Chris wrote on May 14, 2008 9:26 PM:The letter by Robert Matthews is just more ignorance about Israel. Under the British mandate the British did everything they could to facilitate the Zionist to set up their state whereas they wouldn't allow the Palestinians to do the same. So finally the zionist had so much strength militarily and politically that the UN partitioned Palestine and gave the Zionist 56% of the land and the Palestinians 43%. During the so-called war in 1948 the zionist took more land so they ended up with 78% of the land that used to belong to the Palestinians. The point is that the Zionist had no right to set up their state in a land that belonged to the Palestinians and was promised to them by the British. As I said before the 1967 war was started by Israel. Matthews talks about the UN. The UN pased a resolution 242 that said Israel needs to vacate the land it occupied in the 67 war but of course they didn't. So where is all this crying from Matthews about Israel violating international law and UN resolutions. Well we know the answer to that don't we.

To Veronica Oceguera wrote on May 14, 2008 10:08 PM:Bravo!! Bravo!! Bravo!! Well said. I agree completely. Either speak the truth or don't speak at all in other words shut up!! Thank you, Tina for all you do, all you endure, all the adversity you have faced but most of all for never giving up hope in your cause which is Human Rights for all.

Thank you Mrs. Bledsoe wrote on May 14, 2008 10:56 PM:I am so pleased to read Mrs. Bledsoe's letter about Mayor Jim Wood. He has been a good Mayor and has kept every promise he made when he ran. We have the lowest crime rate in 30 years and our redevelopment area is finally showing genuine progress. Yet, he knows when something does not make sense and will not vote for things he considers not right or not good for the city. I find him to be steady, calm and thoughtful about what he does. He should be re-elected and I predict he will be.

sdraoul wrote on May 14, 2008 11:24 PM:Amazing how many intellectual sociopaths there are in North County where the best educated and most wealth in the area live.

On the one hand, there is whining and crying about how many illegals there are. Then, how much ID theft they do by using false and borrowed Social Security. Then they whine when I report what Social Security says mostly illegally-working people have paid into SS Trust Funds over the YEARS. It accumulates because illegals can’t collect benefits.

Social Security says there have been $400 Billion paid in by people with “bad” Social Security numbers; we all know that illegals aren't entitled to Social Security cards, thus, do the math.

Then these geniuses say it’s impossible for illegals to pay that much in because they all make minimum wage. Wrong! Most make far more than that. The raids in Iowa showed us that most illegals busted there were making more than $12 and hour -- which in Iowa is good money.

These very same people without a scintilla of evidence claim there are 20 million illegals here and that they came across an unguarded border illegally.

Baloney! Both are urban lies.

12-13 million max. Over half came in legally.

To think that such ignorance runs rampant among so many people.

Alf wrote on May 15, 2008 6:26 AM:From yesterday, "Nick", it looks like "Endgame", "Operation Cable Splicer" and "Garden Plot" are all contingency plans, each with their own purpose, yet each one is so close to being un-Constitutional or actually being un-Constitutional. Each one can only be justified by the most distorted of minds. Is it a case of trying to see how far the limits can be pushed? Is it a REAL conspiracy? I dunno. Either way, they are scary. Regards, Alf.

Alf wrote on May 15, 2008 6:43 AM:Well, folks, there are three headlines on page A-3 of the version of the North County Times that I get in Encinitas; "Ahmadinejad says Israel is doomed", "U.N. official warns of Darfur violence" and "Bush optimistic about Mideast peace". Is our president in touch with reality? I don't think so. (Wow, reality, what a concept.) And McCain, I mean McGWB, wants to continue on the path of GWB?? Regards, Alf.

Vista Granny wrote on May 15, 2008 7:27 AM:G. Charles Evans has a point, but it's not just litle old ladies that leave carts in the middle of parking spaces. I've seen some very able bodied young men and women do the same. BTW, ever go to Trader Joe's? It's amazing how many shoppers there return their carts to the store. To me that speaks well of the quality of their customers compared to that of most stores.

Alf wrote on May 15, 2008 7:34 AM:I gotta love the euphemism that "sdraoul" at 11:24PM used, "borrowed Social Security" in the sentence "Then, how much ID theft they do by using false and borrowed Social Security.". Since there is no legal way to "borrow" someone's Social Security Number, the proper word would be "stolen" or maybe "usurped" or maybe "illegally used", but definately not the word "borrowed". Such is the usual minimizing, the refusal to acknowledge illegality and outright false statements coming from "sdraoul". I daresay that I do not believe, not even for a nanosecond, that "sdraoul" would enjoy someone "borrowing" his identity. Regards, Alf.

to sdraoul wrote on May 15, 2008 7:47 AM:Guess what else they do with the social security numbers. Just pray that it never happens to you. If it does, you'll change your tune in a hurry.

Pluto to Pat Keliher wrote on May 15, 2008 8:38 AM:Unfortunately, Horn isn't up for election till 2010. My guess is that he'll be easier to meet with as the election gets closer.

Yokozuna wrote on May 15, 2008 8:43 AM:From Mr. Weber's letter: "Government is the economic lifeblood of this county." Pretty scary!!

Concerned One wrote on May 15, 2008 8:48 AM:Gerald Firl's letter today is no help in my quest for truth. Yesterday "Open mind a manual" 8:28 PM asked me to pursue an open mind in reference to global warming. I continue to review and analyze the information I see and hear everyday on the subject, and scrutinize the sources. What I'm very concerned about are politicians coming up with knee jerk measures for political gain (read hidden agenda). Same for many environmentalists (same read). Inferior toxic light bulbs, ethanol, and "global warming" restrictions with no proven outcome are examples of what I see as wrong. I support clean efficient energy solutions and "smart" business. I do not support self promoting, agenized, zealots. That's my two cents. Regards, C-1.

Cluck wrote on May 15, 2008 8:49 AM:The 6 day war in 1967 was technically "started" by Israel. It was a premptive strike against an entire Arab region that had been escalating its rhetoric about an imminent attack on the small country with the intent of total destruction. Total destruction. That was and continues to be their goal. The unrest in the Middle East is because of the Arab worlds inability to acknowledge Israel's right to exist. Israel is not as big as New Jersey and a speck in the in the whole Mid East. It's not about land. It's about hubris. If they gave back all the land it would do little to stop the aggression against it. If the Palestinians want peace they need to work for it.

OBSERVATION wrote on May 15, 2008 9:31 AM:
Top Stories Auto-generated 11 minutes ago


...
McCain: Troops May Be Home by 2013
New York Times - 2 hours ago
By Elisabeth Bumiller COLUMBUS, Ohio—Senator John McCain is projecting that most American troops will be home from Iraq by 2013 and that Iraq will be a functioning democracy with only “spasmodic’’ episodes of violence, a striking departure from his ...

OBAMACAN wrote on May 15, 2008 9:45 AM:News items:
1. John Edwards, first choice of white, southern, uneducated, blue-collar working people, salutes Hillary Clinton but enthusiastically endorses Barack Obama as the best choice. This gives Obama a few new probably delegates plus instant street cred with a demographic that has been difficult for him when competing against another populist Democrat (not a Republican).
2. In a special election for a Congressional district of mostly white, southern, uneducated, blue-collar working people in Mississippi, the Republicans (who had held the seat for many years) ran a campaign aggressively linking the conservative Democratic candidate to Barack Obama and Rev. Wright. Despite their long time hold on the district (which Bush carried by more than 20 points in 2004), the tactic backfired and the Democrat won in a landslide. This was the third such "safe" Republican long-held district that the Democrats flipped from the GOP in just a matter of weeks in special elections.

While Hillary may have been the first choice among white, southern, uneducated, blue-collar working people (at least before the Edwards endorsement), there is no evidence that they will vote against Obama when the choice is a third Bush term instead of another populist Democrat. There is plenty of concern, however, that many of the independents or new voters attracted by Obama, would either vote for McCain or not at all if Hillary were to miraculously pull a white rabbit out of a hat, because of her enormous negative ratings among these demographics.

George McGovern (long-time Clinton supporter):
It is now time for our party to "...concentrate on a unified party capable of winning the White House next November."

Bill Clinton (1992 age 46):
When the choice is between hope and fear, always choose hope.

Alf wrote on May 15, 2008 9:49 AM:The answer to my 4:36PM question yesterday is "Peter, Paul and Mary", the song is "A Soalin". Regards, Alf.

Jack_D wrote on May 15, 2008 10:13 AM:I find it amusing that Gerold Firl and fellow g.w. advocates repeat endlessly "Flat Earth, Flat Earth." That's just a way to end a debate they don't want to have. After all, if my opponents are so backwards, I don't need to debate or engage them. I can reject their ideas out of hand.

I will make the following statement which may seem harsh: Mr.Firl knows nothing about the issue, other what he has seen in a few mainstream media articles. Calling your opponents flat-earth advocates doesn't address the issue.

Alf wrote on May 15, 2008 10:23 AM:Just in from A.P. - "(05-15) 10:16 PDT San Francisco (AP) --
The California Supreme Court has overturned a gay marriage ban in a ruling that would make the nation's largest state the second one to allow gay and lesbian weddings.". I like it! Maybe my friend can move back to California and finally marry her partner. Regards, Alf.

Thanks Alf wrote on May 15, 2008 10:23 AM:I'll sleep better now that I know who sang "A Soalin' " :)

Suspect you've still got your John Mayall and the Blues Breakers "A Hard Road" album too.

Chris to Cluck wrote on May 15, 2008 10:34 AM:It was Israel that was threatening an attack on Syria. Egypt sent in troops into the sinai but was not prepaird for an attack. I will tell you once again that the Israelis want all of what was once Palestine. Period. Why does Isreal have a right to exist. They came and stole the land from the Palestinians thanks to the British. Basically they did what we did to the Indians. The fact is that Israel is illegaly occupying land that rightfully belongs to the Palestinians. All we Israeli critics are saying is that Israel get out of the West Bank and Gaza. So just answer that and quit talking about giving up land. The West Bank does not belong to them. That is the current problem. Period.

Greenergy wrote on May 15, 2008 10:36 AM:Concerned One at 8:48 a.m. asks liberals / environmentalists to also keep an open mind on climate change.
We do.
We respect healthy scientific skepticism and questioning.
But it has to be based on science, not oil company propaganda, superstition, or amateurs clinging to flat earth mythology.

Submit 9:02 a.m. - re-submit: 10:37 a.m.

OBSERVATION wrote on May 15, 2008 11:17 AM: FARM BILL PASSED!
Defying President, Senate Passes Farm Bill
New York Times - 57 minutes ago
By DAVID M. HERSZENHORN and DAVID STOUT WASHINGTON - The Senate voted overwhelmingly on Thursday to approve a five-year, $307 billion farm bill, sending it to President Bush for what is expected to be his futile veto.

gerold wrote on May 15, 2008 11:24 AM:C-1 (8:48) is concerned about "self promoting, agenized, zealots" using global warming and climate change as a smokescreen to mask some kind of hidden agenda. I'm not sure what it means to be "agenized" but the idea of some kind of hidden agenda does not compute. We're worried about the devastating consequences of climate change, that's all. What possible hidden agenda could there be?

Obviously people who have financial ties to gross polluters DO have an agenda for delaying, denying, and obfuscating the reality of global warming. If you're looking for agendas, they're not even hidden, they're right out in the open. The oil industry makes a ton of money, and cutting down on their pollution would also cut into their profits. They don't want to do that. They can afford to buy a lot of obfuscation, and that's what they do.

It's just like the tobacco companies denying that smoking causes cancer. Money in the bank.

Ethanol and compact fluorescents are not the answer, but at least they're tiny, fumbling, tentative first steps. There isn't an "answer", but there are lots of possible answers. We need to start working on them. It looks like we're going to keep dragging our feet though, until President Obama finally breaks the logjam.

Karl wrote on May 15, 2008 11:31 AM:Vista Granny @ 7:27 AM:

Without a doubt from my experience it is mostly able bodied young women and men who are parking lot abusers including parking in handicap and no parking zones.

I really get a kick out of young men at my Golf Club who routinely complain about the slow play of "more mature women" and sometimes "more mature men". The fact of the matter is that the elders at our club without a doubt routinely play a lot faster than most members. I remind them that they are guilty of elder abuse and they have no idea what I'm talking about.

gerold wrote on May 15, 2008 11:41 AM:Hey Jack - I'm a scientist and an engineer. I understand the geophysics of global climate and the dynamic response of complex adaptive systems very well, actually.

Even though it is currently impossible to accurately predict the precise details of global warming, the basic processes and the broad outlines are very clear.

I call the deniers "flat earthers" because there is a stinking 800 pound carcass in the room and they're trying to make it go away by putting a clothespin on their nose.

eagle wrote on May 15, 2008 12:00 PM:Chris to Cluck @ 10:34 AM:

So Chris, if you follow your theory by using the example of "Basically they did what we did to the Indians". Please step up and lead by example. Put your money where your mouth is and cede your house to Nick or one of his relatives?

I can't wait for the response to this one.

Peace

Alf wrote on May 15, 2008 12:12 PM:Unfortunately, "Thanks Alf" at 10:23AM, I don't. But I do have the "Turning Point" album as well as the original Leo Kottke "6 and 12 String Guitar" (armadillo) album and my wife has some precious Tom Lehrer albums, one of which has the immortal "Poisoning Pigeons in the Park". Regards, Alf.

Patriot wrote on May 15, 2008 12:19 PM:The gay marriage battle is far from over. The California Marriage Protection Act will likely qualify for the November 2008 election, based on the 1.1 million signatures that its organizers submitted. Its organizers can also petition the Court in the next 30 days for a stay of the Court's order, pending outcome of the people's vote on the Constitutional Amendment in November.

Patriot wrote on May 15, 2008 12:35 PM:sdraoul wrote at 11:24PM, "The raids in Iowa showed us that most illegals busted there were making more than $12 an hour -- which in Iowa is good money". But not as good as it used to be. According to a report by Minnesota Public Radio quoting agricultural economist James Mintert at Kansas State University, "The last major shift in the nation's meatpacking industry was in the 1960s and 1970s when the industry moved from urban areas in the Midwest to the Great Plains, where it drew more on immigrant labor. During the 1960s and 1970s, meatpacking wages were relatively higher than at manufacturing plants, running about 14 percent to 18 percent above manufacturing wages at that time, Mintert said. By 2002, meatpacking wages were running 25 percent below manufacturing wages. Accompanying the wage drop was the decline of unions in the plants. In the late 1970s, about 45 percent of the meatpacking industry was unionized. By the late 1980s, that had dropped to 21 percent as more immigrants took jobs in the industry, Mintert said."

snerd wrote on May 15, 2008 12:36 PM:to Patriot: Don't worry the Calif. Marriage Protection Act won't pass. You'll be able to marry soon.

Patriot wrote on May 15, 2008 1:20 PM:to snerd: No hurry. Ron George and I still have to divorce our wives first.

Backcountry wrote on May 15, 2008 1:21 PM:Gerold at 11:24 claims to be a scientist and engineer who understands (very well) "the geophysics of global climate change and the dynamic response of complex adaptive systems."
Gerold, like DD the Wizard, both call anyone who disagrees with their unsubstantiated "predictions" and opinions concerning the "theory" of global warming to be "flat-earth deniers."

Just like that famous "scientist" Albert Gore, this pair of global warming cheer leaders avoids any debate by "name calling," by changing the subject and claiming "the issue is too important to debate, thus the debate is over."

Please make believers out of we the global warming deniers by producing PROOF to support the theory that man is responsible for greenhouse gas and global warming. Please tell we the deniers why you want to make earth colder and who will be held responsible if this can be done. Tell us by what means government will be able to change the climate and tell us about your contingency plans (if any) to help people acclimate to the economic, political and living conditions that will surely result by making earth colder.

Tweaker wrote on May 15, 2008 1:28 PM:Chris to Cluck[-] wrote on May 15, 2008 10:34 AM: The Arabs were rattling their sabers and moving troops to the border areas. Egypt forced the UN forces to leave and was about to attack. Israel pulled a preemptive strike in the interest of self defense and survival. Israel was not threatening to invade or to attack. The Arabs lost all the wars with Israel and have discontinued attacking her directly. Egypt has a peace treaty. Jordon has developed good relations with Isreal. Syria has to fact the facts that she has lost the Golan so long as she refuses to negotiate for peace with Israel. Israel will permit the establishment of a Palestinian State in the West Bank and Gaza. Everything else she will keep including Jerusalem.
There will be right of return for the Palestinians within Israel. Now Chris can argue day and night to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ, but that is the ball game. So, you can argue about the past but you can not change it. The Arabs lost and the Palestinians lost. If you think about it, if the Isrealis were so inclined, they could take it all and just exterminate the Palestinians as they exterminated other tribes as recorded in that grand ole holy book, the Bible.

Greenergy wrote on May 15, 2008 1:36 PM:Jack D at 10:13 a.m. again ridicules the excellent letter from Gerold Firl. Jack D blames Firl for trying to shut down debate.
No one is trying to shut down any debate about the science.
What we are pointing out is that there is no debate. There was a debate back in the 70's when climate change was first observed and the extreme fluctuations generated conflicting initial perceptions as to either global cooling or warming.
Scientific literature can include differing opinions, and sometimes studies produce conflicting results.
Since that time, on the issue of climate change, a consensus of consistent results has emerged from real, objective (non-oil company) studies.
The climate change deniers are not debating. They are just saying, "Ain't so, ain't so" with no reasons or no science to back them up. This is not a debate, it is a childish tantrum.
That is why they are compared to the Flat Earth Society, because they are functioning at the same level.
As for the excellent posts from Gerold at 11:24 a.m. and 11:41 a.m., welcome to this forum!

Concerned One wrote on May 15, 2008 1:43 PM:For the record, I do believe there is global warming caused by concrete and pavement, deforestation and the burning of toxic fuels. The main cause is over population. There are too many people on the planet. Maybe we should have elected Barry goldwater! (if you got that joke, you're old) regards, C-1

Olaf wrote on May 15, 2008 2:03 PM:Cluck that is what I said earlier but I believe the moderator didn't like how I put it. If Chris would like to give back all of the US to whomever owned it previously then so be it. How about deeding California back to who? Mexico? no not really? Spain? no? So as you pointed out to Chris who just hates America and anybody tied to it the right thing to do is to move on from here. If the Pal's (or Hezzbola, or whichever terror group you want to insert here) want peace then they need to work at it. Telling everyone you will drive them into the ocean is not working towards it. Chris do you hate the US because most Isreali's like Bush for standing up to terrorist? is that it?

Chris to eagle wrote on May 15, 2008 2:10 PM:The problem is not so much that I have a house in what was once Indian land but the fact that instead of settlers finding their own land and then making this a country where the white man and Indians live, we decided to move them out and take the land they occupied. There is room for both of us. The same is true of Palestine. Instead of the Zionist comming in and working with the Palestinians, they wanted a Jewish state and didn't want to integrate with the Palestinians. Now you have here these so-called illegal aliens who come here and blend into society. They did not come and force me out of my home and drive me off into the desert. So, eagle deal with this.

Pluto wrote on May 15, 2008 2:40 PM:If the California Marriage Protection Act gets on the ballot and passes, it will be struck down immediately with today's Supreme Court decision as precedent. It's all over but the shouting, which began a few hours ago. There will be lots of joyous parties in homes and bars tonight. YIPPEE!

Alf wrote on May 15, 2008 2:58 PM:Well, "Pluto" at 2:40PM, how many times and how many things that have worked out for the better have been described at the time as something that "will end civilization as we know it"? Will my friend marrying her partner damage my marriage? No. Will it cause damage to anyone else's marriage? Only if the subject divides them, in which case they were headed for problems anyway. Regards, Alf.

Alf wrote on May 15, 2008 3:05 PM:Well, "Concerned One" at 1:43PM, I'm not quite old enough to get your AuH2O joke, please illuminate me when you have the chance. Thanks in advance. Regards, Alf.

DD Wiz wrote on May 15, 2008 3:11 PM:The post from "Backcountry" (1:21pm) makes reference to"that famous 'scientist' Albert Gore."
This is obviously a new participant here. I have mentioned many times that Al Gore is not a scientist, does not claim to be one, and his work is not accepted as peer-reviewed science.
Al Gore was trained as a journalist, and has been effective in communicating information about climate change, but he is a secondary derivative source, not a primary scientific source.
"Backcountry" challenges us to "make believers" out of the deniers by providing PROOF to support the conclusion of human contribution to climate change.
This, too, has been submitted many times and can be submitted again. I still have numerous primary scientific sources documenting both the science of measurable climate change and the empirical evidence of human contribution to it (in conjunction with and exacerbatio of other natural and cyclical forces).
I will be glad to post them again if "Backcountry" promises to honor his pledge to be made into a believer when presented with objective, documentary evidence.
In the meantime, you can check this out for yourselves by going to Google, select "Advanced" mode, scroll down to select the "Google Scholar" search to constrain the results to PEER-REVIEWED scientific sources, and find for yourselves the thousands of supporting studies, and the complete lack of dissenting studies.

Tweaker wrote on May 15, 2008 3:31 PM:OBSERVATION[-] wrote on May 15, 2008 9:31 AM: McCain is flip floppin again for the sake of the election. Big difference between 2013 and a 100 years. Of course, I wonder how McCain knows that 2013 might be the magic year with himself in charge?

Tweaker wrote on May 15, 2008 3:33 PM:
Government builds our roads: The federal government takes it in profit? I have never known the federal government to make a profit at any endeavor.

Sorry Tina wrote on May 15, 2008 3:36 PM:I am enlightened by the letter written by Veronica Oceguera regarding Tina Jillings I really thought she was a one issue person. I thought it was all about the Mexicans for her. I am afraid that I had prejudged her. Obviously the smear campaign against her is just that a smear campaign. I did not support her but I do think her cause was a noble a one and now I have taken some time to think about this and find that if the cause is noble so is the person. Seems so simple now.

Tweaker wrote on May 15, 2008 3:38 PM: "The great thing about America is that we all have opportunities to better ourselves given the will, ingenuity and courage."
We all do not have opportunities for advancement no matter how much ingenuity and courage one might posses. Take a walk in any major inner city in this country.

Oh Please wrote on May 15, 2008 3:46 PM:sdraoul[-] wrote on May 14, 2008 11:24 PM:
Fake SS cards. The illegals pay in but can not redeem any of the benefits. That is correct. No one should profit form a felonious crime. You gloss over it as the aliens were being cheated. I do concur that the number of illegals is closer to 12 million. That is 12 million too many.
What is your evidence that half came legally? Did you do a census?

to Pluto wrote on May 15, 2008 4:00 PM:It would be a constitutional amendment. That's a little different than an "act."

Jack_D wrote on May 15, 2008 4:27 PM:Re:Greenergy post 1:36. He (or she) says there is no debate on the greenhouse theory. By fiat, his side wins! We don't have to make any arguments or show any evidence- we just declare the debate over. Mirabile Dictu! Everyone who differs is a dogmatic right-winger, probably paid off by Exxon.

no pluto wrote on May 15, 2008 4:28 PM:the act would overturn the court decision.

Reardon wrote on May 15, 2008 4:56 PM:Concerned One: I am responsible for the Vietnam War -- Democrats vowed that if I voted for Goldwater, there would be war in Vietnam. I did, and there was.

Pluto: Ahhh, not exactly. The limit of the State Supreme Court is to determine if a law is "constitutional' under the State Constitution. The Marriage Protection Act would make that not a statute, but a Constitutional Amendment -- and, by definition a Constitutional Amendment cannot be unconstitutional.

Bruce wrote on May 15, 2008 5:17 PM:Regarding Pluto's 2:40 PM post, it appears the NCT censors are already out celebrating.

Bill wrote on May 15, 2008 5:17 PM:That's really funny Concerned One, I get it, shows my age...LOL

dave from oceanside wrote on May 15, 2008 5:30 PM:Until science can modify the DNA mix-up that causes hermaphrodites and allows us to straiten you out, I say good luck in your new marriage.
Now you will see your better off the way you had it.

Floyd The Scientist wrote on May 15, 2008 5:52 PM:For the record, I do believe we have global warming because it's summertime. When winter rolls around, we will have global cooling that will continue for three or four months. Mark my words! Write down today's high temperature (put it on the refrigerator, maybe) then do it again on November 15th. Based on the vast accumulation of evidence freely available to us all in peer-reviewed Auto Club guidebooks, I can predict with certainty that November 15th will be colder than today (wildfires notwithstanding).

Floyd wrote on May 15, 2008 5:56 PM:When bloggers say "Even though it is currently impossible to accurately predict the precise details of global warming, the basic processes and the broad outlines are very clear", they really mean "I've made up my mind, don't confuse me with the facts". That's not science, that's dogma.

hardtack wrote on May 15, 2008 6:21 PM:It’s pretty simple, really. If “they” had FICA confiscated from their pay check, “they” DESERVE “Social Security benefits” from whoever confiscated their earnings – but, only the amount that was confiscated, plus reasonable interest. AH! There’s the rub. What started as a popular – albeit, totalitarian – retirement scheme, is now nothing more than socialism with a fancy name. Get used to it. As someone said: “You ain’t seen nothin’ yet.”

gerold wrote on May 15, 2008 6:27 PM:Backcountry asks me to convince the global warming deniers about the reality of climate change.

I would love to do that, but seriously, it would take a few hours of explanation to give you all the background necessary to understand the relationship between the reflection/absorption of incoming solar radiation, re-radiation of heat to space from the surface of the earth, and the infra-red absorption/transmission characteristics of the atmosphere.

I'm not saying that to put you off or put you down. Seriously. There are plenty of resources easily availible to educate yourself if you really want to find out. Search for "greenhouse gas" and go to the wikipedia page. It's only about 6 pages long, but if you don't have a scientific background you will have to make an effort to understand.

It will take some work, but given the importance of the issue, it's well worth the effort.

Backcountry wrote on May 15, 2008 6:31 PM:Another global warming cheerleader, Greenergy at 1:36 claims that nobody is trying to shut down debate on global warming....there is no debate Greenergy says...and those climate change "deniers" aren't debating, they are just throwing "childish tantrums."

Greenergy's statement is an example of global warming double-talk. Of course there is no debate. The global warming people can't debate when they can't provide evidence to support their theory. It's no wonder most common-sense people recognize that the global warming theory is a fraud based on smoke and mirrors. And until the GW people show PROOF to support their claims, there will be plenty of "deniers" who understand that the global warming scam is all about polititics, power and control.

Reardon wrote on May 15, 2008 8:01 PM:Writing in the British medical journal, Lancet, a British group from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine announced that obesity contributes to Global Warming. This contribution includes the extra cost of fuel to transport them, and the extra food they consume.

How long before we can expect the Global Warming police to mandates caloric intake; ban fast food and Twinkies. (Sees Candy, too!)

Reardon wrote on May 15, 2008 8:11 PM:Would the Global Warming cultists answer a question for me? From YOUR sCIENTIFIC research, in what year was the polar bear population at its highest in recorded history?

Nick wrote on May 15, 2008 9:00 PM:"Alf", good buddy, I am glad to see you are doing a little research. Folks with closed minds will just say I am a conspiracy theorist, tin hats, black helicoptors or whatever they like. I am all about finding out the truth no matter what the subject.
I urge you and all the rest of the bloggers to go to You Tube or Google and type in "FEMA Camps" and watch the videos. It seriously is scary stuff.
I could care less if any of the folks here believe me or not. I just urge them to do a little research like yourself and make their own decisions.
Keep up the good fight "Alf".
Cheers, Nick.

Reardon wrote on May 15, 2008 9:28 PM:•”Some 3,000 scientific robots that are plying the ocean have sent home a puzzling message. These diving instruments suggest that the oceans have not warmed up at all over the past four or five years. That could mean global warming has taken a breather. Or it could mean scientists aren't quite understanding what their robots are telling them….

… Kevin Trenberth at the National Center for Atmospheric Research says it's probably going back out into space. The Earth has a number of natural thermostats, including clouds, which can either trap heat and turn up the temperature, or reflect sunlight and help cool the planet.
That can't be directly measured at the moment, however.
"Unfortunately, we don't have adequate tracking of clouds to determine exactly what role they've been playing during this period," Trenberth says.”
March 19, 2008 National Public Radio

Reardon’s Comment: Does this seem like Scientific consensus? Does it seem like certainty?

Chris to Nick wrote on May 15, 2008 10:06 PM:Although I haven't been into what you are talking about concerning camps in the US I have no doubt that what you are saying is true. But since I am classified as an America hater I wonder if you would ever want to be though of in the same way. You certainly wouldn't want to be seen in my camp.

To ChrisCluck wrote on May 16, 2008 9:15 AM:Chris, You and your half-truths "Stand down", Bravo Cluck @ 8:49AM on 5/15, It's good to see some still have the entire picture in front of them.

Reardon wrote on May 16, 2008 2:28 PM:Yes, Hardtack, my post last night was in reply to Greenenergy who said we "flat earthers" insist on saying "Ain't so" without a word of support. I posted:”Some 3,000 scientific robots that are plying the ocean have sent home a puzzling message. These diving instruments suggest that the oceans have not warmed up at all over the past four or five years. That could mean global warming has taken a breather. Or it could mean scientists aren't quite understanding what their robots are telling them….

… Kevin Trenberth at the National Center for Atmospheric Research says it's probably going back out into space. The Earth has a number of natural thermostats, including clouds, which can either trap heat and turn up the temperature, or reflect sunlight and help cool the planet.
That can't be directly measured at the moment, however.
"Unfortunately, we don't have adequate tracking of clouds to determine exactly what role they've been playing during this period," Trenberth says.”
March 19, 2008 National Public Radio

Reardon’s Comment: Does this seem like Scientific consensus? Does it seem like certainty? I have other specific arguments with the "certainty" of the cult of Global Warming.

Marilyn or Melba wrote on May 22, 2008 7:37 AM:Its like the old Memorex commercials, is it Marilyn because it mostly sounds like Melba. Jimmy Wood is anything but an environmentalist he is an opportunist, VOTE WOOD OUT IN NOVEMBER.