Tuesday, March 21, 2006

KOUFAX FINAL ROUND



Support our troops by bringing them home.
Question for open thread: do you believe Congress will pass this new law that makes it a felony to be in America as an immigrant? Are we becoming what I think we're becoming? Please comment on the immigration laws and the borders.

I just found out by accident that we are a Koufax Award Finalist for "Best Post" for my article on Brad Blog. There are 10 finalists chosen out of hundreds, I think. I'm very grateful, but part of me wants to go hide rather than ask you again to vote one last time. If you are so inclined, you can go to: Wampum just scroll down to the bottom and type a comment in the comment section, just type in my name or Brad Blog or the article title: "Death is Sexier Than Sex to Ann Coulter" Thank you, love Lydia

Just did the wonderful Keith Murphy show on XM Radio visit theUrbanJournal.org

I have spent too many nights crying for our troops and the children of this war — but suddenly it became clear that we are not powerless — compassion is a form of prayer, and this "hell" is giving us two choices: love or fear Like Viktor Frankl in the concentration camp; he overcame torture through the power of love, his focused attention on love, which is prayer. Each human life is precious, no matter what tribe, and we must pray for our planet and each other. If you don't believe in God, substitute the word LOVE; dwell on love for your fellow man, and love will be reflected back. Love will rise. I write left-wing political commentary combined with spiritual growth. Like Al Franken's book The Truth, With Jokes, mine is a new kind of "political spiritual therapy comedy". with snacks.

Last week's article "Bush's last Will and Testicle" was just published and you can find it in Macon, Georgia News and in various news/opinion columns on the web.

I have more some startling news coming tomorrow ...

You can read the article that was nominated here: Cornell's BradBlog article Death Is Sexier than Sex

370 comments:

  1. If you don't mind voting again, you can...
    -Lydia Cornell

    Hey, don't mind a bit; after all your blog features my comments.

    Besides, I vote multiple times in every election.

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  2. Abdul Rahman Faces Death Penalty for the crime of being a Christian in Afghanistan.

    Maybe if we focus on happy thoughts, he will be safe.

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  3. lydia said "Sorry I've been gone since Saturday and will make a new post soon.

    Love
    Lydia


    Wow, I figured you were just trying to force me to move out of the stone age and finally get broadband LOL, JK, I figured you were probably away. :D

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  4. FF said "Hey, don't mind a bit; after all your blog features my comments.

    Besides, I vote multiple times in every election."

    FF, I hate to admit this, because I am upset with the voting BS that has gone on, but that was kind of funny. For a Right Winger you do have a half way decent sense of humor at times, most right wingers have the sense of humor of a lump of coal, for instance Ann Coulter thinks its funny to talk about killing liberals (hillarious huh), Bush thinks its funny to make jokes about a guy getting shot in the face by his intoxicated underling etc..

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  5. Anonymous11:06 PM

    And what about that man who shot a boy who walked across his lawn. Thats' not so funny. Wait I have a funnier one... it's called Lost Dog has anyone seen it?

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  6. FF said "If you don't mind voting again, you can...
    -Lydia Cornell"

    allright FF you just altered an official document, i'm calling the FBI and having you arrested buddy changing a quote is bad form

    Lydia said "how about voting one last time."

    you repugs really like deceiving people with smoke and mirrors and doctoring people's words dont you, you guys like that word association too.

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  7. Lydia said:

    “In spite of our anger and agony over Iraq, we must lift our thoughts above the horrors we keep seeing; we must send love & healing to our troops and to the Iraqi nation.”Miracles can and do happen as the result of prayer. PRAYER DOES CHANGE THINGS.”


    “BUT prayer is not begging God for favors. (And if the word God bothers you, use the word "Love" or "Good". If you're thinking of a fear-and-punishing type of God, that's not it.) The way to pray is to dwell so strongly on the good in life, on love, beauty, joy — that you drive out the worry & fear. Your life is ruled by your thoughts.”



    Freedom Fan said...
    "Abdul Rahman Faces Death Penalty for the crime of being a Christian in Afghanistan.

    Maybe if we focus on happy thoughts, he will be safe."



    Sorry, FF - I'm not trying to deliberately pick on your post. It just triggered my thought process for what I want to say.

    I have a couple of scenarios for thought...

    Scenario #1:
    In the idea and/or belief that thought is energy...what if let's say 2,000,000 people DO think and send happy thoughts of love, healing, and protection so that Abdul Rahman would be okay and escape the death penalty BUT there were also 2,000,001 people who were negative about the whole situation - believing that 'sending loving, healing, and protective thoughts' were a crock - would you really want to be on the team that thought negatively and therefore possibly cancelled out the good the rest of us were sending there?

    Granted that may seem crazy to some of you but What if???
    And if "what if's" are possible imagine if we all just thought positive how much better off ALL OF US and the EARTH would be in this day and age.

    Scenario #2:
    On the other hand, we all know people have died on both sides regardless, BUT what if by those of us who have been sending thoughts of love, healing, and protection we actually were saving some that might not have been spared otherwise. So wouldn't it be better to add to the good thoughts and positive energy? I know if I were out there in the battlefields - I'd sure appreciate all the prayers and positive thoughts we could get.

    To reiterate what Lydia said earlier, “The way to pray is to dwell so strongly on the good in life, on love, beauty, joy — that you drive out the worry & fear. Your life is ruled by your thoughts.”

    René

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  8. Naturally, when I said,"I have a couple of scenarios for thought..."
    I didn't mean only for FF - I meant it for anyone who doesn't believe sending loving thoughts of healing and protection through prayer could be of benefit to anyone & the situations out there.

    René

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  9. JaJa said...
    And what about that man who shot a boy who walked across his lawn. Thats' not so funny.


    Right - I agree. That is horrible.
    I can't even imagine killing someone at all - let alone for walking on my lawn. Unbelievable.

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  10. And, how about the poor sorority sister who was struck and killed by an SUV in a hit and run while crossing the street? That was horrible too. I hope they catch who did it.

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  11. I'm totally dozing again between posts - Gotta go crash out. Catch you all later. Have a great night.

    Rene

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  12. Oh Goody, a new thread! My computer was starting to smoke loading the last one.

    BTW Lydia, I did vote for "Death is Sexier than Sex" for best post. I screwed up and voted as anonymous by mistake.

    Im the one who indicated your article had GUTS! I will vote for you again if I can....my pleasure.

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  13. JaJa said

    "And what about that man who shot a boy who walked across his lawn. Thats' not so funny. Wait I have a funnier one... it's called Lost Dog has anyone seen it?"

    Yeah, I seen that....ahhhh the ant farm.

    If buddy did that to my kid, I swear Jesus couldnt hold me back from ripping this idiots turban ten times over.

    Hope the Wonderbread Man gets him.

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  14. Cliff

    I wish the best for your offspring.

    My hair would turn completely grey from worry if my daughter went to Iraq.

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  15. Rene said:

    "So wouldn't it be better to add to the good thoughts and positive energy? I know if I were out there in the battlefields - I'd sure appreciate all the prayers and positive thoughts we could get."

    Agreed!

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  16. Anonymous6:58 AM

    Yesterday was a rough day for the liberal media.First W kicked that dried up old prune Helen Thomas all over the White House press room,than Laura Ingraham bitched slapped David Gregory about 15 times on the Today show.Great entertainment.

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  17. Anonymous8:06 AM

    Wheres' Wuffus? WUFFUS

    I MISS HIM boo hoo

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  18. Anonymous9:45 AM

    Kirk12, want to read a pretty good overview of the situation about what Iraq is like read these two;

    http://www.tomdispatch.com/index.mhtml?pid=29215

    http://www.tomdispatch.com/index.mhtml?pid=29333

    Too bad they don't listen to people like this before they rush off with plans that don't fit.( And don't work.)

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  19. Anonymous9:49 AM

    Mark Danner said,

    I think it's widely known at the top of the administration that Iraq is a failure. It's also been recognized by many that, in strategic terms, the Iraq war could turn out to be a catastrophe because it's essentially created a Shia Islamist government sympathetic to Iran and, among other things, made it impossible for the U.S. to adequately pressure Iran on the nuclear issue. The result of this occupation is going to be a reversal of 50 years of American policy in the Gulf, which has been a reliance on the Sunni autocracies in the area. That policy had an awful lot wrong with it; its support of those autocracies over many decades certainly helped lead to al-Qaeda and its epigones. The fact is, though, that the Bush administration has essentially overthrown that policy with nothing to put in its place.

    http://www.tomdispatch.com/index.mhtml?pid=63903

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  20. check out this book called Elephant's Edge: The Republicans As A Ruling Party
    by Taylor, Andrew J. / Ornstein, Norman J.

    here's the review:The operative word in this book's title is edge because Taylor (political science, North Carolina State Univ.) says that the Republicans have the political advantage but do not have the appeal to become the long-term majority party. In this excellent investigation into the state of the Republican Party, he credits Newt Gingrich for the deft organizational skills that led to the Republican resurgence with the takeover of the House after decades of Democratic control. The Republicans maintain their edge, in no small part, through pork-barrel politics and redistricting, tactics that Republicans complained about when the Democrats did the same. The author shows that the edge has been bolstered by Bush's post-9/11 foreign policy (despite failings of the Iraq war), the increasing conservative judicial rulings of all courts, and small-government, low-tax policies. Despite this, Taylor concludes that the Republican Party will not achieve the dominance for which it aims because of the flexibility of the Democratic Party to adapt to its constituents' needs, the deteriorating conditions in Iraq, and growing fissures in an overconfident Republican Party.

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  21. Another interesting book called:Democracy And Populism: Fear & Hatred.

    here's the review:Lukacs is a respected and prolific historian. His more than two dozen books encompass the history of the modern age, especially the political, ideological, intellectual, and military struggles of the 20th century. See, for example, A New Republic: A History of the United States in the Twentieth Century (2004)--an updated and new edition of Outgrowing Democracy (1984) and At the End of an Age (CH, Dec'02, 40-2321). Many of his earlier themes and views are repeated in this newest book. It is a lively and crisply written meditation on how American democracy has been destroyed by nationalist demagogues who evoke hatred and fear directed against both foreign foes as well as certain groups of fellow citizens viewed as weak, immoral, or insufficiently patriotic. Political conservatives will find very little comfort in this book written by a traditionalist historian.

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  22. Here's another one one to illustrate the world's opinion of Wrong Wing policies. Beyond the Age of Innocence: Rebuilding Trust Between America and the World
    by Mahbubani, Kishore

    Here's the review;Why does the world hate America so?Because, remark several of the many interlocutors to be found here, the US has lost any moral authority it might have once had. Parts of the world came to that conclusion early on; whereas, observes Mahbubani, former Singaporean ambassador to the UN, a 19th-century Saudi citizen (never mind that there was no such thing) would not have dreamed of traveling to Afghanistan to battle the British-"He would have probably replied: 'But the Afghans are not even Arabs!' "-Saudis now flock to battle America, the great Satan of the mullahs' rhetoric. Americans don't try to understand Islamic anger against them, and so "it comes as a shock to most American citizens to be told that their government may have, knowingly or not, radicalized Islam." Other parts of the world are recent converts to anti-Americanism; much of the slide in the standing of the US in Europe can be traced to Iraq, while one of Mahbubani's Chinese respondents finds that moment in the US treatment of Taliban and al Qaeda prisoners: "We Chinese have discovered that Americans are not really different from us. We thought they were special. Now we know they are just like us." Such discoveries will be a comedown for many American readers, but Mahbubani's chidings are well placed. Who would want to live in a village in which 4 percent of the inhabitants create 25 percent of the pollution? Who would want a neighbor who insists that it's up to him alone to define what "neighbor" means? Who could not despise a nation that, by going to war without UN backing, "tore a hole in the very consensus that had been an American gift to the world"?America, Mahbubani urges, needs to give up its insularity and start caring about what the world thinks, and about living up to its promise. Its leaders would surely benefit from reading Beyond the Age of Innocence-but fat chance, so get ready for more hatred to come.

    its time to wake up and stop drinking the Neo Con Koolaid and see how world opinion of us has changed as a result of The Right's arrogant ignorant foreign policy.

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  23. Anonymous11:30 AM

    Mike read this if you want to see how the neo-cons are trying to morph;

    http://nationalreview.com/derbyshire/derbyshire200603210827.asp

    ReplyDelete
  24. Anonymous11:40 AM

    Yes he is a paid shrill, compare what he says with what the foreign minister of Saddam's government said in the run up to the invasion.....and think about it . If the Syrians had even one tenth of what the Iraqi General says given the fact that they support the Hezbollah terrorists, and suicide bombers in Israel don't you think that the Israelis and US would have taken DIRECT action by now, other wise they would by saying a regime that supports suicide bombers in the state of Israel can have a large amount of illegal and off the record WMD's to do with what they please. The generals claims and book are self serving to parts of the neo-con cabal but if it was true we would be going after Syria to give the weapons up not Iran for nucs that Iran might build.....

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  25. Clif, i think that might be a dead link, I couldnt view the article.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Anonymous12:05 PM

    200603 210827.asp

    Add this to what comes up.

    http://nationalreview.com/
    derbyshire/derbyshire200603210827.asp

    That is the link broken in two

    ReplyDelete
  27. Anonymous1:04 PM

    Would anyone have guessed that the wufuss,clif and mike circle jerk would be in fullswing.I'll be damned if that aint one hell of a surprize.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Anonymous1:06 PM

    Come on you twits say something interesting I only have 25 minutes.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Anonymous1:07 PM

    Hey,there's a new episode of South Park tonight.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Anonymous1:09 PM

    Did you wankers see Laura Ingraham slap David Gregory around yesterday? She made him her bitch.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Anonymous1:31 PM

    A one man circle jerk

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  32. I got it now Clif.

    ReplyDelete
  33. he is pathetic, you always get what you pay for, so I wonder if they pay the trolls that arent undercover minimum wage, this clown is so pathetic he probably pays the Right to tag along and lick their boots.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Anonymous1:43 PM

    Here is my reply to the foole John Derbyshire,

    Did any one bother to tell John that the people who he claims to have such disdain for that he can state; that the spectacle of Middle Eastern Muslims slaughtering each other is one that I find I can contemplate with calm composure, live in amongst the center of the oil production that his bosses pray to. Wonder what his composure will be if they decide to destroy the oil infrastructure instead of each other? Might his palms get sweaty at that thought, might he squirm in his seat at the thought of the underpinnings of his way of life being blown up by the very same people who he cares not a twit if they kill each other. Might he call for intervention to save the oil wells and refineries from those horrible people who wouldn’t just stick to his smug script and become the human versions of the neutron bomb where we eliminate the people but keep the goods. Wonder how he’d take the violence spilling over into the Saudi kingdom and causing serious harm to the infrastructure of that country. Might he actually call for a full scale “corporate rescue mission” to keep the oil flowing? His arrogance is as inpalpable and his humanity is lacking

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  35. Worfeus said "Well, I have hppe for America.

    Its just a feeling, call it a hunch.

    But I think the virus has run its course, and the worms starting to turn.

    Call me an optimist if you like, but this is a recent revelation, and one that I do not make lightly.'

    well I am more hopeful as well, people are starting to wake up and see that they have been deceived while they slummbered, now the fight begins and it will be an uphill battle taking our country back from this deranged Neo Con disease that has taken over and working on restoring America's former good reputation.

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  36. And by the way you guys were right on the money when you said the Neo Cons are nothing more than Bully's and thats what they are turning our country into.

    Its always prefereable to choose peace over war but there are times you have to stand up and fight and knock the bully right on his ass too make the world a better place for other's who cant defend themselves, I've taken down many a bully and it is a good feeling, like F. Murray Abramson said in one of my favorite movies (An Innocent Man) "there's always a way to take someone down.

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  37. Anonymous2:37 PM

    Hey girls,I'm back. Well you ladies are "feeling hopeful," is'nt that special.Do you actually think anyone beside you three give a flying f--k what you feel,think or say?

    ReplyDelete
  38. Anonymous2:38 PM

    Wufuss, did you hit the fantasy dojo today?

    ReplyDelete
  39. Anonymous3:30 PM

    Any-mouse spends more time hanging out here than we do, he was crying because he was sooooo alone eariler today

    ReplyDelete
  40. FREEDOM FAN said...

    There was a Wonderbread Truck parked in front of my house this morning, but in that moment, I remembered Ms. Cornell's advice.

    I chose love not fear, and the truck eventually drove away. It's a miracle...praise the Lord I'm saved.

    YOU ARE TOO DROLL !! very FUNNY FF!! This is really tickling me for some bizarre reason. I keep picturing you with a British accent.

    9:12 AM

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  41. Lydia,

    Congrats on making it to the finals.

    I have just added my vote and wait for your victory.

    Great job.

    ReplyDelete
  42. Lydia

    Thats three times I have voted for you......... its starting to turn into a full time job. Therefore, I now humbly request a huge favour from you.

    Please tell everyone one of your best/worst jokes. I promise to laugh even if its not funny.

    P.S. Dont be shy or I,ll sick FF on ya! lol

    ReplyDelete
  43. Anonymous4:24 PM

    Mike, you wrote "its time to wake up and stop drinking the Neo Con Koolaid and see how world opinion of us has changed as a result of The Right's arrogant ignorant foreign policy. 11:07 AM"

    It's changed in Britain enormously. I was involved in a conversation at work today about Blair and how he has taken his Labour party funding from Trade Unions to private individuals (4 of whom have been nominated for peerages). The conversation suddenly turned quite nasty -people were really aggressive about Americans. One guy started it when he said; "pork barrel politics, another gift from the Yanks" and the conversation went from bad to worse.

    It seems people here are blaming you ALL (unfairly) for things none of you are responsible for. I tried pointing this out but I didn't get far. People here are less willing to listen than ever before.

    I know Worf mentioned visiting Britain but things are turning nasty now. I'd recommend not doing so. Chances are most Americans are going to get an unwelcome reception. This really hurts me because at least half of your population are normal, loving people, just like anywhere else.

    I wouldn't even want the trolls to visit either, I know as soon as they'd open their mouths, nowadays there will be fights. It's getting serious guys. And we're supposedly an ally.

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  44. Anonymous4:29 PM

    BG how is the move to impeach Blair taken and is it discussed on the "street"?

    Or is the move to impeach Blair a publicity stunt for political gain?

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  45. Anonymous5:28 PM

    Clif, I wrote a reply but there was a problem with blogger and my post was lost. In reply to your post at 4.29pm, from talking to relatives, friends, work colleagues and from what my wife tells me with all her many contacts, the overwhelming majority of people here definitely want Blair impeached for lying. It's discussed on the street alright and in the pubs. In pubs etc. Blair is called 'BLIAR' or 'puppet' mostly. Others include 'lap-dog', liar, warmonger, it's a long list.

    The proportion of Brits who want Blair impeached is much higher than the proportion of Americans who want Bush impeached per relative populations. I literally cannot find anyone here who wants war in the middle-east. Or who support it. Or who believe Blair.

    Remember the marches we had here before the war began? Numbers who oppose the war have only grown since then -we know we were lied to, >100 Brits have died, >30,000 Iraqi civilians murdered and God knows how many 100,000's injured.

    The people here know Blair is going anyway as he's been in power for so long already and has publicly declared he will stand down. He's publicly declared this before and remained in power much to Gordon Brown's (Brit Chancellor) and Britain's displeasure. For these reasons, the public generally are not screaming for his immediate impeachment – he's going anyway.

    Blair remains deeply unpopular, polls have his approval rate at 36%, his lowest ever. Check out;

    http://channels.aolsvc.co.uk/news/article.adp?id=20060319053409990001

    The movement to impeach Blair is well on its way and is very serious. Check out this link;

    http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=29437&SESSION=875

    Bear in mind these are signatures from MP's, not just anybody. Many MP's here are horrified at what Blair, Straw and Reid have been doing. Look around the edmi link above and use the search word 'Iraq'. You will see Britain has also dropped tonnes of depleted uranium during 2005 alone, aided in the CIA’s extraordinary renditions programme etc. etc.

    I'm not happy with the way things are going here towards Americans, some of you well earn British contempt, but not all of you by a long way.

    I've got to go now, I'm tired and it's been a long day. It's coming up to half past one in the morning. I'll check in soon for any replies, the time difference makes conversations difficult.

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  46. Anonymous5:37 PM

    Thanks BG I have followed Blair self inflicted misfourtunes, but wondered what the word on the street might be like, seems the British politicals are not afraid of the neo-cons as much as the american politicals are.

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  47. YOU ARE TOO DROLL !! very FUNNY FF!! This is really tickling me for some bizarre reason. I keep picturing you with a British accent.
    -Lydia Cornell

    Glad you can appreciate my twisted sense of humor, Ms. Cornell. My respect grows.

    /I keep picturing the tickling part...

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  48. I literally cannot find anyone here who wants war in the middle-east. Or who support it.
    -british gary

    Similarly, most libs in the States cannot find anyone who disagrees with them. That's why they're pretty sure that the elections keep being stolen by us rednecks.

    Nobody goes to war because they like war; they go to war to ensure the peace.

    The purpose of all war is peace.
    -Saint Augustine

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  49. The conversation suddenly turned quite nasty -people were really aggressive about Americans. One guy started it when he said; "pork barrel politics, another gift from the Yanks" and the conversation went from bad to worse.

    It seems people here are blaming you ALL (unfairly) for things none of you are responsible for. I tried pointing this out but I didn't get far. People here are less willing to listen than ever before.

    -british gary

    Everyone knows that "pork barrel" politics -- politicians wasting money to buy votes -- was invented in America. Nevertheless, that's certainly surprising that libs would ever unfairly blame someone else for their problems and failures. Proly liberal speech is protected in Britain, but my speech defending Conservative principles would be considered "hate speech" and result in jail time.

    Gee, somehow having bg defending me doesn't inspire much confidence. But of course, he wasn't defending me, he was defending his fellow libs in the U.S.

    Fortunately, I can defend myself (I'm heavily armed). See, that's another reason that private firearm ownership is good...it inspires politeness.

    But just to be safe, if I ever visit Britain, I will take along some extra protection: Aunt Estelle. If provoked, she could open a mitey can of whup-ass on any easily-offended, prissy-talking limey like bg.

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  50. Okay, I'll stop with four consecutive comments. Otherwise I might have to swap Gandalf for some hokey green hopping icon or some such.

    /I certainly hope I didn't upset bg too badly...such a sweet lad.

    ReplyDelete
  51. Anonymous9:36 PM

    Mike; :::warning:::

    Texas arresting people in bars for being drunk

    Undercover agents pursue inebriates in a pre-emptive strategy

    SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Texas has begun sending undercover agents into bars to arrest drinkers for being drunk, a spokeswoman for the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission said on Wednesday.

    The first sting operation was conducted recently in a Dallas suburb where agents infiltrated 36 bars and arrested 30 people for public intoxication, said the commission’s Carolyn Beck.

    Being in a bar does not exempt one from the state laws against public drunkenness, Beck said.

    The goal, she said, was to detain drunks before they leave a bar and go do something dangerous like drive a car.

    “We feel that the only way we’re going to get at the drunk driving problem and the problem of people hurting each other while drunk is by crackdowns like this,” she said.

    “There are a lot of dangerous and stupid things people do when they’re intoxicated, other than get behind the wheel of a car,” Beck said. “People walk out into traffic and get run over, people jump off of balconies trying to reach a swimming pool and miss.”

    She said the sting operations would continue throughout the state.

    I posted the whole story because I never thought I'd see GWB's homestate acting like what he says he's against, and maybe there are parts of the patriot act we do not know about.

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  52. Clif, that fool GWB's desire to turn our Country into a police state makes me sick to my stomach, over the last two years I have seen signs of big brother more and more, from them deciding to put cameras on trafic lights to catch people speeding and running red lights to the police coming into my work several times in the last two years asking my permission to tag the building with graffiti in the hopes of encouraging teens to do likewise so they can then arrest them, of course my response to both of these was "F##k you and the horse you rode in on, over my dead body will I cooperate with you to turn my country into a police state, and by the way don't let the door hit you in the A$$". see I dont want my life monitored by big brother or a bunch of stormtroopers using entrapment to arrest me or our nations youth in order to "keep us safe".BTW my response to the camera's at every traffic light is well i'm against this law, but since it was passed how about we lay off half the police force that give traffic tickets and use the cost savings to secure our borders or to better fund our schools and libraries, but of course those suggestions are not very popular with those who want to turn our country into a police state monitored by Big Brother or want perpetual war and a common enemy to hate and a cause to rally around to further their agenda and seize power.

    Clif not only will I not cooperate with these Orwellian idiots, but I will resist what they are trying to do in every way possible with every fiber of my body and with my dying breath, i love my country and my freedom too much to let these evil megalomaniacs destroy it in the name of keeping me safe, I dont want or need their type of protection, my question is who will protect me from them.

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  53. MIKE - this sounds like a good book.

    "We thought they were special. Now we know they are just like us." Such discoveries will be a comedown for many American readers, but Mahbubani's chidings are well placed. Who would want to live in a village in which 4 percent of the inhabitants create 25 percent of the pollution? Who would want a neighbor who insists that it's up to him alone to define what "neighbor" means? Who could not despise a nation that, by going to war without UN backing, "tore a hole in the very consensus that had been an American gift to the world"?America, Mahbubani urges, needs to give up its insularity and start caring about what the world thinks, and about living up to its promise. Its leaders would surely benefit from reading Beyond the Age of Innocence-but fat chance, so get ready for more hatred to come.

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  54. BG said "I know Worf mentioned visiting Britain but things are turning nasty now. I'd recommend not doing so. Chances are most Americans are going to get an unwelcome reception. This really hurts me because at least half of your population are normal, loving people, just like anywhere else.

    I wouldn't even want the trolls to visit either, I know as soon as they'd open their mouths, nowadays there will be fights. It's getting serious guys. And we're supposedly an ally.'

    British Gary that is not a surprise to me, but it is truly sad that people's opinions are changing about regular Americans because of our inept corrupt leaders. I frequently come in contact with a wide variety of international people visiting where I live (worf knows this ) a large portion from Europe, they have told me that although they dispise Bush and co, they are able to make the distinction between them and regular Americans who are good people, but it only stands to reason that after 5 1/2 years that that distinction would blur for many, particularly those who do not visit the USA and have direct contact with our regular citizens. That just shows how important it is to get these crazies out of office and get some decent trustworthy people in office not ones who bully and demean the rest of the world or talk about how important freedom is and how it is worth fighting for and dying over all the while taking away these same freedoms in the name of "keeping us safe"

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  55. Yeah Lydia we need to start looking objectively at how we are treating the rest of the world and how they view and perceive us, the world doesnt revolve around the USA and looking at everything through the prism of what we want or what is best for us without factoring in other countriess perspectives or needs is a sure fire way for more hatred killing and death than we need. The Neo Cons are destroying our good reputation and stiring up hatred of us throughout the world and this could have long term consequences the ramifications of which could affect us for decades.

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  56. Anonymous12:14 AM

    Mike I was reading some of the moscow times and it is funny people there say the same things about Putin we say about Bush, also check this out....

    http://www.buzzflash.com/farrell/06/03/far06005.html

    ReplyDelete
  57. Apparently the voting machines are fickle. They can't decide whether they are Republican or Democrat.

    ReplyDelete
  58. Anonymous12:43 AM

    It was a republican primary so every canidate was a republican READ THE STORY before you put body parts in mouth(or head up ass)

    ReplyDelete
  59. Alright you guys...I am up waaaay past my bedtime. I should've been crashed out hours ago...but I wanted to share the info with you - for those of you who didn't get to see or hear Lydia's interview on The Young Turks show last Friday, here is the URL:

    http://easylink.playstream.com/youngturksarchive/progressive/tytv3-17-06.wmv

    If you just want to watch the segment she was on - forward it to the time of 01:45:00 and that should do it.

    Nighty night - don't let the bed bugs bite.

    Rene

    ReplyDelete
  60. Oh, one more thing - did any of you happen to catch seeing or hearing the reporter who allegedly asked Bush if he thought that the war in Iraq was leading us or bringing us closer to the Apocalypse and he supposedly became flustered and stumbled over answering the question?

    I don't know if this really happened that's why I'm asking you guys. One of the couriers that delivers packages to my office was mentioning it. Yeah, needless to say it's hearsay, unless one of you actually saw it on the news or during one of his speeches. Just the thought of it reminded me of my post a couple of weeks ago when I said something to the effect of, "I wouldn't be surprised if Bush is the Anti-Christ." That's spooky. On the other hand if it's the end of times - let's go. I just don't want to be left behind. Have any of you ever seen "Thief in the Night?"

    I know they re-did it with the Left Behind series, but I went to a few Christian schools when I was in grade school and let me tell you...that movie frightened us for years to come. Sure it's a glorious thing but being left behind - wasn't. That was a pretty scary flick for a group of impressionable 10 & 11 year olds to see! Especially, when we had teachers telling us all the time that we're going to hell for many nonsensical reasons...

    Alright - I've rambled on enough.

    Catch you all later.

    Rene

    ReplyDelete
  61. Anonymous5:50 AM

    I will be tossed in a pit anyway but,as an outsider I ask......

    Does Lydia have a ghost writer ?

    Do all democrats really read so many many books ?

    And why is American policy so minutley diffrent between polical regimes ?

    ha ha ha

    ReplyDelete
  62. Anonymous6:12 AM

    Mike, it's not just because a lot of people here have never been to America, the attitude shift is equally because Brit MSM supports Bushco (an amazing proportion of our media is owned by Rupert Murdoch) so people here don't get to hear about your struggles, demonstrations or republican corruption. Most people here don't want to know details any more - they are fatigued by American foreign policy and this is another reason why negative attitudes (which take a long time to change anyway) are becoming entrenched.

    Of course there will always be people here who can discern between mentalities, however as time moves on and the war stagnates, more people are turning away from all of you. I would not be surprised if this is happening to at least this degree all over the world.

    I'll keep up support this side of the pond for the many people like yourself and on this side of the pond to get rid of Blair.

    ReplyDelete
  63. anonypussy said "Do all democrats really read so many many books ?"

    Most Democrats are capable of reading, you should try it some time, oh i forgot, your an illiterate inbred blog troll, you havent learned to read.

    ReplyDelete
  64. British Gary said "I'll keep up support this side of the pond for the many people like yourself and on this side of the pond to get rid of Blair."


    British Gary, what are Blair's motives for following Bush, i've often wondered why you guys have aligned yourselves with this idiot despite the overwhelming majority of your population being strongly against it. It has to be political suicide for him yet he seems unwaveringly loyal to Bush and I have to wonder why???

    ReplyDelete
  65. Anonymous7:31 AM

    Mike, that's an excellent question and one that took me months to uncover. Here's the truth;

    The first major British cabinet discussion on Iraq took place March 7, 2002, according to the memoirs of Robin Cook, the former foreign secretary who quotes several senior cabinet secretaries as raising questions about the war. "What has changed that suddenly gives us the legal right to take military action that we didn't have a few months ago?" demanded David Blunkett, one of Blair's closest political allies.

    Blair defended his approach, Cook reported, by saying Britain's national interest lay in staying closely allied with the United States. "I tell you that we must steer close to America," Blair said, according to Cook. "If we don't, we lose our influence to shape what they do."

    That's what it's all about - influencing your politics. Another Blair complete failure. For more details read;

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/27/AR2005062701584_pf.html

    ReplyDelete
  66. Anonymous7:40 AM

    Mike, I've just noticed the link is missing some characters, sorry about that, this link should work;

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/27/AR2005062701584_pf.html

    remember, Britain did not vote for Blair to take us to war. Blair was elected following a disasterous domestic economic nightmare from Maggie Thatcher (conservative) mismanagement. Blair took us to war on lies and we didn't agree with him at the time. Blair was re-elected with only 30% of the country's votes because we don't have proportional representation i.e. 60% of the nation votes liberal, the liberal party wins office.

    I guess it's like you Americans, you voted for Bush because you wanted revenge for 9/11 but didn't 'buy into' his domestic agenda (economic, healthcare, civil rights etc.) and Bush stole another election just as Blair did.

    ReplyDelete
  67. I for one, am as outraged as I am about Abu Ghraib. How do we deal with people who are obviously less socially evolved? Pray for them? OK. THen what? These people's spiritual leaders are advocating the beheading of a man for his spiritual choice.
    -Kirk12

    Kirk, I just read something very disturbing:

    For a few years I have been making friends with Muslims and non Muslims living in Middle Eastern and Asian countries. Through these contacts I have learned more about Islam and the conditions in these countries than from any other available source. Some of you are aware of some of the things I have discovered. I won't discuss what I've learned here. I'm sort of done with the entire effort. So heres how I did it.
    How I did it
    by JustDanny


    However in the comments, Danny actually does go on to explain what he learned. Here's an excerpt:

    I believe "Freedom" is an alien concept to the vast majority of those living under the foot of governmental and socially restricted Islam. They won't rally to achieve it. They won't protest for it.They won't endanger life and limb for it. They won't work toward it. They will however pay lip service to the importance of it, but the flavor of freedom they taste when they say the word, is not the same flavor of freedom that I live. It isnt even the same meal.
    -JustDanny

    This is my response:

    Thank you for all this information and research you have done over the years. I certainly have no where near your experience in conversing with folks in foreign lands...[but] I believe that all folks are created in God's image and thus most of us are fundamentally good. As an optimist, I can never give up hope that a peaceful solution will be found which enables each person to break free of his chains and reach his full potential as a human.

    Possibly what you say is true, however it is against my essential nature to accept it...ever. The alternative is too harsh to consider.

    -Freedom Fan

    I would just dismiss his opinion, except that I have come to respect him over a period of many months. He has gone to the trouble to talk directly with folks in the Muslim world and after a period of several years, has come away utterly discouraged at the prospect that most Muslims will ever seek freedom and evolve socially.

    I am totally bummed about this. I am inclined to start doing my own research to counter his, but I don't really have the time. Undoubtedly other folks have also done research and reached different conclusions.

    Please read all his thoughts in the comment section and tell me what you think.

    ReplyDelete
  68. More from JustDanny:

    I see us, the west, as big aliens staring down into a fish bowl and yelling at the fish to be free, to escape the water they live in. To jump from the bowl out onto the carpet and join us. I'm not saying we are begging them to jump into the air and die. I'm saying we may as well be trying to convince fish that water is bad for them. It is that alien of a concept to them, I believe.

    People are born good. I believe humans are by nature good. But in these places, from the moment people are born, their nature is ripped from them. All the simple easily understood ideals of humanity are stripped from them. Not where these ideals apply to each other and their families, but where those ideals apply to those living outside the archaic social systems they live in.

    From birth the ideals of the west and non Islamic supremacist societies are explained to them as being sub human and vastly inferior to what they are told is the right way to live.

    I sit and watch at places like orkut, western Muslims from lets say Iran, try to explain to those still living inside Iran that they are wrong and have been duped and that every word they hear about the west is wrong. Then I watch every person still living inside iran, liberal and conservative, tell the western Muslims that hey are puppets of the Zionist masters that control the West. For me its like watching people fight fire with paper clips. I watch those living under the foot of Islam being absolutly incapable of percieving that the brain washing they have received could be wrong, in any way.

    I've given up this quest because the reality I see is too insane to continue to stare at. I have kept hoping that something will happen that will prove the reality I see in these places is an illusion. I want to be wrong about all of this. Time may tell me I am.

    -JustDanny

    ReplyDelete
  69. Anonymous9:21 AM

    What a great time it is.The market is booming,Dow over 11,000,S&P over 1,300.The economy is soaring.If you cant make a boatload of dough in this environment you're a chimpanzee.America,what a country!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  70. Anonymous9:27 AM

    Hey people,Ann Coulter has a new posting on her web site,its great.I'll tell she is one of the smartest people you will ever read.She hits every issue spot on.

    ReplyDelete
  71. Anonymous9:29 AM

    She hits every issue spot on.


    even I know thats a load of .......

    ReplyDelete
  72. Anonymous9:44 AM

    I watch those living under the foot of Islam being absolutely incapable of perceiving that the brain washing they have received could be wrong, in any way.

    This occurred in Communist Russia and that empire? but slowly it changed... the difference being that atheism was forced on the people there. Were as here control is using "the opium of the people" ----a religion that bends toward keeping a status quo in the society such that there is no chance of mobility between classes ---- ... under pain of being made an infidel or dead.

    Without basic educational reforms and the expression of thought freely things may not change.

    ReplyDelete
  73. only time will tell... I don't think that the US and alies will stay there forever hopfully for long enough though ....

    they have more of a chance now than ever before in their history

    -George

    Right. I also hope the troops remain in Iraq long enough for freedom to blossom.

    However, there is a good chance that the liberal cacophony will cause our attempt, to bring freedom to the Middle East, to fail.

    If that happens; if the U.S. is humiliated; if a U.S. President is successfully demonized; then it is unlikely that such an experiment will ever be attempted again in our lifetimes.

    Liberals seem to be unaware that if they are successful, they will be sentencing many generations of folks in the M.E. to remain in the squalor and oppression under which they have suffered for 1500 years

    ReplyDelete
  74. Congratulations and naturally I voted for you, Lydia.

    ReplyDelete
  75. Freedom Fan said...
    Abdul Rahman Faces Death Penalty for the crime of being a Christian in Afghanistan.

    Maybe if we focus on happy thoughts, he will be safe.


    Are you implying we should void another nation's Constitution because we disagree with it?

    Haven't you guys had enough of raping OUR Constitution? My god, you folks are like greedy kids grabbing potato chips!

    ReplyDelete
  76. Anonymous2:13 PM

    what about those who have come west from these Muslim countries? When do they take some initiative and return to their homelands and start to affect change?

    kirk12

    it's funny have you ever talked to the teenaged kids who are here. the ones in high school say things there in those countries are "just like here"

    this does not seem right to me. They think the same level of rights are accoreded to people there as here , well the Chrirstian convert news item shows otherwise and if history is repeated

    when the extreme left wing stalinists moved into a country the first people the murdered were those that were their left wing allies--- these left wing allies were an irritant to them and the Stalinists real plans , so I would suspect if these kids from here went back to their home countries with their "infected western ideas"

    ReplyDelete
  77. Anonymous3:04 PM

    I think a Constitution that holds in favor of the death penalty for Mr Rahman is one which MLK and St Augustine would consider "unjust" I do as well.

    I agree any law that allows the state to usurp GOD's power to decide the life span of any of his children is unjust, thus the death penalty is by that definition unjust.

    ReplyDelete
  78. Freedom Fan said:

    "As an optimist, I can never give up hope that a peaceful solution will be found which enables each person to break free of his chains and reach his full potential as a human."


    I agree! The concept that a certain tribe of people may forever be incapable of spiritual evolution and political thought process is 100% proposterous.....period.

    Nevertheless, I suggest Islams weird way of and life and lack of freedoms is really none of our buisness; unless, of course, widespread extermination or the immediate threat of our own well being is at stake. Thus, the ugliness of war may be neccesary for self preservation.

    However, I dont go around to all my neighbours homes making regular inspections of their values and personal freedoms.

    Unsatisfied, it would be quite wrong of me to use violent methods in an effort on my part to force my neighbours to envision my perception of what I consider freedom and values.

    Copyright
    Johnny moo moo

    ReplyDelete
  79. Anonymous3:49 PM

    FF said,

    If that happens; if the U.S. is humiliated; if a U.S. President is successfully demonized; then it is unlikely that such an experiment will ever be attempted again in our lifetimes.

    Liberals seem to be unaware that if they are successful, they will be sentencing many generations of folks in the M.E. to remain in the squalor and oppression under which they have suffered for 1500 years

    ************************************

    And if we are successful and allow everyone one vote and the majority vote for sharia law where are we?

    The majority if the Shiites are following the Al Sadar-Abdul Aziz al-Hakim, factions.. United Iraqi Alliance

    This coalition, dominated by Shi'ite parties, was formed to contest the January 2005 election with the blessing of Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the most senior Shi'ite cleric based in Iraq. It won the most votes in that election and became the senior partner in the coalition government that ran Iraq for most of 2005.


    They promote Sharia so even if the fiasco that Bush brought to Iraq is resolved the end result ids very likely going to be exactly what you rail against daily, and Bush can be proud of the fact that he derailed a quasi modern state that might have had a chance to move towards democracy to helping create the second Sharia based country in the middle east. And if this happens it won't be the "liberals" you rail against but your boy Bush.

    You see nobody did very much research as to what happened after "shock and awe" they just took it on faith everything was going to be OK. Well the4 fairy tail we were told before the war was not fact. Now we have a BIG problem in that country, part of the problem is illustrated by this map;

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Iraq_demography.jpg

    There is no easy to "divide" the country and the indigenous people do not seem to want to live together. They seem to want to kill each other to the tune of 50-60 people each day if Mr. Iyad Allawi, who was interim prime minister is to be believed. And he probably knows a small bit about it since he lives there and helped run the place. If they do not want to live together and separating them would prove difficult as the map shows then a civil war seem quite likely. Even if there is some way to separate them there is a second problem the oil and how to equitably divide it up. Since the Sunni's occupy little territory that actually has oil the problem is amplified by the fact that the major pipeline that delivers oil to the gulf runs through territory they hold as illustrated by this map;

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:IRAQ_map_black_nad_white.jpg

    as compared to the previous one.


    The Bush administration created this mess with out much thought and therefore the embarrassement is already theirs and solving it is no where as simplistic as you or they propose.

    ReplyDelete
  80. Kirk said:

    "But Johhny...... where do you draw the line."

    Kirk, for me personally, I draw the line when my own family suffers.

    Do you buy groceries for everyone on the street when your own kids dont have enough to eat?

    Sadly, sometimes we have to sit quietly.

    ReplyDelete
  81. Kirk

    I have NEVER implied to refuse to solve any problems. I said "SOMETIMES" we have to sit quietly.

    Are you suggesting America is in perfect health and should not look after its own for a period of time?

    You asked me where to draw the line and I gave you my honest opinion... then you call me selfish.

    Sorry, it is beyond my capability to help everyone!

    ReplyDelete
  82. Cowpie said:

    "This occurred in Communist Russia and that empire? but slowly it changed... the difference being that atheism was forced on the people there. Were as here control is using "the opium of the people"

    Excellent post Cowpie! Stalin never really succeeded in brainwashing all his subjects. Remember the Ukraine in June 1941?

    And dont even get me started about Marx's "opium of the people"!

    No opium for Johnny moo moo, I find strength within myself and follow no commercialized religion.

    But thats the beauty of democracy, I am free to choose atheism or be a dum-dum and invest my life savings into bible theme parks and gold faucets.

    And if I disagree with this, I simply have to speak out.....not take away everyones right to freedom of religion.

    ReplyDelete
  83. Well, I dont know what to say Voltaire. I feel bad for American Tom Fox, yet Canadians were freed.

    ReplyDelete
  84. LOL VOLTAIRE!

    Good one!

    ReplyDelete
  85. Anonymous6:05 PM

    Good one Voltair.

    ReplyDelete
  86. Freedom Fan said...
    Abdul Rahman Faces Death Penalty for the crime of being a Christian in Afghanistan.

    Maybe if we focus on happy thoughts, he will be safe.

    -Freedom Fan

    Are you implying we should void another nation's Constitution because we disagree with it?

    Haven't you guys had enough of raping OUR Constitution? My God, you folks are like greedy kids grabbing potato chips!

    -carl

    carl, carl...you must be one a them compassionate liberals that I've heard so much about.

    Or more likely you were the inspiration for the democrat party mascot.

    It's astounding to see how low are you willing to stoop to flash your ass.

    /I capitalized "God" for you, you pathetic, steaming, meadow wafer.

    ReplyDelete
  87. An elderly man goes to confession and says to the priest, "Father, I'm 80 years old, married, have four kids and 11 grandchildren. I started taking Viagra and last night I had an affair and made love to two 18-year-old girls. Both of them. Twice.

    The priest said: "Well, my son, when was the last time you were in confession?"

    "Never Father, I'm Jewish."

    "So then, why are you telling me?"

    "Heck! I'm telling everybody!"

    ReplyDelete
  88. LOL FF!

    That was a good one too!

    BTW, FF & Voltaire. I,ll give you both an autographed stuffed beaver from Pierre Trudeau if you can get Lydia to lighten up a bit?

    ReplyDelete
  89. "The blonde gives her a puzzled look and says, "Don't you have a vase?"

    LOL

    Your reminding me of my blond ex; man was she dumb.

    ReplyDelete
  90. BTW Voltaire, please let me know if Canadians are allowed to go on that supply truck thing you are considering in Iraq....I would join you. Im very serious!

    125,000 K American is like a few million Canadian.

    ReplyDelete
  91. Voltaire said

    "Well, we were just having fun and I wasn't thinking about her."

    Agreed! I wasnt thinking of Lyd at all.

    Anyone who can write a book on Stalin is no dummy.

    ReplyDelete
  92. Ah looks like today was a trollfest, looks like I didnt miss to much

    ReplyDelete
  93. Anonymous8:21 PM

    Neither did I, i sent some time reading the blog of a US Army infantrymkan In Iraq who is there and reports things that Bush wouldn't like....

    http://funwithhandgrenades.blogspot.com

    Check it out

    ReplyDelete
  94. Anonymous8:24 PM

    Voltair you might particularily find it informative because he writes about driving around part of Iraq and the hazards he faces when he does.

    ReplyDelete
  95. Hey Mike,
    Still think I'm wrong about Islam?
    (AND THESE ARE "MODERATES"....)
    And THIS from a group that thinks WE'RE the number 1 abuser of human rights?


    Yep Voltaire I still think absolutes and sweeping generalizations are wrong, sure anyone who would kill someone for their religion or for converting to another religion is nuts, but what if they judged us by our leaders as well, the Neo Cons are not saying to kill someone for converting to a different religion, but you did last week, you said kill every Muslim that wont convert to Christianity. there are moderates out there Voltaire.

    BTW, I do think terrorists and radicals should be wiped out, but not in a way that turns the moderates into terrorists and radicals as well. many of the Iraqi's were just poor simple people struggling to survive and get enough to eat, they were not obsessed with attacking a country on the other side of the world until we gave them a reason to hate us that much by bombing their homes, killing, imprisoning and torturing their friends and families.

    There's nothing wrong with cutting off the head of a snake Voltaire, but cutting off the head of a Hydra is a losing battle if every time you do it will sprout 3 more heads immediately.

    ReplyDelete
  96. The world is full of ongoing violence and horror. Theres nothing wrong in an occasional joke to keep ones sanity in check.

    But I guess some people choose to consistently focus on all the bad and anything else is pure treason.

    Why put forth effort into a real protest, when the blogging world is so desperate for armchair engineers.

    TTFN!

    ReplyDelete
  97. No, there is nothing wrong with telling a few jokes, but when a bunch of reich Wingers come on a Liberal blog and spend the entire day burying real discussion with insults, stupid banter and jokes that is the sign of a troll. what kind of reaction do you think we would get if we did the same thing on a right wing blog' you guys are such fun loving open minded guys with great sense of humors i'm sure you'd welcome us with open arms and make us feel real welcome right????????????

    ReplyDelete
  98. part of the problem is the democrats dont have the spine to attack the Right for lying and misleading us into this war, they are trying to take the high road and "be nice" by saying well be went there by mistake on misimformation and faulty intelligence so we shouldnt really be there.

    No we were lied to and deceived and almost 200,000 have died as a result and our reputation is being destroyed, not only should we work on an exit strategy but the people who warmongering liars that deceived us and put us in this position should be held accountable.

    And BTW Voltaire, it says volumes that about you that you were proud when Bush rambled and danced around Helen Thomas's question the other day not to mention he flat out lied, he was pushing for war from before he got in office and he used 9?11 to get his way. God forbid he should answer a question thats not a softball lobbed at him and show someone some respect and let them get a word in, he's not made of glass is he?

    ReplyDelete
  99. Anonymous9:43 PM

    $226 billion and counting:

    The cost of the Iraq war, according to a new analysis by the Center for Strategic & Budgetary Assessments.

    ***************************************

    Can I have my share back? You all have done such a lousy job I want a refund.

    ReplyDelete
  100. Anonymous10:07 PM

    I find I spend a lot of times reading about vets on the blogs, and ran accross this....

    Name: Papa Ray

    Sit down and let me tell you a little story.

    It starts...Long ago and far away.

    I was just a teenager pretending to be a Soldier, in jungles that would have gotten Tarzan lost, I was scared, excited and determined that I would do my part and protect my buds while we killed the hated VC and NVA.

    At first it was all that, then it was horrible and then it was even worse, but then as I grew up and wasn't a "newby" and learned not only how to cope, but to become a real warrior, I began to like it.

    I not only learned to like it, but when we were not on a mission, not in the crap, I was like a caged animal. The "war" had become the most important thing to me.

    We dressed the part, acted the part. We were all stone cold killers and did our jobs so well we were the number one LLRP team. We were called when they knew the mission was impossible.

    I was lucky, I lasted almost two tours, but wound up coming home via Japan and W. Reed and being down for almost 8 months.

    Even after that decompression (and during) I dreamed of running thru the weeds and experiencing that rush, that excitment bordering on insanity.

    The following years were not only difficult but costly, It cost me my marriage, my freedom (a year in jail), my jobs (quit, many times, fired, many times) and almost my sanity.

    Man is not a machine you can reprogram that easy. Life's experiences are not something you can just forget, they alter your thinking, your emotions and your actions.

    I have recovered most of my sanity and my humanity but it took way too long.

    Don't get yourself drawn down into the frenzy where you have problems getting out.

    Believe this ol' grunt, you don't want to do that.

    Papa Ray
    West Texas
    USA

    ReplyDelete
  101. Anonymous10:59 PM

    Worfeus It brought back memories and makes me realise that his battles have just begun, I read his entire blog from Augest 2005 foward and can see he has some of the same thoughts and reactions I did. Also quite a few of his thoughts about the difference between what he is seeing there and how he reacts as opposed to here show a normal human in truely abnormal conditions, his road back will not end with a plane ride to Ft. Campell. He is in the 101st Airmobile Division the division that replaced the unit my daughter was attached to. I probably will follow his blog and be there when they get back as Campell is about 2 hours away.

    ReplyDelete
  102. Anonymous11:19 PM

    They say charity begins at home but does it mean that when Barbra Bush donates money in the name of Hurricane Katrinea relief to the fund tuoted by her husband and former President Clinton she should "earmark" it to be used to only buy from a company run by the never do well son Neil? Seems even when they pretend to do good they can't help themselves to keeping it in the family, and getting a tax break while passing money to their offspring, HOW REPUBLICAN of her.

    ************************************

    http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/007978.php

    Great moments in earmarks.

    The Houston Chronicle reports this morning that the donation Barbara Bush made to the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund was 'earmarked' for the educational software company Ignite!

    http://chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/metro/3742329.html

    As some of you probably know that's the junk company owned by her ne'er-do-well son Neil Bush.

    Actually, though, it's way better, or worse, depending on your turn of mind.

    Ignite!'s has a unique business model, which works like this. Neil goes around the world finding international statesmen, bigwigs and criminals who want to 'invest' in Ignite! as a way to curry favor with the brother in the White House.

    A couple years ago when I was at Salon I wrote about the craze for investment in Ignite! then taking hold among Red Sea oil magnates and progeny of the rulers of the People's Republic of China (See this article as well about the craze for investing in Ignite! in the United Arab Emirates and specifically in Dubai).

    http://dir.salon.com/story/politics/bushed/2002/04/12/neil/index.html

    Now, Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky has awakened to the wonders of investing in Ignite!

    http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/000165.php

    ReplyDelete
  103. Anonymous11:21 PM

    I won't be a stranger, he only gets to post every 5-10 days when he can.

    ReplyDelete
  104. Unlike you, I don't spend all day trying to impress her.

    I hope she doesn't stop fast, or at least that your nose isn't cold...

    -Voltaire

    ROFLMAO

    ReplyDelete
  105. Worf,

    Just got back from rehearsal, so I'm catching up. You two really went at it. I'm gonna hafta grab a few of those lines for my arsenal...

    ReplyDelete
  106. Anonymous11:32 PM

    He comments he won't give away any opsec(operations security) like his position, unit, mission etc, and since he blogs thru the internet and sents the reports to the states he is not breaking any UCMJ rules but some in his chain of command might not like his thoughts and words so they could make it hard on him if they wanted to. In his blog he remarks about somebody who was there a few years ago that had their blog closed down but that guy came home and wrote a book so they didn't actually completely censor him either, and this guy has a following, both in his home state and conus duty station so closing him down would cause more bad press than it might be worth to the narrow minded powers that be.

    ReplyDelete
  107. Well gonna grab some Zs y'all. I know Clif will blog thru the nite agin.

    Ciao for now

    ReplyDelete
  108. Anonymous11:39 PM

    And the republican feces machine moves on....


    CALLING KEN?

    In the days before and after the state Republican Party’s 2002 Election Day phone-jamming scheme, the man who now chairs the Republican National Committee was the White House director of political affairs.

    And a Democratic-affiliated advocacy group says that court records show Ken Mehlman’s office received more than 75 telephone calls from now-convicted phone-jam conspirator James Tobin from Sept. 30 to Nov. 22 of that year.

    The Senate Majority Project, a brainchild “527” of former Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle, wonders why Tobin called the White House so often. Tobin at the time worked for the Republican National Committee and the affiliated National Republican Senatorial Committee — and a hot race that year was the New Hampshire Senate contest between Republican John Sununu and Democrat Jeanne Shaheen.

    On election morning, a telemarketer hired by the state GOP jammed the telephones of five state Democratic and one firefighters union get-out-the-vote phone banks.

    Former state GOP executive director Chuck McGee admitted masterminding the scheme and served seven months in jail last year for it. Tobin was found guilty in December of federal telephone harassment charges for acting as a middle man. An appeal is expected if the trial court in Concord turns down his request for a new trial.

    “All we have is the phone number and the fact that calls were made to the White House,” says SMP executive director Mike Gehrke, a former high-level Clinton administration staffer. “But we also know from the court record that a lot of other calls about the scheme were going on. For a period of time, this was the hot topic.

    “With that many calls, I believe it’s inconceivable that there wasn’t some knowledge of this at the White House,” Gehrke said. “At the very least, it is evidence that there needs to be a bigger net cast here before the end of this case.”

    Meanwhile, John McCain has hired Tobin’s old boss at the RNC, Terry Nelson, as an adviser to his Straight Talk America PAC.

    Nelson was identified in the Tom DeLay indictment as the recipient of a $190,000 check in illegal corporate campaign contributions and a list of Republican candidates for the Texas Legislature for whom the money was intended.

    In 2002, Nelson was Republican National Committee national political director while Tobin was both RNC New England political director and Northeast political director of the GOP senatorial committee.

    Nelson and Tobin then moved to the Bush-Cheney 2004 campaign — Nelson as campaign political director and Tobin as New England chairman.

    Dismissing the notion that Nelson had anything to do with phone-jamming, New Hampshire McCain strategist Michael Dennehy said of Nelson, “We’re happy to have him.”

    ReplyDelete
  109. Anonymous11:46 PM

    Iraqi Good Stuff

    by Will Durst

    On the third anniversary of his misadventure into Iraq, President George Bush strove to sell his invasion and occupancy policy by holding a press conference and announced that getting US troops out of Iraq is not his problem. Instead it's going to be the problem of future US presidents and Iraqi governments.

    In other words, there's no light at the end of this tunnel, just a secular guerilla holding a flashlight, and we're backing out as fast as our little cowboy boots can carry us. Civil war: the gift that keeps on giving.

    To say he was a bit testy is like saying gravel is not as nutritious as it looks. He even snapped at Helen Thomas. For crum’s sake, who snaps at Helen Thomas? It's like biting the head off a smurf. He also proceeded to duck questions asked of him and to answer unasked questions his handlers had prepared him for and overall had the look of a guy who was trying to fake his way through not having done his homework...for the last thirteen semesters.

    He did his best to reassure America that it's not as bad as it looks over there. Which is good, cuz to be honest, it looks pretty freaking bad over there.

    He was adamant that progress is being made but when asked to explain where and how, ran into a couple of minor roadblocks. Like examples of exactly where and how we’re making progress.

    But if you believe Dubyah, which I'm not even sure Laura and the twins do anymore; except for the prison assaults and the assassinations and the suicide bombings and the boots on the ground getting buried, things are actually pretty good. It's that darn media that's screwing everything up. By showing stuff. Showing bad stuff. If only that rascally American press could report some of the Good Stuff coming out of the Mideast, everyone would settle down and birds would sing and gay people would drink beer and have babies and all would be right with the world.

    So, being the patriot that I am, I've gone out, not far; but I've done the research and collected a bunch of the good stuff coming out of Iraq in a little something I like to call...

    WILL DURST FINDS THE BRIGHT SIDE TO XENOPHOBIC GENOCIDE

    • Baghdad University fraternity expulsions way down.

    • Six billion a month we won't be wasting on pork barrel politics.

    • Advances in battlefield medical procedures destined to benefit all of mankind.

    • Due to their renewed dedication to killing each other, the Sunnis and Shiites seem much less interested in targeting Americans these days.

    • VFW membership rolls are a bull market.

    • Grisly footage of dead in Iraq diverting attention from that whole Jack Abramoff thing.

    • Every single car bomb explosion means another opportunity for Detroit fleet sales.

    • Where tomorrow's stars of the Cadaver Dog World get first class training today.

    • Senseless secular violence has obviously intensified the hold of the truce in Northern Ireland.

    • There's a Burning Man Festival every day of the week.

    • When you’re thinking organ donor heaven, we're talking Iraq.

    • Hey, it could be worse. There could be leeches.

    • And the final piece of good news coming out of the Iraq...spring has sprung.

    ReplyDelete
  110. Past history suggests that military efficacy is not so much always a question of the number of troops — but rather of how they are used. Especially large American deployments can foster dependency rather than autonomy on the part of the Iraqi security forces. Each month, fewer Americans are dying in Iraq, while more Iraqis are fighting the terrorists — as it becomes clear to them that some enormous occupation force is not on its own going to save the Iraqis’ democracy for them.
    ...
    We hear only of the deliberately inexact rubric “Iraqi civilian losses” — without any explanation that almost all the Iraqi dead are either (1) victims of the terrorists, (2) Iraqi security forces trying to defend the innocent against the terrorists, or (3) the terrorists themselves.
    ...
    [T]he proper question is not whether there were tragic errors of judgment in Iraq — but to what degree were they qualitatively different from past errors that are the stuff of war, to what degree were they addressed and corrected, and to what degree did their commission impair the final verdict of the mission?
    ...
    Ever since 9/11 we have been in a long, multifaceted, and much-misunderstood war against jihadists and their autocratic enablers from Manhattan to Kabul, from Baghdad to the Hindu Kush, from London and Madrid to Bali and the Philippines. For now, Iraq has become the nexus of that struggle, in the heart of the ancient caliphate, rather than the front once again in Washington and New York. Whose vision of the future wins depends on who keeps his nerve — or to paraphrase the Duke of Wellington at Waterloo, “Hard pounding, gentlemen; but we will see who can pound the longest.”

    -Victor Davis Hanson

    ReplyDelete
  111. They were talking on Imus this morning that Bush loyalist Rick Santorum has a charity where he gives less than 40% to charity and uses the rest to pay his political staff and advisors.

    Santorum is one of the founders and brains behind the K Street project that Jack Abramhoff and Tom Delay were using to funnel money to politicians.

    I hope this costs Santorum his Senate reelection.

    ReplyDelete
  112. Anonymous10:36 AM

    Mike said:

    think we would get if we did the same thing on a right wing blog' you guys are such fun loving open minded guys with great sense of humors i'm sure you'd welcome us with open arms and make us feel real welcome right????????????

    Stalin took such people and just shot them in the back of the head and burried them in unmarked graves..

    So you guys are annoyed ,
    I give you that
    but at least you put up with it ? thanks :)

    Freedom of speech
    ouch ouch

    ReplyDelete
  113. Anonymous12:30 PM

    "MMMMMeeeeeeeeoooowwwwwww"

    ReplyDelete
  114. Anonymous12:33 PM

    OK in the interests of political righteousness

    ;P

    ReplyDelete
  115. Who would make the most suited spouse for Ann Coulter?

    Could it be Tom Delay? Aren't they both filled with venom and arrogance.

    Could it be Bill O'Reilly? Perhaps both their massive egos would collide and see who was the biggest fraud.

    It could be Bill Frist. After all both have the same competency in their work, and both need a personality.

    It is hard to imagine who the daughter of Lucifer, that was just shown on Headline news making more false accusations to cover an incompetent President should be with.

    I am not sure even those hate mongers would take her.

    ReplyDelete
  116. Anonymous1:57 PM

    I think the mysterious show Freedom Fan is rehearsing for is "Riverdance." I spied through the stage window but couldn't tell for sure if it was him.

    It's either that or a musical starring Freedom Fan as Dick Cheney in a remake of "Bonanza". They added a new character on the Ponderosa called "Turkey shootin' Dick"

    ReplyDelete
  117. Voltaire said "Mikey,

    Alert number dos;

    I NEVER said "kill all muslims who won't convert to christianity..."

    I SAID, "deprogram them, and there are ways to do that short of killing them."

    Please invest in a good literacy course.

    2:14 PM
    Alert number 2 from me also'

    Voltaire i'm not the one in need of a literacy course, i was a psychology major in college and I know exactly what deprogramming is, it is essentially torture and brainwashing, so you are saying basically to exterminate the crazies and leaders, exterminate the ones who are strong minded and wont drink the koolaid you guys are selling and then "deprogram"=meaning torture and brainwash whats left of the close to 2 billion muslims to think like you do. You are basically trying to say you want to the Holocaust part 2 but in a nicer way.

    BTW lucky for you there is a provision in the Army for building lots of concentration camps cause your gonna need em to exterminate, brainwash and torture about 2 billion people.

    ReplyDelete
  118. Hey Lydia, I just checked out Wampum, your Grandparents really got on the Internet and voted, thats pretty cool, they must be really young to be watching your kids, just a suggestion but a picture might be cool.

    ReplyDelete
  119. Hey Worf, Thanks to Rene's link I listened to the Young Turks with Lydia and you last night, Lydia was great no surprise there, but I was surprised at how long they kept you on the air, you had to be on at least 10 minutes, good job too BTW, I would have been nervous but you did a really good job.

    ReplyDelete
  120. Anonymous5:54 PM

    Actually, since Ben Domenech has resigned from the washington post right wing blog they created for him, after dishonestly calling Coretta Scott King a communist and then HAVING to retract the statement and appologise. He also got caught plagerising several times. Seems He ain't all they cracked (like in smoke it ) him up to be. Maybe Ann needs a new lap dog since Ben's daddy can't finsd him a job in the Bush admin since he seems so eminately qualified. He's stupid and imcompetent and she is stupid and mean a match made in the nearest lobbiest office......

    ReplyDelete
  121. Anonymous6:08 PM

    Worfeus they are taking it back a few more every day soon they will be the majority and then Texas "redneck" politics might be fun to watch.

    ReplyDelete
  122. Worf said "Anyone see the fat smelly republican Nazi Pig in TexASS locking up the people from a HOTEL Bar?

    They had ROOMS IN THE HOTEL!!!

    Got a little tipsy in the bar, and these filthy, goosestepping swine handcuffed them and hauled them off to jail in a van.

    The even arrested the bartender, a girl crying because she couldn't believe it.

    When the women tried to explain to the filthy, fat, sweaty NAZI PIG that she had a room in the hotel, and was not a danger to anyone, he smugly looked at her with that backwoods inbred hillbilly redneck look, that only a republican can make, and said you're a danger to yourself in your condition..

    I say we throw TexASS out of the Union.

    All those in favor??? "


    yeah, Clif's timing on this was perfect, I went into work for like two hours on Thurday before I went to the airport to catch a plane and we discussed this all morning, everyone was outraged.

    Luckily my part of Texas is a liberal Oasis in a desert of Repugs. I am so sick and tired though of these guys pissing on the constitution and trying to take away all our freedoms.

    ReplyDelete
  123. they also want to put camera's on all traffic lights to ticket everyone for any little infraction.

    The other thing was the cops want to tag buildings with graffiti to encourage the kids to do likewise so they can arrest them, they came into my work several times asking to do this over the last 2 years, and I told them not to let the door hit them in the A$$.

    ReplyDelete
  124. Worf said "Sorry Mike, but you need to move up here with the civilized folk. "

    Hey worf, are you saying people in DC are civilized folk?

    ReplyDelete
  125. When I die I may not go to heaven
    I don't know if they let cowboys in
    If they don't just let me go to Texas, Boy!
    Texas is as close as I've been.

    -Tanya Tucker

    Ah love Texas. Wish the whole country could be just like Texas (except Awstin of course).

    ReplyDelete
  126. Worf said "Didn't you guys used to be able to drive down the road with a Martini or something?"

    No, that is Mississippi where you can legally consume alcihol while driving.

    ReplyDelete
  127. See thats the Right Wings sneaky plan, instead of raising taxes so the rich have to pay their fair share, they pull scams like installing camera's at traffic lights and mass ticketing everyone for stupid little infractions, or going to Bars and arresting people who arent even driving, or instead of instituting a draft that is fair for everyone,they strong arm poor kids to go into the military instead of going to jail, its all smoke and mirrors with the clowns to achieve their agenda.

    ReplyDelete
  128. FF said "When I die I may not go to heaven
    I don't know if they let cowboys in
    If they don't just let me go to Texas, Boy!
    Texas is as close as I've been.

    -Tanya Tucker

    Ah love Texas. Wish the whole country could be just like Texas (except Awstin of course). "

    Funny FF, I thought you were a pro business guy, this crap must be pretty devasting to tavern owners whose livlihood is being threatened by these fascists. But then I wonder if they are also targeting the wealthy and influential repugs that own bars as well or the good old boys club just passes over those people's bars.

    ReplyDelete
  129. Cowboys?

    Get over it FF.

    Brokeback Mountain didn't win.

    -Worfeus

    Um..technically those were sheep boys.

    I heard the real-life wedding of the stars was recently announced.

    If y'd like ta get them something really nice, they're registered at Bed, Baaath, and Beyond.

    ReplyDelete
  130. Worf,

    Thanx for the compliment on my style. But I don't really think it's changed since I've been here, except perhaps to become a bit less formal.

    I like to use stilted language sometimes to set up a coup de grace.

    Maybe you imply that I copied you; but I humbly submit that the reverse is more probable. I'm flattered.

    We've gotta learn Clif a thang or two; those massive cut and pastes are kinda lame. Blogging without links is like a day without sunshine. And as we all know, a day without sunshine is like night...

    ReplyDelete
  131. Anonymous9:40 PM

    Has anyone ever seen RIVER DANCE?

    THOSE ARE REAL MEN, NOT SISSY BOYS. THEY ARE IRISH LADS DANCING WITH INCREDIBLE LEG-WORK.

    I WAS WONDERING IF THIS IS WHERE YOU'VE BEEN REHEARSING FREEDOM FAN?

    ReplyDelete
  132. Anonymous9:43 PM

    FF you can cry all you want about the posts I make but since the you do not own this blog i will continue unless the person who actually does all the real work to keep this blog going tells me to stop and if you do noty l;ioke the fact that I post stories that show your chimp in chief and his broke back busddies are steering their version of the USS Stupid into the iceberg well sorry but ....not....

    ReplyDelete
  133. Clif, is your keyboard broken? Did you accidentally spill a root beer into your computer?

    Hi anonypussy. I knew you were here; smelled kinda like sardines...

    ReplyDelete
  134. Anonymous9:52 PM

    No keyboard is not broken why would you ask? just because I do not do exactly as you lie about why cry about it?

    ReplyDelete
  135. Clif, have you been drinking again? Or are you "experimenting" with "medical" marihoochii?

    ReplyDelete
  136. Anonymous10:00 PM

    When we hired Domenech, we were not aware of any allegations that he had plagiarized any of his past writings. In any cases where allegations such as these are made, we will continue to investigate those charges thoroughly in order to maintain our journalistic integrity.

    Plagiarism is perhaps the most serious offense that a writer can commit or be accused of. Washingtonpost.com will do everything in its power to verify that its news and opinion content is sourced completely and accurately at all times.

    Jim Brady
    Executive Editor, washingtonpost.com

    Same story and I agree don't you FF?

    ReplyDelete
  137. Anonymous10:10 PM

    Thoughtn so, a major plasyer of the right wing blog world is shown as a FRAUD and it bothers you not one twit,..............

    Since if he lies and steals other peoples work for the cause it is OK as far as you are concrened....sorry he makes the right just seem a little more corrupt.

    Jack is slated to start testifing in depositions and a few trials will hostart soon and the Iraqi insurgents do not plan on going on vacation this summer gonna be kinda rough few months.

    The only ones that have my sympathy are the troops and their families, they should not have to suffer for the incompetence of Bush and Rumsfeld or the alcoholic tendencies of Cheney.

    ReplyDelete
  138. Clif, bet you are a fungi at parties.

    ReplyDelete
  139. Anonymous10:16 PM

    Don't drink so don't have much reason to stand around and watch others get drunk.

    ReplyDelete
  140. Clif, I found a site which may capture your interest:

    Asexuality.org

    ReplyDelete
  141. Anonymous10:26 PM

    Enjoy, it does not interest me. But do continue your search of internet sex sites late at night.......

    ReplyDelete
  142. ...it does not interest me...
    -Clif

    Exactly what I thought. That site has your name all over it. Be brave.

    ReplyDelete
  143. Anonymous10:32 PM

    Love to continue to discuss you exploration of the stranger sites you go to FF but my daughter is sick....gotta go.

    ReplyDelete
  144. G'nite Clif. Hope your kid feels better.

    Reminds me when Grandma gave me whiskey, sugar, and lemon when I pretended to be sick.

    ReplyDelete
  145. I understand the local station which carries the liberal babblespeak radio show Air (head) Amerikka has its ratings triple when it switches to baseball coverage.

    /disclaimer: actually I just made that up...

    ReplyDelete
  146. It's like deja vu all over again.

    ReplyDelete
  147. I hereby declare this the Friday nite drinking thread...

    Except that when Clif was here, he was sober. (That's kinda scary.)

    ReplyDelete
  148. Worf,

    When I first started programming, I tried to see how concise and tight I could write the code.

    Then this cool Indian whiz kid started joking, saying "Hey there's no tax on white space".

    I started spacing a bit more, but I still go for the elegant thang.

    ReplyDelete
  149. VBA

    Hey Worf,

    May I pour you a drink? We have ginger ale, Heinekin draft, Jack Daniels, Mecca Cola...

    ReplyDelete
  150. You got it.

    Just VBA. I've studied the other stuff some, but never had a business reason to use it. I like fast results, so I could never get into C or Cobol. I signed up for a college class, but when I found it required learning Cobol, I dropped it like a stone.

    ReplyDelete
  151. Worf,

    I know it's been a while for you so I found something special.

    Arkansas Death Penalty

    ReplyDelete
  152. Sir, it is true that I am drunk; and you are ugly.

    But tomorrow I shall be sober...

    ReplyDelete
  153. Once, during Prohibition, I was forced to live for days on nothing but food and water.
    -W. C. Fields

    ReplyDelete
  154. W. C. Fields, a lifetime agnostic, was discovered reading a Bible on his deathbed. "I'm looking for a loop-hole," he explained.

    ReplyDelete
  155. All the great things are simple, and many can be expressed in a single word: freedom, justice, honor, duty, mercy, hope.
    -Winston Churchill

    /hopefully that was not a non-sequitur, but it becomes increasingly hard to tell...

    ReplyDelete
  156. My relentless drive is to deepen my understanding of the world and the universe. The internet is intoxicating, because you can find information about absolutely anything from all around the world at light speed for free.

    There was an article today in the WSJ about how Wikipedia, composed by each of us, was found to be slightly more accurate than Encyclopedia Britannica, composed by "experts". The latter is suing.

    ReplyDelete
  157. This is my dilemma: I have read just about every right-wing book I can get my hands on. It's fun and I know I have learned a lot, but I realize that I purposely have exposed myself to just one point of view, so I feel kinda guilty.

    The blogs enable me to test conservative philosophy, to see if it can withstand liberal argument.

    The folks I respect the most are able to see a variety of points of view as valid at least on occasion. This is a quality I see in Kirk12.

    Anyway think I'll snooze. Out.

    ReplyDelete
  158. Anonymous12:36 AM

    Just to let you know My daughter gave me back the Happy Meal I bought her, it was a refund I really did not want but at least she placed it on the bathroom floor. She's sleeping now, so hopefully everything is OK and she does not have the stomach bug that is going around.

    ReplyDelete
  159. Anonymous12:42 AM

    Worfeus the difference between the patriot and the terrorist is more a matter of geography than the act. To many in WW2 especially those who lived Dresden, Hamburg, Hiroshima, Tokyo, and Nagasaki we were the terrorists.

    ReplyDelete
  160. Worf/FF:

    The world is on fire and all you two can do is drink Heinekins and observe sexy pics on Friday night......while discussing writing techniques!

    TREASON! :O

    I suggest such relaxation methods is a psychological disorder; self imposed by a deep rooted fear and unwillingness to face reality due to the fact you were both spanked as babies.

    Sincerely yours

    Mooeus

    P.S. Hope you saved me an ice cold wobbly?

    ReplyDelete
  161. Worfeus the difference between the patriot and the terrorist is more a matter of geography than the act. To many in WW2 especially those who lived Dresden, Hamburg, Hiroshima, Tokyo, and Nagasaki we were the terrorists.
    -Clif

    I disagree. Terrorism is in no way defined by geography. Terrorism is the act of intentionally killing non-combatants generally to intimidate a populace into submission.

    "Terrorist attacks" are usually characterized as "indiscriminate," "targeting of civilians," or executed "with disregard for human life." The term "terrorism" is often used to assert that the political violence of an enemy is immoral, wanton, and unjustified. According to the definition of terrorism typically used by states, academics, counter-terrorism experts, and non-governmental organizations, "terrorists" are actors who don't belong to any recognized armed forces, or who don't adhere to their rules, and who are therefore regarded as "rogue actors".
    -Wikipedia

    Before dropping the A-bombs on Japan, the U.S. dropped leaflets telling the people to evacuate the cities. These entreaties were largely ignored because the Japanese authorities used terrorism by executing anyone who picked up a leaflet.

    However, the U.S. would have preferred that these cities were completely evacuated. It is now widely accepted by most historians that dropping the A-bombs saved thousands, perhaps millions of lives -- both U.S. and Japanese.

    Recall also that Japan had attacked the U.S. without warning at Pearl Harbor, and Germany declared war on us first. America responded with the overkill mentality she always does when mortally threatened, because we never want such a thing to happen again. It hasn't. Our erstwhile enemies are now among our strongest allies.

    The islamists who think America is soft should study their history books. It is really not in our enemies' best interests to try to kill us, or they will certainly find their world changed forever...and not in a good way.

    Even if you believe Bush is the devil, our military objective would be severely undermined by killing a civilian in Iraq. Such an act causes animosity everywhere -- among our allies in Iraq, Europe, Japan, and at home.

    Public opinion is a crucial component in winning a war. We have gone to extraordinary lengths to minimize civilian deaths. For example, we attempted to evacuate Fallujah well before we destroyed that nest of insurgents.

    Only a fool or a rabid America-hater (ie a liberal) would believe that the U.S. intentionally targets civilians in Iraq or anywhere else.

    ReplyDelete
  162. Oh yes it is. Terrorism is subjective to who is suffering what.

    What is more terrifying? 20 pounds of TNT exploded at a bus stop or a 500 pound bomb that takes out an apartment complex?
    Dying is terror.
    Killing is terror.

    -Worfeus

    Wrong. All killing is not morally equivalent. Don't pretend you believe this.

    Killing someone who is trying to kill you or your friends is not the same as an islamist maggot slowly sawing someone's head off because he is Jewish.

    ReplyDelete
  163. When we bombed Dresden, we were trying to break a country which had declared war on us first. Nazi Germany started two world wars and was systematically invading and killing its neighbors. The German people did nothing to stop this while allowing their Jewish and gay neighbors to be exterminated by the millions right under their noses. By destroying Germany, we prevented them from starting WWIII. Sorry, I don't think these folks qualify as entirely innocent. (BTW my ancestry is largely German.)

    ReplyDelete
  164. You're supposed to be married to the person who annoys you the most -- the most spiritual growth happens with your enemies. I live in a house of men -- three boys and two dogs including my husband.
    -Lydia Cornell

    It's unclear whether Mr. Cornell is a dog or a Republican.

    /there I set you up Worf, see what you can do

    ReplyDelete
  165. Worf said

    "Our intelligence told us there were NO STRATEGIC MILITARY targets but we sent our planes in to flatten it anyway."

    Allied intelligence believed the Germans were using Dresden to transport troops via rail. They were wrong!

    The Germans were actually evacuating civilians by trains.

    ReplyDelete
  166. When we bombed Dresden we were targeting a civilian population.
    -Worf

    True.

    You said we don't do that. You were wrong.

    False. This is what I said:

    Only a fool or a rabid America-hater (ie a liberal) would believe that the U.S. intentionally targets civilians in Iraq or anywhere else.
    -Freedom Fan

    In Dresden, we targeted (past tense) civilians. However, these civilians were part of a country with ample blood on its hands -- Germany was wreaking terrible mayhem and murder of innocents within its borders and all over the world over the course of several generations. They don't do this anymore because they learned a terrible lesson; now they put you in jail if you think it's cool to sport a swastika.

    The U.S. rarely targets civilians unless mortally threatened by an entire country. For example, if China thought it was a funny idea to incinerate a few American cities, they would quickly become the least populous country in the world. But they won't because most folks are crystal on how this works. The islamists may not be that bright, but I'm hoping that they are quick learners.

    ReplyDelete
  167. Wrong. All killing is not morally equivalent.

    It is to the one being killed.
    -Worf

    Incorrect. If I murdered someone without just cause, I would consider it justice to be killed in return. Naturally I wouldn't want to be killed, but I understand that the state has a legitimate right to protect its citizens and discourage potential murderers.

    But I feel moral outrage when when watching a bunch of howling, barbaric men stone an innocent woman to death because she's not a virgin.

    All killing is not morally equivalent to anyone with a conscience.

    ReplyDelete
  168. Worf,

    Since you are confused with what I said, let me break it down:

    1) Was (past tense) Dresden an act of terrorism on the part of the U.S.? Yes. However, I have stated why I believe it was justified. I also stated that it is not the common policy of the U.S.; it is rare and we don't normally do it. However, if we are mortally threatened, then all bets are off.

    2) Does (current tense) the U.S. currently target civilians in an attempt to terrorize our enemies? No. However, there can be little doubt that we have ballistic missles trained on China, just as theirs are trained on us.

    Perhaps you can tell us why you think the U.S. would intentionally target civilians in Iraq?

    ReplyDelete
  169. And FF, please allow me to point out that several of your facts in your 8:45 am post are acts of self preservation....not deliberate imposing of political philosophy.

    Not infallible, I am grateful for the United States in taking a leadership role in preventing the "dominoe effect" of communism and sacrificing its soldiers to keep democracy alive.

    However, I suggest you have gone a little to far this time.

    ReplyDelete
  170. Ann Coulter is a PIG!!!

    Found this on her website: (regarging her chat room)

    ...... "you will find that liberals are given a great deal of leeway here. That has NEVER been true on leftist forums, which typically ban conservative posters at the first hint that they are not, in fact, a liberal. Because of that, we have often wondered who really ARE the abusers of the First Amendment to the Constitution"...

    Coulter's rules and regulations at her chat room are disgusting considering the venom she spews out.

    Once again, I must SALUTE Lydia and her extreme bravery in allowing everyone to truly speak their minds.

    ReplyDelete
  171. Maybe Ive been a little too hard on Lyd?

    ReplyDelete
  172. Worf

    Have you ever wondered if FF is Andrew Sullivan?

    ReplyDelete
  173. Well, Ive always found it funny that Stevie has never come back.

    ReplyDelete
  174. I just remember Stevie around Christmas time saying he looks forward to having more debate after new years.

    And I remember you saing earlier: "Are you really Andrew Sullivan?

    ReplyDelete
  175. No, Im wrong because Stevie was like 33 and FF is like 60 or something! Just find it odd Stevie has never come back. But, he did vote for Lydia at Wampum.

    ReplyDelete
  176. BTW Worf

    Ive been reading a little of the good book and have a question for you if you dont mind?

    Im not attempting debate....I am simply curious.

    Heres my question:

    If Jesus was a man, how could he possibly survive 40 days and nights in a desert without food?

    ReplyDelete
  177. Also, it seems Charlie Sheen has been listening to Drewl's conspiracy theory about 9/11.

    ReplyDelete
  178. Prove to me your not the troll Worf...hehehe?

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  179. Afterall, Ive seen a little conditioning on your part.

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  180. Im not sorry, I am not a scholar of the bible!

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  181. No FF. Now you're just a Liar.

    I don't need you to break it down nimrod. You said ANYONE WHO BELIEVES THE US TARGETS CIVILLIANS IS A FOOL.

    I showed you ONE EXAMPLE [50 years ago which happened to a country which declared war on us and which was wreaking destruction on the entire world] of where they DID.

    -Worfeus

    You can't just twist someone's words any way you want and call them a liar. Similarly, you can't pretend that past tense is the same as present tense. Again, this is what I said:

    Only a fool or a rabid America-hater (ie a liberal) would believe that the U.S. intentionally targets civilians in Iraq or anywhere else.
    -Freedom Fan

    Then I asked you this:
    Perhaps you can tell us why you think the U.S. would intentionally target civilians in Iraq?
    -Freedom Fan

    I never said accidental civilian deaths did not occur; they always occur in war, and usually in far greater numbers especially when the combatants hide amongst the population. I asked why on earth you would presume that civilian deaths were intentional?

    Waiting...

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  182. Worf said

    "I just pointed out your obvious apptitude for the role as well as your stalwart efforts to the effect."

    Well I am a moderate. And I do remember pie throwing, by Liberal students, at a certain university attempting to hush Coulter.

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  183. No one really knows the true intentions of Dresden. Some say it was an effort to solidify relations with the Russians.

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  184. At least I have always claimed to be an atheist; not someone who slowly conditions his victims with religious rhetoric.

    Do I need to provide excellent examples?

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  185. I believe both sides have valid points. I am quite unable to think otherwise.

    As a matter of fact I really believe America needs a third political party.....desperately!

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  186. Worf said

    "Perhaps I was wrong about you Johnny."

    What kind of game is this? You never agree with me.

    You simply dismiss my suggestions of a real protest, which leads me to believe your the troll?

    Not once have you ever even said: Hmmmm......you could be right Johnny! A real protest could be effective.

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  187. Your the real troll Worf! Day after day you are so vehement, but do little by way of action.

    All talk.....no action!

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  188. Speaking of dropping it, You have ignored suggestions to peaceful protests several times.

    Now your the troll changing subjects!

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  189. Even Lydia said we should march at the White House.

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  190. If I didnt know better, maybe you dislike my suggestion and really want to keep Bush in power?

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  191. Anonymous3:24 PM

    I think you two morons should march off the side of a cliff.

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  192. Anonymous3:25 PM

    Get a life you two donkeys

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  193. Oh, okay Worf, I had no idea you were so tight with Lydia!

    Does she believe I am NSA too?

    I do, however, admit I am Naepolean as well.......Chaaaaaaarge!

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  194. Everytime we debate, (after you call FF or Voltaire a cocksucker) you seem to want to pay them respect.

    Your a troll Worf. A red hot violent troll!

    And dont speak for Lydia shmuck!

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  195. Funny I agree with Lyd about peaceful protest but you do not?

    Who's the real troll?

    And if Lydia wants to respect a bible thumper who wants to relocate peoples adams to their assh$%^es, then I have no respect for her. But, I need her to tell me this - not you.

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  196. And knowing you, you are probably taking full advantage of Lydias paranoia and trying to convince her I am evil for your own hidden agenda!

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  197. BTW Einstein, whats so confusing about me in that I dont believe in God, dislike war, or sometimes know conflict is necessary?

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  198. Anonymous4:31 PM

    woerf said

    "In seeing people who drink as lesser than their Christian right selves, they adopt the same policy of the superiour Aryan mentality of the Nazi's."

    let me justify this comment with a truely brilliant rebuttal-----

    but first I need to spend some time doing what woref did in this post

    Cut my nose hair in pubic

    ha ha haa

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