tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102706.post114127834348988137..comments2024-02-24T11:50:55.413-08:00Comments on Lydia Cornell: ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!!Fans and Friends of Lydia Cornellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512357844572930333noreply@blogger.comBlogger424125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102706.post-1141855099116064252006-03-08T13:58:00.000-08:002006-03-08T13:58:00.000-08:00FF Said " guess we respect different economists. T...FF Said " guess we respect different economists. The ones I respect say the CPI is sound. Here's a little quiz: If inflation is really raging and we were being told the "hedonics" lie throughout the 90s, what would the price of gold be doing? Right, going through the roof. Instead, gold fell throughout the 90s and only recently has rebounded to the level it attained in 1988.<BR/><BR/>But I agree that "hedonics" is a great lie, at least the way you describe it. <BR/><BR/>FF, I think hedonics was introduced around the mid 1990s, BTW, although gold did languish in the 1990's it has run up pretty nicely in the current decade, which I think signifies inflation is highrt than indicated although certainly not raging at the moment, I should know 60%-70% of my portfolio is invested in oil, gold, natural gas and metals, and I have done quite nicely.Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08956882396669105125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102706.post-1141801347324352272006-03-07T23:02:00.000-08:002006-03-07T23:02:00.000-08:00...I got news for you buddy, the cpi stats have be...<I>...I got news for you buddy, the cpi stats have been as phony as a three dollar bill since they started using hedonics to calculate the cpi...<BR/><BR/>they claimed the cpi was only like 1.8% last year, I dont know about you, but everything I buy has pretty close to doubled, <B>most of the econimists and financial pundits that I respect say inflation is really running at at least 6%</B> if calculated the same way they were prior to the <B>great hedonics lie.</B></I><BR/>-Mike<BR/><BR/><I>Hedonic regression, or more generally hedonic demand theory, in economics is a method of estimating demand or prices. It decomposes the item being researched into its constituent characteristics, and obtains estimates of the value of each characteristic. In essence it assumes that there is a separate market for each characteristic. It may be estimated using ordinary least squares (OLS) regression analysis. ...<BR/>It is commonly used in real estate economics and consumer price index calculations. In consumer price index calculations hedonic regression is used to control the effect of changes in product quality. Price changes that are due to substitution effects are subject to hedonic quality adjustments.</I><BR/>-Wikipedia<BR/><BR/>I guess we respect different economists. The ones I respect say the CPI is sound. Here's a little quiz: If inflation is really raging and we were being told the "hedonics" lie throughout the 90s, what would the price of gold be doing? Right, going through the roof. Instead, <A HREF="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/4898/1579/1600/GoldChart.jpg" REL="nofollow">gold fell</A> throughout the 90s and only recently has rebounded to the level it attained in 1988.<BR/><BR/>But I agree that "hedonics" is a great lie, at least the way you describe it.Freedom Fanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05799821534276323350noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102706.post-1141687573953287072006-03-06T15:26:00.000-08:002006-03-06T15:26:00.000-08:00Mike there is a real differences between the lack ...Mike there is a real differences between the lack of ability and the lack of desire to use that ability. Since Bush has some ability and not to admit it and understand sometimes he uses it to outmaneuver the opposition is disarming the opposition. <BR/><BR/>Most results have not fallen on the PNAC neo-con cabal so to them there has been no down side to them so far. Remember not using his full abilities for all the Americans is sinister. Sometimes more sinister then using them to help those he sides with in the political debate.<BR/><BR/>Bush is for Bush and those who help him are rewarded, just as he has been rewarded by fronting for people who couldn't sell their ideas on the face of the ideas, so we get WMD's not petrodollars as a justification for war, because the fear of Saddam is controllable but the economic fear can not be. And the fear that would come from the national realisation of the collapse of the petrodollar would undercut the entire PNAC neo-con agenda, because the christian right will vote their faith as long as their wallets are safe, but threaten their wallet, then your principals are questioned, ask Bush's daddy about 1992.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102706.post-1141687159707616642006-03-06T15:19:00.000-08:002006-03-06T15:19:00.000-08:00Mike said .."that we work with Canada to develop t...Mike said <BR/><BR/>.."that we work with Canada to develop the Canadian Oil Sands in Alberta???" <BR/><BR/>Noooooooooooooooooooo.........!! <BR/><BR/>If I see one American tank crossing my border, then you will suffer the wrath of Johnny moo moo. And keep your peepers off our oil Mike :| <BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>LOL, JUST KIDDIN ! :D<BR/><BR/>Absolutely Mike, I have no problem with this. We are friends and long time allies; we should be there for each other. Working together can only bring prosperity. However, I no doubt envision some Canadians feeling a little uneasy about this...especially with the current administration. <BR/><BR/>There are presently three companies, that I am aware, of at the sands - Ledcor, Shell Canada, and Flint. <BR/><BR/>I am seriously thinking of checking out opportunities there as Alberta is beautiful country.... where else can I build that log style cabin home. <BR/><BR/>Hmmm...Wonder if I would have to buy a turban?<BR/><BR/>P.S. Im very busy tonite and also need time to resd that very long post by Gary.Johnny moo moohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08946656904829416348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102706.post-1141685939816719962006-03-06T14:58:00.000-08:002006-03-06T14:58:00.000-08:00Clif, i'll concede that Bush is not completely dev...Clif, i'll concede that Bush is not completely devoid of intelligence, but regardless of whether he simply chooses not to engage in critical thinking and/or analytical reasoning or is incapable of it, that is not a quality I find reassuring in a president. As i've said before, him and basically his whole administration are not among the great thinkers and planners unless you consider conniving and scheming good qualities, and their lack of forethought and planning is starting to come back and bite us, and many of the consequences and repercussions from these failed policies will be felt for decades.Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08956882396669105125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102706.post-1141684152995675972006-03-06T14:29:00.000-08:002006-03-06T14:29:00.000-08:00British Gary, there is one main point in your post...British Gary, there is one main point in your post that is wrong on it's face, the point that Bush is not intelligent. He attended both Yale(for his undergraduate degree) and Harvard(for his Masters of Business Administration) and he learned to fly an Air Force jet that is not the easiest to learn. Check out his run for congress where he ran as an "intellectual" and got handed his ass by a west Texas republican. He learned that Texan politicians aren't supposed to act like eastern intellectuals, and thus he adopted the persona of his current act. It helps to be intellectually lazy, and to desire to see the world in a simple duality, us and those who oppose us. Bush has more academic training than Cheney or Rove. but since he never had to struggle for much in his life, having been born on third base, and given a large lead by his father's friends. He does not put much effort into most things, but his perceived unintelligence is actually the same as Peter Sellers as the pink panther. He acts far less intelligence so he does not have to do the heavy intellectual lifting required to master the subtle nuances of the modern world. This "act" as you will politically plays into his christian beliefs and the christian right. Cheney has the problem in the administration of the heavy lifting. The PNAC crowd he runs with brought the AEI-PNAC agenda with the spin machine the AEI neo-con cabal has at their disposal. Bush is not dumb but intellectually uninterested. He is mentally not trained for the job because he has not "exercised" his capabilities since he left Harvard. Most of his west Texas oil failures are due to the fact, that he was determined to score big in wildcatting in west Texas, at the same time the oil production was declining in the region. I'm sure he never did an analytical research for the reasons for the decline of the oil supply in West Texas. The region reached it's peak production in 1970 and Bush began exploring in the late 70's and early 80's. He as an MBA should have fully studied the industry that he was attempting to enter and the region he was working in. The data existed but many in the region denied it, as a temporary situation, but a full research of all available information at the time combined with a historical overview of the oil production of the region would leave no real chance to find another big one. The Hubbert research of the late 50's proves this and his initial vindication was the prediction of the Texas oil feild reserves, and their decline beginning in 1969, he missed by one year.<BR/><BR/>Bush is not dumb, but he plays the role as president so he does not have to do the "hard" work, and Cheney, Rove and the neo-cons are OK with that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102706.post-1141683016390293782006-03-06T14:10:00.000-08:002006-03-06T14:10:00.000-08:00Lydia, btw if you havent thought of a better topic...Lydia, btw if you havent thought of a better topic for the next blog, may I suggest the Shanghai Corp and hedonics, Shanghai corp should be particularly relevant in light of Bush's recent visits to India and Pakistan and his Nuclear deal with India, I think we need to shine the light of truth on the Neo Con agenda and let people know what is really going on.Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08956882396669105125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102706.post-1141682586184171552006-03-06T14:03:00.000-08:002006-03-06T14:03:00.000-08:00Clif, Johnny, lydia etc.. heres some links to some...Clif, Johnny, lydia etc.. heres some links to some articles on hedonics, Clif you should definately read these since you are disabled and on a fixed income, my father is as well, and it makes me angry that people arent even aware of this horrible fraud going on.<BR/><BR/><BR/>http://www.mises.org/story/1873<BR/><BR/>http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/P72746.asp<BR/><BR/><BR/>http://fergusonreport.myonlinepublication.com/article.asp?pop_id=161&article_id=103<BR/><BR/><BR/>http://www.financialsense.com/editorials/reality/2004/1007.html<BR/><BR/>http://a01.moneycentral.msn-ppe.com/content/P72746.asp<BR/><BR/>http://www.undollars.com/archives/arch_undollar.fleck_2_22_06.html<BR/><BR/>http://www.crowne-gold.com/news_details24.aspx<BR/><BR/>http://www.etalkinghead.com/archives/defining-away-economic-failure-2004-02-09.html<BR/><BR/>http://autonomoussource.com/archive/000088.htmlMikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08956882396669105125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102706.post-1141680179757236782006-03-06T13:22:00.000-08:002006-03-06T13:22:00.000-08:00Hey Worf,Clif, Johnny, Lydia, Kirk etc... let me k...Hey Worf,Clif, Johnny, Lydia, Kirk etc... let me know what you think of my 11:02AM post that we work with Canada to develop the Canadian Oil Sands in Alberta???Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08956882396669105125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102706.post-1141679971113137682006-03-06T13:19:00.000-08:002006-03-06T13:19:00.000-08:00British Gary said "This problem was solved when an...British Gary said "This problem was solved when an opportunity arose – 9/11. Neoconservatives used the collective 'revenge' will of America post 9/11 as a pretext to invade the middle-east (part of the neoconservative geopolitical agenda for many years) - this also created an external enemy to help develop national camaraderie and polls reflected this - they were in the 80% support range."<BR/><BR/>British Gary, that was indeed an excelent article, I would give it an A+ also, you've echoed things we have been discussing for months in here, it is a long read, but I would urge everyone in here to read it as the points made are excellent.<BR/><BR/>an excellent point you made is how the Neo Cons jumped on 9/11 and used this tragedy to push their hidden agenda and deceive people. I hate to say this because I think 9/11 was tragic, but it was the best thing that could have happened to the Bush Administration, it was like winning the lottery and Christmas all rolled into when Bush went from very low approval ratings to over 80% approval instantly, and our nation and congress let him do basically what ever he wanted all in the name of 9/11 and keeping us safe, Drewl, myself and others have voiced our suspicions that it would not be beyond the realm of reality to think the Bush Administration may have let 9/11 happen, after all it certainly seems plauable when you consider that everthing this administration stands for and has done was directly a result of 9/11, 9/11 was the enabler that allowed the Neo Cons to thrust their agenda on us.<BR/><BR/>I am always skeptical and fearful when I hear rhetoric that "things are different this time" or "the old rules no longer apply" or "the world has changed", the talking head snake oil salesmen on CNBC tried to tell us things are different this time and old economic measures like price to earnings etc.. no longer matter and tech will keep going up for ever, well after the crash of 2000-2002, we saw they were wrong just like the Neo Cons saying that the world is different and we need their protection will be proven wrong. They claim that terrorists hate us for our freedom yet claim we should give up our freedoms to keep us safe, isnt that admitting defeat not to mention contadictory, they want to promote an endless war to destroy terrorism and promote freedom and democracy yet are willing to sellout and give up the very freedoms they claim to want to fight for. Basic principles like our personal freedoms and civil liberties as well as the checks and balances designed by our founding fathers to keep any one branch of government from becoming too powerful are timeless principles that never become outdated, and whenever I hear people questioning these principles and saying they are outdated I question the messenger and their true motives and agenda and am fearful about where that dark agenda can lead us.Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08956882396669105125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102706.post-1141674765423467502006-03-06T11:52:00.000-08:002006-03-06T11:52:00.000-08:00cheers Worf, I'm taking the wife out for dinner to...cheers Worf, I'm taking the wife out for dinner tonight so it's time to sign off (7.50pm here) as tables booked for 8.30pm. Have a nice morning/afternoon/evening yourself, speak to you soon.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102706.post-1141673542281279112006-03-06T11:32:00.000-08:002006-03-06T11:32:00.000-08:00Worf, thanks, I am an atheist too so I don't fear ...Worf, thanks, I am an atheist too so I don't fear death - I mean this. I have faced situations in the past where I was going to die, with others, and I was the only one who kept a level head because I genuinely wasn't afraid. I fear pain more than death - where there's no hell, there's no fear. <BR/><BR/>I do not fear prison either, despite it's many horrors - much rather that than murder a human being subjugated to inhumane creatures like Bush/various Ayatollah's.<BR/><BR/>What does lol mean? Is it an American colloquialism? Or is it my computer illiteracy?<BR/><BR/>I recently learned that 'tush' means 'botty'in America. I'm learning a lot from Americans!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102706.post-1141671766616152172006-03-06T11:02:00.000-08:002006-03-06T11:02:00.000-08:00One thing I thing we should be doing that I failed...One thing I thing we should be doing that I failed to mention last night is that I feel we should be working with Canada to develop the Canadian Oil Sands, as well as working to develop other alternate sources of energy. The Canadian Oil Sands in Alberta contain almost as much oil as Saudi Arabia, and at current prices are definately worth developing particularly when you consider we dont need to fight wars to insure our access to the oil or use our military to protect countries or prop up or install regimes.<BR/><BR/>also btw did you happen to notice Bush's Hydrogen Economy solution is like 30 plus years in the future, kind of funny how the solution he is proposing doesnt need to stand on its own merits because 30 years from now no one will even remember what that idiot said nor hold him accountable. I really dont think throwing out a George Jetson idea that might happen 30 years in the future is a solution, it took this Country 7 years from the time they talked of putting a man on the moon to acomplish it 40 years ago in the 1960's, now Bush is saying it will take 30 years to develop another source of energy today with all our technology in the middle an energy crisis. nice to know our president has such high goals and standards, like Worf said i'd rather shoot for the moon and miss than shoot for nothing and make it. Trouble is Bush just said that to deflect the issues, he is in bed with the Oil Industry and the Saudi's and doesnt really want any alternate form of energy, thats why his proposed solution was 30 years out because like everything else he knew he wouldnt be held accountable.Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08956882396669105125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102706.post-1141670386170630732006-03-06T10:39:00.001-08:002006-03-06T10:39:00.001-08:00thanks Mike, I think the India nuclear deal and vi...thanks Mike, I think the India nuclear deal and visits to Pakistan are designed to bolster USA influence (and control) in the sub-continent to counter the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, but it's much too late.<BR/><BR/>I think Bush and the neocons are now faced with a stark choice, economic collapse or an escalating war. <BR/><BR/>We all know how neocons are addicted to greed and Bush's religious fervour, we also know liberal America is going down kicking and fighting so a draft won't be easy.<BR/><BR/>I guess we are reaching an impasse where we have to make our own individual choices.<BR/><BR/>If it happens, personally, I would rather face prison than a draft in the UK because I am a pacifist. I am also a man who lives by his convictions, I believe MLKing when he said, 'if there's nothing in your life worth dying for, then your life's not worth living'.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102706.post-1141669260038557192006-03-06T10:21:00.000-08:002006-03-06T10:21:00.000-08:00British Gary, that was a great post, I think you a...British Gary, that was a great post, I think you are absolutely correct, I have one question though, how do you feel the India Nuclear deal and the visits to Pakistan fit into your scenario??Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08956882396669105125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102706.post-1141669141485517342006-03-06T10:19:00.000-08:002006-03-06T10:19:00.000-08:00Lydia said:"Remember: Every moment is a choice bet...Lydia said:<BR/><BR/>"Remember: Every moment is a choice between LOVE AND FEAR."<BR/><BR/>Amen to that; It is so true.RPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16290473459528347767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102706.post-1141668175288287162006-03-06T10:02:00.000-08:002006-03-06T10:02:00.000-08:00Johnny said "..."makes the money basically worthle...Johnny said "..."makes the money basically worthless like Hitler did in Germany in the 1920's"... "<BR/><BR/>Johnny you are right Hitler was not in power at the time, the government inflated the money suppy to renig on their war debts and the economic pain and chaos it caused (it destroyed savers, the poor and the middle class for the most part) aided hitler in coming to power, as people bought into Hitlers rhetoric because they didnt like what was going on. He gave the people a common enemy to hate and a cause to rally around, and offered to protect them, much as the Neo Cons are doing today.Mikehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08956882396669105125noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102706.post-1141667708566678542006-03-06T09:55:00.000-08:002006-03-06T09:55:00.000-08:00Ok, Mr. Moo Moo - Thanks for your latest post to m...Ok, Mr. Moo Moo - Thanks for your latest post to me. :)<BR/><BR/>ReneRPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16290473459528347767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102706.post-1141665326164294032006-03-06T09:15:00.000-08:002006-03-06T09:15:00.000-08:00Worf, Clif, from across the Pond it's not been eas...Worf, Clif, <BR/>from across the Pond it's not been easy to understand how this clusterf*uck of a situation arose so I cobbled this together from people's opinions and websites, please let me know if you can improve it/where I am wrong. Apologies for the length and thanks for support.<BR/><BR/>This essay is how and why neoconservatives took over Washington and steered the U.S. (and others) into a Middle Eastern war unrelated to any plausible threat to the U.S. and opposed by the public of every country in the world except Israel. Neoconservatives took advantage of Bush's ignorance and inexperience. Unlike his father, a Second World War veteran who had been ambassador to China, director of the CIA, and vice president, George W was a thinly educated playboy who had failed repeatedly in oil businesses before becoming the governor of Texas, a largely ceremonial position (as the state's lieutenant governor has more power). <BR/> George W, raised in west Texas, absorbed the Texan cultural combination of machismo, anti-intellectualism and overt religiosity. The son of upper-class Episcopalian parents, he converted to Southern fundamentalism in a midlife crisis. Fervent Christian Zionism, along with an admiration for macho Israeli soldiers that sometimes coexists with hostility to liberal Jewish-American intellectuals, is a feature of the Southern culture.<BR/> Bush believed a Middle Eastern war would result in political control of the region and increase American security. Resulting oil domination of the region would then strengthen the American economy.<BR/> I will prove my point with facts, links and examples – this is complex so it will take time. To begin with, we must understand what inspires Rove, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, Rice et al and this involves an understanding of their philosophies. Many are active members of conservative Think Tanks and have been planning to invade the middle-east for years. Check out; <BR/><BR/>1. PNAC (Project for the New American Century)<BR/><BR/>http://rightweb.irc-online.org/profile/1535<BR/><BR/>2. Hudson Institute<BR/><BR/>http://rightweb.irc-online.org/profile/1480<BR/><BR/>3. AEI (American Enterprise Institute)<BR/><BR/>http://rightweb.irc-online.org/profile/1431<BR/><BR/>From the AEI link above: In a January 2003 speech at an AEI dinner celebrating the life of neocon(servative) godfather Irving Kristol, President Bush underscored the institute's impact. After commending AEI for having "some of the finest minds in our nation," the president said…… "We meet here during a crucial period in the history of [the United States], and of the civilized world. Part of that history was written by others; the rest will be written by us." What does Bush mean by this? Bush means, among other things, he intends to establish American control of the entire middle-east. I will prove this interpretation by discussing Bush's philosophy and current political events. Bush seems genuinely to believe that there was an imminent threat to the U.S. from Saddam Hussein's "weapons of mass destruction," something the leading neoconservatives say in public but are far too intelligent to believe themselves. <BR/>Neoconservative philosophy begins with Leo Strauss;<BR/><BR/>http://www.alternet.org/story/15935/<BR/><BR/>http://www.antiwar.com/justin/j061303.html<BR/><BR/>http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/op-ed/goldsborough/20041005-9999-mz1e4golds.html<BR/><BR/>Leo Strauss was born in 1899 in the region of Hessen, Germany, the son of a Jewish small businessman. He was awarded a doctorate at Hamburg University in 1921 for a thesis on philosophy. In 1937, he moved to Columbia University, and for ten years, from 1938 to 1948, taught political science and philosophy at the New School for Social Research, New York. In 1949, he became professor of political philosophy at the University of Chicago, and remained there for twenty years. Basically, Leo Strauss twisted Plato's teachings (and had the time to do so). Plato's 'Noble Lie' is actually a story whose details are fictitious; but at the heart of it is a profound truth (example 1 below). The second example reveals how Plato's 'Noble Lie' is misused;<BR/> EXAMPLE 1. In the myth of metals, some people have golden souls – meaning that they are more capable of resisting the temptations of power. And these morally trustworthy types are the ones who are most fit to rule. The details are fictitious, but the moral of the story is that not all human beings are morally equal. http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article5010.htm<BR/> <BR/>EXAMPLE 2. Plato argues in the Republic that in order to build a proper Utopia, it will be necessary to depict the gods as virtuous, regardless of what Homer and other authors may actually have written about them. Censorship and deception were seen as requisite for instilling virtue: "The lie in words is in certain cases useful and not hateful." <BR/><BR/>http://www.debunker.com/texts/noblelie.html<BR/><BR/>The current neoconservative Republican Administration misuse Plato's 'Noble Lie' (which is why the 'Noble Lie' is so important) to morally justify the following geopolitical agenda; <BR/><BR/>http://www.newamericancentury.org<BR/><BR/>(a liberal view of the above) http://www.oldamericancentury.org/pnac.htm<BR/><BR/>http://www.projectcensored.org/publications/2004/1.html<BR/><BR/>http://zfacts.com/p/253.html<BR/><BR/>Neoconservatives also believe the masses of a society can be better controlled internally if there is a perceived external enemy. The external enemy does not have to be real but perceived as real. <BR/> For example, people within societies overcame their differences to work together to destroy their common enemy (Germans etc.) during WWII. This conquering of internal strife and differences resulted in a national camaraderie, after victory, those who survived the war soon lamented the loss of national camaraderie as internal strife resumed. In this example the external enemy was real.<BR/><BR/>When Cheney was put in charge of the presidential transition (the period between the election in November and the accession to office in January), Cheney used this opportunity to stack the administration with his hard-line allies including Wolfowitz, Perle, Feith, Bolton and Libby. The Neoconservative's main problem when they came to power was how to implement a neoconservative agenda in a democracy, not just that, but a democracy with a liberal majority. <BR/> This problem was solved when an opportunity arose – 9/11. Neoconservatives used the collective 'revenge' will of America post 9/11 as a pretext to invade the middle-east (part of the neoconservative geopolitical agenda for many years) - this also created an external enemy to help develop national camaraderie and polls reflected this - they were in the 80% support range.<BR/> Bush knew Americans really wanted revenge as well as security, because of this national attitude, few seriously questioned Bush's motive (WMD) for invasion. Opposition from Democrats was weak (and are now seen as 'Republican lite' following the disastrous failures in Iraq and a looming war with Iran).<BR/><BR/>The neoconservative misuse of the 'Noble Lie' (deceive/lie/smear/coerce/bribe etc.) has been very effective at encouraging a relatively free-thinking society to implement irrational policies. If neoconservatives can ensure all partisans are ‘fearing’ instead of ‘thinking’, they can muster enough support and loyalty for almost anything they want. <BR/><BR/>So what do the neoconservatives want? <BR/><BR/>War in the Middle East for the following reason:<BR/><BR/>To support Israel's campaigns against the Palestinians and to make the Middle East safe for Israel. Neoconservatives (PNAC) published a series of public letters whose signatories often included Paul Wolfowitz, (American Deputy Secretary of Defence) and other future members of the Bush foreign policy team. <BR/><BR/>http://www.antiwar.com/orig/lind1.html<BR/><BR/>Public letters signed by Wolfowitz and others called on the U.S. to invade and occupy Iraq, to bomb Hezbollah bases in Lebanon, and to threaten states such as Syria and Iran with U.S. attacks if they continued to sponsor terrorism.<BR/> Of course, if anyone publicly declares the neoconservatives true motive is to make the Middle East safe for Israel rather than a 'war on terror', neoconservatives declare this 'anti-Semitic'. In doing so, Israeli neoconservatives, like Bush, are using the goodwill of the world towards them following unprecedented disasters (the Holocaust and 9/11) all in accordance with their philosophy of a twisted 'Noble Lie'.<BR/> This is cited from page 29-30 of 'Neoconned Again' (statements made prior to the war in Iraq):<BR/><BR/>http://www.karlschwarz2008.com/platform.htm<BR/><BR/>Dr. Edward Luttwak, the internationally renowned author, lecturer, historian, military strategist and Pentagon consultant said, “We are going to bomb Iraq back into the Stone Age. Saddam is not like the Saudi Princes who spend the bulk of their lives outside of their country, and who fritter away the Kingdom’s oil profits on prostitutes and bottles of champagne in Paris. No, Saddam is building railways! Creating electrical networks! Highways and other important elements of a serious State infrastructure! After eights years of war against the Iranian regime of Khomeini, he desperately needs to demobilize his Republican Guard, which incorporates so many of this technical elite, in order to rebuild the war-devastated country. These people are his technicians, his engineers. If they are put to work in the way Saddam wishes, they will rapidly make Iraq the most advanced power in the region, and we cannot allow this to happen.” <BR/>Neoconservatives control the major facets of a democracy to implement a second neoconservative policy: <BR/> National Socialism in America; neoconservatives control the American Main Stream Media, WhiteHouse, Congress, Supreme Court, the Senate and have the backing of the police, military and intelligence agencies. Only one facet is missing: half the people of America who are fighting back hard. However, in combination with corruption, deceit, lies, bribes and coercion, if Bush can ensure all partisans are ‘fearing’ instead of ‘thinking’, he can muster enough support and loyalty for almost anything he wants.<BR/><BR/>So what does Bush want? <BR/><BR/>War in the Middle East for the following 3 reasons:<BR/><BR/>1. To increase the security of America.<BR/>An inexperienced, ignorant, thinly educated playboy who, raised in west Texas, absorbed the Texan cultural combination of machismo, anti-intellectualism and then religious fundamentalism in a midlife crisis, seemed genuinely to believe that there was an imminent threat to the U.S. from Saddam Hussein's "weapons of mass destruction (WMD)." Bear in mind North Korea is a much greater threat in reality. Security has historically been Bush's popular and main reason for his political support (propaganda notwithstanding).<BR/><BR/>http://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/nationalsecurity/<BR/><BR/>Bush's reasons for justifying the Middle East war have changed over time – Bush has stated 15 out of the 21 different Govt. reasons given to date:<BR/> http://www.foreignpolicy.com/story/cms.php?story_id=2679<BR/><BR/>2. To prevent Iran introducing an oil Bourse to be traded in Euros, not dollars, beginning this month (March 2006). Why is that a problem for the USA? If oil is traded in Euros (rather than dollars) for the first time, the value of the debt-ridden dollar will plummet - the world will dump their defunct-dollar holdings resulting in an economic collapse in America. Iraq was also about to trade oil in Euros but Bush invaded Saddam before he could do so, coincidence? Check out the following link (you'll need to scroll down to the picture of the golden oil barrels);<BR/><BR/>http://www.masternewmedia.org/news/2006/01/23/the_iranian_oil_exchange_proposal.htm<BR/><BR/>This second reason for wanting a war in the Middle East has recently been supported by Democrats (who are also lying by pushing the security cover story, there is no mention of North Korea and this probably explains why Democrats are so 'in name only' and continue to have the 'Republican lite' label);<BR/><BR/>http://channels.aolsvc.co.uk/news/article.adp?id=20060305152709990005&n=collection&p=news&c=news<BR/><BR/>3. The Rapture. Bush understands how to garner further political support by converging neoconservative philosophies with evangelical philosophies (held by him and millions of Americans). Evangelists believe in 'the Rapture' – basically the Rapture is a belief-based philosophy that states;<BR/>1. there is a terrible catastrophe of biblical proportion<BR/>2. those who believe in Christ will be taken straight to heaven and avoid<BR/>3. seven years of 'Great Tribulation' (suffering) under the rule of the Antichrist<BR/>4. then follows a year-long Day of the Lord<BR/>5. concluding with the Return of Christ.<BR/><BR/>http://www.thercg.org/books/gpp.html?gclid=CNvv1dDPw4MCFRlXEAod0APCEQ<BR/><BR/>Bush understands #1 is a converging philosophy especially as his catastrophic war is in the middle-east (holy lands). There are many millions of Americans who want, for very different reasons, outright war in the entire middle-east. US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice stated "The Lord is going to come on time - if we just wait". <BR/><BR/>http://cbs2chicago.com/topstories/local_story_247155007.html<BR/><BR/>Why, after years of fear mongering about 'terror', does Bush suddenly support a port deal with the UAE which is completely at odds with his 'strong stance against terror' message? The UAE continues to provide a financial haven and breeding ground for extreme militants. The UAE is possibly Al-Qaeda infiltrated too;<BR/><BR/>http://www.ctc.usma.edu/aq/AFGP-2002-603856-Trans.pdf<BR/><BR/>This is alienating his republican base and responsible for his plummeting polls at present. So why push ahead with the UAE port deal? What is so important Bush would risk alienating his popular (and main) reason for loyal American support?<BR/><BR/>The UAE port deal is a necessary preparation for the invasion of Iran.<BR/><BR/>To secure the oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman in case of war with Iran, the Bush administration needs a “beachhead” on the Iranian side of the strait.<BR/> For this, they need a “staging area” on the opposite side of the strait, but close to it…similar to D-Day. Thus, the vital, strategic importance of the United Arab Emirates and Oman becomes obvious. <BR/> Of course, the UAE and Oman would want something in return from the Bush administration…let’s say, a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and/or a “port deal.” So, in the autumn of 2004, the Bush administration initiates FTA's with both countries. The UAE FTA is still pending (but they've still got a “port deal” apparently), while the Omani FTA was signed by Bush on Jan. 19, 2006. <BR/> Notably, two days before the Omani FTA signing, the secret review board approved the UAE port deal. Coincidence? Consider the geographical location of the UAE and Oman and the necessity to establish an open Gulf to secure the flow of oil and military traffic.<BR/><BR/>While millions underestimate the neoconservative, wealthy, powerful base, Bush and the neoconservatives are achieving their ambitions. Bush and his base probably enjoy the name-calling – it helps detract from reality in accordance with the neoconservative 'Noble Lie' philosophy – and it's other people who are doing the work for them. Is Bush dumb? Pretty much for a President of the United States of America but not if you consider he is achieving his ambitions. <BR/><BR/>He is being misused by those far more intelligent than himself but their aims converge for different reasons <BR/><BR/>– geopolitically, everything is going according to the neoconservative plan. I believe mass (millions of people), sustained, demonstrations can ultimately get rid of them, combined with a fair and just voting system currently lacking in America because both Democrats and Republicans have for years determined to skew electoral votes in their favour.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102706.post-1141650671310954032006-03-06T05:11:00.000-08:002006-03-06T05:11:00.000-08:00Rene Ok! Im cool with you. And Im glad you got bac...Rene <BR/><BR/>Ok! Im cool with you. And Im glad you got back, therefore, I feel compelled to give you the benefit of the doubt. <BR/><BR/>Afterall, we are in agreement that Coulter is scum for possibly endangering Lydia and her family.Johnny moo moohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08946656904829416348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102706.post-1141649947053324822006-03-06T04:59:00.000-08:002006-03-06T04:59:00.000-08:00Good job Mike/Cliff/Worf I have learned much; espe...Good job Mike/Cliff/Worf <BR/><BR/>I have learned much; especially regarding interest rates, inflation, and hedonics. Additionally I had no idea China was attemting to collapse our economy in similiar ways that spending brought about the Soviet collapse....I thought you guys were to smart to allow this to happen despite unbelievable spending and an extremely alarming deficit. <BR/><BR/>Lets face it, if your economy collapses I will have to take my offspring to Disneyworld with a welfare check.<BR/> <BR/>Mike said<BR/><BR/>..."makes the money basically worthless like Hitler did in Germany in the 1920's"... <BR/><BR/>Mike, please allow me to point out that Hitler had absolutely nothing to do with printing useless money in the early twenties and had no control over Germany's economy whatsoever in this time period. <BR/><BR/>In fact, Hitler did not seize power until January 1933. <BR/><BR/>A young Hitler actually said during this crushing economic collapse: <BR/><BR/>" The government calmly goes on printing these scraps of paper because, if it stopped, that would be the end of the government." <BR/><BR/>It has never failed to astonish me how the German mark, normally valued at four to the dollar in 1921, had drastically fallen by 1923; it took billions of marks to buy a dollar. <BR/><BR/>I do, however, take this new economic threat very seriously....I want to believe Freedom Fan....desperately.Johnny moo moohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08946656904829416348noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102706.post-1141643604445965702006-03-06T03:13:00.000-08:002006-03-06T03:13:00.000-08:00Perhaps some of you can shed some light on the fol...Perhaps some of you can shed some light on the following regarging the daylight savings time extension:<BR/><BR/>"Earlier this month, President Bush signed his new energy bill into law amidst protests by some concerned for the environment that it doesn't offer any real solutions, and protests by some conservatives that car exhaust and using oil is good for the earth. But one particularly-debated section of this bill is the provisions for new daylight savings time -- beginning in 2007, daylight-savings will extend by four weeks in order to save energy."<BR/><BR/>How is this extension of daylight savings time supposed to save energy in October when we usually "fall back" and it gets dark sooner? When it's dark - most people are going to turn a light on regardless of what time it is, so what is the point of this bill?RPhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16290473459528347767noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102706.post-1141642577122986162006-03-06T02:56:00.000-08:002006-03-06T02:56:00.000-08:00By June 2003 there were at least three countries –...By June 2003 there were at least three countries – India, Israel, and Pakistan – that were both in possession of nuclear weapons and non-parties to the NPT. In addition, North Korea had announced its intention to withdraw from the NPT. The announcement came after repeated hints by North Korean representatives that their country already possessed a few nuclear weapons.<BR/><BR/>Where did Bush just go, who did he make a deal about SELLING Uranium to. Who do we consider a long standing ally. Who do we rely on for support in the war in Afghanistan. Wonder if Iran feels threatened?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102706.post-1141642365025959142006-03-06T02:52:00.000-08:002006-03-06T02:52:00.000-08:00Allegations about a secret Israeli nuclear weapons...Allegations about a secret Israeli nuclear weapons program were frequently heard in the 1960s and 70s. It was not until the mid-1980s, however, that the allegations were backed up with firm proof. In the fall of 1986, a former Israeli nuclear technician, Mordechai Vanunu, disclosed illegally possessed evidence proving that Israel, by all meaningful definitions of the term, was indeed a nuclear weapons state, and a powerful one as well. Drawing on Vanunu's photographs from the bomb factory underneath the small Dimona nuclear reactor, Western experts concluded that Israel at the time probably had acquired enough fissile material to produce more than 100 nuclear bombs and warheads. Today, Israel may possess as much as 150-200 nuclear weapons.<BR/><BR/>Where is the administrations outrage, the UN's sanctions?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9102706.post-1141642113806372632006-03-06T02:48:00.000-08:002006-03-06T02:48:00.000-08:00And the list who has used the weapons in combat ag...And the list who has used the weapons in combat against anyone<BR/><BR/>United States 2X 1945Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com