13/99): And then there are the stories he tells — to which, if there’s a pattern, it’s to exalt other people and deflate himself.
A presidential candidate is not supposed to tell you about the rules he broke or the strippers he dated, or the time he arrived so drunk that he fell through the screen door of the young lady he was wooing.
The candor tells you more than the content, and reporters sometimes just decide to take McCain off the record because they don’t want to see him flame out and burn up a great story.
I am not a one issue voter. I look at all the candidates views and determine that it is better to vote for someone who I agree with on 60% of things than someone who I agree with on maybe 5%.
It seems that you have consumed yourself with the war being your single issue.
What is it about Obama or Clinton that makes them better about the Iraq war?
Do you honestly think either of them are just going to completely withdrawl? Of course not.
Like the typical Democrats they will slowly do it while things fall apart.
I would rather see someone who is interested in winning, not retreating.
mrcontroversy
Posted May 18, 2008 at 2:01 pm | Permalink
I just tried to post, and it says, “Your comment is awaiting moderation”.
Anybody else getting that? Can somebody tell me what that means?
———————————-
It means that the “big eye” of the FCC is closer than you think.
On Sunday, May 18, many pastors across the UCC will be preaching on race in hopes of beginning a sacred conversation, a dialogue that is needed in our pews, our homes and the hallways of power across our country. After May 18, congregations are encouraged to develop a months-long process in order to set aside the necessary time and attention needed to structure a sacred conversation about race.
The UCC is holding this national dialogue in order to foster a spirit of healing and unity in our churches and communities. While much has been said during the past few weeks about the Rev. Jeremiah A Wright Jr., this dialogue among our members is intended to be a larger conversation, one not focused directly or exclusively on the recent controversy, but one certainly influenced by it. Find a UCC church near you.
Sacred conversations are never easy, especially when honest talk confronts our nation’s painful past and speaks directly to the injustices of the present day. Yet sacred conversations can, and often do, honor the value of diverse life experiences, requiring an openness to hear each others’ viewpoints. Growth often happens when honest conversations are communicated in a respectful environment.
In the coming days and weeks, this webpage will be a repository for resources to assist with preaching preparation and worship planning for May 18. In addition, you will soon find materials to assist your congregation with how to plan church-wide and community-wide dialogues that will enable “sacred conversations” to take place.
While May 18 is an opportunity for UCC pastors to preach collectively on a common theme, it’s impossible for a sacred conversation on race to be a single-day event. Instead, pastors and lay leaders are encouraged to begin thinking how the coming months can be used to appropriately plan and organize your congregation’s role in facilitating a sacred conversation on race.”
Where is God not mentioned in this weblink?
Is He not part of the healing process?
We are all descendents of the one man Adam, if you believe in God’s word, so we are one race, the human race.
Why make the distinctions about race all the time?
The second Adam, Christ, is the only way to resolve our differences, and through the power of His Resurrection.
So, why do you feel the need to blatantly LIE American?? Note the following references to GOD — PLEASE READ, an then you might want to apologize to the UCC folks??
=========================================
Preaching and Theological Resources
A Pastoral Letter on Racism from UCC’s Collegium of Officers
Principles and Assumptions Underlying a Conversation on Race (Perkins/Otto)
A Sacred Conversation on Race - Theological Perspectives (Perkins/Otto)
Lectionary Reflections: Trinity Sunday (Norman Gottwald and Laura Lagerquist-Gottwald)
Lectionary Reflections: Launching Sacred Conversations (Angela Bauer-Levesque)
Lectionary Reflections: Great Commissioning (Herb Perkins)
Lectionary Reflections: Sermon Seeds for Trinity Sunday (Valentino Lassiter)
Related Worship Prayers and Litanies
Prayer of Confession from the Amistad Dedication
Prayer of Confession, for Racial Justice Sunday
Call to Worship litany adapted from Trinity UCC
“Sacred Conversation,” a hymn by Jim Ahrend
Pastoral Prayer: Open our Hearts to Dialogue
Confesión / Prayer of Confession
Additional ‘Worship Ways’ Online Resources
Confession: Racial Justice Sunday
O Compassionate Healer: Prayers for Racial Justice Sunday
Like Trees by the Water: Prayer for Racial Justice Sunday
Toward A Just and Beloved Community: Litany for Martin Luther King, Jr. Sunday
To the “Still Speaking Church”: Prayer for Martin Luther King, Jr. Sunday
Readers’ Theatre: Words of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Prayer for the UCC by COREM
For Courage, for Peace, for Unity: COREM Prays for the United Church of Christ
A Communion Prayer for Trinity Sunday
We Cannot Rest on Remembering: Prayer for Amistad Sunday
“I apologize. And I assume you are willing to apologize for the many asinine statements you’ve made in the past. Now can you answer the question, or do you have more red herrings you’d like to throw out?”
I have apologized numerous times for when I have made a mistake or crossed the line on saying something.
So if there is something else in particular you were looking for an apology from me on, please let me know.
I don’t see this as a red herring either. You don’t simply get to leave the blog in what appears to be a temper tantrum, calling me names and saying things about my father and I, and then come back a couple of days later and act like all is well.
So, please forgive me for expecting an apology.
Yes, I do accept the historical premise of (heterosexual) serial monogamy.
Criminal abortionist quack Harvey Karman, 84, who served 2 1/2 years in prison for illegal abortions, died May 6 in Californicatia. In the early 1970s he invented a soft, flexible tube, or cannula, that was widely adopted in the United States and developing countries for committing first-trimester abortions. Sometimes, babies live long enough to die in the cannula, or in the vacuum bottle into which they are brutally dislodged. Karman also invented a disastrous second-trimester abortion device called the super coil, which was inserted into the uterus and expanded when exposed to moisture, causing a miscarriage. It caused serious complications, including hemorrhaging and infection, when it was used on about a dozen women in Philadelphia on Mother’s Day in 1972. Karman’s ultimate goal was for mothers to safely commit self-abortions, and he invented a cheap do-it-yourself method called the lunch-hour abortion, using a manually-operated vacuum syringe and thin, flexible plastic tube to commit early abortions.
Mr. Karman is survived by 3 children and 6 grandchildren. We might wonder whether he hated them as much as he hated the rest of the world’s children.
—
YouTube chuckle for Kansans - Nazier than you think:
youtube.com/watch?v=gAcDBb6kJt0
Lindainks55: My apologies. I knew you looked familiar but so many people at the IB recognition ceremony, it was difficult to recognize all. A few minutes later, I realized you were you! Should have remembered since you sat across from me at the recent WE blogger meetup.
Comparison of me to “Wink” Hartman was natural since we share the same nickname but we have no connection.
And best wishes to your son, an East High IB graduating senior. So many outstanding students in that group. That truly is an achievement.
I’ve just got a feeling. And admittedly, another way to say this is I have a cockeyed hunch.
Pretty much one of the reasons I didn’t choose Hillary as my first choice. Or second. Or even third. I listed her above Kucinich, Dodd, and Gavel, my bottom three. At least that put her in my top 5. No cockeyed hunches from me, though. I’d rather call it women’s intuition. ;)
None of that means you or anyone else shouldn’t support Hillary or anyone else you want to support. It only means that each of us is an individual with different opinions. That’s not a bad thing.
The bad thing is when we choose one and don’t get our way, and then refuse to even consider anyone else. Voting for the person from the other party out of spite, even though one disagrees totally, isn’t doing one iota of good for this country. It’s childish and selfish. (I’m not saying anyone here is doing that, so don’t go off on a rant or take it personally.)
If Hillary wants to continue her campaign all the way, that’s okay with me. She has every right to do so within the parameters of the system. I believe you’re right, BlueJay, when you say that if she withdraws, many of her supports will be unhappy, and if she doesn’t, many Obama supporters will, too. That’s politics.
Obama could use a little more seasoning, IMHO, but I also believe, if elected, he will surround himself with intelligent people he will listen to and learn from.
The cons hate her writerdog.
That may be true, but it’s Hillary they want to see get the nomination. Now THAT makes me suspicious.
BlueJay, you have every right to speak up about your support. What I can’t agree with is snarling with members of your own party because they don’t think the same way you do. I may not agree with you, but that doesn’t mean I think you’re an idiot. I save that for the REAL idiots. ;)
It’s interesting to see the differences between the two parties. While the Dems are duking it out between Obama and Clinton, the Repubs, as a whole, are blindly nodding and following the one man the leaders of the party chose. Granted, that’s my POV. In the end, I have faith that the majority of the Dem party will come together to support whomever is chosen, as long as it’s done correctly and within the parameters set by the system and the party.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - A small but startling sign welcomed the gun lovers who arrived at the National Rifle Association’s annual gathering Friday.
“Firearms WILL NOT be allowed in Hall A during the Celebration of American Values Leadership Forum.”
Beyond this sign at the Kentucky Exposition Center was a row of 10 metal detectors. They were manned by uniformed Secret Service officers deployed because the scheduled speakers included presumptive Republican nominee John McCain.
Will Manly’s April 15 opinion letter to Barack Obama, Hays Daily News: Good!
“Dear Barack Obama:
I grew to like you over the last year.
I’ve always thought of you as dangerously naive at best. Eloquent, gifted, genuine, yes. But dangerously naive at best.
I couldn’t vote for you — but not because of your funny name or your lunatic pastor. I couldn’t vote for you because you say we should raise taxes (even on the rich, who I’m convinced already pay too much), and because you say we should abandon Iraq (which I’m convinced would be surrendering a war we must win), and because you don’t respect the Second Amendment (which I’m convinced should disqualify any politician from any office).
Still, I’ve liked your message of unity and your ability to inspire. And, since your rise I’ve hunted, quite frantically, for young conservative leaders with your talent. (To my relief, I found Bobby Jindal.)
And I’ve long said if you beat Hillary Clinton, you will have done your country a tremendous service. But anymore I’m having a harder and harder time rooting for you.
First came your wife’s comment about being proud of America for the first time — conveniently, right after you started winning primaries. Then came your own words about your grandmother, who is just a “typical white person” — a racist, or at least someone with racist tendencies. (I’m a “typical white person,” I suppose, and I’m no racist. In fact, little makes me angrier than when it’s insinuated I am.)
Sometimes people say things they don’t really mean. But this is a pattern.
Last week we heard your comments about small-town America. Someone at a San Francisco fundraiser asked you why it’s so hard for Democrats to win in rural areas. You said:
“You go into some of these small towns in Pennsylvania, and like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing’s replaced them … So it’s not surprising then that they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them … ”
Is that a minority? HEY CLETUS, GET THE GUN! (If only we had a job to go to, some time in the last 25 years … )
Here’s a thought: Maybe gun rights voters know gun control laws kill people and steal freedom.
Here’s a thought: Maybe some of us have moral objections to an immigration system that forces rule-followers to wait decades for legal status, and rewards border-violators with amnesty.
Here’s a thought: Maybe some Americans cling to their church because their pastor is a nice person, because they find love there, because there they have something they can believe in.
Here’s a thought: Maybe, just maybe, us simpletons in small towns find it harder to be bigoted than all o’ y’all cityfolk. Maybe, in small towns, where everybody knows your name — and how hard you work, if you pay your taxes, how well you treat your neighbors, how often you volunteer in the community, and whether or not you’re a good parent — people see the content of your character, so they don’t give a hoot about the color of your skin. (But I grew up in a small town where about a third of the population is of a different race than me. What do I know?)
And here’s my favorite thought of all: Maybe small-town folks are — really — capable of thinking. All on our own.
You’re wrong about why small-town Americans don’t vote for Democrats.
We don’t vote for Democrats because we’re self-reliant so we don’t like the government trying to “solve” everything for us. And because you tell your rich friends in San Francisco that we’re dumb. And because, each election, whichever one of you is running for president traipses all over the country telling us you have all the answers, that you’re the one on our side, that you respect our way of life. But each time, a little bit here and there slips out — and by the end of the campaign, we can tell what you think about us. And we manage to learn who you really are.
And we see you’re just a horse’s a$$”
“In addition to lynchings and terrorist attacks by the Democrat’s terrorist organizations (as revealed in the 1871 Senate hearings), Democrats legislated Black Codes, Jim Crow laws and a multitude of other repressive legislation at the federal and state levels (and repealed other key pieces of Civil Rights legislation) all in an effort to deny blacks their rights as citizens. The entire system of racism in America was meticulously thought-out and carried-out by a powerful political machine. And that political machine according to Historians, was the Democratic Party - the party of “White Supremacy.”
“Based on these findings, I sent the April 5, 2004 letter to the D[emocratic] N[ational] C[ommittee] requesting that they issue an apology to African Americans. In 2005, I sent a second letter to the DNC, again requesting an apology. When the DNC ignored these requests, I filed my first lawsuit on December 10, 2005.”
“Without an apology and repentance there is no way the Democratic Party can ever sincerely honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Ms Rosa Parks; two individuals who literally gave their lives to destroy the racist programs, policies and practices that were established by the Democratic Party. And without an apology and repentance there is no way the Democratic Party can ever respect African Americans. Their past programs and practices from slavery through Jim Crow which literally destroyed the lives of millions of blacks, was an act of mass murder. And to hire an attorney to defend that racist past is not only an official endorsement of murder - it is an insult to the entire black race and to those whites who gave their lives to eliminate racial injustice.”
Sixty years before Chalmers Johnson’s condemnation of “military Keynesianism”, Communist leader William Z. Foster anticipated his point by describing “big capital” Keynesianism. In a speech in 1948, he said: “Building a war economy has many political advantages for the reactionary capitalist Keynesians… Armament expenditures by the government are incomparably more favorable from a profit standpoint to the capitalists… in contrast to the less profitable reformist program of public works and the strengthening of the workers’ buying power and social security systems. Moreover, gigantic munitions orders can easily be secured under the cover of hysterical war scares, and besides this, the resultant militarization greatly facilitates big capital’s drive toward fascism… At the same time that the big capitalists readily agree to have the government spend billions yearly for the war economy, they also fill the air with strident cries for government “economy”. It will be seen, however, that their ideas of economy in government sum up pretty much to reducing the outlay of all sorts of social services and to the securing of lower taxes for themselves.”
Sometimes even Communists can see things more clearly than the CONS . . .
The people who filed a lawsuit against the Corps disagree with little jimmymac — there’s no mention of the Sierra Club.
From the National Sierra Club Press Releases:
“And they weren’t the only ones who had concerns: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Environmental Protection Agency and the Louisiana Legislature all urged the Corps to look at how the proposed project would have impacted the area. It refused to do so. That led the Sierra Club, American Rivers, the National Wildlife Federation, Arkansas and Mississippi Wildlife Federations, and the Mississippi River Basin Alliance to take the Corps to Court. The case was soon settled, with the Corps of Engineers agreeing in 1997 to look at ways of minimizing the damage to the wetlands.”
It appears that cosmos is a serial liar who does not believe press releases from the Sierra Club that the Sierra Club was involved in the lawsuit along with others.
———————————————————————-
Oh, here you go cosmos, a federal Judge dismisses the case against the Federal Government and the Corp of Engineers. That should stick in your “Sierra Club” throat for awhile.
Katrina Lawsuit Vs. Army Corps Dismissed
By CAIN BURDEAU and MICHAEL KUNZELMAN
Associated Press Writers
NEW ORLEANS — Saying his hands were tied by law, a federal judge dismissed a class-action lawsuit against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers over levee breaches after Hurricane Katrina, but rebuked the agency for failing to protect the city.
U.S. District Judge Stanwood Duval ruled Wednesday that the Corps should be held immune over failures in drainage canals that caused much of the flooding of New Orleans in August 2005. He cited the Flood Control Act of 1928, which protects the federal government from lawsuits when flood control projects like levees break.
Good question, which “BlueJay” never seems to support with, y’know, evidence?
And you mentioned racism.
Well we do have to be honest. There IS that element.
But it goes both ways. There are white people who will not vote for Obama. There are black people who will not vote for anyone but Obama.
I don’t care for either dynamic. But they are there. Do racist whites outnumber racist blacks? I don’t know.
And I DID say why I think he is unelectable. Too much has come to light too late. That fuels suspicions that there is even more to know and not like.
I’ve expressed all along the way the various reasons I can’t vote for Obama. Not the least of these is?
He hasn’t had to work hard enough for it.
I mean people FAINT at his rallies for crying out loud. Any person serious about politics should be troubled by that and the total media pass Obama has been given. It is a bad thing for us to start electing leaders this way.
And of course, there is my well known hatred and mistrust of the cons.
Folks? The power brokers. The movers and shakers behind the Republican machine? They are more dangerous and harmful than any terrorist could dream of being. Oh they wave the flag a lot. Bud deep inside? They are about nothing but them and how much more money and power they have than everybody else.
These folks are what gave us Ronald Reagan.
Ronald Reagan WAS once a good man. But his wife decided she needed nice things. Ronnie needed to move with the money crowd. SO hapless Ronald was reprogrammed. HE had made it. (They had made him) So by gosh it must be possible for everyone to make it if only bad ol’ government would get outta the way!
Now comes Barack Obama. Used to winning easy. Big crowds screaming his name. Little to no accountability. Totally disconnected with the common man.
I’m sorry. But to me? I think “yes we can” is gonna morph into “yes you can”. And with all the attendant blame placed firmly on those who can’t.
PS?
I mean, if Barack Obama is such as inferior candidate, how is it he’s leading Senator Clinton?
But AGAIN. WHERE is he leading her? Kansas? Idaho? Come on.
“I mean people FAINT at his rallies for crying out loud”
I’ve also seen them faint at Hill’s rallys and also when Bill is on stage…..maybe it has something to do with the crowds and the temperature of the room?
Anyway…Obama has the right attitude to be a good leader…and as far as how hard he has worked, he wasn’t born into money (unlike Hill) and he’s worked for everything he achieved. I think that is a another good quality…the fact that no one bought his way through the world.
Hillary and McCain were born with wealth and/or power, they’ve never lived in the same world as us..of course they pretend that they have because it’s what they think Americans want to hear. Of the three of them, only Obama is self made.
Do you happen to remember Treasure Chest comics from Catholic grade school?
There was a series called Chuck White and in it there was a subplot of the 1972 Presidential election. (although the comic itself was early 60’s)
Anyway, the campaign slogan was “Pettigrew in 72″ and the culmination of the story was that John Pettigrew was a black man (shown in the very last panel so no one knew until then). He won the election BTW.
Just thought I’d ask since we have similar backgrounds.
McCain’s Military Record in the Senate
by TexasVeteran
I cringe at the thought of Senator John McCain as Commander-in-Chief. Too many people are afraid to question Senator McCain’s record and those that do are often lambasted as being unAmerican or insane. The media won’t cover his senatorial record, but they certainly oblige to perpetuate his POW-hero status. I am a combat veteran and I deserve my 1st Amendment rights as much as the next person. I have no desire to slander Senator McCain’s military service, but I am definitely critical of his senatorial record.
In over 3 decades of service, Senator McCain has had plenty of opportunity to draft legislation or to assist our military, but he has been found absent.
- Military retiree benefits have been slashed to all-time lows while Senator McCain remained silent.
- The Veterans Administration hospitals have been cess pools for years and Senator McCain has remained silent.
- Soldiers still qualify for “food stamps” because their pay isn’t adequate to support a family. It is revolting to me to send BILLION$ of dollars overseas and domestically on illegal aliens, but can’t pay soldiers enough to keep them off government assistance programs.
Early on, family members of Vietnam POW/MIAs thought Senator McCain would be an advocate to their cause. They were largely left in tears as Senators McCain and Kerry had government information destroyed or restricted making it more difficult on families to get POW/MIA information. While the disposition of American MIA/POWs was still unknown, Senator McCain fought for the normalization of relations with Vietnam. He even fought for up to $50,000 reparations for select Vietnamese soldiers, but failed to seek any form of compensation for our own American troops or their surviving families.
On issue after issue, Senator John McCain has been found lacking when the military needed him most. The military was decimated in the 1990s, with training funds drying up, base closers and a reduction-in-force. Where was Senator McCain? Many senators looked to Senators McCain and Kerry for leadership on veteran’s issues and found none. Many of the conservatives that faulted Senator Kerry’s military track record won’t even look at Senator McCain’s.
McCain is known as a POW, for Campaign Finance Reform, the Kennedy Immigration Bill, the Keating 5 fiasco, having a cute, rich wife, but he definitely isn’t known for his leadership on veteran’s issues. Interestingly enough, Senator McCain fought for the surge to send more troops to fight and die in Iraq, but where has he been for over 30 years when the military needed him?
It probably isn’t fair for veterans and military families to expect so much from one senator, but it isn’t right for McCain to get a heroes welcome based on his 3 decades of legislative record either.
There is nothing wrong with empowering people, JR….it’s the only way to personal success. The government can’t do it for us, we HAVE to do it for ourselves.
If one believes they can’t be sucessful…then they can’t.
For many Americans, poverty is only the symptom of the lack of esteem, confidence, and drive that often undermines their lives.
No excuses…unless you are mentally, cognitively, or physically challenged and/or disabled..then there are NO EXCUSES.
It’s appropriate to ask whether McCain’s shoot-down was caused by bad luck or simple incompetence on his part. Of course, there is no way to answer definitively. But we can form an assessment based on the rest of McCain’s military record. At the Naval Academy, McCain graduated almost bottom of his class. He was 790th out of 795. McCain lost many aircraft over the course of his military career – five in total. Most pilots who lost aircraft at the rate McCain did would have been kicked out of the service. But McCain had protection from up on high. His father was an admiral. He was an untouchable. So McCain blundered his way through his military career until he was finally shot down.
Kansas Native…can’t say I remember that…I was in Catholic high school (Madonna High) by the late 60s. The one thing I’ll never forget is the Baltimore Catechism that we had to memorize word for word in the 3rd and 4th grade.
For God’s sake, JR…there is nothing wrong with being “self made”. That’s what living in America is all about.
You remind me of something I heard once about the Russian culture. In America we work hard to “keep up with the Jones”…but in Russia, if your neighbor has a cow and you don’t…you just kill his cow so he can’t have one either.
I’d much rather be lead by someone who worked for what he has than someone who has been given everything and doesn’t know an honest day’s work. That’s one of the reasons why Bush has been such a disaster for our country…if it wasn’t for his daddy, he’d be selling used cars on South Broadway…a profession he’s obviously more qualified for.
JR…I work 3 jobs now and I don’t feel victimized at all…I’m glad I have the opportuntiy to make a decent living…even if I have to work my butt off for it. THAT’S called being an American.
BTW…I work at Wesley in the wound care clinic, I work at Interim Health Care doing home health, and I have 4 rental properties that I totally remodeled by myself and I take care of without any help from my husband because he hates them.
I’m glad I live in a country that provides opportunity for those who have ambition and are willing to work hard.
That doesn’t make me a conservative or a liberal, a Republican or a Democrat…that makes me an American.
Wow Mary_Caruso,
I tip my hat and bow. You are the American ideal with the attitude you show above. YOU GO!
I hope you do well with your work and rental properties. But get that husband of yours to help, ha.
I’m afraid you are whispering into a wind though talking to JR about that type of work ethic.
The opportunities are still there for those who want them, JR. If you can’t find them, don’t depend on the government to help you..it ain’t gonna happen. It may not be the kind of work you want to do…but there are careers that you can get scholarships and grants for…nursing and medicine are just two. To hear everyone bitch about how there are no jobs or opportunities…how can we possibly have a critical nursing shortage in this country?
They need to make it easier to get to those programs Mary. There aren’t enough programs, and the ones that we do have are way expensive.
There needs to be better ways. Does anyone know somoene who earned a nursing degree online? I tried that route once, and it was a total joke. Waste of 1000 dollars. So I’m really skeptical of trying another.
Junior doesn’t want opportunity, he wants a hand out.
It’s a shame, because he will be waiting for his whole life for it and it will never come.
Like Mary said, go into nursing, there are even scholarships available. Of course Junior may not have the ‘kidneys’ for it or at least the stick-to-it-ness to do it.
You can get into a community college (I graduated from Butler)and take advantage of grants and scholarships…anyone over 25 yrs old can qualify for a student loan that doesn’t have to be paid back until you graduate and have a job…when I applied at Wesley, they had about 200 nursing positions open. I’m 55 and got a job without any problem. You can become a nurse in two years with an associate degree…you have to get the prerequisites out of the way first.
It’s no more expensive than buying a new car.
And again I tip my hat and bow. With that attitude that’s why, if the guy truly is a great boss, you will do great too.
But I was wrong, that’s not the company and owner I was thinking of, although the guy I’m thinking of that owns a Home Care company is also a great guy and very fair.
Wish I could stay and chat…but the boss of the house is telling me to check on the neighbors dog, their gone, and then take her out to eat.
And that’s the law!
246 Comments
This deserves another go-around:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9Ebg4kBUrk
I thought it was very interesting that Jack Pelton, the CEO of Cessna Aircraft, has an editorial column in the paper today in which he endorses the Governor’s energy plan. If a few more CEOs come out of the closet against the coal plants - at least that is what I read in between the lines -
then maybe next legislative session the Republican non-leadership can get around to doing the work of Kansas, instead of playing political games with the Governor.
SO WHAT HAPPENED TO GLOBAL WARMING?
It’s not just that it’s disappeared from media headlines this year - shoved off by the credit crunch and natural disasters, for example. It can’t be ignored that 2007 came and went as another very warm year - the 7th hottest on record since 1850 according to the World Meteorological Organization. But it wasn’t a record. In fact that was 1998, a full 10 years ago - the year of an exceptional El Nino, a Pacific weather pattern which heats the whole globe. So is global warming not living up to the hype?
Two weeks ago Leibniz Institute’s Noel Keenlyside stirred an academic hornet’s nest by saying that we may have to wait longer - a decade or more - for another peak year, because a natural weakening in ocean currents may be cooling sea temperatures. Many scientists flatly rejected the idea, saying Keenlyside had over-estimated the effect. But some pointed out that a recent switch in a weather pattern called the North Atlantic Oscillation could indeed cool temperatures globally.
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change said last year recent warming was “unequivocal” and most of it “very likely” manmade. And almost all scientists in the latest debate, including Keenlyside, agree that any temporary cooling doesn’t alter that - blips due to natural effects are to be expected.
But how long is a blip? No-one knows. It could be many years before there’s an El Nino as bad as 1998, scientists say. And in the meantime the doubts will grow, just as policymakers try to negotiate one of the most complex global treaties ever. A new Kyoto Protocol will affect issues of equity and poverty: in the case of poor countries the right to grow, for island states perhaps the right to exist, and for rich countries the right to compete on a level economic playing field.
Meanwhile one or two doubters are already saying the present lull in warming casts doubt on just how far manmade greenhouse gases are influencing the climate. MIT’s Richard Lindzen reckoned that if it was as bad as all that temperatures would be rising faster.
I see we are again graced with a “Hank Price” global climate change denial ditribe.
Anyone surprised?
Good morning Apophis!
ditribe=diatribe?
Whatever. Diatribe more accurately reflects your posts, not mine. Seems you also don’t know the definitions of the words you misspell.
We should expect more from our self professed ‘career educator’!
sorry mr. EVANGELICAL…………….I dropped an “a”. Shame on me! Imagine, sitting here on an early Sunday morning grading LAB reports and multi-tasking on the web.
Shame on me for dropping that “a”.
Of course, a LAB report is irrelevant to you since you don’t believe in real science anyway …………denial of global climate change, your belief in the lie of creationism, etc.
Sorry price, the word “diAtribe” very accurate;y reflects the vast majority of your posts.
HEHEHE
Like shooting fish in a barrel!
yep, mr. “christian”, it sure is.
How can you live with yourself price?
Look at the fundie Hank belittling Apophis for a typo. Why are so many evangelicals so unforgiving? Apophis is right most of us could do without Hanks cut and paste jobs.
“MIT’s Richard Lindzen”
Another kept man…
Poor sentence structure, improper use of quotation marks, misspelled words, failure to capitalize proper nouns. . .
All signs of an uneducated man.
Never adds anything constructive to the conversation; seemingly obsessed with a poster that is obviously happy and self assured. . .
All signs of man that has reached middle aged and is very unhappy with his life.
Claiming to grade lab reports this time of the school year? An obvious lie just to further his morning diatribe!
We have an obvious unhappy, middle aged so-called-educator that resorts to lies and anonymous personal attacks to boost his self esteem.
Nimrod.
Tsk tsk… Hank, from the reaction it’s obvious that you’re again insulting a key doctrine of liberal religion.
And on Sunday morning to boot.
Nimrod, oh what a christian thing to call someone. Hank, shouldn’t you be in church, instead of calling Apophis names, and making fun of his career?
HLP
Posted May 17, 2008 at 9:18 pm | Permalink
“I took a picture of a Volkswagen ADD and then made a positive from the negative so I could run off posters of the ADD for the printer-reader.
I ran off 100 posters of the ADD and started hanging them around the boat a few weeks before the good senator’s expected visit.
Want to see the ADD?”
And which world are YOU posting from this morning outlander?
Only a true nimrod misspells the same word four times.
Please fellow posters, please. We sort through the personal insults to find substance in the evening posts. Now will it be an all-day event?
The East High School IB Recognition Ceremony is this afternoon. Then a special reception and dinner, followed by a party. It’s a good day to be a Grandma!
We have some great youth in our city. I’m very proud of what they’ve accomplished and their future aspirations. It’s a good day to appreciate our youth!
HLP
Posted May 18, 2008 at 8:32 am | Permalink
Poor sentence structure, improper use of quotation marks, misspelled words, failure to capitalize proper nouns. . .
………since when does GRAMMAR matteron a blog? (I guess only to an anal retentive, evangelical)
All signs of an uneducated man.
………andTHIS statement coming from a price.
Never adds anything constructive to the conversation; seemingly obsessed with a poster that is obviously happy and self assured. . .
………anyone who doesn’t agree with a price is considered non-constructive to their narrow minds. As to the “obsessed” statement, I won’t even go there.
All signs of man that has reached middle aged and is very unhappy with his life.
………not quite middle aged yet and actually very happy with my life. I make a difference in our society and obviously you do not.
Claiming to grade lab reports this time of the school year? An obvious lie just to further his morning diatribe!
………at my school, we provide productive learning experience through the last day of the term. Sorry to burst your bubble mr. “christian”, I won’t be showing movies this last week of school.
We have an obvious unhappy, middle aged so-called-educator that resorts to lies and anonymous personal attacks to boost his self esteem.
……..Name ONE lie I have ever posted.
……..Oh, I have plenty of self esteem, unlike you. I don’t have to lean on some mythical sky god to survive in this world.
Nimrod.
……..talk about petty name-calling!
Sorry, lindainks55, for my part in this. Although you have to admit the anti-global warming post, the cut and paste jobs, are a bit borish.
You are correct, the IB program at East produces some great graduates. Of course, many of the the comprehensive high schools do as well. Many of my former students have gone through the IB program and gone on to post graduate studies and productive careers.
One note, there are some who post here who will openly critcize the IB program.
Be forewarned!
Two years ago when my first grandson graduated the IB program I was criticized, the program was criticized… I think I’ve grown thicker skin for the second grandson’s special day. ;-)
We have outstanding youth in each school! It’s worth pausing to know our future is in such good hands.
And, a special thank you to you, Apophis, and every other teacher at every school and every level! You have my admiration and gratitude!
OK I am not trying to pick a fight, I am serious and curious too. Of those that are supporting Hillary Clinton, other then your thinking she will be in the trenches giving Conservatives a bloody nose and making their political lives a living hell. Do you have any other reasons? And please try not limit it to using phrase and platitudes. If you like her health care plan, what is it about her health care plan? Her economic plan, her foreign policy, what is it beyond the meaning less platitudes?
Writerdog, isn’t it pointless at this time to even ponder Hillary’s potential?
I am a Clinotn supporter, but it is over.
Now is the time to unite the party to prevent McSame from taking the White House.
“I am a Clinotn supporter, but it is over.”
Oh no it’s not.
And it is my personal belief that even if Obama was electable, he might be worse than McCain.
There is nothing so dangerous as a cornered, wounded animal. That is what the GOP is right now. Reaching out to work with them can only cause the worst of them to come out.
The cons hate her writerdog. That is good enough for me.
I want them given a big heaping dose of what they hate.
I’m sorry you see it this way JR.
How exactly do you see Hillary earning the nomination of our party? I agree that she is the better candidate to take on McCain, but it is unlikely that she will get the opportunity.
I hope you know that an inter-party civil war is just what the republics want. Now is the time to unite.
Apophis I agree but yet it seem to continue and focus not on differences in policy and the experience that is focused on is her fighting the right wing conspiracy. Not on sound decisions and track record of her voting leans. And it is true the media seems to fuel the fire because the election is not as interesting as a possible car wreck of a divided Democratic party. Yet another recent poll stating that a large group of Democrats would rather vote for Mc Cain than Obama.
To be blunt the only difference I see between Hillary and John is the R and D! Both are showing more platitudes and pie in the sky promises than substance. Granted that from what I have been seeing out of the major Republicans they still seem to think it is just a matter of more platitudes, catch phrase and finding bigger brighter shiny objects. You know fooling the American people and not actually change the direction the party had went that caused the down fall. So in a sense the same tactics as before so maybe it would take a trenches fighter. But that is if the status quo were to continue and the Democrats will not gain more seats in the house and Senate. So why make the same mistake the Republicans did, gain the White House, the Congress and the senate. But keep the hollow promises without real change?
The Deniers use the very nature of the scientific process against science. Either they do not understand how the process works, or they deliberately misconstrue it.
” And almost all scientists in the latest debate, including Keenlyside, agree that any temporary cooling doesn’t alter that - blips due to natural effects are to be expected.”
In 1913, black came up at the Monte Carlo roulette table 26 times in a row. The casino made millions, as usual, because the gamblers doubled and tripled their bets because they thought there was a pattern. They did not understand the nature of random chance.
The Warming Deniers jump on any mere indication that appears to support their views. All the while, the scientific community continues to discover more and more evidence that warming is a real phenomenon.
We, as a nation, could use this to develop new technologies and new industries and new jobs and new exports. But the Denier’s diseased ideology prevents them from looking forward and compels them to attack the theory and to cheer for dirty coal and petroleum trying to make a supposed political point.
One wit here referred to Al Gore’s private jet. Al Gore does not own a private jet. But anything goes for these guys.
Truth or lie; facts or distortions … all the same for these guys, apparently.
Namaste!
Very well put writerdog, I agree. People are hungry for some real change in D.C. The status quo doesn’t cut it anymore. There needs to be some fundamental changes in the way the government does business.
J what the Cons hate is being countered with logic and reason, they just do not know how to act if it is not about mudslinging and name calling. Why was Obama so sure when he said to a debate of foreign policy, “bring it on!”. Its because the current foreign policy that Mc Cain wants to continue is not better then a 12 y.o. school yard bully could have came up with!
In a sense the Cons love Hillary, they know that she would be playing on their level.
Jay I do not need to remind you what is at stake, he is somewhere in your house right now!
“How exactly do you see Hillary earning the nomination of our party? ”
It is my belief that Obama is unelectable. I think this will grow more and more clear as time plays out.
I wonder how many people there are out there now who already voted for Obama, and now regret that choice.
It is the job of the super delegates to determine the candidate best able to win. By August, it will be clear that Obama is not the man. The convention may choose Senator Clinton.
Or a floor fight may give us an entirely different candidate.
It bears mentioning again. The cons great hero Ronald Reagan was a corrupted Democrat and union sellout. A good and thoughtful man. But reprogrammed by the most vile people. I see Barack Obama as very susceptible to the same manipulation.
BlueJay - will Clinton reach the benchmark set by McAuliffe - a plurality of the total popular vote?
I don’t know ben.
Clearly Florida and Michigan have to be addressed somehow.
And as mentioned, we cannot know the number of votes already cast that may carry “buyer’s remorse”.
BlueJay - we obviously cannot count ‘remourse’ - in any direction. My concern is that if Obama wins a plurality of the popular vote but Clinton wins the nomination we will see 1968 all over again. I remember that all too well. So, my question to you is simple: If Clinton loses at the ballot box - using her own benchmarks - do you exit gracefully?
As I have noted before - there are things I like about BOTH of them. However I am very hard pressed to find ANYTHING I like about McBush any more.
We disagree, “BlueJay” –
But you know that.
I see no need to belabor the point.
As I said I was not wanting to start a fight, I was hoping that someone could point to a reason to vote for Hillary that I just do not see. If Hillary did win I do not see anything change from the way it was yesterday, if that is good or bad depends on where you stand.
This interesting if you like this kind of thing. Time line of anti-evolution movement.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnsJGakj1io
Lindainks55 and other IB program supporters: The Wichita East High School IB program and, indeed, other advanced educational programs in the USD 259 school system provides a way for serious students to advance in their chosen fields along with other like-minded students who have dedicated themselves to a preparatory course for serious higher education. Obviously when these students move on to the college level they will be in competition with students from across the nation who have prepared themselves for serious studies at universities.
Frankly, students with less rigorous preparation at the high school level are going to be hard pressed to compete later in either college or military leadership positions.
So, here, let’s congratulate our East IB students as they approach another goal in their education.
JR
As I have stated, I have been a Hillary Clinton supporter all along. I was elected a delegate for her at the Caucus in February to the 4th Congressional district caucus. The fact remains that Obama has more support within the party. I accept that and will openly support him when/if he is elected by the Convention to be the Democratic nominee.
How exactly is Obama “unelectable”?
I have been a Hillary supporter all along as well.
It does not look like she will be the nominee. I will support Obama 100 % if he is the nominee.
The rhetoric between the two has calmed down considerably as they begin to focus on the real battle of this election cycle.
I would support Hillary if she is selected for the # 2 spot and think the two would be a formidable force for Democrats.
I also think that Govs Sebelius or Richardson would be good choices as well.
Well,
It isn’t up to me so much Ben. I’d say Senator Clinton is entitled to exercise all of her options.
The arguement that it hurts the party? Well that works both ways.
IF Senator Clinton takes it as far as it will go, Obama supporters aren’t going to like it no matter the result. IF Senator Clinton is unduly pressured to withdraw, HER supporters are going to be unhappy. It’s likely a wash either way.
I can’t say I know much about the 68 convention. I was very young. And I tend not to want to read too much about it for fear of biases in a fight after the fact. I get that it was …contentious.
Which I should think such an important part of our political process SHOULD be.
I wish I had known you were at that caucus Apophis. I was there too and would like to have met you.
That caucus was what really got me to worrying about Obama.
I’ve just got a feeling. And admittedly, another way to say this is I have a cockeyed hunch.
Something just does not feel right about Obama. And I KNOW I’m not alone in that. I’ve posted those concerns elsewhere and I’m sure I will again.
As to his electability? I doubt that because people don’t like an unknown. Yeah Senator Clinton has her baggage. But that’s all out in the open. I think people will get more and more aprehensive about Obama as time comes closer to commit to him.
And that’s just based on what we DO know about him. I have to keep wondering what we don’t know.
I know the Obama supporters get impatient with me. But I would not be honest or giving you my best if I just shut up and sing.
“Apophis” asks –
“How exactly is Obama “unelectable”?”
Good question, which “BlueJay” never seems to support with, y’know, evidence?
I mean, if Barack Obama is such as inferior candidate, how is it he’s leading Senator Clinton?
I admire Senator Clinton a lot. She’s the fighter “BlueJay” wants and gets down and dirty with the worst of ‘em. But IT’S NOT WORKING!!
Moderate Republic Party voters (and “BlueJay” seems convinced those people don’t exist) aren’t strong for McSame, but would likely turn out in droves simply for the chance to vote against a Clinton again. She’s a wingnut lightning rod. She has a safe Senate seat, would be a superb Majority Leader with a Democratic president in the Oval Office….
“BlueJay” tries to spin straw into gold with thinly-veiled “Manchurian Candidate” scenarios about Obama which defy logic.
To his credit, “BlueJay” has not played the race card, but that’s beginning to appear like a code that really means, “America will not vote for a black man.” And it stinks.
The people (West Virginia, anyone?) who say they’d never vote for a black man are the same people who’d never vote for a woman or a Clinton. Or a Democrat, for that matter.
If you think about it, McCain is the more likely “Manchurian Candidate”.
Remember, he was held by our enemies as a POW.
Do I think it’s likely?
No, but he does fit the criteria more so than Obama.
“Apophis” –
We should probably give McBush the Queen of Diamonds test. If he says, “Barack Obama is the kindest, bravest, warmest, most wonderful human being I’ve ever known in my life,” we’re in trouble.
Apophis posts,
“sitting here on an early Sunday morning grading LAB reports and multi-tasking on the web.”
Please, don’t try to multi-task, you can’t seem to get even one thing at a time right as you’ve proven over and over.
I “stood for” Senator Clinton last February. Since that snowy day I have changed my support to Senator Obama, because I know more about him and (sadly) I’ve learned more about her too.
I am not in support of Florida and Michigan delegates being seated. If a compromise acceptable to both candidates is worked out, I too will accept it. I think any after-the-fact concession to the stated rules and consequences for breaking those rules puts the party in the position of having more states break / bend the rules. Why not? Why not make sure whatever your state does accomplishes your desired outcome? Florida’s Republican-dominated legislature wanted to cause havoc. If they get their desired outcome and there are true consequences will voters will allow that to happen again? Just maybe it will have a further affect of UNelecting some of those Republican legislators!
If Senator Clinton becomes the Democratic nominee in a fair way that reflects the will of the voters I will vote for her. If the Super Delegates choose her over the candidate with the most popular votes I will need to do some very serious thinking about what I will do. I know I will be sad, disillusioned and probably angry. I will see it as another part of business as usual that is corrupt and needs to be changed!
I also think I can overcome my personal feelings for the good of America! ‘Cause that’s what I see this election being — a choice between business as usual or a chance for improvement.
I don’t think stickin’ it to the Republicans makes anything better for Americans. It’s the same as I feel about torture — other countries torture doesn’t make it right, doesn’t make it something America should copy. America is bigger than other countries and shouldn’t stoop that low! Democrats are bigger than Republicans and shouldn’t stoop to the level we’ve see for the last almost eight years! Business as usual will get Democrats UNelected as quickly as it will Republicans. Allow history to show what bushco did and don’t dignify it as something worth emulating. Business as usual, especially what bushco has done to our country, MUST END!
What does Hank Price think when he studies this graph?
http://www.realclimate.org/images/giss-15yr.jpg
‘Uncertainty, noise and the art of model-data comparison’
http://www.realclimate.org/index.php/archives/2008/01/uncertainty-noise-and-the-art-of-model-data-comparison
BTW Hank, a satirical cartoon is not an advertisement. And an advertisement is called an “ad”, not an “add”.
BlueJay posted May 18, 2008 at 10:08 am
“And as mentioned, we cannot know the number of votes already cast that may carry “buyer’s remorse”.”
‘Californians Would Switch Clinton Vote For Obama’
http://cbs5.com/politics/poll.clinton.obama.2.720136.html
…………..boxtop THINKS he is being witty again.
All he does is to make an arse out of himself over and over and over………….
Yes, Obama clearly has a solid record of ???, and consistently votes ‘not present’ on sensitive issues that may affect his political career.
Other than pandering to those who “were ‘agin’ him before they were ‘fer’ him, Obama has minimized his deception through his stealthy “change” message, by disguising any clear message through a barrage of muddled backpeddling.
The ‘chameleon’ candidate refractory attitude and sensitivity towards anything that might ruin his pristine record of ???, has proven to be Obama’s greatest asset.
That is, the art of tefloning the public’s view of a candidate is more important than making a stance on issues.
McCain is getting it easy from the media —- rumor has it that he frequently invites them to the back of the bus / plane plies them with free booze and regales them with tales of his philandering — they find that incredibly “HONEST” of him —— wait til the photos come out — film at eleven ….
Ok now that I have brought up the subject and to be fair to the Conservatives/ Republicans. Why would you vote for John Mc Cain other then he is the Republican in the race and the heir apparent to the GOP? Or why will you not vote for him, many of us do have our own candidate that if it was solely up to us we would have in place of Mc Cain. Mine is Ron Paul and because of Mc Cain stance of basically continuing Bush’s Iraq policy and economic policy I can not vote for him. Which if Hillary would become the Democratic candidate I would be hard pressed in November. I at first thought of just a write in protest but this is too important to me to simply throw my vote away. Having been raised to believe if one does not vote then they have no right to complain. LOL I could always tell when Dad voted or not in the Presidential race, either four years of content complaining or four years of silence on the matter.
Oedipus,
I got a chuckle out of it at your expense and that’s all that really matters.
By the way if you think my caustic personality is directed at everyone…you’re wrong, it’s pretty much reserved for you and a few other DemLibs on this blig that I hold in low respect.
I’ll take my chances. I know what the options are. And, I think more people are paying closer attention. I give credit for that to bushco. The few areas I can offer praise — made his father’s presidency look much better, taught us new ways to accomplish corruption and made us more aware of how watchful we should be. Oh, and, united many people. United those many against anything that smacks of continuing his failed policies.
That’s ‘blog’, not ‘blig’.
I feel I have to make that clear for those dimwits I was addressing.
* * * * FLASH TRAFFIC: WASHINGTON UPDATE * * * *
ALL EYES ON THE EPICENTER
Bush, Obama, and Dobson are riveted on Israel and Iran. They’re not alone.
By Joel C. Rosenberg
(Washington, D.C., May 15, 2008) — The eyes of the world are riveted today on Israel, the epicenter of the momentous events that are shaking our world and shaping our future.
President Bush delivered an important and controversial address to the Israeli parliament this morning. A few excerpts worth noting: “Some seem to believe we should negotiate with terrorists and radicals, as if some ingenious argument will persuade them they have been wrong all along,” the President noted. “We have heard this foolish delusion before. As Nazi tanks crossed into Poland in 1939, an American senator declared: ‘Lord, if only I could have talked to Hitler, all of this might have been avoided.’ We have an obligation to call this what it is - the false comfort of appeasement, which has been repeatedly discredited by history. Some people suggest that if the United States would just break ties with Israel, all our problems in the Middle East would go away. This is a tired argument that buys into the propaganda of our enemies, and America rejects it utterly. Israel’s population may be just over 7 million. But when you confront terror and evil, you are 307 million strong, because America stands with you. America stands with you in breaking up terrorist networks and denying the extremists sanctuary. And America stands with you in firmly opposing Iran’s nuclear weapons ambitions. Permitting the world’s leading sponsor of terror to possess the world’s deadliest weapon would be an unforgivable betrayal of future generations. For the sake of peace, the world must not allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon.”
Sen. Barack Obama — sounding quite defensive, in my judgment — quickly fired back, though the President did not mention the junior Illinois Senator by name, and may very well have been thinking more of former President Jimmy Carter.
“It is sad that President Bush would use a speech to the Knesset on the 6Oth anniversary of Israel’s independence to launch a false political attack,” Sen. Obama replied. “It is time to turn the page on eight years of policies that have strengthened Iran and failed to secure America or our ally Israel. Instead of tough talk and no action, we need to do what Kennedy, Nixon and Reagan did and use all elements of American power — including tough, principled, and direct diplomacy - to pressure countries like Iran and Syria. George Bush knows that I have never supported engagement with terrorists, and the President’s extraordinary politicization of foreign policy and the politics of fear do nothing to secure the American people or our stalwart ally Israel.”
Meanwhile, Dr. James Dobson — the most-listened-to evangelical Christian on radio anywhere on the planet, with more than 9 million listeners a week in North America alone — begins the first of two programs on God, evangelicals and Israel. Today, he, author Tom Doyle and I explore the Biblical theology of the miraculous and prophetic rebirth of the modern State of Israel 60 years ago this week, God’s everlasting and unconditional love and plan for the Jewish people and all the people of the epicenter, and the prophecies concerning Israel’s future. Tomorrow, we will focus on the work of The Joshua Fund, Tom’s organization, and some of the ways that evangelical Christians can pray for the people of the epicenter and bless Israel and her neighbors in the name of Jesus. Please tune in on your local Christian radio station, or go to our weblog for a link to listen on-line.
At the same time, hundreds of churches, conferences and radio stations around the country are also focusing on Israel over the next few weeks.
This weekend, for example, more than 500 radio stations will be airing the “Epicenter Radio Special,” a two-hour broadcast of the major speeches and key moments from the Epicenter Conference we held in Jerusalem last month. Please check local listings, or listen on-line at http://www.epicenter08.com.
On Saturday, May 17, Tim LaHaye and I will address the Southern California Strategic Issues Conference in Los Angeles. My subject will be, “All Eyes on the Epicenter: Russia, Iran and The Future of Israel.”
On Sunday, May 18, I will will speak on God’s plan and purpose for the nation of Israel at Calvary Chapel of Chino Valley, California.
On Saturday, May 24, I will have the privilege of serving as the closing night speaker at the “Past, Present & Future Conference” at the Tucson Convention Center in Arizona, before an expected audience of some 10,000 people. The event has been organized by pastors from all over the Tucson metro area. Randy Travis is the headlining musical act. Pastors Skip Heitzig and Robert Furrow will speak the first two nights. I will talk about Bible prophecy, Israel, and how we can know the God who knows the future.
For details on any of these events, please check on our weblog. Please keep my family, my team, and me in your prayers, if you would, as we have these remarkable opportunities to help millions of people to better understand God’s heart for the Israel and her neighbors at this critical moment in world history. Thanks so much.
Bush to Arab World: ‘Freedom and Peace Within Your Grasp’
Sunday, May 18, 2008
AP
SHARM EL-SHEIK, Egypt — President Bush lectured the Arab world Sunday about everything from political repression to the denial of women’s rights but ran into Palestinian complaints he is favoring Israel in stalled Mideast peace talks. “Freedom and peace are within your grasp,” Bush said despite scant signs of progress.
Winding up a five-day trip to the region, Bush took a strikingly tougher tone with Arab nations than he did with Israel in a speech Thursday to the Knesset. Israel received effusive praise from the president while Arab nations heard a litany of U.S. criticisms mixed with some compliments.
“Too often in the Middle East, politics has consisted of one leader in power and the opposition in jail,” Bush said in a speech to 1,500 global policymakers and business leaders at this Red Sea beach resort.
“America is deeply concerned about the plight of political prisoners in this region, as well as democratic activists who are intimidated or repressed, newspapers and civil society organizations that are shut down and dissidents whose voices are stifled,” Bush said.
“I call on all nations in this region to release their prisoners of conscience, open up their political debate and trust their people to chart their future,” Bush said.
Bush headed back to Washington with little to show for the trip. Saudi Arabia rebuffed his plea for help with soaring oil prices, Egypt’s leader questioned his seriousness about peacemaking and there was not enough progress in the peace talks to warrant a three-way meeting of Bush with Israeli and Palestinian leaders.
The Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, did not conceal his disappointment over Bush’s remarks to the Israeli parliament. The speech barely mentioned Palestinian hopes.
“We do not want the Americans to negotiate on our behalf,” Abbas said Sunday after talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. “All that we want from them is to stand by (our) legitimacy and have a minimum of neutrality.” Abbas had talked with Bush over dinner Saturday.
“As for the Israelis, we are in negotiations with them,” the Palestinian leader said. “But we don’t want to sell delusions (to the world) and say that the matters are solved or will be solved tomorrow. … We haven’t sealed a single case yet.”
The trip was Bush’s second to the Mideast this year. His national security adviser, Stephen Hadley, said Bush might return again before his term ends in January if “there is work for him to advance the peace process.”
The White House made clear that Bush’s goal for a peace accord before his leaves office does not mean it will be put into place by then or produce an immediate Palestinian state. “That would be a process that would take years,” Hadley said.
Bush ended his visit with an address to the World Economic Forum on the Middle East, an offshoot of the annual gathering of political and business leaders in Davos, Switzerland.
After talking privately with key leaders, the president in public touched only broadly on Mideast peacemaking. He did not suggest concrete steps to resolve the generations-old differences standing in the way of an agreement.
“Palestinians must fight terror and continue to build the institutions of a free and peaceful society,” Bush said. “Israel must make tough sacrifices for peace, ease the restrictions on Palestinians. Arab states, especially oil-rich nations, must seize this opportunity to invest aggressively in the Palestinian people and to move past their old resentments against Israel.”
“And all nations in the region must stand together in confronting Hamas, which is attempting to undermine efforts at peace with acts of terror and violence” from the Gaza Strip, Bush said. Hamas, which the U.S. considers a terrorist group, controls that territory; the U.S.-backed Abbas is in charge of the West Bank.
The heart of Bush’s speech was a warning that Mideast nations lag behind the developing world and cannot count on their oil wealth forever.
Bush urged countries to make their economies more diverse, open to free trade, with lower taxes and protection for intellectual property rights.
He called for political changes that bring competitive, legitimate elections where leaders are held to account and appealed to nations to push back against the negative influence of “spoilers” such as Iran and Syria.
He urged an expansion of women’s rights as “a matter of morality and of basic math. No nation that cuts off half its population from opportunities will be as productive or prosperous as it could be. Women are a formidable force, as I have seen in my own family and my own administration.”
At the same time, Bush hailed democratic advances in countries such as Turkey, Afghanistan, Iraq, Morocco and Jordan and said, “The light of liberty is beginning to shine.”
Bush’s speech recalled his promise in his second inaugural address to work in every nation for “ending tyranny in our world.” One of the obvious targets of his message was Egypt, the country hosting the conference.
Egypt has often been publicly singled out by his administration, especially in its early years, as a country that needs to do more in terms of political liberalization and democracy. Egypt did hold its first presidential elections in 2005 but pulled back following strong gains by the Muslim Brotherhood in later parliamentary elections.
The most prominent secular leader was jailed, independent newspaper editors were sentenced to prison for criticizing the president and his government, and hundreds of members of the Muslim Brotherhood were put behind bars. Public criticism of Mubarak’s government by the Bush administration, however, has been increasingly muted in recent years as the situation in Iraq worsened and worries grew over Iran, and as the U.S. sought Egypt’s help on a Palestinian-Israeli peace deal.
Bush said political changes must accompany economic ones in Egypt.
http://www.ucc.org/sacred-conversation/
http://www.uua.org/news/newssubmissions/110026.shtml
http://www.uua.org/news/newssubmissions/110016.shtml
Our dysfunctional media, and the Republic’s “family values” candidate,
‘What will we do in Campaign 08 when the press corps helps voters “imagine?” ‘
http://www.dailyhowler.com/dh090106.html
“But in December 1999, Nancy Gibbs and John Dickerson, writing in Time, described the way their cohort was covering — and covering up for — their champion:
GIBBS/DICKERSON (12/13/99): And then there are the stories he tells — to which, if there’s a pattern, it’s to exalt other people and deflate himself.
A presidential candidate is not supposed to tell you about the rules he broke or the strippers he dated, or the time he arrived so drunk that he fell through the screen door of the young lady he was wooing.
The candor tells you more than the content, and reporters sometimes just decide to take McCain off the record because they don’t want to see him flame out and burn up a great story.
‘The Power and The Story’
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,992801-8,00.html
http://www.pcusa.org
http://www.pcusa.org/devotions
http://www.elca.org/Our-Faith-In-Action.aspx
Writerdog,
I am not a one issue voter. I look at all the candidates views and determine that it is better to vote for someone who I agree with on 60% of things than someone who I agree with on maybe 5%.
It seems that you have consumed yourself with the war being your single issue.
What is it about Obama or Clinton that makes them better about the Iraq war?
Do you honestly think either of them are just going to completely withdrawl? Of course not.
Like the typical Democrats they will slowly do it while things fall apart.
I would rather see someone who is interested in winning, not retreating.
I just tried to post, and it says, “Your comment is awaiting moderation”.
Anybody else getting that? Can somebody tell me what that means?
mrcontroversy
Posted May 18, 2008 at 2:01 pm | Permalink
I just tried to post, and it says, “Your comment is awaiting moderation”.
Anybody else getting that? Can somebody tell me what that means?
———————————-
It means that the “big eye” of the FCC is closer than you think.
(chortles)
Chas posted from the UCC website link above:
“Sacred Conversations - Let’s talk about race”
On Sunday, May 18, many pastors across the UCC will be preaching on race in hopes of beginning a sacred conversation, a dialogue that is needed in our pews, our homes and the hallways of power across our country. After May 18, congregations are encouraged to develop a months-long process in order to set aside the necessary time and attention needed to structure a sacred conversation about race.
The UCC is holding this national dialogue in order to foster a spirit of healing and unity in our churches and communities. While much has been said during the past few weeks about the Rev. Jeremiah A Wright Jr., this dialogue among our members is intended to be a larger conversation, one not focused directly or exclusively on the recent controversy, but one certainly influenced by it. Find a UCC church near you.
Sacred conversations are never easy, especially when honest talk confronts our nation’s painful past and speaks directly to the injustices of the present day. Yet sacred conversations can, and often do, honor the value of diverse life experiences, requiring an openness to hear each others’ viewpoints. Growth often happens when honest conversations are communicated in a respectful environment.
In the coming days and weeks, this webpage will be a repository for resources to assist with preaching preparation and worship planning for May 18. In addition, you will soon find materials to assist your congregation with how to plan church-wide and community-wide dialogues that will enable “sacred conversations” to take place.
While May 18 is an opportunity for UCC pastors to preach collectively on a common theme, it’s impossible for a sacred conversation on race to be a single-day event. Instead, pastors and lay leaders are encouraged to begin thinking how the coming months can be used to appropriately plan and organize your congregation’s role in facilitating a sacred conversation on race.”
Where is God not mentioned in this weblink?
Is He not part of the healing process?
We are all descendents of the one man Adam, if you believe in God’s word, so we are one race, the human race.
Why make the distinctions about race all the time?
The second Adam, Christ, is the only way to resolve our differences, and through the power of His Resurrection.
So, why do you feel the need to blatantly LIE American?? Note the following references to GOD — PLEASE READ, an then you might want to apologize to the UCC folks??
=========================================
Preaching and Theological Resources
A Pastoral Letter on Racism from UCC’s Collegium of Officers
Principles and Assumptions Underlying a Conversation on Race (Perkins/Otto)
A Sacred Conversation on Race - Theological Perspectives (Perkins/Otto)
Lectionary Reflections: Trinity Sunday (Norman Gottwald and Laura Lagerquist-Gottwald)
Lectionary Reflections: Launching Sacred Conversations (Angela Bauer-Levesque)
Lectionary Reflections: Great Commissioning (Herb Perkins)
Lectionary Reflections: Sermon Seeds for Trinity Sunday (Valentino Lassiter)
Related Worship Prayers and Litanies
Prayer of Confession from the Amistad Dedication
Prayer of Confession, for Racial Justice Sunday
Call to Worship litany adapted from Trinity UCC
“Sacred Conversation,” a hymn by Jim Ahrend
Pastoral Prayer: Open our Hearts to Dialogue
Confesión / Prayer of Confession
Additional ‘Worship Ways’ Online Resources
Confession: Racial Justice Sunday
O Compassionate Healer: Prayers for Racial Justice Sunday
Like Trees by the Water: Prayer for Racial Justice Sunday
Toward A Just and Beloved Community: Litany for Martin Luther King, Jr. Sunday
To the “Still Speaking Church”: Prayer for Martin Luther King, Jr. Sunday
Readers’ Theatre: Words of Martin Luther King, Jr.
Prayer for the UCC by COREM
For Courage, for Peace, for Unity: COREM Prays for the United Church of Christ
A Communion Prayer for Trinity Sunday
We Cannot Rest on Remembering: Prayer for Amistad Sunday
http://www.ucc.org/sacred-conversation/
StevenEDavis
Posted May 17, 2008 at 3:14 pm | Permalink
“I apologize. And I assume you are willing to apologize for the many asinine statements you’ve made in the past. Now can you answer the question, or do you have more red herrings you’d like to throw out?”
http://blogs.kansas.com/weblog/2008/05/open-thread-517/#comment-351054
Steven,
Thank you for the apology, I think.
I have apologized numerous times for when I have made a mistake or crossed the line on saying something.
So if there is something else in particular you were looking for an apology from me on, please let me know.
I don’t see this as a red herring either. You don’t simply get to leave the blog in what appears to be a temper tantrum, calling me names and saying things about my father and I, and then come back a couple of days later and act like all is well.
So, please forgive me for expecting an apology.
Yes, I do accept the historical premise of (heterosexual) serial monogamy.
annie_moose
Posted May 18, 2008 at 10:43 am | Permalink
This interesting if you like this kind of thing. Time line of anti-evolution movement.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DnsJGakj1io
—
Thanks for that, moose! Very entertaining. I watched the whole thing: six parts the sum of running time for which was just under an hour.
Brayton mentioned that Paramount has a movie in the works revolving around the Dover trial. Could be real watchable, too.
Criminal abortionist quack Harvey Karman, 84, who served 2 1/2 years in prison for illegal abortions, died May 6 in Californicatia. In the early 1970s he invented a soft, flexible tube, or cannula, that was widely adopted in the United States and developing countries for committing first-trimester abortions. Sometimes, babies live long enough to die in the cannula, or in the vacuum bottle into which they are brutally dislodged. Karman also invented a disastrous second-trimester abortion device called the super coil, which was inserted into the uterus and expanded when exposed to moisture, causing a miscarriage. It caused serious complications, including hemorrhaging and infection, when it was used on about a dozen women in Philadelphia on Mother’s Day in 1972. Karman’s ultimate goal was for mothers to safely commit self-abortions, and he invented a cheap do-it-yourself method called the lunch-hour abortion, using a manually-operated vacuum syringe and thin, flexible plastic tube to commit early abortions.
Mr. Karman is survived by 3 children and 6 grandchildren. We might wonder whether he hated them as much as he hated the rest of the world’s children.
—
YouTube chuckle for Kansans - Nazier than you think:
youtube.com/watch?v=gAcDBb6kJt0
Annie Thanks for the YouTube — that was terriffic!!
Lindainks55: My apologies. I knew you looked familiar but so many people at the IB recognition ceremony, it was difficult to recognize all. A few minutes later, I realized you were you! Should have remembered since you sat across from me at the recent WE blogger meetup.
Comparison of me to “Wink” Hartman was natural since we share the same nickname but we have no connection.
And best wishes to your son, an East High IB graduating senior. So many outstanding students in that group. That truly is an achievement.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GEtZlR3zp4c
Wow, check the Straight Talk Express have it one way then the other then the first way then “I never said what I just said.”
I’m going to love this election!
MrC.
It means you tried to post using some forbidden word.
I wrote about “The Big B@ng” one time, and it wouldn’t let me post because of the word “b ang.”
See if you can figure out what word flagged the system, and re-post.
I’ve just got a feeling. And admittedly, another way to say this is I have a cockeyed hunch.
Pretty much one of the reasons I didn’t choose Hillary as my first choice. Or second. Or even third. I listed her above Kucinich, Dodd, and Gavel, my bottom three. At least that put her in my top 5. No cockeyed hunches from me, though. I’d rather call it women’s intuition. ;)
None of that means you or anyone else shouldn’t support Hillary or anyone else you want to support. It only means that each of us is an individual with different opinions. That’s not a bad thing.
The bad thing is when we choose one and don’t get our way, and then refuse to even consider anyone else. Voting for the person from the other party out of spite, even though one disagrees totally, isn’t doing one iota of good for this country. It’s childish and selfish. (I’m not saying anyone here is doing that, so don’t go off on a rant or take it personally.)
If Hillary wants to continue her campaign all the way, that’s okay with me. She has every right to do so within the parameters of the system. I believe you’re right, BlueJay, when you say that if she withdraws, many of her supports will be unhappy, and if she doesn’t, many Obama supporters will, too. That’s politics.
Obama could use a little more seasoning, IMHO, but I also believe, if elected, he will surround himself with intelligent people he will listen to and learn from.
The cons hate her writerdog.
That may be true, but it’s Hillary they want to see get the nomination. Now THAT makes me suspicious.
BlueJay, you have every right to speak up about your support. What I can’t agree with is snarling with members of your own party because they don’t think the same way you do. I may not agree with you, but that doesn’t mean I think you’re an idiot. I save that for the REAL idiots. ;)
It’s interesting to see the differences between the two parties. While the Dems are duking it out between Obama and Clinton, the Repubs, as a whole, are blindly nodding and following the one man the leaders of the party chose. Granted, that’s my POV. In the end, I have faith that the majority of the Dem party will come together to support whomever is chosen, as long as it’s done correctly and within the parameters set by the system and the party.
MrC,
You didn’t by any chance use the word T e X a S, did you?
Now THIS is funny:
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - A small but startling sign welcomed the gun lovers who arrived at the National Rifle Association’s annual gathering Friday.
“Firearms WILL NOT be allowed in Hall A during the Celebration of American Values Leadership Forum.”
Beyond this sign at the Kentucky Exposition Center was a row of 10 metal detectors. They were manned by uniformed Secret Service officers deployed because the scheduled speakers included presumptive Republican nominee John McCain.
Will Manly’s April 15 opinion letter to Barack Obama, Hays Daily News: Good!
“Dear Barack Obama:
I grew to like you over the last year.
I’ve always thought of you as dangerously naive at best. Eloquent, gifted, genuine, yes. But dangerously naive at best.
I couldn’t vote for you — but not because of your funny name or your lunatic pastor. I couldn’t vote for you because you say we should raise taxes (even on the rich, who I’m convinced already pay too much), and because you say we should abandon Iraq (which I’m convinced would be surrendering a war we must win), and because you don’t respect the Second Amendment (which I’m convinced should disqualify any politician from any office).
Still, I’ve liked your message of unity and your ability to inspire. And, since your rise I’ve hunted, quite frantically, for young conservative leaders with your talent. (To my relief, I found Bobby Jindal.)
And I’ve long said if you beat Hillary Clinton, you will have done your country a tremendous service. But anymore I’m having a harder and harder time rooting for you.
First came your wife’s comment about being proud of America for the first time — conveniently, right after you started winning primaries. Then came your own words about your grandmother, who is just a “typical white person” — a racist, or at least someone with racist tendencies. (I’m a “typical white person,” I suppose, and I’m no racist. In fact, little makes me angrier than when it’s insinuated I am.)
Sometimes people say things they don’t really mean. But this is a pattern.
Last week we heard your comments about small-town America. Someone at a San Francisco fundraiser asked you why it’s so hard for Democrats to win in rural areas. You said:
“You go into some of these small towns in Pennsylvania, and like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing’s replaced them … So it’s not surprising then that they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them … ”
Is that a minority? HEY CLETUS, GET THE GUN! (If only we had a job to go to, some time in the last 25 years … )
Here’s a thought: Maybe gun rights voters know gun control laws kill people and steal freedom.
Here’s a thought: Maybe some of us have moral objections to an immigration system that forces rule-followers to wait decades for legal status, and rewards border-violators with amnesty.
Here’s a thought: Maybe some Americans cling to their church because their pastor is a nice person, because they find love there, because there they have something they can believe in.
Here’s a thought: Maybe, just maybe, us simpletons in small towns find it harder to be bigoted than all o’ y’all cityfolk. Maybe, in small towns, where everybody knows your name — and how hard you work, if you pay your taxes, how well you treat your neighbors, how often you volunteer in the community, and whether or not you’re a good parent — people see the content of your character, so they don’t give a hoot about the color of your skin. (But I grew up in a small town where about a third of the population is of a different race than me. What do I know?)
And here’s my favorite thought of all: Maybe small-town folks are — really — capable of thinking. All on our own.
You’re wrong about why small-town Americans don’t vote for Democrats.
We don’t vote for Democrats because we’re self-reliant so we don’t like the government trying to “solve” everything for us. And because you tell your rich friends in San Francisco that we’re dumb. And because, each election, whichever one of you is running for president traipses all over the country telling us you have all the answers, that you’re the one on our side, that you respect our way of life. But each time, a little bit here and there slips out — and by the end of the campaign, we can tell what you think about us. And we manage to learn who you really are.
And we see you’re just a horse’s a$$”
In case anyone missed Huckabee’s “gun pointed at Obama joke”:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9g_0tRrab3M
The Racist Democratic Party
Black Minister Seeks Racism Apology from Democratic Party
By Christopher Tidmore, Political Columnist
June 12, 2006
http://www.louisianaweekly.com/weekly/news/articlegate.pl?20060612e
“In addition to lynchings and terrorist attacks by the Democrat’s terrorist organizations (as revealed in the 1871 Senate hearings), Democrats legislated Black Codes, Jim Crow laws and a multitude of other repressive legislation at the federal and state levels (and repealed other key pieces of Civil Rights legislation) all in an effort to deny blacks their rights as citizens. The entire system of racism in America was meticulously thought-out and carried-out by a powerful political machine. And that political machine according to Historians, was the Democratic Party - the party of “White Supremacy.”
“Based on these findings, I sent the April 5, 2004 letter to the D[emocratic] N[ational] C[ommittee] requesting that they issue an apology to African Americans. In 2005, I sent a second letter to the DNC, again requesting an apology. When the DNC ignored these requests, I filed my first lawsuit on December 10, 2005.”
“Without an apology and repentance there is no way the Democratic Party can ever sincerely honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Ms Rosa Parks; two individuals who literally gave their lives to destroy the racist programs, policies and practices that were established by the Democratic Party. And without an apology and repentance there is no way the Democratic Party can ever respect African Americans. Their past programs and practices from slavery through Jim Crow which literally destroyed the lives of millions of blacks, was an act of mass murder. And to hire an attorney to defend that racist past is not only an official endorsement of murder - it is an insult to the entire black race and to those whites who gave their lives to eliminate racial injustice.”
Sixty years before Chalmers Johnson’s condemnation of “military Keynesianism”, Communist leader William Z. Foster anticipated his point by describing “big capital” Keynesianism. In a speech in 1948, he said: “Building a war economy has many political advantages for the reactionary capitalist Keynesians… Armament expenditures by the government are incomparably more favorable from a profit standpoint to the capitalists… in contrast to the less profitable reformist program of public works and the strengthening of the workers’ buying power and social security systems. Moreover, gigantic munitions orders can easily be secured under the cover of hysterical war scares, and besides this, the resultant militarization greatly facilitates big capital’s drive toward fascism… At the same time that the big capitalists readily agree to have the government spend billions yearly for the war economy, they also fill the air with strident cries for government “economy”. It will be seen, however, that their ideas of economy in government sum up pretty much to reducing the outlay of all sorts of social services and to the securing of lower taxes for themselves.”
Sometimes even Communists can see things more clearly than the CONS . . .
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - A small but startling sign welcomed the gun lovers who arrived at the National Rifle Association’s annual gathering Friday.
“Firearms WILL NOT be allowed in Hall A during the Celebration of American Values Leadership Forum.”
But . . . but . . . but what if a bunch of Al Qaeda types burst into the NRA gathering?
How would all the weak-kneed gun-huggers have defended themselves?
The people who filed a lawsuit against the Corps disagree with little jimmymac — there’s no mention of the Sierra Club.
From the National Sierra Club Press Releases:
“And they weren’t the only ones who had concerns: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Environmental Protection Agency and the Louisiana Legislature all urged the Corps to look at how the proposed project would have impacted the area. It refused to do so. That led the Sierra Club, American Rivers, the National Wildlife Federation, Arkansas and Mississippi Wildlife Federations, and the Mississippi River Basin Alliance to take the Corps to Court. The case was soon settled, with the Corps of Engineers agreeing in 1997 to look at ways of minimizing the damage to the wetlands.”
http://www.sierraclub.org/pressroom/releases/pr2005-09-13a.asp
It appears that cosmos is a serial liar who does not believe press releases from the Sierra Club that the Sierra Club was involved in the lawsuit along with others.
———————————————————————-
Oh, here you go cosmos, a federal Judge dismisses the case against the Federal Government and the Corp of Engineers. That should stick in your “Sierra Club” throat for awhile.
Katrina Lawsuit Vs. Army Corps Dismissed
By CAIN BURDEAU and MICHAEL KUNZELMAN
Associated Press Writers
NEW ORLEANS — Saying his hands were tied by law, a federal judge dismissed a class-action lawsuit against the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers over levee breaches after Hurricane Katrina, but rebuked the agency for failing to protect the city.
U.S. District Judge Stanwood Duval ruled Wednesday that the Corps should be held immune over failures in drainage canals that caused much of the flooding of New Orleans in August 2005. He cited the Flood Control Act of 1928, which protects the federal government from lawsuits when flood control projects like levees break.
““How exactly is Obama “unelectable”?”
Good question, which “BlueJay” never seems to support with, y’know, evidence?
And you mentioned racism.
Well we do have to be honest. There IS that element.
But it goes both ways. There are white people who will not vote for Obama. There are black people who will not vote for anyone but Obama.
I don’t care for either dynamic. But they are there. Do racist whites outnumber racist blacks? I don’t know.
And I DID say why I think he is unelectable. Too much has come to light too late. That fuels suspicions that there is even more to know and not like.
I’ve expressed all along the way the various reasons I can’t vote for Obama. Not the least of these is?
He hasn’t had to work hard enough for it.
I mean people FAINT at his rallies for crying out loud. Any person serious about politics should be troubled by that and the total media pass Obama has been given. It is a bad thing for us to start electing leaders this way.
And of course, there is my well known hatred and mistrust of the cons.
Folks? The power brokers. The movers and shakers behind the Republican machine? They are more dangerous and harmful than any terrorist could dream of being. Oh they wave the flag a lot. Bud deep inside? They are about nothing but them and how much more money and power they have than everybody else.
These folks are what gave us Ronald Reagan.
Ronald Reagan WAS once a good man. But his wife decided she needed nice things. Ronnie needed to move with the money crowd. SO hapless Ronald was reprogrammed. HE had made it. (They had made him) So by gosh it must be possible for everyone to make it if only bad ol’ government would get outta the way!
Now comes Barack Obama. Used to winning easy. Big crowds screaming his name. Little to no accountability. Totally disconnected with the common man.
I’m sorry. But to me? I think “yes we can” is gonna morph into “yes you can”. And with all the attendant blame placed firmly on those who can’t.
PS?
I mean, if Barack Obama is such as inferior candidate, how is it he’s leading Senator Clinton?
But AGAIN. WHERE is he leading her? Kansas? Idaho? Come on.
JR………..chill my friend.
We are all in the same party.
Keep your sight on the REAL enemy, McSame and the republics.
“I mean people FAINT at his rallies for crying out loud”
I’ve also seen them faint at Hill’s rallys and also when Bill is on stage…..maybe it has something to do with the crowds and the temperature of the room?
Anyway…Obama has the right attitude to be a good leader…and as far as how hard he has worked, he wasn’t born into money (unlike Hill) and he’s worked for everything he achieved. I think that is a another good quality…the fact that no one bought his way through the world.
Hillary and McCain were born with wealth and/or power, they’ve never lived in the same world as us..of course they pretend that they have because it’s what they think Americans want to hear. Of the three of them, only Obama is self made.
Mary-
Do you happen to remember Treasure Chest comics from Catholic grade school?
There was a series called Chuck White and in it there was a subplot of the 1972 Presidential election. (although the comic itself was early 60’s)
Anyway, the campaign slogan was “Pettigrew in 72″ and the culmination of the story was that John Pettigrew was a black man (shown in the very last panel so no one knew until then). He won the election BTW.
Just thought I’d ask since we have similar backgrounds.
McCain’s Military Record in the Senate
by TexasVeteran
I cringe at the thought of Senator John McCain as Commander-in-Chief. Too many people are afraid to question Senator McCain’s record and those that do are often lambasted as being unAmerican or insane. The media won’t cover his senatorial record, but they certainly oblige to perpetuate his POW-hero status. I am a combat veteran and I deserve my 1st Amendment rights as much as the next person. I have no desire to slander Senator McCain’s military service, but I am definitely critical of his senatorial record.
In over 3 decades of service, Senator McCain has had plenty of opportunity to draft legislation or to assist our military, but he has been found absent.
- Military retiree benefits have been slashed to all-time lows while Senator McCain remained silent.
- The Veterans Administration hospitals have been cess pools for years and Senator McCain has remained silent.
- Soldiers still qualify for “food stamps” because their pay isn’t adequate to support a family. It is revolting to me to send BILLION$ of dollars overseas and domestically on illegal aliens, but can’t pay soldiers enough to keep them off government assistance programs.
Early on, family members of Vietnam POW/MIAs thought Senator McCain would be an advocate to their cause. They were largely left in tears as Senators McCain and Kerry had government information destroyed or restricted making it more difficult on families to get POW/MIA information. While the disposition of American MIA/POWs was still unknown, Senator McCain fought for the normalization of relations with Vietnam. He even fought for up to $50,000 reparations for select Vietnamese soldiers, but failed to seek any form of compensation for our own American troops or their surviving families.
On issue after issue, Senator John McCain has been found lacking when the military needed him most. The military was decimated in the 1990s, with training funds drying up, base closers and a reduction-in-force. Where was Senator McCain? Many senators looked to Senators McCain and Kerry for leadership on veteran’s issues and found none. Many of the conservatives that faulted Senator Kerry’s military track record won’t even look at Senator McCain’s.
McCain is known as a POW, for Campaign Finance Reform, the Kennedy Immigration Bill, the Keating 5 fiasco, having a cute, rich wife, but he definitely isn’t known for his leadership on veteran’s issues. Interestingly enough, Senator McCain fought for the surge to send more troops to fight and die in Iraq, but where has he been for over 30 years when the military needed him?
It probably isn’t fair for veterans and military families to expect so much from one senator, but it isn’t right for McCain to get a heroes welcome based on his 3 decades of legislative record either.
“yes you can”.
There is nothing wrong with empowering people, JR….it’s the only way to personal success. The government can’t do it for us, we HAVE to do it for ourselves.
If one believes they can’t be sucessful…then they can’t.
For many Americans, poverty is only the symptom of the lack of esteem, confidence, and drive that often undermines their lives.
No excuses…unless you are mentally, cognitively, or physically challenged and/or disabled..then there are NO EXCUSES.
It’s appropriate to ask whether McCain’s shoot-down was caused by bad luck or simple incompetence on his part. Of course, there is no way to answer definitively. But we can form an assessment based on the rest of McCain’s military record. At the Naval Academy, McCain graduated almost bottom of his class. He was 790th out of 795. McCain lost many aircraft over the course of his military career – five in total. Most pilots who lost aircraft at the rate McCain did would have been kicked out of the service. But McCain had protection from up on high. His father was an admiral. He was an untouchable. So McCain blundered his way through his military career until he was finally shot down.
http://www.forandagainst.com/articles/McCain_s_Military_Record_Shows_He_Is_Unfit_To_Be_President
Chill? I’m fine Apophis.
And Obama is the one with enemy identification issues.
“Of the three of them, only Obama is self made.”
I’ll only mention in passing that Obama MAY have been the beneficiary of affirmative action.
And I have no problems with affirmative action.
That just needed mentioning.
And his being self made?
That CAN actually be a drawback.
Reagan saw himself a self made. (He was. Before he sold out.)
People who are self made can be blind to those who are not so lucky. They can even, as Reagan did, come to blame the victim.
Kansas Native…can’t say I remember that…I was in Catholic high school (Madonna High) by the late 60s. The one thing I’ll never forget is the Baltimore Catechism that we had to memorize word for word in the 3rd and 4th grade.
“God is the Supreme Being who made all things”.
You are in the wrong party Mary.
People who have to work three jobs they don’t like. They are real “empowered” aren’t they?
JR…………Please, let time be our ally. Let us all move past the primary process.
The really enemy is bush and his minions,
McCain is one of his minions…….we must stop him!
For God’s sake, JR…there is nothing wrong with being “self made”. That’s what living in America is all about.
You remind me of something I heard once about the Russian culture. In America we work hard to “keep up with the Jones”…but in Russia, if your neighbor has a cow and you don’t…you just kill his cow so he can’t have one either.
I’d much rather be lead by someone who worked for what he has than someone who has been given everything and doesn’t know an honest day’s work. That’s one of the reasons why Bush has been such a disaster for our country…if it wasn’t for his daddy, he’d be selling used cars on South Broadway…a profession he’s obviously more qualified for.
JR…I work 3 jobs now and I don’t feel victimized at all…I’m glad I have the opportuntiy to make a decent living…even if I have to work my butt off for it. THAT’S called being an American.
BTW…I work at Wesley in the wound care clinic, I work at Interim Health Care doing home health, and I have 4 rental properties that I totally remodeled by myself and I take care of without any help from my husband because he hates them.
I’m glad I live in a country that provides opportunity for those who have ambition and are willing to work hard.
That doesn’t make me a conservative or a liberal, a Republican or a Democrat…that makes me an American.
“People who are self made can be blind to those who are not so lucky. They can even, as Reagan did, come to blame the victim.”
I said it.
Along comes Mary to prove it.
I’m glad you live in that country too Mary.
I don’t seem to have found it.
I think it started to disappear about 20 years ago.
And hope and change rhetoric aint gonna bring it back.
The fight has to be taken to those who did the damage.
I don’t think we have anything further to share that would be productive.
Wow Mary_Caruso,
I tip my hat and bow. You are the American ideal with the attitude you show above. YOU GO!
I hope you do well with your work and rental properties. But get that husband of yours to help, ha.
I’m afraid you are whispering into a wind though talking to JR about that type of work ethic.
Mary,
Who owns Interim Health Care? I think might know but maybe am thinking of the wrong company. Is it privately owned or a national corp.?
The opportunities are still there for those who want them, JR. If you can’t find them, don’t depend on the government to help you..it ain’t gonna happen. It may not be the kind of work you want to do…but there are careers that you can get scholarships and grants for…nursing and medicine are just two. To hear everyone bitch about how there are no jobs or opportunities…how can we possibly have a critical nursing shortage in this country?
They need to make it easier to get to those programs Mary. There aren’t enough programs, and the ones that we do have are way expensive.
There needs to be better ways. Does anyone know somoene who earned a nursing degree online? I tried that route once, and it was a total joke. Waste of 1000 dollars. So I’m really skeptical of trying another.
Box, it’s a privately owned company but it’s a franchise. The owner and my boss is Jay Staley..the best boss in the world.
WATS has a lot of job training too… wide variety of jobs…
Junior doesn’t want opportunity, he wants a hand out.
It’s a shame, because he will be waiting for his whole life for it and it will never come.
Like Mary said, go into nursing, there are even scholarships available. Of course Junior may not have the ‘kidneys’ for it or at least the stick-to-it-ness to do it.
Prove me wrong Junior.
I disagree 100% with you Mary. It’s easy for someone who is earning a comfortable living to look down on those who isn’t as their problem.
Unfortunately that’s not always the case.
You can get into a community college (I graduated from Butler)and take advantage of grants and scholarships…anyone over 25 yrs old can qualify for a student loan that doesn’t have to be paid back until you graduate and have a job…when I applied at Wesley, they had about 200 nursing positions open. I’m 55 and got a job without any problem. You can become a nurse in two years with an associate degree…you have to get the prerequisites out of the way first.
It’s no more expensive than buying a new car.
“…the best boss in the world.”
And again I tip my hat and bow. With that attitude that’s why, if the guy truly is a great boss, you will do great too.
But I was wrong, that’s not the company and owner I was thinking of, although the guy I’m thinking of that owns a Home Care company is also a great guy and very fair.
Wish I could stay and chat…but the boss of the house is telling me to check on the neighbors dog, their gone, and then take her out to eat.
And that’s the law!
At least JR works, James… LOL
……………the troll-boy, regular, gets a hand out every month.
He accepts welfare, yet puts down anyone else who is the recipient of any type of government subsidy.
HYPOCRITE!