ThinkFast: March 14, 2008
ThinkFast: March 14, 2008
Gen. David Petraeus said yesterday that “Iraqi leaders have failed to take advantage of a reduction in violence to make adequate progress toward resolving their political difference.” Petraeus said “no one” in the U.S. and Iraqi governments feels Iraq’s leaders are making “sufficient progress.”
After President Bush “intervened at the 11th hour” to weaken the Environmental Protection Agency’s new smog standards, “Solicitor General Paul D. Clement warned administration officials late Tuesday night that the rules contradicted the EPA’s past submissions to the Supreme Court…As a consequence, administration lawyers hustled to craft new legal justifications for the weakened standard.”
Two and a half years after Hurricane Katrina, “tens of thousands of miserable homeowners are still waiting for their government rebuilding checks, and many complain they can’t even get their calls returned.” However, ICF International — the company contracted to distribute the checks — “is doing quite well for itself” by posting “strong profits,” going public, and landing “additional multimillion-dollar government contracts.”
Alaska’s Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Ted Stevens “introduced legislation Thursday that would allow oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge if the price of oil hits $125 a barrel.” Both senators hope “to capitalize on consumer concern” about rising gas prices.
The House and the Senate narrowly passed a $3 trillion spending plan yesterday, which would “increase spending on domestic programs like education, health care, veterans benefits and new energy technology,” while allowing President Bush’s tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans to expire in two years.
A Justice Department report reveals that the “FBI has increasingly used administrative orders to obtain the personal records of U.S. citizens rather than foreigners implicated in terrorism or counterintelligence investigations.” The FBI relied on “national security letters” to skirt the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.
The media continues to repeat the false claim that President Bush sought cooperation from telecommunications companies to conduct domestic spying only after 9/11. In fact, the Bush administration approached telecommunications carriers months before 9/11.
“Anti-Semitism, including government-promoted hatred toward Jews and prejudice couched as criticism of Israel, has risen globally over the last decade, the State Department said on Thursday.”
And finally: The Washington Post’s Dana Milbank writes that yesterday, conservatives were acting like “like schoolgirls whispering among themselves in class” as they plotted their “secret” session on wiretapping. “Because of my clearance level, I’ve seen the secret information and information at other levels as well,” bragged Minority Whip Roy Blunt (R-MO), who was organizing the meeting. Rep. David Obey (D-WI), however, was not impressed. “I was here for the secret sessions,” said Obey. “And given the mumbo jumbo that I heard,” he added, the main purpose was “to demonstrate the total uselessness of secret sessions.” Laughter erupted.
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test from richard
March 14th, 2008 at 9:50 amMarch 14th, 2008 at 9:51 am
another test.
March 14th, 2008 at 9:52 amtesting again.
March 14th, 2008 at 9:53 amA Justice Department report reveals that the “FBI has increasingly used administrative orders to obtain the personal records of U.S. citizens rather than foreigners implicated in terrorism or counterintelligence investigations.” The FBI relied on “national security letters” to skirt the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.
How in the hell does a “National Security Letter” allow anyone accumulate an American citizen’s personal records without a warrant ?
March 14th, 2008 at 9:53 amIs George Bush Responsible for Iraqi Prostitution Ring?
George Bush has been tied to a prostitution ring involving as many as 50,000 women and girls…The prostitutes, some as young as 13, are among the 1.2 million desperate Iraqis who fled to Syria after Bush’s invasion of Iraq in 2003, according to the U.K. Independent.
…Facing starvation, as many as 50,000 women and girls have been forced into prostitution in Syria alone, according to Hana Ibrahim of the Women’s Will Association. “70 percent to 80 percent of the girls working this business in Damascus today are Iraqis,” 23-year-old Abeer told the New York Times. ”The rents here in Syria are too expensive for their families. If they go back to Iraq they’ll be slaughtered, and this is the only work available.”
Information from:
March 14th, 2008 at 9:53 amhttp://www.democrats.com/bush-tied-to-child-prostitution
me likey the new TP!
March 14th, 2008 at 9:56 amGen. David Petraeus said yesterday that “Iraqi leaders have failed to take advantage of a reduction in violence to make adequate progress toward resolving their political difference.” Petraeus said “no one” in the U.S. and Iraqi governments feels Iraq’s leaders are making “sufficient progress.”
Wow , Davey………Thanks for that bit of startling new info…….
March 14th, 2008 at 9:56 amThe House and the Senate narrowly passed a $3 trillion spending plan yesterday, which would “increase spending on domestic programs like education, health care, veterans benefits and new energy technology,” while allowing President Bush’s tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans to expire in two years.
And the veto begins in…3…2…1…
March 14th, 2008 at 9:59 amHey Admin dudecycles…I really miss your formatting tools!! Especially the link one. I can never remember how to do a href properly.
FYI.
March 14th, 2008 at 10:00 amHappy Pi Day, everyone!
March 14th, 2008 at 10:00 amBang. Dow down almost 300 points in a blink.
March 14th, 2008 at 10:00 am“Anti-Semitism, including government-promoted hatred toward Jews and prejudice couched as criticism of Israel, has risen globally over the last decade, the State Department said on Thursday.”
What a crock …….. How is it that any criticism of any other group on the planet is just that , criticism ; yet , when it comes to the Jews/Israel , it’s always “anti-Semitism” ? Shut the hell up already with that nonsense ; you people are not immeasurably better nor infallible , regardless of your nonsensical self-proclaimed title as “God’s chosen people”………
March 14th, 2008 at 10:02 amMs_Joanne Says:
March 14th, 2008 at 10:00 am
Hey Admin dudecycles…I really miss your formatting tools!! Especially the link one. I can never remember how to do a href properly.
Like this:
>a href=”http://toasterheadsblogosphere.blogspot.com”<This is a link>/a<
March 14th, 2008 at 10:03 amOops! My bad — Replace the <’s with >’s and the >s with <’s…
March 14th, 2008 at 10:04 amA Justice Department report reveals that the “FBI has increasingly used administrative orders to obtain the personal records of U.S. citizens rather than foreigners implicated in terrorism or counterintelligence investigations.” The FBI relied on “national security letters” to skirt the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.
…and they will never be held accountable for this.
March 14th, 2008 at 10:05 amRe: # 13 –
I am surprised to see the market tanking so soon today. Usually, this doesn’t happen until after GDumbya opens his yap and opining on the “strength” of the economy. Just think how much worse it will be after he does!
March 14th, 2008 at 10:09 amTwo and a half years after Hurricane Katrina, “tens of thousands of miserable homeowners are still waiting for their government rebuilding checks, and many complain they can’t even get their calls returned.” However, ICF International — the company contracted to distribute the checks — “is doing quite well for itself” by posting “strong profits,” going public, and landing “additional multimillion-dollar government contracts.”
*******************************************************
Kind of puts a hole in Ms. Charlotte Allen’s theory concerning why more people haven’t returned to New Orleans, doesn’t it? Let’s revisit the claim which she first made in 2005 and recently restated:
“I said Katrina was the best thing to happen to New Orleans because it finally opportunity to a huge number of New Orleans residents living in passive dependency on welfare to get out of New Orleans and change their lives for the better. Thousands of them did exactly that–which is why there hasn’t exactly been a huge flood of those former residents flocking back to live in passive dependency and do just that. New Orleans itself now has a chance to change into a more self-reliant city.”
Maybe the reason why at least some of these people haven’t returned to New Orleans yet is because they can’t afford to rebuild until they receive the money they were promised.
March 14th, 2008 at 10:09 amDo subprime loans create subprime cities?
Surging inequality and the rise in predatory lending
Over the last several decades, thanks largely to passage of the Community Reinvestment Act in 1977, enforcement of the federal Fair Housing Act, and compliance with a range of local, state, and national fair lending rules, many households and communities long denied conventional financial services have found access to credit. But today the rise in subprime and predatory lending has put many families and neighborhoods in financial jeopardy as default and foreclosure rates skyrocket, particularly in minority and low-income areas. Community groups, elected officials, bank regulators, and mortgage lenders themselves are debating how the nation should respond.
http://www.sharedprosperity.org/bp197.html
This is happening all over the United States. Neighborhoods are turning into “ghost towns.”
March 14th, 2008 at 10:11 amA Justice Department report reveals that the “FBI has increasingly used administrative orders to obtain the personal records of U.S. citizens rather than foreigners implicated in terrorism or counterintelligence investigations.” The FBI relied on “national security letters” to skirt the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.
…and they will never be held accountable for this.
March 14th, 2008 at 10:11 am“Anti-Semitism, including government-promoted hatred toward Jews and prejudice couched as criticism of Israel, has risen globally over the last decade, the State Department said on Thursday.”
gee… i wonder why…
oops… is THAT anti-semitism?
…
(where are the, what do you call them? buttons for “italic, bold, etc”?)
other wise, looks great… i’d still like to see how many times a comment is
reported for abuse, as recommended… that make sense?
good morning…
March 14th, 2008 at 10:12 amSo, you can’t extend the post “in-line” anymore; it has to load a new page?
March 14th, 2008 at 10:15 amEven if the resident’s don’t return to New Orleans. Pay them what they were promised. This is a complete disgrace that a company is touting strong profits while ignoring their responsibility.
FEMA also knew the trailers were toxic prior to deploying them. For shame Bush. For shame. You turned your back on the citizens of this country.
March 14th, 2008 at 10:16 amThanks, TH! I always wind up leaving off a ” or a > or putting it in the wrong place. I think I get 1 out of 5 right (if that!)
And Fritz, I hate to admit it but I think you’re right, they will never be held accountable for ANYTHING. Crimes against us or crimes against the world.
If the world court can’t hold them accountable, F()ck ‘em all. For if that is the case, there is no humanity left in the world.
March 14th, 2008 at 10:17 amMCMetal Says:
March 14th, 2008 at 10:02 am
What a crock …….. How is it that any criticism of any other group on the planet is just that , criticism ; yet , when it comes to the Jews/Israel , it’s always “anti-Semitism” ?
Isms such as racism, sexism, and anti-Semitism are usually in the eye of the beholder. Especially when the beholder is a multibillion dollar lobbying interest.
I found this sentence in the Reuters report particularly interesting:
This is a complete tautology. By this standard of anti-Semitism, it is impossible to criticize Israeli policy without “promoting prejudice.” Israel is, by design, a Jewish State. This means that even Jewish critics such as the ISM founders and the Refuseniks are anti-Semitic.
How ludicrous.
March 14th, 2008 at 10:18 amYeah, so we’ll have to stay there for the next hundred or so years until they do right?
March 14th, 2008 at 10:18 am“formatting tools” – thanks, ms joanne…
fritz @21 – how did you do the italics?
March 14th, 2008 at 10:19 amYou turned your back on the citizens of this country.
Since day one. This is nothing new!
March 14th, 2008 at 10:20 amRe: my #20 posting:
Subprime crisis makes Cleveland a ghost town
A city in America’s Midwest has taken some of the biggest US banks to court for hundreds of millions of dollars, claiming that their marketing of subprime home loans has reduced parts of the city to a ghost town.
Frank Johnson, the mayor of Cleveland, Ohio, has accused a group of 21 large banks and financial firms of triggering severe local housing problems by promoting the controversial loans.
Johnson says that subprime mortgages have turned Ohio into a “ghost town”
As most of the US experiences a housing slump, the number of mortgage foreclosures in Cleveland soared to 70,000 last year from 120 in 2002.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/01/28/wohio128.xml
Coming to a city or town near you..
March 14th, 2008 at 10:23 amMy family lives in Lafayette, LA and after Katrina Lafayette took in a whole lot of residents from New Orleans. According to my mother, it’s been hell every since. The traffic is horrible, the price of basics such as milk and bread have almost doubled in price. People’s attitudes have become more and increasingly rude. Not a good situation for anyone.
March 14th, 2008 at 10:24 ami didn’t get to see it completely, but does anyone else think that keith was
too hard on billy cristal for striking out, tagging him “worst person”???
even if it was a joke, that’s pretty harsh, considering the transgressions
March 14th, 2008 at 10:25 amof the other “winners”…
Re: Secret Sessions
Sometimes I just love David Obey. He’s such a crotchedy (spelling? I don’t think I’ve ever actually written that word) mf’r.
Re: Bush’s 11th hour
This is what, instance number 1,427 of the administration’s lawyers crafting “legal justifications” for things they have done? Man, I wish I had a lawyer who could just craft “legal justifications” for anything I feel like doing/rules I feel like breaking…
Re: Alaska
Glad to see Ted Stevens and Lisa Murkowski really have America’s interests at heart and not just profit.
Re: Abuse
Ms_Joanne Says:
March 14th, 2008 at 9:59 am
The House and the Senate narrowly passed a $3 trillion spending plan yesterday, which would “increase spending on domestic programs like education, health care, veterans benefits and new energy technology,” while allowing President Bush’s tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans to expire in two years.
And the veto begins in…3…2…1…
I say: Yep.
Etc etc down the line
March 14th, 2008 at 10:27 amok – i’ve seen “italics”, now “block quote”…
i want MY formatting tools! is it a mac problem??? NO FAIR!
March 14th, 2008 at 10:27 am“The House and the Senate narrowly passed a $3 trillion spending plan yesterday”
Is it true that democrats in the house raised taxes on people making as little as $31,000 a year? Just looking for an answer. Tax increases should be directed towards those not paying their fair share.
March 14th, 2008 at 10:29 amfritz @21 – how did you do the italics?
Do this: Italic
remove the space after both the “I”
March 14th, 2008 at 10:29 amalso – need a space between the previous post’s “recommend” and the next one…
March 14th, 2008 at 10:29 amThat didn’t work – the board automatically removed the space.
Go here:
March 14th, 2008 at 10:30 amhttp://www.htmlcodetutorial.com/quicklist.html
katy,
Not sure about blockquoting, but italics is as easy as italics
Done using and then again with the forward slash…if you already know this I’m not trying to patronize you…I just wanna help
March 14th, 2008 at 10:30 amdammit
March 14th, 2008 at 10:31 amit did it wrong
greater than less than symbols enclosing an i and then at the end of the italicized portion of your text with a forward slash before the i
lost in translation, fritz…
March 14th, 2008 at 10:31 ami’ve no idea what you mean…
katy, use the html codes: for italics. for bold.
for centering. Those are the only ones I use. There is one for striking through text but I don’t know what it is.
March 14th, 2008 at 10:32 amWOW,
Now the dems pass a bill that increases taxes on those making as little as $36,000. And here we thought you were for the little guy. I guess you truly think government know best, even when it comes to taking money away from the poor. Nice work guys.
March 14th, 2008 at 10:32 amhahaha. My examples didn’t work.
March 14th, 2008 at 10:32 amPetraeus said “no one” in the U.S. and Iraqi governments feels Iraq’s leaders are making “sufficient progress.”
QED: The surge is NOT working!
March 14th, 2008 at 10:32 amnow i see the link… will practice…
oh, i know – TP, give us our FORMATTING TOOLS! PLEASE!
March 14th, 2008 at 10:33 amkaty Says:
March 14th, 2008 at 10:31 am
lost in translation, fritz…
i’ve no idea what you mean…
Same here ……….and LT , I understood what you said even less ……Sheesh , I’m retarded.
March 14th, 2008 at 10:33 amok, I forgot about the no explicit profanity thing…
My earlier comment that surely was flagged and removed was:
“Oh Yeah, and seriously… F**K ISRAEL. Not Israelis, not Jews. Israel. And no I don’t want to see it blasted off the face of the earth, I’m just saying their freaking policies are reprehensible, just like ours.”
March 14th, 2008 at 10:33 amI watched Blunt & Boner blubbering in the House about ’super double secret closed door meetings’ last night.
What a crock!
Blunt was suggesting he knew more about FISA & wiretapping, but would only share if they agreed to the secret scenario.
Kucinich was great. He firmly stated he would not be attending, but pointed out that when the House meets secretly, Americans lose. Obey had a nice zinger for Blunt, as well.
Missouri, Ohio, where do you find these ignoramus’? Remember, these two are up for re-election in Nov…do the right thing, & JUST SAY NO.
March 14th, 2008 at 10:34 amtrying again with formatting explanation:
At the start of what you want to italicize put a:
At the end of what you want to italicize put a:
I think bold is the same thing only with a b instead of an i. If the b doesn’t work, I think if you write the word strong inside the brackets on some sites that works as a bold format.
March 14th, 2008 at 10:36 amDAMMIT, it removed all the symbols.
March 14th, 2008 at 10:36 amAccording to Toasterheads quote from Reuters at post #26 I would be afraid to comment for fear of being called anti-semite.
March 14th, 2008 at 10:37 am“Anti-Semitism, including government-promoted hatred toward Jews and prejudice couched as criticism of Israel, has risen globally over the last decade, the State Department said on Thursday.”
Is it “anti-Semitic” for me to state that you’re all dopey bastoods ?
I mean , you claim to be “God’s chosen people” , and you were all wandering around a friggin’ desert for half a century ; why didn’t “God” just point your way outta’ there , if you’re his/her “favorites” ?
Even better ; ever think of releasing a camel and following it the hell out of there , or looking up towards the sky and trying to spot birds , and following them ?
March 14th, 2008 at 10:38 amok, trying ONE MORE TIME:
(i)italicized words(/i) except replace the parentheses with these things: <
March 14th, 2008 at 10:38 amzim – missouri is north-arkansas/tennessee…
ohio is north-kentucky/alabama…
sorry… but stereotypes happen for a reason…
March 14th, 2008 at 10:38 amThis is a test. This is a test. This is a test. This is a test.
March 14th, 2008 at 10:38 amGod, I hate “socialist” government policies like this:
Intensifying credit fears sink stocks
Wall Street Tumbles After Plan to Boost Bear Stearns Liquidity Worsens Credit Fears
TIM PARADIS
AP News
Mar 14, 2008 09:13 EST
Stocks plunged early Friday as investors worried that a plan to ease a liquidity crisis at Bear Stearns Cos. indicates how severe credit troubles have become. Each of the major indexes lost more than 1.5 percent; the Dow Jones industrials fell about 200 points.
Investors were busy examining the plan from JPMorgan Chase & Co. and the New York Federal Reserve to provide secured funding to Bear Stearns for an initial period of 28 days. The move offers Bear Stearns relief from a sudden liquidity crunch and could help instill confidence in the stagnant credit markets.
Why didn’t Bear Sterns establish a fund to cover such downturns?
March 14th, 2008 at 10:39 amtesting
March 14th, 2008 at 10:39 amok, for bold it’s the same thing I posted above except instead of the letter “i” write the word “strong”
March 14th, 2008 at 10:39 amtestes ……….1…….2……….and that’s all ……
March 14th, 2008 at 10:40 amfred – go for it!
March 14th, 2008 at 10:40 amtestes
March 14th, 2008 at 10:41 amSorry katy.
If you use Firefox for a web browser, there is an extension called “Text Formating Toolbar” that will do the correct html formating, but not all of the tags work correctly.
March 14th, 2008 at 10:41 amI’m shocked that the surge failed. Absolutely shocked. I thought Patraeus was the second coming, a cross between Superman and Pecos Bill. Well I guess we should stay for a few more decades to see if theres other ways to waste lives and treasure.
March 14th, 2008 at 10:42 amSo now we have George’s favorite General saying there is no evidence of sufficient progress from the Iraqi govt. The “Surge” was implemented to provide breathing room to the Iraqi govt. so some progress can be made.
Dana Perrino just last night on “The Daily Show” told Jon Stewart that there has been great progress.
Aside from the symantic argument between sufficient and great, what the hell is going on? One side of this administration thumps their chest and proclaims great strides as if democracy and peace are right around the corner. The other side of the same administration is saying there isn’t real movement.
I’ll take Bush’s advice and listen to the General’s. I wish he (and all of his staff) do the same and quit pushing the opposite BS.
March 14th, 2008 at 10:48 amcool
March 14th, 2008 at 10:50 amIndexing legislation to a commodity set by the market is insane. One can “set” the price of oil by purchasing it at an inordinately high price as the last trade of the day. It might be worth taking a bath on a few trades for Exxon to gain access to the wildlife preserve with their single hulled tankers.
March 14th, 2008 at 10:50 amPerrino was on the Daily Show? Did he rip her apart?
March 14th, 2008 at 10:53 amwell, i have some running to do…
when i get back, i want those FORMATTING TOOLS right back
where they belong… do you understand???
(heh… i miss having kids around) (only SOMEtimes… very few times, actually)
see yas… play fair!
March 14th, 2008 at 10:54 amNot only do they eat their own, they steal from their own as well. Heh.
March 14th, 2008 at 11:01 amSo this is the New and Improved TP…
Geez… will I have to start wearing shoes and a necktie when I post here now?
And pants… don’t forget the pants…
Hmmm… they appear to have moved the rest rooms…
Pssst… does anybody know…???
March 14th, 2008 at 11:01 amLet’s try that again LOL.
Not only do they eat their own, they steal from their own as well. Heh.
March 14th, 2008 at 11:02 amAnyone but me find this new font hard to read. It runs the letters together.
March 14th, 2008 at 11:03 amSO katy Says:
“…play fair!”
HAH!
(some folks NEVER learn…)
March 14th, 2008 at 11:04 amThe question was:
“Why didn’t Bear Sterns establish a fund to cover such downturns?”
The answer is:
Because… they’re STUPID.
Actually, I’ve dealt w/ Bear Sterns in the past, and stupid might not be a strong enough word.
March 14th, 2008 at 11:06 amMCMetal Says:
March 14th, 2008 at 10:38 am
Is it “anti-Semitic” for me to state that you’re all dopey bastoods ?
I mean , you claim to be “God’s chosen people” , and you were all wandering around a friggin’ desert for half a century ; why didn’t “God” just point your way outta’ there , if you’re his/her “favorites” ?
Yeah, it kinda is anti-Semitism. You’re lumping people with many varying viewpoints on the occupation, the settlements, and other aspects of Israeli policy together and insulting them because they’re all of the same religion. Not all Jews – including Israeili Jews – are Zionists. Some of them are out there, side-by-side with Palestinians, protesting the settlements and the Apartheid Wall and the collective punishment of Ghazans.
I don’t tolerate this kind of blanket criticism of Christians or Muslims, and I don’t like it applied to Jews either. That’s the kind of free speech that makes it more difficult to criticize Israeli policy, by allowing AIPAC to label all critics as “anti-Semitic.”
March 14th, 2008 at 11:08 amTP, I think the only problem, visually speaking, is that the name of the poster gets shaded by the Recommend/Report Abuse options. IMHO.
March 14th, 2008 at 11:09 amBilbo Hussein Baggins Says:
March 14th, 2008 at 11:03 am
Anyone but me find this new font hard to read. It runs the letters together.
—————————
The font seems to be OK on mine — I have no problem with it.
What’s making the posts difficult to read for me is a lack of spacing between them. Hopefully, this is on TP’s “to fix” list.
March 14th, 2008 at 11:11 amhellinabucket Says:
March 14th, 2008 at 10:48 am
Dana Perrino just last night on “The Daily Show” told Jon Stewart that there has been great progress.
———————-
OMG — I have GOT to watch that tonight at 8:00. Did he take her apart, or did he treat her with the deference normally reserved for the mentally handicapped?
March 14th, 2008 at 11:13 amtom Says:
“Usually, this doesn’t happen until after GDumbya opens his yap and opining on the “strength” of the economy.”
Apparently there was no need to wait today, and prolly any other day anymore, seeing as Botch never has anything new to say.
Perhaps the markets should just up and collapse completely… ya know, get it over with. This up and down stuff is giving me motion sickness.
March 14th, 2008 at 11:16 amThe Republic of Stupidity Says:
“The answer is:
Because… they’re STUPID.”
No, because they know Uncle Sucker will make up the difference. It’s why they give so much money to candidates.
March 14th, 2008 at 11:18 ammissmolly Says:
March 14th, 2008 at 11:11 am
What’s making the posts difficult to read for me is a lack of spacing between them. Hopefully, this is on TP’s “to fix” list.
Yeah – that should be an easy fix, but for some reason the “alt” class isn’t appling to comments. There’s supposed to be a thin grey line separating each poster’s comment, but it’s not showing up.
March 14th, 2008 at 11:20 amMarch 14th, 2008 at 11:25 am
That may be true, barfly, but I stand by comment.
The guys from Bear Sterns I saw in action were STUPID. I saw two of them lose $14.8MM of their own money in the most half-assed, asinine manner imaginable.
CASH… $14.8MM of their own CASH…
Come to think of it, make that whole-assed…
March 14th, 2008 at 11:26 amtest test
March 14th, 2008 at 11:26 amWhoa! I’m blinded by the new format!!
Yikes. *sigh* Just as I learnt the old ‘un.
March 14th, 2008 at 11:26 ammissmolly,
the whole Daily Show segement with Perino looked strained. Stewart got some good one liners in though. One of the nicer shots happened when Perino said Bush was sprinting to the finish, in reference to his time left as president, and Stewart replied “Can you make him run any faster?”
Several more nuggets and Perino did say she would ask Bush if he would go on Stewarts show but there were many long pauses and dead silence as well.
March 14th, 2008 at 11:28 amRoger_Roger Says:
WOW,
Now the dems pass a bill that increases taxes on those making as little as $36,000. And here we thought you were for the little guy. I guess you truly think government know best, even when it comes to taking money away from the poor. Nice work guys.
——————
Ignorant troll. Some facts. First, this will not take affect until 2010. That will give Obama a lot of time to make the tax code more fair. Second, I love how the Republicans call the removal of a tax cut a “tax increase”. All this is doing is taking the tax rate back to what it was before Bush cut taxes (while we are involved in the occupation of a foreign country). Finally, about the “tax cut” for the middle class. I am middle class and it didn’t amount to much for me. The only people who really benefited from Bush’s tax cuts were the wealthy and the uber wealthy.
March 14th, 2008 at 11:32 amCan’t speak for Missouri but keep in mind Ohio’s congressional delegation ranges from Kucinich to Boehner which pretty much sums up the divisions within the state. The Boner has a safe seat in the burbs between Cincinnati and Dayton where most of his upper middle to wealthy constituents are completely insulated from this administration’s foreign policy fubars and are mainly concerned with keeping their taxes down, keeping the mexicans out and making sure they never actuall have to meet a black person. That makes for a fertile compost pile from which this maggot emerged.
March 14th, 2008 at 11:33 am89, paleolib,
Thanks for the succinct explanation.
I’ll never understand Boner, but I get ‘it’ better about OH.
March 14th, 2008 at 11:37 amtoasterhead Says:
March 14th, 2008 at 11:08 am
MCMetal Says:
March 14th, 2008 at 10:38 am
Is it “anti-Semitic” for me to state that you’re all dopey bastoods ?
I mean , you claim to be “God’s chosen people” , and you were all wandering around a friggin’ desert for half a century ; why didn’t “God” just point your way outta’ there , if you’re his/her “favorites” ?
Yeah, it kinda is anti-Semitism. You’re lumping people with many varying viewpoints on the occupation, the settlements, and other aspects of Israeli policy together and insulting them because they’re all of the same religion. Not all Jews – including Israeili Jews – are Zionists. Some of them are out there, side-by-side with Palestinians, protesting the settlements and the Apartheid Wall and the collective punishment of Ghazans.
I don’t tolerate this kind of blanket criticism of Christians or Muslims, and I don’t like it applied to Jews either. That’s the kind of free speech that makes it more difficult to criticize Israeli policy, by allowing AIPAC to label all critics as “anti-Semitic.”
I’m strictly talking about the bunk of those that refer to themselves as “God’s chosen people” ; not only is that idea insane , I was always told “God” loves everyone.
Is it that he/she “loves” some , moreso than others ?
Look , Israeli policy is a problem ; but don’t you see how inherently difficult it makes everything when you delusionally believe in religion ? Especially a religion that proclaims you are part of a “special group” , deemed that way by the “Lord” himself/herself ?
March 14th, 2008 at 11:38 amWell, I fixed the font problem by forcing Firefox to use the font I chose. But I’m getting a lot of strange characters in posts. Anyone else seeing them?
March 14th, 2008 at 11:39 amBilbo Hussein Baggins Says:
March 14th, 2008 at 11:39 am
Well, I fixed the font problem by forcing Firefox to use the font I chose. But I’m getting a lot of strange characters in posts. Anyone else seeing them?
Yeah
They’re called “trolls”………..
March 14th, 2008 at 11:40 amUm, Bilbo?
A correction here… we’re actually involved in the occupation of TWO foreign countries…
Apart from that, it’s hopeless to debate w/ r_r… you know that. Letting those tax cuts expire affects the filthy rich FAR, FAR more than the rest of us. You know that, I know that, Botch knows that, and r_r knows that. He’s just blowing smoke out his Cheney, as usual.
March 14th, 2008 at 11:42 amMarch 14th, 2008 at 11:45 am
My husband and I went from paying 11% in taxes in 2000 to paying 16.5% in 2007. And we are considered middle class. His tax cuts have cost us money.
March 14th, 2008 at 11:45 amChristopher J. Ward. This is a person we should all learn more about. Googled his name and a Daily Kos post from over two years a go came up and it shows this guy is a main conduit of the money transfers within the NRCC.
Dark days ahead for this group.
March 14th, 2008 at 11:46 amBluedahlia Says:
March 14th, 2008 at 11:45 am
once again test
Good movie , BTW ……….Sad what happened to that woman
March 14th, 2008 at 11:48 amThe “Black Dahlia” , I forgot to add
March 14th, 2008 at 11:48 amI wish a hurricane would wipe out the white house with all of the Neo-cons in it, but that is wishful thinking. Our gov`t should be ashamed for what has happened in New Orleans. This ICF international needs a looking into when Hill or Barack take over and reroute this country of ours back on track.
March 14th, 2008 at 11:52 amMCMetal Says:
March 14th, 2008 at 11:38 am
Look , Israeli policy is a problem ; but don’t you see how inherently difficult it makes everything when you delusionally believe in religion ? Especially a religion that proclaims you are part of a “special group” , deemed that way by the “Lord” himself/herself ?
Blindly following any religion is a problem – I’ll agree. But what religion doesn’t confer some kind of special status on its followers?
I can’t think of any religion that tells its followers “sorry folks, but you’re not the chosen people. Those guys over there are actually the chosen people. To be honest, God doesn’t even like you all that much, but He wants you to worship Him anyway.”
March 14th, 2008 at 11:53 amhussein toasterhead Says:
March 14th, 2008 at 11:53 am
MCMetal Says:
March 14th, 2008 at 11:38 am
Look , Israeli policy is a problem ; but don’t you see how inherently difficult it makes everything when you delusionally believe in religion ? Especially a religion that proclaims you are part of a “special group” , deemed that way by the “Lord” himself/herself ?
Blindly following any religion is a problem – I’ll agree. But what religion doesn’t confer some kind of special status on its followers?
I can’t think of any religion that tells its followers “sorry folks, but you’re not the chosen people. Those guys over there are actually the chosen people. To be honest, God doesn’t even like you all that much, but He wants you to worship Him anyway.”
I understand that all monotheistic religions (outside of Buddhism) , spew the “true believer” ideal/edict ; what I’ve never read is of one particular group (racially) , being supposedly being singled out as ’superior’ , for whatever reason(s) that might be claimed………That’s simply insane ; it’s also ‘racist’ , in it’s own way.
All other nationalities/races aren’t on the same plateau ?
Jews are no better or worse than all other ethnic groups.
Besides………Individuals make themselves jerkoffs or a decent person ; not your skin color , nationality or religious belief(s)…..
March 14th, 2008 at 12:04 pmHas anyone gotten their hands on a copy of the latest Pentagon report stating no link between Saddam and AQ? I know it wasn’t released on the web but it was still being released.
I hope this doesn’t get passed over. It can be another nail in the Bush Doctrine’s coffin.
March 14th, 2008 at 12:09 pmhellinabucket Says:
March 14th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
Has anyone gotten their hands on a copy of the latest Pentagon report stating no link between Saddam and AQ? I know it wasn’t released on the web but it was still being released.
I hope this doesn’t get passed over. It can be another nail in the Bush Doctrine’s coffin.
I heard the release was being delayed (big surprise)……..
March 14th, 2008 at 12:10 pmFYI, you don’t have to use STRONG to bold something, just the letter B. (b) bold (/b) would be (using tag brackets < not parens)
(b)bold(/b)
(i)italics(/i)
(blockquote) text indented (/blockquote)
It’s the href that kills me every time. Too many characters to get right when typing. And no test mechanism to make sure it’s right. I’ll stick with pasting the link. :D
March 14th, 2008 at 12:12 pmBesides………Individuals make themselves jerkoffs or a decent person ; not your skin color , nationality or religious belief(s)…..
Well said McMetal. Learned that early on in the Service. There were guys of my same race that I wouldn’t trust to hold a door open let alone my life. And there were many others from all different walks of life that I valued and was honored to stand next to in formation.
March 14th, 2008 at 12:12 pmI thought that christianity taught exactly that…..that the jews were gods chosen children. I also don’t understand why christians support the jews because the (orthadox)jews
March 14th, 2008 at 12:17 pmdon’t even believe that the christians or any person who is not a jew is actually even a human being…or at least will not be in heaven as it is reserved for jews.
OT.Sorry..Alternet has a video out this morning about the president stopping the election of 2008…..Scary, funny stuff…Check it out….Is it over yet.? Damn, just another freakie Friday in bull shit’s bizarro world…..Blessings.PS. With this new format and extra small print it’s a good thing I have a big magnafying glass.
March 14th, 2008 at 12:27 pmHello Good Golly,
I wouldn’t flag our favorite Piñata. You live for this sh*t.
March 14th, 2008 at 12:35 pmgood golly any thoughts on Christopher Ward? Stealing from all those brave vets and politicians. This guy was in deep at the NRCC. He was tighter than the firing circle on that guy’s face Cheney shot. He was more dirty than one of Vitter’s diapers. He closer than Foley to a page. I mean he’s the inside guy and all of these fiscally responsible people didn’t see it happening.
Let’s hear it gg.
March 14th, 2008 at 12:39 pmgood_golly Says:
Conclusion:
The Liberal/Progressive Movement and ThinkProgress are failing miserably.
The 06 election kind of flies in the face of that premise doesn’t it. Infact it seems like the opposite is what’s happenning.
March 14th, 2008 at 12:40 pmThis from the Petraeus article kind of blew my mind:
“The United States is now paying 88,000 members of the Awakening $300 a month to take part in the neighborhood patrols.”
That’s over 16 million of our tax dollars going toward Sunni militias!
“The Awakening fighters include former insurgents who say they have turned against al-Qaeda in Iraq” (emphasis mine)
March 14th, 2008 at 12:46 pmOops! Correction: that 26 million
March 14th, 2008 at 12:47 pmOh, and that’s 26 million per month!
March 14th, 2008 at 12:49 pmgood_golly Says:
March 14th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
112. And what exactly did the ‘06 election accomplish for Progressives? Are you happy with the Pelosi/Reid lead Congress?
It accomplished a lot. They are an order of magnitude better than the previous republican lead rubber-stamp congress.
And by the way, it sounds a lot like you’re conceeding my point. :)
March 14th, 2008 at 12:51 pm26 million a month to Sunni militias. Damn. All that from a fiscally responsible president.
record numbers of people voting for democratic candidates this primary season.
the 06 election gave the democrats a small majority in both the house and senate. The republicans have done the stalling. Something they were appalled with when the dems were the minority a few short years ago. I remember the powerful republicans wanted to do away with the filibuster. Now they use it.
gg is going to be miserable come November. America will be grateful and the world will be thankful.
March 14th, 2008 at 12:57 pmgood_golly Says:
March 14th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
You remember, the Democratic administration that gave us double digit inflation, double digit interest rates, high unemployment, and hostages stuck in Iran.
Uh, that was nixon’s recession……and your traiterous buddies dealing with the enemy behind Carters back….did I say traitors….yes….traitors.
March 14th, 2008 at 1:06 pmWhy would someone want to stand behind a person that was thought to be worse than Bush back in 2000? He wasn’t good enough then and the republicans selected a man who went AWOL but is envious of soldiers today.
McCain stabbed boeing in the back and pushed for a defense contract to be given to a French company. FRENCH . That is terrible. Unless the flip flopping is continuing and the French are now valued by the Republicans over an American company.
I want to have 3 branches of govt. working for me and towards a stronger America. Not against each other and hiding the truth.
March 14th, 2008 at 1:10 pmtrying to get the bugs out Let’s see if I can figure this HTML thing out.
March 14th, 2008 at 1:11 pmand all rejoiced . Fun stuff.
March 14th, 2008 at 1:12 pmWatching the news last night, I was hoping for the story about the FBI abuse to be immediately followed with Georgejr’s whining about Congress’ failure to (illegally and permanently) repeal the Fourth Amendment by passing the “Protect AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, etc. Act”. No such luck.
March 14th, 2008 at 1:19 pmTerrorists….we don’t need no stinkin terrorists.
Okla National guard drops dummy bomb on Tulsa appartment complex……
http://www.newson6.com/Global/story.asp?S=8015580
March 14th, 2008 at 1:20 pmWell, Judy, this just went up over at the NYT…
O/T, but I just saw this over at the NYT:
House Rejects Immunity in Eavesdropping Bill
By ERIC LICHTBLAU
Published: March 14, 2008
WASHINGTON — After its first secret session in a quarter-century, the House on Friday rejected retroactive immunity for the phone companies that took part in the National Security Agency’s warrantless eavesdropping program after the Sept. 11 attacks, and it voted to place greater restrictions on the government’s wiretapping powers.
The decision, by a largely party-line vote of 221 to 188, is one of the few times when Democrats have been willing to buck up against the White House on a national security issue. It also ensures that the months-long battle over the government’s wiretapping powers will drag on for at least a few more weeks and possibly much longer.
I’m… I’m speechless.
Are the Dems finally finding their spines?
March 14th, 2008 at 1:21 pmBTW, what is Petraeus doing in that picture, trying to describe the size of the perch George claims he caught last year?
March 14th, 2008 at 1:22 pmgg, another question for you. Can you explain why Bush would rather veto a bill and supposedly leave us vunerable to another terroist attack instead of signing a bill that would give complete immunity to the telecoms?
Either bush knows that no such thing like being left vunerable will actually happen and he’s just trying to scare the public, or he’s siding with the phone companies over the american public.
Which is it? Or do you have some third idea?
March 14th, 2008 at 1:23 pmTwo days ago, Thinkprogress highlighted the relationship with Senator John McCain and Pastor John Hagee:
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/03/12/mccain-hagee-anti-gay/
I personally weighed in against McCain’s association with Hagee’s homophobic comments:
At the end of the thread, TP asks the question:
Now, in light of Senator Barrack Obama’s Pastor’s comments (the pastor that married Obama and Baptized his children; and the pastor of the church that Obama has attended for 20 years):
http://stoptheaclu.com/archives/2008/03/13/obamas-racist-pastor-god-damn-amerkkkica/
Is it now time for TP to ask the question:
Will Obama stand up now as “a man of principle” and specifically repudiate his pastor’s racist and anti-American comments?
March 14th, 2008 at 1:29 pmbackup, you do realize the comments you posted are 5 years old. I hope Obama acknowledges the words of this pastor aren’t his own just as I’m waiting to hear McCain say the words of his spiritual guide Parsley aren’t his own.
You also realize this can go on thru the ages of all the people who are linked to other people who have said less than what is being put out by the first person. If America was so put off by words by others Rove wouldn’t have had a job.
March 14th, 2008 at 1:38 pmback door asks:
“Will Obama stand up now as “a man of principle” and specifically repudiate his pastor’s racist and anti-American comments?”
“StoptheACLU.com”?
Oh yeah.. now THAT’s a sane bunch of people… How odd, attacking the very people who would protect your right to embarrass yourself publicly, over and over and over again…
Actually, I rather agree w/ what the minister says.
And I think I’m more of a “patriotic American” than you and your kind will ever be.
March 14th, 2008 at 1:40 pmNice little distortion of facts to begin with Captain Mantastic. but here is a quote of the lines that you are so offended by and where exactly is the racist or anti-American comment? We are allowed by law to criticize our country…..good men of both stripe have died to defend that right….are you not a patriotic American who would support this mans right to criticize his government and those who do dark deeds on it’s behalf?
March 14th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
well… just wait till your father gets home, young man…
aaargh…
so, NO “formatting tools” yet… still in the works??? i hope???
more errands to run… maybe it will be settled when i get back later today…
hope so…
oh, and the print size inside this box could be a bit larger…
March 14th, 2008 at 1:48 pmand
Okay, try this one. But before you click on the link, think about Barrack, his wife and kids, sitting in the pews for 20 years. Ask yourself: Is this the change America needs? Is this the kind of sentiment we need to bring America together?
(I believe this ’sermon’ was from December of 2007). Lastly, ask yourself what you would expect McCain to do, if this were his pastor and the word white was substituted for black.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAYe7MT5BxM
March 14th, 2008 at 1:54 pmbackup Says:
Lastly, ask yourself what you would expect McCain to do, if this were his pastor and the word white was substituted for black.
This does not work dummy….nice try but save it ok?
March 14th, 2008 at 1:59 pmoooh… i wondered when that 5 second snippet of the pastor’s words would hit TP… i’d love to find the whole sermon… there is just so much involed with the backstory that very few people, especially WHITE people could understand…
poverty, repression, discrimination… lots of reasons to be PISSED OFF…
“God damn America for treating our citizens as less than human.”
boy, i’ll say…
March 14th, 2008 at 2:04 pmOkay, Fred.
I respect that substituting the word white for black in the video doesn’t work for you. Point taken.
But, if you don’t respond to what you saw in the video, it suggests that you don’t have any problem with it.
Is that the case?
March 14th, 2008 at 2:06 pmOT (kind of) but worth the read
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-oped0314obamamar14,0,2169730.story
March 14th, 2008 at 2:06 pmHey katy,
The sentiment you see in the clip; is that the sort of thing you think will bring this country closer together. (regardless of our past record on race relations)?
March 14th, 2008 at 2:08 pmoooh… i wondered when that 5 second snippet of the pastor’s words would hit TP…
Well, it’s actually over 3 minutes. Maybe you got the wrong clip. Here’s the 3 minute snippet:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAYe7MT5BxM
March 14th, 2008 at 2:11 pmbackup Says:
But, if you don’t respond to what you saw in the video, it suggests that you don’t have any problem with it.
Is that the case?
Captain, you can try to paint this any way you want….my question to you would be…
If you are so outraged about this and consider it un-American then why are you not at least as outraged by the un-American activities of the current aministration……outing a an undercover agent comes to mind…
March 14th, 2008 at 2:14 pmbackup Says:
Hey katy,
The sentiment you see in the clip; is that the sort of thing you think will bring this country closer together. (regardless of our past record on race relations)?
Would you suggest that we follow your lead in bringing our country closer together……I submit that is you and your mentality that has caused the situation of which this whole incident in merely indicitive. In other words you caused it, now you want us to listen to you as to how to fix it……seriously…..
March 14th, 2008 at 2:25 pmYou’re wrong on this and here’s why:
This was not just some pastor that endorsed Obama. He is the pastor of the church that Obama attended for 20 years. He married Obama and his wife Michelle. His kids were baptized by this pastor.
I’m no fan of Ferraro, but when she implied that Obama is in the position he is in because he’s black, she was refudiated and cut from the Clinton campaign staff.
If you answer this charge by saying “Why should Obama have to separate himself from Wright, when McCain hasn’t distanced himself from Hagee” or try to shift attention somehow to the Bush administration and undercover agents; isn’t that politics as usual? Isn’t Barrack promising change. Is tit-for-tat leadership, or is it simply more of the same. The same that Obama has convinced us he’s going to change.
Pastor Wright suggests that one of the problems with the country, is that he believes it is run by rich, white people. Not a problem because of rich people, but because of rich ‘white’ people. It is plain and simple, a racist view.
I don’t believe these are Obama’s sentiments. I think Obama’s a good guy. But, the answer is simple. Obama needs to strongly repudiate the racist and anti-American comments Wright preaches. If he is the leader he wants us to believe he is, he has to do the hard work and make us understand that Pastor Wright’s comments are unacceptable. And Pastor Wright must be taken off Obama’s campaign staff (I believe he’s still on it.)
When TP asked if McCain should repudiate Hagee’s comment, I didn’t cheerlead for McCain or try to change the subject. I came out again Hagee’s homophobia and McCain’s association.
If Obama wants my vote, he needs to be more than the same old, same old.
Which progressives here will agree with me?
March 14th, 2008 at 2:36 pmbackup Says:
Which progressives here will agree with me?
Well, not me Captain. The two issues are completely different.
Hagee is preaching hatred of homsexuals….period.
Wright is railing against real, documented oppression. See civil rights, slavery, etc. See “Why did Americans see affirmative action as necessary?” Also Wright is railing against greed and oppression of all empovershed classes….not just black. Just because he points to the rich white people who have been responsible for it does not make it a racist statement….just a statement about racists as it should be clear to all that the blacks have suffered more than the other races in this country.
John Kennedy said that a rising tide floats all boats. He said that in response to white men complaining about efforts to help blacks in America. His point is a valid one today. If we help the lowest of our citizens, it raises all of our living standards……nes pas?
Just because we passed civil rights laws and had a short war on poverty does not mean that these problems have gone away. In fact they are more prevelant now than they were 10 years ago……you know I am going to say that the reason is the policy decisions of this republcan administration…..and that would be correct.
You get upset when people burn the flag….so
you may not see the difference but most rational people do.
March 14th, 2008 at 2:51 pmtest.
March 14th, 2008 at 4:24 pmFred, I agree with Kennedy, but I think you’re mistaken about why he said it. I believe he was responding to criticisms that his tax cuts would only benefit the wealthy. It a common republican refrain today. Check it out:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_rising_tide_lifts_all_boats
Also, it sounds like you’ve forgotten the conversation, but a while back, we both agreed that flag burning is an important element of free speech. It makes me sad when someone burns a flag, but it is essential for those that disagree with American policy to be able to communicate it.
I disagree with your apathy for Pastor Wright’s divisive comments.
I believe that Obama will feel compelled to address them, more forcefully, fairly soon. If he doesn’t, I believe it will have a have a serious negative impact on his campaign. It will be interesting to see how Obama handles the situation.
March 14th, 2008 at 4:34 pmAlso, since we’re both huge proponents of free speech, I’m sure your saddened to know that I was banned and all my posts as CaptainMantastic have been exponged.
But, here is a link to the thread where we agreed that flag burning was important. (post 124 Republic of Stupidty references my deleted post).
http://thinkprogress.org/2008/01/31/hume-laughs-at-idea-of-americans-being-beheaded/
And, for fun, scroll down to 137 where you eventually admit that I am reasonable.
It’s like a stroll down sweet memory lane.
March 14th, 2008 at 4:52 pmYour interpretation of JFK’s quote is in part right….tax cuts were part of what he was talking about and doing. The difference is who gained from those tax cuts as compared to the tax cuts under Reagan/bush/bush…
I agree about the flag burning…..it is sad when people feel so strongy that their country is betraying their values that they are compelled to make such an emotional statement….it does get everyone’s attention.
What exactly is it about Pastor Wright’s comments that you find so divisive? Detail it for me please.
March 14th, 2008 at 4:53 pmBarack Obama
On My Faith and My Church
Posted March 14, 2008 | 04:28 PM (EST)
The pastor of my church, Rev. Jeremiah Wright, who recently preached his last sermon and is in the process of retiring, has touched off a firestorm over the last few days. He’s drawn attention as the result of some inflammatory and appalling remarks he made about our country, our politics, and my political opponents.
Let me say at the outset that I vehemently disagree and strongly condemn the statements that have been the subject of this controversy. I categorically denounce any statement that disparages our great country or serves to divide us from our allies. I also believe that words that degrade individuals have no place in our public dialogue, whether it’s on the campaign stump or in the pulpit. In sum, I reject outright the statements by Rev. Wright that are at issue.
[...]
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/barack-obama/on-my-faith-and-my-church_b_91623.html
.
you MUST read the whole thing… it’s very short… to the point…
and satisfying to any thinking person.
STAY COOL, BARACK.
March 14th, 2008 at 5:02 pmbackup, I stood at the marine monument the day that Bob Dole, Bush Sr. and others gave the strongest fight to date on the need for an amendment to ban flag burning. I stood, as a soldier just a short walk away from my barracks at Ft. Myer. Walking back after the speech I spoke with several fellow soldiers and the consensus was this. Mere words don’t diminish what the flag is and no action towards the flag will either. In fact, if one is so upset with this country that they feel the need to burn our flag to show their anger it won’t dimish what the flag is. The flag is made stronger by that because it is ultimately a symbol. A symbol of free speech, a symbol that cannot be destroyed by fire. Only from within.
March 14th, 2008 at 5:02 pmbackup Says:
Also, since we’re both huge proponents of free speech, I’m sure your saddened to know that I was banned and all my posts as CaptainMantastic have been exponged.
……………………………………………..
I have to admit that I came to this blog with a lot of anger and foolishly lashed out at a lot of people in the beginning. I have had to let it go as it was eating me alive.
There are it turns out, several of you here who have what I can only call twisted or arcane views of events but are here for the diversity of ideas and discussion. Southern Man seems to fall into that catagory too.
What exactly got you banned as CaptainMantastic?
March 14th, 2008 at 5:07 pmkaty at 151…..excellent, thanks, that is just what we needed…He is being very consistant….
March 14th, 2008 at 5:12 pmThanks for the link katy. I do hope that gets as much time in the media as the pastor did.
March 14th, 2008 at 5:13 pmFred, I know you don’t believe it, but we probably agree on more than we disagree.
Here’s the thing about Pastor Wright.
He’s probably a great guy. But, if Barack wants to be the President of all Americans, he needs to show leadership and set the tone.
I’m not sure if I can convince you, but let me make a sincere effort.
Some examples: (I disagee with all these examples):
Black people are repressed by rich, white people.
We have so much crime in this country because of poor black
people.
Welfare payments have skyrocketed because of unwed teenage
black mothers.
I can’t get a job, because of all the illegal mexican people.
All these examples sound racist and divisive to me. The first of the examples is what Pastor Wright is saying.
I respect Pastor Wright’s right to express his opinion. Barack Obama needs to decide where he wants to take the country. If he’s apathetic about Wright’s comments, considering the relationship – it can be viewed as an endorsement. It’s the reason Ferrero was dropped from the Clinton campaign. Barrack is smart enough to provide the distance between him and Wright. The sooner he does it, the more it will look like his idea, and the more Presidential he’ll look.
March 14th, 2008 at 5:23 pmSo you basically don’t believe there is any racism in our country? You don’t think that black neighborhoods have worse schools than white ones?
There are many policy decisions made by rich white folks that do just that…..repress black neighborhoods.
I think that as blacks and latino’s become a larger and larger part of the decision making comunity that this will eventually change but I also believe that rich, white folks will fight that for as long as they can….just as they did in South Africa.
March 14th, 2008 at 5:33 pmI take it backup didn’t read Obama’s most recent opinion and words on this matter.
He’s clarified his position. Go find it and read it backup. you can do it.
March 14th, 2008 at 5:40 pmhellinabucket. It’s great to hear you say that.
Like most everybody here, I love the country. I also love the flag and what it represents, while I respect the nationalism of those non-Americans here.
I was a little embarrassed, but my wife told my mother-in-law that I tear up at the national anthem and at flag events. (I’m glad I was by myself, when I visited Arlington).
My mother-in-law spends alot of time at garage sales and found a flag that had flown over the U.S. Capitol (coincidentally, on my birthday, but four year before) for the Memorial Day Association of Minneapolis, courtesy of Senator Hurbert Humphrey. She gave it to me, because she thought I might like it.
It is my favorite material possession.
I agree you can’t make the flag stronger by banning the burning of it. It’s actually comforting to know the ideals it represents are so strong, burning it won’t diminish it.
March 14th, 2008 at 5:52 pmWhat exactly got you banned as CaptainMantastic?
Fred,
I don’t know what got me banned, but it wasn’t profanity, insults or threats.
I just assume that because most of my comments disagreed with the prevailing sentiment, that I probably got flagged for abuse quite a bit.
hellinabucket.
I’m going to look at the Obama link. I’ve got to go for a walk with the kids, but I give an honest assessment if I think it goes far enough.
I don’t know, is Wright still on the Obama campaign staff?
March 14th, 2008 at 6:03 pmI read the link. I think it’s enough. I think Obama did a good job explaining the circumstances. I hope for Obama, he can get the word out. I’m sure he will.
Thanks for the link katy.
March 14th, 2008 at 6:10 pm