Betsy wrote on Feb 8, 2008 10:17 PM:Thank you, to those who commented back to my posting yesterday. I'm sharing them with my Cultural Diversity Class on Monday. Interesting to note that no one thought a naturalized, LEGAL Hispanic citizen could be anything other than an oxymoron, EXCEPT the Minutemen. My students will get their usual "kick" out of your sharing.
Name calling, as always, seems to be the ONLY resort when there is not actual "Fact" to discuss. Thsnks again for showing our college students the lengths/depths of slander and hate aimed toward the PRO-LEGAL, Anti-ILLEGAL activists. The work "oxymoron" must be some of that "coded hate speach" mentioned on Lou Dobbs the other day. LOL!
Oh, and IF I was AGAINST the maligned Minutemen, you'd have LOVED my Hot Latina T-shirt. LOL!! Crack us all up!!

Floyd The Scientist wrote on Feb 8, 2008 10:50 PM:DD Wiz completely missed my point yesterday: the Y2K issue that he expounded upon was a man-made problem while the ongoing cycle of global warming / cooling is not. In the general mayhem that appeared in his follow-up (involving allegations of a plate-like flat earth in which satellites apparently orbit around the rim and a gratuitous remark about fossil fuels) he directed a lot of invective at me, thus continuing to ignore and confuse the central idea that global warming / cooling is primarily a political issue.

To Debbie B. who wrote: wrote on Feb 8, 2008 10:33 PM: wrote on Feb 8, 2008 11:27 PM:"They are human beings and I can't stand idly by while they are being treated badly. She and we as Christians should not let anyone go without food or water." That is WHY the US FEDERAL GOV'T PAYS the Country of Mexico OVER 3 BILLION DOLLARS EACH YEAR!! To assist with medical & basic survival needs. Since it OBVIOUSLY is NOT reaching the people who need it, perhaps you & Tina should suggest to our Gov't that they KEEP OUR 3 Billion+ dollars, and use it to pay the debts incurred by the Pro-ILLegal Mov't. Say, WHY is it that the Pro-ILLegal mov't DROPS the ILLEGAL and just talks about immigration, because technically, immigration is the legal process of becoming a citizen. ILLegal entry has NOTHING to do with the actual Naturalization Process.

DD Wiz wrote on Feb 9, 2008 12:06 AM: The published letters from Ralph "Pete" Peters and Robert Smith show that the pushers of our addiction to non-renewable FINITE FILTHY FOSSIL FUELS purchased from dependence on terrorists and dictators are winning in their CONSERVATIVE WAR AGAINST SCIENCE.
Peters provides yet again an example of not being able to tell the difference between WEATHER and CLIMATE and Smith joins those who cite FICTION novels "State of Fear" as the desperate, pathetic basis for scientific conclusions.
In the meantime, with patterns of hurricanes and other weather extremes rising (looking at overall patterns, not pointing to any single specific event), and the physical and economic damage we have already seen, Peters has the nerve to warn about the "disastrous economic damage" that would result if we actually listen to the experts and solve the problem, as we did so successfully with Y2K.

DD Wiz wrote on Feb 9, 2008 12:09 AM: The post from "Floyd The Scientist" (10:50pm) proves he isn't one. Good ol' Flat Earth "Floyd" comes through again, asserting that the "general mayhem" of "global warming" is not the result of human causes. WRONG. While I did not introduce the example of Y2K, it is a good example of the fact that because we LISTENED to warnings from experts of an impending serious problem and took action to fix it, the problem was, for the most part, avoided. And the fact is, as supported by THOUSANDS of peer-reviewed scientific journal articles, while there is a normal range of natural fluctuations between global warming and cooling cycles, it is human activity in the massive deforestation of the planet's "lungs" and the production of excess carbon emissions that has driven the range of atmospheric CO2 to ranges far outside the variance of normal cycles. The problem is, indeed, exacerbated by human causes (in addition to natural cycles), and must be addressed by human solutions.
To find the incredible number of peer-reviewed sources on this subject, go to Google, click on "advanced" mode, then scroll down to click on the Google Scholar option, and use the search terms "global warming human cause" and see the results that come forth. Google Scholar restricts the search results to peer-reviewed scholarly scientific journals.
And Flat Earth "Floyd" still has not come "clean" (so to speak) with us to tell us his financial interest in promoting the propaganda pushers of our addiction to non-renewable FINITE FILTHY FOSSIL FUELS purchased from dependence on terrorists and dictators.

sdraoul wrote on Feb 9, 2008 12:18 AM:Garth Hansen is a riot. With anti-cinservatives like this guy, the election is McCain's.

For example: Hansen writes "Conservatism failed at every turn Between 2000 and 2006, with all three branches of government under their control, American conservatives were finally able to implement everything they'd claimed they could do if only they were in charge." Gee, I thought Bill Clinton was President all of 2000.

He writes conservatives failed at: "Iraq." Where's the failure there, Hansen? Saddam was thrown out. Americans kill more Americans in 6 weeks than Americans have died in Iraq in five years.

Then: "Katrina." Excuse me, Mr. Hansen but the Mayor of New Orleans-Nagin, and the Louisiana Governor (a) didn't evecaute people with 1000 school buses that were parked in parking lots and (b)the Governor did not call out the thousands of National Guardsmen she supposodly led.

He writes: "Enron." Mr. Hansen, the entire Enron episode occured under Bill Clinton, totally. In fact, it was the Bush Administration that prosecuted that case and that aof other Clinton fraudulent companies like MCI that ripped off billions between January 20, 1883 and January 19, 2001.

He writes: "Spying on Americans." Never happened, period. Phone calls were listened to from outside the USA made to people suspected of terrorism, perfectly legal.

RE: An oxymoron wrote on Feb 9, 2008 12:36 AM:An oxymoron is Enrique Morones/LaRaza/SPLC/Tina Jillings all calling the Minutemen RACISTS ...

Mr. Ingertson wrote on Feb 9, 2008 1:40 AM:I agree that the city of Temecula is the best maintained city around! But the city has never charged an increase in rates to maintain YOUR neighborhood slopes and common areas. Your charges at up to about $90 a year.

SOLON ... wrote on Feb 9, 2008 2:26 AM:So many Republican scandals and failures and in less than 200 words. Poignant letter today by Garth Hansen. With another 200 words he could have mentioned GOP Senator Vitter of Louisiana and his trysts with the DC Madam; Mark Foley and his trysts with 16 year old boy pages; Dennis Hastert who covered up Foley’s activities for years; Duke Cunningham, the most blatantly corrupt congressman in history and all his nasty pack, including Dusty Foggo and Brent Wilkes; kingpin Tom DeLay and the 32 felony indictments against him; nefarious Jack Abramoff who flashed his black trench coat, exposing myriad corrupt members of the Bush administration; Sen. Bill Frist, who resigned under threat of investigation for violations of federal campaign finance laws, shady stock sale of his HCA inc.; Sen. Conrad Burns, now gone, caught up in an ongoing Justice Department investigation into influence peddling surrounding Abramoff and his partner, Michael Scanlon; Rep. Tom Feeney, and his luxury golf junket to Scotland with Abramoff; Rep. Richard W. Pombo, who paid his wife and brother $357,325 in campaign funds; Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.), who hit Pennsylvania taxpayers to pay for his children’s schooling while they lived in Virginia; Ohio Gov. Taft and his “coingate crony” Tom Noe -- The scandals just go on and on and on the whole 7 years of this Republican administration, and I am out of my extra 200 words. As Garth Hansen said, “Conservatism failed at every turn.” We haven’t even mentioned the biggest swindlers: Carl Rove, Donald Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, Scooter Libby, Douglas Feith, Grover Norquist. Almost all of them are in jail, kicked out of office, resigned, or on the run.

DUPLICITY = wrote on Feb 9, 2008 2:53 AM: = Washington Post today: QUOTE = “Bush drew great applause during his State of the Union address last month when he called on Congress to allow U.S. troops to transfer their unused education benefits to family members. "Our military families serve our nation, they inspire our nation, and tonight our nation honors them," he said.
A week later, however, when Bush submitted his $3.1 trillion federal budget to Congress, he included no funding for such an initiative, which government analysts calculate could cost $1 billion to $2 billion annually.”
END QUOTE. Nobody trust this man anymore. That now makes 836 lies.

JAIL to the THIEF = wrote on Feb 9, 2008 3:01 AM: = If you're a disabled soldier returning from Iraq or Afghanistan and need a hand filling out the paperwork for your benefits, don't bother asking the Department of Veteran Affairs. They won't help.
That's because last year Army officials instructed representatives from the VA at Fort Drum, NY not to help veterans with their disability paperwork because there was a "conflict of interest."1 Soldiers that get help from the VA tend to get higher disability ratings...which means that the government owes them more money. And within the Bush administration's corporate worldview, that just doesn't work. After all, they've got their buddies to pay.

White Rabbit wrote on Feb 9, 2008 4:18 AM:Before Walter Dobrowolski speaks of the constitutionality of garnishing wages to pay for one’s health insurance he should take a look at box 14 on his W-2 form.

To the Hot Latina Teeshirt wrote on Feb 9, 2008 5:01 AM:Since you are a teacher, I am sure you will want to discuss the Law of Return as the Minutemen continue to bash the ACLU even after they have agreed to defend the Minutemen Organization in the Cal Trans issue, instead of pushing your own agenda in the classroom, si?

Randy wrote on Feb 9, 2008 5:20 AM:"Conservatism failed at every turn" should be retitled, "Neocons failed at every turn." The principles and acts of the Bush administration diametrically opposed the bedrock principles of classic conservatism.

Ricky, Ricky, Ricky: wrote on Feb 9, 2008 5:57 AM:If you can't address the issue, attack the individual. The Council Women has taught you well. The transparence of this is clear to all but you. To blindly support a do nothing Council Women over the rest is OK, just say so. If you oppose the cement plant, educate me as to why? But the cheap theatrics belong to Esther.

Chuck wrote on Feb 9, 2008 6:19 AM:>>>Conservatism failed at every turn>>> It certainly failed in Sacramento where billions were spent on freebees for illegals and the radical gays forwarded a bill to make the little kiddies choose whether they are a boy or girl irreespective of their plumbing

Chuck wrote on Feb 9, 2008 6:27 AM:>>The hostility toward the Minutemen jumps right out of the comments, such vitriol>> Those who complain about the Minutemen are pure racists who have no respect for the law. They have the pro-mexican agenda and the no-law agenda--yet they are the first ones to scream Bush is violating the Constitution by spying electronically on the terrorists

Chuck wrote on Feb 9, 2008 6:31 AM:>>I recently received my "Official Ballot for the Temecula Community Services District Rates and Charges" for perimeter and slope maintenance.>> LOL, they should have told the truth and called it the "massive salary, benefit and pension increase fee for government bureaucrats". I think the watch the Encinitas city council on TV and see that they spend 20% of their time on service to the people & 80% of their time to dream up fees

Chuck wrote on Feb 9, 2008 6:34 AM:"Killing the coyotes not the answer"
Thats what happens when 2-bit bureaucrats interfere with the balance of nature. Just like Al Goreleone is doing with his phoney man-caused global warming Kool-Aid that he's trying to sell to the liberal morons

Chuck wrote on Feb 9, 2008 6:45 AM:>>Health care system needs to be reformed >> I guess you mean turn it over to socialized medicaine like the toothless Brits have. Well, before you go reaching for what you think will be free, just ask yourself, with the Social Security system so broke and not knowing if you'll get a penny out of it, why do you want to turn your healthcare over to the same stinking bureaucrats??

Dissapointed Administrator wrote on Feb 9, 2008 7:01 AM:I a interested to know what school Betsy teaches at. I am the principal at a High School here in Vista and if I knew one of my teachers was using class time to promote her personal feelings, we would definately have words. You are there as teachers to teach our children not brain wash them into your personal way of thinking.

James wrote on Feb 9, 2008 7:20 AM:Once again we see that a major scientific organization, this one in Canada, hs come out against the false idea of man made global warming. When are we going to wake up the fact that we are being led down a destructive path by the likes of al gore and these others who are getting rich on the man made global warming fraud. And let me beat one person to his punch line"FILTHY FOSSIL FUELS" there is now no need to reapeat the socialist tag line.

Ron wrote on Feb 9, 2008 7:31 AM:If actual Conservatism had been tried, then Garth Hansen would be correct. Bush's version of Compassionate Conservatism failed at every turn, because it sot to rally Big government Republicans, not much different than Big Government Democrats.
As to the results, what would you expect when you mimick Democrat policies under the guise of being Conservative? Hence you have Neo-Conservatism. These are former liberal's turned Republican. Hard to totally rid those old spending habits. While his policies on the private economy have been generally good and profitable {tax cuts}, the government economy has grown larger and faster than most Democrat administrations. You would think most Democrats would be pleased by the increase in entitlements under Bush, but according to Ted Kennedy the increase in drug entitlements did not go far enough. In No Child Bush combined with Ted Kennedy, giving the Federal government even more power to control local school districts, and yet the song is the same, it did not go far enough. Not in control, they now have that, but in SPENDING. But, that is far more about power in Washington D.C., than anything to do with helping those at the bottom. It always has been. Republicans began spending like drunken Democrats on steriods, usually in Washington this is not unusual, but since Democrats were being routinely denied spending on their pet projects, they began to act like conservatives, and budget hawks. Should the election go the way I think it will, we will al soon see how fiscally sound they actually are. Interestingly, we have already gotten a glimise of how Congressional Democrats will be on budget, since they now control the House & Senate since 2006. As to Iraq, although many Democrats voted for the war, I guess they can later change their minds. In Katrina, no President would have been able to do the kind of miracle work required, and we must remember, the local government first responders, both Democrat, failed at every turn to provide safety to their populations. As to Enron, The Enron scandal was was first revealed in late 2001. The irregular accounting procedures and fraud were perpetrated throughout the 1990s, under Bill Clinton. It was left to the Bush administration to clean up. And certainly let's not forget, corporations are generally not Republican or Democrat, they are opportunists. During Clinton's eight years in office, the company and Lay contributed about $900,000 to the Democratic Party. In 1999 and 2000, the company gave $362,000 in soft-money donations to Democrats. But what is most apparent to any objective observer is that currently both Obama & Hillary are not saying do not spend more, they are both saying SPEND A LOT MORE. So much for being budget hawks and worrying about deficits, debts, social security, medi-care. They want free college, baby bonds, and a new healthcare entitlement. How come nobody is asking how they are going to spend like real drunken Democrats? Cause that's what they do.

Ron wrote on Feb 9, 2008 7:40 AM:You know... Ralph 'Pete" Peters got me to thinking about Pope Gore, and his carbon offset company. Remember the one where you send him the money, and he plants a tree, a bush, or something green. Well, it got me to thinking... since Gore has started his company, based on his travels alone, we should have a new forest by now, right? I mean, the guy took a private jet to view his movie in France, and a private jet to pick up his prize, and all of his big money speaking engagements. Surely, there is enough trees now to call it a forest? What will be call this new forest? The Al Gore National Park? I really want to know where all these new trees are being planted? Like all investors, I'd be looking for a return on my investment, so where are the investments in trees? If he anit planting any, he would be no different than say... Enron's Kenneth Lay?

theWolf-Berkeley madness wrote on Feb 9, 2008 7:48 AM:The city council of Berzerkly CA is trying to shut down Marine Corp recruiting there. Once member said that the marines are duped into feeding the war machine-this effort is sponsored by Code Pink. Yet:
" The very liberal Democratic Rep. Barbara Lee, who represents Berkeley, did not endorse the City Council's anti-Marine resolution but vowed to fight any effort cutting off funds for the city."
This is in response to a threat from members of Congress to quit giving Fed money to these idiots. They have the right to free speech and so do the Marines-who gave them that right.

To Randy Williams in the Wonderful Land of Oz!!!! wrote on Feb 9, 2008 7:49 AM:Come on guy! Have you never heard the term it "takes two to tango". The Minutemen are not the victims here. One only has to catch a news report about them to know that they are arrogant, and rude. I hate the illegals myself but I saw a news report that really made me mad. I realized that the Minutemen did not reflect my position on this issue. I disagree with there tactics. I oppose them and I only saw a little snipet of their horrible conduct. So Randy I think this is a two way street because those who oppose the Minutemen have a valid reason for doing so. I saw lots of hositility being directed at a woman who just merely stopped to ask a question. They are I must say the maladjusted misfits I read about in one of our local papers.

TO:Randy Williams wrote on Feb 9, 2008 8:00 AM:You are correct sir.The people that do not have there head stuck up there south end will hear your message loud and clear.

Ron wrote on Feb 9, 2008 8:02 AM:I love this letter today by Jerry Wallingford. It shows how complete the Democrat mantra has converted the un-thinking by slick marketing & packaging. Let's get the facts straight, ok? Both Republicans & Democrats borrow and spend. They've both done it for decades. It is just facinating to me that now all these Democrats want to become budget hawks. You know, before when the Republicans wanted to reduce government programs, we all had to hear the drivel about throwing old people out in the streets.
According to the Controller General David Walker our current situation in entitlements alone is that 60% of our entire 3.1 trillion budget will be spent on entitlements. That's $1.86 Billion, with a very large B, each and every year. He further says, by the end of the next President's term (2012), that number will be a whopping 70%, or 2.17 Billion. The war is expensive, but that is not the reason we are in these fiscal problem, it is the massive entitlement programs that Democrats are unwilling to tamper with, or modify, and certainly not reduce. I will laugh with all glee should a Democrat become our next President, and let the tap dancing on taxes begin. Remember, under Bill Clinton, he said he'd only go after the rich for taxes. When all was said and done, fixed income seniors had their social security taxed even higher, and the rich were now those who made a whopping $33,000 a year. Are you rich? LOL I guess that all depends upon what the meaning of the word: "Is", is.
And I haven't even gotten to the carbon tax, the carbon credit trading tax, and gas taxes they want too. Man! This is going to be interesting to watch. Me? I'll be fine, but those who are lower in economic standing, hold onto your wallets. As the whizzer says, the wealthier you are, the better able you can absorb tax hikes. Those at the bottom, how will a .50-.72 cent tax on a gallon of gas help them? Or the estimated $1.2 trillion in taxes behind any carbon tax? You just watched your buying power drop. Thank you Democrats.

truth wrote on Feb 9, 2008 8:02 AM:It amazes me that there are those who ignore science and use arguments such as it was cold somewhere and "facts" from a self proclaimed 'fiction novel', to argue that there is no global warming.

Ron wrote on Feb 9, 2008 8:10 AM:It's called culture, Trent Hamlin. You know.. there used to be a time in this country when people would have been ashamed to use this kind of language. Not anymore. People tended to have more respect for other people, today.. everyone loves to talk about their rights, but no one wants to talk about personal responsiblilitys. They'd rather push the envelope, offend their neighbor, and remain defiant when called in to question about their personal behavior. It's kind of like the charity thing, once most individuals and churches were the heart and soul of helping those less fortunate. Now, everyone seems to want someone else to pick up their tab via government taxation of "the evil Rich."
It's truly sad, cause they just don't know what they are missing.

Polar Bear wrote on Feb 9, 2008 8:27 AM:Global warming is never going to happen Hey fella- my home is melting away.

ABOVE the LAW = wrote on Feb 9, 2008 8:29 AM:= George Bush has put in another of signing statements “I am not bound by the law.” This was the last week of January. It’s t's about as basic as it gets: Congress has the power of the purse. And Section 1222 of the massive defense appropriation bill enacted this week asserts that power. It reads, in its entirety:
"No funds appropriated pursuant to an authorization of appropriations in this Act may be obligated or expended for a purpose as follows:
"(1) To establish any military installation or base for the purpose of providing for the permanent stationing of United States Armed Forces in Iraq.
"(2) To exercise United States control of the oil resources of Iraq."
But in another of his controversial " signinf statements ," President Bush on Tuesday declared that Section 1222 -- along with three other sections of the bill -- "purport to impose requirements that could inhibit the President's ability to carry out his constitutional obligations to take care that the laws be faithfully executed, to protect national security, to supervise the executive branch, and to execute his authority as Commander in Chief."
Therefore, he wrote: "The executive branch shall construe such provisions in a manner consistent with the constitutional authority of the President."

GFN wrote on Feb 9, 2008 8:42 AM:I liked and agreed with the letter of Richard Sauerheber, but can anyone decipher the last sentence? I just can't grasp anything from it.

GFN wrote on Feb 9, 2008 8:51 AM:Robert Smith, thank you for your suggestions of what to read on the issue of Global Warming! Hopefully, all will update their knowledge of the issue so the arguments, for and against, can be civil and knowledgable.

GFN wrote on Feb 9, 2008 8:59 AM:Joan Brubaker is quite right. "The recent state budget problems infiltrate many modes of California activity." We will all feel the pain because the state will squeeze the local governments and schools. Be aware also, the $14 billion deficit number will certainly rise and the state has already borrowed profusely in the last 10 years, just like the federal government. No individual or governmental agency can borrow indefinitely...sooner or later, the piper must be paid...the later, the greater the pain!

GFN wrote on Feb 9, 2008 9:06 AM:Kenneth Eby, thank you for a clear, concise explanation of facism. Hopefully, all bloggers will copy and study it so it will not be misused in the future.

Hey, Pete wrote on Feb 9, 2008 9:24 AM:Rain is the result of warm air not cold.

but Reardon wrote on Feb 9, 2008 9:35 AM:You could start with googling transgender or going to Wikipedia. You'll see there that it includes many sub-types, including what I imagine this second grader is...someone who "is" a female but has the body of a male. Imagine what it must be like for such a person. Imagine yourself, feeling exactly as you do, as automatically whatever sex you are, in all the ways that this is true, and you look at yourself in the mirror and see the body of the other sex. Could you imagine saying to yourself one day, if you're a male, "Hmm, I think I'll be female today!" Not just as a role or as some clothing but as completely, through and through, as you feel yourself to be what you currently are. Think for a moment of all the ways you'd be different. As you can see, and all the more so if you were 7 years old, the question of who you're attracted to is a rather small part of this. BTW, Reardon: where do you think "common sense" comes from? Could it be information from the society you live in? I think so too! So common sense can change with more and better information! Give it a go! You can do it!

Alf wrote on Feb 9, 2008 9:57 AM:Well, I'm back for a few minutes, "Realist" on the 7th at 8:56PM. A marinade, when the meat is forked to allow the marinade into it, can be used to soak for 36 or more hours, the longer the more tender and flavorful. My "mystery ingredient" in the marinade is root beer, combined with freshly squeezed orange juice from one of our trees (a natural tenderizer), combined with any ratio of any combination of teriyaki marimade ("Ken's Honey Teriyaki Marinade), and anything that looks good. I hope that the descriptors make you drool. BBQ season is coming up soon and Seaside Market in Encinitas has the best meat. Regards, Alf.

re Garth wrote on Feb 9, 2008 9:58 AM:Garth is good, Garth is great, I'm going to nominate this one for Best Letter. Can't summarize it any better than that in 200 words. Amen!

2 DD Whiz wrote on Feb 9, 2008 10:05 AM:Thanks for the autobiography @ 6:20pm yesterday; spellbounding. If there's anything you might have left out feel free to publish another thousand word addendum.

to Randy Williams wrote on Feb 9, 2008 10:05 AM:Did you really write this sentence? - "Now I realize that the hostility surrounding the Minutemen is from the groups and people that oppose the Minutemen." How long did it take you to realize this? I'm going to nominate this for the "Duh" award.

to Mr Hansen wrote on Feb 9, 2008 10:06 AM:Excellent brief summary of the years 2000-06, and stunning when you look at it. We see posters and letter writers and talk radio people bizarrely blaming liberals for all our ills. But you're right: for those six years one ideology had power of all the branches. Not only that: when the Congress submitted compromise bills (such as the McCain torture ban), Mr Bush declared he wouldn't follow that law. So, yes, the neocons have had the government under their wing for 6 years. And what did they show for it? One mess after another, in every sphere except for the sheckles their tax cuts gave some of us. Why do you think every major candidate for the Presidency (not just now, but from the start, when the field was large) has been using "change" as their buzzword? Has a two term President ever, EVER!, had his part run for the next chance on such a "change" basis? I didn't think so. But beware: one of the neocons' tickets to power was drumming up fear of terrorism among us. McCain, for all his differences, is doing exactly the same thing. Will enough Americans be duped again, by the exact same pitch as they were under Cheney and Bush? Is that possible? Are we that dumb? Are we that self-destructive? I think maybe so!

to Trent Hamlin wrote on Feb 9, 2008 10:19 AM: The language - like everything else in the universe - is evolving. There was a time when your word "bastardized" would have been improper. My own pet peeve is people using "over" when they mean "more than", as in "there were over a dozen people there".

to Ralph 'Pete" Peters wrote on Feb 9, 2008 10:37 AM: You say the "media has been silent" about global warming for the past week? I guess you didn't watch Anderson Cooper on CNN the other night. And there's a show coming up about what will happen when the temp rises just six degrees. But it was very cold at my house last night, so maybe you're right about global warming. Maybe this cold spell disproves all the scientists. Or maybe the Greenhouse Fairy will come and blow all those harmful gases out into space.

A rose by any name... wrote on Feb 9, 2008 11:18 AM:from today's NY Times QUOTE WASHINGTON — President Bush often denounces the propensity of Congress to earmark money for pet projects. But in his new budget, Mr. Bush has requested money for thousands of similar projects.He asked for money to build fish hatcheries, eradicate agricultural pests, conduct research, pave highways, dredge harbors and perform many other specific local tasks.The details are buried deep in the president’s budget, just as most Congressional earmarks are buried in obscure committee reports that accompany spending bills. ENDQUOTE Yeah, but when Bush does it, it's not called "earmarks", see? So it's not earmarks. It's somethin' else. He's the decider. Besides, doesn't he have divine right?

question for raoul wrote on Feb 9, 2008 11:35 AM:So according to your reading of the works of the Bush administration when it had a Republican Congress, they were years of incredible successess. So let me ask you why none of the Republicans who wanted to run for President said anything remotely like, "The Bush years have been so successful, we want to continue all his policies."? Why have the contenders from his own party run at full speed in ANY direction to get away from being associated with his accomplishments? Why has not a one asked for his endorsement? Raoul, we know well from your many posts that you love two things: war and immigration, in other words, might-is-right anarchy. When you brag about Bush, it's not exactly flattering to him in the eyes of, oh, 90+% of Republicans...and that's just the Republicans! LOL

Good post, above the law wrote on Feb 9, 2008 11:57 AM:Ron and others here yodel endlessly about how the war is in Congress' hands. Yet here is Bush exempting himself from the law again. You know by now that Bush has used the signing statement more than all other previous Presidents put together, right? Each time, he is saying, "Congress passed a law that I do not intend to obey." That's your President, folks. If this is ok with you, then you obviously would enjoy living somewhere with a different Constitution, one without carefully constructed balance of powers...you know, a dictatorship. I'll be curious to see if Hillary, Obama, or even McCain sees the job the same way, including carte blanche to disregard any law Congress passes. If so, that'll be part of the Bush legacy, his redefinition of the Presidency. Once again, anyone who voted for Bush, especially in 2004, should be ashamed and give up voting rights for at least a decade as penance, as a way of apologizing to the rest of us.

Reardon wrote on Feb 9, 2008 12:08 PM:To But Reardon: (Again, are you someone we know here, do you have a name?): You would be surprised how "liberal" I am on sexuality -- but it does not belong in any of its many and varied manifestations in the SCHOOL! In your private time, you may cross-dress, or not dress at all, but the question is how far a public school must go to accommodate any particular deviant behavior? (Deviant in the sense that it is not the societal norm, or several sigmas from that norm.) If there is NO societal norm to be imposed in schools, public education will cease to exist and education will become Balkanized into private education based on sexual behavior. You don't want that, and neither do I, but I also do not want K-12 education looking like the Bar Scene from Star Wars!

Chuck wrote on Feb 9, 2008 12:29 PM:""Congress has the power of the purse."" Well, lets see what the spineless congress does witht he purse, especially during the election season. Any idiot kows as the election gets closer, the liberals will pretend to support America and the troops, in order to keep their seat

Chris to sdraoul wrote on Feb 9, 2008 12:33 PM:You might ask the Iraqis about the success in Iraq. What have we got. Several hundred thousand dead and millions have left their homes. This is what you call a success. The violence is down because the ethinic cleaning is almost complete and we are paying and arming our former enemies to work with us. Is this what you call a success. Only in your mind. Meanwhile the Talaban and al-Quida are gaining in Afghanistan and Packistan and we are throwing away about 15 billion dollars a month into this black hole. As I said, this success is only in your mind and not reality.

Chris to theWolf-Berkeley wrote on Feb 9, 2008 12:42 PM:Since when do the Marines give anybody the right to freedom of speech? That is a blatent lie. I am also against having these recuiters indoctrinating our children with all their prpaganda and if nothing else we need to keep them off of our campuses.

to Trent and "to Trent" wrote on Feb 9, 2008 1:09 PM:at least they are speaking English.........

Chuck wrote on Feb 9, 2008 1:29 PM:>>I am also against having these recuiters indoctrinating our children with all their prpaganda>>> Yet you dont seem to mind the radical gays indoctrinating the little kiddies into their way of life and being able to choose their gender in the 3rd grade under SB777

But Reardon wrote on Feb 9, 2008 1:32 PM:Still averse to reading and learning, eh? OK. Let's try it again. This 2nd grader, I'm assuming, has, with his parents, realized that he is, in some crucial sense, a girl. Please try to remember that we are not talking about sexual behavior...he's 7! The only behavior we're talking about is the behavior of a 7 year old normal girl. It is extremely likely that as he grows up, he will take his place in society as a female. It's very possible that at the right time, he will undergo all the hormones and surgeries to go along with this. It seems like his family and school have decided to help him by beginning to treat him in as many ways as possible as if he were a girl. So he's dressing as a girl (according to the same dress code other girls dress at that school) and using a bathroom that allows him to avoid the discomfort of being "with the boys", while still protecting the girls. For doing this for the kid, for trying to find ways to accommodate who he is and who he will be, what does he get? Clumped with gays, with sluts, and all the rest by "liberal" people like you, Reardon. You refuse to understand more about him. You just say, "Kid, keep your misery to yourself...it discomforts me. Suffer more, so I don't have to know about you." Great compassion there, Reardon. Now remember, under any circumstance, do not, repeat, do not, read anything about this that might change your mind in any way. You are normal. The kid is not. That's all that matters.

actually, question for raoul wrote on Feb 9, 2008 1:42 PM:If you look carefully, you'll see that McCain is rather close to running on a "more Bush years" platform, though he won't use the B word, of course (not everyone is as wise as raoul, after all). He and Bush agree on the border, on war, on most things except global warming and torture. That's why, no doubt, raoul is such a McCain fan. If you thought the Bush years were a great success, McCain's your guy!

Focal Point wrote on Feb 9, 2008 1:47 PM:Chuck wrote on Feb 9, 2008 12:29 PM And the Conservatives will play the fear card in order to keep the troops in Iraq so they can be killed and maimed.

6xsgv wrote on Feb 9, 2008 1:53 PM:Chris to theWolf-Berkeley wrote on Feb 9, 2008 12:42 PM That has already been discussed and argued during the Vietnam War. The courts have consistently ruled in favor of the recruiters. Chris, you have a right to be there to protest and the Marines have a right to recruit there. The Marines do not indoctrinate anybody until boot camp. That is the day the real fun begins.

Peter, wrote on Feb 9, 2008 1:54 PM:To Randy, at least the Council Men have an agenda and are doing something productive. Council Member Sanchez only has a track record of being an obstructionist. Seven years of Sanchez without any noteworthy accomplishment other than driving away staff is enough.4ho3o

Karl wrote on Feb 9, 2008 2:24 PM:Now don't get upset Double D's. I have one feeling left, one brain cell left and am operating with both sloppily. My question that deserves one sentence . I believe we can agree that scientific theory is just that. With that being said what % do you place on Gore's Global warming being correct? Are you in the 100% camp? Can you answer this poser in one sentence?

Chris to 6xsgv wrote on Feb 9, 2008 2:29 PM:No one is saying that the recruiters don't have the right to recruit there but the fact is that the Marines are indoctrinating our youth who don't have clue as to what is going on. They indoctrinate them on television and in adds. They go on campus and tell them what wonderful jobs they are going to have in the Corps and then when they get in most become nothing but ground pounders. We need to defang the clout that the military has in this society, but that would mean that we would have to have a more diserning citizenry than we have.

theWolf wrote on Feb 9, 2008 2:34 PM:Chris, I hope you appreciate that the Marines bled and died for your right to be wrong in your ideas and speech.

Karl wrote on Feb 9, 2008 2:41 PM:To "SOLON ... wrote on Feb 9, 2008 2:26 AM:" Nice Cherry picking. Do you want me to take the time to list democrats that have committed the same crimes? I will take the time if you would like me to. The bottom line is that both parties commit these atrocities on a daily basis. What is your point? Demos treat the population better than Reps? If you believe for one second that one party is looking out for your best interest you are foolish.

Karl wrote on Feb 9, 2008 2:50 PM:To "DD Wiz wrote on Feb 9, 2008 12:06 AM:" I get it already. When you post on this subject for the next 20 days straight I will have already got it. What the heck is the point on this post by repeating the same drivel over and over and over and over and over and over over and over and over and over and over and over over and over and over and over and over and over over and over and over and over and over and over over and over and over and over and over and over over and over and over and over and over and over over and over and over and over and over and over over and over and over and over and over and over over and over and over and over and over and over over and over and over and over and over and over over and over and over and over and over and over over and over and over and over and over and over over and over and over and over and over and over over and over and over and over and over and over over and over and over and over and over and over over and over and over and over and over and over over and over and over and over and over and over over and over and over and over and over and over over and over and over and over and over and over over and over anover and over and over and over and over and over over and over and over and over and over and over over and over and over and over and over and over over and over and over and over and over and over over and over and over and over and over and over

Get my point? Move on.org.

sdraoul wrote on Feb 9, 2008 2:59 PM:Ah, Chris, "Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis" have not been killed in Iraq. Plus, of those who have died, the vas