ThinkFast: January 9, 2008
President Bush “had a powerful effect” on New Hampshire’s Republican primary. Roughly half of GOP voters “had a negative opinion of the Bush administration, and those voters significantly went for Arizona Sen. John McCain by nearly a 2-to-1 margin.” Of those with a “positive opinion of the administration,” 37 percent voted for Mitt Romney.
There was record turnout in yesterday’s New Hampshire primaries. “With ballots from 12 percent of voting precincts still to be counted, about 453,000 residents had cast votes, breaking the previous primary turnout record of 396,385 ballots cast in 2000.”
President Bush chastised the “provocative” acts of a few Iranian high-speed boats that confronted U.S. warships in the Persian Gulf. According to a video released by the Pentagon, the Iranian boats swarmed around the American ships, and a man speaking heavily-accented English threatened, “I am coming to you. … You will explode after…minutes.”
With just “two members and unable to muster a quorum,” the Federal Elections Commission “has decided to offer advice instead of binding decisions on questions from political campaigns.” The four vacancies are a result of President Bush’s refusal to withdraw the nomination of Hans A. von Spakovsky, despite strong opposition from Congress.
As President Bush arrives in Israel today “to start a tour of six Middle Eastern countries,” he “has yet to fulfill a key diplomatic promise to name an envoy to the Organization of the Islamic Conference, a promise he made seven months ago.” In a June speech at the Islamic Center of Washington, Bush pledged to name an envoy to the grouping of 57 Muslim states.
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington filed an ethics complaint against Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) with federal prosecutors yesterday, accusing her of violating federal bribery law by obtaining a $2 million earmark for Voyager Expanded Learning just days after receiving $30,000 in campaign contributions from company executives and their relatives.
In a new court filing, lawyers for Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID) argue “that the underlying act” of his airport bathroom arrest “wasn’t criminal because it didn’t involve multiple victims.” Craig’s lawyers also claim that hand signals should be considered “constitutionally protected speech.”
“Faced with recession fears, the White House is considering tax rebates for individuals to encourage spending and tax breaks for businesses to encourage investment, according to people familiar with the matter.”
And finally: Gloria Squitiro, wife of recently elected Kansas City, MO, mayor Mark Funkhouser, recently sent out a holiday letter to her friends and family. But instead of talking about her kids or job, she talked about Funkhouser’s prostate exam, which was “the highlight of his year.” She also said that watching it was her “biggest joy.” “I waited in gleeful anticipation,” she wrote, noting “the doctor’s sausage-sized fingers.” Ever since someone leaked Squitiro’s letter, it’s been the “talk of the town.”
What did we miss? Let us know in the comments section.
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Let’s see, our navy is just off Iran’s coast and they are provoking us?
FACT: Iran’s navy is not cruising around just off OUR coast. Americans would consider THAT as provocative.
January 9th, 2008 at 9:03 amIn a new court filing, lawyers for Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID) argue “that the underlying act†of his airport bathroom arrest “wasn’t criminal because it didn’t involve multiple victims.†Craig’s lawyers also claim that hand signals should be considered “constitutionally protected speech.â€
Not so, Senator — The thought of you tapping away in the stall made my brain hurt badly. And there are 300 million in this country.
January 9th, 2008 at 9:06 am“President Bush “had a powerful effect†on New Hampshire’s Republican primary. Roughly half of GOP voters “had a negative opinion of the Bush administration, and those voters significantly went for Arizona Sen. John McCain by nearly a 2-to-1 margin.†Of those with a “positive opinion of the administration,†37 percent voted for Mitt Romney.”
GOP voters in NH are morons - McCain may as well BE Bush. His policies/attitudes are the same: war and fear.
January 9th, 2008 at 9:08 am#3…McCain–the gelded maverick. He still has balls, but they are in a jar on Bush’s desk. It is well known that Republicans can hold contradictory notions about their leadership–look at the last 7 years.
January 9th, 2008 at 9:14 amIn a new court filing, lawyers for Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID) argue “that the underlying act†of his airport bathroom arrest “wasn’t criminal because it didn’t involve multiple victims.â€
So, how many of Sen. Craig’s bathroom antics have involved groups? This guy is a sicko, trying to use legal maneuvers to remove his guilt.
January 9th, 2008 at 9:16 amPresident Bush “had a powerful effect†on New Hampshire’s Republican primary.
Indeed. However, that ‘powerful effect’ wasn’t a positive effect. While Americans are paying for Bush to travel around the Mideast pounding the Iran war drum again, voters are showing they’re ready for a change.
Today Bush will be briefed on Israeli Iranian intelligence. Any chance that report will look different than the NIE report?
Bet on it.
January 9th, 2008 at 9:20 amIn a new court filing, lawyers for Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID) argue “that the underlying act†of his airport bathroom arrest “wasn’t criminal because it didn’t involve multiple victims.â€
So Craig is saying that:
1. he is only interested in one-on-one gay sex — not group gay sex or
2. he’s not a serial gay sex solicitor?
What a silly defense. I think he needs a new lawyer.
January 9th, 2008 at 9:22 amPresident Bush “had a powerful effect†on New Hampshire’s Republican primary. Roughly half of GOP voters “had a negative opinion of the Bush administration, and those voters significantly went for Arizona Sen. John McCain by nearly a 2-to-1 margin.â€
Ok, this doesn’t make sense. McCain has become Bush’s poodle and the people who don’t like Bush voted for him anyway? If I live to be 100 I will never understand the Republiscum mindset.
January 9th, 2008 at 9:23 amCongradulations to Hillary Clinton for winning a rigged primary last night! Must have been tough on her…
January 9th, 2008 at 9:24 amSo now a crime isn’t a crime unless it involves multiple victims? Wow — this means I can go commit a crime and if I only victimize one person, it’s OK?
I wonder if this is the same defense used by the workers at Halliburton/KBR.
January 9th, 2008 at 9:28 amThere was record turnout in yesterday’s New Hampshire primaries. “With ballots from 12 percent of voting precincts still to be counted, about 453,000 residents had cast votes….
And as it was in Iowa, the numbers don’t look good for Republicans. A rough count I took shows that there were something like 300,000+ Democratic votes vs 200,000 Republican votes. With numbers like that, the Democrats will have to try hard to lose the Presidency for the Republicans to win.
January 9th, 2008 at 9:29 am#9…must everything be a conspiracy? I’m no Hiillary supporter, but she won legitimately–many independents opted to vote for McCain in the Republican primary and not go to the Democratic candidates because they didn’t want Romney. Hillary managed to hold her base in the state. Remember, she used to be leading in the polls there for months.
January 9th, 2008 at 9:29 amWith just “two members and unable to muster a quorum,†the Federal Elections Commission “has decided to offer advice instead of binding decisions on questions from political campaigns.†The four vacancies are a result of President Bush’s refusal to withdraw the nomination of Hans A. von Spakovsky, despite strong opposition from Congress.
Bush is trying and in some cases succeeding in breaking our government. And that is his intent.
January 9th, 2008 at 9:30 amBut instead of talking about her kids or job, she talked about Funkhouser’s prostate exam, which was “the highlight of his year.†She also said that watching it was her “biggest joy.†“I waited in gleeful anticipation,†she wrote, noting “the doctor’s sausage-sized fingers.â€
——————————————-
oooooooooooooooo….kaaaaaayyyyy…
You know, I never thought about prostate exams as entertainment for spectators, but each to her own, I guess.
January 9th, 2008 at 9:31 amoooooooooooooooo….kaaaaaayyyyy…
You know, I never thought about prostate exams as entertainment for spectators, but each to her own, I guess.
Comment by missmolly — January 9, 2008 @ 9:31 am
She must really hate the guy.
January 9th, 2008 at 9:32 am“wasn’t criminal because it didn’t involve multiple victims.†Craig’s lawyers also claim that hand signals should be considered “constitutionally protected speech.â€
Sheesh, talk about a stretch. Since when do there need to be multiple victims for a crime to be committed. And the hand signal as protected speech is too stupid to even comment on.
Larry Craig just doesn’t know when to leave well enough alone.
January 9th, 2008 at 9:33 ammissmolly, clearly you’ve never watched a prostate exam.
Talk about exciting!
January 9th, 2008 at 9:33 ammissmolly, clearly you’ve never watched a prostate exam.
Talk about exciting!
Comment by Wilco — January 9, 2008 @ 9:33 am
Have there been any on pay-per-view yet?
January 9th, 2008 at 9:35 amComment by missmolly
No, but I’ll take your comment as interest in such! You should contact your local cable provider and demand more prostate-related programs for your viewing pleasure.
January 9th, 2008 at 9:37 amAnd about Craig, why is it a crime to hit on someone in a bathroom, anyway?
January 9th, 2008 at 9:38 am“Faced with recession fears, the White House is considering tax rebates for individuals to encourage spending and tax breaks for businesses to encourage investment, according to people familiar with the matter.â€
Yes, tax breaks for business. It’s not like they don’t already have enough tax breaks. How about making them pay their fair share of taxes before giving them any further tax breaks?
January 9th, 2008 at 9:38 amCongradulations to Hillary Clinton for winning a rigged primary last night! Must have been tough on her…
Comment by whiteyfresh
Do you care to educate us on how the primary was rigged or is this just your way of working out your frustration that Hillary won?
January 9th, 2008 at 9:41 amI’m no Hiillary supporter, but she won legitimately–many independents opted to vote for McCain in the Republican primary and not go to the Democratic candidates because they didn’t want Romney.
It also could be that many independent voters who lean Republican voted for Hillary because they think she is the easiest Democratic candidate to beat, all because her last name is “Clinton”.
January 9th, 2008 at 9:47 amAfter two presidential elections where questionable tactics on the part of the Republican Party were employed to suppress voters, and using dubvious electronic voting machines built by a Republican own company, we’re going into the next presidential election without any oversight at all.
Does anybody doubt that the Republican Party will be able to keep the Whitehouse and regain a majority in both houses of Congress? It will be interesting to watch if Corporate Media starts to show the polls narrowing to “to close to call” just before the election.
January 9th, 2008 at 9:47 amAnd about Craig, why is it a crime to hit on someone in a bathroom, anyway?
Comment by Wilco
Oh, I don’t know. Do you want some guy hitting on your teenage son in a bathroom?
January 9th, 2008 at 9:49 amAnd about Craig, why is it a crime to hit on someone in a bathroom, anyway?
Comment by Wilco — January 9, 2008 @ 9:38 am
As I understand it, the problem that particular airport faced was sex in bathrooms. The bust was just part of an effort to put a stop to it.
January 9th, 2008 at 9:50 ambilbo, that’s not what he did.
January 9th, 2008 at 9:51 amThat’s not what he was charged with, either.
If he weren’t in a bathroom, would he have been charged?
Frosty, I understand that. And they have the right to kick someone out for that. But making it a crime to hit on someone in a bathroom just seems unamerican. And unfair.
January 9th, 2008 at 9:52 amIt also could be that many independent voters who lean Republican voted for Hillary because they think she is the easiest Democratic candidate to beat, all because her last name is “Clintonâ€.
Comment by bilbobaggins — January 9, 2008 @ 9:47 am
I agree. It’s why we’ve gt to stop pandering to these two states, with their open primaries. I’m sick and tired of tiny Iowa and NH allowing Republicans to help decide who I’ll be voting for later.
January 9th, 2008 at 9:52 amWilco:
I know, but how else curb the problem in that particular place? It does seem unfair, and seems to single out gay men, but according to news reports it is a legitimate problem.
(I can’t believe I’m referencing “news reports”.)
January 9th, 2008 at 9:55 amI saw the video on Iranian naval agression , really scary stuff . 2 or 3 tiny motorboats harrassing the US navy , kinda like re enacting midway in the bathtub .
January 9th, 2008 at 9:57 amOk, this doesn’t make sense. McCain has become Bush’s poodle and the people who don’t like Bush voted for him anyway? If I live to be 100 I will never understand the Republiscum mindset.
Comment by bilbobaggins — January 9, 2008 @ 9:23 am
OK, but pretend you’re a New Hampshire Republican for a moment (it’s a stretch, but give it a try). If you were faced with the Republican ballot of names, who would you find who HASN’T obediently parroted the Bushco line for the past seven years? Except for loony Ron Paul?
It’s true that McCain differs from Bush only on the issue of torture, but that hasn’t stopped him from greenlighting Bush’s torture-loving appointees. Maybe the NH voters like him for his past military record? The fact that he hasn’t wildly flip-flopped his traditional stances to appeal to a national base (like Rudy, Huckabee, and Romney have)?
You’re right — understanding the GOP mindset can be difficult. Perhaps one of the Republicans here can enlighten us.
January 9th, 2008 at 9:58 amWinning of either party candidates, McCain or Hillary will means we will be in the Middle East for years to come involved in wars for Israel.
She speaks in two tongues when it comes to Iraq/Iran/and wars in the Middle east..
she calims to be the one to end the war in Iraq..but she wants Bush to start another one with Iran..
McCain has no problem fighting ’till the end of time.
America will see no change by voting either one as a president. They will keep scaring you…just like Hillary did a day before the vote…that terrorist s are coming to get you…and you need a leader like me…
McCain is no different than Hillary…
January 9th, 2008 at 10:04 amThey are the establishment candidates…
Nothing will change…
Nothing
And if Hillary wins another 4 years until 2012…that means the presidency of United States has been under the Bush and Clinton families for 24 years since 1988.
“President Bush “had a powerful effect—
This is like saying “the flaming bag of poo I left on my neighbor’s stoop had a powerful effect …”
My response: “of course it did.”
January 9th, 2008 at 10:04 amWait! I thought Craig’s ‘toe-tapping’ wasn’t conveying a message but merely a bi-product [; )]his ‘wide stance’. Now it is protected speech????
January 9th, 2008 at 10:05 amFrosty, the “problem” is illegal. Sex in a public place is not okay. Drunk driving is far more dangerous and rampant, yet no one suggest we get rid of cars.
January 9th, 2008 at 10:08 amAnd if a middle finger is ok to convey “f*%$ you!” then why shouldn’t some other hand sign be ok to convey “f*%$ you?” ?
I saw the video on Iranian naval agression , really scary stuff . 2 or 3 tiny motorboats harrassing the US navy , kinda like re enacting midway in the bathtub .
Comment by freeman — January 9, 2008 @ 9:57 am
And the Iranians are saying the video was bogus.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/ 1/ hi/ world/ middle_east/ 7178878.stm
My guess is the Iranians are lying, and that anyone in the Navy who remembers the USS Cole would be very vigilent if they saw this behavior. But even so, you can be damn sure that it is exactly this sort of provocation that Big Dick (who I presume is acting President with Chimpy on Rapture-watch?) dreams of.
January 9th, 2008 at 10:15 amDumb_Fox, we’re there to intimidate the Iranians. It’s why we’re in international waters and not Iraqi waters.
January 9th, 2008 at 10:20 amCraig’s lawyers also claim that hand signals should be considered “constitutionally protected speech.â€
Here’s one finger signal that may or may not be considered constitutionally protected speech,
__
January 9th, 2008 at 10:21 am| |
| |
_ _ | | _
/ \/ \| |/ \ (thumb not included)
Wow, that didn’t work at all. Crap. Well, Larry and your lawyers, up yours.
January 9th, 2008 at 10:22 amhas yet to fulfill a key diplomatic promise to name an envoy to the Organization of the Islamic Conference
Part of Leadership is the mundane task of organization so that things get done on time.
I would personally think that having an envoy to a political confab of the Islam nations would be a biggie!
January 9th, 2008 at 10:27 amSo according to Craig, a ransom note and a note to the bank teller telling them to put unmarked bills into a paper bag are also free speech issues ?
However, I am glad to see that Craig has shifted his position (ugh! bad picture) so that what consenting adults do in private is none of the law’s business.
January 9th, 2008 at 10:28 amFrosty, the “problem†is illegal. Sex in a public place is not okay. Drunk driving is far more dangerous and rampant, yet no one suggest we get rid of cars.
And if a middle finger is ok to convey “f*%$ you!†then why shouldn’t some other hand sign be ok to convey “f*%$ you?†?
Comment by Wilco — January 9, 2008 @ 10:08 am
I think we have all gotten a lot of hoohah over Craig’s obvious bathroom peccadilloes (and the associated hyprocrisy), but I’m still unclear about what is illegal activity and what isn’t.
Did any actual sex, or any actual lewd behavior take place? Did any money change hands with a clear implication that it was payment for a sex act? Those are clearly illegal.
But I have a difficult time believing that toe-tapping, briefcase positioning, looking at the bottom of stall doors to check for feet, and hand signals are in and of themselves illegal. I would think that to make a charge of sex solicitation stick, one would have to wait until somebody unzips and prepares to mount.
I’m not excusing Craig — he pled guilty to the offense, something innocent people rarely do. His hypocrisy offends me. And I believe that had he not been stopped and arrested, he would probably have committed a lewd act, or tried to. But I think there is a legitimate case that his actions (up to the point where he was arrested) should not be considered illegal.
January 9th, 2008 at 10:29 am#42 - Oh, but Bigfoot, as we have cut off Iran, they don’t have access to satellites so they have to come out.
So are you saying that we should give Iran access to satellite data which would mean they could stay at home and we could avert the unpleasantries ?
January 9th, 2008 at 10:29 amWell of course this administration will overblow the tiny Iranian boats harassing the giant US Navy warships. Let’s whip up the fear tactics in order to help McCain-Romney-Guiliani.
January 9th, 2008 at 10:30 amWell of course this administration will overblow the tiny Iranian boats harassing the giant US Navy warships. Let’s whip up the fear tactics in order to help McCain-Romney-Guiliani.
Comment by Tawdry — January 9, 2008 @ 10:30 am
What worries me is that the Iran drum-beaters are looking for any excuse to go ballistic. It would be a shame if this becomes the incident that does it. It may be just the overture, though. Bush issues his stern warning, and then we get a false flag event that triggers all out war.
January 9th, 2008 at 10:32 amMaple, the issue isn’t that Iran showed up, but that they made threats. They, just as we, were in intl waters. They have every right to be in intl waters, just as we do.
January 9th, 2008 at 10:32 amOur Navy is in universally recongnized international waters. Therefore, Iran is, indeed, provoking us.
Comment by O. Bigfoot
This is called simpsons forign policy. Like Bart…..I’m going to swing my arms like this and if you just happen to get in the way….
bigfoot is a troll…ignore his rants….he is here to disrupt and should be banned from the site…again.
January 9th, 2008 at 10:35 amO Bigidiot; Iran provoking the US is kind of like Mickey Mouse threatening King Kong.
Remember the “incident” in the Gulf of Tonkin, 1964
January 9th, 2008 at 10:35 amI think anyone who watched the video of the Iranian boats would be hard-pressed to deny that it was deliberately provocative behavior. Stupid? Absolutely. Blustering? Absolutely. I have no idea whether this was a bunch of testosterone-crazed or desperately bored Iranians, or whether it was indeed a deliberate provocation by hard-liners in Iran to attempt to trigger an American over-reaction but it’s ridiculous to pretend that five very fast and not-so-tiny boats, packed with explosives, wouldn’t present a real danger to Naval ships of any size and it’s certainly ridiculous to pretend that there is no precedent for such an action and for suicide bombings in the region.
Again, I think the Navy did their usual professional job in protecting themselves without overreaction. And I expect nothing else from this administration but a lot of bluster and threat; god forbid they behave with the same professional detachment as the Navy.
January 9th, 2008 at 10:36 amWhen Giuliani was asked about the 9-11 effect..He said…We got the 9% Last night..the 11% is coming somewhere else…Florida , may be’.
January 9th, 2008 at 10:36 amIf I can steal some of Paul’s votes, I’ll be in good shape’…!!!
hoo-eee! talk about chutzpah !!!
Corpse in office chair attempts to cash welfare cheque
Wednesday January 9, 2008 Guardian Unlimited
Two men have been arrested in New York after wheeling a dead friend propped up in an office chair through busy streets to a check-cashing outlet in an attempt to cash his social security payment.
[…]
http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,,2237666,00.html
tragic-comedy
January 9th, 2008 at 10:37 amIf Iranian ships showed up in international waters off the coast of Florida, the U.S. would respond the same way. Give it up, reich-wingers, your fake outrage and chest thumping is pathetic.
January 9th, 2008 at 10:37 amHerr dubyah wants to start WWIII with Iran, but reich-wingers are whining that “Iran is provoking us”. Christ, you “people” are tired and dense.
January 9th, 2008 at 10:39 amRUC,
Is this what you were looking for?
…………………../´¯/)
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……..(’(…´…´…. ¯~/’…’)
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……….â€â€¦\………. _.•´
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I can’t speak for RUCerious, but do wish to convey this message to all Trolls & Bushlickers.
January 9th, 2008 at 10:42 amthere’s just too much good info here to pick out just SOME…
well, except for this part:
A separate study by researchers at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine provided further evidence that the United States often falls short on health outcomes despite spending more per capita on health care than any other country. That research, also published today in Health Affairs, found that the United States ranked worst among 19 countries in the number of deaths that could have been prevented through better access to timely and effective health care.
…
Medicare Helps Push Drug Spending Up
January 9th, 2008 at 10:43 amWith New Benefit, Prescription Purchases Increased in 2006, Study Shows
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ wp-dyn/ content/ article/ 2008/ 01/ 07/ AR2008010702943.html
If Iranian ships showed up in international waters off the coast of Florida, the U.S. would respond the same way.
Comment by Dr. Matt — January 9, 2008 @ 10:37 am
Or, at least, a similarly small number of Americans in their private boats would. Just look at the response of some of our “fine” Americans to the election of a **gasp** Muslim to Congress. Or the Minutemen. Not hard to imagine a similar scenario of a provocative response to provocation.
January 9th, 2008 at 10:45 amNot at all. Iran doesn’t have to “come outâ€, and they don’t have to threaten to blow up our ships.
If they want to parallel U.S. warships, and monitor our actions, I don’t suppose that would have provoked the same newworthiness. It probably happens all the time. This particular incident is totally at Iran’t doorstep, simple as that. The U.S. Navy acted professionally, and thanks to that, the Iranians who manned those boats are still alive today.
Comment by O. Bigfoot — January 9, 2008 @ 10:46 am
Where is your fake outrage over herr dubyah provoking WWIII with Iran?
January 9th, 2008 at 10:47 amdare i admit? … it took me a minute to realize what “bend the elbow” meant:
Bending the Elbow and Conventional Exercise Prolong Life
COPENHAGEN, Jan. 8 — Exercise and moderate alcohol intake were correlated with lower death rates over a 20-year period, researchers here found.
[…]
http://www.medpagetoday.com/ PrimaryCare/ DietNutrition/ tb/ 7893
worth a read… also:
January 9th, 2008 at 10:53 amDrink a Little, Stay Active, Save Your Heart
U.S. News & World Report
and THIS was very special:
Jon Stewart carving up Frum:
http://www.thedailyshow.com/vi…..david-frum
January 9th, 2008 at 10:58 amRUC,
Is this what you were looking for?
Exactly! Thanks zim!!
January 9th, 2008 at 11:00 amComment by O. Bigfoot — January 9, 2008 @ 10:39 am
Thanks for your response. Bush supporters voting for Romney are no mystery, but at least you tried to give some insight into the McCain appeal.
Maybe there are a lot of little things about McCain that voters perceive as being “not Bush”, which might explain why Republicans who don’t support Bush are voting for him. You mentioned McCain-Feingold, and that might be one of them.
January 9th, 2008 at 11:02 amcomment by zimzone @ 10:42 am
You said it all. Kudos. (:-D)
January 9th, 2008 at 11:07 amWhat’s really pathetic is you lack of support for your own country.
Comment by O. Bigfoot
Support your country means to get up early in the morning, work hard, serving others with the product of your job, taking care of your body by not eating junk food, taking care of your family, being respectful and corteous with your fellows Americans and foreigners, educating yourself everyday, being critic of the political, cultural and social environment around you, seeking to improve the social circumstances in the place you live, helping those with less choices in life (teaching poor analphabet adults, getting to New Orleans to help those in need), etc.
That makes the people of a country great, and not jingoistic phrases as support the leader while waving a flag made in China.
January 9th, 2008 at 11:08 amIf Mitt Romney becomes president will “guides” like this one be distributed in sex ed class? /snark
January 9th, 2008 at 11:10 am#70 BWAHAHAHAH!!!
That’s rich!
and from the mormon missionary survival guide?!@! Double BWAHAHA!!!
January 9th, 2008 at 11:14 amLandrieu is one of the biggest embarassments on the Democratic side of the aisle–it would be a pleasure to see her replaced. Unfortunately, LA now has a Republican governor.
January 9th, 2008 at 11:17 amListen, Bigfoot, you’re so busy having climaxes every time you feel you can respond to a ‘liberal’, you can’t understand the nuances of anyone’s comments. It isn’t the incident I was commenting on, but the eagerness of this administration to publicize and overblow any negative news on Iran or positive news on Iraq to further their agenda.
January 9th, 2008 at 11:18 amKeep trying, it’s worth a giggle.
Craig’s lawyers also claim that hand signals should be considered “constitutionally protected speech.â€
[makes circle with thumb and index finger, repeatedly inserts other index finger into hole]
Like this?
January 9th, 2008 at 11:20 amEvilpoet; LOL. Thanks for the laugh.
January 9th, 2008 at 11:27 amHow I read TP threads without dumbing myself down:
By simply bypassing whatever O.Bigfoot(in mouth) has posted. Please inform me if he/she/it actually wants an intelligent, fact based debate, then I may reconsider. Otherwise, I feel when responding to said poster, all it accomplishes is feeding it’s “acknowledgment self-pleasure”.
January 9th, 2008 at 11:50 amCongradulations to Hillary Clinton for winning a rigged primary last night! Must have been tough on her…
Comment by whiteyfresh
Do you care to educate us on how the primary was rigged or is this just your way of working out your frustration that Hillary won?
Comment by bilbobaggins — January 9, 2008 @ 9:41 am
http://blogs.abcnews.com/ thenumbers/ 2008/ 01/ new-hampshires.html
http://drunkardslamppost.wordpress.com/ 2008/ 01/ 09/ diebold-and-new-hampshire/
http://benmoseley.blogspot.com/ 2008/ 01/ do-nh-primary-statistics-show-election.html
there’s more, but it’s really frikkin busy today!!!
January 9th, 2008 at 11:51 amvia C&L, a MUST READ… more insight into the iranian “provocation”:
Killing Two Hawks with One Stone
January 9th, 2008 at 11:53 amhttp://americanfootprints.com/drupal/node/3844
Hillary Clinton, possible primary voter fraud?
Well, she is Republican Lite.
January 9th, 2008 at 11:53 amHillary Clinton, possible primary voter fraud?
Well, she is Republican Lite.
Comment by DRxJ — January 9, 2008 @ 11:53 am
—–
I’m convinced that republicans are voting for Clinton and Obama because they are the only two candidates that the Republican party has ANY chance of beating.
Just look at their names.
January 9th, 2008 at 12:17 pmClinton…. and not the good one that a lot of dems
Hillary Clinton, possible primary voter fraud?
Well, she is Republican Lite.
Comment by DRxJ — January 9, 2008 @ 11:53 am
GEE,ya think?
*snark is OFF*
January 9th, 2008 at 12:18 pmawwww…. TP ate my comment.
January 9th, 2008 at 12:19 pmOh sure, the Chinese can bring down one of our EP-3s back in 2001, or the North Koreans can attempt to force an RC-135 to land in their territory in 2004, and it’s no big deal for the Bush administration.
But Iran sends out 5 speed boats against three of the most powerful warships ever built, and the White House gets their panties in a bunch.
January 9th, 2008 at 1:09 pmEvilPoet: I thought this one was interesting:
20. Set up a reward system for your successes. It does not have to be a big reward. A quarter in a receptacle each time you overcome or reach a goal. Spend it on something which delights you and will be a continuing reminder of your progress.
The next time I see a clean cut young man paying for 5 bucks of gas with quaters I’ll just think he must be a real jerker.
January 9th, 2008 at 1:29 pmWow Iran has James Bond types that run around in speed boats threatening mammoth warships. I didn’t know Meth made it to Iran.
January 9th, 2008 at 1:38 pmmmm…this is getting interesting:
Persian Gulf incident part of U.S. psyops: Majlis speaker
THe “We don’t torture vs We don’t have gays” FIGHT!!!
January 9th, 2008 at 1:52 pmEvery hear of the USS Cole. 17 US Sailors died that day.
Comment by jdc
1) And how that had to do with Iran specifically?
January 9th, 2008 at 1:55 pm2) If you go around sailing those warships or jet carriers far far from your shores…somebody is gonna get mad.
Bit of a difference.
The Cole had moored in a friendly port to take on fuel. It was not expected to be at anything resembling a high alert status.
The crew of the three ships going through the Straits are, I would hope, on a higher pucker factor, and would be better able to respond to any threat, particularly from a small ship. Like I posted the other day, each warship carries enough firepower to level anything that tries to get close.
And I’m sure the Iranians knew this also. Remember that the US Navy gave them quite a bloody nose back in the late 1980s during the Tanker War, a lesson they are not going to forget.
Plus, I still want to know why the Bush White House seems to have played down other international incidents.
January 9th, 2008 at 2:32 pm48 Wilco:
I was remarking in response to the assertion that if an Irani gunship were off our coast, we would just monitor them by satellite. Admittedly that would be less provocative than motoring out to close range and have a lot less chances for provocation.
My own suspicion is that both sides were hosing down the decks with testosterone. (Think of a pack of dogs or apes, each one nudging the other for position). The limits of national and international waters in the area are disputed due to the normal and natural movement of the main channel. The normal military action here would be to have multiple “lapses” and “navigation mistakes”.
My fear is that like the border stand-off between the US and Mexico, eventually someone is going to fire a stray bullet that kills an Army mule; this will be followed by speeches to Congress that American Blood has been spilt on American Soil.
January 9th, 2008 at 3:01 pmI saw the video on Iranian naval agression , really scary stuff . 2 or 3 tiny motorboats harrassing the US navy , kinda like re enacting midway in the bathtub .
Comment by freeman
I assume you were being sarcastic here. According to the Iranians, they were doing nothing more than identifying the ship, something they do frequently. The Bush Crime Family desperately wants to taunt Iran into some kind of confrontation so they can justify bombing them.
2009 can’t come soon enough. I hope we can survive until then.
January 9th, 2008 at 3:05 pmMy guess is the Iranians are lying, and that anyone in the Navy who remembers the USS Cole would be very vigilent if they saw this behavior. But even so, you can be damn sure that it is exactly this sort of provocation that Big Dick (who I presume is acting President with Chimpy on Rapture-watch?) dreams of.
Comment by Dumb_Fox
I’m not so sure they are lying. They patrol the straits along with the US. After all, it is their country that lies on the straits. According to the Iranians, this happens daily, they identify the US vessels and the US identifies them.
BTW, what happened to those supposed “white boxes” they were shoving in front of our ships. Were they in the video?
January 9th, 2008 at 3:09 pmWe know the Republicans only win elections by voter fraud. The only exception since 2000 is the past midterms when Democrats won the House and Senate because the Republican voter fraud committee had a scheduling conflict and couldn’t rig the machines on election day.
Comment by jdc
Actually what happened is that the sheer turnout of Democratic voters overwhelmed their attempt to steal the election. They bet on 4% but the Democratic turnout was 6 to 7% higher. They can’t steal by too large of a margin or it will be too obvious what is going on.
January 9th, 2008 at 3:14 pm“Faced with recession fears, the White House is considering tax rebates for individuals to encourage spending and tax breaks for businesses to encourage investment, according to people familiar with the matter.â€
How nice. Bush is going to, again, give us a bit of our refund early…so that we can spend it. Unfortunately, people are going to spend it to EAT, put gas in their cars, and keep warm. Oh, and pay those annual deductibles. Then their real tax return will be smaller when that time comes.
F()ck Bush and his ignoramus policies.
Alex, I’d like a real president for $500 please.
January 9th, 2008 at 3:25 pmThe Iranian boats I saw in the video looked much like commercial speedboats. They can be built for peanuts and it is relatively easier to teach a suicide bomber to pilot one than it is to teach them to fly an airplane. We know from experience that a speed boat loaded with explosives can blow a hole in the side of a $50,000,000 American destroyer. For $50,000,000 the Iranians could build a fleet of thousands of explosive packed, high speed, difficult to target little boats and blow our fleet out of the water. Or, under the water. They are very much a threat and now they have some idea of our response and our targeting mechanisms. They have a very good idea of how close they can get before they are perceived as a threat.
For those of you on the extreme whining left that think our fleet is a threat to Iranians so they have the right to play russian roulette with us, our ships were in International waters, not in Iranian waters. If a fleet of Iranian speed boats were lurking 200 miles off our coast in International waters, we wouldn’t do much more than look at them. It is unfortunate that the geography of the area forces that passage so close to Iranian shores but that’s the way geography is.
January 9th, 2008 at 3:32 pmThe strait in that area is only 32+ miles wide and it is the only way to get by sea to Iraq.
For those of you on the extreme whining left that think our fleet is a threat to Iranians so they have the right to play russian roulette with us, our ships were in International waters, not in Iranian waters. If a fleet of Iranian speed boats were lurking 200 miles off our coast in International waters, we wouldn’t do much more than look at them. It is unfortunate that the geography of the area forces that passage so close to Iranian shores but that’s the way geography is.
Comment by Oldfart
So, fartsie, please tell us exactly WHY Iran would like to provoke an incident with us. Why would Iran want to attack one of our war ships in the Straits of Hormuz? What do they have to gain by doing this?
Then, think about what Bush thinks he has to gain by a Wag the Dog incident.
If it doesn’t make sense, it’s probably not true.
January 9th, 2008 at 4:37 pm