ThinkFast: September 8, 2006
ThinkFast: September 8, 2006
Entertainment industry trade mag Variety reports that “a bombshell decision” is being considered at ABC: “Sources close to the project say the network, which has been in a media maelstrom over the pic, is mulling the idea of yanking [The Path to 9/11] altogether.”
Rep. Curt Weldon (R-PA) is “proposing to remove George Bush and Donald Rumsfeld from the military chain of command over Iraq,” which critics say is likely unconstitutional. The staunch conservative is facing a stiff reelection fight, in part due to his support for the Iraq war.
Sources tell the New America Foundation’s Steve Clemons that John Bolton’s confirmation process “is now dead.” “The Senate Foreign Relations Committee is ‘highly unlikely‘ to reconsider Bolton’s confirmation again as things now stand.”
Yesterday the Senate unanimously reinstated a special CIA unit dedicated to hunting Osama bin Laden. The CIA received intense criticism after closing the unit in late 2005.
Maryland Comptroller William Donald Schaefer continued to throw personal attacks at his opponent, Janet S. Owens, saying she is “getting fat” and “her husband rules her.” He added that she “prissy little miss” who wears “long dresses, looks like Mother Hubbard — it’s sort of like she was a man.”
“The Senate passed legislation Thursday night that would create a massive, Google-like searchable database to track federal spending.” The bill passed “by a voice vote after both Republican and Democratic senators dropped their objections to it.”
Richard Woollam, the former head of pipeline-corrosion at BP Alaska, invoked the Fifth Amendment in testimony before a House subcommittee. The company transferred Woollam to Houston in 2005 “amid concerns that he intimidated potential whistleblowers.”
British Prime Minister Tony Blair, whose reputation has been badly damaged by his support for the U.S. war in Iraq, promised to step down within a year.
The possibility of compromise on comprehensive immigration reform “is essentially dead.” House conservatives, “who have campaigned hard against illegal immigration with few legislative accomplishments to show for it,” will “try to cobble together a package of border crackdown measures before their recess next month.”
And finally: Congress horses around. Rather than deal with “war in Iraq and Afghanistan, terrorism and border problems, high energy prices and health-care costs,” the House’s first order of business was HR 503, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act. “The debate – lasting nearly four hours while horse lover Bo Derek watched from the gallery – quickly degenerated into dueling expressions of equestrian love.”
What did we miss? Let us know in the comments section.
Topic Cloud
ArchivesBlog Roll
Click on the link and write to the advertisers.
Even though no one is advertising during the show, you can let other ABC advertisers know you’ll boycott unless they pressure ABC to pull the plug.
http://birdoblog.birdobot.com/disney_propaganda
September 8th, 2006 at 9:08 amYesterday the Senate unanimously reinstated a special CIA unit dedicated to hunting Osama bin Laden.
Joy. We’ve reinstated the hunt for a dead man. Let me know how that turns out.
September 8th, 2006 at 9:08 amRe: Yesterday the Senate unanimously reinstated a special CIA unit dedicated to hunting Osama bin Laden. The CIA received intense criticism after closing the unit in late 2005
Yeah Right! Osama is Bush’s bread and butter.
http://www.brasscheck.com/videos/911/91111.html
September 8th, 2006 at 9:10 amLot’s of good news there. It looks to be a pretty good Friday if the flick gets yanked and the Bolton nom is dead.
September 8th, 2006 at 9:12 amAmerica’s Least Wanted
Wow, never thought I’d read that Rep. Weldon would go against Bush & Rumsfeld in a big way.
Good news about Bolton…hopefully it stays that way.
September 8th, 2006 at 9:20 amRep. Curt Weldon (R-PA), the #2 Republican on the Armed Services committee, is “proposing to remove George Bush and Donald Rumsfeld from the military chain of command over Iraq.†The staunch conservative is facing a stiff reelection fight, in part due to his support for the Iraq war.
It’s hard for me to imagine that the President won’t challenge this to the bitter end as infringing on his “inherent authority as Commander-in-Chief”. It’s hard for me to imagine that Mr. Weldon doesn;t already know this. So is he playing politics with our armed forces just to win an election? It’s hard for me to imagine he’s not.
September 8th, 2006 at 9:23 amThanks for the link, Marley. Intriguing stuff.
September 8th, 2006 at 9:25 amCNN, MSNBC, NBC, ABC and CBS are running 100’s of hours of GOP Propaganda every week on their so-called newscasts. The Path to 9/11 is only 4 hours. Save some of your effort to fight the longer, more difficult fight, to get objectivity (sanity) back in the news.
The networks are running terrorist-boogeyman scare stories all day long that I’m sure are fresh from Karl Rove’s typewriter. The scare stories are way over the top especially during the last couple weeks. And it’ll only get worse as the election gets closer.
This is the GOP narrative…to try and scare the masses into voting for them. While its despicable that the networks take their movie scripts from the GOP its even more despicable that they let the neo-nuts write their newscasts.
We should be more outraged and devote more effort to try and get some level of objectivity back in the network newscasts.
September 8th, 2006 at 9:33 amYou know, the difference between this 911 show and the Reagan show will be that if the 911 series is yanked the right will have their conspiracy theories etc… running rampant, and they will pretty much still take everything in the movie as fact, because why else would the show have been protested so much. While with the Reagan show when it was yanked, the response from the left was a collective yawn.
September 8th, 2006 at 9:35 amHas there been a change in policy at ThinkProgress? Previous ThinkFasts included the line, “What did we miss? Let us know in the comments section.” Today that line is gone.
Gone too is a post about other news, the release of a portion of Phase II of the Senate Intelligence Committee’s report.
This is the second day in a row that a post of mine about news which should be of interest to ThinkProgress readers has been deleted without any explanation. I can only conclude it is time for me to bid ThinkProgress farewell.
Peace and Blessings.
September 8th, 2006 at 9:36 amDonald Schaefer criticizing his opponent’s appearance? Pot – kettle.
September 8th, 2006 at 9:38 amhttp://www.baltimoresun.com/news/elections/bal-politicsphoto907,0,823544.photo
Good… it’s friday morning and there’s some good news. Is there still hope?
September 8th, 2006 at 9:39 amGood Morning all,………Well we made it to another Friday. It does appear we may have some good new’s this week. Finelly….With the work we all have done on removing this movie I can only hope it get’s chucked…For Bolton not to get back in would be another huge bonus, however, can bush just do another sneak attack when the senate adjurns.?
Wayne#6 Think you are right on, these guy’s will do anything to get elected or keep their seat……..Blessings…Peace
September 8th, 2006 at 9:40 am“Maryland Comptroller William Donald Schaefer continued to throw personal attacks at his opponent, Janet S. Owens, saying she is “getting fat†and “her husband rules her.†He added that she “prissy little miss†who wears “long dresses, looks like Mother Hubbard — it’s sort of like she was a man.—
For all those kool-aide drinkers that believe that Think Progress doesn’t bring up the Democrats dirty laundry: na, na, na, na, na, naaaaaaa!
Oh my! I sounded pretty juvenile there for a moment! You could almost mistake me for a troll! All except that I’m much better looking and I’m much smarter. ;-)
Happy Friday, all!
September 8th, 2006 at 9:40 amOnce again, progressives show that they don’t believe in freedom of speech. I have no problem with you lambasting ABC’s documentary, but insisting that the information not even be broadcast shows that you are far from liberal. This is why you must be destroyed.
September 8th, 2006 at 9:41 amCNN: Armitage admits leaking Plame´s identity
September 8th, 2006 at 9:41 amarmitage
CNN: Armitage admits leaking Plame´s identity
September 8th, 2006 at 9:42 ammulling the idea of yanking [The Path to 9/11] altogether.â€
please don’t tease…
definitive results only, please…
September 8th, 2006 at 9:44 amWilliam Donald Schaefer
September 8th, 2006 at 9:44 am“getting fatâ€
“her husband rules her.â€
“prissy little missâ€
“long dresses, looks like Mother Hubbard — it’s sort of like she was a man.â€
==
Mr Schaefer needs to go back to elementary school…I think he left his mind back there…
#15 – Good point! Bring back the Pres. Reagan Program, and then show this one! That’s the ONLY WAY TO BE FAIR!!!!!
Come on, Jason, lets hear you call for the Pres. Reagan show to be broadcast to show how unbiased you are! (I won’t hold my breath waiting for that to happen.)
September 8th, 2006 at 9:45 amPlease don’t go, Briseadh. I’ve found your posts to be insightful and interesting. It would be a shame if our community lost you. I agree that it would be nice if TP explained what was really going on with their posting policies. Please re-consider.
September 8th, 2006 at 9:46 amGee Jason, I didn’t know that you actually like being lied to. If I knew that, why, I would have taken you for the kind of person who views Michael Crichton as a greater authority of climate science, then actual climate scientists.
September 8th, 2006 at 9:46 amTed Koppel: The Price of Security
Airing 9/10 on Discovery Channel.
September 8th, 2006 at 9:48 amA real documentary!
…database to track federal spending…The bill passed “by a voice vote after both Republican and Democratic senators dropped their objections to it.â€
excellent news, this…
September 8th, 2006 at 9:48 amnext up – net neutrality…
#15, Mr. Troll…I can only speak for myself. I don’t mind if ABC airs the movie. But they must NOT include the claim that its based on the 9/11 report. And they must, at every commercial break, remind viewers that its a drama, not a documentary.
In the absence of such disclaimers I view this movie as a Republican campaign message. And therefore I demand 4 hours of equal time on ABC (which ABC will give me $40 million dollars to help me produce it).
September 8th, 2006 at 9:50 am#15 – Jason, you’re confusing the right to show “fiction” with “freedom of speech”.
If ABC had included the warning that “this show is based on fiction and only a few facts, don’t confuse this show with reality”, THEN you wouldn’t be quite so enthusiastic to claim “progressives … don’t believe in freedom of speech!”
Now, lets hear you call for the broadcast of the Pres. Reagan show alongside this show for you to prove that you believe in “freedom of speech”.
Come on, you don’t want to show your bias and partisanship this early in the morning, do you?
September 8th, 2006 at 9:50 amBriseadh na Faire,
Don’t go. TP has been having troubles the last couple of days due to the extra heavy traffic.
I still have to re-enter my name and email address at every post.
Give them a little time to fix the problem.
September 8th, 2006 at 9:51 amI have no problem with you loving Regans documentary, I insisted that the information not even be broadcast, and that shows how close I am to fascism -Jason Schindler
September 8th, 2006 at 9:52 am#22, Bruce,
Your claim that the information in that documentary is a lie is your OPINION. If you want to provide counter arguments to the documentary, then please do.
Michael Crichton’s have become far more mainstream, displacing many of the erratic and irrisponsible claims of your “scientists”. So much for that “worst ever” hurricane season predicted by your “scientists” and “climatologists” – they need to make yet another revision to their forecast, because only ONE tropical storm even hit the US, much less any hurricanes.
September 8th, 2006 at 9:52 amBriseadh na Faire
I know a few of my posts have just not been showing up sometimes, and its not like they block most of my more insulting ones. I don’t think it is censorship, I think it is just a matter of their being a problem on TP’s servers or something. Maybe they need to institute a policy of showing whether a post has been deleted (Message in its place saying deleted by admin or something) rather then just vanishing them?
September 8th, 2006 at 9:53 amum… insisting that the LIES not be broadcast shows that we are fair and honest… and respectful…
September 8th, 2006 at 9:54 amBriseadh na Faire,
September 8th, 2006 at 9:54 amDon’t go. TP has been having troubles the last couple of days due to the extra heavy traffic.
==
Bris after you post hit F5 and refresh the page a few times and your post will show up =8^]
#25 & #26,
Why would I care how much time you demand for a response, when the liberal media has been voicing your propaganda for decades? Take 8, 12 or 16 hours for all I care. Now that their is at least one source to offer a different perspective, yours in no longer the ONLY voice.
September 8th, 2006 at 9:54 amI noticed yesterday that I had a name on my screen that I have never used lasemike026. I looked up the site and blocked it thru firewall, Just know he tried to hit me..
TCP Connection from (null) [63.239.248.1:1837] was blocked by rule ‘lasermike026 isntructable.com’
you might wanna block this IP above TP
September 8th, 2006 at 9:57 amThis guy appears to be a unix developer hack…
Yesterday the Senate unanimously reinstated a special CIA unit dedicated to hunting Osama bin Laden. The CIA received intense criticism after closing the unit in late 2005.
Yes, now that the case is stone-cold dead, let’s fire up a fancy Mardi Gras parade float called “The Hunt for bin Laden.”
September 8th, 2006 at 9:58 amResponse to BnF, Please reconsider, you are a benefit to this site and I for one would hate to see you leave…..
For the resident troll ( jason ) living up to you’re usual puking on our thread I send blessings to you’re little miserable self…Even I don’t wish for people to be “distroyed”….Funny isn’t it you can’t take what you dish out, you are nothing more than a shill for the reich….
September 8th, 2006 at 9:59 am#34, Trin,
You too – I had an imposter a few days back – thanks for providing TP what they need to block them.
September 8th, 2006 at 10:00 amBush wants you Jason!!
Get your brown shirt on!
Even though Hitler had declared war on the US, it was still legal for UBC to conduct finances for the Nazis. But, after Pearl Harbor that outrage finally changed. After another ten months of Bush/Harriman/UBC work for the Nazis; in November 1942, under the Trading With the Enemy Act, all of the Harriman business interests were seized by the government, including UBC.
The assets were held by the government for the duration of the war and then quickly returned. Prescott Bush’ interest in UBC consisted of One Share–worth $1,500,000 ($19 million in today’s dollars) at the time UBC was disbanded in 1951. (The Harriman family garnered $4 billion!) It was the money used to start the Bush Family Texas oil empire.
September 8th, 2006 at 10:01 am#33 – We’re not talking about the calumny and mendacity of the “Fox (Faux) Netwrok”, we’re talking about the lies being spread by ABC.
Now, if it were the un-varnished truth, why are Republicans complaining about the innaccuries and flat-out lies as well as Democrats?
I’m sure you’ll come up with some excuse for the bias and spin, but I’d much rather they told the truth.
September 8th, 2006 at 10:01 amCongress horses around. Rather than deal with “war in Iraq and Afghanistan, terrorism and border problems, high energy prices and health-care costs,†the House’s first order of business was HR 503, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act. “The debate – lasting nearly four hours while horse lover Bo Derek watched from the gallery – quickly degenerated into dueling expressions of equestrian love.â€
That’s illegal in more states now than it used to be…
September 8th, 2006 at 10:03 amIf you want to provide counter arguments to the documentary, then please do.
here you go, jason… from the latest to the first… it’s all here:
September 8th, 2006 at 10:03 amhttp://thinkprogress.org/?tag=Path+to+911
You too – I had an imposter a few days back – thanks for providing TP what they need to block them.
Comment by Jason M. Hendler
I don’t talk to people that want to destroy me for my ideology Jason. You don’t exist to me any longer after that last hate statement. Ignore me and I will return the favor OK?
September 8th, 2006 at 10:04 amI can only conclude it is time for me to bid ThinkProgress farewell.
Peace and Blessings.
Comment by Briseadh na Faire
Now you’re starting to piss me off…
September 8th, 2006 at 10:05 amWell Jason, the fact that the author of a book entitled Losing bin Laden: How Bill Clinton’s Failures Unleashed Global Terror saying in an interview:
Would more then have made my case. Of course, you like those sweet little lies now don’t you? Go back to your hole Jason, you are done.
September 8th, 2006 at 10:05 am#33 To brainwashed fools like Mr. Hendler the Liberal Media is anyone who does not word-for-word regurgitate Karl Rove’s daily talking points.
Mr Hendler, this is just a brief thumbnail outline of the state of our media…
CBS-President Sumner Redstone vowed his support to Bush days before the election and fired Dan Rather for reporting the truth.
NBC-Owned by GE and making HUGE profits from the Iraq occupation.
ABC-Disney Said NO to Fahrtenheit 9/11 and YES to Passion of the Christ.
Fox – Murdoch owned nuff said.
CNN – runs Rove’s scare stories all day long with no counterviews.
MSNBC – Thank God for Olberman but for most of the past couple years ran shows dominated by conservative talkers. Fired Phil Donahue (highest rated show at the time) because he was anti-war.
Radio – Conservative talkers on 2000-3000 stations progressives on 100-200?
September 8th, 2006 at 10:06 am#21 Wayne…
Do I need to even say it?
7-0 = Magic Number 7
September 8th, 2006 at 10:07 amI was wondering when you were going to see that comment, Zooey.
September 8th, 2006 at 10:08 amGo get him!
The tantalizing thought that the movie may be pulled altogether finally got me to fire off e-mail.
Robert A. Iger
President and CEO, The Walt Disney Company
Dear Mr. Iger:
All evidence points to ABC’s “The Path to 9/11″ being factually inaccurate and clearly devised more to sensationalize a disgusting American tragedy for political gain for those already abusing power in this country than to inform the public or honor the dead. I thought that the major motion picture about the World Trade Center, released not long ago, was bad enough an example of America’s willingness to exploit anything. Even that film had accuracy problems, but they are mere dwarves next to the awful things in “The Path to 9/11.”
I see no way in which ABC can air this film and claim to “support the troops,” honor America’s citizens, or retain any respect for itself. Please do not show this film.
-Jaclyn Kusluch
September 8th, 2006 at 10:10 amEllwood City, PA
Im sorry but, at this point, is anyone really interested in what Jason has to say? He always post his first comment as: I didnt know progs were so … and then he engages with anyone answering. I thought he was more capable of self-criticism and questioning. He is not. Its futile trying to argue with him. At least thats my opinion. And Jason, its nothing personal, but your arguments are based on how productive you are with your employees, or how much you know because of master´s degree in Stanford. And thats not a contribution.
September 8th, 2006 at 10:10 am#45, Larry,
Those TV and radio programs thrive because they have the viewership / listeners to support it.
Out of curiousity, when progressives meet, do you have an American flag present and pledge alliagance? I was at a club meeting this week for a simple mineral and gemstone group, and we did. As I stood there, I tried to imagine the horror on progs faces if they witnessed this group of humble Americans openly displayed civic duty and pride.
September 8th, 2006 at 10:14 amMaryland Comptroller William Donald Schaefer continued to throw personal attacks at his opponent, Janet S. Owens, saying she is “getting fat†and “her husband rules her.†He added that she “prissy little miss†who wears “long dresses, looks like Mother Hubbard — it’s sort of like she was a man.â€
Now there’s a man whose hair has slipped down his back, has man-boobs, and can’t get his tiny penis to rise to any occasion. Probably wears an ascot and satin smoking jacket while he’s home alone in the evenings.
September 8th, 2006 at 10:16 am#49, Juan,
Maybe I should flirt with Zoo or blue and make innuendos about their negligees like you – that is such a strong contribution.
September 8th, 2006 at 10:16 amHi, true and zoo. Sorry to miss last night hijacking. Things are really slow here, BTW. So when youve seen this, Ill be gone (Oh…that sounded like a HUmphrey Bogart quote) Ill write you later, true. :)
September 8th, 2006 at 10:17 amJason wears a satin smoking jacket in the evenings, too.
September 8th, 2006 at 10:18 amDoes anyone remember the huge fuss right-wingers mad over the “slanderous and liberal-biased” CBS Ronald Reagan miniseries from a few years back? Every single right-wing talking-head, radio show host, etc. was bashing CBS for the “inaccuracies” in the series, and called on them to edit out all offending parts or just cancel the entire thing.
Now, we have Joe Scarborough concerned about “media censorship” because people want the lies in the ABC 9/11 “docu-drama” cleared up, Sean Hannity saying that Clinton should “pay” for his failure to nab bin-Laden, and Limbaugh saying ABC should be able to do whatever it wants.
http://www.polibuzz.blogspot.com
September 8th, 2006 at 10:18 amRight now on Political Buzz
Ned Lamont faltering in the polls
A new 2008 poll!
http://www.polibuzz.blogspot.com
ABC’s backpedalling, GOP Sens. rejecting Specter/Cheney gutting of FISA, Pentagon JAGs rejecting GITMO tribunals, Bolton’s dead confirmation, Poodle Blair being shown the door. Can you feel it? CANYOUFEELIT!!!!
September 8th, 2006 at 10:19 amJMH,
Actually, Juan is a complete gentleman with me.
A term you cannot even fathom.
September 8th, 2006 at 10:20 amWhen progressives meet we don’t have to remind ourselves of our nationalities, it is something we kind of figured out a while back. Of course, we accept that you might be somewhat more limited.
September 8th, 2006 at 10:21 amHi Juan.
Bye Juan.
F*ck you, Jason.
September 8th, 2006 at 10:23 amF*ck you, Jason.
When progressives meet we don’t have to remind ourselves of our nationalities, it is something we kind of figured out a while back. Of course, we accept that you might be somewhat more limited.
Comment by Bruce Gorton
……….shhhhh! Don’t tell him about the super secret handshake…………
September 8th, 2006 at 10:25 amWhen progressives meet we don’t have to remind ourselves of our nationalities, it is something we kind of figured out a while back. Of course, we accept that you might be somewhat more limited.
Comment by Bruce Gorton
*snort*
On that note, I’m off to a busy Friday. Have a great day, all. The time for playing nicely is over.
September 8th, 2006 at 10:25 am#58, Bruce,
Thanks for confirming my suspicions …
It is amazing what results when a group openly displays their Christianity with a prayer and their patriotism with a pledge of allegiance to their country’s flag. Without an open and overt recognition of something greater than yourselfs, your actions and endevours will only be self serving.
September 8th, 2006 at 10:27 amBye, Zooey!
September 8th, 2006 at 10:27 amYou are in some feisty mood.
Those criminals better look out!
Zooey, True, Juan C. and all, Since (jason) the miserable little sob of a troll posted he want’s us all distroyed I for one think we should shunn his miserable ass and skip over every post he put’s up……I would never seek to distroy any one except in self defence and feel we should get rid of this slimy blight on our site…..Ignore and get on with the business of taking our country back from these slimy nazi basterd’s……Blessings…Peace
September 8th, 2006 at 10:28 amtrue,
Let me know when you tire of “gentlemen” and crave a real man.
September 8th, 2006 at 10:28 amMaybe I should flirt with Zoo or blue
September 8th, 2006 at 10:28 amComment by Jason M. Hendler
You tried. With unbelievable, too. And my way of talking to other bloggers shouldnt be of your interest.
Maybe if you take a deep breath, calm down, do meditation (I do it, thats why I recommend that to you) and try to question your points of view rejecting all arrogance, you could be a very interesting poster. You are smart, but trying to be always right makes you look like you are always wrong.
Amen, Sharon!
I’ll sign on to that.
September 8th, 2006 at 10:30 am#64, Cox – plural,
I desire to destroy those that deny individuals their liberty, just as the founding fathers did. Progs use every means to prevent their opponents from even voicing their message, because of their desparation from loosing every election this century which denied them power over any federal branch of government.
When will you learn to serve the majority of the American public and amend your views to their desires? How you ended up with the title Democrat is beyond me, because you couldn’t be farther from democratic.
September 8th, 2006 at 10:32 am#50, When we Progressives/Independents meet we try to figure out how to restore the Constitution and Bill of Rights as the law of the land.
Also: Rush, Sean and Bill are on 2,000 radio stations NOT because their ratings merit it. Infact, on a great many of these stations their ratings are miniscule. They’re on all these stations because the companies that own them are very conservative in their politics.
September 8th, 2006 at 10:34 am#66, Juan,
BUSTED! I see that you are now a little ashamed of your shinanigans with those two, when you were supposed to be make a contribution – or was that one of those social contributions you pay lip service about?
Please provide the quote in which I was flirting – I suspect that I was being sarcastic, but let’s see.
September 8th, 2006 at 10:35 amthe miserable little sob of a troll posted he want’s us all distroyed
September 8th, 2006 at 10:35 amComment by Sharon Cox
Oh, didnt know that. Sorry. Ok. Ignored.
Still haven’t heard Jason call for the Pres. Reagan docu-drama to be aired alongside the “Path to 9/11″ docu-drama .
Partisan, much?
September 8th, 2006 at 10:43 amStraight from the horse’s arse. “One of the hardest parts of my job is to connect Iraq to the War on Terror.” George W. Bush
September 8th, 2006 at 10:44 amWeldon’s idea doesn’t cut it.
September 8th, 2006 at 10:45 amAs much as the Chimperator has messed up, you don’t throw away the system, just remove the people who don’t know how to operate it.
This reminds me of some of the Huffington posters who are calling for a military coup.
Bad idea.
If we know the elections are rigged, then the people take to the streets, but I don’t want one of Rummy’s generals taking power. Geez.
Jason M. Hendler:
That reminds me of a great rebuttal I once read to that very argument you just posted, now where did I read it, oh yeah, the Bible! Specifically the book of Mathew! (Chapter 6.)
Of course, actually reading the bloody book isn’t entirely required for a Neoconservative Christian now is it?
September 8th, 2006 at 10:48 amWeldon is dead wrong.
September 8th, 2006 at 10:50 amThe system is being warped by the tweakers at the top.
The solution is to change management, not destroy the system.
If the November elections are rigged, then we’ll take to the streets if necessary. The new Congress can deal with the administration, blocking any more damage and calling them to account for their lawbreaking ways.
The site appears to be acting up again…My posts are showing up way later. Sorry for the dup.
September 8th, 2006 at 10:50 am#68 your points are right in line with what dems want, welcome to the party.
September 8th, 2006 at 10:55 amWell, I think the docuganda piece (like it? just made it up!) should be preceded by a showing of Rambo III (with ol’ Sly fighting alongside the heroic Al-Qaeda) and followed by a showing of Red Dawn.
September 8th, 2006 at 11:02 amThere’s a story about 9-11 conspiracy theory on MSN today, interesting it made the mainstream.
September 8th, 2006 at 11:16 amtesting
September 8th, 2006 at 11:24 am“testing” – oh crap and I haven’t studied.
September 8th, 2006 at 11:28 am#46 Exley,
The Marlins-Phillies series is going to slow the magic number from lowering faster. Once they stop playing each other, the Mets can gain ground on both of them at the same time. Hopefully by Monday it will be down to 2, which is the best we can hope for while the other guys fight each other.
I’ll let everyone else continue their discussion.
September 8th, 2006 at 11:46 am#50
As I stood there, I tried to imagine the horror on progs faces if they witnessed this group of humble Americans openly displayed civic duty and pride.
Well there’s your problem, right there. You “tried to imagine”. In your imagination, “progs” (which I take to mean anyone to the left of Bush) hate America, hate the American flag, hate the Pledge of Allegiance, etc.
It takes a nuanced understanding, which you can’t handle. It’s hard work, and it’s just not in you. You believe in the cartoon character depictions that the right-wing blunderbusses provide for you. And your imagination doesn’t have the strength or the independence to get beyond that.
See if you can stretch your imagination to accept, or at least consider, this: Progs, liberals, whatever, don’t hate America. They love America and they hate the dictatorship you people are trying to turn it into. They love the Constitution and they despise the people in the White House who are trying to get rid of it. They don’t love the flag. They love what it stands for, and they’re able to tell the difference between a piece of cloth and the things that it represents. The latter is far more important to them than the former. As for the Pledge of Allegiance, why require children or anyone to make a promise to something that should come naturally to all of us? The pledge implies mistrust and it doesn’t bind anyone to do or not to do anything. I’d rather see schoolchildren take turns each morning saying what they like most about living in the United States and why they would want to protect this country from enemies foreign and domestic.
But, that’s too hard to think about for you people on the right. If you can’t fit it onto a bumpersticker, it’s too intellectual for you and your eyes glaze over before the first sentence is finished. You can go back now to your woefully inadequate imagination and your silly notions about what “progs” think.
September 8th, 2006 at 11:50 amMassive Corruption In Washington, DC!
Friday 8th of September 2006
by Jay Randal
The massive corruption in Washington, DC, rivals the Roman Empire before its final collapse/annihilation!
President Bush mimics the Roman Emperor Caligula, who was power crazed and vilely maniacally sadistic, who helped to lead Rome to ruin just like Dubya now!
Continuous warfare, by the Roman Legions, drained the treasury of Rome’s government, and favored the condition for massive corruption to grow like cancer!
The Imperial Roman Senate degenerated into corrupt and greed filled imbeciles, who only cared about their own prestige/wealth, while Rome rotted from within!
Greedy profiteers swindled the Roman military, just the same as “Military Industrial Complex” CEOs do to the Pentagon today, which led to its dire collapse!
Roman Italy eventually stopped defending its borders, so hordes of barbarians poured in from the northern Alps, and the Roman society quickly withered away!
So now the US?
( Jay Randal, political activist and writer in Stone Mountain, Georgia.)
September 8th, 2006 at 11:53 amProgs use every means to prevent their opponents from even voicing their message, because of their desparation from loosing every election this century which denied them power over any federal branch of government.
Good one. The century is only six years old. For the last eight years of the previous century, the country was presided over by a Democrat.
Will that win-loss record be as important to you if the Democrats take over one or both houses of Congress in November? I’m guessing no. You’ll have to make a big rhetorical shift and find some way to say the elections didn’t matter.
Here’s a painful fact for you. The last and biggest world war ever fought was fought and won by a Democratic president. Actually two Democrats. That bugs you guys so much that you’re out there trying to say we’re in the middle of World War III. What a joke. It’s become the Republican way of dealing with incovenient truths. If you can’t change the facts, change the definitions. If you can’t change black to white, change the definitions of “black” and “white”.
September 8th, 2006 at 12:00 pm# 83 Wayne, Yes, we don’t want to clutter up the thread with irrelvancies, but let me just say one more thing in response to something you wrote ysterday afternoon — It looks like our civil discourse will continue throughout the fall, for I am a HUGE New York Jets fan, as well.
September 8th, 2006 at 12:13 pm#87 Exley,
That’s good to know, my politically confused friend. :)
September 8th, 2006 at 12:20 pm#88 Wayne,
I am glad we have found some additional common ground, my politically-misguided friend :)
Maybe someday we will run into eachother at Shea and we can have a beer as I explain to you and Jane why the conservative path is the true path! :)
Have a good day, Wayne…Let’s Go Mets! J-E-T-S! Jets! Jets! Jets!
p.s. I can’t wait until this “Path to 9/11″ thing is over and we can get back to debating substantive issues!
September 8th, 2006 at 12:29 pmExley,
In case you like the Yankees, they SUCK!
September 8th, 2006 at 12:33 pmActually, its good to see 2 opposing political viewpoints still find some common ground in another area (sports), afterall we are all still Americans. And we all want a safer and better country.
September 8th, 2006 at 12:36 pm# 90-91 For Truth…I couldn’t agree with you more — on both postings! Wayne and I disagree politically on … well, everything. But he is a good guy and good Mets / Jets fan, and as you say, a good American, I’m sure. As are you…
The Yankees are evil incarnate! (There is no such thing as a New Yorker who roots for BOTH the Mets and Yankees! You have to pick a side!)
From the vehemence of your Yankee hatred, I sense you are a Red Sox fan.
September 8th, 2006 at 12:41 pmAh Sports – If it weren’t for sports, I wouldn’t own a TV (never mind 4 of them – ouch!). Thank (enter favourite God here) that the NFL is on Sunday and Monday night.
Damn I’m not sure which Manning to cheer for – 3 or 4 touchdown passes each would be satisfying.
September 8th, 2006 at 12:51 pmExley,
At Shea one time, I was making a quick pit stop in the rest room and I overheard one guy say to another, “Yeah, my kids are Jets fans and Yankees fans.” The guy next to him said, “How the f*ck does that happen?” Only someone from around here would understand.
And while we have that beer, I’ll explain to you how liberalism has helped keep you alive all these years. :)
Here’s to Fireman Ed and J-E-T-S! JETS! JETS! JETS! (I’m sorry, but I usually only start paying attention to the Jets when it’s time to give up on the Mets. Looks like I’ll be catching up with the Jets in November.)
September 8th, 2006 at 12:52 pmA listing of bumper stickers…
THE RAPTURE IS NOT AN EXIT STRATEGY
AT LEAST IN VIETNAM, BUSH HAD AN EXIT STRATEGY
BLIND FAITH IN BAD LEADERSHIP IS NOT PATRIOTISM
IF YOU’RE NOT OUTRAGED, YOU’RE NOT PAYING ATTENTION
IF YOU SUPPORTED BUSH, A YELLOW RIBBON WON’T MAKE UP FOR IT
*POVERTY, HEALTHCARE & HOMELESSNESS ARE MORAL ISSUES
OF COURSE IT HURTS. YOU’RE GETTING SCREWED BY AN ELEPHANT
BUSH LIED, AND YOU KNOW IT
RELIGIOUS FUNDAMENTALISM: A THREAT ABROAD, A THREAT AT HOME
GOD BLESS EVERYONE (No exceptions)
BUSH SPENT YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY ON HIS WAR
PRO AMERICA, ANTI BUSH
WHO WOULD JESUS BOMB?
IF YOU SUPPORT BUSH’S WAR, WHY ARE YOU STILL HERE? SHUT UP AND SHIP OUT
FEEL SAFER NOW?
I’D RATHER HAVE A PRESIDENT WHO SCREWED HIS INTERN THAN ONE WHO
SCREWED HIS COUNTRY
JESUS WAS A SOCIAL ACTIVIST – THAT IS A LIBERAL
MY VALUES? FREE SPEECH. EQUALITY. LIBERTY. EDUCATION. TOLERANCE
IS IT 2008 YET?
DISSENT IS THE HIGHEST FORM OF PATRIOTISM — Thomas Jefferson>
DON’T BLAME ME. I VOTED AGAINST BUSH — TWICE!
ANNOY A CONSERVATIVE; THINK FOR YOURSELF
VISUALIZE IMPEACHMENT
HEY BUSH! WHERE’S BIN LADEN?
CORPORATE MEDIA = MASS MIND CONTROL
STOP MAD COWBOY DISEASE
GEORGE W. BUSH: MAKING TERRORISTS FASTER THAN HE CAN KILL THEM
KEEP YOUR THEOCRACY OFF MY DEMOCRACY
DEMOCRATS ARE SEXY. WHOEVER HEARD OF A GOOD PIECE OF ELEPHANT?
CORPORATE MEDIA: WEAPONS OF MASS DECEPTION
DON’T CONFUSE DYING FOR OIL WITH FIGHTING FOR FREEDOM
STEM CELL RESEARCH IS PRO LIFE
HATE, GREED, IGNORANCE: WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION
HONOR OUR TROOPS – DEMAND THE TRUTH
REBUILD IRAQ? WHY NOT SPEND 87 BILLION ON AMERICA?
THE LAST TIME RELIGION CONTROLLED POLITICS, PEOPLE GOT BURNED AT THE STAKE
HOW ON EARTH CAN 59,411,287 PEOPLE BE SO DUMB?
September 8th, 2006 at 12:59 pm#93 Yikes…Yep, sports helps bind the fabric of this country…even when everything else is goin’ to hell!
Gotta be happy that the NFL is starting up (Although I doubt my Jets are going to do anything this year)….A criticism of the NFL–What is with this new thing about starting the season on Thursday night? It’s terrible…The first day of pro football should be on a Sunday afternoon! The way God intended it!
September 8th, 2006 at 1:01 pmMark #95 Good post….Thank You and I agree……Blessings.Peace
September 8th, 2006 at 1:07 pm#94 Wayne…Yeah, how the f*ck DOES that happen?! That father did a terrible job!
I agree with you that I don’t start REALLY getting into the NFL until baseball season ends and the weather starts getting more autumnal…Especially this year, with the Mets season going sooooo well.
(Looks like this thread is becoming slighly hijacked by us. Others are joining in…But I think that’s fine….There are hundreds of other political threads going on here…I think all of us need to step away from the angry discourse of politics every now and then and concentrate on that which brings us together, rather than divides us…And for now, that is sports!)
September 8th, 2006 at 1:07 pm#96 Exley,
I even felt Monday Night Football was wrong, let alone starting the season on a Thursday. (I even hated it when the Mets opened their season in Japan!) NFL Football should be played on Sundays (and Thanksgiving). I don’t know if I would agree that God intended it that way. Wouldn’t He want you to be in church? :)
I think I better find another topic on this thread to discuss.
September 8th, 2006 at 1:10 pmExley,
I have to confess something to you. It has been my observation that Yankees/Giants fans tend to be conservative while Mets/Jets fans tend to be liberal. (It’s pretty much true with all the ones I know.) You seem to be the rare exception. Logically, I might conclude that either you are not that much of a Mets/Jets fan, or you’re not all that conservative. And since I’m sure you really are a Mets/Jets fan…
September 8th, 2006 at 1:16 pm#100
Wayne, I can’t say that I have picked up that correlation at all….Yankee/Giants fans are primarily elitist Manattan/Westchester/Connecticut based :) …While Mets/Jets fans are more likely to come from Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island and Jersey — homes to the working people !! — cops, firemen, etc.
Good conservative stock!
But rest assured, Wayne, I AM both a Mets/Jets (and Islanders) fan AND a conservative!
September 8th, 2006 at 1:29 pm#84, chimp,
Progs never miss an opportunity to flatter themselves as smarter than everyone else – don’t let me talk you out of that, it is the “quality” that drives middle Americans away from your views.
Bottom line, if you aren’t willing to pledge your allegiance to the flag, then you really don’t believe in democracy, because whenever your party loses, all the sudden it’s not your country. I didn’t stop pledging allegiance when Democrats dominated the congress or Clinton was president without a majority of the popular vote (both times).
Progs are spoiled little smarty pants who just want to have things their way. You should trust the process, Reps did, and now they are rewarded with all the power.
September 8th, 2006 at 1:33 pmYep, that thar is precisely what Jesus was talking about in Mathew 6.
September 8th, 2006 at 1:45 pm
Exley, I’ll be at the Mets game tomorrow–if they show the pitcher from the 3rd base camera, I’ll probably be in the background. Look for long (really long) blond hair (prob. in a ponytail) and glasses, Mets cap. Hope they win!
Sorry, carry on. I have to get back to work.
BTW, my full initials are J.E.T.S!
Carry on!
September 8th, 2006 at 1:48 pmWithout an open and overt recognition of something greater than yourselfs, your actions and endevours will only be self serving.
Comment by Jason M. Hendler
So what’s wrong with believing in Humanity as that “something greater than yourself”? Why does it HAVE to be a deity or a national symbol?
September 8th, 2006 at 1:53 pm#103, Bruce,
The group with whom I stood and pledged allegiance were not doing it for show, but from a sincere respect and humility – they are active volunteers in their community. Your aversion to such admissions of patriotism speaks far more about you than them.
Using bible verses, as with links, is the last refuge of a poor debator.
September 8th, 2006 at 1:54 pmUsing bible verses, as with links, is the last refuge of a poor debator.
Comment by Jason M. Hendler
Do you mean that you feel that providing links to back up what one is saying (i.e. providing proof of one’s claims) is a sign of a “poor debater”?
September 8th, 2006 at 1:59 pm#104
Jane,
Unfortunately, I no longer reside in New York and can’t see all the games..(Believe me, it was tough leaving the Mets and giving up my weekend-season tickets). Hopefully, it will be the Fox Game of the Week tomorrow and I can watch and maybe spot you….Thankfully, they are on ESPN tonight so I can watch them. My Friday night is set!
You have beautiful initials! I hope to one day name my first child Shea…Works for a boy or a girl…
September 8th, 2006 at 2:01 pmI hope to one day name my first child Shea…Works for a boy or a girl…
Comment by Exley
Will the middle name be “Orange” or “Blue”? Or “Stadium”? :)
September 8th, 2006 at 2:05 pmJason M. Hendler
When arguing Christianity (a aspect you brought into the argument by mentioning your faith,) I use the bible. When arguing fact, I will use references. When arguing opinion, I will use opinion.
A unwillingness to use links is tha last refuge of the uninformed jackass.
Oh yeah, and the last Refuge of the scoundrel? Nationalism.
If you need to take an oath every time you get together to remember that you are Americans and this is the sort of thing you should be taking for granted, maybe you guys need to get your memories checked. If you feel you have to repeatedly pray to god the whole time, maybe you need to get a god who is quicker on the uptake. If you have to use these rituals in order to feel like Americans. maybe you need to question what is making you feel like less then an American. This covered more then just your feeling that all religion needs to be public, this also covered your feeling that God particularly likes being harrassed by his worshippers.
So far as you have described your group sounds to be using the pledge of allegiance as a unifying force within the group, rather then a unifying force with all Americans. You have taken what is an oath you should only take once and then honour ever after, and twisted it into something meaningless. Taking an oath should be a significant thing in your life, you have just turned it into a ritual.
September 8th, 2006 at 2:07 pmExley, should I wear one of my Mets t-shirts, or make myself obvious and go with my “Jon Stewart/President ‘08″ so I’m visible?
Shea is a great name!
September 8th, 2006 at 2:08 pmSorry, Exley and Wayne … Orange and Blue = Fighting Illini. Your, ahem, baseball team hasn’t been around long enough to trump U of I sports.
September 8th, 2006 at 2:12 pmJane, The Jon Stewart t-shirt would be a dead giveaway! Maybe you should go with that.
Wayne…The full name will be “Shea Mookie Exley”
Dave…Our .. ahem…FIRST PLACE baseball team will always be known as the Orange and Blue (and sometimes black)
Oh, the butcher and the baker and the people on the streets,
September 8th, 2006 at 2:23 pmwhere did they go? To MEET THE METS!
Oh, they’re hollerin’ and cheerin’ and they’re jumpin’ in their seats,
where did they go? To MEET THE METS!All the fans are true to the orange and blue,so hurry up and come on down -
‘cause we’ve got ourselves a ball club,
The Mets of New York town!
Give ‘em a yell!
Give ‘em a hand!
And let ‘em know your rootin’ in the stand!
I could not agree with Mr. Dave von Ebers more. Go Illini! And has anyone else noticed the Cubs’ colors are red and blue thus symbolizing the joing of liberals and conservatives to form one lovable, if pathetic, baseball team? No? Just me? Oh well, go Illini!
September 8th, 2006 at 2:26 pmExley,
So, are you going to teach your little Shea Mookie Exley to say, “Awrighty, then.”? We went ahead and slurged for big picture of the ball trickling past Buckner’s legs. It’s signed by both Mookie and Buckner. Worth every penny.
September 8th, 2006 at 2:27 pmWayne,
Actually, Little Shea’s first words will be:
“Little roller up along first…Behind the bag!! It gets through Buckner! Here comes Knight and the Mets win it!!”
September 8th, 2006 at 2:34 pm“Progs never miss an opportunity to flatter themselves as smarter than everyone else” – Jason M. Hendler
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA Oh you higher schooled, inventer, great manager and business guru should talk about flattery! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
September 8th, 2006 at 2:40 pmYikes
Read the bit of Mathew I posted. I figure Jesus had Jason down to a T when he was talking about hypocrits.
September 8th, 2006 at 2:52 pmExley,
LOL. Good one. That’s a mouthful, though. Wouldn’t it simpler start small with a simple, “Let’s Go Mets! (Yankees Suck!)”?
September 8th, 2006 at 3:01 pmPeople like Jason Hendler really value the pledge of allegiance. They like to pledge allegiance to the flag, and then wrap themselves in it while they knock down what the flag stands for. They will do what they can to undermine the constitution because it generally does not fit their ideology, and while kicking holes in the constitution they regularly impugn anyone who tries to defend it. Or they try to rationalize their destruction…times have changed…you just don’t understand the world we live in…what good are civil liberties when you are dead? Etc, etc… Heck in a recent SC case didn’t Thomas, Scalia or both actually write a dissent not based in law, but which made an argument that the world we live in has changed and the president needs to trample this or that right? If the laws and ideals of our nation are not worth fighting for, then any enemy who has ever fought against us has won. Simply dumping the laws based on some scary argument is not good enough for me.
One last thing. Wednesday’s announcement by the president brought scarcely a whimper from either side about 1) how he lied that we did not have illegal secret prisons 2) that the WaPo was correct when they said we had the illegal secret prisons. When the president is looking for new ways to try these people, to me what I see is that he is looking for ways to keep them in prison and justify it to himself that they had a trial. My question is what is wrong with simply trying them within the American court system? Some might say that the juries should not be trusted with these types, but what if, just maybe, possibly there is the slightest chance that one or more might be innocent? Heck the way Bush opperates even if they were found innocent there is noguarantee that they would ever be let go.
September 8th, 2006 at 3:02 pm#119 Wayne…
You might be right…I don’t want to put to much pressure on the little guy (or gal)…Okay, “Let’s go Mets!” will do!
September 8th, 2006 at 3:05 pmOxillini – listening to Wayne and Exley go on about the Mets reminds me of that old “New Yorker” magazine cover, the one that had the drawing of the New Yorker’s view of the world. Most of the foreground is Manhattan, then a little brown strip representing New Jersey, then, a short distance off, another strip representing California. With essentially nothing in between.
Sigh.
As my sainted mother would say, ’twas ever thus.
September 8th, 2006 at 3:16 pmOh, a-and Exley, my friend (no sarcasm intended), by “always,” I presume you mean “since the 1960’s.” As opposed to my Illini, who have been Orange and Blue since … I don’t know, before the turn of the 20th century?
Can’t you refer to the Mets as the, um, Blue and Orange or something?
September 8th, 2006 at 3:18 pm#122,
Dave, That couldn’t be further from the truth! As a conservative I love Middle America and the Red States…I just happen to be from New York and a huge Mets/Jets fan…
If it makes you feel any better…My favorite hockey team (after the Islanders) are the Chicago Blackhawks….
September 8th, 2006 at 3:20 pm“Little roller up along first…Behind the bag!! It gets through Buckner! Here comes Knight and the Mets win it!!â€
Comment by Exley — September 8, 2006 @ 2:34 pm
Thank God for 2004, or right about now I’d be lighting myself on fire with all the Mets talk going on. :D
September 8th, 2006 at 3:20 pm#122 Dave von Ebers,
As we say in New York, “Your point being?”
September 8th, 2006 at 3:20 pm#123…Dave,
Are the Illini ACTUALLY known as the “The Orange and Blue?” I did not know that….Okay….Well, the Illini is college and the Mets are professional. Can’t they BOTH be The Orange and Blue?
Trivia for Wayne and Jane: Forgive me if this is so well-known to you that I am insulting you by asking:
Why are the Mets colors blue and orange???? (No Googling!)
September 8th, 2006 at 3:23 pm#125…Well, Bluefish, look at it this way…All we Mets fans have to hang our cap on is a 20 year old world championship….As my Yankee fan friends say, “Oh God! Will you guys let it go already! It was 20 years ago! I am so sick of hearing about Game 6!”
September 8th, 2006 at 3:26 pm#127 Exley,
Neither of us would need to Google the answer. The Orange is from the New York Giants and the Blue is from the Brooklyn Dodgers. William Shea was so instrumental in bringing National League Baseball back to NYC that they named Shea Stadium for him.
And no, I wasn’t insulted.
September 8th, 2006 at 3:30 pmWayne #129
Well done, Wayne…I should have known better than to ask you. Of course, you’d know..I apologize for even asking….By the way, how do you and Jane feel about the new stadium? I am of two minds…Sure, Shea is a dump…But it’s OUR dump! I’ll miss it…
Perosnally, I hope they keep the name Shea Stadium for the new ballpark.
September 8th, 2006 at 3:37 pmExley #130,
I know how you feel about Shea. It is a dump, and it is our dump, but a new stadium would be so nice. Especially one with a retractable roof. I would like to see them name it after Lindsey Nelson (who, in addition to being a snappy dresser, called our other championship in 1969.) Otherwise they can keep the name Shea. Whatever they do, I don’t know if I even want to set foot in it if they sell the naming rights to some corporation. The point of naming these places after people is to honor them for what they’ve done. Selling the name to a corporation that wants to advertise itself just sends a big f-u to the people who love the sport and want to see it thrive.
Remember, my friend, people matter more than corporations.
September 8th, 2006 at 3:50 pmWell, I certainly refer to the Illini as the Orange and Blue (never the Blue and Orange). I’ve been around UVA fans and never heard them say it. UVA significantly predates the University of Illinois so they would have first right to it, but they don’t use it. The U of I predates Syracuse, but they call themselves the Orange anyway.
September 8th, 2006 at 3:51 pm#131….Wayne, We again agree…I hate, hate, HATE corporation names on ballparks!
Gotta love Linday Nelson’s jackets!
September 8th, 2006 at 4:00 pm#102
Bottom line, if you aren’t willing to pledge your allegiance to the flag, then you really don’t believe in democracy
Jason,
If you don’t care enough about your country to sign up and serve to defend it, then I don’t care if you have the Pledge of Allegiance tattooed over your entire body. Serving your country really means a lot more than reciting words. And, since most of the people in the White House couldn’t be bothered with serving their country, they obviously don’t give a rat’s ass about democracy.
Progs are spoiled little smarty pants who just want to have things their way.
Have you ever heard of a guy named George W. Bush? How about Karl Rove? I don’t know how you can ever hope to pick the mote out of my eye when you’ve got that log jammed into your own.
September 8th, 2006 at 4:04 pmHey all,
Maybe its my own neurotrasmitter imbalance, but I’m feeling some pretty positive energy today, can you feel it?
Exley,
September 8th, 2006 at 4:15 pmNot particularly a Red Sox Fan, I am in Arizona, I have to go with the Diamondbacks (yuk), and the Cardinals (double yuk), but hey I enjoyed the NFL opener last night, some real footbal there.
#133 Exley, that’s good to hear. Some day you and I are going to have to figure out why we each think the other is so misguided. My own suspicion is that deep down, there’s a fundamental difference in our opinions on what role government should have in our lives and what responsibility people have to their government. Or it may have to do with what we each view “The American Way of Life” to be. Sometimes, when I hear people talk about preserving the American way of life, I wonder which decade in American history they want to preserve. Not that I recall you saying anything to suggest that you thought the ’50s were great or anything, but that sounds like the decade of choice for social or religious conservatives.
September 8th, 2006 at 4:19 pmI like how they protected whoever objected to it by not having a recorded vote. What a wonderful way to show how much you care about how the people’s money is spent. Those duplicitous bastards.
September 8th, 2006 at 4:31 pmWayne, Your concern about how the federal government spends (read” ‘wastes”) our money is commendable….Make you sound like — Dare I say it — a conservative????
September 8th, 2006 at 4:39 pmThis isn’t fair, I’ve been working all afternoon and haven’t been able to join in this Mets trivia thread! And Exley, Wayne was right, neither of us needed to Google THAT question. (I just tested a Yankee fan on that question–no clue.) Happily, the Mets’ colors more or less coincide with New York State’s official colors of blue and gold.
September 8th, 2006 at 4:44 pm139 Jane, As I said with Wayne, I apologize for even asking that question…Obviously, hardcore and devoted fans like yourselves would know the answer that question off the top of your heards!
September 8th, 2006 at 4:51 pm#138 Thank you, Exley,
But guess what? We probably disagree on what we would consider a “waste” of money. For just one example, I think that estate taxes, which generally tax unearned income that was never taxed while the person was alive is perfectly fair. Until I learned that the money was often never taxed at all, I thought of estate taxes as being the equivalent of robbing a dead man’s pockets. Then I realized that it’s more like going to his wallet and taking that $200 out that he owed you and never paid you while he was alive.
I also feel that while some programs may not have been well run, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the idea for the programs was a bad one.
I also strongly oppose no-bid, cost-plus contracts for anything, not just defense contractors. I like this legislation because the libertarian side of me wants to see our government be accountable for what it does to/for us.
September 8th, 2006 at 4:51 pmSo, if John Bolton’s nomination is “dead”, does he still get to serve as U.N. “ambassador”? (I have to put that in quotes, he’s no more an ambassador than I am Miss America.)
Exley, nice to hear that you remember Lindsay Nelson’s jackets so fondly. The color TVs in those days made them more glaring than they really were, I hope!
September 8th, 2006 at 4:52 pm#142….Oh, sure Jane…Lindsey’s jackets were legendary. I remember one from the mid-70s he would wear that had a pattern that matched the wallpapers in my parents’ bathroom exactly!
#141…Wayne, I don’t know enough about the estate tax to have any real opinion on it. It was my impression, however, that it was money that had already been taxed at the time of its original acquisition, meaning that when an estate tax was later imposed, it amounted to the same money being taxed twice. But like I said, I am hardly an expert.
While I generally favor the idea of lower taxes over higher taxes, the tax issue and economics, while important, are not what drives my politics or ideology.
September 8th, 2006 at 5:02 pmGood post’s Wayne, Jane and Exley,,,I also think the estate tax or death tax as the rep’s like to refere to it is a just tax for the same reason.
On hijacking the thread, I could care less, it is the some what open one and most of us have done the same thing at one time or other, sometimes often late at night when there wasen’t much traffic..Enjoy
On football, I’m a Denver Broncos fan…Win or loose I love em…John Elway was the best in the past, looking forward to see who our newest and best are going to be….Blessing’s all, have a great week end….Peace, for the children of the world.
September 8th, 2006 at 5:15 pmThanks, Sharon Cox. Peace to you and yours, too. I’m sure we’ll be glad to discuss anything that anyone else wishes to discuss. So far, this seems like one of the few non-9/11 threads going today. Not that there’s really anything wrong with that. Too many people have been slapped down for bringing up 9/11. I say let them have their say and we’ll see what happens if and when ABC airs that imaginary tale they call “The Path to 9/11″.
September 8th, 2006 at 5:21 pmThere is something really ugly going on with the internet these past few days. While everyone is up in arms over the new Disney film, certain news articles are being quietly purged.
These articles have to do with Bush’s admission that the US has and is maintaining secret prisons, Bush’s proposed military commissions and exempting the US from certain provisions of the Geneva Convention, and, most recently, the Phase II report from the Senate Intelligence Committee.
Earlier this morning, I posted part of an article and a link describing how the committee has tabled, perhaps indefinitely, looking into the central question raised by the Downing Street Memos. Not only is my post gone, but so too is the original article, and subsequent articles are silent on the point. The only hint I could now find is this obscure quote, “The committee is still considering three other issues as part of its Phase II analysis, including statements of policymakers in the run up to the war.”
I believe the internet is being censored.
To my friends here, thank you. I will be watching, and I will help as I am able. But I am getting a very bad feeling about all of this.
Peace and Blessings.
September 8th, 2006 at 5:24 pmThanks, Sharon! Peace to you, too!
Exley, two last sports notes and then I have to leave. One of the last times my dad was up and aware before he died (of heartbreak, we believe, since my mum had died less than 3 weeks earlier), he and I were watching a Jets game, with him wrapped up in his JETS blanket (unfortunately, they were sucking and losing.) When dad died a few weeks later, my brother decided to bury him with his JETS blanket–we tucked it far enough into the casket so that no one else could see it, but we knew it was there!
Second: When my sister-in-law (Wayne’s sister is married to my brother–yeah, it’s legal in NY ;-) ) was pregnant with our neice, the unborn bundle of joy got nicknamed Mookie. So I’m happy to hear of your planned name for your future daughter/son!
Okay, I have to get out of here. Everyone have a good weekend!
September 8th, 2006 at 5:34 pmBriseadh,
I understand your point. This site has been concentrating rather heavily on the ABC movie, almost to the exclusion of all else. As i said before, I’m sure that will end after the movie passes.
Stay in touch. Some of us enjoy your thoughtful posts. Please don’t remain a stranger. Help keep us educated and informed. You, especially, know how much we value the truth, and we’ll take it wherever we can find it.
September 8th, 2006 at 5:38 pmExley,
One last thing before I go, too. To add to the story about our niece, I was watching a Mets game with my stepmother and Mookie came up to bat (this was 1984). I knew my father and she didn’t have any idea who Mookie Wilson was, and I knew my father was, shall we say, not a fan of black people, so I was waiting for her to say something when she saw him. She stared at him for about a minute and then went, “THAT’S Mookie Wilson???” I nodded and she said, “Don’t ever tell your father.”
I’m not like them.
Have a great weekend. Go Mets! Go Jets! Go New York!
September 8th, 2006 at 5:46 pm#147 Jane…I am very sorry about the loss of your parents. But you and your brother did the right thing. I am sure your father appreciates it.
Okay, boys and girls, it is time to grab some cocktails. Jane, enjoy the day at Shea tomorrow. Hopefully, I’ll be able to check out the game.
Wayne, Dave, et al, have a great weekend.
Let’s Go Mets!
September 8th, 2006 at 5:53 pmLet’s Go Illini!
BnF, I hope you read old post’s so you will get this…..I am terribly sad that you are leaving but now that you have gone into detail and posted thing’s I did not know, I do understand…….We wrote of these thing’s when I thought I was banned, remember.?
The past couple of day’s have bizarro land on this site and it has gotten almost impossible for me to post at all..Then all day yesterday there were bleed in’s of other posters names and emails I had to delete before I could post….I bailed after 2 thinking if it was happening to me someone else not so considerate might either flood my email account or use my name in bad post’s again. That was pointed out to me several month’s ago by Jay Randall..
If it continues through tomorrow I will probably dump the site as well..It may have become infected, that would be why my computer is acting so very slow while on this site and the fact I have to return to the front page and re scan to the diffrent threads…Even the refresh doesen’t work now on this site…All very interesting..I send you blessings..together in Peace
They never did respond to my requests through emails after I asked why I was banned for over a week…Interesting…
September 8th, 2006 at 5:55 pmExley,
Okay, I forgot the rest of that story because I hadn’t thought about it for a while. The day finally came when my father was sitting down watching the Mets game with me and Mookie came to bat. I watched him (my father) closely as his eyes squinted a bit and a confused look started to come over his face. He started to say, “Um, is that, um, is that…” and I said, “Yes, Dad, it’s Mookie Wilson.” He just rolled his eyes and shook his head. To be honest, I enjoyed his discomfort. I just wish my sister could have enjoyed it with me.
Now you can all go have a great weekend!
September 8th, 2006 at 5:55 pmPeace and Blessings.
Comment by Briseadh na Faire
You will be missed, Briseadh na Faire.
I hope someday you will reconsider.
Peace…
September 8th, 2006 at 8:52 pmExley, Wayne, Oxillini – sorry I logged off so soon. Exley, I will (begrudgingly) agree that you can call the Mets the Orange and Blue (mighty gracious, ain’t I?)… but, you have to realize I’m a Cubs fan too (no hissing!) – so, it’s not easy for me to be nice about the Mets.
Anyway, since neither Exley nor Wayne said anything about rooting for Michigan (ya know, the “Maize” and Blue – they’re too hoity-toity to say “Yellow” or “Gold”), and since the Cubs were mathematically eliminated in, I don’t know, February? – I suppose we Illini fans can share the colors.
Plus, being a ‘Hawks fan – and no I don’t mean the basketball team; I mean one of the original 6, and the team with the best uniform in all sports, hands down – makes Exley alright in my book.
But let me point out one thing to any Red Sox fans out there … for the last damn time, BILL BUCKNER DID NOT CAUSE THE RED SOX TO LOSE THE ‘86 WORLD SERIES!!! So, get over it already.
We now return to our regularly scheduled programming …
September 8th, 2006 at 9:36 pm#154,…Dave,
Thank you. I appeciate you (begrudingly-given) permission. Look, I was not the one who dubbed the Mets “The Orange and Blue.” I didn’t write the lyrics of “Meet the Mets” in 1962….(I wasn’t even born!)
As for Michigan…GO WOLVERINES! They (along with Notre Dame) are and have always been my favorite college football teams! (I am torn about for whom to root next Saturday…)
And you are right…Red Sox fans, you have to get over it. Buckner did not cost the Red Sox the World Series…1) The Mets had already overcome a two-out, two-run deficit by the time the ball get by Buckner; 2) Even if Buckner had fielded the ball cleanly, there was no way he was going to beat the speedy Mookie Wilson to the bag.
Wayne…Great story.
September 8th, 2006 at 11:18 pm#154…Dave: “the team with the best uniform in all sports, hands down”…
Couldn’t agree more…The red jersey is perfection (I own one). I like the white one too…
But I must admit, I am not a fan of the black alternate jersey. I am a traditionalist (I guess that’s part of my conservatism :) ) … And the red “sweater” is just the best uniform in sports. Whenever the Blackhawks come to town, I put my red jersey and head to the arena.
September 9th, 2006 at 1:22 amOk enough is enough with the phoney 911 story theres much much more interestiing topic around..are you being paid to do this ?????
September 9th, 2006 at 9:25 amIt is amazing what results when a group openly displays their Christianity with a prayer and their patriotism with a pledge of allegiance to their country’s flag.
It seems to be resulting in the support for illegal wars that kill children, rape women, and send dedicated soldiers home in coffins. You would consider that amazing…
Without an open and overt recognition of something greater than yourselfs, your actions and endevours will only be self serving.
Comment by Jason M. Hendler — September 8, 2006 @ 10:27 am
Nonsense. The most self-serving people I meet used that flag, Bible and self-righteousness as excuses for their egocentricity. The most community focused people I meet don’t need a flag, a Bible or a holier-than-thou anything. Not surprising to me that you don’t get that.
September 9th, 2006 at 10:33 amBruce Gorton – you are my hero :). Well said!
Jason is a typical hypocritical scaredy cat who puts others down to feel better about his humongous man boobs and tiny little manhood…
There’s nothing Christian about him. Not one thing.
September 9th, 2006 at 10:38 amExley, re No. 155, 156 … I forgot to mention that the Chicago Bears also wear Orange and Blue, but a much darker shade of blue than my Illini (who lost today, 33-0 at Rutgers. Please tell me Rutgers is an up-and-coming program …) Anyway, the Bears-Illini connection is actually quite strong – First and foremost, Harold “Red” Grange played for both (he’s also the guy that scored 6 touchdowns against … wait for it … University of Michigan); George Halas was, I believe, an Illini; and, for course, the team colors. (Though I should point out that my high school, home of legendary Illini Coach Bob Zupke, shares the same colors AND the same fight song as Illinois!)
As an Illini fan, I am duty bound to hate Michigan with all my heart and soul. Sorry, there’s no two ways about it. As for Notre Dame, sorry, but this half-Irish native Chicagoan doesn’t like ND either (blasphemy, I know). ND gets way too much publicity in Chicago, while my beloved Illini are largely ignored until they make it to a major bowl game. (To be fair, the Illini basketball team gets quite a bit of attention and respect in Chicago, but if they start having losing seasons we can kiss that good-bye, too!)
And, your absolutely right – when I said the ‘Hawks had the best uniform, I was, of course, referring to the red sweater. And I have one, too.
Okay, sorry for going off on a Chicago/Illini sports tangent. I promise I’ll never do it again.
September 9th, 2006 at 9:42 pm#160…Dave…No apologies necessary. I enjoyed reading it.
BTW, Chicaho Bears = BEST uniform in the NFL.
Chicago Blackhawks = BEST uniform in the NHL
Detroit Tigers (homes) = BEST uniform in MLB
NBA = who cares?
September 10th, 2006 at 2:43 pmExley, I’d largely agree.
The problem with NBA uniforms, seems to me, is that they change them all the time, and they keep trying to “update” them with new colors, etc. It’s just a fashion show…
And, what’s the deal with all those NBA players wearing tights last season? It’s not that there’s anything wrong with guys wearing tights if it floats their boat, but they looked freakin’ ridiculous.
I’m just sayin’ …
September 10th, 2006 at 4:52 pmJane,
The car is on the lift. They haven’t given me the diagnosis/estimate yet. If you can find a thread to do this that’s not fifteen pages into it, it might be easier. Let me know where to respond to your next message. I’ll look here for your first reply.
September 15th, 2006 at 9:47 amJane,
About $1000 and “four or five hours”. I will stop at Building B to get the laptop and check TP later.
Water pump went, and it needs new transmission fluid and coolant and other related things. I’m going back to today’s ThinkFast. I’ve gotta find a troll to take it out on.
September 15th, 2006 at 10:09 amSorry, this is the first chance I’ve had to check for your message–sorry about the car. I’ll look for you on today’s ThinkFast. Have fun knocking down trolls!
September 15th, 2006 at 10:33 amJane,
I discovered a quicker way to get to this thread. At the bottom of each item there is a “Filed Under” link. Click the one at the bottom of today’s ThinkFast and you’ll get back just the ThinkFast threads. From there it’s just a matter of scrolling down to this one. This trick works, BTW, for any topic where you can remember where it was “Filed Under”. I’ll let you know here when I’m leaving.
September 15th, 2006 at 11:15 am