Is money the key to Democratic unity?
Further interesting evidence of the limits of Unity.
The place itself is humming - a lot of people making big money out of parking visitors' cars in their drives and good luck to them as money is otherwise hard to earn here out of the ski-ing season.
The surroundings for the former rivals' rapprochement (their kiss as we will refer to it until further notice) - will be sweetly bucolic, with trees and sunshine.
The audience onsite mainly consists of reporters - they've set up tables and chairs for hundreds.
But behind the scenes, the money is the short-term key to Hillary's heart it seems, and to the hearts of her most ardent and well-connected backers.
One of the most fascinating aspects of Sally Bedell Smith's recent biography of the Clintons was the fact that their people are pretty upfront when it comes to begging for gifts.
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Clinton's $20M campaign debt is definitely at the heart of that kiss (close your eyes and think of the money), and her husband Bill remains distant (not necessarily a bad thing), only issuing a brief statement endorsing Obama. The matching blue of his tie and her pants suit was interesting.
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Yes....Money is the key for Unity in the Democratic Party.
Thanks Justin for the excellent blog.
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Clinton's rich list in NYC were relieved prematurely months ago when they knew that the relentless Clinton machine would cease and desist from shamelessly tapping their pockets , but now they are expected to cough up $4600 for Obama if the Obama deep pocket contributors transfer similar sums to Hillary's fund, but the question of her being eligible for the $2300 for the general election campaign becomes a problem at the instant Obama is nominated by the Democratic Party. Obama and spouse have written cheques for $2300 each, so it appears that the max is only available for the primary campaign until the end of August. At the same time, Plouffe and Dean and other Obama fundraisers are hitting the Obama email list begging the 1.7 million to donate, donate, donate to compete with the RNC. Tawdry, hypocritical, political posturing. The Clinton fat cat bundlers want face time with Obama and they got some today, but Obama will alienate his millions when they see the deals being cut already, which is exactly what the Clintons want to do. And I have donated every month, sometimes several times a month since January.
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The army of Obama donors, of which I am one, can provide $170 million in a keystroke by each giving $100. There is so much money to be raised, with $4600 per donor that Obama can easily raise billions without looking at bundlers who tap their 100 closest associates for the max, and inform headquarters of their achievement and wish to be recognised and given attention for raising perhaps a million. As soon as the 1.69 million other donors see this for what it is, lobbying by the rich, the great sigh of disillusion will ignite a firestorm in the mainstream media, and the grassroots will be burnt out of their enthusiasm like a brushfire in a drought.
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Candace 9839, # 1
Do you think Justin is having a laugh at us all about the kissing thing, mentioned in this piece and the previous one?
K.I.S.S- Keep It Simple Stupid.?
Is he suggesting Hillary is greeting the new "godfather" of the Dems? Hoping Obama will turn into a frog? Strain one of the 30 odd, muscles involved and be prevented from his oratory skills?.
Hillary I believe has kissed the Blarney Stone on a visit to Ierland, so she possibly can talk the tail off the Donkey { Obama and the party?],
Who is the sleeping beauty here?
I hope he does keep both HIS eyes open. Admiral Nelson was already suffering a disadvantage before he got his kiss and was not so lucky.
But you are probably correct. Kissing for money occurs at all local carnivals. But $2300 / or $10,000000+ a go is pricey.
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You're being rather anti-Hillary I would say Mr. Webb. Considering Obama's many difficulties with a wide range of Democrat voters such as hispanics, blue collar, catholic and many whites in general, he needs every photo he can get standing next to Hillary Clinton! She is, quite frankly, the only hope he has of winning in November. Gallup polling, one of the most respected, shows Obama and McCain in a tie. This is not where the Democrat nominee should be after 8 years of George Bush and the Republicans. If Hillary were the nominee, she would have a double digit lead because she is supported by a very wide base of Americans and especially those mentioned above who tend to vote Democrat. As for Hillary's debt, she raised much more during the campaign than the debt she has now at the end and her 18 million supporters who voted for her certainly represent an interesting pool for resources when needed! The fact is Hillary doesn't need Obama. Obama needs Hillary!
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Spike Milligan said it all...
"The only way to true, lasting inner happiness is Transcendental Money."
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Portraits of Obama and Clinton for unity
http://www.sundaram-art.com
shan the artist
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All of these deals will be swept under the rug
by the time the convention is held.
If I were you, Justin, I would make a stink just
so some hush money appears under your
door at the Back Side Inn. (make sure the
Obama people know your room number).
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Is it about money? Sure, but I think there is another component. With the Clintons campaigning for Obama they will look like the power behind the throne. They aren't, of course, but their visibility on the political scene may help to shore up their status as influence peddlers, and the major source of their income. Why did Obama agree to it, considering he didn't need their support (and they may prove a hindrance)? Perhaps making nice with them would prevent their sabotaging his run for the presidency.
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That sick-looking smile on Hillary's face as she listened to her new boss harangue the adoring crowd today must have cracked her make-up. Now the money machine that is Obama will be getting back in full gear, and Hill and Bill will be off the hook for that campaign chest deficit. They could have paid it off out of their own pockets and still have a few millions left!
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The Clintons have always been brazen about fund raising.
Seems those 2 democrats are not the only ones threatening to vote for McCain. I know a few New Yorkers who will be voting for a republican for the first time in their lives. These votes won't matter much in NY, but it's interesting to hear about nonetheless.
I couldn't help but think, as I watched the "unity" event today, how in heck Hillary found herself turning the stage over to an inexperienced, arrogant guy like Obama. That's gotta hurt. And maybe that's why he'll have to pay, literally.
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Andrea,
With all due respect, I reckon he's quite possibly more experienced than you think, and doubtlessly less arrogant than some I might mention.
Smile
ed
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#11. nobleFloridian "That sick-looking smile on Hillary's face as . . . must have cracked her make-up." No more when Nancy Reagan smiled and gazed adoringly at her husband. Such comments are schoolyard taunts; would anyone remark about her former opponent's ears? #6 IndianaJones is correct - regardless of the money situation, He needs Her.
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Obama is less experienced than most. Though his talent for talk is greater than I've ever seen.
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#24 david-cunard
Oh please! Can we get over this whole thing about Obama deciding not to take public funding? What happened to: 'It is acceptable to change your mind?'
As I stated in a previous post that the PTBS (Powers That be) allowed to stand: 'Money talks and b---s walks!
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Andrea,
Most what?More experienced than HRC in winning and holding elective office, more experienced than Lincoln, etc. As noted before here, nobody has RELEVANT experience except those who have already been POTUS.
Salaam, etc.
ed
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David-cunard
Sorry, your #24 comment was on the previous blog but I still think that a change of mind does not mean a person is a total moral cretin. Please ask yourself how many times you have changed your mind over the course of your life time.
It is all about money.
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#16. aquarizonagal "What happened to: 'It is acceptable to change your mind?'" What would you say if sufficient super-delegates changed their minds in August? Would that be acceptable too?
Already the change from public to private funding has been held against Mr Obama by Republicans, notable Karl Rove, and it will be included in any list of things about which he has changed his mind, now or in the future. I believe it would all be much fairer if candidates were given a specific amount to use to spend as they saw fit, no more, no less. Election funding, most especially Presidential, needs a serious overhaul; America does not need a president who can virtually buy votes.
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The Repugs had no gripes about money when they were holding the biggest bags of it. Karl Rove is the last person I'd turn to for moral instruction. I won't chastise Obama for playing to his own advantages in an election he must win.
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#19 david-cunard
Those super- delegates could change their minds. That could happen. People change their minds.
Can we ask how many times McCain has 'changed' his position? Please don't mention Karl Rove. The man is a vicious pit-bull.
In a perfect world candidates would be given $4.90 each, to mount a campaign. Politicians have been buying public office for a long time. It is a bit naive to believe that money does not matter.
Maybe, I would like to think that my little bit of money might matter more than, say a company like Haliburton or maybe that mercenary group, Blackwater that we have paid billions to over the last eight years.
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Asburypark
Well said! It is not surprising how quickly some people can cry 'foul' when they are losing.
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Would be nice to see something objective in this blog, instead of Obama propaganda.
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pdlodge
Where is the Obama propaganda? Maybe I am missing something but there seems to be some criticism of Obama for:
a) not taking public funding
b) 'kissing' and making up with Clinton
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Ah, Aquarizonagal,
That makes at least 2 of us missing something re: the supposed Obama propaganda!
Could we have a c) please, as in:
c) less experienced, less experienced, less experienced.
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hewanorra
Gee thanks! I forgot to include c)
Aren't we all getting tired of that one?
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Shouldn't we be relieved that at least the money-talk is out in the open?
In both the UK and the USA there are histories of sleaze to make your skin crawl. Whatever HRC's reasons for supporting Obama, she's committed to it now and will have to try to look sincere.
Louis B Mayer said something about "if you can fake sincerity . . .". Of course that was for the acting profession, not politicians. Definitely not the same thing . . .
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David: What in the world has Nancy Reagan's adoring smile got to do with anything? That's quite a reach, wouldn't you say?
You have to admit that this "alliance" is an uneasy one at best. Wait until Bill gets into the mix and then you will see some cracks in the fake "friendship". Obama will find that he cannot afford to have our former "Command-in-Chief" speak for him.
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#28 - nobleFloridian "What in the world has Nancy Reagan's adoring smile got to do with anything?" Exactly the same thing as Mrs Clinton's smile cracking her make-up.
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David: For once words fail me! But I will use this space to thank Justin bloggers for apparently ceasing to make up nasty nicknames for John McCain. Your restraint, despite your obvious dislike of the man, is commendable.
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as a white blue collar (well dirty colour never could tell) catholic I resent your comments
indi.
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though catholic brought up with UK catholics.Now as agnostic as the day they drug me into church.
Then UK catholics were against the deathpenalty and war.
there's the difference.
who also believe race is of no consequence and matters not.
"His creed and his colour and his name don't matter"
you say-
The fact is Hillary doesn't need Obama. Obama needs Hillary!
If america had health care I would suggest you go take advantage of it.
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noble HaPPY Belated Birthday.
I have no pies or brews but will agree with you .
"They could have paid it off out of their own pockets and still have a few millions left!"
but sexist people would not let the Lady suffer for her foolishness.
despite so many others suffering which they find easy to Ignore.
As to DC and Indiana He may need her now but she needs him more. Her career is over if she tries to screw this up any more than she has.
his need for her is only in stopping her rabid attacks.
he could loose but if he does, america looses.
And unlike SO many out there I know guns are legal here. and descent is not, which leads to what got us here in the first place(as always).
REVOLUTION.(dumb concept always getting back to the same crap.)
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AdrianNY
Obama is less experienced than most. Though his talent for talk is greater than I've ever seen.
Certainly better than the last dumb ass they voted in in the US.
OH but how hard it is to find those voters now.
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America does not need a president who can virtually buy votes.
And americans can be bought by GOP supported Gas companies and traders manipulating markets (though this might back fire)
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I know a few New Yorkers who will be voting for a republican for the first time in their lives.
what race. are they like so many that have been exposed for being racists. I know you'll all moan but sorry there are reasons to be distrustful , but in reality he has shown way better morals than J mc Shame and HillBill.
but then colour isn't important , right.
Convince yourselves. But your God can see through to your heart and all the pleading "i'm not really a racist" will not help.(which it is despite the constitution) .
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DC can you provide the link to Obama saying "I WILL TAKE IT IF MC CRIME DOES"
show me the promise.
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25. At 10:46pm on 27 Jun 2008, Hewanorra wrote:
Ah, Aquarizonagal,
That makes at least 2 of us missing something re: the supposed Obama propaganda!
Could we have a c) please, as in:
c) less experienced, less experienced, less experienced.
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26. At 11:15pm on 27 Jun 2008, aquarizonagal wrote:
hewanorra
Gee thanks! I forgot to include c)
Aren't we all getting tired of that one?
you didn't notice the weird name and , well he seems tanned.
"Whatever HRC's reasons for supporting Obama, she's committed to it now and will have to try to look sincere."
What is she crazy, why can you not think she would comit because she needs to and believes it's right.
Did you believe her campaign retoric, even she was not that convinced.
Whatever HRC's reasons for supporting Obama,
He;'s the best choice america has. even if she were on the ticket.
there's the reason.
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jacksforge
Just caught up to you here. I posted a thanks to you on Justin"s 'Obama's Summer' blog re: the Moyers Journal site. I visited it this morning. Very true! Thanks again for the reference. I missed the broadcast.
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#30 nobleF; I don't dislike the man, I had hoped Mrs Clinton might be the Nominee but reserved judgement on Mr McCain until his positions were clearer. While Mr Obama is moving to the centre, Mr McCain appears to be moving further to the right which, I suggest, cannot help him in November
#33 jacksforge "his need for her is only in stopping her rabid attacks" - What rabid attacks? There's been uncommon harmony since Mrs Clinton conceded the nomination. The problem with Hillary-haters is that can never see anything good, however remote, about her. The phrase 'get over it' applies to them too.
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jacksforge
Clinton will bite the bullet because she wants to stay alive politically and because somewhere in the cavity she calls a 'heart' I hope there is some compassion for America.
(please don't 'hit' me. I am an optimist who does try to give a person some benefit of the doubt.)
I agree with you about Obama being our best hope.
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jacksforge wrote:
"what race. are they like so many that have been exposed for being racists. I know you'll all moan but sorry there are reasons to be distrustful , but in reality he has shown way better morals than J mc Shame and HillBill.
but then colour isn't important , right."
Nothing they've ever said or done leads me to conclude they're racists. They simply dislike Obama.
That's not racist. Well, maybe to Obama it is.
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Obama may be the democrats' best hope. He is, after all, their nominee. This might explain the desire to make him into something he's not.
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Money plays a major role in American politics, not so much because corporations can buy votes, but because it allows political candidates to influence public opinion via TV and radio advertising. Political propaganda is one of the most powerful tools used to be elected and, conversely, used to discredit and weaken an opponent. The impact of the Willie Horton and Swift Boat ruses in the outcome of the Dukakis and Kerry's campaigns should not be understimated. Although similar attacks against Obama via the main media are unlikely because of the risk of the perpetrators being viewed as racist, that will not stop rogue media outlets such as FOX to attempt to destroy Obama by emphasizing his middle name or suggesting that he attended an Islamic madrassa in Indonesia.
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Obama continues to provide plenty of fodder for controversy without anyone's having to resort to rumors about his religion.
His judgment, alone, is enough to fuel that fire.
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re: #44 DominickVila
". . . impact of the Willie Horton and Swift Boat ruses in the outcome of the Dukakis and Kerry's campaigns . . ."
Equating these by calling them ruses is hardly reasonable. In the Horton case, it was pointed out that Gov Dukakis personally made a stupid decision that had tragic consequences. It was a legitimate issue to call into question Dukakis' judgement. There was nothing contrafactual in those ads. In Kerry's case, the Swift Boat ads were blatant distortions of truth seeking to discredit him.
Other than the above, I agree with your post.
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The Swift Boaters made their claims public against Kerry because they believed he lied about his experiences when he returned from his 6 months (that's all it was) in Vietnam. They were not exactly "disproven." It was more like a he said, they said.
One thing I never understood about Kerry's service. Why did he always have someone with him taking pictures? I found that quite odd.
The other question that remains is the nature of the injuries for which he received his medals. He has never released his medical records, to which he is entitled solely at this stage.
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re: #47 AndreainNY
OK, I have to admit you're right about the "he said, they said" bit.
I just automatically considered Kerry's side to be much more truthful only because all (or at least virtually all) who served on his boat with him backed Kerry's version.
I would estimate that at least 99 per cent of those in VietNam had a cheapie little pocket camera, and, even when we went out of base camp, some brought theirs along. Given Kerry was on a boat, bringing non-essential stuff along is not as much of a problem as when you actually have to carry it for days in the boonies. I find nothing unusual about the availability of a camera at all times in his case.
I don't know about his medical records. I read somewhere that he _did_ authorize their release, but I can't vouch for it.
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40 David I agree and will back down.
The fear I had for her a a president was genuine.Like I say I hope it all goes well from here , but there were angles she attacked from that I believe no democrat should use.
I was not suggesting she was crazy just that she would now suppoet Obama because now the runoff is over she can see he must be just what america needs.:)
Aqua girl .I'm with you on hope on that score.
And I would not hit a lady.
I am sexist like that.
42 I see nothing racist in this thread either but remember other threads well. there are several including my fave , the rave self styles pontificator , the emperor of wrong, the erroneous wonder chicken,
who have shown in threads now deleted, that they tend to have a bias, with some it is racial ,I know a small feline that hates all black cats you'd think it was brought up in the witch hunt days.
the emperor himself just hates all lower life forms, anyone who by defect of birth is not Him. But does seem to have a particular desire to show highly anti semitic view.
When a racist says I do not like a black man I assume he is not giving them a fair chance and I have left employers in the lurch on jobs because they have shown that attitude, I'll put my money and all where my mouth is on this issue and have a hard time forgetting the racist I meet.
I have been a foreigner all my life and as such have seen all sides. I am sad to say I am lucky I was white because by now I would be in real trouble in life if I had had to fight colour based racism.
The people who you support in life show some of how or who you are and the support of racists in exclusion to any other people seems to me to show a bias towards racists.
What would that make them?
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This comment has been referred to the moderators. Explain.
Ah MA up to the block again.
And I would like to know more about you ,
you say your opinions are so worth while. that you post the best.etc.
So far I have gathered you were overlooked by you generous parents who were so liberal as to give your old cloths to charity.Which you hated.
Are you pissed that your secular non zionist parents who helped other had no time for your nasty attitudes. How they never moved to Israel so you could fight those "people".
Like I said in the post above yours.
when here I like to figure out who is speaking and from what angle .
You are not challenging enough.
The more you write the more I think I would like to meet your parents.
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MAII,
On the topic of Obama's Muslim heritage.
Someone just told me that he feels Obama's Muslim heritage might make him more comfortable with the Middle East. This man recounted how he was sitting with a group of middle-aged, Ivy-educated professionals, and not one of them could recall learning anything about Islam in college.
He concluded that Obama's ease among Muslims would be an asset.
If his Muslim background can be considered an asset, it doesn't seem unreasonable that another might consider it a detraction.
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In Arabic the term madrassa applies to ALL religious schools, not just Islamic schools. Moreover, many students in religious schools are not affiliated with the religious organization that runs the school. It seems odd that the same people that denigrate Obama's character because of the rhetoric of his Christian preacher and his failure to leave his church the first time he heard racist remarks made are the same ones that accuse him of being a Muslim. I wonder how Obama's detractors feel about the man that called Christian religious leaders "agents of intolerance" and is today courting them and trying to get their vote...and money!
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jacksforge
Why should I go to Israel to fight for them? I am not an Israeli, I'm an American. Besides, I don't appreciate their pacifist humanitarian way of fighting for their survival. As a chess player since I was five years old, I know only one war fighting strategy, crush your enemy until he is dead dead dead forever. That's how you win in chess and in life when you are threatened. Clearly I don't believe in the ludicrous doctrine of a measured response.
I can't post what I really think, every time I do, BBC censors delete it. Suffice it to say that if I were put completely in charge of Isreal's defense, the threat from its neighbors would be solved in one day.
You are a foolish man jacksforge. You can't meet my parents. They are both dead. I am sure they did not like my political views. Too bad, I refused to lead the life or adopt the views they would have had me take on. I am far too independent and critical a thinker for that. Nobody tells me what to think or how to live my life including them.
Obama has more first hand knowledge of Islam than most Americans. If that means special sympathy to their views in preference to America's own interests, that makes Obama unacceptable. If he is not an American first and exclusively, he will not be acceptable. Even just one indication that he is anything less and the whole show is over for him. He knows it too.
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ma you could not squish a fly. that is why you a re a chickenhawk.
as for your parent g(god rest their souls) you are a spoilt brat.
not an independant thinker.
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And why would that be jacksforge, because I don't agree with you either?
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no because you are to much of a zionist to be independent.
Unlike me ,who cares not for any flag
Nations are not people, I care not for nations.
but you do not have to agree with me.
just shut up if you have not got any real arguments, otherwise I might as a free , free thinking man question you or even deride you.
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AndreainNY
America's ambassador to Iraq is an Arab American. How many European countries have ambassadors to the Arab world who have a heritage of that culture? It's true we don't have a lot of Moslems in our country and we remain largely ignorant if its history and culture. But that is changing for us. What about everyone else in the world, how much does Japan know about Islam? BTW, most of the Arab countries have many citizens with ties to the US through relatives here. It's not as isolated and alien as it first appears. And now that we are affected to a greater degree by what goes on in the Islamic world, I have a hunch college cirricula will change.
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TEST ONLY
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