Marcus wrote on Dec 4, 2005 11:22 PM:Democrats are so damn stupid! First, make the case that this is an illegal war that we should never have been in, then approach the international community and convince them that it is a good idea for them to get involved. Great strategists, the lot of them. If Democrats didn't have bad ideas, they'd have no ideas at all.

george wrote on Dec 5, 2005 12:18 AM:How could the reporter and NC Times slide over the improper use of funds to Filner's wife? Why did we not cover the story? It is time to consider, seriously congressional term limits.

Jim wrote on Dec 5, 2005 12:27 AM:It is illegal for a congressman to use campagn funds for personal use. He paid his wife more than $500,000 as a consultant alledgedly working from their home without her registering the alledged business. Filner says it is legal. Not to long ago the Dukester said the same.

Bill wrote on Dec 5, 2005 7:14 AM:It has been clear from the start that we are fighting a war that we cannot win. It was a great blunder to invade Iraq, possibly the worst blunder in our country's history. Nevertheless, we need to get out without inflicting more needless suffering on ourselves and the people that we are now killing and maiming. Withdrawing will, however, require us to admit that the invasion was a mistake, and require us to give back the oilfields we have stolen. I am not optimistic that the present administration will be able to bring an end to the fiasco.

Ted wrote on Dec 5, 2005 8:00 AM:Filner takes a page from John Kerry's campaign palybook: " Let's just let France and the EU run everything. We must be careful not to offend France and the EU. Protection of the United States is secondary to our touch feely relationship with France and the EU." Filner is an appeasor, nothing more, nothing less.

Bruce wrote on Dec 5, 2005 8:21 AM:Kinda says it all........ The Difference Between Left & Right One day a florist goes to a barber for a haircut. After the cut he asked about his bill and the barber replies: "I'm sorry, I cannot accept money from you; I'm doing community service this week." The florist is pleased and leaves the shop. Next morning when the barber goes to open there is a thank you card and a dozen roses waiting for him at his door. Later, a police officer comes in for a haircut, and when he goes to pay his bill the barber again replies: "I'm sorry, I cannot accept money from you; I'm doing community service this week." The policeman is happy and leaves the shop. Next morning when the barber goes to open up there is a thank you card and a dozen donuts waiting for him at his door. Later a Republican comes in for a haircut, and when he goes to pay his bill the barber again replies: "I'm sorry, I cannot accept money from you; I'm doing community service this week." The Republican is very happy and leaves the shop. Next morning when the barber goes to open, there is a thank you card and a dozen different books such as "How to Improve Your Business" and "Becoming More Successful." Then a Democrat comes in for a haircut, and when he goes to pay his bill the barber again replies: "I'm sorry, I cannot accept money from you; I'm doing community service this week." The Democrat is very happy and leaves the shop. The next morning when the barber goes to open up, there are a dozen Democrats lined up waiting for a free haircut. And that, my friends, illustrates the fundamental difference between left and right.

David wrote on Dec 5, 2005 9:22 AM:Congressman Filner, another Soros/MoveOn.Org puppet, appears to have the mental agility of a small soap dish. His grand idea is to replace U.S. troops in Iraq with an "international force". Gee whiz, why didn't the rest of us think of that. Could he mean something like Britain, Canada, Poland, etc. who are already in Iraq supporting President Bush, or does he mean the NATO forces that George Bush is, and has been, leading in Afghanistan. Or does Mr. Filner mean forces from places like France and Spain who, acting on the advice of anti-American twits like Filner, have already cut and run from Iraq? And while he ponders that quandry, perhaps Mr. Filner could explain how a war can be "illegal" when it is based on Iraq's violation of 17 resolutions of the U.N. (that means "United Nations", which is an international organization, Mr. Filner) and authorized by the U.S Congress. Mr. Filner, like Howard Dean, Nancy Pelosi and John Kerry, demonstrates that most Democrats have no new or reasonable ideas and no leadership skills, but they do have an endless capacity for hind-sight criticism, vicious partisanship and deception. Instead of offering constructive intelligent debate and feasible solutions for victory, they simply whine, personally attack their political opponents, propose policies that were already put in place by their political opponents, and then try to blame someone else for decisions they made and want to change because an election is near and they need campaign cash from their most radical left-wing supporters. The fact is, nobody likes war, but sometimes our enemies leave us no choice. More importantly, wartime is the wrong time for backsliding, divisive politics and knee-jerk emotional decisions. Genuine patriotism and support for our troops requires the maturity, discipline and intestinal fortitude to unite behind the Commander-In-Chief during wartime, even if you don't like him or his policies. We must first win the war and bring our troops home. Until then, the anti-war politics and viciously personal anti-Bush rhetoric is only helping the enemy kill more American troops and innocent Iraqis.

Al wrote on Dec 5, 2005 9:39 AM:I witnessed a speech by Rep. Filner where he stated, (paraphrased) "Terrorism arises from people who have no hope. If we work to end poverty and starvation in the world, we will also put an end to terrorism." I don't recall hearing where 19 hijackers took over airplanes for the food. Osama has enough money to eat, why would he issue a fatwa against all 'infidels' because people have no hope? It's clear to those that choose to look for the answers rather than take their info from liberal talking heads.... "We either fight terrorism where it breeds or roll over and become like Israel, dealing with homicide bombers in our shopping malls." This conflict will NEVER be truly finished and most people, Republicans AND Democrats have no concept of that. There will be a U.S. military presence in Iraq and the Middle East for decades in the fight against terrorism. Remember Japan and Germany?

Al wrote on Dec 5, 2005 10:29 AM:Bill apparently is one of the people I referred to that can only spout liberal talking points devoid of any serious research or logical thought. To suggest that we went in for oil borders on lunatic stupidity. As aptly demonstrated by the ongoing Oil-for-Food scandal, we could have easily bought billions of barrels of oil from Iraq for dirt-cheap prices and saved ourselves from having to depose a ruthless dictator. Instead, we chose the honorable, if more difficult, path of trying to grow democracy in a region devoid of hope so the entire world would someday be safer as a result.

Jonathan wrote on Dec 5, 2005 12:41 PM:Filner and Murtha are typical. If they didn't condone our attacks on terrorism after 9/11 they at least sat back quietly and waited to see where public opinion would rest and how they might benefit from it. Doesn't anyone understand that the Muslim Jihad is the cause for terrorism, not America's foreign policy. The Qaran literally calls believers to destroy the foreign unbelieving filth. It's not open to interpretation, it is a major theoligical tennant of Islam. I heard another politician remark, "and Christianity doesn't?" hmmm...... NO IT DOESN'T. Christianity might divide good and evil more clearly than our less than perfect public would like, and it might tell you that you need salvation and forgivness. But these things are offered freely. Does the Qaran ever call it's followers to "love their enemies"? Hardly.

George wrote on Dec 5, 2005 11:24 PM:Did Iraq attack us? Where are the Weapons Of Mass Destruction? Where is the oil to pay for the war? God bless those who serve buts lets bring them home to serve the needs of the US. I am no peace lover. The Mideast has been at war on and off for 4,000 years. Why should we pay to atttempt to keep it peaceful.

Brady wrote on Dec 6, 2005 8:33 AM:I'm patriotic and proud to be American. But when I hear horror stories about the ethics and motives of the Iraq War, I CRINGE. When I hear the story of the death of Col. Ted Westhusing, I CRINGE. When I watch Cheney denounce the very protections out veterans fought for during World War II against Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan, pushing for the erosion of the Geneva Convention, I CRINGE. When I hear members of Congress - who have never worn the uniform in even one day of active duty - call a veteran, Republican or Democrat, "a coward", I CRINGE. When I read about billion dollar corporations saving a nickel at the expense of the safety and security of our armed forces, our men and women in uniform sacrificing our lives at the bidding of their nation, I CRINGE. Certain of you who have posted comments really need to examine your perspectives and make an honest effort to differentiate between nationalism and patriotism. You are putting party over country, ideology over American values, principles, and the rule-of-law, and propaganda over policy. You are making America weak. Allow the debate, join the debate, for compromise is what has made America great over the centuries. STOP MAKING AMERICA WEAK.