ThinkFast AM: July 7, 2006
“A decade after the Pentagon declared a zero-tolerance policy for racist hate groups, recruiting shortfalls caused by the war in Iraq have allowed ‘large numbers of neo-Nazis and skinhead extremists’ to infiltrate the military.”
House Speaker Dennis Hastert’s (R-IL) “net worth has soared from no more than $290,000 to more than $6 million during his 19-year tenure on Capitol Hill.” Hastert has made most of his money through land deals, sometimes using federal earmarks to turn a profit.
Coal industry veteran Richard Stickler, the man President Bush chose to oversee federal mine safety laws, “has not been able to win Senate confirmation but has gone to work at the Labor Department anyway.â€
Allegations of plagiarism in Ann Coulter’s new book are “trivial,” “meritless,” and “irresponsible,” says Steve Ross, SVP of Crown Publishing, which published the book. “The number of words used by our author in these snippets is so minimal that there is no requirement for attribution.”
Contrary to claims in the U.S. media that conditions in Guantanamo have improved, Australian terror suspect David Hicks, who is being held at the prison camp, told relatives that conditions have worsened since three inmates committed suicide last month.
“A diversion of dollars to help fight the war in Iraq has helped create a $530 million shortfall for Army posts at home and abroad, leaving some unable to pay utility bills or even cut the grass.â€
Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad and Gen. William Casey tried to calm Iraqi anger by strongly condemning the rape and murder of a young Iraqi woman and the killing of her family, saying that the crime had injured the “Iraqi people as a whole.” Bush added, “People will be held to account if these charges are true. … There will be absolute justice if this person is guilty.”
Russia has cracked down on Voice of America and Radio Free Europe, forcing 60 radio stations to stop broadcasting their news reports. “In a country where the news media increasingly avoid controversial subjects, millions of Russians had made the broadcasts a listening staple.”
Afghanistan’s foreign minister said yesterday that the “confidence of [the Afghan] people in the government to protect them, especially in our southern provinces, is not strong.” After meetings with Cheney, Rice, and Hadley yesterday, the minister added, “I think our government and international community were perhaps a little bit naive about how easy it would be to bring the Afghanistan project to an end.â€
And finally: A “bored-looking” President Bush “sprang to life whenever the subject turned to his birthday” during yesterday’s press conference with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Afterwards, Bush invited anyone in the room with a July 6 birthday on stage; Harper “stood off to the side, rubbing his nose, as his photo op [with Bush] disintegrated.”
What did we miss? Let us know in the comments section.
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The relative importance of plagiarism in Coulter’s book is not for Mr. Ross to decide. I’m susprised that the people she stole material from haven’t filed lawsuits already.
July 7th, 2006 at 9:24 amAnd finally: A “bored-looking†President Bush “sprang to life whenever the subject turned to his birthday†during yesterday’s press conference with Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper. Afterwards, Bush invited anyone in the room with a July 6 birthday on stage; Harper “stood off to the side, rubbing his nose, as his photo op [with Bush] disintegrated.â€
Yeah, diplomacy is on the march. Bush is capable of pissing even the brand new rightist canadian President. Tomorrow, GW will not understand why Canada sidelines the border control proposals of the USA. Diplomacy works both ways.
July 7th, 2006 at 9:27 amAmbassador Zalmay Khalilzad and Gen. William Casey tried to calm Iraqi anger by strongly condemning the rape and murder of a young Iraqi woman and the killing of her family, saying that the crime had injured the “Iraqi people as a whole.†Bush added, “People will be held to account if these charges are true. … There will be absolute justice if this person is guilty.â€
Unfortunelly for the USA, the iraqis are used to die for their ideals or by faction wars. Until now, the USA had an opportunity, because islam puts honor and religion before people. But now, if USA pretends to do a whitewash with a crime so horrenodous for muslims as is the honour of their women, the USA will discover that the incident would become the rallying cry needed by the insurgence.
July 7th, 2006 at 9:33 amContrary to claims in the U.S. media that conditions in Guantanamo have improved, Australian terror suspect David Hicks, who is being held at the prison camp, told relatives that conditions have worsened since three inmates committed suicide last month.
Well obviously we should believe him at face value! Think Progress - giving the terrorist suspect’s side of the story every time.
Good job guys! Next, Osama bin Laden says that the USA rapes bunny rabbits. You’ll read all about it here at Think Progress!
July 7th, 2006 at 9:34 amThe whole skinhead things seems quite alarmist, I have no doubts that there are hard core racist elements in the military but that is buffered by a large number of hispanic and african americans too. These crazy crackers will have to live, work, fight, and depend on these other “alien” races, so getting them into the military might actually do more to open their minds and set aside their prejudices than we think.
This has always been the case, especially when a lot of the military rank and file come from rural populations that have traditionally had these sorts of racial problems.
July 7th, 2006 at 9:35 amCoal industry veteran Richard Stickler, the man President Bush chose to oversee federal mine safety laws, “has not been able to win Senate confirmation but has gone to work at the Labor Department anyway.â€
Why don’t the dem’s care about mine saftey?
“A diversion of dollars to help fight the war in Iraq has helped create a $530 million shortfall for Army posts at home and abroad, leaving some unable to pay utility bills or even cut the grass.â€
That diversion of funds wouldn’t be happening because the dems in the senate refuse to approve the new spending bill for Iraq would it? Yet anouther example of liberals refusal to support our troops.
/What to early for trolling?
July 7th, 2006 at 9:36 am“A decade after the Pentagon declared a zero-tolerance policy for racist hate groups, recruiting shortfalls caused by the war in Iraq have allowed ‘large numbers of neo-Nazis and skinhead extremists’ to infiltrate the military.â€
That’s funny since I debated with what I later found out was a neo-Nazi about the Iraq war. He was against. Maybe Norwegian neo-Nazis are different from American ones.
July 7th, 2006 at 9:36 amI recall a report from a couple of weeks about street gangs, a la the Crips, using their military service in Iraq to learn tactics and strategies they then use back in the US.
I would think that every military force in the world has elements like this. Hopefully, possibly, after spending time in a regemented environment for a couple years, they will abandon their criminal ways (or in the case of neo-Nazis, abandon their racist beliefs).
You may say I’m a dreamer…
July 7th, 2006 at 9:39 amThat diversion of funds wouldn’t be happening because the dems in the senate refuse to approve the new spending bill for Iraq would it? Yet anouther example of liberals refusal to support our troops.
/What to early for trolling?
Comment by squegeeboo — July 7, 2006 @ 9:36 am
Good morning troglodyte, of course you know the only reason that any spending bill for Iraq has been rejected is due to excessive pork being buried in the bill which has nothing to do with the funding the troops, and most of the time those items are added by a person with an R next to their name. Talk to your people about why they aren’t supporting the troops.
July 7th, 2006 at 9:40 amChase
You may say I’m a dreamer…
I will, didnt that same report say that out of the 100+ they interviewed, only like 3 had decided to renounce their gangs when they got back?
July 7th, 2006 at 9:40 amonthefence
“Good morning troglodyte”
And a fine morning to you sir. Hope this Friday finds you well.
“Talk to your people about why they aren’t supporting the troops.”
July 7th, 2006 at 9:43 amBut mine are voting for the bill. Yours are the people that arn’t, after all the complaining about the troops not being properly funded or having proper supplies etc, sorta hard to get those things to them when you won’t fund them though, but I understand, it’s an election year.
#7 That’s funny since I debated with what I later found out was a neo-Nazi about the Iraq war. He was against. Maybe Norwegian neo-Nazis are different from American ones.
Comment by Seixon — July 7, 2006 @ 9:36 am
You must know the differences, if any, for sure.
/Sarcasm off (you got it?)
And well, neo-Nazi tend to be extremely nationalist (like you). Iraq is a war of choice of the USA Neocon (~=neo-nazis) GOP. Hence, a neo-Nazi in the USA is in favor of, but a neo-Nazi in Norway sees it only as an USA bussiness, therefore, nothing ado with Norway interests.
Anyhow, nice friends you have.
July 7th, 2006 at 9:46 am#10 - Didn’t see that.
I’ll admit I didn’t follow that story too closely, I just recall something of that effect crossing the wires.
3 of 100 huh? That’s not so good buddy. Oh well. I don’t think I’m gonna lose much sleep.
July 7th, 2006 at 9:47 amYou missed the whole point…….Dems are unfortunately having to be the “party of fiscal responsibility” because of reckless R pork projects buried in these military spending bills, historically that has been the ONLY reason that these bills haven’t been passed immediately.
So tell your boys to stop putting their special interest friends ahead of supporting the troops.
July 7th, 2006 at 9:49 amseixton - Where is Osama anyhow? Why is it that your feuher stopped looking for the man who organized the 9/11 tragedy? How can you defend such a punk?
July 7th, 2006 at 9:49 amRegarding the young former soldier who will go to trial for rape and murder in Iraq, he has been described as a sociopath.
July 7th, 2006 at 9:59 amGreen, who served 11 months with the 101st Airborne Division, based at Fort Campbell, Ky., received an honorable discharge and left the army in mid-May. He was discharged because of an “anti-social personality disorder,” according to military officials and court documents.
At 21-years old, was he a under extreme stress for which he was not fully prepared, or does he suffer from a disorder that should have prevented him from acceptance in the military if the US were not so desperate for enlistees.
There is no excuse; Green certainly needs to account for his acitons and face punishment - but shouldn’t his commander in the field, and the military in general (from Rumsfeld and Generals on down) also be held accountable?
These crimes are very disturbing, but Green has received an honorable discharge and will be tried in civilian court — is this to save the military brass from their own responsibility? I’d like more information.
The Friday funnies…
Katherine Harris is back … and she’s hanging out with Alligator Bob in South Florida. No need to add a single solitary thing more. ……
July 7th, 2006 at 10:00 amSquegeeboo,
Stop hiding behind your sophomoric semantics. Voting for a bill stuffed full of GOP pork and waste does not equal supporting the troops, and voting against it does not equal opposing the troops. The Republicans started this unnecessary war without little thought and no planning. As a consequence, they have asked the troops to do a job that cannot be done with the tools available. Instead of focusing on reality-based planning for the occupation, Bush and his gang of incompetent lying political hacks have focused instead on setting up a system of war profiteering for their friends.
Bush favors keeping the troops in Iraq indefinitely, despite the monstrous failure and uselessness of the occupation. Supporting Bush is incompatible with supporting the troops.
July 7th, 2006 at 10:01 amThat, explains a lot really.
July 7th, 2006 at 10:05 am(TP is giving me problems posting - if this duplicates, my apologies)
#15 - When you said
do you really think that’s the case? I just can’t beleive this is the case.
From a Dowd article:
Makes sense.
#16 Marie
I think it’s worth waiting on a trial before we condemn this kid. In Ben Stein’s article yesterday he mentioned another article that discusses how some insurgent groups are threatening death on some Iraqi civilians who don’t “witness” American troops committing “crimes”. Interesting, at least. I wouldn’t doubt that happens (just as I wouldn’t doubt some American soldiers do some heinous things).
July 7th, 2006 at 10:14 amHere’s my question: What the hell is Universal Press Syndicate doing WITHOUT some kind of plagiarism detection software? Seems like they could find themselves in trouble on a copyright basis if they’re not bothering to make sure their content isn’t ripped off from somebody else. I find it amazing that they (a) don’t have anything, and (b) are allowing the marketplace to see that they never even thought about it. Amateur hour.
July 7th, 2006 at 10:15 amEvil Spaniard,
Anyhow, nice friends you have.
Friends? I debated him in a newspaper opinions section. Don’t you ever get tired of trying to demonize me?
kindness,
seixton - Where is Osama anyhow? Why is it that your feuher stopped looking for the man who organized the 9/11 tragedy? How can you defend such a punk?
My Fuehrer? Sorry, I never voted for Bush, he’s not my leader. Anyways, you might want to redirect your question towards those who were actually tasked with finding the guy. Ever read the story about the Nazi doctor that was just discovered in Spain? Took the Europeans 60 years to find the damn guy - and he was living among them. It took us 9 months to find Saddam in a country we controlled. If you’re such a genius, why don’t you go brief Bush on the perfect way to find Osama bin Laden in Pakistan or wherever the hell he is. Mk?
July 7th, 2006 at 10:20 amRussia has cracked down on Voice of America and Radio Free Europe, forcing 60 radio stations to stop broadcasting their news reports.
If only someone would stop FOX Nutworks [nationalist skinhead propaganda outlet] media from broadcasting…
July 7th, 2006 at 10:31 amIf you’re such a genius, why don’t you go brief Bush on the perfect way to find Osama bin Laden in Pakistan or wherever the hell he is. Mk?
Like Bush listens to anyone but those varied ranting voices in his alcohol blackened blob of brains?
July 7th, 2006 at 10:34 am#30 - What?
July 7th, 2006 at 10:43 amUnrelated but important, from Truthout:
July 7th, 2006 at 10:45 am“According to the National Journal, Mr Bush told prosecutors he directed Mr Cheney to disclose classified information both to defend his administration and to discredit Mr Wilson.”
So Bush ADMITS to yet another treasonable offense.
Get the rope.
You ‘da man, Ann!
July 7th, 2006 at 10:46 amDo really eat with that mouth?
God, it must taste filthy.
Plagerize, Hell, that’s the least of her crimes.
Lying about widows of 9/11 and everything else
that toilet she calls a mouth is the real problem.
Just like many Repulican’ts, her only skill is shrill.
Can you imagine living with a bitch like her? I’d think
I’d rather spend time in ‘Gitmo.
Go, Ann, Go…away.
#31,Chase - ignore that crazy, it comes here and types incaps all the time under different names. Off its meds again.
July 7th, 2006 at 10:47 amignore that crazy, it comes here and types incaps all the time under different names. Off its meds again.
Comment by SKdeA — July 7, 2006 @ 10:47 am
Santo or Chase? Probably both… :)
July 7th, 2006 at 10:50 amSKdeA,
So Bush ADMITS to yet another treasonable offense.
Get the rope.
What treasonable offense would that be? Declassifying intelligence on Iraq? Wow, yeah, that’s definitely a treasonable offense buddy. Yeah, get the rope, Murray Waas has you hanging by it.
July 7th, 2006 at 10:55 amCameroon is another country where women are second class citizens, crime is high, and diseases are ramapant. These issues are related. When women are equals with men, crime does downa nd health goes up.
‘Breast ironing’ to stunt girls’ growth widespread
1 in 4 girls in Cameroon suffer this abuse to protect against rape
Friday, July 7, 2006; Posted: 9:49 a.m. EDT (13:49 GMT)
YAOUNDE, Cameroon (Reuters) — Worried that her daughters’ budding breasts would expose them to the risk of sexual harassment and even rape, their mother Philomene Moungang started ‘ironing’ the girls’ bosoms with a heated stone.
“I did it to my two girls when they were eight years old. I would take the grinding stone, heat it in the fire and press it hard on the breasts,” Moungang said.
“They cried and said it was painful. But I explained that it was for their own good.”
“Breast ironing” — the use of hard or heated objects or other substances to try to stunt breast growth in girls — is a traditional practice in West Africa, experts say.
A new survey has revealed it is shockingly widespread in Cameroon, where one in four teenagers are subjected to the traumatic process by relatives, often hoping to lessen their sexual attractiveness.
“Breast ironing is an age-old practice in Cameroon, as well as in many other countries in West and Central Africa, including Chad, Togo, Benin, Guinea-Conakry, just to name a few,” said Flavien Ndonko, an anthropologist and local representative of German development agency GTZ, which sponsored the survey.
“If society has been silent about it up to now it is because, like other harmful practices done to women such as female genital mutilation, it was thought to be good for the girl,” said Ndonko.
“Even the victims themselves thought it was good for them.”
However, the practice has many side-effects, including severe pain and abscesses, infections, breast cancer, and even the complete disappearance of one or both breasts.
continued at:
July 7th, 2006 at 11:00 amhttp://www.cnn.com/ 2006/ WORLD/ africa/ 07/ 07/ cameroon.breastironing.reut/ index.html
I can’t believe there’s nothing on the DeLay ruling. Or did I just miss it?
July 7th, 2006 at 11:04 amunbelievable,
Re the breat ironing story. Simply horrifying. Girls have to be mutilated in order to try to avoid men’s sickness. Why not iron rapists’ family jewels?
July 7th, 2006 at 11:09 amWhy not iron rapists’ family jewels?
Comment by Zooey — July 7, 2006 @ 11:09 am
At a bare minimum…
This subject is repulsive. But not surprising when women get lumped in with asses and oxen in commandments about which of thy neighbor’s possessions you aren’t supposed to covet…
For women to feel responsible for being raped is appalling! Rape isn’t about sex, but about violence. And any socity that violent toward its women does not deserve to have any. I wish we could export all their women out of there and to a country where women are treated with respect.
China is working on ridding itself of all women… even if completely by accident. Their youngest generation has significantly fewer girls than boys. As a result, many boys will grow up and not be able to find a mate. Hopefully, it will make women more valued, and less seen as second class people.
July 7th, 2006 at 11:16 amunbelievable,
Rape isn’t about sex, but about violence.
Isn’t it about both?
July 7th, 2006 at 11:36 amI dont see how accusations of plagiarism can be both “trivial†and “meritless†at the same time.
If it is trivial, this means that, yes, she copied some material, but it is so not much and may be an honest mistake, so it is something that can be taken care of out of the courts by maybe paying some royalties and fixing the book for the next print.
If it is meritless, that to me implies it didn’t happen at all! Huh? Is this like how Bush will say “the NSA spying program is legal” and then a day later we hear how Congressmen are attempting to pass a law to make it legal?
Either way, of course the publisher will defend her. They have a lot of money wrapped up in this investment in her pyschoticness.
July 7th, 2006 at 11:36 amyeah it is too bad we can’t go in and liberate those people too…. cause as soon as we did, we will hear it was a lie and people dies… where is bin laden…. blah blah blah…
July 7th, 2006 at 11:36 amI know… lets have the UN work on it in between trading favors for sex and oil… we can throw money to the dictators and food too… i am sure they will see the error in their ways!!
actually you can look at Afghanistan to see what happens when there si nothing but men dealing with each other… soldiers who came back would reports about how the boys and young men behaved… hmm kind of like prison.. don’t drop the soap…
besides i thought we were isolationists all of a sudden.. who cares what they do… we should just talk them to death while they are holding the knife behind their back waiting…
July 7th, 2006 at 11:55 am# 41-Seixon: ”Isn’t it about both”?
Yes it is.
But of course,unbelievable KNOWS EVERYTHING,so now I’m not so sure.
And don’t you just love being regaled by those McDonald’s stories?
July 7th, 2006 at 12:07 pmSoooo informative.
Rape isn’t about sex, but about violence.
Isn’t it about both?
Comment by Seixon
Believe me, rape is violence and control. The sexual act is a convenient tool, if you will.
July 7th, 2006 at 12:14 pmRealscientist, onthefence
If its about the pork, not the military funding, how many soldiers have to die from underfunding before it stops being about the pork? One soldier per pork earmark? 2? 3?
July 7th, 2006 at 12:21 pmComment by Sybil — July 7, 2006 @ 12:07 pm
Didn’t someone drop a house on you? Or was that your sister, the sweeter one?
July 7th, 2006 at 12:21 pmBelieve me, rape is violence and control. The sexual act is a convenient tool, if you will.
Comment by Zooey — July 7, 2006 @ 12:14 pm
Oddly enough, even wikipedia has an entry for this subject…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rape
“Probably for much of human history, rape, violence, and war have often occurred in connection with one another.”
“Rape has been regarded as “a crime of violence and control” since the 1970s.”
July 7th, 2006 at 12:28 pmWikipedia has entries for everything. It’s amazing!
July 7th, 2006 at 12:30 pmWikipedia even has an entry for the Flying Spaghetti Monster.
July 7th, 2006 at 12:38 pmthe sex and violence goes hand in hand… (i don’t know why it needs to be nuanced to death) bottom line the rapist gets off sexually based on the violence and power… his goal is sexual gratification. otherwise he or she would crack the person over the head and be done with it… besides women can rape men too so quit discriminating… i am feeling offended now.
July 7th, 2006 at 12:39 pmFrom the article on Hate Groups:
He concluded: “As a professional soldier, my goal is to fill the ranks of the United States Army with skinheads. As street brawlers, you will be useless in the coming race war. As trained infantrymen, you will join the ranks of the Aryan warrior brotherhood.”
Anybody care to guess what will happen over the next 3-5 years as these men come home in large numbers, trained and experienced in street warfare, many of them with post-traumatic-stress symdrome? Cities and neighborhoods across the U.S. will be loaded with powderkegs, waiting for a match.
July 7th, 2006 at 12:40 pmThe neo-nazi’s have been talking about the coming race war for the last 30 years. I agree that having a large group of trained and experienced skinheads is a bad idea.
Chase, I had a friend who was army national guard for 8 years. He was more racist after he left, then before he got in. fortunetly it faded after a while. I don’t know that exposure changes minds in the military.
July 7th, 2006 at 12:46 pmyeah… makes me want to fund the military even better, to get the best and brightest, and push those types out… the poor military can’t when for losing…
July 7th, 2006 at 12:47 pmBush added, “People will be held to account if these charges are true. … There will be absolute justice if this person is guilty.â€
Like he held those responsible for the Plame leak accountable?
Unrelated but important, from Truthout:
“According to the National Journal, Mr Bush told prosecutors he directed Mr Cheney to disclose classified information both to defend his administration and to discredit Mr Wilson.â€
So Bush ADMITS to yet another treasonable offense.
Get the rope.
Comment by SKdeA
The rest of that story is he did it to falsely justify going to war with Iraq. THAT’S the real crime.
http://news.nationaljournal.com/articles/0703nj1.htm
July 7th, 2006 at 12:49 pmComment by Seixon — July 7, 2006
This is what marks you as a supporter of a fascist dictator. This is nothing but unwarranted and unsupported derision.
Why don’t you get a first hand look: get yourself locked up in Gitmo indefinitely. Then, when you are allowed to communicate with outsiders, you can give us a first hand report of the conditions. Some future poster can then deride your version of what is going on behind closed doors.
July 7th, 2006 at 12:52 pmbesides women can rape men too so quit discriminating… i am feeling offended now.
Comment by joneser — July 7, 2006 @ 12:39 pm
Can’t rape the willing.
And you meant to type that you are feeling OFFENSIVE.
July 7th, 2006 at 12:54 pmBriseadh na Faire is on fire today!
July 7th, 2006 at 12:54 pm#52.joneser; Good point.
July 7th, 2006 at 12:56 pmi am feeling offended now.
Comment by joneser
When women rape, it’s still violence and control.
July 7th, 2006 at 12:57 pmsorry not all men are willing, and uh… that “offended” part was sarcasm… you mean to tell me that you are steroptyping men? that all men want it? that they are always willing? That men don’t get harassed?
I don’t treat rape lightly … escpecially today where rape has lost it’s meaning because it gets thrown around so much that men get raped in their own way by being labled as such before even found guilty…
July 7th, 2006 at 12:59 pmmakes me want to fund the military even better, to get the best and brightest, and push those types out… the poor military can’t when for losing…
Comment by joneser — July 7, 2006 @ 12:47 pm
The more money you want to give to the military will not be given to the soldiers. Proof? The fact that we’ve spent $300 billion on Iraq while gear to those in the field is old and faulty. Why they are buying their own. Also, funding to veterens programs is down… even though we spend more on our miltary than the rest of teh world combined (second place for military funding is only $52 million. We annual spend $356 billion - with a B, not including Iraq)
Besides, it’s not about paying soldiers more money. It’s about the poor dying for the intentions of the rich… It’s always been that way, and will always be… until we manage to destroy human kind. And, saying more moeny will matter is saying that those who enlist don’t do so for valor and honor - but for a paycheck? Sorta ruins some other of your arguments…
But hey, talk is cheap - I’m sure the military would be happy to accept your application to inlist…
July 7th, 2006 at 1:02 pmi think it’s pretty obvious that ignorant racism was behind the atrocities at haditha, the rape and murders by green & co. (ok-alleged), even the “hadji girl” video and such…
July 7th, 2006 at 1:04 pmit’s not enough that these guys are trained killers, add some bigotry and racism to the mix and it’s no wonder there are such crimes… imagine how many go unreported and even not investigated…
there is nothing wosre than being a well of white male in this country… it is hilarious that “thinking progressive” nowadyas consists of discriminating and hate mongering the white male especially “rich” ones whatever “rich means”… and you get a pass…
July 7th, 2006 at 1:05 pmI don’t treat rape lightly … escpecially today where rape has lost it’s meaning because it gets thrown around so much that men get raped in their own way by being labled as such before even found guilty…
Comment by joneser — July 7, 2006 @ 12:59 pm
It’s very rare for a women to falsely accuse a man of rape. But, hey, if playing the victim is all you know, then why wouldn’t you use it in this regard as well? Makes you a hypocrite, but I doubt you’ll see it this time either. Just like your boy Bush going to the amputee center and talking up his scratch…
July 7th, 2006 at 1:07 pmthere is nothing wosre than being a well of white male in this country…
Comment by joneser — July 7, 2006 @ 1:05 pm
You’ve said that you are black…
July 7th, 2006 at 1:09 pmI got a great idea an insurgent group ( namely the mentally retarded person that swore allegance to al queda and thought of blowing up the Sears tower in an FBI sting ) should blow up the Holland Tunnel and a New York bridge because this could flood lower manhattan
Please keep this secret as the FBI are monitoring this site
July 7th, 2006 at 1:16 pmyeah i am black… and it is amazing what “white guilt” has done in the last 20. years…..
Content of my character… not the color of my skin..
July 7th, 2006 at 1:19 pmEvil Spaniard,
Don’t you ever get tired of trying to demonize me?
Comment by Seixon — July 7, 2006 @ 10:20 am
You do it perfectly alone, defending the indefensible, specially when confronted with facts.
July 7th, 2006 at 1:21 pmReply to 70:
Evil Spaniard, when Seixon starts accusing you of trying to ‘demonize’ him, that means you’ve won the argument.
I’ve had the ‘demonizing’ accusation leveled at me as well…in my case, when I was taking him to task over his pernicious lies regarding how ‘well trreated’ the Gitmo detainees were…go figure.
July 7th, 2006 at 1:27 pm#53 Anybody care to guess what will happen over the next 3-5 years as these men come home in large numbers, trained and experienced in street warfare, many of them with post-traumatic-stress symdrome? Cities and neighborhoods across the U.S. will be loaded with powderkegs, waiting for a match.
Comment by Briseadh na Faire — July 7, 2006 @ 12:40 pm
Is what happens after every big war in what the USA has taken sides. The highly stressed veterans return to home, and can’t live along with civilians. Look at the rise of motorbike gangs just after the WWII and Korea wars, the rising of gangs in the decade of 1970. The number of people with anti nuclear basements (”survivors”?). The Washington area sniper wasn’t a veteran of Gulf War I? And Wacko.
Just think in the number of veterans who have participated in a McDonalds shooting and draw your conclussions. War is hell. And a bit of hell returns to home every time. It’s because no war is good.
July 7th, 2006 at 1:30 pm#’s 70 and 71 I wonder ho long it will take him to start crying this week!!!
and jonser you have no character - this is very obvious from your posts.
July 7th, 2006 at 1:30 pmBriseadh na Faire,
This is what marks you as a supporter of a fascist dictator. This is nothing but unwarranted and unsupported derision.
As opposed to the unsupported claims being made by the terrorist suspect? I’m a supporter of a fascist dictator because I don’t take the claims of a terrorist suspect at face value? What next, we’re going to believe everything Saddam Hussein says because he’s being held in captivity? You seem to take anything at face value that agrees with your hilarious view of Bush as a fascist dictator. You don’t seem to know what fascism means in the slightest.
Why don’t you get a first hand look: get yourself locked up in Gitmo indefinitely. Then, when you are allowed to communicate with outsiders, you can give us a first hand report of the conditions. Some future poster can then deride your version of what is going on behind closed doors.
Well seeing as how I’m not a terrorist, don’t have any wish to harm US soldiers, and am a generally peaceful person, I’m not so sure I would fit in at Gitmo. Even if I were placed at Gitmo, I wouldn’t expect anyone on the outside to take what I say at face value without evidence of what I say.
Yet you will take anything at face value, from anyone, as long as it is anti-Bush. If a person murdered your entire family, you’d still believe every word they said as long as it was anti-Bush.
Evil Spaniard,
You do it perfectly alone, defending the indefensible, specially when confronted with facts.
It must be easy to go around making claims without ever having to give examples, huh buddy? I’m still waiting for you to detail a single lie I have told at Think Progress or otherwise.
July 7th, 2006 at 1:32 pm#73 Thanks, Tripmaster, I know.
It’s because I don’t give him any bait lately. It has been become very evident that he simply types and types and types, dancing around facts, trying to obfuscate the reality. As a saying in my country goes “There is no worse blind than the one that doesn’t want to see”.
July 7th, 2006 at 1:34 pmTripmaster,
I’ve had the ‘demonizing’ accusation leveled at me as well…in my case, when I was taking him to task over his pernicious lies regarding how ‘well trreated’ the Gitmo detainees were…go figure.
Lies? It’s fully documented how detainees are treated at Guantanamo. They get culturally sensitive meals. They have a larger space than many people do in US prisons. They get to exercise at least twice a week. They get their own Koran. Each cell has an arrow pointed towards Mecca. These are facts.
You did demonize me, it was not an accusation, it was a fact. You and others always make me out to be a fascist, a neo-Nazi, now a skinhead; I can’t wait what you guys think of next.
July 7th, 2006 at 1:36 pmEvil Spaniard,
It’s because I don’t give him any bait lately.
Translation: I don’t actually prove anything I say about Seixon, I just keep repeating slander and smears against him so that he can never prove me wrong.
It has been become very evident that he simply types and types and types, dancing around facts, trying to obfuscate the reality.
Provide one example obfuscator. You never do because you’re nothing but a smear-artist.
July 7th, 2006 at 1:38 pm#74 It must be easy to go around making claims without ever having to give examples, huh buddy? I’m still waiting for you to detail a single lie I have told at Think Progress or otherwise.
Comment by Seixon — July 7, 2006 @ 1:32 pm
Or otherwise what?
Your profession is web developer, not debater. Using cheap dialectical tricks wouldn’t give you any credit with me, or any other rational thinker. As stated, there is plenty of examples of your debating tecniques (and loses) in the TP threads.
For newbies: seek in Google using “Seixon Think Progress global warming”, and you will find a good couple examples of Seixon being spanked, but acting like a child, not aknowledging any defeat, even after being disproved repeteadly.
July 7th, 2006 at 1:41 pmSeixon - just another lemming.
July 7th, 2006 at 1:46 pmEvil Spaniard,
Your profession is web developer, not debater.
As opposed to you and other TP commenters who are PhDs in Debate. LOL.
As stated, there is plenty of examples of your debating tecniques (and loses) in the TP threads.
Translation: some people called Seixon a Nazi and said he was wrong, so therefore he was wrong and I’m too lazy to actually evaluate the arguments for myself when my TP brethren make claims that I implicitlty have to agree with.
For newbies: seek in Google using “Seixon Think Progress global warmingâ€, and you will find a good couple examples of Seixon being spanked, but acting like a child, not aknowledging any defeat, even after being disproved repeteadly.
Why don’t you do it yourself and give a single example? Why, because you can’t, and then you’ll actually have to prove something, which you are too lazy and dishonest to do.
July 7th, 2006 at 1:46 pmmadashell,
Seixon - just another lemming.
You bet. Lemmings typically go into areas where they will be completely alone against a legion of people who attack them for their opinions and their citations of facts. Lemmings typically purposely head into places where they know they will find dissent against them and know they will be in the severe minority.
Oh wait…. I got that all backwards.
July 7th, 2006 at 1:49 pmThere is a chance we will evolve before that happens.
July 7th, 2006 at 1:51 pmAny Comment by Seixon
See, newbies, what I said?
Seixon can’t debate without another person bringing a talking point, because his main dialectical trick is “No, you don’t”. Pretty much as a 4 years old. But to mask it, he needs loooong posts to seem rational. Seem is the keyword.
If all, who is lazy is Seixon.
July 7th, 2006 at 1:52 pmyeah i am black… and it is amazing what “white guilt†has done in the last 20. years…..
Content of my character… not the color of my skin..
Comment by joneser — July 7, 2006 @ 1:19 pm
Yet you defend the rich white man… what’s wrong with you? Is the color of your skin the only trait keeping you from being one? Wake up. You’re being played like the rest of us. Not every one in here is poor. Just not white and male at the same time.
It was the rich white man who created racism. As the Southern Plantation Owner, he set the slaves and the Irish immigrants to hate one another for skin color while he did heinous and reprehensible things to the slaves, immigrants and women. How can you continue to support the group of people responsible for the crimes against your skin color? Because you want to be one of them? That makes you worse.
July 7th, 2006 at 1:52 pmSeixon - “it is fully documented” where - where, except neo con so called media outlets, has it been documented that the prisoners at Gitmo are well treated? Because Bushco said so?
You will believe anything anyone says or writes as long as it is pro-Bush or pro-neocon!!!
July 7th, 2006 at 1:54 pmDemocrats in Vermont, New Hampshire, Alaska, Maine, North Carolina, Wisconsin, Nevada, New Mexico, Colorado, California and Hawaii all have passed impeachment resolutions. Seven more state resolutions are pending, and 27 local political groups and parties nationwide have adopted such resolutions, according to an article on AlterNet.org.
July 7th, 2006 at 1:55 pmEvil Spaniard,
See, newbies, what I said?
Yes, you make tons of accusations against me and smear me, and then when I ask you to provide a shred of evidence for anything you say, you construct some mind game to fool the sheep at TP and then project your own intellectual laziness onto me. Bravo, bravo.
Now I’m still waiting for you to prove a single word you have slandered me with. Tick tock.
Pretty much as a 4 years old.
As opposed to your brilliant “Seixon is an idiot, and I don’t need to prove it!” posts.
July 7th, 2006 at 1:57 pmThere is a chance we will evolve before that happens.
Comment by Briseadh na Faire — July 7, 2006 @ 1:51 pm
Human evolution is slow (we live 85 years). While Global Warming, water pollution (86% of our composition), and deadly diseases (daily and weekly life spans) are not.
I am an usually optimist, but in this case, I am a realist. Doesn’t look good for humanity. “Mother Nature” (in a completely inanimate and purely scientific way) seems to be having enough. 6.4 billion people is an epidemic.
July 7th, 2006 at 1:59 pmFYI Sexless: Lemming: The act of following the crowd into an investment that will inevitably head for disaster.
July 7th, 2006 at 2:00 pmIf all, who is lazy is Seixon.
Comment by Evil Spaniard — July 7, 2006 @ 1:52 pm
And afraid. He is hiding from bin Laden in Norway, after all… Fear combined with laziness is the most dangerous problem in America. It’s how Bush has stolen elections, waged illegal wars on countries who were never a threat to us, and is slowly eroding away our civil rights. And why lap dogs like Seixon continue to defend the Regime. Because they promise him guaranteed security and wealth when no such things (guarantees) exist in life…
I won’t read what he posts in response, but I already know that it will be lengthy and asinine. Oh, and he’ll call me silly pre-school names too.
July 7th, 2006 at 2:04 pmFor newbies: seek in Google using “Seixon Think Progress global warmingâ€, and you will find a good couple examples of Seixon being spanked, but acting like a child, not aknowledging any defeat, even after being disproved repeteadly.
Comment by Evil Spaniard
July 7th, 2006 at 2:04 pm=======================
Not necessary,Evil Spaniard.
I’ve only been posting here for a few weeks.But that was more than sufficient time to observe Seixon’s willful ignorance,and rhetorical sophistry.
madashell,
FYI Sexless: Lemming: The act of following the crowd into an investment that will inevitably head for disaster.
What crowd am I following? I’m here throwing myself into a position where virtually everyone disagrees with me. That’s the very antonym to being a lemming. The only lemmings here are all of you who follow Think Progress blindly and shore up each others untenable positions.
July 7th, 2006 at 2:04 pmThe only lemmings here are all of you who follow Think Progress blindly and shore up each others untenable positions.
Comment by Seixon — July 7, 2006 @ 2:04 pm
And yet you still have not produced any documentation proving your rheroric regarding Gittmo!!
July 7th, 2006 at 2:09 pm92.
all of you run around in here and throw out silly preschool names when someone doesn’t say something you like…
July 7th, 2006 at 2:09 pmunbelievable,
And afraid. He is hiding from bin Laden in Norway, after all…
Ah yes, I certainly have no other reason to be in Norway. Norwegian citizen. College. Love. Nope, nothing could bring me to Norway except for fear. You nailed it again unbelievable!
Fear combined with laziness is the most dangerous problem in America.
So you finally looked in the mirror did you? You fear Bush irrationally while lazily relying on Think Progress to tell you the “truth”.
It’s how Bush has stolen elections, waged illegal wars on countries who were never a threat to us, and is slowly eroding away our civil rights.
I rest my case.
And why lap dogs like Seixon continue to defend the Regime. Because they promise him guaranteed security and wealth when no such things (guarantees) exist in life…
Well since I live in Norway, how do those supposed guarantees affect me? Well gosh, they don’t. Wealth? What wealth? I’m poorer than you are, emit less CO2 than you do by a mile, but here you are acting self-righteous as always. What a joke.
I won’t read what he posts in response, but I already know that it will be lengthy and asinine. Oh, and he’ll call me silly pre-school names too.
As opposed to the mature names you and your friends here have been calling me for weeks. Nazi. Fascist. Stupid. Moron. Retarded. The list is virtually endless. You’re full of it unbelievable, you act all high and mighty, but you are as hypocritical as they come.
July 7th, 2006 at 2:09 pmComment by Seixon — July 7, 2006 @ 2:04 pm
And yet you still have not produced any documentation proving your rheroric regarding Gittmo!!
Comment by jules — July 7, 2006 @ 2:09 pm
July 7th, 2006 at 2:12 pmComment by Seixon — July 7, 2006 @ 2:04 pm
And yet you still have not produced any documentation proving your rheroric regarding Gittmo!!
Comment by jules — July 7, 2006 @ 2:09 pm
Comment by jules — July 7, 2006 @ 2:12 pm
Sounds like Seixon. Lots of words and nothing to say….
I loathe to think what he said about Gitmo. Why don’t we take up a collection and send him there to find out what it’s like for himself?
July 7th, 2006 at 2:21 pmWhy don’t we take up a collection and send him there to find out what it’s like for himself?
Comment by unbelievable — July 7, 2006 @ 2:21 pm
He still would not believe it. He is one of those rare individuals who can be fooled all of the time.
July 7th, 2006 at 2:26 pmjules,
He still would not believe it. He is one of those rare individuals who can be fooled all of the time.
As opposed to you who believes what Think Progress tells you, who passes off unsubstantiated claims by terrorist suspects as if they were the truth, while an abundance of evidence says otherwise. Yeah, I’m the one being fooled all the time, sure.
I love how you guys just suck up all TP has to say and never question a word of it, even if there is a preponderance of evidence suggesting otherwise. You’ve never been to Gitmo, but you claim that I have to be sent there personally in order to understand your vast knowledge about a place you haven’t visited either.
What a bunch of nonsense.
July 7th, 2006 at 2:30 pmReply to #76:
It’s fully documented how detainees are treated at Guantanamo. They get culturally sensitive meals. They have a larger space than many people do in US prisons. They get to exercise at least twice a week. They get their own Koran. Each cell has an arrow pointed towards Mecca. These are facts.
Here’s some more of that documentation for you.
Since I doubt you’ll actually follow the link, I’ll take the liberty of letting you know where it goes. It’s a Defense Department memorandum on the legality of torture (first reported by the Wall Street Journal). Essentially, it’s a step-by-step guide on how to conduct illegal torture and get away with it. The memo discusses ways to deprive federal courts of jurisdiction over Guantanamo Bay, lays out ways for government employees to avoid culpability under federal law, and explains why the president can unilaterally nullify the federal war-crimes statute.
If this isn’t enough for you, you might also check out the allegations of torture leveled by the ACLU, Amnesty International, etc.
And if that isn’t enough, you might want to ask yourself why dozens of detainees attempt suicide every single day in an attempt to escape their torment. Oh, that’s right, I forgot….that’s not ’suicide’….that’s ‘asymmetrical warfare’. Damn those crafty ragheads!
I said it before, and I’ll say it again: if you’re uncomfortable being ‘demonized’, Seixon, you might want to take a good hard look at the company you’re keeping.
July 7th, 2006 at 2:32 pmHe still would not believe it. He is one of those rare individuals who can be fooled all of the time.
Comment by jules — July 7, 2006 @ 2:26 pm
I’m sure you’re right. :)
July 7th, 2006 at 2:33 pmi assume you all of have been to gitmo then?
July 7th, 2006 at 2:36 pmHow the Democrats will screw up their victory in November 2006:
Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Sen. Charles Schumer of New York, chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, have pledged support for Lieberman in the primary, but they refused to say whom they would back if Lieberman loses the primary.
The Democratic National Committee said it would not take sides in the primary but would back the nominee in the fall.
Lieberman’s move also complicates the political calculus for Democratic presidential hopefuls, including his Connecticut colleague, Sen. Christopher Dodd, and two other Northeast senators, John Kerry of Massachusetts and Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York.
Dodd must consider whether his support for Lieberman alienates liberal voters who tend to dominate presidential primaries. Dodd backs Lieberman, but he won’t say whom he would support if Lieberman loses the primary and launches an independent run.
Clinton has been a loyal Lieberman supporter but said Tuesday that she would back the Democratic primary winner. Kerry said Wednesday that he also would support the Democratic nominee.
In April, Lieberman began airing TV commercials for the first time in more than a decade. One of the ads tackled the war issue head-on with Lieberman noting the passions his views stirred and urged both sides to find common ground.
Lamont has tapped $1.5 million of his personal fortune, which is estimated at between $90 million and $300 million, to help fund his race. He said Wednesday he may put another $1 million into his race.
Lieberman raised $947,356 during the first three months of this year, pushing his campaign account to $4.7 million at the end of the quarter.
http://www.cbsnews.com/ stories/ 2006/ 07/ 05/ ap/ politics/ mainD8IM3U700.shtml
July 7th, 2006 at 2:38 pmBusted for wearing a peace T-shirt; has this country gone completely insane?
Mike Ferner | July 5 2006
Friday afternoon, drinking a cup of coffee while sitting in the Jesse Brown V.A. Medical Center on Chicago’s south side, a Veterans Administration cop walked up to me and said, “Okay, you’ve had your 15 minutes, it’s time to go.”
“Huh?” I asked intelligently, not quite sure what he was talking about.
“You can’t be in here protesting,” Officer Adkins said, pointing to my Veterans For Peace shirt.
“Well, I’m not protesting, I’m having a cup of coffee,” I returned, thinking that logic would convince Adkins to go back to his earlier duties of guarding against serious terrorists.
Flipping his badge open, he said, “No, not with that shirt. You’re protesting and you have to go.”
Beginning to get his drift, I said firmly, “Not before I finish my coffee.”
He insisted that I leave, but still not quite believing my ears, I tried one more approach to reason.
“Hey, listen. I’m a veteran. This is a V.A. facility. I’m sitting here not talking to anybody, having a cup of coffee. I’m not protesting and you can’t kick me out.”
“You’ll either go or we’ll arrest you,” Adkins threatened.
“Well, you’ll just have to arrest me,” I said, wondering what strange land I was now living in.
You know the rest. Handcuffed, led away to the facility’s security office, past people with surprised looks on their faces, read my rights, searched, and written up.
The officer who did the formalities, Eric Ousley, was professional in his duties. When I asked him if he was a vet, it turned out he had been a hospital corpsman in the Navy. We exchanged a couple sea stories. He uncuffed me early. And he allowed as to how he would only charge me with disorderly conduct, letting me go on charges of criminal trespass and weapons possession — a pocket knife — which he said would have to be destroyed (something I rather doubt since it was a nifty Swiss Army knife with not only a bottle opener, but a tweezers and a toothpick).
After informing me I could either pay the $275 fine on the citation or appear in court, Ousley escorted me off the premises, warning me if I returned with “that shirt” on, I’d be arrested and booked into jail.
I’m sure I could go back to officers Adkins’ and Ousleys’ fiefdom with a shirt that said, “Nuke all the hajis,” or “Show us your tits,” or any number of truly obscene things and no one would care. Just so it’s not “that shirt” again.
And just for the record? I’m not paying the fine. I’ll see Adkins and Ousley and Dubya’s Director of the Dept. of Veterans Affairs, if he wants to show up, in United States District Court on the appointed date. And if there’s a Chicago area attorney who’d like to take the case, I’d really like to sue them — from Dubya on down. I have to believe that this whole country has not yet gone insane, just the government. This kind of behavior can’t be tolerated. It must be challenged.
I was at the Jesse Brown V.A. Medical Center because I’m participating in the Voices for Creative Nonviolence’s 30-day, 320-mile “Walk for Justice,” from Springfield to North Chicago, Illinois, to reclaim funding for the common good and away from war.
July 7th, 2006 at 2:43 pmThat’s not a good argument. No one here was in the civil war but I’m sure a few people could tell you about it.
July 7th, 2006 at 2:44 pmSeixon and joneser
July 7th, 2006 at 2:48 pmNone of us have to go to Gitmo to recognize the most important fact, beyond what “amenities” they get. These people are denied their freedom without benefit of any hearing or trial, no opportunity to defend themselves and prove innocence. Maybe (I’d even be willing to accept “probably”) a large majority of these people are terrorists or terrorist supporters. Then they should be tried and held accountable. If there is only one individual (and I would wager there are many) who is innocent, justice demands that we find out and release that individual. Denying justice is not an American value.
to reclaim funding for the common good and away from war.
Comment by madashell — July 7, 2006 @ 2:43 pm
Sounds like the dress code at the school district where I used to work. Jesus t-shirts were allowed, but don’t dare suggest anything about peace or free will… Then you had to change.
Sick what is happening in America. I remember as a kid reading about this kind of stuff in Russia and being appalled by it. For it to happen here is a sign that things have gotten even worse than we realized…
July 7th, 2006 at 2:49 pm35 corpses found across Baghdad
Thursday July 06, 2006 11:37 - (SA)
BAGHDAD - Thirty-five corpses have been discovered in different areas of the Iraqi capital over the past 24 hours, most of them showing signs of torture, police reported.
Five of the corpses were found in the insurgent-dominated western district of Amiriyah, while the rest were scattered throughout the capital, with the majority showing signs of torture and killed with a bullet to the head.
Since the destruction of a major Shiite shrine in the northern town of Samarra in February, sectarian-linked killings have been spiralling, especially in Baghdad, resulting in corpses being found each day.
http://www.sundaytimes.co.za/ zones/ sundaytimesNEW/ basket7st/ basket7st1152178632.aspx
July 7th, 2006 at 2:51 pmI think Jules lived there… someone here who was in a military family did…
July 7th, 2006 at 2:52 pm#104 madashell
July 7th, 2006 at 3:08 pmI’d be mad as hell too. What in the hell has happened to our country?!
Sorry that happened to you. It is indicative of the prevailing thought processes of authorities today. When wearing a T-shirt “Veterans for Peace” becomes a crime, there is something drastically wrong here.
Sadly enough I am in Dallas, TX. I thought Chicago was progressive? I guess there are idiots everywhere.
OK trolls….now tell us all how horrible, unpatriotic, antiamerican, etc. it was for madashell, an actual veteran, to have been in a VA hospital wearing a T-shirt proclaiming peace, not bothering anyone and having a cup of joe!!!!
July 7th, 2006 at 3:10 pmTripMaster,
What you’ve provided does not refute what I said. Even taking your claims into consideration, that torture was inflicted upon some people at Guantanamo (which has never been proven), that still does not refute the other conditions I outlined there.
Since I doubt you’ll actually follow the link, I’ll take the liberty of letting you know where it goes. It’s a Defense Department memorandum on the legality of torture (first reported by the Wall Street Journal). Essentially, it’s a step-by-step guide on how to conduct illegal torture and get away with it. The memo discusses ways to deprive federal courts of jurisdiction over Guantanamo Bay, lays out ways for government employees to avoid culpability under federal law, and explains why the president can unilaterally nullify the federal war-crimes statute.
I’ve read some of it now, and quite honestly, you are summarizing it quite dishonestly. Page 5 states:
It then details the ways in which the USA has made reservations against certain parts of certain treaties they have entered into (which all precede the Bush administration), and that “degrading treatment” was made consistent with the US Constitution since the wording in the Geneva Convention was too vague.
Of course, you will just summarize it the way you want because you don’t want to actually understand what you are reading. You are more intent on misrepresenting it so it fits in with your predetermined story about it.
If this isn’t enough for you, you might also check out the allegations of torture leveled by the ACLU, Amnesty International, etc.
None of them have been to Gitmo. None of them have shown any proof of anything. The ACLU would file charges against a ham sandwich if they wanted to. Amnesty International revoked all credibility on the issue by calling Gitmo a “gulag” - when they haven’t even been there!
And if that isn’t enough, you might want to ask yourself why dozens of detainees attempt suicide every single day in an attempt to escape their torment. Oh, that’s right, I forgot….that’s not ’suicide’….that’s ‘asymmetrical warfare’. Damn those crafty ragheads!
Well if I was a jihadist, and I was captured by “Satan” and had to live in captivity of “Satan”, then I might be persuaded to do the same thing. These are people who think it is their religious duty to kill people to further the teachings of Islam to “sinners”. I’m not all too caught up in trying to rationalize the actions of such people. You have to admit, though, that those suicides a little while back did give Gitmo some massive negative press. Who does that benefit? These people are willing to blow themselves up to kill others, so I don’t see why they wouldn’t commit suicide to try and slander the USA as well.
I said it before, and I’ll say it again: if you’re uncomfortable being ‘demonized’, Seixon, you might want to take a good hard look at the company you’re keeping.
Ah yes, I’m a torturer now. Nevermind what I said about you demonizing me. Obviously that wasn’t true at all. /sarcasm
Everything I said about the conditions at Gitmo were true, but instead of just admitting that, you move to claim that alleged torture at Gitmo refutes that those conditions to indeed exist.
In other words, if some sort of incident were to happen at a US jail, you would use that incident to “prove” that everything else happening at that facility did not exist.
Then you smear me as a torturer. Wow. You people seriously have no shame.
July 7th, 2006 at 3:19 pmTripMaster,
And before I forget, the picture you linked to…
You do realize that the person pictured was never electrocuted, right?
If you consider it torture to be dressed up in some hood and gown, placed on a box, and the led to believe that you are about to be electrocuted (but aren’t), then I fear for the relevancy of the word “torture”.
Real torture happened at Abu Ghraib, at the hands of sadistic soldiers. It’s ultimately clear that you can’t understand the context in which some pictures are taken, or their ultimate truth.
July 7th, 2006 at 3:23 pmfas·cism
Pronunciation: ‘fa-”shi-z&m also ‘fa-”si-
Function: noun
We have a President who has assumed unlimited powers as Commander-in-Chief and a War Time President, during a time when Congress has yet to enact a Declaration of War, and has created a Department of Homeland Security. Ask Joe Wilson how the Administration deals with opposition.
I have to agree with you, I don’t know what fascism means in the slightest. I have a great deal of understanding of the term fascisim, and how it applies to the current Administration.
What a bunch of nonsense.
Comment by Seixon — July 7, 2006
On the contrary, since Human Rights Watch and the International Red Cross are not allowed unfettered access, you could give us an inside view of what is going on!
Given equal weight to the testimony, we have the jailors saying everything is wonderful, and the inmates saying, no, it is not. Then you have third-party, neutral observers excluded from observing conditions in the prison. The fact that the neutral observers are excluded lends credence to the inmates’ allegations.
July 7th, 2006 at 3:25 pmI think Bush, Cheney, and Rumsfeld should be sent to GITMO for a year, then they can tell us how nice the place is, after getting waterboarded and all > LOL.
July 7th, 2006 at 3:31 pmWhoa, Seixon. How can you criticize people for making judgements without direct experience then do the same yourself? Isn’t that hypocritical? If you’re going to be fair, shouldn’t you reserve any judgment of the Gitmo detainees of whom you’ve met none?
July 7th, 2006 at 3:32 pmBriseadh na Faire,
We have a President who has assumed unlimited powers as Commander-in-Chief and a War Time President, during a time when Congress has yet to enact a Declaration of War, and has created a Department of Homeland Security. Ask Joe Wilson how the Administration deals with opposition.
Unlimited powers? Is anyone supposed to take you seriously? I’m not sure the Supreme Court would agree with that hyperbolic and factually unsupported assessment. A Department of Homeland Security is a sign of fascism? Since when?
Ask Joe Wilson how the administration deals with opposition? I don’t know, why don’t you ask every single reporter involved with the whole thing, all of whom which say that no crime was committed. Ask Joe Wilson why he lied to the New York Times and the Washington Post. Ask Joe Wilson how come 5 people are going to say under oath that he told them about his wife’s occupation. You’re so brainwashed it’s almost pathetic to watch.
I have to agree with you, I don’t know what fascism means in the slightest. I have a great deal of understanding of the term fascisim, and how it applies to the current Administration.
Yet not a single facet of fascism applies to the Bush administration. It only works out if you claim a bunch of nonsense such as “unlimited powers”. You’re all washed up. Might as well go comparing Bush to Hitler. I’m ready with my harpoon to take on you, a whale in a barrel.
On the contrary, since Human Rights Watch and the International Red Cross are not allowed unfettered access, you could give us an inside view of what is going on!
Ehm, the Red Cross hsa been allowed access. The UN has been invited to visit (but they declined).
Given equal weight to the testimony, we have the jailors saying everything is wonderful, and the inmates saying, no, it is not. Then you have third-party, neutral observers excluded from observing conditions in the prison. The fact that the neutral observers are excluded lends credence to the inmates’ allegations.
Nevermind the other inmates who say the same thing as the jailors after they have gotten out. Neutral observers are not excluded, that’s bullshit and you know it is. The Red Cross has been there the whole time, and the UN declined an invitation to come.
July 7th, 2006 at 3:32 pmHow many children did you guess were expelled from school for bringing a firearm? 50? 100?
400?
1,000?
According to the U.S. Department of Education’s latest figures possible, in 2002, more than 2,500 children were expelled from school for a period of one year for bringing a firearm to school.
Statistics like this should give us pause and ask, “Why and how are children getting their hands on guns?” Often the source is from the home.
http://www.democracyinaction.org/ dia/ organizationsORG/ FSA/ tellafriend.jsp?tell_a_friend_KEY=881
July 7th, 2006 at 3:37 pm#117 The Red Cross has been there the whole time, and the UN declined an invitation to come.
The Red Cross hasn’t been granted access to the inmates, and they have published it broadly. And the UN declined to go by the exact same motive, they were not allowed to interact with inmates and, in plus, the UN doesn’t want to condone Guantanamo nor active or passively.
BTW, Norway is relatively near of Switzerland, the headquarter of the Red Cross, why is so difficult to get the facts straight.
See? Short and true arguments are far more effective.
July 7th, 2006 at 3:40 pm#118, Unbelievable: Statistics like this should give us pause and ask, “Why and how are children getting their hands on guns?†Often the source is from the home.
They are free americans and have the right to bear arms to defend themselves from knowledge, and teachers giving them homework.
/Sarcasm off
July 7th, 2006 at 3:42 pmFriends,
Just a quick note to let you know how things are going.
Back in February, I asked if people would send me letters describing their experiences with our health care system. I received over 19,000 of them. It was truly overwhelming as we literally took a month and read them all. To read about the misery people are put through on a daily basis by our profit-based system was both moving and revolting. That’s all I will say right now.
We’ve spent the better part of this year shooting our next movie, “Sicko.” As we’ve done with our other films, we don’t discuss them while we are making them. If people ask, we tell them “Sicko” is “a comedy about 45 million people with no health care in the richest country on earth.”
But like my other movies, what we start with (General Motors, guns, 9/11) is not always what we end with. Along the way, we discover new roads to go down, roads that often surprise us and lead us to new ideas — and challenge us to reconsider the ones we began with. That, I can say with certainty, is happening now as we shoot “Sicko.” I don’t think the country needs a movie that tells you that HMOs and the pharmaceutical companies suck. Everybody knows that. I’d like to show you some things you don’t know. So stay tuned for where this movie has led me. I think you might enjoy it.
At this point, we’ve shot about 75% of “Sicko” and will soon begin putting it together. It will be released in theaters sometime in 2007.
And if you don’t hear much from me in the meantime, it’s only ’cause I’m busy working. I realize that my silence doesn’t stop the opposition with their weird obsession for me! It seems like not a week passes without my good name being worked into some nutty news story or commentary. (I have to say, though, I did enjoy Tom Delay blaming me and Ms. Streisand for why he had to resign from Congress!)
{snip}
Well, that’s it for now. Bush has quietly closed down the special section of the CIA that was devoted solely to capturing Mr. bin Laden, so we can all rest easy now. I wonder who his next scary evildoer will be. A fearful nation awaits its marching orders, sir!
Yours,
Michael Moore
July 7th, 2006 at 3:48 pmmmflint@aol.com
They are free americans and have the right to bear arms to defend themselves from knowledge, and teachers giving them homework.
Comment by Evil Spaniard — July 7, 2006 @ 3:42 pm
Ha!
My father owned guns. But he was responsible about it - including educating his children on the inherent dangers of a loaded waepon - which was NEVER allowed in the house. Even our dog would growl at you if you made a gun shape with your fingers and pointed it at anyone.
I support our right to bear arms, but believe that it comes with the responsibility that many people don’t seem to understand until too late. Sad how some people will abuse any right…
July 7th, 2006 at 3:51 pm113 Seixon You do realize that the person pictured was never electrocuted, right? If you consider it torture to be dressed up in some hood and gown, placed on a box, and the led to believe that you are about to be electrocuted (but aren’t), then I fear for the relevancy of the word “tortureâ€.
Are you really this callous to say nothing of ignorant? You do realize if the person was actually electrocuted it would be execution, not torture? Imagine the police or military personnel come along, nab you, tie you to a post in front of five guys with guns, blindfold you, click the bullets into place in their rifles, and lead you to believe that you were going to be executed. Then, they take the blindfold off you and say “just joking”. No problem with that?
July 7th, 2006 at 3:54 pm115….
OK trolls….now tell us all how horrible, unpatriotic, antiamerican, etc. it was for madashell, an actual veteran, to have been in a VA hospital wearing a T-shirt proclaiming peace, not bothering anyone and having a cup of joe!!!!
Comment by jules — July 7, 2006 @ 3:10 pm
Well Jules being that i have no character i odn’t know if I have any credentials to respond… but being the troll that I am (yawn) I will.. My home town is Dallas and now i reside in Chicago, how interesting… However lets look at it this way… do you think that those sick families twho stand in front of the military hospitals and call the soldiers murderers and that they are going to hell etc…. have a right to be there and say what they say and harrass those coming in and out? What ever your feeling is I am not going to call you some simplistic 6th grade juvenile name so feel free to respond….
as for me… I don’t think they have the right to be there… everyone has the right to free speech…. but they don’t have the right to express it in any shape or form they see fit…. Now as far as the t-shirt… i think it is a crying shame that the PC’d country we live considers the minorities “feelings” and being offended…where anything and everything a threat to those who think they don’t belong to a group etc… I see nothing wrong with the t-shirt… problem is now because of political correctness… everything has to be sanitized to the point that nothing can be acceptable and left alone as good or bad… only the i