Palin's bounce - and Ferraro's
This comes into the category of "news we could have used some time ago" but fascinating nonetheless. Wasn't the decision to execute the Rosenbergs bestial and unforgiveable by dint of the simple fact that they had two pre-teen children? To cause such suffering to innocent youngsters just seems, well, worthy of the behaviour of America's enemies at the time (and current enemies as well).
I am in the UK for a brief visit to launch one of the BBC's contributions to the tsunami of America-related coverage planned for the next few months. This will be the best. (I can say that since I have nothing to do with the series itself!)
Britons' view of the US has been further complicated by Russell Brand's troubles (he called the President a retard) leading to much analysis of Why We Are So Different - of which this was the best.
I haven't yet seen the whole of Sarah Palin's interview but it is the start of the process by which she comes to earth.
Everyone in the UK is worried President Palin will declare war on Russia mistaking it for an errant dinosaur, though I think this piece is reasonable in pointing out that she was hardly declaring the Russia war, just playing tough.
But it gets tougher for her from here, far tougher. Geraldine Ferraro's bounce lasted two months.
Hello, I'm 
~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~55~RS~)
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If Ferraro's bounce lasted two months and we only have 7 weeks till election day, I guess that means Palin is ahead by one week!
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You can make the argument that Ethel Rosenberg should not have been excuted but her husband deserved what he got.
Don't presume to lecture us about the death penalty.
And don't make traitors into heroic martyrs.
The Rosenbberg were a disgrace to this country.
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Sorry, but that really is a fatuous blog post.
"Eceryone in the UK is worried Pres. palin will declare on Russia ...." That is plain silly.
If you think Russell Brand's sick and rude act is worth defending eg by India Knight, that is also plain silly.
If you haven't seen Sarah palin's interview in full - why not ?
Why try to project your own views about the death penalty back 50 years to the Rosenburg case. There is an election going on, what relevance is that case right now ? Just another limp criticism of the US , talking down to the Americans.? There were far worse execution cases in the UK at around that time based on dubious decisions - Craig and Bentley for exampe, or Rillington Place.
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And why draw attention to a highly critical piece on Palin in WaPo - do you ever read any paper that is not left-leaning ?
Maybe it is not Palin that will "come down to earth". It looks like Obama is doing that - but as you have been boosting him for months it would not do for you to point out your own inflation of his abilities ?
I see the BBC sent people up to Alaska to dig around about Palin. Are you sending anyone to Chicago - it is just a short flight, and Obama is No 1 on the ticket, not No 2..
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The title of the BBC Radio 4 series seems to confuse America, which is a continent, with the United States of America, which forms a small part of that continent.
Perhaps it's as well you have nothing to do with such geographical ignorance, though honour will no doubt compel you to sever your relations with the crass organisation which has employed you.
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It seems to me that execution is the correct punishment for treason, especially as related to giving American military secrets about nuclear weapons to the USSR. To call it bestial is more BBC anti-American propaganda of the lowest order, just one more excuse for BBC's endless litany of America bashing.
Here we go with more BBC tripe about an American empire. Which empire will America be compared to this time? Last time it was Rome. This time will it be the Klingons or the Borg?
Why should people be worried that President Palin will declare war on Russia and not the UK. After all, given her reputation in Britain for not knowing anything about foreign affairs, she might not know the difference between them. Is there a difference between Russia and the UK? A noticiable difference? Funny, not so noticable that I could tell. Certainly not by what I hear on Bravda Broadcasting Corporation.
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The extreme left, fueled by Russian propaganda, howled about the Rosenbergs both before and after their execution. The fact is that they were spies. What do their teen-age children have to do with it? If the Rosenbergs had had cared that much for their children perhaps would not have become spies.
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Russell Brand? Who's he?
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Why are you giving a mediorce comedian most people have never heard of and why is Aol so concerned what a second rate airhead like Pink thinks.
Both have demonstated a great deal of ignorance why for every Bono there are 1000 Brands?
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I have no idea why you are bringing up he Rosenbergs. It seems pertinent to nothing at all at this point in time.
The McCarthy hearings were very destructive. Not only did they penalize people who were guilty of nothing except a socialist bias, but they also had the effect of driving those with more radical views firmly into the Russian camp. Hearing them in those days was like listening to a recitation from a Russian communist manual.
It was this group that fought for the lives of the Rosenbergs. They did not deny the Rosenbergs were spies. I believe their thinking had to do with not being able to separate Russian interests from our own. It was weird.
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I offered well-documented information about Ferraro's husband. It looks like my comment is going to be scrubbed. Why?
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How did a mere community organiser, a fledgling, get put in charge of tems of millions of funding ??
And where did that funding go ?
http://tinyurl.com/5svtjh
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Justin, I do believe that you're just down on
Sarah because she occasionally brings a shotgun
to a wedding.
All I can say is, after viewing this, you should
be grateful that Sarah cannot see the UK from
her house. Let's hope she doesn't get confused
about geography.
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Three comments:
Actually, it's been known for a while that the Rosenbergs DIDN'T give the Soviets much, if any, in the way of atomic secrets. Ironically, the radar information they gave the Soviets killed far more Americans than the atomic secrets others gave them.
Also, while we should be worried about Georgia being added to NATO, and thus giving Georgia the ammo to drag the US (and the UK, and Europe) into war with Russia, Palin is simply stating a fact. She is far less "gung-ho" about confronting Russia than McCain or Biden, both of whom have made significantly confrontational statements of support to Georgia. (I'm no Palin defender, it should be noted. I called her a blasphemer on "Will and Testament"...)
And, while I may get banned for going off-topic, I'm wondering if anyone will discuss Palin and use the phrase "Don't you think she looks tired?"
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There is an interesting article on Palin at the New York Times website. Her terms as mayor and governor were marked by extreme nepotism and swift punishment for anyone who dared to disagree with her. No wonder the Republicans put her on the fast track to the Presidency.
gunsandreligion: My god, Tina Fey was the spitting image of Palin. I actually thought it was Palin doing a guest spot until I read the title.
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Oh, and Marcus, I agree about the US disentangling from Europe. I just disagree with the reasons. For me, NATO outlived its usefulness after the USSR broke up. The US and Europe should have declared victory, awarded some medals, and made the NATO buildings a museum or office space. Instead, Clinton and Bush pushed for expanding NATO, Europe pushed for NATO doing what the UN wouldn't, and thus we are stuck in the state we're in.
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#1. DominickVila: "If Ferraro's bounce lasted two months and we only have 7 weeks till election day, I guess that means Palin is ahead by one week!" If you calculate the bounce from September 1st, then come election day, the bounce will have fallen to ground by one week.
#6 MarcusAureliusII: "It seems to me that execution is the correct punishment for treason, especially as related to giving American military secrets about nuclear weapons to the USSR." But bear in mind that Klaus Fuchs, who had actually worked on the Manhattan Project, was only imprisoned for passing on state secrets, not hanged. At the time, the USSR was considered to be a friendly nation and supposedly Fuchs considered that he had a duty to pass on information to one of our Allies. The political climate in the US, the entire "red scare", must have been at least partly instrumental for their execution, even if it now appears that Ethel Rosenberg did not type up the infamous notes, an action which led to her death. It does make one wonder about the brother though, who made the statement incriminating her.
As all mymarbles says, what do the children have to do with it? Even had their parents not been electrocuted, there would have been a lengthy term of confinement, possibly resulting in non-judicial death while in prison.
I really think that this time Justin has gone off the rails - this most recent entry appears to have little connection with the election. He might have used his links better by providing us with this gem from NBC/SNL, courtesy of The Los Angeles Times. Unfortunately the embedded link to NBC doesn't work, but that from the LA Times does.
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It seems to be a great coup:
All focus has been placed on Palin
instead of on the inadequate and dangerous McCain
and the total disaster of Republican/NeoCon policies.
And thus we see how media and mass democracy synergize absurdity.
[Poor Justin, incidentally, was making wry comments that unfortunates (above) took literally]
______________________
My take is that one-third of America will think that Palin reflects their (and thus the only true) worldview.
and that another 17% will laughingly enourage them
remember, Carl Rove wandered the White House halls whistling "Onward, Christian Soldiers" while preparing for the last election.
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#16. MarcusAureliusII: "Now I am more convinced than ever that Europeans are all the same, utterly contemptable. . . . A truly detestable race." So what are you - a Native American? Looks like you've been at the grape again, too many spelling errors in such a short post. Your vitriol appears to be exacerbated by your favourite libation.
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So, if a US comedian were to climb upon an international podium, say Billy Crystal hosting the Grammys, and call members of the leadership of British society 'retarded'--you don't think people would take terrible offense??
George Bush, for all his many faults, has still been a far better steward of the office than his predecessor, or AlGore, or John Kerry. People here may not be too fond of him, but they are absolutely sick to death of self-impressed foreign entertainers bloviating about our political and cultural life.
And, as for the Rosenbergs, who disclosed atom bomb secrets to the Stalin regime(!!!)...remember Joe Stalin, who murdered 20 million of his own citizens???
Don't the terms 'bestial and unforgivable' apply to him?
Was it not incumbent upon Julius and Ethel Rosenberg to consider the impact of their behaviour upon the lives of their own children, and the lives of untold millions of other children? Eastern Europe lived under the shadow of the USSR for decades, knowing the West could not come to their rescue, due to Moscow's nuclear arsenal(courtesy in great part of the Rosenbergs!). Then there were the hundreds of thousands killed in the proxy wars the USSR sponsored behind its nuclear shield.
Don't the words 'bestial and unforgivable' come to mind, or at least does the word 'evil' float through your mind? Or are people like us just 'retards' for thinking that those lives matter as well?
Had the Rosenburgs not been executed, there would have been brutal kidnappings of innocents in order to arrange a trade--and the contents of the US nuclear program that lived between their ears would have emigrated to the USSR.
Talk about bestial and unforgiveable....or is that language only reserved for the American 'retards'?
Philby lives. He works for the BBC.
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15, guns.
Thanks. Loved it.
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>>"(I'm no Palin defender, it should be noted. I called her a blasphemer on "Will and Testament"...) "
Why is that of any relevance in a political contest?
Palin's faith is none of my business, but her expressions of policy based on that faith are my business. Are you saying you oppose Palin because you disagree with her faith?
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Talk about differences between the US and UK!!!! I don't understand Justin! 75% of the time you seem (though you strongly may disagree with some of my views which, by the way, unlike those people who fliped out over the Russel Brand jokes at the VMAs!! I warmly welcome and am totally fine with!!!) you expressed your disagreements with such rationality! Such fairness! Such respect! But then the other 25%, its as if your morays of the others are completely disregarded. As if you completely transforme into a new person when you post such hastally arranged, such quick to judge comments!! And yes, I'm sad to say, once or twice you've posted asertions which are just simply downright untrue!! And so my simple question is...why? Why do you have this seemingly split personality? Why do you post such offensive material periotically? And perhaps most importantly, what are your goals in doing so? What do you hope to gain from it?
As regards the Rosenbergs executions, you express that you feel that "Wasn't the decision to execute the Rosenbergs bestial and unforgiveable by dint of the simple fact that they had two pre-teen children? To cause such suffering to innocent youngsters just seems, well, worthy of the behaviour of America's enemies at the time (and current enemies as well)."
First, I really fail to understand why this is relevant now. We have discussed the death penalty several times before on here. You have seen all the arguments both for and against it, and it has been explained to you I'm sure why may American states just simply won't let it go!!! Of course I think the Rosenbergs shouldnt've been excecuted!! And my feelings were all the more strenghthened and entrenched after I read this piece!! But Justin, why bring it up again? Your just going to get the same tired old bitter debate raving again! And especially there is no point in bringing it up when there's an election going on? This isn't even current!! It happened well over 50 years ago!! I don't know if you've noticed, but a lot has changed in this country in 50 years!! So why focus on a sadly statick and unchanging stain on the America's fabrick instead of a positive aspect of it? Why bring it up at all? I'm serious! I'd love to know what sparked this idea.
"Britons' view of the US has been further complicated by Russell Brand's troubles (he called the President a retard) leading to much analysis of Why We Are So Different - of which this was the best."
As I've said above, I despise the actions of those Americans
who absolutely unnecessarily and immaturely flew off the handle at his jokes, and am ashaimed to share a nationality with them!!!! But on the other hand, I can sort of see where they were/are comeing from even if their reactions were far too strong!! The way I personally see it is a person should be on their best behavior when abroad, as when they are abroad they are acting as an unofficial ambasitor for their nation to the nation's who's soial they are on. Therefore, when Russell Brand was invited to host the VMAs, he should have in my opinion seen it as an opertunity to entertain "all" of the American public. And that generally includes I'm sorry to say leaving out any jokes that take aim at elected officials, as it runs the risk of being seen, and was seen, as a foreigner (a national of our nation's closest ally nonetheless!!), insulting and atacking the American people's ability to elect a decent head of state. As the woman in the article said, "Bush has one of the lowest aproval rateings in US history, so why can't the American people take a joke about him if he is that much hated in his own country?" But you see that's the point. If an American comedian makes crewel jokes about a sitting president, then the subbtext and/or hidden message to the American people is, '"We failed last election. Look what its done for us both domestically and abroad!! Lets not let this happen again!!" Where as many Americans interprited Brand's jokes about Bush to have the hidden message of saying, '"You dumb yanks screwed us over so bad with this president!! How could you be so stupid to vote him into office...twice!!! Couldn't you have been able to predict how he might act in office given how he acted on the campaign trale? God! Some allies you are!! Some special relationship!!" Now I delibritly over exadurated that last interpertation to prove my point, but you catch my drift. My guess is that many Americans felt both embarrissed that they once voted this disaster into he white house, and even more so that that person has mistreated our allies so badly!! Compound that with the fact that a citizen of one of our nation's allies is pointing out this masssive blunder to us (a blunder which we are all too painfully aware of) and hopefully you can see where they're comeing from. I must say though, that I found that article refferenced above a bit offensive myself (generalistic of Americans and uch), and so I prey that it wasn't the "best" piece written on the massive world of difference between the US and UK that you claim exists!!! That is one of the untruthes I was talking about above! You speek of differences between our two countries as if Americans are alains or something!! Like the United States may as well be a country on Mars!! Don't you think that's a bit exadurated? And Britain's view of America has become "further complicated" due to the Russell Brand insodant? Why cant they see us as I, and I'm sure many other Americans see them? A nation that is a bit different from ours, but to see that as ok, for after all how boring would this world be if we were all the same? O well, I can always keep dreaming.
"Everyone in the UK is worried President Palin will declare war on Russia mistaking it for an errant dinosaur."
O dear, I dearly hope this is your sore attempt at stand up comidy!!! "Everyone?" Could there be a more generalistic term?
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But good luck on that america documentary-it seems interesting, though I doubt many Brits will want to watch it, as the poor folks are being bombarded with information on another nation's election enough as it is!!
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#25 Old South: "Philby lives. He works for the BBC." For those who don't recognise the sarcasm, Kim Philby died twenty years ago.
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It appears that I am not allowed by the mods
to use words in the article that Justin quoted
by India Knight, but suffice it to say that many
of us share Russell Brand's opinions about our
current leadership, and do not take offense
when foreigners make light of them.
But, I do have to take exception about many
of the things that Ms. Knight talks about in
her article which display a superficial understanding
of the US. What on earth is she talking about
when she talks about our "bottomless appetite
for pornography?" And, why doesn't she mention
the horrible gang crime which has rendered
many of our cities uninhabitable.
All of this leads me to conclude that she is
drawing the wrong conclusions by examining
too little evidence from afar. A few bloggers
and editorial pieces do not a society make.
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To further help explain my point on Russell Brand, How do you think it would sit with Britains if Bill Marr went to London at the invitation of MTV UK or something and made edgy jokes about Gordan Brown? You know like how we've come to expect a bit better aurotory skills from a British prime minister, how he is just a dull boring Scotsman and wasn't even elected into office!! As only Bill Marr can do!!
See my point?
One would hardly be warm blooded if they weren't at least a little erked by something like that!
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33, NoRash.
No, I don't see your point. Why so touchy? We should be allowed to make fun of anybody we want. Would you outlaw humor? A good laugh is usually at someone's expense.
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Justin, you sound as if Palin is running for the presidency this election. Don't forget who America is actually voting for, Obama or McCain. Any election that would see Palin run for president is at least 4 years in the future. Also, if Vice President Palin were to succed McCain because he, God forbid, died in office, I highly doubt she would start a war with Russia or even Iran for that matter; such talk is obviously exaggeration.
As for Palin's and McCain's bounce, I have a feeling that it will not dissipate as much or as quickly as you suggest; many people have been swayed by her performances and the harsh coverage she has received.
When judging Palin, please keep a clear head; remember what position she is running for and who her Democratic counter part is as reference, one who, not so eloquently, told a crowd of supporters that Hillary, not himself, would probably have been a better choice for Obama's V.P.
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People have touched on the subject the death penalty, but I have never weighed in. Yes, I am for it. (And don't anyone come back to me with Christian dogma. That's not my scene.)
What I am against are perverted forms of execution, that would include the electric chair, poison gas, firing squad, hanging and, yes, lethal injection. (Did you know that they sterilize the spot they are going to inject? Well, we woudn' t want the killer, or traitor, getting infected, would we.)
The most humane form of execution was actually the guillotine, or any other form of beheading. Instant death and no time for pain. We rear up in horror because it involves mutiliation. Well, so does the electric chair.
I expect to hear a lot of screaming, and not from death throes either....
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You guys are after me again. If Russell can say Bush is a retard, why can't I?
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About Russell Brand:
I really couldn't care less about what Russell Brand said outside the U.S. While I will admit that many Americans are obsessed with our celebs, I rarely care about stuff like this because I have come to expect such talk from Hollywood; it's not shocking anymore, so I shrug and go on with my life. Besides, saying such things about President Bush in a foreign country is cowardly anways and a cry for attention. It's not like America has a secret police who arrest people in the dead of night for speaking ill of the president. The only consequense Russell Brand has to worry about is bad public opinion. Of course, the Dixie Chicks learned that lesson the hard way.
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#33. NoRashDecisions: "How do you think it would sit with Britains if Bill Marr went to London at the invitation of MTV UK or something and made edgy jokes about Gordan Brown?"
At the present time, it would probably would go down very well! Incidentally, Mr Brown was elected as Leader of the Labour Party, who, following recent convention, The Queen was then obliged to ask to form a government. The Prime Minister is not directly elected by the British electorate.
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#39, allmy, it's really hard to compare experiences
when one is talking about capital punishment.
Personally, I believe that the Word of God is
too slow to change human behavior,
and that punishments should fit the crime.
For example, with gangs, we should start a new
reality TV show where we strand members of
opposing gangs on an island. It would be like
"Survivor" except that there wouldn't be any.
Seriously, though, I have been lectured by
British folks ("Britlanders?") on the morality
of capital punishment. One of them even had
the audacity to suggest that we Americans
would be more civilized if we made executions
public, served popcorn and other treats to
the assembled multitude, and provided auxiliary
forms of entertainment, such as jugglers
immediately before the main event.
This just shows how ignorant you folks are
about modern American life!
Nowadays, we serve health foods at executions,
including organic vegetables chock full of
bioflavonoids in salads with trans-fat free
dressings of various types. And, in order to edify
our young, we often provide for cirque du soleil
to make an appearance. A good time is had by
(almost) all. We are thoroughly modern!
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41, Bienvenue.
Let me get this straight. You are saying that free speech is OK for an American, but not for a foreigner. Right? And the foreigner, when he says what he thinks abroad, is being cowardly. Have I missed anything?
Aren't these fantastical notions for an American - if you are an American?
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#39 allmymarbles: "The most humane form of execution was actually the guillotine, or any other form of beheading. Instant death and no time for pain." But very messy! And there were reports that the head remains alive for a short while. Mary, Queen of Scots, was beheaded, but not at one stroke, and the tale is that immediately after the first blow, she was heard to say 'Sweet Jesus' - not I think a painless end.
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#40, allmy, how come you can say the "r" word,
and I can't get it by the mods?
I wonder if Russell could say anything on this blog!
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43, guns.
Don't downplay the British notion of public executions We could replace live theater, which is dying, with death theater. It would be a service to the world of drama.
And then there is all the booty we could make from souveniers.
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45, guns.
I had to try twice. The second time they were ashamed.
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45, David.
That settles it. It has to be the guillotine.
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McCain has managed to turn the tables with Palin. I am shivering to the idea of another 4 years of indiscreet (pro-life) and back-ward (creationist) ideas ruling the mightiest country in man's history
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#50, Parrisia, don't worry, our fearless leadership
shall run us into the ground in no time at all.
Pretty soon, Europeans will be sending
anthropological expeditions here on their
way to New Guinea.
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50. Parrisia.
If they teach wild things like creastionism in schools, we will take our children out of public schools. If they ban abortions, women will have abortions anyway. It is war that worries me. The rest of the goofy stuff we can get around.
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#17 MarcusAuRumsfeldus
Wow, now he wants to nuke the Brits. I guess he can't handle debating with them anymore, or never could. If expressing a desire to nuke the UK isn't waving the white flag, I don't know what is. Do you have money in Lehman Brothers, Marcus? Unhappy Barclays isn't bailing them out? Don't take out all your frustrations on the British, Marcus. They aren't a perfect people, but I've never heard any of them profess to want to nuke us (a capacity which they have as well).
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51, guns.
Don't knock New Guinea. They don't have Palin.
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In reference to 44 allymarbles and
41 BienvenueEnLouisiana:
Allymarbles, perhaps you should have read my post more carefully. I merely stated that I don't really care what celebs like Russell Brand say and I gave my reasons in my last post. I believe that freedom of speech is more than just ok; it is an inherent right of all people that some unfortunately don't enjoy in this world.
At the same time though, any celeb who speaks of his president or prime minister, etc. in a foreign country as being "retarded" when there is clearly no danger of him being carted off to prison in his home country for saying such things is both looking for attention from a foreign audience that revels in such talk, and hoping to be so far away as to not have to deal with the press and bad public opinion back home. But as the Dixie Chicks found out, the press and the public are not so forgiving.
If these prove to be fantastical notions for an American, then I own them.
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55, Bienvenue.
You say that if Russell Brand were to speak insultingly (retard) of Bush abroad that "there is no danger of him being carted off to prison in his home country for saying such things...."
What you are saying is very strange. I could call Bush a retard any time I wanted and no one would cart me off to prison. Believe me, I have called him worse.
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Allymarbles, do you consider free speech "very strange"? The fact that you haven't been carted off for your nonsensical rhetorical statements shows freedom of speech is alive and well.
I don't mean to be short with you, but the point is that I simply don't care about the political views of celebs, and being that it's 1:10 am in America I don't have the time to debate with you the semantics of my posts. I have to be up early tomorrow morning and go about my business.
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Mr Webb's comments are very pro Democrats. No persons who has a son or daughter in war or any other relation in war would ever think of issues like he has stated. Two prominent questions would be - if already in war, how to stop it and bring the troops back home victorious; secondly, how to delay starting the war to avoid the agony of all mothers. Just because one is Republican does not mean they are with guns to shoot anyone and everyone.
Also, his topics are already dated - why not current issues of what happened yesterday or a few hours ago?
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#49. "That settles it. It has to be the guillotine."
Although this is way off-topic, I can't think why no-one has considered a form of shechitah - in essence, blood letting. If memory serves, in the film The Loved One, one of the characters (played by Liberace?) dies by replacing his blood with embalming fluid. Think of the lives that might be saved with all those extra ten pints - fresh blood out, formaldehyde in - and we might even dispense with the formaldehyde!
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#36, Ms. Marbles, if humor is outlawed, only
outlaws will be humorous.
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59. David.
Great idea. If you and gunsandreligion and I got together we could set up a very profitable business. At the same time we could perform a valuable service for the government, free of charge. That kind of puts Lehman Brothers in the shade, doesn't it?
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59, David.
You might say that we could make a killing.
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#39 allmymarbles
There was a documentary a while back here wherein Michael Portillo (pax US people who've never heard of him) searched for the most humane method of execution - if that's what you want.
He found that death by oxygen starvation - probably using carbon dioxide was probably best.
Some US politicians (in the documentary) objected to that. They thought it was too easy on the criminal.
Capital punishment is a moral judgment. If you took the amoral, social line - i.e. financial cost effectiveness and lives saved vs. lives lost - then you would have capital punishment for speeding and other dangerous traffic offences.
It would save more lives and once the message got through, it would cost less lives. It would also cost less in damage / recovery through road traffic accidents which must cost far more than murder investigations.
I have no problem with the notion that a society may make a moral judgment but it seems to be at odds with much of the collective morality in US society - i.e. religions.
Jesus would surely have forgiven the offender. Do you not have to go to Judaism or Islam for moral sanction for it ? And then, should the punishment be as ordained in the religious texts for those religions ?
See 'Life Of Brian' for popcorn / stoning, etc.
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BTW I find sitting Governor Palin to be quite a savvy politician-which is why she has such high ratings in her state.
That said, the Palin phenomenon will wear off just as the BO phenom has.
However that factor only has to last another 52 days. Obama had a run of 19 months, really less because his aura started to wear off in late February. Still the SDs bought the 'I can redraw the map' meme and they loved the money, but now they are finding that both are not living up to expectations.
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You crazy right wingers make me laugh. You lot really are nuts aren't you. As soon as Rosenburg's name is mentioned all hell brakes loose. MAII - nuclear bombing the UK? Please get a grip! And grow up.
On a separate note though: if USA can put their battleships in the Black Sea then surely Russia can put some battleships off the coast of Venezuela. If the USA can put missiles defence systems in Poland, can Russia put some in Cuba?
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When the markets crash, the first rally is called a dead cat bounce, and that's what has happened to the McCain campaign. By the end of today it will be a different election.
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TO GUNS N RELIGION AND ALL MY MARBLES:
YOUR HUMOR IS RE-ASSURING. I AM GLAD TO SEE THAT YOU ARE TAKING IT LIGHTLY, THOUGH I HOPE NOT TOO LIGHTLY: PLS GO VOTE! (FOR OBAMA, THAT IS)
WAR IS INDEED A PROBLEM AND I DON'T THINK THAT EVEN OBAMA WILL MAKE IT GO AWAY. THE "INDUSTRIAL MILITARY COMPLEX" IS PART AND PARCEL WITH THE US POWER SYSTEM. EVEN BARACK PROMISED MORE MILITARY SPENDING (IN AFGANISTAN HE HAS SAID BUT IN REALITY WHAT'S THE BIG DIFFERENCE?)
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#59, David, Ms. Marbles:
David, I like your idea. It's very... Carpathian.
Ms. Marbles:
Lehman is apparently already in a pretty shady
spot. But, we could offer our services to the IRS
and reduce their collection costs.
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Meltdown in the US banking scene, consistent swings across all the polls and electoral college assessments- so why isn't Mr Webb dealing with these significant issues, not regaling us with utter tosh like his latest blog post.
Other British media (eg Guardian, Times, Financial Times, Telegraph) are giving us thoughtful and full coverage of the US election. Mr Webb gives us banal and biased nonsense. Gee, thanks.
Russell Brand offended the MTV Awards audience with his stupid unfunny "comedy". His sneering and ignorant remarks would be even more offensive to "Middle America". It is typical of the BBC that it should push an article that defends Brand's gross behaviour.
The Ferraro reference seems just as bizarre as the earlier Eagleton reference by Justin Webb which was quickly disowned.
And the Rosenberg remarks are merely a distraction from the real issues Mr Webb is paid to cover.
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63, ChillO.
My opinions are unrelated to religious belief. The suggestion that capital punishment would be extended to speeders is fanciful. You may be assuming that anyone who advocates capital punishment has a blood lust.
Capital punishment is linked to the most serious crimes. Serial killers, hit men, calculated murder, etc.
You hold very much to the Christian view. I don't, but wasn't it Jesus who said something about rendering unto god and rendering unto caesar. So even he did not condemn capital punishment.
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
Obama raised more than $66M in August, a new record. Staying on message and attacking McCain on the issues is the best strategy as Palin's record withers under the glare of the media spotlight.
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What a deeply dispiriting chain of comments, lacking relevance (Justin's fault), humour (don't worry sensitive Americans who don't like the sacred office mocked, most Brits probably don't find either Brand or the President funny either), and insight (ultimately Justin's fault again - can you please get us back to the ishoos?)
The references to treason prompt me to suggest that it's McCain who's committing it now - how dare he threaten America with a near-future replacement President whose small-mindedness, grubby dishonesty, quasi-religious zeal and manipulative cynicism exceed even his own?
I'm off now to try to find an intelligent blog, but I'll be back later to see if this one has recovered its earlier elan - maybe it will when and if Obama's campaign does.
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Wow Justin, I think you've revealed how incredibly sensitive American's are about their Toddler in Chief.
(to all the people asking how Britons would feel if some American yahoo came over and insulted Gordon Brown, well, quite frankly he or she would probably get a prime time TV slot on the BBC and we'd laugh our heads off. Brown isn't very well appreciated, what with not being elected and having a habit of dithering and empty political gimmicks)
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
I've always enjoyed Mr Webb blogs , however recently I got the impression that he begin to loose his impartiality . He might have to change his 'Justin Webb Amarica' to 'Justin Webb Obama' !!!!!!! Are there anybody else thinking along the same line ?
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#67, MarkfromOxford, that's right, with the world
banking system in turmoil, that resets the game.
Dr. Doom (Noriel Roubini) was right on the money...
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Candace
But Obama is not staying on message. Indeed - what is the message these days ?
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The next six hours are going to be very revealing. At the moment the FTSE is down 188 points at 5228, or 3.5%. The technical point for a bear market is 5385, so it was only just hovering above that level before the markets opened, and this is but the first trim. It is also the level the markets briefly dipped to on 11 July, but this time the situation is much worse. It would not be surprising for the FTSE to be down 3-400 points by the end of the day; a drop equivalent to 6-800 points on the Dow. Anything over 800 points on the Dow, and especially anything over 1200 (ie. dipping below 10000), and the electorate will really start to turn. Promising more of the same is not going to sound all that convincing.
However, it does not stop there. After Goldman and a couple of others report later in the week, there is a lull before the October market reports and they are not going to be pretty: that means that the bear market will sustain itself through the election with the Dow down to the 8-9000 mark, and the next unemployment figures will be up. It's going to be really interesting to see what happens when the votes come in, because there are going to be a lot more angry and worried people out there, and Palin is going to look like a very unnecessary distraction.
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At #70, John AAA wrote "Russell Brand offended the MTV Awards audience with his stupid unfunny "comedy". His sneering and ignorant remarks would be even more offensive to "Middle America". It is typical of the BBC that it should push an article that defends Brand's gross behaviour."
You mean an article you happen not to agree with. About behaviour you happen not to like.
And , rather intriguingly, it's from the Sunday Times. As I recall, you described them yesterday as the UK's leading Sunday paper. But of course, that was when you were 'pushing' an article in the Sunday Times which was unfavourable to Obama.
As you say - 'typical'....
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#80, Mark, I think that you're probably right,
the Dow is probably headed down to the low
8000's. The degree of financial mismanagement
by the current administration and congress is
clearly to blame. Even though there are a small
number of fairly obvious reasons why we got
here, (large deficit, toleration of Chinese fixing
their currency against ours, global capital bubble),
the prescriptions for fixing the problem will
be manifold and confusing.
Bottom line... we have to live within our means.
The American people are not going to like that
message, no matter how it is delivered.
It's really too bad. So, I suppose that in order
to get into office, our candidates will lie as usual.
Not a pretty picture at all.
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Mark, thanks for your analysis. I know little about Financial stuff and whether this will have any significant political impact. Hopefully the Dems will keep replaying McCain's comments that the economy is not his strong suit.
Also, this footage of Sarah should be used in an attack ad.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieuA7nAOBXQ
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And, I just noticed this video. of an interview with Roubini.
It must have come out in the last few days.
He says cash is king, inflation is dead, and so
is the economy.
Politics as usual is not going to work when this
chicken comes calling to roost.
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ref #66
another moral equivilency argument?
First Georgia is a democratic nation who Russia invaded without provocation.
Second It has been proven that Dictator Hugo has been supporting the FARC terrorists and stole the last two elections.
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John-in-Dublin
Have you actually seen the stupid and insulting Russell Brand MTV stuff ? Even MTV had to chop some of his ridiculous stuff.
Yes the Sunday Times is probably the leading Sunday UK paper - partly because it carries so many articles. lots of varied opinions. And because it does proper news as the central focus.
.................................
The US electorate is historically centre-right. It is the middle ground that decides most times. Obama is losing the middle ground right now. And Russell Brand's rubbish looks offensive to the middle ground, not just to ardent Republicans.
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I was going to give up spouting on this site, but having just had a quick look I cannot hold myself back from throwing my oar in.
I don't know why on earth we are being asked to contemplate the fate of the Roseberg children, sad though it must have been. Why not think about all the pre-teen children in Iraq whose parents' lives have been abruptly terminated - particularly now as we review the consequences of the past eight years. It makes the subject of knowledge acquired after the event even more pertinent.
And on this day of the Lehman crash - less than a week after the Freddie Mac/Fannie Mae nationalisation - I will return to my basic theme.
Eight years of the Bush/Cheney/neocon administration have left the American economy in tatters. And who is going to have to persuaded to step up to the mark and prop up this debacle. The only countries with serious money, that's who. And who are the countries with serious money ? The oil-rich Gulf States - again that's who.
When neocon cheerleader Bill Kristol claimed in 2002 that a war in Iraq "could have terrifically good effects throughout the Middle East", this might not have been the good effect that he had in mind.
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"Rove: McCain went 'too far' in ads"
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/14/campaign.wrap/index.html
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john-in-Dublin
Things have come to a pretty pass when a campaign - and a Republican campaign at that - has become too scurrilous even for the unlovely Mr. Rove (who is looking, by the way, rather chastened since Jon Stewart sorted him out a few days ago).
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#85 MagicKrin
You forgot to mention that Georgia's specialist division received training from American military prior to their invasion into South Ossetia. That they attacked civilians as well as Russian peacekeepers. Then Russia pushed them out by force and rightly. I think we're wise enough to know that this was triggered by the White House to get their man in (or rather keep the black man out).
Kosovo unilaterally declared independence and USA, UK etc granted their wish. South Ossetia unilaterally declares indepenence and everyone bar Russia ignores them.
Venezuela's elections were fair and you know it. Just because you didn't like the result it doesn't mean it wasn't democratic.
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quite funny to see someone say treason deserves the death penalty when the man they voted president refused to fight for his country cowardice is worse than treason at least someone who commits treason believes in something american ignorance knows no bounds like the senator who recently said his biggest regret in visiting latin america was that he had not studied latin at college everyone thought communism was on the run till the communist american goverment nationalised the two biggest financial institutions in america to stop friends losing to much money and who will pay the american taxpayer you can bet the bush money is somewhere else oh in europe we can play poker on the internet any site we like but then we do have free choice
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Vsmani (58),
Republicans started the present war, and their present nominee is OK with it continuing, in case you hadn't noticed...Pax
ed
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82, 84
The reason this has happened starts with the Bush tax cuts. Long before Iraq, Bush blew a giant hole in goivernment financing and then compounded it post 9-11 by a loose monetary policy, and invading Iraq. The banks saw a window to cash in and securitise the debt and from there the bubble just got bigger. The solution to this in the short-term was for the Chinese, Russians and Saudis to finance the twin trade and budget deficits by buying US sovereign debt (China now has 1.6 trillion worth ... and it is buying the debt that has allowed China to peg the currency), putting the US in long term hoc to three countries who they don't really want to control their destiny. As an economic policy, it was categorically stupid; and, of course, the moment the credit bubble burst the entire house of cards came tumbling down.
It is going to get a lot lot worse. The first thing that needs to be fixed is the budget deficit, so that the US is not issuing more debt than it is buying back. That will help stabilise the currency. Next the US needs a $1-2 fuel tax with the proceeds invested in public transport infrastructure, so that oil demand drops, and it needs to tighten vehicle fuel economy standards and start taxing the empty seats on those planes. It also needs a public education programme abouit fuel conservation including such things as 68F being the optimal temperature. And it needs to invest in techologies to confront global warming and that enhance fuel conservation. It's not rocket science, but it is pretty unpleasant medicine.
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Rove did not say anything from McCain was scurrilous - he said the ad went too far (I agree)
What has been scurrilous has been the left's descent into filthy smears about Sarah Palin. Worse than scurrilous.
But counter-productive, thanks to most people having good sense rather than sick filthy minds.
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Mark & G&R,
You forgot rabid consumerism driven by personal debt and house price idiocy.But, of course, it's all the fault of the Democrats controlling Congress...
;-)
ed
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How many Koreans, including many children, died during the two and a half years for which the Korean War was prolonged because of the Rosenbergs' treason?
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#4
John,
The vast majority of papers are right leaning. We would start with the rather obvious Daily Mail, Sun, Telegraph and Times in the UK, balanced on teh left by the Mirror and Guardian. The New York Post, Wall Street Journal are the most obvious in the US East Coast (it's so regional here I can't keep track of every paper in the US. Safe to say if Murdoch owns it, it leans right), balanced by the NYT. In every market you find both because there are consumers for both.
With the possible exceptions of the FT and Economist all news publications have an editorial bias, one way or the other.
That does, however, onbly deal with the legitimate press. Once you include the whackies like talk radio and Fox News, there is undoubtedly a right wing bias in broadcast propaganda.
Stop whining about the bias of the press, that's just an excuse for folks who don't like facts being slapped down.
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I have just come across Ed's post of a couple of days ago suggesting that the Fed could resort to just printing paper money with no gelt in the vaults to back it up - a la Weimar Republic in the thirties/Zimbabwe in 2008.
A couple of days is a long time during a financial meltdown and if the moneybags in the Gulf won't cough up, your scenario has
come quite a bit closer this morning, Ed.
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".....if you count up fabrications documented by FactCheck.org or the Washington Post's Fact Checker, the other truth-squad operations working the race: During the past two and a half months, McCain has lied more often and more outrageously than Obama."
http://www.slate.com/id/2199923/
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Just another reminder that not everyone failed to see it coming.
Enjoy the ride!Peace and a cash position,
ed
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FTSE now down 283 points or 5.22%, the equivalent of a 580 point drop in the US, and it is only lunchtime, with the US yet to open.
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# 86 JohnAAA wrote:
"John-in-Dublin
Have you actually seen the stupid and insulting Russell Brand MTV stuff ? Even MTV had to chop some of his ridiculous stuff."
____________
I've seen clips on the news. I believe he called GW a retarded cowboy or some such. And also made fun of some teeny popstars. Perhaps some people might object to the use of the words 'retarded'. Then again, in one of the articles you were whinging about (India Knight, Sunday Times) she pointed out that she herself has a 'special needs' child and wasn't bothered by it.
-------------
"And Russell Brand's rubbish looks offensive to the middle ground, not just to ardent Republicans."
No doubt you have some polling evidence to back this up?
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Sam Tyler
Surveys have shown that 80% or more of US journalsts are liberals.
That is fine. We know that newspapers tend to lean either left or right, we can allow for their usual spin - "aim-off".
What is annoying is that Justin Webb seems to take his feeds, his talking points, only from US papers and journals that are Dem-supporting. Typically WaPo, NYT, LATimes, Atlantic. All "in the Dem bubble".
Which is both biased and in my view lazy.
And the BBC is not supposed to be biased - it is an unusual animal, with particular legal requirements to provide balance.
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"94. At 12:01pm on 15 Sep 2008, JohnAAA wrote:
Rove did not say anything from McCain was scurrilous - he said the ad went too far (I agree)
What has been scurrilous has been the left's descent into filthy smears about Sarah Palin. Worse than scurrilous."
But not as scurrilous as claiming Obama "consorts" with terrorists, then to produce no proof.
It takes a fairly distorted mind, consumed with hatred to accuse someone of such a monstrous offence, and then have no evidence for it.
Far more serious then to comment on someone's private life, which is not criminal.
Palin's problem, as is becoming clear, is she seems to have an inability to tell the truth and expects to be taken at her word.
Her "record" falls apart more every day.
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Sam Tyler
Yes, Fox is on the right, so is most successful talk radio. Unsuccessful talk radio ie Air America is on the left - and so is most PBS output.
Among the TV channels, Fox is opposed by CNN, MSNBC which are very left, and CBS which may be mostly left. ABC seems to be nearer the middle in this election.
I think it is fairer to say that the right dominate the radio listenership, (People cannot be bothered to listed to Air America, it will go bankrupt eventually ?) but the left has more of the TV channels.
The BBC is REQUIRED to give balance over time. It does not - either on US politics or on UK politics. As we are forced willy-nilly to pay for it, we are entitled to complain.
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I am in the UK for a brief visit to launch one of the BBC's contributions to the tsunami of America-related coverage planned for the next few months. This will be the best. (I can say that since I have nothing to do with the series itself!)"
One thing we do not need is yet another examination of the US by the BBC.
The Tudors, WWII and the US seem the only history ever presented these days.
Nothing happened in the UK until Henry VIII ascended the throne and got married, things carried on until Elizabeth 1 then everything disappeared again until WWII which was all about swing music and stiff upper lips.
Meanwhile in the US...
Why not a thorough examination of China? France or closer to home the Hanoverians? the Plantagenets?
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From the New York Times, on what will come to be known as "The Great Crash of 2008"
"My goodness" indeed!This is the legacy of two decades of Republican-led de-regulation of the banking and credit "industries", carefully removing the "redundant" and "out-dated" precautions put in place to prevent a recurrence of t"The Great Crash" of 1929 and the "Great Depression" which resulted...
"Those who fail to learn from history..." "But it's different this time!"
Aye, that'll be right!
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The whole Palin craze will soon wear off and the deteriorating economic climate will ensure it. Focus will be drawn back onto important matters and Obama will play his trump card - the Republicans failure of the US economy and John McCain's lack of economic knowledge.
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Brand also said "You Americans will be absolutely crazy if you elect lunatics like McCain or Palin" - or words to that effect.
If you don't think the idea of an unfunny loudmouthed and swearing comedian from overseas telling Americans how to vote offends middle-of-the-ground Americans, you must be a bit dense.
And as I said earlier - even MTV had to excise some of Brand's material as being too offensive.
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#45, 49 et al,
Regarding beheading, to Marby's point you have to look at the method. If we are talking about the old block and axe, it was very messy. The 'battle axe' is more a crushing weapon than a cutting one. The condemned were often struck 3-4 times before the head was removed. This was pften not helped by the fact that the executioner would have had a couple to steady his nerves.
The executioner responsible for Mary Queen of Scots death was notoriously messy, he glanced the firts blow off the top of her head, scalping her, then took several more to kill her. Then when he lifted her head by its hair to display to the crowd the wig she was wearing parted from her scalp and the head rolled around on the floor. That execution did not look good on his resume, and I doubt he got any more prime gigs.
Ane Boleyn may have been one of the few early beheadings that went cleanly, mostly because a swordsman was imported from Calais. Details vary, he either tricked her into leaning forwards to pick up a hankerchief or she knelt stoically. He took her head off with a single stroke from a hand and a half sword.
It was thought that the Guillotine was instant, but there is some debtae. It is said that Lavoisier swore he would blink his eyes 'so long as I am able' after having his head cut off, and he slowly blinked 13-14 times after his head was retrieved from the basket.
Is there a clean method? The Thai's use a machine gun for drug criminals. The chinese a simple pistol shot to the back of the head. Either strike me as being an effective method, and fairly instant.
All of which said, I'm not a fan of the death sentence. Not much focus is placed on a crime once someone has been executed for it, but there are enough instances in recent history to make the practice questionable. However, even states who have abolished Capital Punishment in theory retain it for extreme crimes, including desertion and high treason (in the UK).
So I'd have to opine the bullet is the quickest and most painless method, being truly instant. Perhaps if a randomly chosen member of the jury had to carry out the sentence that would be a good way to ensure the jury truly believes the prisoner deserves to die.
Messy Sam
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Enjoy the ride!
Wheeeee!
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The only thing that is neither a lie nor a gig in a comedy show is the collapse of our financial and banking system. I think it is disturbing that at a time when the assets of millions of people worldwide are at risk our topic of discussion is a comedian.
The biggest problem with our four candidates is not so much that they are distorting the truth or avoiding thorny issues, that is a trademark of US presidential elections, but the fact that none of them is articulating solutions to our problems. I don't need anyone to remind me that Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, Bear and Stearns, Lehman Brothers, Merryl Lynch, and 117 US banks are in serious trouble; or that our federal, state and personal debts are unsustainable; or that our health care and education systems are inadequate; or that our infrastructure is collapsing and our industrial might is disappearing, what I want to know is what are these clowns planning to do to solve these problems. Thus far, I haven't heard anything substantial from any of them.
Justin, studying the American psyche would be an interesting subject to discuss under normal circumstances, but the problems we are having are very real and go well beyond the trivialities of shows in MTV and Comedy Central or the sensitivities and over reactions of some.
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#80, 82, 84
Gentlemen,
As always very astute. I'm not sure I buy into a Dow at 8,000 but I can tell you the mood here today is very apprehensive. Looks like the Pound is taking a hammering as well, though not the Dollar (yet).
After helping Merrill this certainly places the current Administration in the 'Moral hazard' zone, not that that will affect any voter who doesn't listen to NPR.
I guess we'll see if they have the suicide nets up on Wall Street before lunch time.
Speaking of NPR, has anyone else been following the recent stories on counterfeit wines?
Concerned Sam
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97. At 12:10pm on 15 Sep 2008, SamTyler1969 wrote:
#4
John,
The vast majority of papers are right leaning. We would start with the rather obvious Daily Mail, Sun, Telegraph and Times in the UK, balanced on teh left by the Mirror and Guardian. The New York Post, Wall Street Journal are the most obvious in the US East Coast (it's so regional here I can't keep track of every paper in the US. Safe to say if Murdoch owns it, it leans right), balanced by the NYT. In every market you find both because there are consumers for both.
With the possible exceptions of the FT and Economist all news publications have an editorial bias, one way or the other."
You must bear in mind that this character gets his info from right-wing sources and parrots some of their material unquestioningly.
Once accusing Obama of consporting with terrorists, then failing to back it up.
Of course every publication has its line -that is journalism.
That is not the point. The issue is does the publication have professional news values.
It can be right-wing or middle of the road, provided it takes a professional attitude to journalism. The Telegraph does this as does the Guardian and the Times.
In the US the situation is hoplessly muddled. It hasn't helped that a number of US journalists have been found to be taking info from the White house and Pentagon without admitting it, others have fabricated stories etc.
The line between comment and news in the US is also woefully confused.
And totally confusing the whole issue is the inexplicable concept of "balance".
Which as far as one can tell is a playground idea where everyone gets an equal number of sweeties - though what this has to do with journalism is anyone's guess.
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BBC Radio had a marvellous report this morning about Lehman staff leaving their Wall Street building clutching assorted personal memorabilia such as family photographs - then stepping into one of a line of waiting limousines. Give a thought to those poor dears especially as limousines have to be chauffeur-driven if they are going to be allowed to wait on-street.
Maybe the rest of us will have a chance to pick up a cab in the rain now that all those chauffeurs are going to be looking for a job.
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# 94 JohnAAA wrote: "What has been scurrilous has been the left's descent into filthy smears about Sarah Palin. Worse than scurrilous./ But counter-productive, thanks to most people having good sense rather than sick filthy minds."
Your main obsessions, at least on this blog, appear to be
-McCain/Palin - good, experienced, REAL people
-Obama/Biden - bad, inexperienced, leftie, socialist, terrorist sympathiser etc etc
-BBC - evil biased lefties - boo. (You bravely try to counter said 'bias' by linking to anything and everything you can find unfavourable (in your eyes at least) to Obama. Some of these on really rather unpleasant right-wing sites.}
-The 'left's' evil, filthy, sick, filthy, horrid filthy smears against S Palin
Personally I think McCain's smear that Obama would rather win the election than a war - ie that he's essentially a traitor - is a pretty filthy smear. Ditto the one about sex education. There's a long and widely publicised list. Those filthy smears don't seem to bother you.
I will at least concede that some of the attacks on Palin may have been excessive. You linked to a Dem supporter saying the same. But what exactly is it that's getting you so het up? I assume it's the rumour that her son Trig was actually her grandson?
This was floating round the web - though I've seen no evidence the Obama camp were responsible for it. I assume it arose because (a) she went to great lengths to disguise her pregnancy, for some reason (b) she also , for some reason, seems to have jumped on a plane for c 8 hours when her waters broke (c) her daughter was apparently sick and off school for c the last 5 months of the pregnancy
As Andrew Sullivan pointed out at the time, all she had to do was provide Dr's records to prove it was false.
Anf God only knows neither she nor McCain can expect anyone to take anything they say at face value
I did a Google and this site came up first - http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-69834. It's a week or 2 old so not necessarily up to date. It has quite an interesting summary.
Some of their points: "Even if it is entirely false and ludicrous, people are talking about it, and are quite interested in it. It has cropped up on a number of liberal and conservative blogs and sites" and "So far, no media outlet has outright disproved the rumor (which should be very easy to do), though the Anchorage Daily News has reported the rumor."
Anf finally - thanks ever so for telling us what 'most people' think. Saves us having to look at those pesky polls.
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#107 Ed
I think Hegel said once that the one thing we learn from History is that no-one has learnt anything from History.
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105. At 12:38pm on 15 Sep 2008, JohnAAA wrote:
Sam Tyler
Yes, Fox is on the right, so is most successful talk radio. Unsuccessful talk radio ie Air America is on the left - and so is most PBS output.
Among the TV channels, Fox is opposed by CNN, MSNBC which are very left, and CBS which may be mostly left. ABC seems to be nearer the middle in this election."
What is "very left" in this context? Do they carry stories about dialectical materialism? The international solidarity of the working class?
"The BBC is REQUIRED to give balance over time. It does not - either on US politics or on UK politics. As we are forced willy-nilly to pay for it, we are entitled to complain. "
Drivel the BBC is required to present news to the highest standards. it does so whihc is why it is held in such high credibility.
It is not required to give airtime to cranks.
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#105
John,
Nonsense. CNN is right wing, as are CBS and to a degree CBS. You NEVER hear a union leader interviewed, rarely a civil rights campaigner on any of those stations. PBS tries to present the facts. MSNBC just gives back a taste of Fox for4 the lefties.
For someone in the UK you spend a lot of time watching American TV. This sounds like an unhealthy obsession.
Sad Sam
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Re:#79. That McCain says change but is more of the same, representing special interests and lobbyists. The $66M Obama raised in August also included a half million new donors. The American middle class is struggling and needs to change the failed Bush policies that McCain seeks to continue if elected.
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109. At 12:42pm on 15 Sep 2008, JohnAAA wrote:
Brand also said "You Americans will be absolutely crazy if you elect lunatics like McCain or Palin" - or words to that effect.
If you don't think the idea of an unfunny loudmouthed and swearing comedian from overseas telling Americans how to vote offends middle-of-the-ground Americans, you must be a bit dense."
And if you think the majority of Americans care what Russell Brand says about anything you do not know the country in any way shape or form.
"and as I said earlier - even MTV had to excise some of Brand's material as being too offensive."
Did they, what material was this? And how do you know? Sure it wasn't simple editing such as every guest is subject to?
Brand did his act and to threaten him physically for it is outragei ous.
But the right has never hestiated to resort to force to silence its opponents.
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Who in the hell is Russel Brand? I gather from what I read in this blog that this man is a British comedian, does anyone really care about what a comedian jokes about? Is the next blog going to be focused on the political and intellectual wisdom of Whoopi Goldberg or Chris Rock?
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116. At 12:56pm on 15 Sep 2008, john-In-Dublin wrote:
# 94 JohnAAA wrote: "What has been scurrilous has been the left's descent into filthy smears about Sarah Palin. Worse than scurrilous./ But counter-productive, thanks to most people having good sense rather than sick filthy minds."
Your main obsessions, at least on this blog, appear to be
-McCain/Palin - good, experienced, REAL people
-Obama/Biden - bad, inexperienced, leftie, socialist, terrorist sympathiser etc etc
-BBC - evil biased lefties - boo. (You bravely try to counter said 'bias' by linking to anything and everything you can find unfavourable (in your eyes at least) to Obama. Some of these on really rather unpleasant right-wing sites.}
-The 'left's' evil, filthy, sick, filthy, horrid filthy smears against S Palin
Personally I think McCain's smear that Obama would rather win the election than a war - ie that he's essentially a traitor - is a pretty filthy smear. Ditto the one about sex education. There's a long and widely publicised list. Those filthy smears don't seem to bother you."
We are dealing with some odd terrirory here.
This bloggers obsession with Palin's private lifea and claim to know how her children were conceived are weird enough.
But to claim that is on a par with accusing someone of consorting with terrorists, frankly indicates serious problems.
Issues of colour and sexism have plainly become deeply mixed, as they often are on the right.
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How are we meant to take as serious those contributions which are full of spelling errors?
Number 28 offers us (amongst others) hastally, periotically, statick, fabrick, ambasitor, opertunity, crewel (for cruel), interprited, exadurated, delibritly, embarrissed, and insodant.
And number 33 gives us the wonderful aurotory!
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Ref 116
"Personally I think McCain's smear that Obama would rather win the election than a war"
In my opinion, the appointment of Gov. Palin demonstrate that it is Sen. McCain who is willing to do whatever it takes to win the election, regardless of the long term consequences that his actions may have on our country.
I am a Democrat and I plan to vote for Obama, but until recently I did not consider the election of John McCain objectionable; my opinion of him changed since he began to exploit his military service, decided to court the "agents of intolerance and, especially, since he picked Palin as his running mate to win votes from those that were previously uncomfortable with his moderate record as a Senator.
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Another line from that article I linked to which is of interest
"Apparently, there has been suspicion, some reported through Alaskan media outlets even before the Vice Presidential buzz, that the child actually belongs to her daughter, Bristol Palin. Normally this would be a personal issue, but this becomes a public matter because of Sarah Palin's stance against abortion and birth control, promoting 'abstinence only' beliefs."
The fact that the rumours started even before she was a candidate was the point I thought was most noteworthy
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I did see all the Sarah Palin interview and I thought she did very well. Certainly did not give me the impression she was ill educated as listening to the BBC reports imply.
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113, Sam
The problem, as I see it, is that up to now many of the writedowns have only been partial in the hope that things would not get much worse. Come October, a great many companies are going to have to make fuller disclosures, and that in turn is going to cause further credit and liquidity problems and drop the market further. As the election looms, the increasing scale of the problem is going to become more and more apparent. Asking the electorate to trust McCain's experience and knowledge will be like asking a turkey to vote for Christmas. There will be a lot of voters looking for someone to blame.
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CNN and MSNBC very left wing? What planet are you on? Try this link for a real very left wing newspaper and then contrast it's editorial with CNN and MSNBC.
http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index2.php/ex/examples
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105. JohnAAA wrote: "Among the TV channels, Fox is opposed by CNN, MSNBC which are very left.."
118. Simon21 replied: "What is "very left" in this context? Do they carry stories about dialectical materialism? The international solidarity of the working class?"
It doesn't happen all that often, but I genuinely "LOL-ed" at that one
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http://img237.imageshack.us/my.php?image=webb1nb2.jpg
Someone has done a very funny cartoon about Justin Webb's response to Sarah palin's selection, I had not seen this, great fun.
I think it is accurate, too.
Here is a tinyurl link to the cartoon :
http://tinyurl.com/5p6zay
..........................
The point about balance is that the BBC has a formal requirement to provide balance, it always has had that requirement.
...............................
JohninDublin
It was Andrew Sullivan who took a lead part in pushing those filthy smears about Sarah Palin and her son Trig. He kept pushing them even when the flimsy photographic idea he had picked up on was shot out of the water.
Lots of other journalists have called him on it, he has not had the guts to apologise.
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Cwissy Matthews and Keith Olbermann were so pro-Obama that Bill Maher said he thought they wanted to have sex with him. When someone like Maher says that, doesn't it raise questions ?
And there are lots of stories about the changes MSNBC are having to make in their election coverage, to pull back fron the extreme bias shown by Matthews and Olbermann when covering the 2 conventions. Those changes are a matter of fact - not opinion.
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Many thanks, MarkfromOxford, for conveying so much information in so few words in posts such as #93.
Given the enormity of what is enfolding as a consequence of the current Republican leadership's incompetence in virtually EVERY important sphere, be it economic or military or environmental, is it finally time for America to impeach Bush and his spectacularly destructive administration?
Or is that an academic question, given (a) the absence of an incriminating stain on a blue dress, and (b) the likelihood that the electorate will now finally be awaking from its slumbers to mete out a long overdue "correction" to the G.O.P. in the very near future?
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Ref #124
Your wright their Darryl. Anywun what ca'nt take the tyme too spel and, punkcheweight proper cleerly has the branes of a potato. Sorry, potatoe.
;-)
(I'm sorry. I feel I must apologise. By the use of the word 'potatoe' I have been guilty of promulgating yet another filthy, horrid, leftie, liberal, dirty and indeed filthy smear against one of the greatest Republican Vice Presidents of this or any other era, J Danforth Quayle. Then again, what do you expect from the BBC?)
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JohnKKK
Everyone knows you are barmy. You are like the old Media Monitoring Unit from a few years ago. You may come across as important but really you are just a bloke with a tape recorder recording the Today programme trying to spot 'left wing bias'. You're not fooling anyone.
Republicans being victims of racism and sexism? Again you are barmy. Didn't you holiday in apartheid South Africa during the 80s? Racism didn't upset you much then, why now!?
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94.
John AAA you're very adept at talking at lot of nonsense; it's a wonder you don't hold a degree in the subject. As for the left being scurrilous towards Sarah Palin, she should count herself lucky, as the way that they've handled her has been very mild, compared to what they could do a third rate politician who quite frankly, has no right to be a part of this election race as she's complete inept at handling state/foreign affairs. Add to this the fact she's hardly ever been outside America, you have a veritably poor candidate.
John, you have the cheek to talk about smears??!! Barack Obama has been constantly smeared since the beginning of the year, the acme of which was manifested by The New Yorker supposedly parodying him and his wife Michelle as terrorists on the front cover of their publication, so please don't tell me about smears, you don't know the meaning of the word.
As for the Bush "retard" issue, Russell Brand was 100% correct by calling him one. If anything this is an insult to all retards, because they harbour more intelligence than Bush ever will.
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well you seem to have been deprived of my most excellent post ... I'll try later ..
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Just Humble Global Opinion on USA Elections. This elections is not only to Americans themselves, but the whole world is watching the only superpower in operation at this moment. Either (Democrats or Republicans) winning will be historical, but Democrats win will be a trend setting that may raise the following issues: You don't need to invade Georgia to protect Russian minority/Enclaves; Israel may in the near future expect to elect an Arab-Israeli as premier, Tibetans need not to secede if real democracy in China is issues/policies-oriented rather than ethnicity or culturally; Hutus and Tutsis need not to butcher each other into a tribal enclave to a nationhood; The biggest world world democracy India need not to police the shores of Indian Ocean to protect their minority in diaspora; the list is long and may question the creation of some nation. Democrats win should be lesson to minority ethnic groups fearing marginalization from majority so as to have a state of their own. America is on the brink of refining world politics and providing a template for all trouble spot in the world, e.g., Zimbabwe, Bolivia, East Timor, Darfur and Middle East, the cultural diversity is a strength.
America will in the process take a high moral ground and leadership in conflict resolutions globally because poor political management of diversity over the years has been the cause of armed conflicts around the world.
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#132,
Rush Limbaugh, Bill O'reilley etc etc etc. Comparing MSNBC and Fox as the two extremes is an interesting exercise. But it does not support your hypothesis of broad media bias. As for the Matthews Oberman stuff, that was a story started and promulgated by, you guessed it, Fox. Gee, I wonder why?
And once again, why would a Brit care? And how do you get Fox? It was taken of over there for not being of sufficient quality to be Journalism.
I smell a rat.
Rentokill Sam
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ref #132
I hear several osters comparing MSNBC to Fox.
Some differences you have two prime time people who are in the tank for Obama Mathews and Obermann.
they just hired from the Number one radio hate station Rachel Madow.
You can call Fox Conservative or Center right but they have regular liberal commentators and analysits
Alan Colmes, Juan Williams, Kristen Hill all liberal
Greta van Sustran, Shepard Smith, Mort Kondrackie Moderat
Bill O'rielley Populist
Shawn Hannity, Bret Hume, Fred Barnes Conservative
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JohnAAA:
The press has tried embarrassingly hard to dig up dirt on Palin looking for that gotcha moment. But that is what they must do.
The public is also having a gotcha moment with the press.
Obama's actually getting lost in the suffle.
Today's WSJ has an interesting comparison of McCain's and Obama's versions of public service. Obama's has quite a hefty price tag, as he proposes paying people to do what he did in Chicago.
"...
The real issue is why Mr. Obama thinks it is necessary to take such extraordinary steps to push all Americans into service. Americans every year contribute close to $300 billion out of their own pockets to charities at home and abroad. This is the highest of any nation -- seven times more than Germans and 14 times more than Italians per capita. Americans are equally generous with their time. According to the Corporation for National and Community Service -- a federal agency -- last year Americans volunteered 8.1 billion hours of service valued at $150 billion to community organizations.
Mr. Obama doesn't think this kind of voluntary effort is sufficient, because it can't deliver social justice. In his memoirs and elsewhere, he distinguishes between community service and organization. Community service, he believes, can offer short-term relief to those temporarily down-and-out, through things like church food pantries or homeless shelters. It can also address concrete problems such as vandalism or crime through neighborhood watches.
However, Mr. Obama believes -- as he wrote in a 1990 anthology, "After Alinsky: Community Organizing in Illinois" -- that this kind of service plays into the "individualistic bootstrap myth." It doesn't by itself help the disenfranchised trapped in inner cities.
For that, Mr. Obama wants collective political action, i.e., bottom-up mobilization, to help the disaffected extract resources from the powers-that-be to remake their communities. This is what Mr. Obama attempted to do during his years as a community organizer. And that's what he hopes all his cadres of social workers would also do.
..."
************
Try this link:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122143710912734333.html?mod=opinion_main_commentaries
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#135 dceilar
I don't.
I don't even know who JohnKKK is.
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I didn't invent the Matthews/Olbemann stuff. They have been taken off anchoring the election coverage, MSNBC have announced the changes last week.
I don't get Fox, but I gladly agree that people like O'Reilly and Hannity are right-wing. There are plenty of clips from all the networks on the 'Net, on YouTube especially. But if anyone suggests that Matthews and Olbermann have not been in the tank for Obama they must be crazy.
I see a couple of idiots are still throwing the racism tag around. Fools.
Try dealing with the issues.
Like - what is Obama's core message these days, it isn't coming through clearly.
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As for Webb's post, just British (can I call it that?) glibness. A bit juvenile but distinctively theirs.
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Mark,
As a fellow academic, have you any dirt to dish (or praise to heap)???From the BBC page for the new "Empire of Liberty" series,
;-)
ed
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"141. At 1:57pm on 15 Sep 2008, AndreainNY wrote:
JohnAAA:
The press has tried embarrassingly hard to dig up dirt on Palin looking for that gotcha moment. But that is what they must do."
Palin's inability to tell the truth is emerging as an issue.
"Obama's actually getting lost in the suffle.
Today's WSJ has an interesting comparison of McCain's and Obama's versions of public service. Obama's has quite a hefty price tag, as he proposes paying people to do what he did in Chicago. "
The Wall Street Journal of course being an established right-wing journal
"...
""The real issue is why Mr. Obama thinks it is necessary to take such extraordinary steps to push all Americans into service. Americans every year contribute close to $300 billion out of their own pockets to charities at home and abroad. This is the highest of any nation -- seven times more than Germans and 14 times more than Italians per capita. Americans are equally generous with their time. According to the Corporation for National and Community Service -- a federal agency -- last year Americans volunteered 8.1 billion hours of service valued at $150 billion to community organizations."
So what? Is the WSJ claiming that this is enough? There are no needy people o in the US.
And comparisons with Germany are specious for obvious reasons
"Mr. Obama doesn't think this kind of voluntary effort is sufficient, because it can't deliver social justice."
And because it is not enough.
" In his memoirs and elsewhere, he distinguishes between community service and organization. Community service, he believes, can offer short-term relief to those temporarily down-and-out, through things like church food pantries or homeless shelters. It can also address concrete problems such as vandalism or crime through neighborhood watches.
However, Mr. Obama believes -- as he wrote in a 1990 anthology, "After Alinsky: Community Organizing in Illinois" -- that this kind of service plays into the "individualistic bootstrap myth." It doesn't by itself help the disenfranchised trapped in inner cities."
Perfectly correct.
"For that, Mr. Obama wants collective political action, i.e., bottom-up mobilization, to help the disaffected extract resources from the powers-that-be to remake their communities. This is what Mr. Obama attempted to do during his years as a community organizer. And that's what he hopes all his cadres of social workers would also do."
Pretty much how the US was founded - surely no objection there?
Or do you object to communities organising to help themselves?
..."
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McCain 08!...oopps...Palinosaur 08!
Kidding (or not)!
Obama 08! America 08!
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Anyone wanting to have more depth about the Rosenbergs should read Louis Nizer's the Implosion Conspiracy 1974.
I dont think its currently in print but used copies are availbe on Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Implosion-Conspiracy-L-Nizer/dp/0449220486
Re : Bush being a dolt , I think America's sense of humor may have been stunted by the last eight years .
I find little humerous about him anymore ...its beyond that now. He scares the hell out of me .
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"140. At 1:55pm on 15 Sep 2008, MagicKirin wrote:
ref #132
I hear several osters comparing MSNBC to Fox.
Some differences you have two prime time people who are in the tank for Obama Mathews and Obermann.
they just hired from the Number one radio hate station Rachel Madow.
You can call Fox Conservative or Center right but they have regular liberal commentators and analysits"
Did anyone suggest that they did not?
Pravda had its pet US journalists
What is the point being made?
"lan Colmes, Juan Williams, Kristen Hill all liberal
Greta van Sustran, Shepard Smith, Mort Kondrackie Moderat"
Ie just to the left of Genghis Khan
Bill O'rielley Populist
Meaning? All politcal comm entators would claim to be populist. Bill Reilly is far right commentator
Shawn Hannity, Bret Hume, Fred Barnes Conservative"
Fox is a far right organisation with doubtful news values
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#33 - NoRashDecisions
In the current political climate, Mr. Marr would probably be cheered to the rafters.
On a totally different tack, while I agree with posters who question the modern day relevance of the Rosenberg executions, I am still bewildered by those who are horrified at the thought of killing unborn people but seem to have no qualms about doing so after they are born.
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132. At 1:29pm on 15 Sep 2008, JohnAAA wrote:
Cwissy Matthews and Keith Olbermann were so pro-Obama that Bill Maher said he thought they wanted to have sex with him. When someone like Maher says that, doesn't it raise questions ?
And there are lots of stories about the changes MSNBC are having to make in their election coverage, to pull back fron the extreme bias shown by Matthews and Olbermann when covering the 2 conventions. Those changes are a matter of fact - not opinion.
Because you know the reason for these moves? You have the memo?
Like claiming to know intimately Sarah Pali's provate life.
Hopelessly pompous.
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Playing footsie
;-)
ed
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131. At 1:20pm on 15 Sep 2008, JohnAAA wrote:
"The point about balance is that the BBC has a formal requirement to provide balance, it always has had that requirement. "
Cite you evidence, assertion is not fact.
...............................
JohninDublin
It was Andrew Sullivan who took a lead part in pushing those filthy smears about Sarah Palin and her son Trig. He kept pushing them even when the flimsy photographic idea he had picked up on was shot out of the water.
Who cares? They worked
Lots of other journalists have called him on it, he has not had the guts to apologise.
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145
I only visit Fenland Poly from time to time and he is outside of my field. I also stay at a different college. I'm sure like most Oxbridge dons doing something like this he'll be pretty switched on and informed.
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146. Simon21:
Let's just say I know the "individualistic bootstrap myth" is no such thing.
If Obama wants to spend billions to provide social services to inner cities, he has every right. I would just need to be convinced that the Alinsky model is the most effective at delivering those services. And that there was sufficient emphasis on advancement.
I tend to see it more like this woman mentioned in the second to last paragraph of that article:
"Mr. Obama's take-away: more activism for more funds. One fellow activist, a diminutive, married woman, demurred. "Ain't nothing going to change, Mr. Obama," she told him. "We just gonna concentrate on saving our money so we can move outta here as fast as we can."
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150. #33 - NoRashDecisions
"On a totally different tack, while I agree with posters who question the modern day relevance of the Rosenberg executions, I am still bewildered by those who are horrified at the thought of killing unborn people but seem to have no qualms about doing so after they are born."
Another contradiction is that people can easily take millions of unborn lives while eschewing violence/war because it takes innocent lives.
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AndreainNY,
Everytime I read your pointless comments, it reminds of me of the people who wanted the fig tree to produce when it was not seasoned. Are you certain you are living in the 21st century?
Might be useful to take a country tour to get reacquainted with America and the issues it has, instead of sitting behind a computer from dawn till sunset blabbing about things you believe to be true.
From what I can tell about your comments over the past few days is this and I shall speak bluntly, so bluntly that the clouds can run away if they wish.
You just don't like Obama, because you are one of those conservative Americans who would rather die than see a black man being your leader. Simple as that. Call it racism, call it sexism, I don't care. But you are far behind 21st century. You would rather have a white hypocrite who might even spark a WWIII, and fight holy wars instead.
YOu attack Obama's community service, as it is evil...because it doesn't serve the interestests of your party or yours. I am sure if you lived in 18th century you would have loved having those "slaves" working for you.
I hope I am wrong, but you know deep down, you know, that I know its the truth. You have said everything except what you so much want to say but can't as in your mind you are this perfect human being that knows it all, with this perfect image as McCain has of us being a special people, more special than the others, as us being a people chosen by god to do his work in the world as McCain and Palin like to think.
What an idiot cracker! I don't mean you. I mean my cracker has no intelligence. as Colbert would say.
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Considering the Rosenbergs, one is tempted to wonder if there was any anti-semitic dimension. You know, the idea of international tribal loyalty trumping National loyalty - similar to the anti-Catholic attitude based in the idea of loyalty to Rome superseding patriotism...? I suspect my mother (R.I.P), being a true child of her time, and having voiced the latter sentiments to me, might well have also felt the former.
Was J Edgar Hoover an anti-semite? He was very weird in a number of ways. Was McCarthy?
Just thoughts
ed
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Fenland Poly - LOL!
;-0
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Thednio, let me explain the difference between killing unborn people and those after birth.
One set have done nothing wrong. They are entirey innocent and are only in the situation they find themselves because of the actions of others.
The other set are (or at least should be) entirely guilty of something most people find abhorent (even ifthey don't agree they deserve to die for it). We have a case in North Idaho that underlines why most people around here support capital punishment. I won't go into the details here, it's just too sick, but even my wife who was totally against execution before believes that the sooner Joseph Duncan dies the better
Can you really not see a difference?
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155. At 2:23pm on 15 Sep 2008, AndreainNY wrote:
146. Simon21:
Let's just say I know the "individualistic bootstrap myth" is no such thing."
And lets just say that history shows that it is.
There have always been Napoleons, Spartacus, Socrates etc but that does not invalidate common sense.
"If Obama wants to spend billions to provide social services to inner cities, he has every right. I would just need to be convinced that the Alinsky model is the most effective at delivering those services. And that there was sufficient emphasis on advancement."
Fair enough but that is no critique of the idea itself.
"Mr. Obama's take-away: more activism for more funds. One fellow activist, a diminutive, married woman, demurred. "Ain't nothing going to change, Mr. Obama," she told him. "We just gonna concentrate on saving our money so we can move outta here as fast as we can."
And the people who have no money to save? They just stay there? What about solving the problem instead of trying to run away from it. What about making sure there is no need to run from anything?
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I am surprised that people should be trying the con that Obama acts in a more partisan way than McCain :
http://tinyurl.com/6a9kkx
There is a wide pattern of voter fraud by workers with Obama's buddies at ACORN (to whom he recently channeled $800,000) :
http://tinyurl.com/5ztzvs
I saved the best till last. There are now suggestions that New York could be in play - not locked away for Obama. If this is confirmed, Obama will have to divert a lot of time and reources there, taking them away from other states - because if he lost in New York it would be all over.
An Eagleton moment for Obama ? Not impossible, methinks.
http://tinyurl.com/5fhwk8
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*25 "So, if a US comedian were to climb upon an international podium, say Billy Crystal hosting the Grammys, and call members of the leadership of British society 'retarded'--you don't think people would take terrible offense??"
Do you mean would there be lots of abusive, offended rage on forums and threats of abuse against Mr Chrystals person? Absolutely not. We loved City Slickers.
No, you're talking about a level of reaction which could only be compared to the sort of thing that might happen if Billy took his pot shot at Fundamentalist Islam.
We in Europe should not allow the reaction to Russell Brand by a vocal minority to taint our view of America, just as the majority of Americans (I'm pretty sure) won't allow the attitudes of Fundamentalist Muslims to taint their view of Islam.
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Ed,
I thought you'd like that one ;)
I see the chimp in chief is due to speak at 11.10am. You can guarantee the one thing he won't say is 'I'm responsible', or 'The buck stops here'.
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ref #157
Gooloe why does opposition to Obama mean racism to you?
Can't people have a view that Obama is not qualified and that community orginizers are not noble altruistic causes?
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163. JohnAAA:
"I saved the best till last. There are now suggestions that New York could be in play - not locked away for Obama"
Hillary lives on here. McCain is acceptably in the middle. Palin, highly unacceptable I would think, though there is the fact that she has an Israeli flag in her office.
I doubt NY will turn, though.
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ref #149
Simple Simon the post is that Fox give a balance report while MSNBC has morphed into a Obama/Soros propoganda arm.
Fox News is the most important all news network in North America, MSNBC is a hate network
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Somone at HuffPo is saying Biden should go, bring Hillary in :
http://tinyurl.com/6j6fjx
Eagleton moment ?
"He's Kerry, she's Reagan" Works for me.
http://www.lvrj.com/opinion/28365409.html
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#161 - seanspa
Yes, of course I see the difference. My problem is that the pro-life agenda is driven by the concept of "the sanctity of life". That does not simply evaporate because somebody performs an evil act. I do not want to resurrect either the pro-life or the capital punishment debate in the US. In Europe, we have already made those decisions. I for one am comfortable with them. I am simply intrigued that the apparent conflict could give rise to the charge of hypocrisy. It seems to me that life either is or is not sacred.
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Mark,
Of course in Brown's Britain, we all know it's totally America's fault...nothing to do with our own home "equity" boom, which was even more inflated than the US one. Nothing to do with our own credit card bingeing, "It was'nae us Gov!" Nothing to do with our brilliant Chancellor, who brought us ten years of expansion and profligacy and never a penny put by for 'contingencies'...Markets
ed
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Andrea,
I know getting into an abortion argument is pointless because I can see from your past posts that you aren't the kind of girl to have her view point swayed. Neither for that matter am I.
However innocent unborn people and innocent living civilians aren't the same. The levels of human suffering inflicted are not comparable, and the scale to which civilian casualities arise in wars are also far greater. Of course, most of these aren't americans. Thats probably where the difference lies for you.
I understand that pro-life campaigners feel that the baby has a right to a life and it did nothing wrong. My mother was with my dad for two weeks before I was concieved. They stayed together for 21 years while I was growing up. They were never happy together, had no money for years and struggled to provide for me. It breaks my heart that they did that for me. I know they are proud of me and are eternally greatful to her for not having an abortion. However, I think both of their lives would have been better if my mother had gone for an abortion. Perhaps they would have had different children with different partners when they were ready.
I am an only-child so maybe by having me they were stopping themselves from having other children. I don't know how far back pro-life argments go. Some dont like contraception sure, well what about everytime I go a month without getting pregnant. Am I wasting those eggs too? Should I be married at 23 cracking the babies out. Just think how many kids I could potentially have by now who have been "denied" their right to life.
Sally
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Read any Orwell lately? “War is Peace” Freedom is Slavery” and “Ignorance is Strength.” Faux News may be the "most important" for the "Ignorance is Strength" brigade...;-)
ed
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
Ed,
I see McDonalds is about the only stock to hold its price. Obviously the markets think we will all soon be so poor that no-one will be able to afford proper food or booze, so the only way to develop cirrhosis will be eating McD's every day.
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"168. At 3:00pm on 15 Sep 2008, MagicKirin wrote:
ref #149
Simple Simon the post is that Fox give a balance report while MSNBC has morphed into a Obama/Soros propoganda arm.
Fox News is the most important all news network in North America, MSNBC is a hate network"
I'd watch the personal abuse, I am not palestinian or black.
You take Fox seriously you clearly do not know what news is.
And we know from your comments about Palestinians you have severe problems with rascism
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169. At 3:04pm on 15 Sep 2008, JohnAAA wrote:
Somone at HuffPo is saying Biden should go, bring Hillary in :
http://tinyurl.com/6j6fjx
Eagleton moment ?
"He's Kerry, she's Reagan" Works for me.
http://www.lvrj.com/opinion/28365409.html
And she's white and he's not, which also works for you.
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
The death sentence for the Rosenbergs was bestial and unforgiveable, period. No one is put to death for that crime today. Even at that time, Klaus Fuchs (tried in Britain) served only nine years of a fourteen year sentence. The death sentence was particularly bestial as it was executed by electrocution, perhaps the most torturous form of execution the US has ever used. This method is no longer used, the last state using it dropping it only about a year ago.
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Japan since 1988 Is this what we have to look forward to?
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By the way, Justin, in the United States, Congress declares war, not the President.
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#94. JohnAAA wrote: "What has been scurrilous has been the left's descent into filthy smears about Sarah Palin. Worse than scurrilous."
Do you get paid to repeat this? Hardly a day goes by without you reminding us about smears, berating the BBC for its supposed bias and the details of your viewing habits. I see you are careful this time to say you "don't get Fox" but somehow have an intimate knowledge of what other American channels broadcast, and their political leaning. Not only that, but opinions on American radio broadcasts! For someone who says they are on the other side of the Atlantic, you seem to be far too informed about US broadcast media.
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#177, I think you'll find Biden is white.
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SeanSpa,
Are those unborn humans that you protect or did so 18 yrs ago, the same humans you are willing to sit on the electric chair?
So you are fighting for rights of unborn humans, so that a few years later you can kill them?
I see....Pro-Life of course.
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Way back at #131 John AAA libelled Andrew Sullivan by claimed that he "took the lead in pushing filthy smears" about Palin and that he should apologise.
Come off it. Andrew Sullivan did nothing of the sort.
Governor Palin was thrust as Republican selection for VP candidate on a surprised world - publicly clutching, and then allowing her 17-year old daughter to clutch, a four-month old baby with special needs. It transpired almost immediately that there was confusion all round both about the surprise birth of the new baby and the appearance of the daughter.
As Palin has put herself forward for what is arguably the second most important job in the world, and as she has based her appeal to the public on certain rigid family values, the public has a perfect right to be clear about the facts of the case.
Andrew Sullivan has again pointed out that the release of medical records (and he is asking for Joe Biden's as well) would clear all this up.
I had hoped that we had moved past all this - but John AAA does seem to have got stuck in a groove. He needs to understand that the pursuit of the truth is not the equivalent of a smear.
And before he writes that this is all personal to the Palin Family, can I respond that it isn't. The same questions would be asked of a man were he a potential Vice President of the USA and had presented his family in this reckless manner.
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Goodness - our new friend DougHardie # 179 needs to be careful what he writes as well.
What an extraordinary foul-mouthed polemic and from a self-confessed Scot as well !
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179. At 3:46pm on 15 Sep 2008, DougHardie wrote:
Justin Webb and his employers (the Bush Bashing Corporation) want B. Hussein Obama to win. Why? Because Hussein hates America, His preachers hate America, his terrorist friends hate America and his wife hates America.
I am a Scot and I love America, and I am sure that McCain and Palin share my views. Hussein, as a Community Advisor is the least qualified candidate EVER to be in the contest for the top job. Incidentally, can anyone tell me what a community organisor does?
Any reason you refer to the Dem candidate by his middle name, but the Rep candidate by his surname? What is this "America" that all this people hate?
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"179. At 3:46pm on 15 Sep 2008, DougHardie wrote:
Justin Webb and his employers (the Bush Bashing Corporation) want B. Hussein Obama to win. Why? Because Hussein hates America, His preachers hate America, his terrorist friends hate America and his wife hates America.
I am a Scot and I love America,"
But hates the UK
and I am sure that McCain and Palin share my views. Hussein, as a Community Advisor is the least qualified candidate EVER to be in the contest for the top job. "
Well no one called Hussein is running for top job.
Incidentally, can anyone tell me what a community organisor does? ""
Hmm Gaelic more your thing? The clue is in the words. Like President.
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McCain On 'Black Monday': Fundamentals Of Our Economy Are Still Strong
Way to go, John-boy! Consistency? What's that? Of courase, he doesn't want to "talk up" any panic, because Phil Gramm said that was all the moaners were doing...and you gotta listen to Phil.Peace and prosperity
ed
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Gus,
It ain't a crime to be Scottish, and, just like Americans, there are some we aren't too proud of....Slainte
ed
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Just in Webb is a joke. Why hasn't he seen all of Palins interview? Has he already had his mind (what there is of it) made up by the BBC's favourite left wing hate sites like the Daily Kos?
Justin Webb and Matt Frei are 2 good reasons why the BBC must be scrapped.
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#179 DougHardie
You say Obama being a Community Advisor makes him least qualified to be President; and then ask: what is a community advisor anyway?
Not sure about the references to B Hussein Obama either.
A blot on the Scottish Enlightenment.
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A Republican promise
Yeah! Right! And it wasn't us who put us in this mess in the first case....Peace and (borrowed) prosperity
ed
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And in local news , the county fair is on, so come on down to the fair grounds, we got great entertainment this year but the high light will be the catch the greasy pig compitition.
j Mc crim will release a oil covered pig and Ya'll can try an catch it. Now this is one greasy pig so hold on tight cause it's a wriggler and a squeeller.
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USA 08!
The country is collapsing, and people still talk about Palin, instead of issues.
And some idiot women have even boycotted Oprah for not wanting to interview any presidental or vp candidates on her show... Can you guess why?
Good for Oprah. That's why Oprah is who she is and these idiot women are what they are. They fail to reach the levels of intelligence that Oprah has. Come to think of it, Oprah knows a hell of a lot more than Palin will ever know about the world, the problems of US, and the international problems. I am sure AndreainNY and other republican poisoned bloodlinks will quickly jump to organize an Oprah assault. Remember she is also an African American that threatens your whiteminded supremacy.
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Oddly enough, Goleoo, I don't want to kill anyone. I would far prefer that no-one got murdered, that no-one broke the law in the first place, that no-one was guilty of a crime that carries capital punishment.
I can twist what you say the same way you did to me. You clearly believe that all babies should be aborted so we don't have to execute any of them later.
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"I love pitbulls (or cows), even when they come on human form, therefore under the Palin/McCain administration I am fully qualified to be the secretary of agriculture.
My future is set, my bank will be happy I will bring undeserved checks of hundreds of thousands to my account. And America is the land of dreams, well my dreams at least. "
It's just a test folks. I am pretering myself for a reform. A complete reform so that I can be qualified to enter Palin's social circles and get a good undeserved job and power over qualified people who are not in her good graces.
I suggest, all start thinking about reforming. You will need it. Even God needs to reform himself under McCain/Palin, I have a feeling.
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Doughardie,
R u trying to be ironic?
Even though I know some people are suggestible enough to take in all that garbage about Obama supporting terrorism and being a muslim (I assume thats why you use his middle name, you crafty thing you!), I honestly believed that most of them wouldn't be stupid enough to advertise this fact. For god sake man, at least try and cover up your bizarre stereotypes with something that might pass for intelligent criticism!
Thanks for your input....very insightful
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193. At 4:32pm on 15 Sep 2008, gordonsglovepuppet wrote:
Just in Webb is a joke. Why hasn't he seen all of Palins interview? Has he already had his mind (what there is of it) made up by the BBC's favourite left wing hate sites like the Daily Kos?
Justin Webb and Matt Frei are 2 good reasons why the BBC must be scrapped.
-----------------------------------------------
I'd agree they are SOOO right wing they make fox look like liberals
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There is truly no finer form of entertainment than winding-up Americans - and because it's so easy anyone can join-in.
Seeing their deranged reactions to Brand's innocuous remarks makes me wonder how they would have responded to comments made by their own late, great Bill Hicks if he were able to comment on dubya and his ilk.
If their reactions were in proprtion to their reaction to Brand then I suspect that Hicks, if were alive, would be dead by now.
Great piece by India Knight. It perfectly encapsulates America's defining characteristic - hypocrisy.
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Bloodbath on Wall Street.
;-)
ed
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185. At 4:00pm on 15 Sep 2008, goleooo wrote:
SeanSpa,
Are those unborn humans that you protect or did so 18 yrs ago, the same humans you are willing to sit on the electric chair?
So you are fighting for rights of unborn humans, so that a few years later you can kill them?
I see....Pro-Life of course.
---------------------------------------------
Keep at these defective units of flesh goleoo.
I consider them sub creatures.
SAVE THE BABY
Then bankrupt their family provide no healthcare so they can die slowly.How about the GOPers get the money togeather to pay all the people seeking an abortion 1 MILLION dollars to keep the kid.
But should they lead a harsh upbringing because Ma couldn't just done got me taken out when i was but a pin head,and should they end up like one in texas. one who took herold abusive boy friend to the store hoping he would just go away sooner , and the boy friend robber the store, and she was done for being an accomplish , when she knew nothing. then she done gone got the death penalty cause her boy friend,the one that pulled the kill robbery, well he gave her up as part of the plea bargain, so as he would not have to get killed by the guffener.
So she 's up to die and the guffner thinks its funny to joke about it when she says,"why me?"
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Ed
# 195 ~ why are there lots of pink piggie wiggies flying past my Scottish window ?
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Re:#196 So long as you don't try to put lipstick on that there pig...
Here piggy piggy
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41. At 05:07am on 15 Sep 2008, BienvenueEnLouisiana wrote:
About Russell Brand:
I really couldn't care less about what Russell Brand said outside the U.S. While I will admit that many Americans are obsessed with our celebs, I rarely care about stuff like this because I have come to expect such talk from Hollywood; it's not shocking anymore, so I shrug and go on with my life. Besides, saying such things about President Bush in a foreign country is cowardly anways and a cry for attention. It's not like America has a secret police who arrest people in the dead of night for speaking ill of the president. The only consequense Russell Brand has to worry about is bad public opinion. Of course, the Dixie Chicks learned that lesson the hard way.
---------------------------------
He was at the MTV awards. HE has been doing his act in the USA.
And AMERICA DOES HAVE IT'S SECRET POLICE.
FBI ,HOMELAND, NSA, but they are not the ones to worry about . most of them are probably relatively sane.
it is the people like you that would be the worry.
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There's many comments relating to abortion and the death penalty here. Personally I see them as separate issues - as long as the reason for the latter doesn't contradict the former.
For me, Pro-Choice is the only option. I was brought up to believe that morality is down to the individual; and that no-one should enforce theirs on others. And it's not the role of the State to interfere.
I never understood the death penalty. It doesn't deter and is contradictory. Moreover, it's medieval and is based on revenge.
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Is there anybody out there? Just nod if you can hear me.
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204. At 5:01pm on 15 Sep 2008, HabitualHero wrote:
There is truly no finer form of entertainment than winding-up Americans - and because it's so easy anyone can join-in.
Seeing their deranged reactions to Brand's innocuous remarks makes me wonder how they would have responded to comments made by their own late, great Bill Hicks if he were able to comment on dubya and his ilk.
If their reactions were in proprtion to their reaction to Brand then I suspect that Hicks, if were alive, would be dead by now.
Great piece by India Knight. It perfectly encapsulates America's defining characteristic - hypocrisy.
-------------------------------------------
Another fan of Hicks the master of american comedy, a patriot and a critic.
He is probably laughing his noggin off at the moment.Or taking the micky out of God himself if he went that route.
"wow What does this one do?"
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BBC's North America editor and you haven't even seen the whole of Sarah Palin's interview, and so proud of that fact you boast about it on your blog.
A hugely important political interview with one of the main players in the election, yet you didn't even watch it. I am simply amazed. Just what is it you do over there Justin? Why should we have to pay for such lazy incompetent coverage?
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To#158Edinglehart
I think YES to your questions and both were completely corrupted by their lust for power.
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Monoghan speaks on troopergate
Follow thw link for the full article.This ain't smear. It's a matter of public record and abuse of power.
Peace to all, and God(s) help us
ed
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ref #178
Once again the racism card?
Simple Simon
If the Palestinians ever proved they wanted peace than we might give them more than the generosity we already have.
Some of us just decided that we should support the right side. And if you support the Palestinians against Israel you support terrorism.
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# 109 - JohnAAA wrote:"If you don't think the idea of an unfunny loudmouthed and swearing comedian from overseas telling Americans how to vote offends middle-of-the-ground Americans, you must be a bit dense."
Though he doesn't say so, this appears to be a response to my "No doubt you have some polling evidence to back this up?" at 102
1. A bit dense? This from the person who whinges about personal attacks
2 I contacted Trinity College, but it seems not agreeing with extreme rightwingers isn't sufficient grounds for me to return my Masters. Oh well.
3 You don't like Brand. Presumably because he likes Obama but doesn't like McCain or Palin. (While you clearly love McCain and Palin, and loathe and despise Obama.) He's a highly acclaimed and successful comedian. I daresay he can live without your approbation.
4 You think he's unfunny. Merely your opinion. You think he's loudmouthed. What did you expect - Marcel Marceau?
5 I didn't say he did or didn't offend "middle-of-the-ground Americans". (I think middle of the road is the expression you're searching for there.) I just asked for evidence. But answer came there none. Just a 'filthy smear'.....
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Today's announcement by the Federal Reserve regarding their decision to accept stock as collateral for loans to banks in financial distress highlights the severity of the problems affecting our financial institutions. If the collapse of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Bear and Stearns, Merrill Lynch, and Lehman Brothers was not enough, now we have AIG, the insurance giant, being forced into restructuring after losing 65% of its value in a single session.
Dont worry, however, Sen. McCain announced this morning that our economic fundamentals are good to a cheering crowd of supporters in Florida! I guess he figured that since that assertion worked so well for the incumbent it should work for him too...
Besides, since the CEOs of Freddie and Fannie are collecting $7M and $14M in golden parachutes, why should the minions worry? Feed them some Revlon and MTV diversions and everything will be peachy.
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204 - HabitualHero wrote: "Seeing their deranged reactions to Brand's innocuous remarks makes me wonder how they would have responded to comments made by their own late, great Bill Hicks if he were able to comment on dubya and his ilk."
I remember seeing a clip of him on TV. He said that a couple of aggressive rednecks came up to him after a show, which included material on religion.
They said "we're Christians, and we didn't like what you wuz sayin'"
So he said, "OK - forgive me...."
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Warren Buffet on Derivatives in 2002
Not known as "The Sage of Omaha" for nothing, our Warren....Wise and prescient, and I'll bet he makes money out of the present crash.
An humble acolyte
ed
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Why has "mss" Palin come to forefront of this election? surely its about the two canditates and how they are going to implement their particular policies. You remember them , economy, war in Iraq (consequences and cost) house forclosures, financial institutes are going down the tubes, health care lack of, education lack of money, inviroment new fuels and energy, manufacturing in USA ie; motor industry, foriegn policy , US standing in the world financial and diplomatic.,unemployment jobs being lost at alarming rate, These are just some of the issues, NOT LIPSTICKS AND AND PIGS AND ALL THAT OTHER NEGATIVE CRAP,
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@MagicKirin
Well, I for one will absolutely presume to lecture you on the death penalty. On a moral level I find it repugant: it arrogantly judges the future as well as the past of criminals. In what sense are you morally better than the criminal then?
On a practical level the death penalty also raises many problems. It a) doesn't seem to discourage other murderers b) operates in a completely arbitrary manner in the States, based on the whims of governors and individual states and c) doesn't always kill humanely.
And this is leaving out the obvious objection that sooner or later you will inevitably just kill innocent people. What do you do then? Resurrect them?
That's why the death penalty is banned throughout the EU. And rightly so.
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I think it's illuminating to compare Russell Brand's performance with that of Tina Fey on Saturday Night Live. I haven't heard of any groundswell of conservative outrage against that. Why? Because it was clever and funny. I haven't seen Brand's performance, but it sounds like it was simply not well done and not funny. It sounds more like a verbal mugging.
Oddly enough, Americans do have a fair amount of respect for public office-holders, or at least for the office they hold. If you are going to insult a national political figure, people expect there to be some subtlety to it. Don't go and call the guy a retard, even if you think that's exactly what he is. You approach it sideways.
And about Sarah Palin: is anyone as disturbed as I am by the information that while she was mayor of that little town, the police charged rape victims between $300 and $1200 for the rape kits used to take evidence? It was the only town in Alaska to do that, and the state legislature had to pass a law specifically aimed at Wasilla making the practice illegal. The police chief she hired said after the state law was passed that he objected to burdening the taxpayers with the cost. How many rapes did they have in that little town that rape kits were a burden on the taxpayers?
I think as time goes on and more things like that come to light, people are going to realize just what sort of a person she is. As she said in her acceptance speech, mayors have to actually take responsibility, and that practice was her responsibility.
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124. At 1:12pm on 15 Sep 2008, darrylfrancis wrote:
How are we meant to take as serious those contributions which are full of spelling errors?
Number 28 offers us (amongst others) hastally, periotically, statick, fabrick, ambasitor, opertunity, crewel (for cruel), interprited, exadurated, delibritly, embarrissed, and insodant.
And number 33 gives us the wonderful aurotory!
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Yes complain it says nothing. no content.
just some rubbish about spelling from a grammer troll who fails to recognise that even the great chaucer and sheaksspear spelled it how they liked and however they found best for the occasion.
The english class room is down the hall ,to the end next to the bogs.
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#25 Old South
"bloviate" ????
I have been unable to find this word in any dictionary since I heard Bill O'reilly say it the other night. (I watch him sometimes for a laugh)
If you could enlighten me as to its meaning, I'd be grateful.
Thanks in advance
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Well, Hermann Göring had a little daughter, maybe it was bestial that he should have been convicted to death.
And naturally, it was wrong of the partisans to execute Mussolini, because that deprived small children of their grandfather.
Considering the Rosenberg case, one does have to define 'treason'. A few points might be: conspiring to give national security secrets away to a non-friendly nation; negotiating with opponents in conflict without government permission; conspiring to hand (partial) control over your country over to foreign powers.
I'd find that an intrigueing definition, because if we take the 3rd point (conspiring to hand (partial) control over your country over to foreign powers), one could argue Brown and Miliband (and Kenneth Clarke etc...) are guilty of that by ratifying the Lisbon Treaty. A case for conspiracy can easily be made.
@simon21 (146)
sounds nice and all that, except for one tiny flaw in the argument. Obama never spent time as a community organizer to further the interests of the 'poor'. He spent his time funneling millions of dollars to people like Tony Rezko who could then use the money for high range property development.
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I must I don't remember hearing of Bill Hicks. It's always disturbing to hear of someone die who is your age.
I googled him and found some controversy over what was his last performance. A shame, and a disgrace, that he was effectvely censored. This seems to explain what happened for those others in the dark.
I seem to have been 'accused' of being a pro-lifer by the 4 legs good, 2 legs bad brigade who react to their own prejudices rather than actually listen to what people have to say. My position is remarkably similar to Andrea's, that I don't feel comfortable with the idea of abortion, but understand that it is a necessary option not lightly taken.
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Peston's take
Sell! Sell! Sell!
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109. JohnAAA:
"If you don't think the idea of an unfunny loudmouthed and swearing comedian from overseas telling Americans how to vote offends middle-of-the-ground Americans, you must be a bit dense.'
There is very little respect for "middle-of-the-ground Americans" here.
Their crime: They lack "enlightment."
Their punishment: Derision and ballistics whenever they have the audacity to voice their opinions.
This is the same perspective Obama has. That's why his numbers are stuck.
I guess those simpletons are not so stupid that they don't realize how Obama really feels about them.
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At 163, JohnAAA wrote:
"I am surprised that people should be trying the con that Obama acts in a more partisan way than McCain"
At last! Something we can all agree on!
(Just to save us all some time - yes of course it was a typo. JohnAAA's 'evidence' was a link to the Fair and Balanced Washington Times. (Tell us - are they STILL owned by the Moonies?) Though interestingly enough the article itself was rebutted by a posting that said the following -
"This is misleading. I did my own research on www.senate.gov, and not looking at Resolutions (i.e. "We, the Senate, should honor the Dairy Industry for a day"), McCain has sponsored or co-sponsored 13 bills across the aisle in the 109th and 110th congresses. Obama has 21 such bills in the same time frame. You talk about the total number of co-sponsors only, which is misleading and incomplete."
Misleading and incomplete information from the Republicans. Who'd-a thunk it?
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only the guilty die in US jails?
hey death proponents.
care to JUDGE.
We had a character in the UK, judge Death for him all crime committed by the living so all living must die.
Good old Dread got him
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I'll never get those people who argue against the death penalty, but would gleefully kill anything inside the mothers womb as long as it isn't born yet.
It has absolutely nothing to do with 'choice'. The unborn baby has a body of its own (tiny as it might be) and a life of its own. So what if it isn't self-sustainable yet. It is a life and that's all that matters. Terminating such a life willingly and knowingly is first-degree-youknowwhat.
Supporting abortion is like argueing that everyone who can't live without a life support machine should be terminated immediately because 'their lives arent worth living anyhow'. Such a callous disregard for life.
Women, how about excercising your choice to engage in intercourse or to use proper contraceptives?
Oh, and the death counter on Clintons sanctions (Madeleine Albright: half a million dead Iraqi kids is worth it) is still far ahead of Bush's Iraq adventure.
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Ha ! Domenick - you talk about golden parachutes but, you only talk in millions.
The BBC (remember them) told us this evening that Lehman Bros staff had been expecting bonuses totalling 5 BILLION pounds.
Now they're all cross because the administrators sorting the bankruptcy are telling them to not to expect too much.
Call me a cynic, but if these folks couldn't see it coming they must have been kidding themselves something terrible. Or else so wrapped up in their own self importance - and limos - and bonuses - that they had lost sight of their relevance and responsibilities to the rest of the world.
How on earth Gordon Gekko could have been so quickly forgotten ?
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214JG scotland. maybe he is ignoring her with the hope she will go away.
I hope it works.
she is a vacuous bimbo, sorry if you think she is "spunky" but she thinks seeing russia and understanding whats going on there are the same thing that makes her a bimbo in my books.
so why bother with her.
209 Candace
I'm animal friendly so I would not put the pig through such a demeaning act.
Lucky they built a ring to chase it in or it would have been caught in the first corner.
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ref #220
I am not deranged about it, I just want to know why Justin consider it worth blogging about?
As I stated earlier most of these celebrities are fairly clueless. Which means that some like Bondo or Ed Begley one of the few who practices the environmentalism that he preached have to bear the stigma of creitins like Sarandon Rosie and Kanye West.
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This cannot be true, can it?
It's from a survey by what appears to be a pro-American group, America in the World, so who knows.
"Anti-Americanism in Europe Fueled by Ignorance
Those who know the least about America seem to hate it the most.
More than 50 percent of Britons believe that polygamy is legal in the United States; in fact, it is illegal in all 50 states. Almost one-third of Britons believe that Americans who have not paid their hospital fees or insurance premiums are not entitled to emergency medical care; in fact, such treatment must be provided by law.
Seventy percent of Britons think the United States has done a worse job than the European Union in reducing carbon emissions since 2000; in fact, America’s rate of growth of carbon emissions has decreased by almost ten percent since 2000, while that of the EU has increased by 2.3 percent.
Eighty percent of Britons believe that “from 1973 to 1990, the United States sold Saddam Hussein more than a quarter of his weapons.” In fact, the United States sold just 0.46 percent of Saddam’s arsenal to him; Russia, France, and China supplied 57 percent, 13 percent, and 12 percent, respectively.
The majority of Britons believe that since the Second World War, the United States has more often sided with non-Muslims than with Muslims. In fact, in 11 out of 12 major conflicts between Muslims and non-Muslims, Muslims and secular forces, or Arabs and non-Arabs, the United States has sided with Muslims and/or Arabs."
http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/anti-americanism-in-europe-is-fueled-by-ignorance/
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Palins bounce, is that her bobble head ?
hair twirling ,she asked for it, bein aw coy like that,
Has palin ever done anything for rape victims? (apart from make their lives a little worse).
Did she make pregnant girls more able to keep their kids?(apart from her daughters)
Fridgid I don't care if your for obama though it would be nice if you spent your time promoting him not the GOP liers and murders.
Palin on abortion, of rape victims is wrong.
so are all of you who wish to judge these victims.
If you do it from a Christian background then have fun explianing that one to your maker.
Rape is used as a weapon of war.
But you would say no to treating the victims.
Rape happens in the home. then it is called incest . But that child has no one to teach it that this is not right because the GOP would have kids not be told that it would be wrong, or so the ads say.
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131 - JohnAAA wrote: "It was Andrew Sullivan who took a lead part in pushing those filthy smears about Sarah Palin and her son Trig. He kept pushing them even when the flimsy photographic idea he had picked up on was shot out of the water./Lots of other journalists have called him on it, he has not had the guts to apologise."
Well, I'm glad we've cleared up what exactly you consider the 'filthy smears'. An allegation that was apparently already circulating before SP was even a VP nominee, in the local media, and which appeared on both liberal and conservative blogs.
Constant lies by the Repubs are 'going a bit far'. But this is 'filthy smears'.
I much enjoy Sullivan's blog and would highly recommend it - he's at http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/. I also enjoy his regular Sunday Times column - strangely JohnAAA didn't link to that. He's a conservative, an admirer of Reagan and Thatcher, who's backing Obama , at least partly because of McCain's relentless lying.
As I recall, he referred to the allegation in question without ever saying it was true or false - just that it should be sorted one way or the other.
All these "Lots of other journalists" - care to name a few? No doubt they're all unbiased and impartial - like yourself.
(As I posted recently, conservatives at the National Review recently pronounced Sullivan 'insane'; just as long as they didn't engage in 'filthy smears')
Amonst your many, many, many links, you posted one recently which, as I recall, you called a 'critique' of Sullivan. When I was foolish enough to click on it, I saw it referred to him as, inter alia, a 'jocksniffer'. Presumably because he's openly gay.
Just as long as they don't descend to 'filthy smears', eh?
(PS apologies to other posters or readers if this appears twice - I posted something similar earlier but it seems to have vanished into the ether.)
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On November 12, 1999, the worst excuse for a President the United States has seen, Bill Clinton signed into law the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, which repealed the Glass-Steagall Act of 1933. One of the effects of the repeal was to allow commercial and investment banks to consolidate. Some economists have criticized the repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act as contributing to the 2007 subprime mortgage financial crisis.
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And "It wasn't our fault!" But Obama says it isChief Chimp says economy strong enough to handle turmoil
So there!
;-)
ed
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Domenick ~
New video from CEO of Lehman saying sadly that "when nobody wants to trade with you, then you are gone"
Right on baby. And has anybody told you why they don't want to trade with you ?
Could it be because you and your little angels have milked the system dry ?
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jacksforge,
I didn't want to say it, but you said it. Spot on. I think seanspa got the message either way.
Just desperate people going after a good man, protecting their interests by supporting a corrupt woman who is less qualified than at least 90% of all people who live in metropolitan cities.
Maybe rural America is just the land of the idiots. And when idiots rule, well that's not democracy, that's insanity.
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ref #223
There are plenty of safeguards to your innocent person being executed. If you were aware of the U.S legal system you would know this
You may find it repungant. But if Osama is found or Nazrallah is ever turned over to Israel, I'll be glad to watch him fry.
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i really do believe that Palin was picked to help McCain win the election. she has so little expierience that if he does become president she will be useless.
obama for president!
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Marcus,please don't bomb the UK.
With all the US bases over here,why not a complete US takeover?!!
It could then be called Mc Europe.
With a name like yours, you could be our Glorious Leader, and be addressed as 'Oh Rght One'.
Just think, we could all celebrate thanksgiving and the 4th July. Brill..
Two more public holidays...It gets better as I write..
You could swop the Eiffel Tower with the Statue of Liberty.That would please the French, as they would then be one off the full set.
Are you up for it?
Now, you tell the Army and Airforce and I will go tell the Marines...............
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Alaska-me-hardplace (#226), here's a reference for "bloviate":
http://www.bartleby.com/61/89/B0338950.html
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
darrylfrancis
how do you take seriously a woman that is full of errors?
Now that's a question worth answering.
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There's loads of people in the UK who would do anything rather than watch Russel Brand. His appearace is merely good work by his management - his manager over-reached and he bombed. Happens all the time.
More to the point - its time for another song on this blog. We're all gettin far too scratchy.
Ed ~ what about "I'm a lumberjack" ?
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McCain "changes" everything
Obama "Pain has trickled up"
McCain can fix it!
But first, we need to re-define the "fundamentals"
Aye, that'll be right!
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"I know how the military works, what it can do, what it can do better,
and what it shouldn't do. I know how the world works. I know the good and the evil in it.
I know how to work with leaders who share our dreams of a freer, safer and more prosperous world, and how to stand up to those who don't.
I know how to secure the peace."
McCain must be a very selfish man if he didn't offer his knowledge to President Bush in making this world a better and more prosperous world.
That old liar. Even dog's are intelligent enough to get fooled by that. I KNOW I KNOW I KNOW. Believe me I KNOW talk.
Of course Stephen Colbert proves America that John McCain knows as much as a horse fly.
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Ed #
And if the moderators ever wake up .... my second suggestion for a song would be Look on the Bright Side of Life.
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I know that you Europeans are against the death
penalty, but would you please let us execute politicians
that don't pass balanced budgets?
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228. seanspa:
"I seem to have been 'accused' of being a pro-lifer"
Happens to me all the time. The moment you dare cross the line, you are immediately branded and the attacks soon follow.
It is extremely hard for some to hear an opposing viewpoint.
I always wonder how one gets to the point where he starts believing he is entitled to not hear an opposing viewpoint.
I find a similar sense of entitlement in people who believe since they don't believe in God, they shouldn't have to hear the word mentioned.
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Actually, the Rosenbergs were convicted of "conspiracy to commit espionage," not "treason." Very few people have been convicted of treason in the United States, and several of those were not put to death.
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As a U.S. citizen I hold that the freedom of speech is important and almost a sacred right. However, that right applies to our own citizens with regard to political speech and not to foreigners who are simply fishing for cheap laughs.
Any foreigner looking for an easy laugh line at the expense of Bush would do well to remember that the U.S. Congressional approval rating is lower than Bush's and the Congress is dominated by Democrats!
I presume that a favorable public opinion is important to an entertainer. Why risk alienating half of your audience with an ill advised insult?
Don't mistake our critcism of own of our own's mistakes as tolerance for the world to throw insults.
Check out Al Sharpton's reaction to an insult from Hugo Chavez directed at G.W. Bush.
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To #224TIMOHIO
Check the previous 'lipstick' thread.
Both myself, Jacksforge and others have posted several questions regarding the issue of charging rape victims for collecting the evidence to convict their assailants.
The issue is not whether she started the practice or not, which seems to have conflicting reports.
The FACT is that this was a practice in her town in spite of, if my understanding is correct, specific provisions against this in the 1994 Violence Against Women Act.
THE REAL ISSUE IS HOW LONG DID SHE ALLOW THIS PRACTICE TO CONTINUE AFTER SHE WAS MAYOR?
The real answer to this has yet to be determined.
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#241, it's depressing that our chimp opened his
mouth. I was hoping that you and Mark were
referring to someone else's chimp.
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185. At 4:00pm on 15 Sep 2008, goleooo wrote:
Idiot, pro-life if about the innocent birth of a child, not the death of a convicted killer or child rapist. You really do do 'your kind' justice.
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I have one more thing to add.
Some very learned minds have been sharing some very frightening things about the economy today. I understand some but not all of it so I have translated it for my own more limited intellect as best as I can.
It IS about the ECONOMY, STUPID!!!!!!!
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Snail,
And who controlled the Congress at the time? And is a certain Phil Gramm currently chairing the McCain campaign?I agree that this act represents one of the culminations of the systematic effort to remove all the precautions put in place to prevent a recurrence of the Great Depression, but I reckon Clinton is less responsible than the Republicans who led the effort.
Salaam, etc.
ed
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haha...r-snail is back .... this time against Bill Clinton...
people, r-snail is a clever man. He however has it upon himself to change the past. I don't know what he has got against the present or the future. But some people do walk backward. Get the point?
Typical republican trash. Avoid the issues of our time, by distracting others with snake oil, hockey moms (I am sure everyone is fantasizing about them, especially the old white republican fascists who don't get any from their wifeys), and ... well lipstick of course.
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R_Snail (#240), "some"? Of course the repeal of parts of Glass-Steagall contributed to the current mortgage crisis! The 106th Congress which passed it was controlled by the Republicans in both houses. This was part of a broader Republican program of deregulation which began under President Reagan, and continued under all subsequent presidents, including Clinton, a Democrat. The current crisis is the natural consequence of Reaganomics.
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I have another addendum to those who think that being an aging POW and a hockey mom governor of an ice box state gives qualifies them to lead us out of our current mire.
I was born during the Great Depression to immigrant parents, who had survived worse. I and mine WILL survive because I know how.
DO YOU?
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More than 50 percent of Britons believe that polygamy is legal in the United States; in fact, it is illegal in all 50 states. Almost one-third of Britons believe that Americans who have not paid their hospital fees or insurance premiums are not entitled to emergency medical care; in fact, such treatment must be provided by law.
Ninny last I saw a compound of polygamist mormons was released . the fact that they raped their kids was passed over.
Last I checked there are more federal marshals out busting pot heads than polygamists .
to say that it is illegal would imply that half of utah should be ready for the fbi to come in.
It is not.
they are not.
when was the last polygamy trial? what were the results?
I don't care how many wives /husbands a person wants.
but don't pretend that there is much of a difference between ignoring totally the law and legalising it. either way there are a lot of polygamists, they just don't get married so they can get more social security.
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Seventy percent of Britons think the United States has done a worse job than the European Union in reducing carbon emissions since 2000; in fact, America?s rate of growth of carbon emissions has decreased by almost ten percent since 2000, while that of the EU has increased by 2.3 percent.
RATE OF GROWTH OF CARBON EMMISIONS
Ninny did you read this?
maybe america was just so stupidly high they could take it no further
maybe they also exported more of their economy abroad so the pollution would happen there.
I think you are as qualified as the squeeker running around at the count fair covered in grease.
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jf What do want, perfection like that of yourself? Texas has done worse than that, many men serving life sentences for crimes they didn't commit were set free over DNA testing for rape cases. Apologies and money all the way around are worthles when twenty years of your life is gone.
Doesn't stop the death penalty for murder, which I agree with (go figure, gun huggin', bible thumpin' Baptist). If it were up to me, crimes against children (rape, murder and kidnapping) would be dealth a death blow as well, and that nothing to do with my religion, but what I would do to the 'convicted' perpertrator by myself if he/she touches any of mine. No apologies, no regrets.
Honestly don't understand the 'chickification' of blacksmiths, once a manley, do what is right and do what you have to, even with tears in your eyes cause one of your owns the bad guy, tough trade.
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#246, ukwales, Marcus already has his own
team in place.
And, as for the Eiffel Tower...
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Oh, and ukwales, perhaps we could reverse the
equation, and you brits could take over the US?
(and not just with the Beatles this time.)
I am told by my friends that as soon as we discover
what a "duvet" is, our GDP will rise by 2%, and
that should be enough to get us out of this
"mental recession" that we are in.
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To Wanderingangus
I think it is tea break or maybe they went to the pub.
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McCain thinks the economy is not the fault of the American people or government? Hmmmm...It's Sadam Hussein's fault.
Oh wait. American workers are the most hard workers in the world? OH really?
Hmm..how exactly does McCain come to that conclusion? Japan, Germany, China, they don't work hard enough...sadly they are a hell of alot more efficent than America can ever be. This old fool is like the devil's snake. His hissing is like poison to a weak soul and mind.
Hasn't America realized that the problem we have is self praise. pretending that we are special and the world is evil, pretending that all is fine, and running away from problems, instead of facing issues, instead we pray for divine intervention.
Well looks to me all the christian people who pray like McCain every single day of their life (for a new way to lie) should start praying real hard and for longer hours, because one thing we will need for sure if this geezer becomes president is God's mercy on us.
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McCain knows less about the economy than a first year college student who misses all his classes but shows up only to write exams.
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#249 - goleooo
"darrylfrancis
how do you take seriously a woman that is full of errors? "
Is there any other kind?
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241
And just wait for October: the chief chimp will be running out of luck. Looking at today, this is going to be a long slow grind down: the worst kind of bear market.
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How can elect Palin? She pushes family values but yet she has a pregnant teenager. Obviously she can preach the idea but can't actually walk the walk.
She has a huge family and IF (pray to God no) that she gets VP, she is going to run a Country and raise a family? VP of the USA is not a 9 to 5 job. IT IS YOUR family, your real family takes a back seat.
Also her husband belongs to a political group that wants to see Alaska leave the USA? And we want her for a VP?? are people NUTS!
And to show she has NO CLUE what she is doing. She is threating Russia!
The world SHOULD be very scared, less we forgot the COLD WAR!.
Lets review the facts:
1. Russia is VERY unstable right now.
2. The have LOTS O NUCLEAR BOOM BOOMS.
3. Russia is VERY unstable right now.
4. Putin could give a rats butt about restrictions put on them, WOOPY no big deal. They don't owe anything to any country anyway. ( I know he is no Pres of Russia but it is obvious he is the one pulling the strings)
5. Putin is hardcore old school anti-democracy
6. read 5 and start at 1 again.
The USA needs someone who the world likes. Obama wants to pull our finger out of other countries, McCain wants to dig deeper. YES we will be voting for the new pres. and WHY should we care what other countries think. SIMPLE based on the world events currently the USA is pretty much hated and we need someone to turn the imge around. Its a world economy and a world FULL of loonies with NUKES and other weapons of mass distruction. .. I fear for my childrens future if Palin gets to office.
Its obvious Palin was not picked for her skills, she was picked because she is a woman. Its sad, if you take the VPs away, Obama smokes McCain. McCain had to play a race card to gain voters.
If I was a woman I would be mad at McCain for the true reason she was picked. Just a piece of meat hanging in the wind.
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AndreainNY,
the ones who are accusing you have good reason to. We know where you stand. We know how you think having read a good 50 comments from you, none of which have any substance but are only limited to what interests you personally.
Only with one sentence I can brake your nonexistent opinion.
Do you believe in free will?
Don't answer that. I know you don't.
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I just read the headlines in America and I was shocked to find that one of them was that Britain has formally taken up Sharia Law for cases such as finacial and domestic disputes for interested Muslims. This is a dangerous move that could create a parallel legal system in the long run. It is a slippery slope that I fear Britain will succumb to. I also find it interesting that there is not a word of this on the BBC news website that this has happened. Good luck to yall with that one.
On a side note, I recognize that maybe the reason this news has been missed is because everyone is focusing on the turmoil in the American financial markets.
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AndreainNY,
has it occured to you that perhaps is not that others don't believe in God, but that you might believe the wrong God? A good that obviously cares about American politics, a God that speaks to Palin about holy wars. A God that seems to lead McCain in every decision the geezer takes, including not helping Bush for 8 years when McCain is the only person who knows everything about the world, economy, the military as he so eloquently described himself.
Yes, sounds like the wrong God. Is his name Zeus by any chance? God of thunder? Myth figure who overturned his father and had lots of children, some of them weird, some of them heroes? yea...rings a bell, he always was misleading, never liked the humans.
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If we ever get to see any of these posts. It will be fun for days!
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259
For the entire last eight years the Guardian cartoonists have portrayed him as such ...
And the Dow just over 500 points down, below 11000 ... that means a further Asia sell-off overnight, and London down in the morning. This is going to be a long slow grind. AIG only got half the money it wanted (a strange decision in itself: I hope the Fed gets control of the board for that dosh). It looks like the real survivors are Goldmans, Morgan Stanley, and Wells Fargo.
The latest Obama ad is perfect: it should be aired a peak hours in all fifty states for the rest of the campaign.
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(I expect everything below will be labelled as racist by Simple Simon and a couple of others here.)
JohninIreland
Fine if you have a Master's from Trinity - but what has that got to do with anything ? Is it only people with a Master's degree that have any right to express views ?
re. Obama, I don't despise him, I'd love to have a beer with the guy, or whatever he fancies. I just don't rate him.
Bi-partisan action or willingness to stand against his own party - Anyone following the US news over the past few years has seen McCain taking a high-profile stand against his own party in pushing the idea of the surge from 3 years back. His was constantly reported on the work he tried to lead with Senator Kennedy on immigration, attacked by many other Republicans. ( following earler work on the McCain-Feingold stuff.) He was a leader of the bipartisan Group of 14 trying to break the logjam on Supreme Court appointments - and again got a lot of stick from many in his own party for that.
Obama ? What headlines have there been about any significant bi-partisan effort in the Senate. Conspicuous by their absence. Which is why I find his claim to be able to reach across the aisle to be wholly unconvincing.
Plus I simply cannot see any record of significant achievement by Obama. Certainly nil executive management experience. Arguably no significant legislative achievement - hence the lack of any headlines.
I hope Senator Obama stays in the Senate, I am sure he will develop further, he obviously has considerable talents.. But in my view he just is not ready for the top job yet. I think that is why he is struggling. He could not even convincingly beat (ie trounce )Hillary Clinton.
re. Andrew Sullivan. He picked up on some nonsense smear about Palin and her son Trig, floated on Daily Kos, and published at Atlantic thus giving it far wider circulation and false credence. The smear was not floating around in mainline blogs or the press on either side until Kos and Sullivan tried to float it.
And I have said several times before - I give full credit to Obama for seeking to shut that rubbish up.
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Doug Texan,
i was waiting for you my enlightener to show up. Thanks for clarifying it.
Pro-life.
Birth of a child, whose parents are most likely broke, not even mature enough to name their body parts let alone raise a baby, most of them reality speaks come from broken families.
the child that you defended the rights of to get born, is nurtured badly as the parents can't afford to feed themselves let alone a baby, who needs the best food money can buy and the best care money can't buy. THe parents have no money to pay for insurance as they work minimum wage jobs, the child most likely will be ignored after the age of 5, and left at the mercy of the community. By the age of 10 the child knows about street crime, about guns, about gangs, by the age of 16 has commited a few minor crimes, maybe some major ones, by the age of 18 that child is in prison and never sees the light of the day.
Yes I get it...Pro - Life. But how soon life ends for you sir? You care about unborn babies, and the moment they are born all of a sudden you don't care anymore.
And I am the idiot? Take a good look in the mirror? Are you disgusted with yourself yet?
tsk tsk tsk...you poor mind limited thing.
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Goleoo, I certianly got the message that you and jf are completely unaware of your inconsistent beliefs.
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Man, the DOW has fallen 504 points and is now at 10,917; we're in for a rough ride.
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237, AndreainNY:
This cannot be true, can it?
It's from a survey by what appears to be a pro-American group, America in the World, so who knows.
"Anti-Americanism in Europe Fueled by Ignorance
Those who know the least about America seem to hate it the most."
Andrea, you need to check your sources more carefully.
And understand that America is a continent, not a country, the term you are looking for is USA.
Also, 'Anti-US-Americanism' doesn't exist in Europe, to my knowledge, apart from the occasional bar brawl or raised brow.
The recent US government, however, is despised by pretty much everyone on this planet, for some reason or the other.
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#267 - jacksforge
Hi Jack.
You write "America?s rate of growth of carbon emissions has decreased by almost ten percent since 2000, while that of the EU has increased by 2.3 percent."
Um - there are 8 more countries in the EU since 2000. You might expect a small increase.
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#204. HabitualHero: "There is truly no finer form of entertainment than winding-up Americans " - and some pro-McCain Brits. Speaking of entertainment, this may irritate the latter, but is sure to be enjoyed by Democrats, providing they like musical theatre.
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#271 - aquarizonagal
Liberalising the licensing laws has a lot to answer for.
(You don't think the mods were sponsored by Lehman Bros do you?)
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What a silly and worthless article.
Palin's views are in step with most sane people.
Your comment on war with Russia is ignorant at best.
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"Doesn't stop the death penalty for murder, which I agree with (go figure, gun huggin', bible thumpin' Baptist). If it were up to me, crimes against children (rape, murder and kidnapping) would be dealth a death blow as well, and that nothing to do with my religion, but what I would do to the 'convicted' perpertrator by myself if he/she touches any of mine. No apologies, no regrets."
would God approve of your views? Wouldn't that make you a murderer too? Or are you the supreme judge on earth, a saint in your own eyes? You would burn in the same hell. Careful there pal. You are juggling with your religion. Or do you religious people ignore the 10 commandments now and again when you see fit?. Of course. Religious people.
They change so often, as often as the number of religions that exist.
Not that I don't agree with you. I do very much so, but I don't claim to play the religious man. Religion is strick, no bending of laws, let alone breaking. Now either you are religious or are not. Seems to be you struggle with it, just force yourself to come out as such. Well done. you get the point. So do I.
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To #266Jacksforge
Please do not get too irate about what happened in Texas a few months ago. Some of that was because of an Arizona raid on a town in our northern border with Utah. This happened in about 1956 (I'm not exactly sure of the year). It turned into a big national scandal. (You can google it for more information)
Arizona and Utah have also been currently seeking to prosecute, and have done so successfully, some of these FLDS leaders.
I will agree with you that the whole thing is disgusting because there were children involved. This is not 'marriage.' It is child abuse.
ONE MORE REASON WHY RELIGION SHOULD HAVE NO PLACE IN POLITICS.
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To#272Goleooo
YOU HAVE SAID IT!
Read some of my posts. I hope that you also know how to survive!
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New York moving into play ? Obama's lead there was 18 points in June, now down to just 5 in this poll :
http://tinyurl.com/6pogjn
This Rasmuusen poll suggests not enough people regard Obama as being ready to be President :
http://tinyurl.com/6ye67f
Apparently Obama received more donations from Lehman employees than any other politician in the running :
http://tinyurl.com/5jnqfp
Bill who ?
http://tinyurl.com/5ar4kf
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273
McCain graduated 894 out of 899 from the Naval Academy: that is why he has one string to his bow.
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ref #243
As some who lives in a metroploitan city that is a ridicoulous statement.
In a Metroplitan Cities we have more dead weight relatives on city payrolls, in Boston a Mayor whose grammer is far worse than George Bush, A NY Gov who got caught in D.C with an excort, A Detroit Mayor who got caught texting his mistress, and people who are stupid enough to keep relecting Marion Barry and Nancy Pelosi
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Ref 242
I think the main reason many people can't invest anymore is because they are so deep in debt that the only thing they could offer as collateral for what they purchase is their debt!
Incredibly, the Federal Reserve today announced just that, the stock of financial institutions with liquidity problems will be accepted as collateral for the loans they will be given! Guess who is going to pay the bill in the end? The taxpayers, who will be the most affected by the current crises!
We are in deep trouble, and instead of our candidates focusing on the issues and offering solutions, they spend their time talking about trivialities or suggesting that less government oversight is the path to getting us out of the mess we are in. McCain may be right on the latter, if the objective is to take the little we still have in the bank and our pensions!
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To Goleooo and every other, mostly, sane person
My dad always said that if you know how to make soap and whiskey, you can survive anything.
Want to learn how? I know a few other things, as well.
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Justin:
I would like no more lectures from you or any other British national as your nation has accepted Sharia law for Moslem cival cases.
Welcome to the 7th century
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To #240, 262, 262, and 264:
So what is it? Is the president responsible for signing stupid legislation or is it just the congress who is responsible for stupid legislation? You can't have it both ways! Pick one! If Clinton is off the hook for signing the Graham Act deregulating banks then Bush should be off the hook for signing all of the pork-barrel laden, useless laws passed by the current Pelosi-Democrat controled congress. If you are going to hold one president accountable then you need to hold the other accountable as well.
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Not only is Obama's resume very thin - it sounds like he exaggerates :
http://tinyurl.com/6h8gqo
Another Gatsby ?
http://tinyurl.com/54wwfm
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To #273
And daddy probably slipped him the answers.
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Experience...
Candidate Experience Measure
Avg Score for POTUS = 16.8.
Avg Score for VP = 12.9
McCain = 26.25 (highest was 28.75 Bob Dole, Gerald Ford)
Palin = 3.0 (lowest ever for VP)
Obama = 5.25 (lowest ever for POTUS)
Biden = 28.75 (highest for VP)
Lowest recent combined score was Reagan/Bush 1980 with 17.25
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Hmmm
Pro-life... you cannot defend right to life for one and not another. I have friends who are coherent in their view of being pro-life, anti-death penalty and by and large pacifist (a similar view held by the catholic church). This is a respectable and consistent position though one I disagree with.
I am pro-abortion because I believe that noone has the right to demand someone plays host to a parasite (sorry if you think that harsh but it is a biological expression and not meant to cause offence) as they have rights to their body. Fault in terms of previous sexual behaviour is irrellevent. Viability is a distinction between parasitic behaviour and independent behaviour an acts as a reasonable gauge to mark the difference.
I am anti-death penalty because I do not believe the role of the government is to extract revenge on its people supposedly for its people. It is a personal opinion but I won't defend it now.
I am not a pacifist.
___________________________
While US/World economy/banking system is in turmoil...
Brand (particularly unfunny man) causes offence (when he is only offensive with regard to his misplaced ego) to people desperate to focus on something else is a laughably ridiculous irrellevance...
US citizens who do not realise that he is actually our president too who you are voting for. After all the last one you voted for has led us into two wars (3 if you count the phoney war on terror)
A BBC correspondant who fawns at the US political system write an inept blog in a time of a real state politik...
People writing absurd comments thinking the extreme left (which is actually the centre right) are harming that sweet pitbull in lipstick. I hope we are beyond the "lipstick on a pig" (cheekily funny since McCain had said it first).
Four candidates who are not saying anything of worth when the world really needs to hear something of worth.
I am glad I am European... not because I think we are better... but because there is a healthy dislike and distrust of our politicians who by and large are as self centred as their US counterparts.
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ukeofwales #246
There are plenty of good reasons but first, pulling our troops and equipment out would be the prudent thing to do.
Let's see, there's endless crimes against food. That's near the top of my list. Then there was Lexington and Concord. And lets not forget the capture of American sailors. Then there was the invasion of Beatles. That noise still echoes in my ears. I'm sure there are plenty more, I just can't think of them at the moment. But at the time it struck me as a perfectly sensible idea. Oh yes, lets not forget BBC. That alone. And those truly awful guys who do those infomercial ads in the middle of the night selling food choppers and the like. And that horrible supernanny, what a witch.
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#27,
I made the comment because I was giving a perspective on Palin that others have not given. It could have been construed as defending her.
And I may disagree with her charismatic beliefs, but I most definitely disagree with her policies. (And I certainly do not think the Iraq War is "God's Will", in that God approved of us starting it. (For more info, see my comments on the BBC "Will and Testament" Blog, before we divert this into a theological discussion...)
Also, it's ironic that, given that the current financial instability has roots in the deregulation caused by Gramm-Leach-Bliley, that both McCain and Obama call the current economic state catastrophic, while having two of the people who helped cause it working for them. (Phil Gramm is a McCain advisor, while Jim Leach endorsed Obama.)
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
Obama is a liar. I said it, that makes it true. Seems to work for you liberal oil on the perk jerks when you type.
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To#264Garyahill
YOU HAVE NAILED IT!
Reagan made a mess of our economy but now that he is dead we are nostalgic for a time and policies that were mostly a benefit to the very affluent. But the Bush years would probably make Attila look good.
It is amazing how being 'dead' will allow people to forget, forgive or overlook any mistakes or out-right foolish things a person has done. To forgive is Divine!
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Our poor moderators are over-worked and very tired. Perhaps we should allow them to rest.
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What is making me angry about Palin is that she and the McCain handler Black keep taking Obama off message but "Swiftboating him with insequential things like "lipstick and pigs."
What Obama should do is refer both Palin and McCain via Black to Revlon. It makes cosmetics, so he can get on with presenting issues to the public.
Every time Obama stops he behaves like W.E.B. Dubois wrote about Atlantia chasing the Golden Apple in his Souls of Black Folk. Altantia was too swift a runner for Appollo to catch her, so he slowed her down and overcame her by tossing golden apples in her path which she would stop running to pick up. This made her lose the race. And if Obama keeps stopping for the remarks of the McCain Palin team, he will loose the race.
Obama should remember that he is in competition with an old fox and a ghetto moma (judging the reception of BABY DADDY on stage) who know how to play down and dirty. If he stops to play the dozens with those folks, he loses time and energy and never gets his political points out to the voting public.
Frank, Reich, and Phillips have all said that no matter who wins in 2008 they face a hell of an economic task in righting this financial meltdown and political misadventures thathe Neoconservatives/Neocons/Bush-Cheney has gotten both the US and the world into.
Palin and McCain seem to see war with Russia as the the answer. Tough talk is easy for people that never lived through what the Russians lived through in both WWI and WWII. Those people are no push-overs like the Iraqis or not even the Vietnamese, especially when you were a pilot able to drop bombs from 50,000 feet up. This is why John Kerry has a completely different view of Vietnam and of warfare in general. The ground is the level of human contact.
We need and want a change; including some change in our pockets.
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re: 258. aquarizonagal
Ah, I missed that thread. I don't live on this blog, I just stop in now and then for the food and drinks :-)
Aside from the sheer awfulness of charging rape victims for the evidence kits, what blows my mind is that she boasts about cutting taxes in that town while she was mayor. Is this the kind of society she intends to impose on the rest of us? And this is in a state where every citizen gets a large check every year from the state government for oil royalties. Surely the good citizens of Wasilla could afford rape kits. Apparently the rest of Alaska thought this was appalling, too, because the bill outlawing the practice was passed and signed by the government.
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Goleooo, you have a very gloomy outlook. Have you ever heard of the audacity of hope, or are you just hopeless?
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To#289Threnodio
I DO enjoy your humor!
We really need it in what seems to be some dark days.
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To#296Magickirin
What is your point?
A mayor from our state once bit a woman on the leg in a DC bar. That was many years ago. We all got a lot of laughs and jokes were made about this.
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AQUARIZONA
Thanks. I have read your comments, and the reason I have not responded to them is that there is nothing you didn't mention that I could have added.
Yes, don't worry I always have back up plans even if America fails completely. But I still have hope, and until my hope for this country being the great country it was meant to be, a symbol of democracy and freedom, justice and peace, in practice not in words, I will stay and work to make it better, even though I would have to go against fellow Americans who think otherwise.
Don't worry. I can survive. The world has taught me a few things that America would not. But I will continue to live for this country even though many Americans as many in this forum have shown would find me a threat to their intelligence and belief system. The typical redneck always hates and dislikes people who threaten their power. America has always hated people who were ready to take actions on change, instead of preach about it. The Kennedy's are a perfect example. A great example of the tyranny of the rich and powerful church going republicans whose interests are to keep this country under their feast. Unfortunately, as always in every country in the world ever since the birth of democracy in ancient greece, democracy is just a fragile dream, as it does not go hand in hand with the ignorance of the mob. The American mob is not only ignorant, but naive. That makes it suicidal.
But I see the same America you see. And I agree with you. Particularly on the fact that you are not caught on the "lipstick" game or who is running, but on the policies they have and the focus of our time which republicans both politicians and partisans are desperately trying to avoid and distract the country.
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Would one of the Republican participants on this blog explain what appears to be a contradiction in Sen. McCain's rhetoric? One of the centerpieces of Sen. McCain's campaign is that he plans to get government off the backs of business and the American people, but today he said that, if elected, he plans to ensure there is more clarity and government regulatory oversight over Wall Street and the business community. Which of these two diverging approaches supports the change he plans to bring to Washington? Getting the government off the backs of our altruistic and honest CEOs is certainly not change, in fact, that's just an endorsement of the GOP mantra during the past three decades, so it must be that there are caveats to his plan which, regardless of what Karl Rove may say, I am sure are not distortions of reality. By the way, why should we worry about what a British comedian has to say, when we have Karl acting as a standup comedian? Is he working on a new career path?
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Barack Obama said in if you believe McCain and Palin he'd like to sell you a bridge to nowhere. McCain shot back in a TV ad "Obama voted for it."
Hahahaha. It's starting to get real nasty. Verbal mud wrestling is even more fun than the physical version.
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Latest Rasmussen polling for Colorado, Ohio, PA, Florida and Virginia - all to play for :
http://tinyurl.com/5be5lp
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To#290usajerry
Please take me away now! I guess I am totally insane!
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286. Fritz_Kraut:
"And understand that America is a continent, not a country, the term you are looking for is USA."
Gee, you think? If the title of that article bothers you, perhaps you should skip to the contents.
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To#312Timohio
To use a phrase from my grandchildren:
'The food and the drinks really suck.'
I keep hoping that there will be some kind of enlightenment and there ARE some really bright candles here so I keep posting on. Stop in once in a while just for the laughs
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No one is going to care about Palin's "bounce" unless she wins.
The Rosenbergs were guilty as charged. I grew up with the stories from my Grandma, who knew them. They were dedicated Communists.
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What's happened to John McCain?
Salaam, etc.
ed
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JohnAAA,
The lower Obama goes in the polls, the louder the noise here.
Take a look at Powerlineblog. It has a great group of conservative writers. It also has a lively Forum with lots of very knowledgeable participants.
Don't miss the link to the unedited transcript of the Palin interview with Gibson. Some very important pieces were omitted (ex., the parts where she talks about maintaining our relationship with Russia.)
There's even a comparison of the questions Gibson asked Obama vs. the questions he asked Palin. Gibson should be embarrassed, if he's not already.
Have you read about the controversy surrounding the McCain pictures at the Atlantic Monthly? Turns out the photographer who took McCain's photo is a psychotic liberal. And I thought she was just trying to make him look old.
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#299. MagicKirin: "Justin: I would like no more lectures from you or any other British national as your nation has accepted Sharia law for Moslem cival cases."
In that case you had better not read this blog again because, if you hadn't noticed, it is hosted by a British organisation and appeals to a great many British readers. As Harry Truman said, "if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen." Nice to have met you - now goodbye!
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I just don't get why more people aren't upset about him using the word retarded.
It's so wrong to take away someone's dignity with a casual remark. Using the word retarded is very painful to people with special needs. Unfortunately it seems that the only people who seem to notice are people who have family members with special needs. Shouldn't it be enough for us to say this word hurts and offends?
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Obama's ads are starting to sound like a lot of posters here. That can't be good.
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A new definition of sexism?
Huh??? Let's have that again - sexist in what sense? Because she has different views than another woman?This from a business and finance powerhouse?
Salaam, etc.
ed
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seanspa,
America is a gloomy place at the moment if you haven't noticed. A country were people take snake oil for honey, and are stupid enough to trade blood for oil.
But unlike you who likes to pretend the sun is still shining when the clouds have gathered, I like to prepare for the storm, and avoid the patheticness of having to start praying for divine intervention when the storm hits.
I rest hopes on my hands and those of intellectuals who are and always will be the future of civilizations and not on the prayers of religious hopefuls or lying veterans who have idea about the essential of living in the 21st century. God helps those who help themselves. Gloomy as it may look to you. You will find it hard to change reality. But if you sit at home all day, and the only place you go is the safe backyard of your house, than perhaps life is not so gloomy, but I would never be able to live that sort of a small life.
I don't know what age you are, and I don't know what your life experience is, nor how much you know of the world, but from your ideas, I would guess you are no where close to as young as I am, or as traveled as I am. When I look at America I have a lot of places I compare it to. Some better, some worse. And by America I don't mean an empty word that politicians refer to in speeches, but the people behind the word. The people that make America, is my America, and not empty notion. Unfortunately for you information between us, what was once a great people, respected and loved, have become a despised bullish arrogant people indifferent and self righteous. On paper we are strong. reality has it otherwise.
But if you want to know, I am an optimistic realist who prepares for the worst and hopes for the best. Not vice versa as you might like to think. However, over the past few days that I have exchanged comments with you, I can tell you bluntly I don't loose sleep if you or RealFrigid or someone else, find me insulting or annoying. The truth always hurts, but it is the Truth and it's the only way to set one free of worries or regrets. Sadly Americans love this feeling of regret which so many of our "great people" make public when their life is almost over, once they have taken advantage of the millions of poor ignorant souls who had nothing and gave everything to this select few, including a man with 9 houses, who is as much of a hero as the Black Sea is White.
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To#316goleooo
Some of what I wrote was a joke. I need to keep my sense of humor. Also some of the posters seem to live in an alternate universe from mine.
I hope some of my comments will provide a pause to rhetoric and intellectual arguments that, while very interesting in an academic way, are a distraction to some very real problems that we are facing now.
I have faith in all of us. Somehow, we WILL survive.
Keep hopeful, I do.
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DominicVilla,
DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND, THAT THE TYPICAL NAIVE AMERICANS DO NOT, I REPEAT DO NOT, HAVE ANY SORT OF UNDERSTANDING ABOUT HOW THE ECONOMY WORKS, HOW THE WORLD WORKS.
THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT McCain OR OBAMA TALK ABOUT BECAUSE THEY DON'T UNDERSTAND THE MEANING OF THOSE WORDS. THIS IS A COUNTRY WHERE AMERICAN IDOL IS A MORE IMPORTANT EVENT THAN THE FUTURE OF THE NATION.
Don't ask republicans to asnwer you on McCain. They are blinded by the medals of a lying hero, and the (.)(.) of an Alaskan pitbull.
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What's Spanish for lies?
See for yourselfTruth is a stranger...
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AndreainNY
your comments speak bluntly about your blind partizanship and ignorance towards the issues that threaten US.
Do you have any idea how ridiculous you sound. Perhaps you should have this discussions with people you can actually sit down with, and note their body language if they actually accept to listen to your views.
You are blabbing about bad McCain photos that show the geezer old. That seems to be a national issue to you. Of course, the failurs of 3 investment banks in one day, the job losses that keep increasing every month, the roaring cost of food, clothes, gas, electricity, water, and transporatain are of little interest to you, let alone Americans being the most disliked and untrusted people in the world. obviously so as you are attached to that computer of yours and don't even smell the fresh air of the world, let alone know anything about how the world works. Pictures and lipstick are a matter of national concern to republicans but i hope there are more Americans in this country than republicans. Americans who care about the future of this country and not about the interests of some loyal republican .... you can guess what I would put at the end of the sentence.
Go out and talk to some people, and notice how no real human being will take you into consideration with you sureal ideas who would make even a retard go " holy crap, she is crazy"
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To#329Edinglehart
Until I went to your link, I thought you were being sarcastic.
Please keep being our lighthouse!
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334. goleooo:
"AndreainNY
your comments speak bluntly about your blind partizanship and ignorance towards the issues that threaten US. "
You need to calm yourself down.
You don't have to get angry every time you read something you don't agree with.
Really.
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AndreainNY
Yes, I always follow Powerline, clever blog, smart lawyers. Yes, Charlie Gibson/ABC played fast and loose with the editing - and has never probed Obama like that. To Obama his questions are like "How are you doing, Senator?"
The editor of Atlantic has apologised to McCain about that crazy photographer. May well sue the photographer, certainly won't pay her as he feels she has brought the journal into disrepute. It is time he apologised to Palin about the crazy Andrew Sullivan (Check out the HotAir site)
Palin thought the Tina Fey piece was quite funny, I gather. Fiorina was being silly.
re. the economy - it is Wall Street that needs better regulation - which is different from normal business which Government bleeds hard. The "real" physical economy has not been in recession although The One keeps saying it has been.
I still think it comes down to people feeling the job goes to a "safe pair of hands", 3am phone call etc. Plus experience. But it is wide open, much more even than all summer until a couple of weeks ago.
What the hell was Obama trying to pull in Iraq ? Tryig to negotiate behind the back of Washington ? That was when he had his faux Presidential seal, of course. And th hlo imagary. I haven't heard him talk about lowering sea levels lately.
What is his core message ?
http://tinyurl.com/6s66q9
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What Obama was saying in 2000 about Ayers - far closer links than he is admitting now:
http://tinyurl.com/5sjnlh
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To#333Edinglehart
Is there is no level to the mud in which McCain/Rove will not choose to wallow? I am so angry I am not sure I can be coherent.
Immigration is such a huge issue where I live and some of my good neighbors, Americans for generations have been harassed by our local (Republican elected) officials for DWM. (This is; Driving While Mexican)
The Republicans do not give a ripe fig for the issues that concern our Latino neighbors. Their policies have caused havoc in our state. How dare that nasty man, who has spent more time trying to be president than in caring for the real needs of our people, produce an ad like this.
I have nothing but for contempt for him now. I once had some respect but no more.
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I will add to my #339 that I doubt that poor, despicable old man could even order breakfast in Spanish.
How sick will this election get?
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sorry, I forgot to add
LIAR=MENTIROSO!!!!!
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AndreainNY,
Knowing that people who show your level of intellect toward issues that are threatening might have a decision on the future of my country and mine you bet I would get angry when I read your stupid views. Maybe you are at the end of your life but I didn't come back to this country to see it self destroy itself.
I can agree to disagree with you when you comment on something that matters, not on pictures that make McCain look old. or on lipstick comments.
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#329, Ed, I'm sure that the SNL staff has considered
doing a parody of Carly on the show, but has
dismissed her of being too unimportant to parody.
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337. JohnAAA:
"What the hell was Obama trying to pull in Iraq ? Tryig to negotiate behind the back of Washington ? That was when he had his faux Presidential seal, of course. And th hlo imagary. I haven't heard him talk about lowering sea levels lately.
What is his core message ?
http://tinyurl.com/6s66q9"
Obama is incredibly arrogant. He probably thought he was president already.
Interesting that the Iraqi leaders realize Obama's got a vested interest in making Iraq look like a failure.
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I just read the controversial sex ed curriculum that is the subject of the McCain ad.
Obama denies that he supports teaching sex ed to kindergartners. What he omits is that he'd like it taught, in some detail, to 1st, 2nd and 3rd graders. (In our system, they're 5 to 8-year-olds.)
Obama tries very hard to appear like those independent voters he needs, when, in fact, he's very far to the left of them.
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After reading India Knight's articale about Russell Brand, I am left again with the thought:
Why are so many people in Britain so obsessed with Americans?
Whay are so many of you so fascinated with us, and why does that fascination manifest itself in contempt, malice, spite and insults?
I will never understand it. Surely you must have lives of your own?
Russell Brand ridiclues Americans like a demented child, and then claims victimhood when he produces a response. India Knight make foolish attempts to analyze Americans and ends up sounding like an idiot's version of Oprah Winfrey, who is herself no great intellect.
Do you have lives of your own? Elections of your own? Problems of your own?
These endless attempts at witty anti-Americanism are increasingly threadbare and pathetic. You must look for a new focus for your rage. It really is MORE than time.
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342. goleooo:
"Knowing that people who show your level of intellect toward issues that are threatening might have a decision on the future of my country and mine you bet I would get angry when I read your stupid views. Maybe you are at the end of your life but I didn't come back to this country to see it self destroy itself. "
I hate to be the one to break this to you, but your coming back to this country is really of little significance to its future.
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#247 Gary_A_Hill
Hey, thanks a bunch for the reference! I thought it must be a colloquialism, as I have the Oxford American dictionary on my Mac, and a Webster's in book form, and it wasn't in either. I had only ever heard Bill O'Reilly and 'Old South' use it before.
Funny how, even though there are perfectly functional words to describe something, these new terms leak into the lexicon.
Thanks again,
Jeff
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Honestly don't understand the 'chickification' of blacksmiths, once a manley, do what is right and do what you have to, even with tears in your eyes cause one of your owns the bad guy, tough trade.
well have a fun time meeting God you so called christian.
Your a real sick christian, all death woe, and how hard your existance has been sinse daddy sent you to be a Sheet rocker. like ma said hardly rocket science.
and now you can't earn your crust either.
sad sad texan.hope next time he takes your whole god damned state.
whats all that crap about blacksmiths.
jealous you failure
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Honestly don't understand the 'chickification' of blacksmiths, once a manley, do what is right and do what you have to, even with tears in your eyes cause one of your owns the bad guy, tough trade.
or more sensibly
doug your mad. what raving insanity, your state killed an innocent AGAIN. they are real good at doing that ,,. even after bush left.
you lot can't read and you got all these weird cops that keep getting the wrong guy and threatening witnesses.
you saw the link.
your state is corrupt and the guy isn't guilty.
God will sure as can be not bless you. or your state
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Yes let us ignore the fact that the last two elections were won because of election fraud and because it is America we generally dismiss it as " leftist whinging or even conspiracy theories" There is no point debating this election. The people are now in place to continue the hard right wing agenda and PALIN is exactly what the far-right religious nuts want....and thus it will happen...sad
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329, Ed.
A sexist is anyone who doesn't like me.
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AndreainNY, Goleoo, JohnAAA, R-Snail, MarcusAureliusII, DougTexan (et al) -
The "debate" has degenerated into little more than this. Justin or no Justin, time to get back to something more substantive.
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bill hicks talked of america with drug crazed pitbulls roaming the streets an american gladiators beamed into every house
well gladiators is back on and pit bulls are real popular is them depraved states down south.
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327, MissionMom.
It is people like you who are destroying the English language. You may say "special needs," if you want, but that doesn't change the fact that the person is retarded. Changing language does not change fact. I have no idea why it should hurt you feelings. How can truth hurt?
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270, guns.
If a duvet is worth 2 per cent, how much are wellingtons worth?
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86, LaughingGas.
Gracious, I could learn so much from you.
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
326, David.
In a Moslem country I sued a prince - and won. I am not sure it was Sharia law, but it sure wasn't western.
There is one fine provision in Sharia law. If two people are in an accident and one is killed, and there is no fault involved, the survivor pays a death duty to the family of the dead party. It always seemed to me a sharing of misfortune (and fortune).
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323, Tucson.
And I spent a lot of time around maniacs who felt that giving classified materials to Russia was not traitorous. (I think nationality confused them.)
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355, missionmom.
And, by the way, I am not a "senior citizen." I am old or, if you prefer, a geezer.
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349, Jack.
What happened to the funny, laid-back fellow I used to chat with? Is something wrong?
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287. At 9:33pm on 15 Sep 2008, threnodio
sorry should have put the link to the 237 comment by one ninny
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85, Magic.
I must be really dumb. If Georgia attacked Russia, why are we supporting Georgia? That's a rhetorical question.
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
Why do you and the whole BBC media machine think we are remotely interested in Palin or the drawn-out, wasteful, uninteresting minituae of the American election process? It may get interesting when the voting is actually taking place for the President, but now? Not at all. It is all just a way of increasing your expense claims at the expense of the tax payer. Give us all a break. Pack it in.
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YoungRaza
You say most Americans are well informed in world affairs.
But the Dems allege that Palin is not so informed. To quite an extent true - but she was chosen rather for her forte and track record in ethics reform and cutting back on unnecessary expenditure. And of course she is No 2 on the ticket.
On the Dem side Obama has shown he is not very well informed on world affairs, after two whole years of campaigning for the No 1 slot, by suggesting that UN action is the way to deal with Russian aggression or then failing to withdraw from central Georgia. He somehow forgot that Russia has a permanent veto in the Security Council. (Even I knew that, although you seem to be saying that people this side of the pond know only about football.)
The most pressing world affairs issue since Obama joined the Senate in 2004 has been how to sort out "insurgency" in Iraq. McCain had that dead right from the start. The junior Senator from Illinois had it dead wrong - to the point of stubbornly insisting through thick and thin that the surge was not successful in combatting the "insurgency". He has finally been forced off that perch - so he is learning. Slowly and patchily.
Maybe that is why he has failed to convene a single meeting of the one committee where he has been deputed a role, ie on dealing with Afghanistan. But I expect there might be a meeting of that committee in coming weeks - appearance is all.
As an eminent Dem said - for the life of me I cannot remember which one - "we can't afford to have the President learning on the job".
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BBC coverage of Palin here continues to focus on Palin's religious beliefs and decribing her as a moosehunter ("hunter-gatherer" was Justin Webb's description of her yesterday on a radio programme he chaired.)
Somehow Mr Webb and the BBC keep omitting the plain fact that the reason McCain chose her is that he wants an ally in sorting out the Washington mess - "a plague on both your houses". And the BBC curiously continues to omit mention of her very large support among the people of Alaska who are judging her precisely on her record of rapid executive action on that front.
(I expect SimpleSimon and others will in some warmed way interpret these remarks as being racist)
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368, JohnAAA.
If you have never been president before then it is obvious that will have to learn "on the job" how to be president. But some are moe capable of learning on the job than others. An ignorant hockey mom would not be my choice.
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More on Mrs Palin's fiscal conservatism. May we assume that her friends would be welcomed in Washington in the event Mr McCain and she succeed in bamboozling the American public? This kind of behaviour is not what we want to see.
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Our esteemed leader told the public today that the the market is sound. (Does he expect us to believe hm?) I bet they said that in 1929. I have a feeling that this "recession" may actually be a depression. That's a word that nobody is allowed to use.
I keep thinking of what that comedian called Bush. I would say it, but the moderators may punish me. The daytime staff is more forgiving.
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369. JohnAAA
How can McCain sort out the Washington mess if he is part of it? He has to pay back the people who are supporting him, in other words, the Washington mess. Jeesh!
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YOUTUBE OHIO 2004 ELECTION FRAUD - THE FIRST VIDEO NEEDS TO BE SEEN BY ALL - THIS IS NOT A DEMOCRACY - WHY DO YOU IGNORE THIS?????? I AM SO GLAD AUSTRALIA HAS TURNED TO ASIA FOR GROWTH. AMERICA IS THE FALLING EMPIRE. OBAMA WAS A HOPE - A BREATH OF FRESH AIR, BUT THE COUNTRY IS TOO RACIST AND CORRUPT FOR HIM TO BE IN POWER. IT WILL BE MCCAIN AND PALIN IN 2009 = the end
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The bounce of Mrs. Palin is largely due to myth over reality.
I love Robert Service doggeral and enjoy Jack London, even had a distant relative who was last heard from en route to the Klondike. I don't think ice road trucking and crab trawling reality TV shows are quite the same, but they do affirm that Alaska still represents the myth of the last frontier for Americans. The myth of Alaska is especially powerful in the western USA and adds an appeal separate from the 'Sports Mom' cachet that Mrs. Palin brings to suburbia.
One myth is fiscal restraint and political self-reliance in Alaska. Mrs. Palin really said "Thanks, I'll skip building the bridge to nowhere but we're keeping all the bridge money for other Alaska projects". I think that total was around $200 Million. In Nevada we are waiting 10+ years for similar funds for safety enhancements along a major NAFTA truck route that winds past millions of residents and will carry thousands of trucks per day.
Not only is Alaska a leader in per-capita funding with federal dollars, Alaska collects revenue from resource production (like petroleum) and pays residents a stipend. This is ironic given the Republican anti-corporate-tax platform for the rest of the country. The US budget can't be stretched enough to treat the other 99+% of us the same way as Alaska.
I think of guns and hunting in terms of my own target practice at the pre-EPA dump while growing up, or my desire to teach safe shooting to my kids when they are older with a few .22's of different actions, bolt, lever, pump, etc.. I think of people who hiked out rifle in hand to put food on the family table (like Harry Reid in his boyhood). It begins to stretch the idea of sport to think of guided big-game hunts, a Republican pastime for the likes of Cheney; and it goes beyond all bounds of sport to champion any 'hunting' from aircraft as Palin does.
With the northward flow of Federal money offsetting some benefit from southward oil flow, the state control of resources, and the stipends, Alaska's economy and governance don't seem like a model that applies much to most of the contiguous USA, except as myths in our imagination.
While Alaskan myths hark back to our rich American frontier heritage, almost parodied by all the convention cowboy hats, all that Mrs. Palin has to offer as a leader today are 19th century solutions to 21st century problems.
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The stupid race card being played again. It seems to be a kneejerk reaction to any criticism of Obama's record or experience
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Re:#329 and 352. She could have worn a button that says 'Ask me about my $42M golden parachute'
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bluejay 60
Excellent post. As you say, Alaska seems to have leached Federal funding for many years. But Palin may at least have tried to moderate it. And tried to deal with corruption in government ?
What is wrong with 19th century solutions, by the way ? They worked in my day !
The hunting from aircraft reference you make is presumably the culling of wolves ? I haven't seen any reference to Palin hunting eg caribou by air ?
But your general point about the strength of myths, of perceptions maybe, is obviously important in the election. Who has the good myth - and can the myth prevail ? Are any of the myths even rooted a little bit in reality ?
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Hi Jaybird! Welcome back, and I agree with you despite having to share that approval of your thoughts with unlikely company.
;-)
ed
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"379. At 09:58am on 16 Sep 2008, JohnAAA wrote:
bluejay 60
Excellent post. As you say, Alaska seems to have leached Federal funding for many years. But Palin may at least have tried to moderate it. And tried to deal with corruption in government ?"
She has lied about both
"What is wrong with 19th century solutions, by the way ? They worked in my day !"
But the 19th century is over, as is slavery.
"But your general point about the strength of myths, of perceptions maybe, is obviously important in the election. Who has the good myth - and can the myth prevail ? Are any of the myths even rooted a little bit in reality ?"
Depends on what the myths are about.
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What an utterly disgraceful comment on the Rosenbergs! Can the BBC sink any lower? I would just love to see Justin Webb discussing the matter with someone like John Bolton. Wouldn't it be fun - he would be shown up for what he is. To think that my license fee (TV Tax) is subsidising this sort of thing! Makes me want to puke!
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What on earth has slavery got to do with anything right now ?
No-one seems to be able to explain Palin's huge popularity in her own state - surely the only reason is that voters there do not airily dismiss her ethics reform and her cutting back on expenditure and earmarks.
Plus it is undeniable that she stood up to the party machine in her state, specifically by blowing the whistle on corruption. And McCain has stood up to his own party in the Senate. Two mavericks for the price of one on the Repub ticket.
All the candidates have myths, all have narratives they are trying to promote..The electors will decide how far they find these narratives plausible. All of them.
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SO many Americans (yes we are referred as Americans, and not as United Statesters...) react belligerantly to the rest of the world any time the already vanished dream we once were is not bolstered by affirmation about our greatness and justice and "biggest and bestest".
We should stop belittling others when they dare to call a spade a spade, as we are so fond of quoting.
We have a lot to learn and doing so might help us from becoming the "global village idiot". We are largely already the laughing stock of Europe, which soon will begin referring to us as the "Old World".
BTW look at the arms manufacturers, look at their numbers and ask yourself what their relationship is to Washington politics, in particular republican politics. They thrive on crises and wars and threats of wars. Look at who sit on their Boards of Directors. Think!
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"Justin, you sound as if Palin is running for the presidency this election. Don't forget who America is actually voting for, Obama or McCain."
If only the Americans who seem to be swinging behind the Republicans based on the presence of Sarah Palin on the ticket would remember that bienvenueEnLouisiana.
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337. JohnAAA wrote: "It is time he apologised to Palin about the crazy Andrew Sullivan (Check out the HotAir site)"
"Crazy"? Now that sounds to me like one of those nasty, dirty, filthy, dirty, filthy smears you're forever whinging about, JohnAAA.
Pot, kettle, beam, mote etc.
I'd also love you to explain how McC and Palin, who are repeatedly lying, can expect to be taken seriously as "ethical reformers".
Sullivan has provided details on several of their more blatant lies - I assume that's what makes him "crazy".
As I recall, he also quoted Truman. When the crowds yelled 'Give 'em hell, Harry' ('them' being the Republicans), he apparently used to reply 'I'll just give them the truth. It'll seem like hell to them."
"(Check out the HotAir site)". I clicked on it. Full of pro-Republican and anti-Obama propaganda.
Quelle surprise
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Palin can be taken seriously as an ethics reformer because she blew the whistle on her own party in Alaska. True or false ?
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Dear Ronaldaman - when we in Europe can stand on our own two feet and defend ourselves against our own endemic internal tendency to slide into, or succumb to, some form of totalitarianism - as we have done repeatedly for the last 100 years - and do so without depending on Americam military and economic power coming to our rescue, as we have had to in two world wars, a cold war and various other episodes such as the Balkans - then and only then might Europeans be justified in their bumptious and presumptious attitudinising about the US being the "global village idiot". Until such time the parlour-pink liberal establishment in Europe, including the BBC, who insessantly adopt and insinuate this anti-Americanism are simply proving that they are the real global village idiots.
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Goleoo, I certianly got the message that you and jf are completely unaware of your inconsistent beliefs.
hey I f the mods would let me call you a name that is not marroon.
Inconsistant. you who says killing is wrong want to lecture me about inconsistant.
show that . i can show it in you.
You say death penalty is OK
but not abortion.
In case you have not noticed the death penalty takes away the living part or aspect connected with the body of the person being executed.
that would leave them in a state known as "being dead"
not alive, like the parrot.
but you are pro life?
Where as I have never said any abortion is right. I have said that rape victims having paid for their tests should be able to make a choice for themselves.
It is their body.
I have said that incest victims should be able to make the choice for them selves.it is their body.
so how exactly am I inconsistent.
or are you still learning english, or worse are you one of those americans that thinks they understand and speak english?
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This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the House Rules.
and to all this discussion on how to execute.
the best easiest way to make sure the suffering you are about to meet out is painless is not to do it.
then others would say(hey doug that be you) that the person dying should suffer as much as possible, after all this is revenge right?
how about recognising the innocents that get taken as well.
Not one of you pro death anti death people got near that link.
Doesn't matter to you eh?
not one of you pro death antiabortionists even tried to comment. straight onto attacking me (doug) .
then you wonder why I write here as if americans are below the level of animal.
Somehow you think with DNA that no one gets caught who is not guilty.
after all they were caught,right?
The simplistic attitude of america on so many issues is why many think you not capable of being a great country.
Big, annoying, full of itself, but not great.
Not free either. if your on death row cause your local cops are rubbish.
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Throwing around false accusations of racism is merely a way of avoiding the real political issues.
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I disagree with your thoughts on Palin and Article 5 of the NATO treaty. Okay, a straight academic interpretation of the treaty would mean that America (and all NATO members) would have to come to the aid of Georgia IF Georgia were a member of NATO and IF Russia attacked it again. And that would mean war with Russian. Great! But, surely a serious candidate for US VP ought to reflect on whether letting Georgia into NATO would be a sensible thing to do, in light of Sakashvilli's ill-advised attack on South Ossettia in August. What gaurantees will Georgia provide that it will not act so recklessly again once a NATO member? NATO avoided war with Russia, in its guise as the Soviet Union, for all the decades of the Cold War. And much more was at stake then (the Great Game and all that). Are we really to agree with a US VP candidate who can envisage America going to war with Russia over nothing more than Georgia and Caspian hydrocarbons! Has she no appreciation of history, Russia's own legitimate interests in the Caucasus, and the potential consequences of war with Russia (e.g. the Russian Nuclear Doctrine of using tactical nukes against NATO conventional forces)? God help us all!
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Again on Palin's simplistic view on war with Russia. Compare what she said last week to the more experienced views of the US Defence Secretary, Robert Gates. On August 14th, one week after the Georgia/Russia war started, Gates said the following at a press conference:
Gates said he does not want to repeat the Cold War, and that he certainly does not want to see U.S. and Russian troops in a hot war.
“The United States spent 45 years working very hard to avoid a military confrontation with Russia,” he said. “I see no reason to change that approach today.”
Gates for US VP! Please!!!
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"387. At 2:24pm on 16 Sep 2008, JohnAAA wrote:
Palin can be taken seriously as an ethics reformer because she blew the whistle on her own party in Alaska. True or false ?"
False. False premise, false conclusion.
Palin waded into the pork barrell and has been thoroughly caught out.
Her star is declining as predicted.
"393. At 3:51pm on 16 Sep 2008, JohnAAA wrote:
Throwing around false accusations of racism is merely a way of avoiding the real political issues."
Li9ke accusing someone of "consorting with terrorists", with no evidence except prejudice?
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And accusing Obama of mass infanticide!
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This comment has been referred for further consideration. Explain
Obama does not commit "mass infanticide", no-one has said he does. But he voted 4 times - on hios own, NO-ONE wouod vote with him, on legislation designed to require medical help to be given to babies born after a botched late-term abortion. The legilslation referred in particular to a case in Illinois where a baby had been born but was left to die.
I am not the only person attaching the word sanctioning of infanticide to that policy..
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Ethics reform is separate from pork-barrel issues. It concerns corruption.
Palin worked with Democrats in Alaska to pass legislation to stop the corruption.
On pork-barrel stuff, she inherited a pattern of widespread and rampant claims by Alaska on federal funds, but has prgressively reduced the total. She has also applied vetoes to a lot of unnecessary expenditure.
Obama for his part is responsible for more pork-barrel funding than anyone in the Senate on an anual basis - but has now been shamed into stopping it. Before that he was up to his neck in it, it is all documented and recorded.
McCain is No 1 on the Repub ticket and has never sought pork-barrel funding.
That is why it will be a continuing issue. And McCain has by far a better story to tell.
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JohnAAA:
"What the hell was Obama trying to pull in Iraq ? Tryig to negotiate behind the back of Washington ?"
Sort of like McCain and Palin (and Biden) talking to Saakashvili, I guess...
"Obama has shown he is not very well informed on world affairs, after two whole years of campaigning for the No 1 slot, by suggesting that UN action is the way to deal with Russian aggression or then failing to withdraw from central Georgia. He somehow forgot that Russia has a permanent veto in the Security Council. (Even I knew that, although you seem to be saying that people this side of the pond know only about football.)"
Well, Obama, by urging it to be referred to the UN shows he has a much better grasp than McCain, Palin or Biden. They would have us cut ties to Russia for Russia's defending the freedom-loving people of South Ossetia and Abkhazia from the torturers in Georgia who want to keep them from determining their destiny. (I am not being sarcastic, and I stand by my depictians of Georgians.) He did, however, show his lack of knowledge by piling onto the anti-Russia bandwagon.
"McCain had that dead right from the start."
REALLY? Where are those WMDs?
"The junior Senator from Illinois had it dead wrong - to the point of stubbornly insisting through thick and thin that the surge was not successful in combatting the "insurgency". He has finally been forced off that perch - so he is learning. Slowly and patchily."
Wrong. The surge hasn't had that much impact. The one thing the US did that helped was the US's talking to the secular Ba'athists (i.e. ex-insurgents) and getting them to fight Al-Quaeda instead of Shi'ites and the US. The remainder of the success is due to A. Al-Quaeda's overreaching desire to make Iraq a Sunni Islamist state, thus offending the Shi'ites and Secular Sunni Ba'athists. B. Muqtada Al-Sadr's cease-fire (Apparently he's content to just use his political power.) C. Chance, Luck or Divine intervention (take your pick).
Further, why, after the "surge" has ended and is a success, do we have to maintain troop levels which are HIGHER than before the "surge"?
"And the BBC curiously continues to omit mention of her very large support among the people of Alaska who are judging her precisely on her record of rapid executive action on that front."
Strange. The BBC hasn't mentioned that Alaska Republicans as well as Alaska Democrats support investigating her dealings as Governor. (The deciding vote in the legislature came from someone representing Wassilla.) Also, they just had a 1000-woman protest against Palin in Anchorage. That's .16% of the population of Alaska- big protest for a small state.
LaCammora:
I couldn't have said it better myself...
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@244
I'm very well aware of how the US legal system works, thanks. That's why I know how arbitrarily the death penalty is applied in different states. Even a number of its advocates in the US admit this - and I note that you failed to address this point, or indeed most of the substantive content of my post.
Of course there are "safeguards" built in to try and prevent innocent people being executed. But inevitably, however good the system, and however well intentioned the people involved, innocent people will be killed. And not just once, but many times. That's the problem - what WILL happen, not what is SUPPOSED to happen. So I suggest you address that issue, rather than trying to deflect this criticism by pointing out that some people in the world are guilty of enormous crimes.
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#36 AllMyMarbles: Well I'm sorry if you don't, I can't explain it any better than that. Of course I wouldn't outlaw humor!! But I still stand by my position that comedians should be mindefull of the venues and settings that they are in when doing shows, and taylor their jokes accordingly. As the poster at #124 has so shrewdly and somewhat rudely pointed out, my spelling is horendous at post #28due to the fact that it was late when I wrote it and I was tired, but nevertheless, I strongly urge you to read my paragraph regarding the Brand insodant. Perhaps that will help explain my position a little better.
David Cunard #42: My my my! You must live near some pretty unintellijant, or otherwise unworldly Americans in California!! You always seem to think that American don't know much, if anything, about the world outside their boarders and especially Britain!! On an earlier entry (I forget which one at the moment) I explained in great detail the comparisons and contrasts between congress and parlament. I think it was one in the tale end of the August entries if you wish to take a gander and see for yourself the extent of my (an American who has never traveled outside her country yet) knoledge of the United Kingdom. But aside from that, of course I know how the electoral system works in the UK!! It seems every other blog entry is consumed in people from both sides of the pond comparing and contrasting our to systems, and agonising over who's is better, fairer, more equal etc. What I ment by Gordan Brown not having been elected prime minister, was that in the time Tony Blair stepped down as PM and Gordan Brown enharrited
it, there was no general election called was there? Tony Blair di not say, '"I will tender my resignation to the queen, ask her to dissolve parlament and call a general election." did he? He simply said that he would resign. That presumably ment that Gordan Brown, the then Chansilor would take over Blair's post as prime minister, and low and behold, that is precisely what happened. As regards Bill Marr, so your telling me that not one UK citizen, if Bill Marr were to go to London at the gracious and kind invitation of a British TV show, if he were to make those types of crude jokes about Gordan Brown, that not one Britain would feel even the slightest bit uncomfortable and think it a tad inappropriate? Not one person would feel embarrissment that though they may not have personally voted for Labour in the last election, nevertheless enough of their compatriots voted for them that that party won and formed a government with such a disasterous leader as him? A leader that has all but driven your economy into the ground (with sadly massive help from us!) and helped make your nation one of the two laughing stocks of the world comunity? They would all applaud rapterously and laugh as if it were a Robin Williams skit? Well good on them!! I envy them if they were to all seriously feel this way, because I certainly wouldn't, and many Americans didn't, which is probably why Brand recieved some of the reaction he did. Now I'm not saying Americans didn't over react and I'm not saying that the many who did were in any way justifyed in doing so!! I'm merely saying I understand and sympathise where the more level headed, rational thinking people are coming from, and agree with them. Again, read my post at #28.
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In view of what recently has come out about the Rosenbergs getting fingered by one of their own, Julius Rosenberg deserved the Death penalty-Mrs. Rosenberg deserved jail time, but should not have been put to death.
In my lifetime, I have not seen such a level of hysteria, buzz and hatred against a VP candidate. For whatever reason, the Democrats are afraid of Palin. With all of the attention that Mrs. Palin has recieved, the Democrats seem to have forgotten that McCain is the presidential nominee. The Dems have been going after her-hard- from the get-go. It will only get nastier in the next few weeks.
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PS-with the advent of DNA testing and seeing just how many innocent people have been imprisoned, on death row, or executed, I would not be in favor of the death penalty, unless it was high treason- the proof lays his guilt at his(Julius Rosenberg's) feet. But unecessarily killing Mrs Rosenberg calls to mind the old saying about two wrongs don't make a right.
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God, Mother Earth, Whoever, please save us all from George W Bush, Sarah Palin, Rush Limnbaugh, Bill O'Reilly, Sean Hannity, Dick Cheney, the ghosts of Chalton Heston and Ronald Reagan, Vladimir Putin, Robert Mugabe, Osama Bin Ladin
... AND Russell Brand
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Just a thought,
President Bush has his faults as all of us do.
He is one man, IF you want to make a change that will be in the best interest of the US, make the house and congress have terms the same length as the President . That way they won't be in Washington for twenty to forty years and have the good-ole-boy racket going on.
Something else....get rid of the Electoral College. Elect all of our officials by popular vote. With today's technology we don't need the Electoral College and it's use.
President Bush or any President is just one man, but he is singled out and blamed for all that goes wrong. Start looking at the Senators and Congressmen that are not doing their jobs, and lining their pockets with our tax dollars. The house and congress control the majority of what is done in Washington.
Another question......why is everyone afraid that Sarah Palin is going to be President. John McCain is the candidate.
If something was to happen to John, the house and congress will step in and guide Sarah. She or any President can't act alone.
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Perhaps a big difference is P is quite good looking for a 40 something Mom with 5 kids. She is an extreme in American society and might represent a very small percentage of their constituents, why has she been so accepted by the bulk of gops. Couldn't they see political expediency instead of proper credentials. It is an obvious desperation move by a losing side to turn the tide. No matter her deficiencies she will be championed by her party. Her lack of any broad experience doesn't trouble gop they must rally around her. How shallow. But this is a presidential election. It's amazing that the electorate seems to have forgotten this.
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Palin's bounces in the percent of Americans like her...that is good...
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