The UN sticks up for DC.
By on Jul 29th, 2006 at 10:24 am
The UN sticks up for DC.
“The United Nations Human Rights Committee on Friday urged U.S. lawmakers to give the District of Columbia a voting member of Congress, saying the lack of such representation appeared inconsistent with international law.”
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You mean the DC that voted 94% for John Jerry in 2004? Yeah that'll happen.
July 29th, 2006 at 10:30 am'inconsistent with international law....â€
Obviously a major theme of the Bush mis-administration and Gopers in general.
Goper's Lament
July 29th, 2006 at 10:35 amThis won't happen under GWB. He's too busy reading "My Pet Goat;" playing guitar with country stars while New Orleans drowns; and posing with American Idol winners. Isn't it time for a Crawford vacation?
July 29th, 2006 at 10:48 amBe reminded that the agreed upon trade-off is another rep for Nevada, which may produce another dem seat in Congress. Nope, this won't happen in a free democracy run roughshod by republicans.
July 29th, 2006 at 11:06 amcolbert took this on with his "know a district" series...
July 29th, 2006 at 11:32 amhttp://www.comedycentral.com/shows/the_colbert_report/videos/district/index.jhtml
2 parts, but funny... that lady is fiesty!
Bush hates the UN, so he will not give any representation for DC citizens in the Congress, especially since the UN demands it > lol. I believe that DC should have at least one voting Representative in the House, but to have 2 Senators would be ridiculous since DC is NOT a state, only a district!
July 29th, 2006 at 11:48 amYou guysyou need to be pushing for much more comprehensive reform than this , a modern democracy that allows 20% of the population to elect their representation is a travesty.
Now thrown into sharp relief by the current horror show.
July 29th, 2006 at 11:52 amWoodrow Wilson:
July 29th, 2006 at 11:53 amIf you want to make enemies, try to change something.
Why not give DC one Senator with half a vote? Solves the tie issue once and for all. Cheney can sit in his bunker all day and scowl away the hours.
July 29th, 2006 at 11:54 amPost 7 Brian > I agree, but the votes of the 20% are not even counted properly, so more people voting would be more ballots thrown into the trash > meaning just more fraud! Our elections are just for show > the elite decide who wins now!
July 29th, 2006 at 11:58 amIf DC gets a vote then Puerto Rico gets one too. Well more than one. Who wants to bet they would be a democratic strong hold?
July 29th, 2006 at 11:59 amPost 7 Brian > I agree, but the votes of the 20% are not even counted properly, so more people voting would be more ballots thrown into the trash > meaning just more fraud! Our elections are just for show > the elite decide who wins now!
Comment by Jay Randal — July 29, 2006 @ 11:58 am
I genuinely don't think thats the case. From this remove the US has a strong democratic tradition, that would prove very hard to overturn without significant violence.
We (I'm taking the liberty of speaking for the rest of the world, not the first time) urgently need the US to get back on track. The democrats are better than republicans, but what you really need is to break up the stranglehold the two major parties have on power. To do that you have to have electoral reform. Only Americans can make that happen.
The real Americans that is, not the current gang of jackbooted proto fascists.
All I'm saying is ... HELP!
July 29th, 2006 at 12:03 pmBrian > American citizens have no say in our government now > we would all like to see term limits in DC, but the House/Senate would have to vote on that, so they would not vote themselves out of office! Last 3 elections have been completely fraudulent > even absentee ballots got thrown in the trash! Since you live overseas you are not aware how phony our elections are now!
July 29th, 2006 at 12:11 pmThats pretty fatalistic. I'm just a completely disenfranchised 2nd class global citizen, I don't even have a fake vote. Whatever solution comes, has to come from you guys. So what's the plan?
July 29th, 2006 at 12:17 pmWhy is everyone so quick to point at Bush on this?
Are we this lacking in historical perspective to believe he is in any way to blame for DC not having a voting rep?
Really.
July 29th, 2006 at 12:17 pmWhy is everyone so quick to point at Bush on this?
Comment by Chase — July 29, 2006 @ 12:17 pm
Fair point. Can I hazard the rather obvious comment, that he's the current president?
Now I'll grant you that previous presidents have done nothing either, but there is little value in yelling at a bunch of retired and dead people.
Hence Bush is where this particular buck, well theoretically, stops.
July 29th, 2006 at 12:22 pmwe would all like to see term limits in DC...
Comment by Jay Randal — July 29, 2006 @ 12:11 pm
no, WE ALL wouldn't... i don't mind a senior-member with lots of experience and clout representing me and mine...
what needs fixed - ABSO-POSITIVELY - is campaign finance...
PUBLIC FINANCING OF CAMPAIGNS... the only way to go...
if every candidate has equal footing, then the best candidate truly wins.
July 29th, 2006 at 12:24 pmpeople power at it's finest...
Brian > what's the plan? Nobody in America has a plan! I guess the economy will probably collapse, and then the people will storm DC with pitchforks, like the French did to the Bastille, and overthrow the government?!
July 29th, 2006 at 12:25 pmBut the buck stops equally on every president who has held the Oval Office and allowed his term to elapse without action. In fact, Bush still has 2 years to "theoretically" to investigate change - Clinton will forever shoulder his share of the blame, as will Reagan, Ford, Carter, Nixon, and on down the line.
Not everything is Bush's fault.
July 29th, 2006 at 12:26 pmkaty why do you want 80 year old fools like Sen. Robert Byrd in the Senate? At least have them retire at age 65, like the rest of Americans are forced to do!
July 29th, 2006 at 12:27 pmNobody in America has a plan!
Comment by Jay Randal — July 29, 2006 @ 12:25 pm
WHAAAAAA????!!!!!
July 29th, 2006 at 12:28 pmi can't believe you said that... well, yes i can...
are you, like, 14? really, i'm very curious...
Not everything is Bush’s fault.
Comment by Chase — July 29, 2006 @ 12:26 pm
So what do you expect people to say? It was the fault of every president prior to Bush. Now it's his fault. What's left to discuss except to hassle the current president? I have to confess, I'm not even sure exactly what we are talking about here.
Regardless the principle is surely the same, that the onus is on the current guy to fix whatever needs fixing. That's his job, not to whine about what other presidents didn't do. Thats adds zero value, and does nothing to advance the issue, so why even bring it up?
July 29th, 2006 at 12:31 pmkaty why do you want 80 year old fools like Sen. Robert Byrd in the Senate?
that is totally up to the w.virginia voters to decide...
At least have them retire at age 65, like the rest of Americans are forced to do!
Comment by Jay Randal — July 29, 2006 @ 12:27 pm
"forced"??? really? 65??? really?
July 29th, 2006 at 12:33 pmwhat world are YOU in?...
#22 - We're talking about congressional representation for DC. The first 15 posts largely blamed President Bush for not "changing that." Those posts seem to ignore the fact that no president to this point has "changed it". If it were only so easy.
Creating representative seats for DC would require a Constitutional amendment. In 1978, they were in fact given representatives when the VRA passed both houses of Congress, only to fail to be ratified by the states and eventually expire in 1985.
July 29th, 2006 at 12:37 pmIn breaking news....
He must be familar with Dominos:
TEHRAN, Iran - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has ordered government and cultural bodies to use modified Persian words to replace foreign words that have crept into the language, such as "pizzas" which will now be known as "elastic loaves," state media reported Saturday.
The presidential decree, issued earlier this week, orders all governmental agencies, newspapers and publications to use words deemed more appropriate by the official language watchdog, the Farhangestan Zaban e Farsi, or Persian Academy, the Irna official news agency reported.
The academy has introduced more than 2,000 words as alternatives for some of the foreign words that have become commonly used in Iran, mostly from Western languages. The government is less sensitive about Arabic words, because the Quran is written in Arabic.
Among other changes, a "chat" will become a "short talk" and a "cabin" will be renamed a "small room," according to official Web site of the academy.
July 29th, 2006 at 12:39 pmIn 1978, they were in fact given representatives when the VRA passed both houses of Congress, only to fail to be ratified by the states and eventually expire in 1985.
Comment by Chase — July 29, 2006 @ 12:37 pm
So what do you think about it, should it be done?
July 29th, 2006 at 12:39 pmWhat world are you in katy? What job can you get after age 65 in America, other than greeter at WalMart or bagging groceries at Publix? You are an apologist for the sleaze in DC, because those who are there for 40 or 50 years, like senile Byrd are the reason for the corruption > not just the GOP creeps being there! You are a phony katy and unbelievable knows it too!
July 29th, 2006 at 12:42 pmSomeone tell me a link to read this entire story. TP's reporting is brief and lacking detail, AGAIN.
July 29th, 2006 at 12:46 pm#26 - My gut reaction is "yes". I mean why wouldn't residents of our federal district have direct representation in Congress?
I'll have to admit my ignorance on this - so before I commit to one side or another, I want to look into the reasoning behind the founders decision to withhold representation. There might be a good argument I'm not considering.
July 29th, 2006 at 12:47 pmChase
Good to see you. The truth has set you FREE my friend.....
July 29th, 2006 at 12:48 pmI’ll have to admit my ignorance on this - so before I commit to one side or another, I want to look into the reasoning behind the founders decision to withhold representation. There might be a good argument I’m not considering.
Comment by Chase — July 29, 2006 @ 12:47 pm
Likewise:-) Still though, if it does need to be done, then the only person who can advance the agenda is the incumbent. Democracy, like charity should really begin at home eh? :-)
July 29th, 2006 at 12:49 pm#27 - Jay Randal,
July 29th, 2006 at 12:49 pmAlbert Einstein?
No one has any resource to read on this? TIME TO GOOGLE!!!!!!!!
July 29th, 2006 at 12:53 pm#31 - I agree. I'm hunting around for some historical explanation as to why they were denied reps, but the going is a bit slow.
Personally I can't imagine any reason why they shouldn't have a rep, or Senators, but who knows.
By the way, good job tossing in the quick hit on Iraq. That's, actually, one of the best arguments for DC representation I can think of.
July 29th, 2006 at 12:53 pmWalt how are you today? Just the usual small fights here on TP today! The beat goes on!
July 29th, 2006 at 12:59 pmBy the way, good job tossing in the quick hit on Iraq. That’s, actually, one of the best arguments for DC representation I can think of.
Comment by Chase — July 29, 2006 @ 12:53 pm
I do try:-)
July 29th, 2006 at 1:05 pmand unbelievable knows it too!
Comment by Jay Randal — July 29, 2006 @ 12:42 pm
that your mommy figure?
July 29th, 2006 at 1:05 pmreally, how old are you?
katy > tell us your plan for America? I doubt you have one other than to help Pelosi and Reid, who work for the same coporate swine that fund the GOP! You act like the niave child on here! unbelievable is NOT my mommy, but go get some advice from your mom > lol.
July 29th, 2006 at 1:10 pmWhat job can you get after age 65...
Comment by Jay Randal — July 29, 2006 @ 12:42 pm
who's talking about "getting" jobs - lots of 65ish people are still working, trying to KEEP their jobs because they are UNABLE to retire...
and, i'd bet that if you look at the "sleaze in DC", those culprits have NOT been there for "40 or 50 years", and they most assuredly are not mostly dems...
July 29th, 2006 at 1:11 pmThe first 15 posts largely blamed President Bush for not “changing that."
Comment by Chase — July 29, 2006 @ 12:37 pm
Wrong as usual. I was post #2 and I did not blame Bush.
July 29th, 2006 at 1:12 pmFrom what I have read, I believe the citizens in DC should have a congressional representitive in the house.
I'd also like to than the U.N. for taking on the DC voting issue, while ignoring CUBA, CHINA, NORTH KOREA, SYRIA, VENEZUALA, HAITI, SOMOLIA, ect ect......
The U.N. is a total JOKE. North Korea can launch multiple missles "against international law" into the Sea of Japan, and the U.N. can't even get enough votes to rebuke Kim Jong Illness. Yet, the day Israel responds to being attacked by TERRORISTS, the U.N. raises all hell....... Oh, Cuba is on the U.N. human rights commision. I wonder how they voted on the DC voting rights amendment??????
July 29th, 2006 at 1:12 pmunbelievable is NOT my mommy, but go get some advice from your mom > lol.
Comment by Jay Randal — July 29, 2006 @ 1:10 pm
Aren't you older than I am? That would be some trick... :)
Ready for the August swelter here? It's my least favorite month in the South. Too damn hot.
July 29th, 2006 at 1:16 pmkaty > tell us your plan for America? I doubt you have one other than to help Pelosi and Reid, who work for the same coporate swine that fund the GOP! You act like the niave child on here! unbelievable is NOT my mommy, but go get some advice from your mom > lol.
Comment by Jay Randal — July 29, 2006 @ 1:10 pm
Hang on though ... if Katies plan is to support the Democrats, it may not be perfect, but it is a plan. I think, and please don't be offended, that the onus is on you to tell us what your plan is.
While it may satisfying to get online and bitch and moan at length about the "system", it's not actually changing anything. Please understand, it's not just your ass on the line, but arguably the future of the whole world. That may sound overly dramatic, but the US is the richest most powerful nation state the world has ever seen. Whatever you do the world will almost certainly follow,or at the very least be dragged a very, very long way before breaking free.
So Jay, as a member of the most important nation state on the planet, and one of 4% of the global population that has a vote that matters, what's your plan?
July 29th, 2006 at 1:16 pmmy HOPE now is to get back congress with dems, that's the ONLY way to get back oversight and work on the rest of the needed changes... not sure is the house or senate is more important, so let's go for BOTH!
YOU, on the other hand, must want to keep it all with the repugs by thinking you can vote a 3rd party and get any where... sorry - can't happen...
how old are you, jay? you know you could lie...
July 29th, 2006 at 1:17 pmLOL katy those over 65 do NOT get to decide whether they keep their jobs or not > they get retired by their employers! Some get re-hired as grocery baggers at minimum wage! There is no reason for anyone to remain in the Congress after age 70 > PERIOD.
July 29th, 2006 at 1:19 pmComment by Jay Randal — July 29, 2006 @ 1:10 pm
Aren’t you older than I am? That would be some trick… :)
Comment by unbelievable — July 29, 2006 @ 1:16 pm
i said "mommy figure", and, well, you are his...
July 29th, 2006 at 1:20 pmI saw video on Current TV a few weeks ago, where a reporter went to Haiti to check on the current situation there, when the reporter and her driver met U.N. troops there, gunshots were heard off in the distance.... The coward light blue helmet idiots took off running!!!!!!!!!! Way to enforce the law and peace U.N.
I've read about the U.N. rebuilding of the Congo. Oh, and their child sex slave rings. Raping little girls. 20/20 (to my shock) did a feature story on it.
Several stories, still being investigated, of the "oil for food" program....... Kofi's dirty ass hands are all over this SCANDAL!!!!!!!
The list goes on and on and on.............
July 29th, 2006 at 1:21 pmBrian > my plan would be to remove every corporate owned swine politician in DC, most of them are Republicans, but some are Democrats like Joe Lieberman!
July 29th, 2006 at 1:24 pmComment by COMMENT BY JIM — July 29, 2006 @ 1:12 pm
Jim the UN is the sum of its parts. Plus 5 nations can veto any formulation, even if every other country on the planet is in favour. The UN system is so ludicrously hamstrung and undemocratic because thats the way the nation states, particularly the large ones like it.
Imagine how little could be acheived in the US if every decision had to be ratified by a council of unelected state representatives, 5 of whom could individually veto any decision, with no comeback whatever? Imagine if those 5 states were New York, California, Utah, Ohio and Florida? Yeah, paralysis, which us exactly what you have globally.
The UN needs radical reform, but be assured a democratic UN will not favour the US. How could it? The world is currently at odds with the US on almost every major issue of substance.
The UN is not the problem the nation states that comprise it are the problem.
July 29th, 2006 at 1:26 pmkaty > how old are you? 20? Or is that too high a number > lol. I am far older than unbelievable at 51, but whatever floats your silly boat!
July 29th, 2006 at 1:27 pmAmericans are......
Conservative 40%
Moderate 40%
Liberal 20%
You'll never take over anything leftest. You can't debate facts. You can't even get your members in Congress to vote on a resolution to pull out of Iraq.
July 29th, 2006 at 1:27 pmSomeone tell me a link to read this entire story. TP’s reporting is brief and lacking detail, AGAIN.
Comment by COMMENT BY JIM — July 29, 2006 @ 12:46 pm
you do know that the underlined portion on the post is a clickable link, AS ALWAYS...
July 29th, 2006 at 1:28 pmthis time it's a Reuters story...
just trying to be helpful...
Brian > my plan would be to remove every corporate owned swine politician in DC, most of them are Republicans, but some are Democrats like Joe Lieberman!
Comment by Jay Randal — July 29, 2006 @ 1:24 pm
OK, but how? Remember, short of violent revolution, you must work within the constraints of the quaint, state of the art circa 1790, system you've got.
So what does that tell you?
July 29th, 2006 at 1:29 pmBrian
I agree. The U.N. is not practical. It should have no authority what so ever. The nation states are what they are. The U.N. is the biggest waste of money on the planet. They can't even stop what's going on in Sudan. Look what happened in Rwanda. The U.N. was between Israel and Lebanon. That worked out real well didn't it?
July 29th, 2006 at 1:31 pmi am 53, jay LOL... gee LOL ...you don't "act" your age LOL...
July 29th, 2006 at 1:31 pmit does surprise me...
unbelievable > after the July we just had in Georgia, I am not sure whether it will be the same, or worse for August? Finally got about an inch or two of rain a few days ago, but need more today hopefully > 60% chance today anyways!
July 29th, 2006 at 1:31 pmThanks Katy, I read that and then did a google search. Thanks for caring sweetie...
July 29th, 2006 at 1:32 pmthis story is somewhat interesting, but, i think that the story i would have chosen to highlight from the committee is this one...
one must question the judgement and the authenticity of the alleged progressives running this site. the war-crimes of the bush crime family will have tremendously more impact on the citizens of d.c. than whether they get a congressperson, no?
July 29th, 2006 at 1:33 pmCOMMENT BY JIM:
You must be a huge John Bolton fan. I don't think that anything that you repeated (which are rather dubious allegations) is any worse than what U.S. and Israeli troops are doing in the Middle East. Murdering dozens of civilians, targeting the "horrible" UN for strafing, purposely destroying civilian infrastructure.
"The list goes on and on........."
http://www.sunstateactivist.org/ssablog.php
July 29th, 2006 at 1:33 pmWas the shooting at a Seattle synagogue a "hate crime"? Not likely. And if it was, it was justified due to the Israeli aggression in the Middle East.
Read more at http://www.sunstateactivist.org/ssablog.php
Brian > as long as DC keeps the same people in office, then nothing will change! Voting out incumbents is the best plan, because Repubs and Dems in DC tend to do the same things, and are beholden to the same corporate swill!
July 29th, 2006 at 1:34 pmOh wow you are 53 Katy > lol. You act 73, so thanks for saying I act younger than 51!
July 29th, 2006 at 1:35 pmwhat’s your plan?
Comment by Brian Coughlan — July 29, 2006 @ 1:16 pm
I honestly think November elections are the goal posts. We have a chance to make change then. If not, people will either react, or move the goal posts.
Recent studies have shown we may well see a sweeping change in November. Unfiortunatley I think most of us are skeptical of the system that counts our votes.
July 29th, 2006 at 1:36 pm51 Jim
70% against Bush
30% in the dark
This is not a liberal vs. conservative thing. It is a right vs. wrong and Bush is wrong VERY wrong. That’s kind of black and white. The issues facing the world today are much more complex then "black and white." But some people can only see in absolutes.
July 29th, 2006 at 1:36 pmhttp://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10562904/
the lastest poll currently has 87% calling for Bush's impeachment.
July 29th, 2006 at 1:38 pmLCLiberal
I have no problems with Bolton at all. What's he done wrong? Try to push the U.N. to uphold the reforms that THEY SAID THEY WERE GOING TO UNDERTAKE??????
Let's see, Israel drops leaflets to civilians, in Lebanon and the Gaza strip, telling them they are going to exercise certain military options in their area. Hezbollah, fires rockets at civilians at random. HEZBOLLAH TARGETS CIVILIANS.
Your having problems seeing the difference??????
July 29th, 2006 at 1:39 pmunbelievable at 51
Comment by Jay Randal — July 29, 2006 @ 1:27 pm
oh, i thought un was still in 30s...
thanks for saying I act younger than 51!
Comment by Jay Randal — July 29, 2006 @ 1:35 pm
well, you're welcome, it you find it complimentary to be mistaken for a child...
July 29th, 2006 at 1:39 pm#63
How in hell did Bush get reelected then? He was either right or wrong? And he won AGAIN............
July 29th, 2006 at 1:40 pmThe U.N. was between Israel and Lebanon. That worked out real well didn’t it?
Comment by COMMENT BY JIM — July 29, 2006 @ 1:31 pm
So what can we replace it with?
July 29th, 2006 at 1:41 pmLet’s see, Israel drops leaflets to civilians,
Comment by COMMENT BY JIM — July 29, 2006 @ 1:39 pm
That does not exempt Israel from respecting civilian infrastructure and lives. Saying that is does is morally corrupt.
in Lebanon and the Gaza strip, telling them they are going to exercise certain military options in their area.
Again, targetting civilian infrastructure is a violation of international law, and constitutes a war crime.
Hezbollah, fires rockets at civilians at random. HEZBOLLAH TARGETS CIVILIANS.
It was done in retaliation -and if it's wrong one way, then it's wrong the other way.
Are you having problems seeing the similarity?
July 29th, 2006 at 1:43 pmNo Don't give these citizens a voice! DC is full of liburls and democrats!!!!
July 29th, 2006 at 1:44 pmLOL you act like an old hag katy, so I am proud that I still have a younger mind, than my age, but I am NOT a child > that would be someone like Seixon on here! You are a rabid Democrat, which is almost as bad as being a Republican > no change can occur in DC, untill people like Joe Lieberman are gone forever!
July 29th, 2006 at 1:44 pm#68 Brian
Well, first Hezbollah needs to be destroyed, or severly damaged. NATO? An at large force? Whomever it is, someone with some damn guts to not be afraid to use force to enforce. Hey, I liked that. USE FORCE TO ENFORCE........ Something Kofi Annan knows nothing about......
July 29th, 2006 at 1:45 pm60% chance today anyways!
Comment by Jay Randal — July 29, 2006 @ 1:31 pm
I hope it rains. We really need it.
August is usually our hottest and most humid month here. The low humidity lately has been really rare. It's kind of eerie actually. Like the subtle message that something's cooking (and it is...)
July 29th, 2006 at 1:45 pmLet’s see, Israel drops leaflets to civilians, in Lebanon and the Gaza strip, telling them they are going to exercise certain military options in their area. Hezbollah, fires rockets at civilians at random. HEZBOLLAH TARGETS CIVILIANS.
Your having problems seeing the difference??????
Comment by COMMENT BY JIM — July 29, 2006 @ 1:39 pm
I'm an outcomes oriented guy. Israel have killed 10 times as many innocent civilians as Hizbollah. Under the Geneva Conventions, the Israel have a binding responsibility to do everything in their power to avoid civilian casualties. Bombing aid convoys, refugee convoys and apartment blocks is in direct violation of that.
Bottom line, 10 times as many civilians, plenty of examples of overt violations. Those guys are dirty no doubt.
July 29th, 2006 at 1:49 pmUnbelievable > freaky thing is a giant cloud of Sahara dust, with trapped heat in it, sitting over the entire Atlantic ocean > it is sucking the moisture out of the atmosphere causing a global heat wave! Untill it goes away it might cause more drought for August?!
July 29th, 2006 at 1:50 pmJim: Americans are……
July 29th, 2006 at 1:50 pmConservative 40%
Moderate 40%
Liberal 20% - - Hold on a sec Jim while I pull some numbers out of my ass.
#69
What do you do when the enemy hides amongst civilians? The answer is not a pretty one. Sooner or later, RIGHT must defeat WRONG.
Hezbollah is a TERRORIST organization man. They are not a government. They have no land. They are terrorists. They started all of this. They entered Israel through tunnels. They kidnaped two Israeli soldiers. Then, they started firing rockets at CIVILIANS on PURPOSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
July 29th, 2006 at 1:50 pm[The UN] can’t even stop what’s going on in Sudan. Look what happened in Rwanda. The U.N. was between Israel and Lebanon. That worked out real well didn’t it?
Comment by COMMENT BY JIM — July 29, 2006 @ 1:31 pm
You keep talking about the UN as if it were a sovereign entity. It is nothing of the sort.
The failure to act in Sudan, Rwanda, was due to tthe inaction of its members, you know, the country members that are supposed to care about what happens in the world, push for resolutions, and international involvement in situations such as those you list.
Further, the sentence "the UN was between Lebanon and Israel is misleading". What the UN has/had along the border between Israel and Lebanon are/were observation posts. The people manning these are unnarmed, as they are not meant as a peace-keeping force.
Sending peace-keeping forces is yet to be brought up to the UN Security Council for a vote.
July 29th, 2006 at 1:51 pmBadmoodman
Make sure you wipe when your done...........
July 29th, 2006 at 1:52 pmSee you later unbelievable > I have to go water my garden > rain if it comes will be late this afternoon! Have fun dealing with katy > lol.
July 29th, 2006 at 1:54 pmWhen you have a WAR, you fight to win. I don't care if we killed 1,000,000,000 Al quada and they only killed 3,000 of us. Numbers don't mean shit in WAR......
July 29th, 2006 at 1:55 pmHey, I liked that. USE FORCE TO ENFORCE…….. Something Kofi Annan knows nothing about……
Comment by COMMENT BY JIM — July 29, 2006 @ 1:45 pm
How will that force be authorised? Who says when the force should be terminated? Who decides how much force exactly? Who is answerable if civilians are killed?
July 29th, 2006 at 1:56 pmthat would be someone like Seixon on here!
and you argue with that one all the time, even after swearing off... shows lack of maturity... and though i disagreed with everything that one said, it wasn't full of LOL LOL LOL...
You are a rabid Democrat
Comment by Jay Randal — July 29, 2006 @ 1:44 pm
you don't know anything about me, jay... except now my age...
but as usual, you spout off conjecture and opinion and position it as facts - makes you look really incompetent... i know, i know, you don't like advice... it shows...
later, all ... i've got some work to do, late already...
July 29th, 2006 at 1:57 pmWhat do you do when the enemy hides amongst civilians?
Comment by COMMENT BY JIM — July 29, 2006 @ 1:50 pm
This is a meme that has been repeated ad nauseam,
Hezbollah fighters do not hide among the population -certainly not in Beirut. Their positions are in the Southern portion of Lebanon. What is in Beirut, and in the areas bombed by Israel, are the offices of the political wing of Hezbollah. Civilians.
Israel is targetting civilians. Bringing up the leaflets story is the height of cynicism, and a poor excuse for the murder of innocent civilians, and the too young, too old, too poor, to evacuate.
Hezbollah is a TERRORIST organization man. They are not a government. They have no land.
Hezbollah has members in the Lebanese parliament. Lebanon is their land.
Then, they started firing rockets at CIVILIANS on PURPOSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Again, it was done in retaliation for Israel's indiscriminate bombing of Beirut. Both Israel and Hezbollah are targetting civilian infrastructure, with Israel carrying the lion's share of the blame.
July 29th, 2006 at 1:58 pmWhen you have a WAR, you fight to win. I don’t care if we killed 1,000,000,000 Al quada and they only killed 3,000 of us. Numbers don’t mean shit in WAR……
Comment by COMMENT BY JIM — July 29, 2006 @ 1:55 pm
What if one of them is a civilian, what if half of them, what if 90% are innocent people? Wouldn't there relatives, and fellow nationals be justified in killing Americans in retribution? Wouldn't they be crazy not to try as the kill rate clicked up passed a 1,000, or 100,000 or a million?
July 29th, 2006 at 1:59 pmkaty I have to go water, but converse with unbelievable if she cares to chat with you?! As for your posts on here > they are worthless drivel, just like Seixon's who has been banned!
July 29th, 2006 at 1:59 pmLet’s see, Israel drops leaflets to civilians, in Lebanon and the Gaza strip, telling them they are going to exercise certain military options in their area. Hezbollah, fires rockets at civilians at random. HEZBOLLAH TARGETS CIVILIANS.
Comment by Jim
Jim, you need to start remembering recent history!
July 29th, 2006 at 2:00 pmIsraeli soldiers invaded Lebanese territory, so they were captured. Not killed, just taken into custody.
Israel decided this was a great op[portunity to bomb the hell out of the lebanese airport and civilians in Beirut.
Lebanon is DEFENDING ITSELF.
Leaflets? Yeah, surew, leaflets made of white phosphorus.
Hezbollah was not nearly as big a problem before this, now their numbers are swelling due to the Israeli attacks.
And please, don't try calling me anti-semitic because I dissaprove of Israel's genocidal tactics, I'm Jewish.
I've always wondered about that, myself. How come the district that's the seat of power didn't have anyone in Congress representing its citizens? It's seems ironic at best, monstrously unjust at worst.
In "Fetch, Heel and Stall", Mo Do writes about George Bush's latest "microphone failure." Sorry it's up so late. Better late than never, though.
July 29th, 2006 at 2:01 pmThe UN needs radical reform, but be assured a democratic UN will not favour the US. How could it? The world is currently at odds with the US on almost every major issue of substance.
I think we need to look at "revealed preference" here - instead of looking at what other countries say, let's look at what they do.
The current Middle East flare-up is a great example. On the one hand you have much of the world bemoaning the influence of the US, criticizing our every move and policy. But when conflict breaks out, everyone (I mean everyone) is look at each other, picking their asses and saying "why is the US dragging it's feet? Why isn't the US stepping in!?"
France, Germany and the EU in general will have a nice time in the media shooting barbs at the US. But if we threatened to withdrawal our military presence in the Europe, they would flip shit. We do the heavy lifting around the world, stepping in and maintaining peace where other countries sit on the sidelines and fret.
July 29th, 2006 at 2:02 pmBrian
Force will be terminated when the enemy GIVES UP, or when the enemy HAS BEEN DESTROYED.
Force is authorised in different measures. The President of the United States controls the U.S. military. The President is elected by the American people, just as do the members of congress. If the President doesn't do the will of the people, he is voted out of office. So, the people eventually authorise a nations foreign policy...
Unlike a socialist or communist country, where the checks and balances are minimal in determining military force.
July 29th, 2006 at 2:02 pmoh, but this looks interesting:
a giant cloud of Sahara dust, with trapped heat in it, sitting over the entire Atlantic ocean
Comment by Jay Randal — July 29, 2006 @ 1:50 pm
wow - i'm a weather watcher... would love to read about that...
July 29th, 2006 at 2:04 pmgot a link?
Go to WeatherUnderground.com > has a story on Sahara dust cloud covering Atlantic!
Bye all take care!
July 29th, 2006 at 2:06 pm#90 - To expand:
In our system, the President controls military operations. He makes the final decisions as to tactics, level of force, etc.
Congress, if they disagree with the President's use of force, can do nothing except stop funding the war. That's the way it was set up by the Founders.
If, for some reason, the Congress does not exercise it's power of the purse despite overwhelming public opposition, then they can count on being voted out of office.
July 29th, 2006 at 2:06 pmLook, WAR IS HELL. And Hezbollah is in Beriut. They have headquarters there. Civilian deaths? You hate civilian deaths???? WHAT THE HELL WERE THE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD TRADE CENTER?????????? MARINES??????????
Hey my friends, I love Christians, Jews, Muslims, Jehovah Witnesses ect. ect....... When W A R, W A R, begins, all bets are off. You guys no nothing about warfare. One side wins, the other looses. I'm sorry to break it to you.........
July 29th, 2006 at 2:10 pmWe do the heavy lifting around the world, stepping in and maintaining peace where other countries sit on the sidelines and fret.
Comment by Chase — July 29, 2006 @ 2:02 pm
There is much truth to your comments, however this situation is self inflicted. If the US pushed for massive and genuine reform of the UN, accepted some boundaries as regards it's own ability to act, then other countries would perhaps be willing to co-operate.
In a nutshell the US needs to accept that are are firm rules that everyone is subject to. The current paralysis and impasse is primarily because the US wants to be subject to no restraints whatever. Who would accept such a situation within their own nation states?
July 29th, 2006 at 2:10 pmThe vaguely monikered "conservatives" on this board crack me up. People become or remain conservatives because they have heightened psychological need to manage uncertainity and threat. The factors influencing the conservative mind are fear, intolerance of ambiguity, need for certainty or structure in life, overreaction to threats, and a disposition to dominate others.
Edmund Burke of the British parliament comes closest to being the Moses of the conservative movement in this country, but he wouldn't recognize this lot. Hell, even Burke favored the American Revolution - a decidely liberal event in history.
July 29th, 2006 at 2:11 pmYou hate civilian deaths???? WHAT THE HELL WERE THE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD TRADE CENTER?????????? MARINES??????????
This seems to suggest you are looking for retribution? That the deaths of those on 9/11 must be atoned for by other innocent people? Is that you mean? Sort of, you kill our innocents and we will kill yours as punishment?
July 29th, 2006 at 2:12 pm#93
Well said. We have the final say folks. And we all have another chance to "say" what we want this November.
July 29th, 2006 at 2:13 pmIf, for some reason, the Congress does not exercise it’s power of the purse despite overwhelming public opposition, then they can count on being voted out of office.
What do I care about any of that though? I'm not an American or an Israeli, yet I disagree vehemently with both what is going on in Iraq and Lebanon. In fact you'll find that the majority of world opinion is firmly against both countries in this regard.
How is our voice heard?
July 29th, 2006 at 2:15 pmCome on Brian. Don't take me out of context. Were not out there hunting down civilians. We are hunting down the terrorists and the causes of terrorism to prevent future civilian casualities.
July 29th, 2006 at 2:16 pmWhere are you from Brian?
July 29th, 2006 at 2:17 pm#99 - Your voice is heard in your country.
You come close to proving my point in this regard: you are not an American, but you acknowledge the status of the US as the world's only superpower, a unipolar global hegemon, in your concern with our domestic politics.
July 29th, 2006 at 2:19 pmthanks for that, jay - bookmarked it!
but, i'm reading what i'm guessing is the story you related...
"dry Saharan air from the north", "very dry air from Africa",
"Dry, dust laden air from the Sahara desert" - i didn't see any
mention of "a giant cloud of Sahara dust, with trapped heat in it, sitting over the entire Atlantic ocean"... oh well... lost in translation i suppose...
later...
July 29th, 2006 at 2:20 pmWe do the heavy lifting around the world, stepping in and maintaining peace where other countries sit on the sidelines and fret.
Comment by Chase — July 29, 2006 @ 2:02 pm
Wrong. Maybe your NGO´s but your government has never shown what you mean. If US helps it is accounting its own profit. Check every case out.
You hate civilian deaths???? WHAT THE HELL WERE THE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD TRADE CENTER?????????? MARINES??????????
July 29th, 2006 at 2:20 pmComment by COMMENT BY JIM — July 29, 2006 @ 2:10 pm
What Brian said. So it is OK to kill civilians now that somebody did. I bet you co-authored The Art of war. OH, by the way, one more question mark in your posts and they will seem ridiculous.
Jim
Sorry to break it to you
No one wins a War ever
Got that Jim. War is the failure of good men and women to come to terms with our differances.
I you like killing so much Jim get on the next plane and go over there and help out.
July 29th, 2006 at 2:21 pmJuan
Is Bin Laden a murderer????????????????
July 29th, 2006 at 2:22 pmWhere are you from Brian?
Comment by COMMENT BY JIM — July 29, 2006 @ 2:17 pm
I'm Irish living in Sweden. Honestly, I'm just trying to put this in context for you. Many, many completely innocent people have been killed in both Iraq and Lebanon. You are still boiling with rage about 9/11, an event that took place almost 5 years ago.
Can you conceive of how bitter and angry people in Iraq and Lebanon are? Can you imagine that there are now many of them contemplating how they would like to kill American civilians?
The critical question here is how do decisions that affect the entire world get taken. A single nation state, no matter how powerful, cannot simply make dangerous and reckless decisions that everyone else disagrees with.
July 29th, 2006 at 2:23 pmJim: "We are hunting down the terrorists and the causes of terrorism..." - - I see you've gotten your latest issue of 'Right-wing Ad infinitum Talking Points' monthly magazine. Tell me how "we're hunting down the root causes of terrorism." If a foreign power dropped bombs in your neighborhood and killed friends and family members would you be more inclined to acquiesce or be so enraged that you'd fight them? We're hatching generations of terrorists and that goes for the Israelis as well as Hezbollah. In the Middle East, especially, they have very long memories and unless one side wants to ethnically cleanse out the other side completely, they will always be at war if they are allowed. Diplomacy is the only answer.
July 29th, 2006 at 2:26 pmBrian,
I'm mad about things that happened five years ago? 9/11 changed this world man. FOREVER........ You try to minimize what happened, in terms of time gone by? Five years? That's funny. I now see where your coming from....
July 29th, 2006 at 2:27 pmIs Bin Laden a murderer????????????????
Comment by COMMENT BY JIM — July 29, 2006 @ 2:22 pm
ALL THE WAY. Who financed him? Who created him?
July 29th, 2006 at 2:27 pmWrong. Maybe your NGO´s but your government has never shown what you mean. If US helps it is accounting its own profit. Check every case out.
Are you acting like the US isn't called in to assist in nearly every disaster, conflict, etc?
Take a look at the Indian ocean tsunami. How quickly were US navy nurse ships anchored off shore, helping the injured? How quickly where MEFs and engineers in there helping with recovery and logistics?
Then again in the Pakistani earthquake.
How about our foreign aid programs? $27 billion in 2005. More than twice as much as any other country.
Get your facts straight bro.
July 29th, 2006 at 2:28 pmLook, WAR IS HELL. And Hezbollah is in Beriut. They have headquarters there.
Comment by COMMENT BY JIM — July 29, 2006 @ 2:10 pm
The first argument is a great one to excuse the worst atrocities. "War is Hell". Iit might be, to a point. Beyond that, there are war crimes.
WHAT THE HELL WERE THE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD TRADE CENTER??????????
Hezbollah had nothing to do with 9/11.
You guys no nothing about warfare. One side wins, the other looses. I’m sorry to break it to you………
I know a few things, mainly that you cannot do whatever you want to your enemy or its civilians.
July 29th, 2006 at 2:29 pmJuan, is Bin Laden a murderer????? See folks, he won't answer. I wonder why?
Badmoodman,
How many civilian deaths are you willing to accept. Apparently 3,000 is okay. Sooner or later, if we don't respond, the number will be ten fold.
July 29th, 2006 at 2:30 pm#99 - Your voice is heard in your country.
Not if my democratically elected representatives are powerless in the face of unilateral US decisions. I was born in Ireland and life in Sweden. I am an EU citizen. Yet neither Ireland, nor the EU are represented on the security council in the UN.
Although the point is almost moot given that the US largely ignores the UN now anyway. I am in effect completely disenfranchised as concerns issues of global importance.
You come close to proving my point in this regard: you are not an American, but you acknowledge the status of the US as the world’s only superpower ...
Come close? I freely acknowledge it!!! I think I posted something to that effect a few posts up. So what? Why should my views as a non american be less important than your views? Why should I be powerless to influence these issues, yet you get to vote for the most important politician in the world?
July 29th, 2006 at 2:30 pmHow about our foreign aid programs? $27 billion in 2005. More than twice as much as any other country.
Get your facts straight bro.
Comment by Chase — July 29, 2006 @ 2:28 pm
I know about the money thing. Do you know whats usury? Do you know who invented it? Do you know what the IMF´s activities are? Check that out.
July 29th, 2006 at 2:33 pmVery good point.
I really don't know what to tell you. Move to the US? "If you can't beat em, join em."
July 29th, 2006 at 2:34 pmNice try Juan. You just gave Bin Laden a pass because you blamed the U.S. for Bin Laden. Yeah, we made him do it.
Hezbollah is a terrorist organization, just like Hamas and Al Quada. Gregor, you'll never see the links that I have made. Your to busy going around and around in your little circle. Man, not dizzy yet?
July 29th, 2006 at 2:34 pmJIM
July 29th, 2006 at 2:34 pmRead #110. Thank you. Thats the difference. I take no sides...just common sense.
You try to minimize what happened, in terms of time gone by? Five years? That’s funny. I now see where your coming from….
Comment by COMMENT BY JIM — July 29, 2006 @ 2:27 pm
I'm really not:-(
I'm just illustrating how humans, like yourself, have long memories as regards injustice and horror. You are still justifiabley angry about an inexcusable atrocity that occured several years ago. Odds are, you still be just as angry in 10 years.
The relatives of those now being killed will also still be as angry, just like you are, in 5 years time. Some of them may want retribution, a small minority of them may take concrete action. All the evidence suggests, that actions like Israels in Lebanon simply perpetuate the cycle of violence. I've illustrated why.
July 29th, 2006 at 2:38 pm#34: I’m hunting around for some historical explanation as to why they were denied reps, but the going is a bit slow. Personally I can’t imagine any reason why they shouldn’t have a rep, or Senators, but who knows.
What have you found out? It seems to me fairly straightforward. The citizens of D.C. should have the same representation as people everywhere else in the United States. Otherwise it is "taxation without representation," the slogan on the D.C. license plate and one of the rallying cries of the American Revolution.
July 29th, 2006 at 2:38 pmI hope your on the right side Juan C. God speed to you to Brian. Chase, good points as always. Katy, your a little devil.
July 29th, 2006 at 2:39 pmHezbollah is a terrorist organization, just like Hamas and Al Quada.
Gregor, you’ll never see the links that I have made.
Comment by COMMENT BY JIM — July 29, 2006 @ 2:34 pm
No, I don't. The ETA is also a terrorrist organisation. Should the US bomb Madrid in retaliation for 9/11?
Your links make no sense.
Your to busy going around and around in your little circle. Man, not dizzy yet?
That is rich. You are the one repeating the same thing, foaming at the mouth over 9/11 even though Hezbollah had nothing to do with it.
It seems like in your world view, every other "terrorrist" organisation should be to blame for 9/11, specially if they are Islamic. That being the only "link" between them. And you are making Muslim civilians pay for it too.
July 29th, 2006 at 2:40 pmBrian
Five years isn't nothing man. We still have troops in Germany and Japan from World War II. How long has that been? See my point.
July 29th, 2006 at 2:42 pmThanks for calling me a Islamic racist Gregor. Thanks for taking up for the terrorists around the world here on TP. Humanist needed some help.
July 29th, 2006 at 2:44 pm#120 - I got a little distracted.
I agree. Like I said, until I find something that convinces me otherwise, I support constitutional amendment that would extend representation to the District.
I'm not wholly convinced it would pass at this point. With such a closely divided partisan environment where a single vote might make a huge difference, I tend to think those who would be voting to ratify would be reluctant to dilute the weight of their own vote.
July 29th, 2006 at 2:45 pmVery good point.
I really don’t know what to tell you. Move to the US? “If you can’t beat em, join em.â€
Comment by Chase — July 29, 2006 @ 2:34 pm
I appreciate the honesty of your response, that is pretty refreshing:-)
Why should I have to do that though? Should the other 6.2 billion non-americans on the planet also move to the US? I think not:-)
We obviously need some kind of global system, that is democratic, to arbitrate on issues of global importance. Now, the UN is supposed to be that system, but it sucks for a variety of reasons, not least the 5 permanent veto wielding members on the security council.
We need something new, or millions, or perhaps 10's of millions of people may be killed. When that happens we are going to get something new anyway, just like we got the league of nations at the close of WWI, and the UN at the close of WWII.
I say skip the carnage, the inconvenient death and mayhem, and cut straight to a system that works.
July 29th, 2006 at 2:46 pmYou just gave Bin Laden a pass because you blamed the U.S. for Bin Laden. Yeah, we made him do it.
Comment by COMMENT BY JIM — July 29, 2006 @ 2:34 pm
The problem with US foreign policy is that they finance terrorists governments since the end of the WWII to protect US interests. I do not hate America, so dont give me that shitty line. But you have to be responsible for the shit you were doing all around the world. 180 landings in different countries just wont come out clean. It is likely that you are the most powerful country in the world but that has a price and that price is a lot of resentment from people who have lost family, home and their own lives.
July 29th, 2006 at 2:48 pmI bet you will agree if the chinese take your country or do shit over there for not being an Islamic. Can you agree with "dont do what you dont like others do to you"?
Thanks for calling me a Islamic racist Gregor.
Comment by COMMENT BY JIM — July 29, 2006 @ 2:44 pm
Racist? That is a strawman of your own making.
I didn't do such thing. I said that the only link between AlQaida and Hezbollah is that they are both Islamic. The former was involved in 9/11 and you blame the latter for it too. That link makes no sense.
Otherwise you have to explain why trot out 9/11 when talking about Hezbollah.
Thanks for taking up for the terrorists around the world here on TP. Humanist needed some help.
That 's strawman #2, and it's meant to deflect the lack of substance in your posts.
July 29th, 2006 at 2:49 pmI said very clearly that Hezbollah is not free of blame, but that Israel carries the lion's share of the blame since they have killed many more civilians.
#124: Thanks for taking up for the terrorists around the world here on TP.
This is the kind of thing certain Bush supporters always say when they're backed into a corner. It's the worst kind of straw man argument. It's dishonest, sleazy, and spectacularly stupid. I've never heard any person on the left (with the possible exception of Ward Churchill) express support for terrorists. Stick to the topic at hand and cut out this disgusting tactic.
July 29th, 2006 at 2:51 pmBrian,
Your living in a fantasy world. You want a world body where everyone is controlled under a peaceful ideology. Where the Chinese respect Japan. Cuba loves the U.S. North Korea and South Korea are one. Africa is at total peace.
Oh, the United States of America does NOT want to take over the world. You and your fellow EU buddies loved the U.S. during the cold war.
The U.S. is a country of immigrants. Come on over, we'll be glad to have you.
July 29th, 2006 at 2:51 pmHenry Steele Commager:
Men in authority will always think that criticism of their policies is dangerous. They will always equate their policies with patriotism, and find criticism subversive.
July 29th, 2006 at 2:51 pmFive years isn’t nothing man. We still have troops in Germany and Japan from World War II. How long has that been? See my point.
Comment by COMMENT BY JIM — July 29, 2006 @ 2:42 pm
Frankly no. It doesn't really relate to the conversation we are having as regards human responses to injustice like the mass killing of innocent civilians.
Plus it should be pointed out the situations are very different. The US was very quickly a friend and ally of the Germans and the Japanese due to the cold war. Plus there was no coherent "resistance" to occupation, and the occupation, such as it was, was mild.
Sigh. I had hoped you'd be able to connect with the innocent people currently being bombed by extending your own very human sense of outrage about 9/11, to encompass what they are going through. Alas it seems I'm not getting through:-(
July 29th, 2006 at 2:54 pm#126 - I'm an international realist. I think the UN is a nice idea, a quaint institution that gives smaller nations yet another venue to be in front of a camera. But in the end, it's nothing more than a voluntary negotiating group with zero enforcement ability.
There is no such thing as controlling international law, at least in the way the UN attempts to implement it.
Look at the US invasion of Iraq. We go before the UN, the UN more or less says "eh, we don't think that's a good idea" and we turn around and say, "whatever, we're going in anyway." The UN had no authority, ability or will to prevent us. In the end, they didn't even officially condemn the invasion. Not long after we were "in-country", the UN was passing resolutions to recognize the US/UK/Coalition as the rightful occupying force in Iraq, setting up humanitarian aid and setting plans for future assistance.
Hardly a forceful organization worth of respect, much less fear.
July 29th, 2006 at 2:54 pm#125: With such a closely divided partisan environment where a single vote might make a huge difference, I tend to think those who would be voting to ratify would be reluctant to dilute the weight of their own vote.
Another way of saying this is that those who voted for it would be doing the right thing, while anyone who opposed it would be exposed as crassly self-interested. Seems like voting on an amendment like this would be a good litmus test to see where politicians really stand on representative democracy.
July 29th, 2006 at 2:55 pmStick to the topic at hand and cut out this disgusting tactic.
Comment by Jim — July 29, 2006 @ 2:51 pm
You really have some double moral standard. You agree with killing civilians but find disgusting racism. How do you manage to live in society, really?
July 29th, 2006 at 2:55 pm#130
I'm not backed into any kind of corner. Some people know the difference between GOOD and EVIL. You and Juan are looking at the later in a more than fond light. Hey, free country, knock yourselves out. You hear what you want to hear idiot.
July 29th, 2006 at 2:56 pm#134 - I don't think this is a good litmus test.
Let's be honest: I think all of our politicians are fans of representative democracy. I think they all love this country. They also all honestly believe they are "right" in the positions they hold and that by voting for this, or opposing that, they are truly serving the people of the United States.
For that reason, I think some would oppose it. I don't believe it's crass self-interest.
July 29th, 2006 at 3:00 pm#133: Look at the US invasion of Iraq. We go before the UN, the UN more or less says “eh, we don’t think that’s a good idea†and we turn around and say, “whatever, we’re going in anyway.†The UN had no authority, ability or will to prevent us.
The success of the U.N., or any other international body, hinges on cooperation from the United States. If the U.S. refuses to cooperate, the whole system falls apart.
July 29th, 2006 at 3:00 pmJuan, you should treat Jim better than that. I thought you guys were on the same side. Ha Ha Haaaaa......
July 29th, 2006 at 3:00 pm136 Jim Take the next plane to the Middle East and help out
July 29th, 2006 at 3:01 pmClick for a tribute to Richard Viguerie
July 29th, 2006 at 3:04 pmLet’s be honest: I think all of our politicians are fans of representative democracy. I think they all love this country. They also all honestly believe they are “right†in the positions they hold and that by voting for this, or opposing that, they are truly serving the people of the United States.
For that reason, I think some would oppose it. I don’t believe it’s crass self-interest.
What you're saying, though, is that anyone who opposes this amendment believes that because they are so "right" in their positions that their decision-making power should take precendence over the rights of all American citizens to be represented in Congress. You may not see this as un-democratic, but I certainly do.
July 29th, 2006 at 3:04 pmYour living in a fantasy world. You want a world body where everyone is controlled under a peaceful ideology. Where the Chinese respect Japan. Cuba loves the U.S. North Korea and South Korea are one. Africa is at total peace.
No. I want a world that respects the rule of law. The first problem of course, is that we have no genuine global law, and the second problem is, no means to enforce it. Both are certainly addressable.
We rightly do not accept such a ludicrous state of affairs within our nation states, and we should be keen to change that same situation globally. Global governance, is the logical path for humans. Since the first tribal spat, we have aggregated into larger and larger groups. Whats one more iteration upward?
The real utopian view is imaginging that 190+ independently armed gangs, some with weapons that can destroy the entire planet, will simply muddle along without another major bump like WWII. The next one might actually finish us off as a spieces. Really, it's time to stop playing this extended game of russian roulette and arrange a democratic, interntional system that actually works.
July 29th, 2006 at 3:04 pm#135: You really have some double moral standard. You agree with killing civilians but find disgusting racism.
Good heavens! Where are you getting this?
July 29th, 2006 at 3:06 pmSome people know the difference between GOOD and EVIL.
Comment by COMMENT BY JIM — July 29, 2006 @ 2:56 pm
What is GOOD and EVIL? You just keep using religious terms to express political and social events. Can you talk like an non-fanatic adult? This lack of perspective, self-critic and international knowledge has shut all the doors between you and a better world.
July 29th, 2006 at 3:08 pmJust for you to know: Cubans dont hate US, they just hate the fact of not being able to buy bread and meat due to the 40 YEAR EMBARGO. How would you like an embargo in your country? See...you are just breeding resentment. As far as I know, no cuban has ever made an act of terrorism in US soil, you cant same the thing about americans doing it in CUba (HINT: Gitmo).
You'll notice Chase that my post is in complete agreement with you, except I think this is a dreadful, ludicrous and fatally dangerous situation, that must urgently be remedied.
I freely acknowledge, we won't get far without the US taking the lead.
July 29th, 2006 at 3:09 pmJuan, you should treat Jim better than that. I thought you guys were on the same side. Ha Ha Haaaaa……
Comment by COMMENT BY JIM — July 29, 2006 @ 3:00 pm
Yeah, I blew it. Sorry both of you.
July 29th, 2006 at 3:09 pm#136: Some people know the difference between GOOD and EVIL. You and Juan are looking at the later in a more than fond light.
What evidence do you have that I look "fondly" on evil?
You hear what you want to hear idiot.
Wow. Name-calling. I'm really impressed with your argumentation skills. How about some hasty generalizations and nonsequiturs? Then you'll wear the golden sombrero of logical fallacies.
July 29th, 2006 at 3:10 pmGotta go, not a bad afternoon of discussion. All the best to all:-)
July 29th, 2006 at 3:13 pmJim: Badmoodman,
July 29th, 2006 at 3:30 pmHow many civilian deaths are you willing to accept. Apparently 3,000 is okay. Sooner or later, if we don’t respond, the number will be ten fold. - - Civilian deaths in Iraq - a country which had nothing to do with the 3000 deaths you'd like to attribute to them - are tenfold that 3000. That 9/11 mantra you Republicans mindlessly chant is repugnant.
Could there be two Jims?
July 29th, 2006 at 3:33 pm#136: Some people know the difference between GOOD and EVIL.
Oh, wait, wait! I think I get it.
Good:
Democrats (1852-1948)
Nicaraguan Contras (1978-1990)
Osama bin Laden (1979-1989)
People's Mujahedin of Iran
Pervez Musharraf
Republicans (1952-present)
Saddam Hussein (1980-1988)
Evil:
July 29th, 2006 at 3:39 pmDemocrats (1952-present)
Hamas
Hezbollah
Hugo Chavez
Osama bin Laden (1993-present)
Republicans (1852-1948)
Saddam Hussein (1991-present)
Sandinistas
Some people know the difference between GOOD and EVIL.
Comment by COMMENT BY JIM — July 29, 2006 @ 2:56 pm
I tihnk I understand the difference you are trying to make:
The US or Israel killing civlians in Iraq, Lebanon respectively -good.
Hezbollah, AlQaida killing innocent civlians -bad.
July 29th, 2006 at 3:43 pmSaddam Hussein (1980-1988)
Who was the PUTUS then?
Jim your list shows you are a sheep. Not a very snappy or witty post.
July 29th, 2006 at 3:45 pmPOTUS
opps
July 29th, 2006 at 3:45 pm#154: Who was the PUTUS then?
Reagan. I'll bet that was a rhetorical question.
You might be confusing me with "COMMENT FROM JIM." We are two (very different) people.
July 29th, 2006 at 3:50 pmI thought if I waited long enough Jim would eventually get off of his computer and go fight dem terraists for us.
No such luck though, could it be he's chicken?
July 29th, 2006 at 3:53 pmA thought so. And I apologize
July 29th, 2006 at 3:54 pm@ Jim at 156 I apologize
July 29th, 2006 at 3:55 pm#154: Since you liked my list so much, let me amend it to make my point even more clear:
Good:
Democrats (1852-1939)
France (1776-1789)
Geneva Conventions (1949-2000)
Israel
Libya (1980-2002)
Nicaraguan Contras (1978-1990)
Osama bin Laden (1979-1989)
People’s Mujahedin of Iran
Pervez Musharraf
Republicans (1940-present)
Saddam Hussein (1980-1988)
Sudanese government
Uzbekistan (2001-present)
Evil:
Democrats (1940-present)
France (1790-present)
Geneva Conventions (2001-present)
Hamas
Hezbollah
Hugo Chavez
International Criminal Court
Libya (2003-present)
Osama bin Laden (1993-present)
Republicans (1852-1939)
Saddam Hussein (1991-present)
Sandinistas
United Nations
This is actually kind of fun. It's soooo much easier than thinking.
July 29th, 2006 at 4:03 pmWe must remember that the DHS is ever vigilant against terrorists, especially this one. Land of the free?
July 29th, 2006 at 4:16 pmIn 1961, the Twenty-third Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified, allowing District residents to vote for president and vice president. This right has been exercised by D.C. citizens since the election of 1964.
In 1978, Congress passed on to the states another constitutional amendment, the District of Columbia Voting Rights Amendment, which would have given the District its own voting members of Congress, making it virtually a state. However, a seven-year time limit was placed on the amendment, which was subsequently ratified by only a handful of states, far short of the three-quarters (currently 38) required for it to be ratified.
In anticipation of the amendment's ratification, in 1980 District voters approved the call of a Constitutional Convention to draft a proposed state constitution, just as U.S. territories in the late 18th, 19th, and early 20th centuries had done prior to their admission as states. The proposed constitution was ratifed by District voters in 1982 ... However, the failure of the proposed U.S. Constitutional amendment was deflating to the statehood movement, and the necessary authorization from Congress has never been granted.
The original District of Columbia was formed out of parts of both Maryland and Virginia, and from 1790 until 1801 citizens living in D.C. continued to vote for, and even run as, candidates for the U.S. Congress in Maryland or Virginia. In 1846 the land from Virginia was given back to Virginia, such that all the land in present-day D.C. was once part of Maryland. If both the U.S. Congress and the Maryland state legislature agreed, jurisdiction over the District of Columbia could be returned to Maryland.
July 29th, 2006 at 4:22 pmThe United States needs to stop acting like the bully of the playground by protecting those that give it the most lunch money.
Israel was created, in effect, to bring peace and stability to the middle east. The United States unwavering support for Israel, Ironically, has decreased the stability of the middle east making the Israeli people, and their neighbors, less safe, instead of more so.
The misguided war in Iraq, the parade of flowers, has also decreased the stability in the region.
July 29th, 2006 at 4:24 pmI gave up and gave in: I now have a myspace account like the other 98% of the planet. Details are up at my place as well as my reason for setting up a myspace account.
July 29th, 2006 at 4:32 pm#164
oh, jurassic, are you now a thirteen year old girl? :)
i hope you continue to post mo in the future.
peace.
July 29th, 2006 at 4:38 pmSo many things wrong - so little time.
Term limits: are an abomination created by the same forces that now control our government. Corporate america lobbied for term limits through the media - manipulating people's opinions on this matter - and this has been going on for decades. People no longer see government as a possible agent of good. Government is only the enemy now. People get elected (Bush) who PROMISE to destroy the government!
The truth is that term limits are horrible because it removes people with experience from a job they might be doing very well. Term limits are also horrible because it promotes boorish behavior. Why be respectable and honorable when your time to get anything done is so limited? Without term limits, politicos would have to be careful about getting along, so that they could be as effective as possible.
ANYONE who lobbies FOR term limits is a pawn in corporate america's continuing effort to promote broken/ineffective governance that will favor corporate interests over the interests of the state. Which brings me to:
Campaign Finance Reform - THE answer to ineffective leadership. Think about it: if the incumbent weren't almost assured of electoral victory, there would be no need for term limits. If it were possible for any reasonable candidate to compete equally with the incumbent - the people would get to decide who should represent them, not some artifical bureaucratic red tape decision that takes away anyone no matter how effective they might be simply because "their time has come".
And, BTW, it's UNCONSTITUTIONAL too!! Freedom to pursue happiness should also be taken to mean freedom to be a representive even if one happens to be very good at it. Word to the wise: if you love america, head the truth of my words and stop with this term limits idiocy and start the real, important work, of campaign finance reform.
OTOH, if you hate america then keep on being a pawn of the corporate agenda - continue degrading your own country by degrading your own government - removing those not only willing to serve (as if YOU might be willing to serve!- LOL) but who might actually be GOOD at it. Free and Fair Elections in america: Well, you can kiss that idea goodbye for the immediate time being. We have systems now in place guaranteed to produce fixed elections. Every non-American must be made aware - urgently - of this fact. I am not for a moment excusing americans for their responsibility for their government - indeed that excuse can NOT be made anyhow - I am simply stating a fact. Corporate america, for now, has won. The fix is in. As a citizen of florida, america - I can tell you that america is not interested anymore (if it ever was) in counting the votes. My white employed male vote goes into an electric box from which I receive not one piece of proof that I ever even voted.
FWIW, in case you didnt' know, a little historical trivia of the long tradition of denying the vote in america: our founding fathers were terrified of what might happen if everyone got to vote - because they knew how dangerous idiots can be (witness modern day repukelicans - people either with a huge character flaw or a mental disorder). That is why they only allowed wealthy white men to vote at first. That is why we have an electoral college.
Today, for different reasons, we are where we were: fixed elections. That means that the current power base of irrational/immoral/illegal/anti-Christian/anti-Constitution fundmentalists currently in power will be staying there. Until when? Who knows, maybe the fiscal or military collapse of america will be the only thing to bring their reign of crime and immorality to an end because the corporate media is performing it's role as right wing propaganda machine superbly.
But rest assured, there is NOTHING we the people can do about it, short of protest in the streets, and americans are the pansiest, wimpiest, most lemming-like panty waists there ever were. In fact, I think that's why there's such blog activity...american's are such pussies that the only form of conflict they're comfortable with is that which guarantees no bodily harm or physical effort. pussies and wimps all.
Anyway, my message to the world is - the diminution of america is not to be feared but welcomed. Brian, don't worry about the fall of america, the world will be a better place when it's over - that is the silver lining of where we are today, nutty repukelicans and all. The fall of american influence IS in the world' best interest. Imagine the glorious day when the world is free of the american bully who gutlessly props up his bouncer buddy (israel). I only hope we can hang on that long, and the world community continues it's awaking to the awful truth of america, so that never again will we have to hear, "I like americans, it's the american government I don't like."
WE (americans) ARE THE GOVERNMENT. IF NOT US, WHO?
P.S. One final look at a glaring incongruity. The right wingers, those who say america is broken and needs their kind of fixing -
- ask them if america is a great country. Will they say "no"? Of course not. They will say america is the greatest country on earth. Yet over the last 100 years what is the party most in power, the party most responsible for what america is today? The liberal party. This great america that repukelicans crow about is a product of liberal policies.
July 29th, 2006 at 4:49 pmThis glaring contradiction is all a non-american needs to know when contemplating what the future holds for america and the world.
Oops, sorry for the formatting boo boo. And that's "heed" , not "head".
July 29th, 2006 at 4:54 pmOT - sorry
July 29th, 2006 at 5:13 pmI just read that McCain's 18 year old son is joining the Marines.
Term Limits - TampaGuy,
July 29th, 2006 at 5:19 pmThe first term limits were enacted by the Repugs (Amendment #22) in order to prevent another FDR. If that amendment had not been passed, Clinton (Bill) would still be stewarding this nation, the DOW would be at 18,000, 911 would never have happened and 5400 Americans as well as 60,000 Iraqis would still be alive.
[...] The U.N. notes that a lack of full (meaning voting) representation in Congress is kind of a problem. [...]
July 29th, 2006 at 5:26 pm169.
Nope, Clinton would have been assassinated by now. You know the right-wing could never stand him for this long.
http://www.sunstateactivist.org/ssablog.php
July 29th, 2006 at 5:27 pmA "hate crime" in Seattle? No, just a violent act that should have been directed at an Israeli embassy. Is it justified? Yes.
Only at SSA Blog
http://www.sunstateactivist.org/ssablog.php
#171 - LCLiberal,
July 29th, 2006 at 5:33 pmYou could be right. The security surrounding W is unprecedented in US history. I have shaken hands with Bill on two occasions. I have yet to even see W.
#169 WtM
July 29th, 2006 at 5:59 pmI am not so certain that the DOW would be THAT high, but surely everything else you said would be so.
That is if he would have survived all these years of incessant pursuit by Ken Starr and the whacked out rightwingers.
#173 - Marie,
July 29th, 2006 at 6:18 pmI'll give a bit, I based my DOW on the uplift during the Clinton term. With the exception of Ike, the DOW tends to level or take a dive during Repug administrations and soars during Democratic ones. I'll give a new estimate of from 16,000 to 17,000. That is based on the uplift from 1993 to 2000 and excludes the NASDAQ bloom.
TO - TWO - TOO MANY JIMS!
that was almost funny! glad it got cleared up before coming to blows!
July 29th, 2006 at 6:49 pm#175: I keep thinking I'll change my name to Alphonse, or something. But then I think, "Surely people must be intelligent enough to tell the difference between 'Jim' and 'COMMENT BY JIM.'" But then people keep proving me wrong. The funny thing is that my posts are so obviously un-COMMENT-BY-JIM-like.
July 29th, 2006 at 6:55 pm#175: I think I'm beginning to get an idea of what it might be like to be shot by so-called friendly fire.
July 29th, 2006 at 6:58 pm#
How in hell did Bush get reelected then? He was either right or wrong? And he won AGAIN…………
Comment by COMMENT BY JIM — July 29, 2006 @ 1:40 pm
#
Selling "fear" Jim. If we were as cowardly back in the 19th century as we are now, the West would never have been settled. (God knows, it would have been beter for Native Americans, this cowardice.) Now, the majority of Americans would be willing to give up their civil liberties (as spelled out in the Bill of Righs) in order to be "safe." Anyone with half a brain could compare the less than 3,000 who were killed on 911, and those who die every day in this country from disease, car accidents, etc.
July 29th, 2006 at 7:05 pmwell, you know what, jim - not too many alphonse's around! :-)
i'm a graphic artist, and so notice the different type styles right away... but i bet you did get a bit anxious - it read that way at least! kinda funny...
July 29th, 2006 at 7:06 pmThis great america that repukelicans crow about is a product of liberal policies.
This glaring contradiction is all a non-american needs to know when contemplating what the future holds for america and the world.
Comment by TampaGuy — July 29, 2006 @ 4:49 pm
excellent point there...
July 29th, 2006 at 7:09 pmthanks for the whole post ... many of my own thoughts into words, well put...
Chase, your statement: Our system, the President controls military operations. He makes the final decisions as to tactics, level of force, etc.
Right, so now Bush is qualified to act as on-the ground military experts? This guy didn't even know who the president of Pakistan was when he was running in 2000! Are you aware of the history around WHY some generals tried to assassinate Hiltler during WWII? (Hmmm, had something to do with micromanaging the military operations, resulting in enormous number of deaths of German soldiers.) Yeah...I know all the "Commander in Chief" stuff. Might be nice if the American people had a clue what that really meant, so they wouldn't elect and reelect asuch an idiot.
July 29th, 2006 at 7:25 pmCongress, if they disagree with the President’s use of force, can do nothing except stop funding the war. That’s the way it was set up by the Founders.
Actually Chase, according to the Constitution, only Congress can declare war. Unfortunately, this Constitutional responsibility has been blown off by Congress following WWII. Hence: the Korean War, Vietnam and so on. So they could, indeed, do a good deal more than refusing funding. They could say NO!!
July 29th, 2006 at 7:33 pmn a nutshell the US needs to accept that are are firm rules that everyone is subject to. The current paralysis and impasse is primarily because the US wants to be subject to no restraints whatever. Who would accept such a situation within their own nation states?
Comment by Brian Coughlan — July 29, 2006 @ 2:10 pm
In a nutshell, Brian. This is also the same within our one-party dominated Congress and Executive Branch in this country.
July 29th, 2006 at 7:39 pmThe critical question here is how do decisions that affect the entire world get taken. A single nation state, no matter how powerful, cannot simply make dangerous and reckless decisions that everyone else disagrees with.
Comment by Brian Coughlan — July 29, 2006 @ 2:23 pm
This is the bottom line here and certainly explains the world's dislike (or stronger) feelings about the U.S. and this administration. I was in France two years ago, and they liked the American people, felt sorry for us actually, but absolutely hated the Bush administration. Brian, what does it take to immigrate to Sweden?
July 29th, 2006 at 7:48 pm#179: i’m a graphic artist, and so notice the different type styles right away… but i bet you did get a bit anxious - it read that way at least! kinda funny…
Yeah, I got a little anxious. I've never had so much bile and spittle hurled at me from people who (I think) basically agree with me.
My name is Alphonse. Don't mess with me.
July 29th, 2006 at 8:13 pmlaw, schmaw
might, right
July 29th, 2006 at 8:17 pm$+# 166 - Tampa Guy: Your ideas and feelings are not invalid, but you are expressing them in quite an irrational manner. You need to get on meds, or back on them. Been there, done that, have family members with the same issue.
July 29th, 2006 at 8:27 pmok, alphonse - try it out, anyway...
i ain't gonna mess wit' ya!
but, i'm wondering about this post:
July 29th, 2006 at 8:33 pmhttp://thinkprogress.org/2006/07/29/52-2/#comment-695953
who are you (as jim) addressing?
#189: i’m wondering about this post:
http://thinkprogress.org/ 2006/ 07/ 29/ 52-2/ #comment-695953
who are you (as jim) addressing?
I was addressing #17 (Brian Coughlin), who seemed to think I was serious when I listed the Geneva Conventions as "evil."
For the record, I don't think the Geneva Conventions are evil.
July 29th, 2006 at 10:11 pmexcept, brian was addressing blogenfreude in that comment #17, on the 52% thread... and your "good and evil" list is on THIS thread...
i'm not sure who is confused now... no, i know i am.......
July 29th, 2006 at 10:48 pm:-)
#191: Oh, dear. I'm confused too. I think I'd better just keep quiet and hope no one notices.
July 29th, 2006 at 11:53 pm#191: The thing is, if he was addressing blogenfreude, why did he say "Jim"?
July 29th, 2006 at 11:54 pmohhh... well he WAS referring to you, specifically your "good eveil" list:
They are mostly frightened and in “war mode†vis a vis Jim from the thread below.
but he was surely mistaken about you being in war mode... bet he still had COMMENT BY JIM on his mind when saying that...
maybe? ah well... enough of this... all's well...
July 30th, 2006 at 1:15 amWell, foolishly attempting to get the thread back on topic (I know, I know--"fools rush in where angels fear to tread" and all that), we do have one minor problem with a full DC representation in the Congress. Federal law limits the House of Representatives to 435 members; until Census-imposed redistricting following the 1960 Census, we did have a temporary 437 member House following the admission of both Alaska and Hawai'i in 1959--the 86th Congress had a 436 member House and the 87th Congress had a 437 member House. The 88th Congress, which opened its session in January 1963 restored the House back to 435 members. (I believe the limit was enacted around 1912, since the 63rd Congress which convened in 1913 had the first 435-member House, and aside from the brief increase from 1959-63, that has been the limit.)
July 30th, 2006 at 1:18 amIf DC should gain full Congressional representation, as it stands now, the House would expand to 436 seats only until 2012; as the 2010 Census results would lead to a nationwide Congressional redistricting, the new lines would be redrawn which would lead to some state losing one of its Representatives to DC (it's highly unlikely that DC would have more than one Representative--its current population is less than North Dakota's and that state has only one Representative). The big problem would then lie with various States trying to protect their incumbents (preferring those of whichever party controls the various State Legislatures) without appearing to deny minority representation. Republican-controlled Legislatures would be very hesitant to lose one of "theirs" for an almost-certain Democratic seat for DC. The Senate would pose less of a problem as the Senate isn't limited on the number of members beyond the two-per-state Constitutional mandate (if we expanded to 67 States, we could have 134 Senators under current law, but we would still be limited to 435 Representatives).
Personally, I would support increasing the House membership by at least 100 members, if only to bring the Representative to Constituent ratio to a more manageable level. Currently, each Representative is supposed to stand for roughly 690,000 people which is incredibly underrepresentative for Montana (with nearly 1,000,000 residents) but horribly overrepresentative for Wyoming (with less than 500,000 residents). For heaven's sake, the British House of Commons has 659 members for a national population that's less than 1/4 that of the US. Even Canada, with less than 1/10 the population of the US, has a House of Commons with 308 members (70% the size of the US House membership). With a US House membership in the 535-550 range, most of the mid-range population states would gain between 3 and 5 seats; more heavily-populated states would likely gain anywhere from 5 to 20 extra seats (that high-end would probably apply only to California with states like Texas, New York and Florida gaining a more modest 10 to 12 seats) while the lowest-populated states would most likely gain at least 1 extra seat. I also would like to see a law that would allow the House to increase its size whenever the overall population increases by 25 million. Since 1912, this country's population has increased from less than 100 million (1910 Census--92,228,496) to right around 300 million (per the Popclock at http://www.census.gov --we stand at 299,346,030 at 0541 GMT 07/30/06) while the House of Representatives hasn't added a single permanent member.
#194: all’s well…
Also hunky dory.
July 30th, 2006 at 1:35 amBrian, what does it take to immigrate to Sweden?
Comment by Impeachcheneythenbush — July 29, 2006 @ 7:48 pm
Since I get this question from time to time, I've got a handy link that has all the info. As it happens, because I'm an EU citizen, I can live anywhere in the EU with a minimum of fuss, so I'm not sure how hard it would be for a US citizen to move to Sweden.
Here you are : http://www.migrationsverket.se/english.jsp
July 30th, 2006 at 5:11 amThey are mostly frightened and in “war mode†vis a vis Jim from the thread below.
but he was surely mistaken about you being in war mode… bet he still had COMMENT BY JIM on his mind when saying that…
maybe? ah well… enough of this… all’s well…
Comment by katy — July 30, 2006 @ 1:15 am
I don't even know who I was talking about now:-) Apologies if you got dinged by accident.
July 30th, 2006 at 5:16 amI know there's no support for it, but it is still the best practical solution and should be somewhere in the discussion: dissolve the district and give the land back to Maryland. Maintain soveriegn Federal control over important properties.
Note that this was already done with the section of the DC originally donated by Virgina.
This gives DC one or more voting members of the Maryland Congressional delegation and a less disproportionate share of voting influence over two US senators. It also breaks up the concentrated power of the two horribly corrupt political entities ruinning the district: the City of Washington and the United States congress.
July 30th, 2006 at 8:30 amFYI folks, the issue and the difference between DC and Puerto Rico, is that Puerto Rico does not have to pay federal taxes - whereas as a district resident I've already paid thousands this year. If we had no federal taxes, or even lessened taxes we might be having a different argument, but I can assure you that right now it is quite literally taxation without representation -- that's not a smarmy catch phrase.
Furthermore, my local taxes are higher than they were in virginia, and there could be many reasons for that, but I think a large part is that every motorcade going by that is protected by DC police officers is paid for by the district. The federal government refuses to pay for or reimburse the district for money spent shuttling around high ranking officials. They cite common rules that say host towns will pay for security for visiting dignitaries, but IMHO it's a little different when they in fact live there. And are the federal government.
And don't forget about the congresswoman who didn't feel safe in my neighborhood and tried to get a concealed carry law passed in the district, that was real nice of them. Now I know I've been going into separate issues here, but the point is that living in the district has a lot of federal level disadvantages, and I see no effort to fix it.
July 30th, 2006 at 9:54 amI don’t even know who I was talking about now:-) Apologies if you got dinged by accident.
Comment by Brian Coughlan — July 30, 2006 @ 5:16 am
fyi - it was Jim, now Alphonse, who got dinged...
July 30th, 2006 at 11:52 amnot to be confused with COMMENT BY JIM...
hence - Alphonse... we're all good now! :-)
Byrd a fool? Read his book LOSING AMERICA. And read the Senate speeches at the end denouncing the government grab for power in the Patriot Act and in the rush to war in Iraq. They are blistering. The man knows his history and knows autocracy when he sees it. Byrd was almost completely sidelined after 9/11--you almost never saw the MSM report on his denunciations of what the administration was creating. If he's a fool, we need more of them in Congress to protect what's left of our democracy.
July 30th, 2006 at 12:33 pmPost 202 Lev > why did Byrd vote for Alito to become a Supreme Court justice? ( I rest my case, that doing so was foolish, or Byrd has become senile!)
July 30th, 2006 at 12:39 pmSo the left wants the United Nations to rewrite the Constitution. Gee, what a surprise. And leftists wonder why they can't be trusted with a congressional majority or get a whack job like Kerry into the White House. Yep, sure is a mystery.
July 30th, 2006 at 3:32 pmSo the left wants the United Nations to rewrite the Constitution. Gee, what a surprise.
Not at all, simply pointing out that like Charity, Democracy begins at home:-)
July 30th, 2006 at 4:56 pmSo the left wants the United Nations to rewrite the Constitution.
Comment by OLDPUPPYMAX — July 30, 2006 @ 3:32 pm
I don't think anybody wants to rewrite the constitution, but merely amend it to allow the residents of DC to have a voting member of Congress -you know, taxation without representation and all...
Keep in mind that a) amending the constitution is not a revolutionary concept and that b) residents of DC have gained voting rights over the years (which originally they didn't have).
July 30th, 2006 at 7:05 pm#204: So the left wants the United Nations to rewrite the Constitution.
Um, even if this was what "the left" wanted (which it isn't), the U.N. can't rewrite the Constitution. This is a dumb comment.
Why don't you explain your reasons for opposing an amendment granting the citizens of Washington, D.C., representation in Congress, rather than sliming "the left" with bogus statements such as this?
July 31st, 2006 at 12:32 am