Anti-airport rhetoric wrote on Jun 2, 2007 8:47 PM:Bob Sheard appears to have been nominated as Esther's chief anti-airport hatchet man. Look for more emotional attacks on the local airport as the election draws near.

MIKE THE MARINE..... wrote on Jun 2, 2007 9:03 PM:Read my lips!..... No more Sanchez!!

Marky Marx wrote on Jun 2, 2007 10:19 PM:Right on, anti-gunner Joe, you are the MAN!!! If it were'nt for Reagan, we'd still be fighting Communism instead of embracing it. Power to the peeps. Right on Joe!!!!

Mike America wrote on Jun 2, 2007 10:23 PM:Now that was a winner (NCForum letters award night) if I've ever read one. Hey, I want to reserve tickets for next year.......have one of associates contact me.

To Juan Blanco wrote on Jun 3, 2007 12:32 AM:You've got to be kidding me. We should fly the Mexico flag on the same level as the US flag. That is not just a slap in the face to the current military, it is a slap in the face to all of the military that has ever served. I pledge allegiance to the US Flag, not Mexico. Shameful, shameful, shameful. The Mexican flag should not be flown, period. Yet alone equal to the US flag and above the California flag. Oh, and Mexicans in the military, give me a break. The only people i served with in the military were hispanic Americans, not Mexicans. That's a whole different military in a whole different country.

ASSAULT on Reason .. wrote on Jun 3, 2007 1:12 AM:… An assault on reason is made today by letter writer Dwain Deets. I ask him the questions Al Gore asks: QUOTE "Should we amend all of the textbooks in America to explain to schoolchildren that what has been taught for more than two centuries about checks and balances is no longer valid? Should we teach them instead that the United States Congress and the courts are merely advisory groups that make suggestions to the president on what the law should be, but that the president is all-powerful and now has the final say on everything? Should we teach them that we are a government of men, not of laws? Should we teach them that we used to be a democracy but now we only pretend to be?"

MIKE AMERIKA ... wrote on Jun 3, 2007 1:23 AM:… and the goose-stepping right loves Fascism, American style. Hail to victory!

How GLOBAL WARMING works ... wrote on Jun 3, 2007 1:38 AM:… Richard Crews is brilliant in his explanation. What we learned is that a transparent medium, such as glass in a closed car, traps the heat inside the cab, but an opaque medium, such as metal, shuts out the heat of the sun. Thus the inside of the trunk is not as hot as the cab. This makes the solution to global warming apparent: turn the atmosphere from a transparent clear skies medium to an murky opaque medium. We can do this by pumping the atmosphere full of coal dust and smoke, to block out the suns rays. Add a lot more autos and smoke belching factories and we will soon block out the sunlight. This is what Dick Cheney has been saying all along. He is so much smarter than those egghead scientists.

Veritas wrote on Jun 3, 2007 2:02 AM:All you enthusiasts who blast the left and the right--Democrats and Republicans need to wake up. Our whole system of government especially congress is one whole spoliation of the public. Iraq, oil, immigration, decline of middle class, jobs going overseas, few corporations owned by Americans while we talk about Bush's follies and Kennedy's records. We are selling out America in the name of Globalism with deficits too unreal to quantify. Focus.

That “GREAT SUCKING SOUND” … wrote on Jun 3, 2007 2:20 AM:… Since the passage of NAFTA, factory wages in Mexico have declined over ten percent. Even worse, the Mexican government has been required to end subsidies for bean and corn production, making these staples of the diet too expensive to produce or purchase for many Mexicans. It is nice to speak of the lawless incursions, but is violation of law to save one's family from literal or near starvation unethical? Respect for law is important, but it must be tempered by the acknowledgment that law has its limits. Law must be revised when it inflicts ever more obvious harms. The vast incursions of large numbers of immigrants concentrated in particular communities, such as the US Southwest, surely puts a strain on public services. At a minimum federal support for communities disproportionately impacted by national problems and policies would be appropriate, but the government accepts no responsibility. In the long run, however, we must address rogue corporations that pit the labor force in China and Mexico against that in the United States. This is the “great sucking sound” we are hearing, sucking out our good paying jobs as well as capital. The problem is two-pronged: the immigration of cheap labor into the United States, and the export of good paying jobs overseas. We see the Mexicans entering our nation, but we do not see the Chinese and Indians who stay at home and take American jobs. Out of sight, out of mind. We don’t see the Chinese, so we are much less likely to blame them. We do see the Mexicans, however, so we place the blame on them. Actually, ALL the blame goes to rogue corporations which do not give a crap about American workers. Their concern is fattening their profits by exploiting LABOR. Until labor unions around the world can negotiate on an equal footing with corporate fascism, the crisis will simply continue to worsen. Raoul Lowery Contreras in his letter today, speaks of the deleterious effects of fascism, but I believe he is confused about the real situation. He states correctly that “in a fascist society, companies remain in private hands, but the government tells the companies what to do and when to do it”; but what we have today is rogue corporations dictating to governments what to do and when to do it. This is global fascism, a far more oppressive form than that of “Il Duce”.

Radical Right Wing values … wrote on Jun 3, 2007 2:42 AM:… Alexandra Cloney (letter today) compares values of the liberals vs. those of the radical right wing. John McCain, in one of his occasional lucid moments stated QUOTE “I don't mourn the loss of any terrorist's life. Nor do I care if in the course of serving their ignoble cause they suffer great harm. They have pledged their lives to the intentional destruction of innocent lives, and they have earned their terrible punishment in this life and the next. What I do mourn is what we lose when by official policy or official neglect we allow, confuse or encourage our soldiers to forget that best sense of ourselves, that which is our greatest strength-that we are different and better than our enemies, that we fight for an idea, not a tribe, not a land, not a king, not a twisted interpretation of an ancient religion, but for an idea that all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with inalienable rights.” END QUOTE . McCain is right on this one. Cloney is dead wrong in endorsing the values of this Bush administration’s official policy of torture and “extraordinary rendition” (abductions) of innocent human being as play things for depraved jailers. This and the bombing of innocent children and civilians illustrate the sordid values of the radical Reich Wing.

Impeachment wrote on Jun 3, 2007 3:00 AM:Sorab Please; If we impeached GWB then who would be in charge? Yep, Dick Cheney, and lets face it, Cheney, Rumsfeld and company have been running things in the background for twenty five plus years. Also, all democrats are spineless.

FASCIST SOCIETY … wrote on Jun 3, 2007 3:01 AM:… Raoul Lowery Contreras, in his letter today, stated: “In a fascist society, companies remain in private hands, but the government tells the companies what to do and when to do it, including moving or not moving. Free enterprise is pretty much the opposite.” This is a fairly well understood concept, but my question is what is the name of the situation in which corporations tell the government what and when to do? This is what we have in the United States today, and I do not know what to call it. It is more insidious than classic Fascism. Perhaps it is Amerika-Fascism? Or Globo-fascism? Or Cheney-Apparatchikism. Any suggestions from our political scientists out there in blogger land? What do you call the system in which government officials and Congress are slaves to corporate power?

That “GREAT SUCKING SOUND” … wrote on Jun 3, 2007 3:02 AM:… Since the passage of NAFTA, factory wages in Mexico have declined over ten percent. Even worse, the Mexican government has been required to end subsidies for bean and corn production, making these staples of the diet too expensive to produce or purchase for many Mexicans. It is nice to speak of the lawless incursions, but is violation of law to save one's family from literal or near starvation unethical? Respect for law is important, but it must be tempered by the acknowledgment that law has its limits. Law must be revised when it inflicts ever more obvious harms. The vast incursions of large numbers of immigrants concentrated in particular communities, such as the US Southwest, surely puts a strain on public services. At a minimum federal support for communities disproportionately impacted by national problems and policies would be appropriate, but the government accepts no responsibility. In the long run, however, we must address rogue corporations that pit the labor force in China and Mexico against that in the United States. This is the “great sucking sound” we are hearing, sucking out our good paying jobs. The problem is two-pronged: the immigration of cheap labor into the United States, and the export of good paying jobs overseas. We see the Mexicans entering our nation, but we do not see the Chinese who stay at home and take American jobs. Out of sight, out of mind. We don’t see the Chinese, so we are much less to blame them. We do see the Mexicans, however, so we place the blame on them. Actually, ALL the blame goes to rogue corporations which do not give a crap about American workers. Their concern is fattening their profits by exploiting LABOR. Until labor unions around the world can negotiate on an equal footing with corporate fascism, the crisis will simply continue to worsen.

KOOL-AID drinkers … wrote on Jun 3, 2007 3:10 AM:… QUESTION: Why were Pol Pot, Hitler and Stalin never impeached? Because they never committed an impeachable offense. You must first discover an impeachable offense, just as letter writer Dan Shapiro stated.

Bush’s illegal WIRETAPPING … wrote on Jun 3, 2007 3:19 AM:… The Senate and House Intelligence Committees are asking former attorney general John Ashcroft to testify about a March 2004 hospital-room confrontation during which he refused to sign off on a continuation of President Bush's warrantless eavesdropping program. The requests for Ashcroft's testimony reflect the mounting consternation on the part of committee leaders who have been denied vital information about the illegal wiretapping issue by the Bush administration. White House officials claim executive privilege for their criminal activity, justified in the name of “national security”.

Gadfly to NCT wrote on Jun 3, 2007 3:55 AM:Thank you, thank you for giving us the reassurance that we needed regarding PPH's plans. With NCT's support and financial backing to make up for any shortfalls, I now have no doubt that PPH will deliver and in spades. You will prove to those mean-spirited naysayers that you can't set a dollar figure when it comes to saving face. Again, we thank you for making all of our unfounded fears go away. I'm sure all of the taxpayers served by PPH will join me in paying you your due.

Ron wrote on Jun 3, 2007 4:36 AM:I think most of us understand how global warming works, Richard Crews. It's in the fixing, that we have an issue. He says: "The heat can be man-made, or extraterrestrial sunspot activity, it doesn't matter -- we can't get rid of it!" Ok, the latter first, if the sun is "the" producer here, we have nothing to "fix", since the sun is not ours to fix. But, back to this man-made idea. Let's say it is, I don't agree, but let's say we do agree, and now what? What are the so-called "experts" proposing to remedy this CO2 problem were facing? That's right... the time un-proven, time disproven and totally dysfunctional Cap & Trade System for carbon. We have smog credits, they utterly failed to control smog, so... hey! Let's tried a failed approach, to fix this one too! And...and... here's the best part, those who can "afford" to pollute more, will! Because they have money, and can afford to pay, like a ticket. The little guy, what's he get? A beer can for a car, higher prices for items with carbon taxes down the line to him, and a smaller discretionary spending from his paycheck, for all of you concerned about the poor. So.. in the long run, the "rich" don't actually pollute less, they just pay more for it. This is exactly what Al Gore and other elitists do when they are asked about their lifestyles, i.e. jet setting. "Oh... Me? Oh.. I planted a few trees to offset my increase in carbon output thus not really adding more." WHAT? Excuse me, but it's really this simple. If you pollute, you pollute. If you poolute more than anyother person on the face of the earth, then your a problem, not the rest. And if actually using LESS was the issue, then you'd be doing it. But, it's not about that at all. It's about more money through carbon taxes, and if you can afford to pollute more, then you will. Consider it, a sin tax, like alcohol or tobbacco. Yes, that sinful old carbon, where you place your money in the tithe/tax basket, and all your sins are washed away. Perhaps we're familiar with smog, and we think of pollution as a noxious chemical stew or a hot exhaust spew. A certain political wing reads their subliminally wrong ideas into global warming reports, and reduces science to their simple notions and words. The naysayers create basic fallacies and wild exaggerations, echoed incessantly. The global warming theory states that the increased CO2 retains heat (physics), not makes heat (chemistry). The past ice ages and warming periods are actually a confirmation of the correlation of CO2 and temperature. The fact that CO2 is natural doesn't lessen the fact that we're flooding our atmosphere. That the molecule CO2 is in itself nontoxic is meaningless. Water is natural and nontoxic, but too much is called a flood, and we do something about it. The physics can be demonstrated: Park a black car, windows up, in the sun. The paint will be too hot to touch, yet the interior will be hotter than the enclosed black trunk. The glass retains the thermal heat energy wavelengths, trapping them inside. Global warming is a very real problem.

Bill & Ted wrote on Jun 3, 2007 7:14 AM:That Ata Agah is "full of history". He is so correct with his statement - "From the day that the U.S. took California from Mexico by force of arm, nothing has changed. The land is still full of Mexicans." Alaska is kinda cold for us so we think we will stay here with all the Mexican-Americans. Viva San Dimas! Waterlube! By the way, we have missed your wit Ata. Don't be such a stranger.

jelly beans wrote on Jun 3, 2007 8:37 AM:You won't find Reagan's "cut and run" from Lebanon in anyone's book on what a warrior our B-picture ex-movie star liked to pretend he was. I also noticed like Joe Grant the fact that way before his 8 years were up he was quite a few jelly beans short of a bowl.

occupying armies wrote on Jun 3, 2007 9:09 AM:If you are going to occupy a nation by military force you can't just kill civilians with impunity. As we see in Iraq, they not only didn't like to be invaded, they hate our guts now for the murder and torture of their citizens. But Gil Noble is right about the responsibility of our elected representatives in this mess. Withdraw all our soldiers now.

We love China! wrote on Jun 3, 2007 9:24 AM:Jim Stuart repeats the old canard about Clinton giving the Panama Canal to China in 1999. As we see, the Canal is doing just fine thank you very much. After 96 years of military occupation of Panama we finally turned the management of the canal over to Panama. This treaty also "authorizes the United States to take whatever actions are necessary to maintain the neutrality of the waterway." I guess the American left is interested in China because after all it has the largest population in the world and this keyboard I am typing on was made there. Using the "evil China" bugaboo is only done by the real right-wing whackos these days. Thankfully some of us use our minds.

Focal Point wrote on Jun 3, 2007 9:46 AM:Mr. Juan Blanco, Jr. is just plain wrong. The flying of any foreign flag, including the Mexican flag, is everyone?s concern and especially the concern of the ticket buyers. You do not have the right or the power to tell anyone that it is not there concern. If the Mexican flag is flown at Petco, it must be flown lower than our national colors. There are thousands of immigrants in our armed forces. Following Bianco?s logic, the flags from their various nations should also be flown. More over, every single person in the armed forces of the United States has personally taken an oath to serve under the flag of the United States and to support the Constitution of the United States. I feel that the public should not have to read your nonsense as we have more important subjects on our mind. ...

To Juan Blanco wrote on Jun 3, 2007 10:06 AM:The Mexican flag should be flown in one place and one place only, in Mexico. Flying the Mexican flag here in the US shows great disrespect to our country and it's people, and shows you have no intent to assimilate. Please explain why if your so proud of Mexico, are you here?

FOCAL POINT wrote on Jun 3, 2007 10:11 AM:Alexandra Cloney: Do you include the administration of Nixon, Ford,Regean,Bush SR and Bush Jr during those last 40 years?

gordon wrote on Jun 3, 2007 10:46 AM:Contreras- you're full of ...! By every measure, NAFTA is a failure.According to my Mexican friends(I speak spanish)the maquiladores are paying $15-$20 A DAY!! 1/3 have shut down and moved to China.Those factories escaped pollution controls too.Now China is losing those factories to Vietnam. The giant sucking sound is real, a real RACE TO THE BOTTOM.

Conservatism wrote on Jun 3, 2007 11:14 AM:Conservatives have kept an open mind about global warming, but we have seen little hard proof that mankind is responsible for the small, roughly 1 degree global temperature increase over the last century. Saying that it is "scientific consensus" that mankind is causing global warming means little when more than 17,100 American scientists disagree. Liberals want to impose massive regulatory schemes that would increase taxes, cost millions of jobs, and cause fuel prices to skyrocket even though most environmentalists acknowledge that Kyoto and the carbon credit trading schemes that have been put forth would make little dent in the amount of greenhouse gasses produced by mankind.

Conservatism wrote on Jun 3, 2007 11:17 AM:Conservatives may not be happy with how the war in Iraq has gone so far, but we believe that pulling out before the Iraqi government can defend itself from attack would lead to a nightmare scenario that has the potential to produce millions of dead Iraqis, a massive spike in worldwide oil costs, and an increase in terrorism after Al-Qaeda declares victory over the United States. Liberals understand the consequences for pulling out of Iraq too quickly just as well as conservatives, but they would prefer to see America lose the war in Iraq, despite the horrible consequences, because they believe it would benefit them politically.

Conservatism wrote on Jun 3, 2007 11:19 AM:Conservatives believe that the more distant the government gets from the constituents it serves, the worse it performs. That's why, if it's absolutely necessary that government become involved in an issue, it's usually better for state and local governments to become involved instead of the Federal Government.

Nick wrote on Jun 3, 2007 11:21 AM:To Juan Blanco: Are you an American? Or are you a Mexican? Or are you a Mexican-American? If your a hyphenated American, than your not an American at all. If your so proud to be Mexican, than why don't you help your people to formant change in Mexico? That would be truly helping them. For the record, there are No Mexicans in the Military, ONLY AMERICANS, every single one of them, and I am proud of every single one!

Nick wrote on Jun 3, 2007 11:25 AM:To Ata, Bill & Ted: You guys obviuosly forgot your history. Who did Mexico steal the land from ? For the record, North America has ALWAYS been Native American Land! It was never the Mexicans and it was never the Eurpoeans, it was my ancestors. Alaska is ours too. Pay the billions owed or leave, and take Arnold and all the Mexicans with you. Give America back to us Natives!

MORAL IMPERATIVE … wrote on Jun 3, 2007 11:54 AM:… The cry for impeachment is fast reaching critical mass, and is mentioned in the letter section with growing frequency. Sorhab Ghandhi’s letter today is particularly succinct. With the fast fading of the Bush patina into rot, the job of impeachment is now being taken on by a top successful Mafia lawyer, Preet Bharara is a 38-year-old Indian-American lawyer, who made his name prosecuting the bosses of the Gambino and Colombo crime families in New York. Now the former district attorney has President Bush in his sights, as well as the man they call "Bush's Brain": Karl Rove, the president's chief political adviser. Mr Bharara is already well on his way to claiming his first prominent political scalp through his role as senior counsel to the Senate Judiciary Committee, one of three bodies conducting inquiries into the sacking by the Bush administration of eight US lawyers. I think hardnosed Mafia prosecutors are exactly what impeachment needs to move forward against Bush-Cheney. We cannot let these crooks simply tread water until they are out of office. Impeachment MUST be done as a moral and constitutional imperative to begin restoration of Separation of Powers and moral leadership to our nation.

To great sucking sound # wrote on Jun 3, 2007 12:09 PM:. The “great sucking sound” is about to blast several decibels higher, thanks to the Bush-Cheney corporate cabal with their promotion of a corn-based ethanol alternative. Earlier this year Bush made a trip to Brazil to investigate Brazil’s spectacular success with ethanol production. Almost all vehicles there use ethanol. So Bush comes home, and plans to switch Mexican and American corn food production to ethanol production, reducing the amount of maize and corn for the poor and raising the price of food. BRILLIANT. Simply brilliant corporate thinking. This will accelerate the pressure for Mexico’s poor to immigrate to the U.S. so they can feed their families.

to occupying 9:09am wrote on Jun 3, 2007 12:46 PM:How many of those Iraqi "civilians" do you suppose were terrorists whose sole purpose in life was to kill Americans? How many of those "civilians" do you suppose were Iranian agents whose sole mission was to kill Americans and contribute to chaos in Iraq? How many of those "civilians" do you suppose were al-Queda operatives whose sole mission was to kill Americans and contribute to chaos in Iraq and to eventually claim victory in Iraq, then turn their sites on the "weak" US homeland? According to the military, almost all of them. And rational thinking Americans obviously believe our military commanders before they would believe the far left nut jobs who constantly propogandize the lie that we are indiscriminately murdering thousands of innocent bystanders. That is the job of the aforementioned "citizens"; sadly, people like you are only way to eager to give them a pass and pin their atrocities on our fine military who are standing up for your right to preach such rubbish.

Nick wrote on Jun 3, 2007 12:48 PM:This is an e-mail that was sent to me from a good friend of my Fathers. I think you all should read: Two weeks ago, as I was starting my sixth month of duty in Iraq , I was forced to return to the USA for surgery for an injury I sustained prior to my deployment. With luck, I'll return to Iraq to finish my tour...I left Baghdad and a war that has every indication that we are winning, to return to a demoralized country much like the one I returned to in 1971 after my tour in Vietnam. Maybe it's because I'll turn 60 years old in just four months, but I'm tired...I'm tired of spineless politicians, both Democrat and Republican who lack the courage, fortitude, and character to see these difficult tasks through...I'm tired of the hypocrisy of politicians who want to rewrite history when the going gets tough...I'm tired of the disingenuous clamor from those that claim they 'Support the Troops' by wanting them to 'Cut and Run' before victory is achieved...I'm tired of a mainstream media that can only focus on car bombs and casualty reports because they are too afraid to leave the safety of their hotels to report on the courage and success our brave men and women are having on the battlefield...I'm tired that so many Americans think you can rebuild a dictatorship into a democracy over night...I'm tired that so many ignore the bravery of the Iraqi people to go to the voting booth and freely elect a Constitution and soon a permanent Parliament...I'm tired of the so called 'Elite Left' that prolongs this war by giving aid and comfort to our enemy, just as they did during the Vietnam War...I'm tired of antiwar protesters showing up at the funerals of our fallen soldiers. A family who's loved ones gave their life in a just and noble cause, only to be cruelly tormented on the funeral day by cowardly protesters is beyond shameful...I'm tired that my generation, the Baby Boom -- Vietnam generation, who have such a weak backbone that they can't stomach seeing the difficult tasks through to victory...I'm tired that some are more concerned about the treatment of captives than they are the slaughter and beheading of our citizens and allies...I'm tired that when we find mass graves it is seldom reported by the press, but mistreat a prisoner and it is front page news...Mostly, I'm tired that the people of this great nation didn't learn from history that there is no substitute for Victory. Sincerely, Joe ..., Lieutenant Colonel , U. S. Army 101st Airborne Division

FOCAL POINT wrote on Jun 3, 2007 1:20 PM:Raoul Lowery Contreras Your conclusion about illegals coming to the USA to work is incorrect. The 12 to 23 million illegal aliens from Mexico in the USA today invaded since 1986.

A question for "conservatism" wrote on Jun 3, 2007 1:22 PM:I see that you are finally willing to acknowledge that the war in Iraq is not going well. Just about everyone in the US feels this way. But let me ask you something because I truly don't understand it: since the war is going badly, why is it that I never get a sense that conservatives are angry at our President for doing this to our country and to the Iraqis. And this when many of you ARE angry at Bush for his stance on illegal immigration. Do you think that the problems in Iraq have not been Bush's fault in any way? I always thought that conservatives really value and admire competence. Do you think Bush has run the war, since day one, competently? Or are you merely good little Bushian blamers, saying that Bush's success was prevented by that nasty liberal media, or Rosie O'Donnell? (By the way, in passing, a study done by FAIR showed that in the run up to the war, the major network news shows gave viewers over 300 guests who were for the Iraq war and 3 who were opposed. Is it the 3 that should have been zero if the media wasn't so darn liberal?)

conservatives wrote on Jun 3, 2007 1:39 PM:Conservatives fought the following American advancements: Having the government insure a safe food supply, having the government regulate and insure a safe medical supply, Americas entrance into WWII, seat-belts in cars, gas mileage requirements on cars, pollution controls for cars and factories, Social Security, Medi-care. Almost everything that Americans take for granted as an important part of our lives has been opposed by conservatives. Do we really want them in charge of our government?

to Nick wrote on Jun 3, 2007 1:46 PM:Oh, Nick, please. This man served probably 40 years in the military. Yet all he can muster are the cliches (talk about "tired"!) that we'd always win easily if it weren't for our spineless citizens giving comfort to the enemy. Fact is, Iraq and VietNam were unprovoked and unnecessary wars, that were started by politicians and sold to us with lies. I'm tired too. Tired of the senseless deaths and injuries, tired of the nonsensical rhetoric that gives Rosie O'Donnell the miraculous power of determining the outcome of a war half a globe away. Most of all, I am tired of my countrymen trying to shame the 70% of our citizens who know the truth, whom you try to say are cowards or unpatriotic because we don't put victory (however that is even defined in Iraq) ahead of all other values. I am so tired of the rage of the people who are not over Viet Nam and its lessons and are willing to fight anywhere and kill anyone just to have that "like a winner" feeling again. I'm really tired of politicians using this twisted kind of faux patriotism for their own ends, while they sit in their offices collecting checks and votes wrung from your bravery and anger.

Moving On wrote on Jun 3, 2007 1:55 PM:The only part of the global warming issue that is “settled” is the science surrounding CO2 . . . so why do partisans keep beating that dead horse? The question that is far from settled boils down to this: Which has the potential to do the most harm to civilization as we know it, global warming or a massive world bureaucracy designated to control global warming?

El Guero wrote on Jun 3, 2007 2:03 PM:Dear FASCIST SOCIETY (3:01am): maybe the word you're seeking is simply 'corporatism.' There sure are enough 'isms' out there, but nothing today has a stench of an 'ism' with corporate in front of it. Not even 'socialism' or 'communism' or even 'fascism.'

OBSERVATION wrote on Jun 3, 2007 2:13 PM:to occupying 9:09am wrote on Jun 3, 2007 12:46 PM Don't ask the question unless you know the answer. How many of the thousands of Iraqis killed in this war were the enemy? You really don't know. I really don't know and even the military after action reports can not properly decern it. So, the attitude has just been to just indscriminatly waste anything that moves. Shoot now and ask questions later. One thing that I do know is that 5 of the 24 killed at Haditha could be insurgents and the rest were civilians. Or, they could all have been civilians.

gimmeabreak wrote on Jun 3, 2007 2:25 PM:Gee thanks, Nick, I love the reminder that "elite" is such a bad thing. When we have an illness or an injury we all want an "elite" doctor. We all want an "elite" attorney to defend us when we're accused of something. We seek "elite" plumbers or contractors when something needs repair that we cannot fix ourselves. We want our business books handled by an elite accountant. But when it comes to political decisions - like whether or not we should go into a war, and whether or not we should stay in a war that isn't going well, and into which we were misled by a bunch of culled "intelligence", all of a sudden we no longer need somebody who is elite? We want the guy we'd wanna have a beer with? You'd think after the Dukester we'd all learn our lessons that military training does not necessarily equate with diplomatic and governmental knowledge, but apparently not.

Conservatism wrote on Jun 3, 2007 2:41 PM:Conservatives believe that the United Nations is a corrupt, anti-American, anti-Semitic talking shop that is largely hostile to American interests and is too incompetent to be much of use in areas where it's not. Liberals are internationalists who still have confidence in the UN. Moreover, they don't seem to be overly concerned about signing our country on to international schemes that are slanted against us, or about the fact that nations that are largely hostile to our interests like China, France, and Russia have a veto over any significant action that the UN can take.

Conservatism wrote on Jun 3, 2007 2:44 PM:Conservatives believe that judges should act like umpires instead of legislating from the bench. That means that judges should determine whether laws are permissible under the Constitution and settle debates about the meaning of laws, not impose their will based on their ideological leanings. Liberals view judges as a backdoor method of getting unpopular left-leaning legislation passed. They don't want umpires, they want political partisans in black robes who will side with them first and then come up with a rationale to explain it.

Conservatism wrote on Jun 3, 2007 2:45 PM:Conservatives believe that we should live in a color blind society where every individual is judged on the content of his character and the merits of his actions. On the other hand, liberals believe that it's ok to discriminate based on race as long as it primarily benefits minority groups.

Proud Liberal wrote on Jun 3, 2007 2:46 PM:Regarding "The left loves China" I thought you ring-wingers were supposed to be the "family values" crowd. Apparently after babies are born you don't care at all about them. We liberals tend to love not just embryos, but also babies, children and even adults. We are the "make love not war" people. Not only to we care about orphans in this country, we also care about those in other countries. It's a Christian thing, so I'm sure you wouldn't understand it. If you had a shred of decency you would be happy that money was being raised for orphans, not matter where they are. How many orphaned children have YOU helped? By the way, it is your people that have us in debt up to our necks with China to support your illegal wars. You must like the communists since you are selling our country to them.

Wow! wrote on Jun 3, 2007 3:06 PM:Today we hear that Iran's president Ahmedinijad claims there is a countdown to the destruction of Israel. We also hear Russia's Putin stating that their missiles are now pointed at Europe. But don't remind American liberals of such silly nonsense. To them, Bush is the biggest threat to world peace. Go figure.

El Gato wrote on Jun 3, 2007 3:16 PM:to El Guero...Corporatism? Yikes! How scary! You mean the fact that ordinary every day workers (like myself and all my friends and acquaintances) can actually OWN securities in a company? Buy and sell those securities when we feel like it? Enjoy the fruits of that ownership in said company so as to one day enjoy our twilight years with our grandchildren? Man, that is just downright EVIL! What stench! How dare us common folk! It may be corporatism to you. To me, it sounds more like liberty.

El Guero wrote on Jun 3, 2007 3:33 PM:Dear El-pussy-Gato: Yes! your Chicano friends and your Chicano self can actually OWN securities in a company! Providing you have the right accent!

Moving On wrote on Jun 3, 2007 3:44 PM:Mr. Green, how about this common sense approach? Plug the leak at the border (that takes care of the security issues). Arrest and deport the criminals (that takes care of the “unwelcome”). Revoke the Welfare State (that takes care of the economics problems). Now, how complicated is that?

to Proud Liberal wrote on Jun 3, 2007 3:49 PM:Your 2:46pm post is a hoot. Let's dissect it, shall we? "Apparently after babies are born you don't care at all about them." Not true. That's why we value the traditional family; nurturing, raising, and teaching our children is a core value. If all who gave birth subscribed to this, it wouldn't be an issue. Further, you define caring for babies as throwing government money at them. There are millions of illegitimate examples as to why that approach has been a miserable failure. But, yeah. You care. Uh huh. "liberals love embryoes"? 40 million abortions over the years say otherwise. "we are the 'make love not war' people." Yes you are. And ever since 1973 there has been a greedy ghoulish abortionist waiting nearby to snuff out the unexpected result of your lovemaking. Too bad that result was a living human being.....Ah, forget it. What's the use?

To Crews wrote on Jun 3, 2007 3:56 PM:"Greenland"

To Raoul wrote on Jun 3, 2007 3:58 PM:Did you enjoy Ms USA being booed in Mexico City? When do we support this country?

to Wow wrote on Jun 3, 2007 3:58 PM:There is no question that the President of Iran's stance towards Israel is unacceptable. I have read that he is in terrible political shape and that an ever-growing number of Iranians dislike him and even desire a more westerized way of life. The reason Bush is so feared around the world is that he is capable of seeing Iran as just its President. He is capable of believing that going into Iran with air strikes or an invasion would lead the Iranian people to greet us with flowers and parades. Iran could be turned around. Their President is more despised there daily. But if anyone can blow this opportunity, Bush just might be the guy. As for Putin, can you explain what he is doing that Bush isn't doing?

Foreign flags wrote on Jun 3, 2007 4:02 PM:OMG I just was at Major Market in Escondido. Did you know that over various displays of imported foods they are displaying flags of those countries? Britain, Germany, even FRANCE!!!! You patriots ought to get down there fast and rip those babies down.

Conservatives and the UN wrote on Jun 3, 2007 4:05 PM:And yet, when we accuse Bush of instigating an unprovoked war, listen to the conservatives chanting in unison: Saddam violated UN resolutions! How nice for the UN to not be corrupt or unAmerican when it suits us, when it provides conservatives with the moral authority for a war.

OBSRVATION wrote on Jun 3, 2007 4:33 PM:Iran's president Ahmedinijad Iran's president Ahmedinijad Wow! wrote on Jun 3, 2007 3:06 PM Russia's missles are in answer to the protective shield to be installed in Europe. That shield is provocative to Russian security. So, they had to counter it. Don't blaim Putin, he thinks in cold war terms as a former KGB officer. I blaim GWB who knows Putin thinks cold war. Bush went ahead and did it anyway. The Iranian threat against Israel is old news. He has been making it for years even when the Neocons were in total control of our American government.You and I both know what will be the outcome if Israel is attacked. so, just what is your point? Are you just trying that old neocon sport of throwing mud up agaonst the wall to if it sticks?

Gosh, Conservatives, wrote on Jun 3, 2007 4:46 PM:I hate to burst your multiple, magical bubbles here... but first, there are in fact a large number of non-Americans serving in our military. By that, I mean people who are not citizens. About 1500 of them are Mexicans (not the dreaded hyphenated type, either!). What the heck is so scary about another country's flag? I fly the American flag at my home, but it doesn't make me upset or scared to see another country's flag being flown. America should show solidarity and respect for other countries. Also, we feel like broken records over here in the reality-based community, but again, we'll say for the record: Global Warming is real. It is happening, and it is due to actions by humans. Ron, the fact is that the scientific community is actually in almost complete agreement about this. The fact that the Bush Administration has managed to get a few scientists to sell their souls and preach the party line does not constitute "science."

Content of their character wrote on Jun 3, 2007 5:04 PM:I was fortunate to be around at the time of the civil rights movement and participated in some small degree. For the life of me, I cannot recall a single conservative who had any part in this movement. In fact, since LBJ was dragged, kicking and screaming, to sign the Civil Rights Act, the Democratic party to this day has lost the conservative South (please, don't tell us the South was Democratic till then..we know. We're talking liberal/conservative not Democrat/Republican...not the same for sure in the '60s). Most conservatives opposed integration of schools, opposed the voting act, hated seeing those restrooms for "colored people" destroyed. (ask them too about their record on women's suffrage, equal rights and pay for women, maternity leave) But history is to be rewritten by these people of such great character, again doing whatever works.

FOCAL POINT wrote on Jun 3, 2007 5:28 PM:Gosh, Conservatives, wrote on Jun 3, 2007 4:46 PM The Mexicans who are in the American Army have sworn allegiance to the USA, its consitution and servie under the Stars and Stripes. I do not mind the Mexican flag being flown as long as it is flown lower than the American flag or beneath it within the boundaries of the United States of America. Many Americans are aware of the progarm of La Raza and MENCHA and the future plan to radicalize them or their future legal children to destroy the national integrity of this nation. 23 million invaders into this country is not showing respect for our laws and seeking solidarity with us.

To Gosh Conservatives wrote on Jun 4, 2007 3:29 PM:POP, just so you know, you have to be a legal citizen of the US to be in the military, I dont know where your getting your info from, but it's wrong. Yes, there are people of every nationality, but they are all citizens and here legally. I'm not scared to see another countries flag being flown either, I just feel it's disrespectful. Funny how you dont see any other nationalities flying their flags all over, just the mexican flag. And as for Forgein Flag"s opinion, putting forgein flags over imported foods in the grocery store is hardly the same as flying the Mexican flag outside your home or business here in the US not Mexico, showing where your allegiance lies. If your allegiance lies elsewhere, then thats where you should be.

OBSERVATION wrote on Jun 8, 2007 3:08 PM:To Gosh Conservatives wrote on Jun 4, 2007 3:29 PM: You do not have to be a legal citizen in order to be a member of the American armed forces.