paul wrote on Jun 4, 2008 6:35 AM:To NCT web master. Your Home web page is malfunctioning. On the Home page only the News, Opinion, Sports, Entertainment, etc. links are not displaying.

Breeder Reactors wrote on Jun 4, 2008 6:46 AM:Richard, the decision to not use breeder reactors is partially based on an incident in the 1950s. If you can find it, read a book entitled "How We Almost Lost Detroit." Stick with the conventional reactor design, water cooled (non-carbon pile).

Ron wrote on Jun 4, 2008 6:52 AM:You know Ralph Anderson. Perhaps the Obamaites should consider changing thier main campaign phrase to: "Socialism you can believe in."
Everything you cite is correct.
For the first time in my lifetime, we actually have a presidential candidate saying to the American people, I will reduce your standard of living.
And the Obamaites will cheer: "Yeah, yeah... that's change I can believe in!" As they faint...

Ron wrote on Jun 4, 2008 6:58 AM:That's right, Bob Mullay. The
environmentalists have been very successful, and currently 40% of all known domestic supplies are placed off limits. This is exactly what I mean by placing artificiality into the market place, creating distortions, and displacements.
And to throw insult upon injury...
The enviro's push all forms of mass transit, and once in place... they sue it.

Roger wrote on Jun 4, 2008 6:58 AM:Ralph Anderson has verified that AM radio reception is fine in San Marcos, though, in the interest of being "fair and balanced", he may have watched some Fox News as well.

If anybody should actually care where Obama stands on various issues, go to his web site and read it for yourself.

Ron wrote on Jun 4, 2008 7:04 AM:You know, it's funny. You always hear from liberals: "Why can't we be more like Europe?" Like them in healthcare, in social services, in work, in virtually everything. Except nuclear power. The Euro's supply most of their electrical power needs by nuclear power plants {nearly 80%}. So, I ask my liberal friends...
Why can't we be more like Europe?

to Get over the Holocaust wrote on Jun 4, 2008 7:04 AM:Are you kidding me. How insensitive can you be. Why should Jews get over the Holocaust. Millions of people murdered because of their race. Jews and everyone else should never get over the holocaust. We can not forget, so it never happens again.

Are African Americans going to forget slavery? I think not, this can never happen again!

You Chris Pulse must have no pulse, because any real human would never say such an ignorant thing!

Bob wrote on Jun 4, 2008 7:30 AM:Calm down Ron.

Take your medication and those scary liberals will all go away.

Focal Point wrote on Jun 4, 2008 7:37 AM:CONTINUED FROM YESTERDAY BILL:
Well Billie Boy. The terrorists have not attacked us again due firstly to the vigilance of the American people. The conditions that existed prior to 9/11 do not exist anymore. I do not refer to all the border patrol and military precautions. I refer to the fact that the American people eyes are open. Secondly, Al Queda is regrouping and retraining in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Thirdly, most of the Al Quedas and foreign fighters went to Iraq after our invasion. Notice that they came into Iraq after our invasion. The terrorists came in response to our presence in Iraq. Bush’s policy did not work and never did work. Heck, he himself has stated that, “we learn as we go.” GWB did not have policy. His stupidity has resulted in over 4,000 American deaths. And yes, we have been hit by domestic terrorists ie VPI slaughter. As stated before, we have more to fear from our own than Al Queda. Finally, Clinton gave Bush all the information including a belief that an attack was imminent on a highest priority status. Bush did nothing. Liberals never said we would be hit again. Liberals never said we would not be hit again. Just more of your conserve righie propaganda lacking as always any merit.

Chuck wrote on Jun 4, 2008 7:40 AM:As we commemorate the 66th anniversary of the Battle of Midway today, I can't help but think the reaction of Harry Reid, Nancy Pelosi, John Murtha, Hillary Clinton, Al Goreleone, Barbara Boxer and Feinstein upon hearing that 4 Japanese carriers that participated in the Pearl Harbor attack were now at 17,000 feet at the bottom of the Pacific. They'd scream at FDR at the unnecessary loss of Japanese life, and the environmental damage from the oil spillage, and spew their predictable America hate. And could you imagine what would happen if one of the US Carriers had to pull into San Francisco for repairs, the welcome they'd receive? LOL. But, then on the other hand, CNN would have found some disgruntled Admiral, who would have spilled the beans about the undermanned bushwack of the Japanese planned by America, and they would have contacted Yamamoto to be fair to the Japanese

Ron wrote on Jun 4, 2008 7:46 AM:Yeah, I hear ya Marcy Young.
And despite what my liberal friends will say, it has been their policies that have raised the cost gas, raised the cost of grocery prices, accelerate the loss of private property rights, and the loss of jobs due to government regulation, and yes.. the takeover of areas that hold vast reserves of resources. Now, I know.. some unknowing types will dispute these charges, other's will not. The latter group knows, and cheers because they know they are responsible. In fact, they want it that way. They believe their utopia can only come from a government, individuals just get in the way of their design. So, they will say it is rich Bush cronies making huge profits on oil, while the truth is most oil companies are 99% owned by citizens, not CEO's, not management, not Bush's cronies. Exxon controls only 2% of the world's oil supply, but in the liberal mind, they are price gouging. The cost of grocery's are a direct result of liberal's wanting alternative energy at any price. Unfortunately, for those of us who eat, the Central Planners think that using enough corn to feed a man for an entire year, would be better off in your gas tank. Property rights? What property rights? If these clowns find some snail, or some other insect near your house, your stuck my friend. Can't sell it, can't use it, can't do nothing except pay the taxes on it. That is government control, by proxy. And despite what they say about "the little guy", they have seen to it through Judicial activists on the Court to take his property and redistribute it so the city will receive more in tax revenue.
Like I said, protest as they might... we all have eyes to see, and ears to hear. We know what the real scoop here is, so please...

Junious wrote on Jun 4, 2008 7:49 AM:This DD guy is intentionally messing with my blood pressure!

Chuck wrote on Jun 4, 2008 7:51 AM:I will second RoseMarie Reno's praise of the staff at TriCity Med Center. My whole 8 hour experience last Friday from check in, to cutting, to recovery, to release was unbelievably professional and caring. Now, I await the bills to see if my insuarnce is any good. And yes, Hussein Obama, I pay my own health insurance and no Hussein, I had to go in Friday, not 6 months from now, like your allocation of Marxist care will demand.

Chuck wrote on Jun 4, 2008 7:59 AM:>>>Are African Americans going to forget slavery? I think not, this can never happen again!>>> LOL. Most have already forgotten about it, and have moved on the better their lives because they know it can never happen again. On the other hand, the Islamo Facists continue to adverise their intentions to exinguish the Jews with nuclear weapons, and you liberals call for appeasement. The only people holding on to slavery are the public school teachers, Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton, and those who think they have a chance to make a buck out of the "Oh woe is me" syndrome

Focal Point wrote on Jun 4, 2008 8:20 AM:Chuck[-] wrote on Jun 4, 2008 7:40 AM: What an imagination! Just more dreamy drivel from the King of Nightmares, Chuckie.

Concerned One wrote on Jun 4, 2008 8:21 AM:I suggest Ralph Anderson vote for Rex!

Choices are easy wrote on Jun 4, 2008 8:25 AM:Anyone or more of the same! It's simple, Obama or McBush? Obama! No more Bush or those like him.

Ron wrote on Jun 4, 2008 8:33 AM:Hey, Bob @7:30 AM:. Your asking ME to
Calm down? did you get a load of what your buddy Chris Pulse wrote today?
QUOTE: "Quite frankly, I am sick of hearing about the suffering of the Jews, and especially the Holocaust..." END Quote
and I'M in need of medication?!
You need to have a long chat with your friend Bob.

Jack_D wrote on Jun 4, 2008 8:34 AM:I get a laugh from Chuck's posts as they are so absurd. In this case of his "analysis" of the Battle of Midway, he is being ahistorical. It was the right-wing in America that resisted fighting the Axis. It was Robert Taft (R-Ohio) who said after German troops took Paris, "It would be just as dangerous to overestimate as to underestimate the gravity of the situation." In March 1941, Taft,a.k.a. "Mr.Republican" said: War is even worse than a German victory."

Chuck, you do know FDR was a liberal, right?

Floyd wrote on Jun 4, 2008 8:53 AM:Has anyone else noticed that whenever a vehicle is mentioned in a hard news article, it's almost always described as "fuel guzzling"?

Ron wrote on Jun 4, 2008 9:01 AM:Trent Hamlin, get a grip, ok?
Indy cars are one thing, using
ethanol for mainstream transportation, is a whole other can of worms.
Follow me now, k?
It takes more power & water to produce a gallon of ethanol, than what it actually delivers in power output.
So, that's number one.
And Two...
If we subsidize farmers to grow corn for ethanol, which means we pay them, do you not see this as a secret tax on fuel? I've read estimates of .30 cents per gallon.

Focal Point wrote on Jun 4, 2008 9:02 AM:Junious[-] wrote on Jun 4, 2008 7:49 AM:
Great letter by DD.

Focal Point wrote on Jun 4, 2008 9:11 AM:American Oil: Conservo righties want the public to believe that liberals and enviros or greens are responsible for this
oil criis. They fail to tell you that the amount of oil is minimal compared to the world market, that the oil men will not charge the American public for American oil. That they oil men would sell it on the open market for the highest possible price. The distorted market is due to more competition for the same product. What these conservatives want to do is get the American oil for the least amount and then gauge the American people just like the Arabs are doing under the guise of the free international market.

Patriot wrote on Jun 4, 2008 9:22 AM:Quite frankly, I'm sick of people who don't understand what suffering is. Someone needs to take up a collection for Chris Pulse so he may fly to Germany and visit the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, tour the museum, study the pictures and walk among the mass burial sites. Yet I suspect after such a trip he would complain of his suffering such a long plane ride and his discomfort of looking at such unpleasant photographs.

Bill and Bushs plan wrote on Jun 4, 2008 9:24 AM:Bill makes a few errors when he defends Bush's "plan" to defeat terrorists. First, he would have us assume that Bush had one, coherent, unified "plan". There is no evidence for this whatsoever. Some of Bush's decisions were good ones and were widely supported. (For example, going after Al Qaeda in Afghanistan; going after their money; increasing airport security. Virtually no one "bashed" Bush for these ideas.) But other aspects of his "plan" have been disasters. Shifting the "central front" to Iraq in the first place. Running the Iraq occupation the way it was run. Leaving Al Qaeda in Afghanistan/Pakistan relatively free to rebuild, and to set annual world records of opium growth. Siding with terrible leadership in both Iraq and Pakistan. This list could go on for a long, long time. In addition, Bill wonders why we haven't been attacked again. The most obvious answer to this is that, yes, they haven't wanted to! The fact that they have NEVER used tactics in the US that they have used elsewhere (e.g., suicide bombs, car bombs, random violence against a few dozen victims) tells us a lot: the US is worthy only of great symbolic gestures such as WTC attacks. These are meant to be symbols but also to actually impact our economy. These acts are very hard to do and require enormous planning and funding. Believe me, Bill, if these folks wanted to take out a few Americans randomly here or there, it would be no problem whatsoever...heck, American schoolkids do it regularly! Comprende? All in all, your hero has gotten about a D- in terror-fighting. Sorry.

Question for Bob Mullay wrote on Jun 4, 2008 9:29 AM:Two observations: 1) From 2000 until 2006 an oil man was in the White House and Republicans ran both houses of Congress; 2) American oil companies have recorded record profits in recent years. How in the name of reason can you blame environmentalists for the country's oil woes under these circumstances? I gotta hear this.

Greenergy wrote on Jun 4, 2008 9:32 AM:Bob Mullay (letter), with a hollow echo from Ron at 6:58 p.m., continues to show a fundamental inability to understand the energy issue.
Yes, the issue goes back to the 1970's, when President Carter actually took steps to develop and begin implementing serious alternatives to energy sources that pollute and require dependence on foreign terrorists. He even put solar on the White House roof.
These efforts were immediately halted and reversed (Reagan even removed the solar panels from the White House - what's up with that? - after the only downside, the upfront investment, had already been expended).
If we had stayed the course with the Carter plan, adapting and expanding as necessary over the intervening 30 years, we would not be in such serious trouble today.
We do not need any new drilling. Nor do we need reactors, breeder or otherwise.
We need to invest those funds in solar, wind, geothermal, hydroelectric and hydrogen fuel cells.
The technology is here now, but those with huge vested interests in profiteering off of pollution don't want their gravy train derailed.

Ron wrote on Jun 4, 2008 9:39 AM:I really have to give kudos to my good buddy, Douglas Dunn today. Smooth, eh? Sounds all good, don't it?
But like all liberals they must hide who they really are, in order to fool you today. One thing I have learned about liberals is this: That.. yes they will give you "freedom" from a pre-selected menu of choices they approve.
that's how their version of freedom works. As long as you do what you are told, stay within the choices that are on the liberal menu of choices, then yes.. pick at will! Choices not on the menu, are simply not on the table.
Now, he says: "It means that people are free to make their own choices about their own lives." You know, I support that too. "Choices for my own life." The only problem comes in when, I want to choose something, they anit offering.
You know, I've mentioned right here on this page "other groups" who seek their own version of freedom in making individual choices about personal relationships, and I get shot down by these same freedom loving liberals.
Oviously, it's not on the menu.
I'd like to make my own medical choices too, but sadly, according to them I must have medical coverage from the government, and pay more for those who do not. How is that helping my freedom & liberty?
He loves to talk about women's medical choices; but it's funny ya know? How a 12 year old got confused with an adult women, I'll never understand.
And quite obviously, he is need of a history lesson about "medical marijuana." This drug was made illegal in 1936, during the FDR administration, his personal hero. And part of the decision making was a response to the Southwest concerns about mexicans hanging around and taking too many Americans jobs.
I'm all for people being able to make their own end-of-life decisions, I just don't think doctors who are pledged to save life, should be made to end them. You know, be an accomplice.
And let's put to rest this nonsense about for equality of opportunity (not outcomes). Within the liberal mind, they ARE one in the same. Just listen to them! Healthcare, all will be covered by the same policy, the same program. If that is not equal outcomes, I don't know what is. Except that, some will be forcably made to forfeit their own family's prosperity, for the collective. That's right out of Marx, my friend.

Ron wrote on Jun 4, 2008 9:48 AM:I want you all to read what our good friend "Focal Point" @9:11 AM said: then you decide whether he knows what he is talking about, K?
QUOTE: "The distorted market is due to more competition for the same product." END Quote

Observation about Europe wrote on Jun 4, 2008 9:52 AM:Ron's usual strawman tactic is to take someone's saying they admire Europe to mean that this person wants the US to be exactly like Europe in every way. Then he finds something about Europe to attack and this, to Ron, is a victory. Pretty juvenile. But I was thinking about the US and France and thought about their revolutionary core values. Our revolution aimed at "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness". France's aimed at "liberty, equality, fraternity". I'd assert that both are darned admirable. But notice the differences. The emphasis in ours is all on the individual, each against all, seeking happiness. The emphasis in France also puts liberty up front, but then stresses social matters over individual ones. Maybe it's a reflection of the Protestant vs the Catholic philosophies in each nation. The conservatives certainly scream for more individual liberty to pursue one's own dream. The liberals are more like the French, valuing brotherhood and seeing individual happiness inseperable from that of the society as a whole. I think one reason that I lean liberal is that when I look at the most individualistic aspects of American life, I'm not thrilled with what it produces. I don't see it as the best way to the good life, the meaningful life. I don't see the selfish individual that it valorizes as the model individual with the best moral character. What do you think?

Focal Point wrote on Jun 4, 2008 9:57 AM:Chuckie: "Now, I await the bills to see if my insurance is any good. And yes, Hussein Obama, I pay my own health insurance and no Hussein, I had to go in Friday, not 6 months from now, like your allocation of Marxist care will demand." Chuck said that statement not Ms Reno. As always. just drivel. It is drivel day after day, week after week, month after month, the same wheel barrow of horse manure from Chuck.

Focal Point wrote on Jun 4, 2008 10:00 AM:Chuck[-] wrote on Jun 4, 2008 7:59 AM: More drivel. The cold war is over. Protecting Israel is not necessarily in our geo political interest. I suggest that it is time to reevaluate the existing treaty. Appeasement. What a load. The Israeli's already have numerous nuclear weapons with sophisticated delivery systems.

Ron wrote on Jun 4, 2008 10:01 AM:Ok, I'll bite. "Greenergy" @9:32 AM, except for the solar panels on everyone's home, please give me exact locations where we will be allowed to
build these wind farms so we will not have to build a powerlink to pipe in the power? And please tell us where this geothermal is located locally? Again, so we will not have to pipe it in? And please tell us where you intend to build more dams for hydroelectric power? And we know hydrogen fuel cells are a ways off yet, so what do we do in the mean time? Put on a sweater? Eat less? Don't just give us "the speech", ok? Tell us where, and when.

Focal Point wrote on Jun 4, 2008 10:03 AM:LIBERALS LIBERALS LIBERALS. That is all your hear from the conservatives. The fact is that they can not name any liberals who have the power to do anything to anybody.
Just who are these liberals? How many of them are there? Are they in our closets?
Where are they hiding? It is just a load of horse manure from the right.

DD Wiz wrote on Jun 4, 2008 10:18 AM:The post from "Ron" (9:39am) amps up his hysteria to levels unusually high even for him! Once again, everything that gives personal choices to individuals instead of the government or corporations is "socialism." Watch out, the boogeyman is coming!
Maybe you can borrow some blood pressure meds from "Junious" (7:49am).
His mischaracterizes current health care proposals, which would leave existing private policies in place for those who CHOOSE to keep them, while opening up Medicare options to those who do not. What does he have against choice?
He calls FDR my "personal hero." "Ron" simply does not understand the difference between liberal and conservative thinking. We do not go around worshipping people, setting up idols with feet of clay, or repeating an unthinking mantra of "ditto" to shallow radio hosts who happen to have a microphone. I have never called FDR my "hero" and, in fact, have identified numerous points of disagreement where I found him flawed or wrong. "Ron" is simply just LYING again, and reverting to his old habit of making things up. Oh yeah, copying the methods of his "personal heroes," the Republican slime machine.
And what is this about "a 12 year old" getting "confused with adult women"?
There is nothing in the letter he purports to be responding to about this nor have I ever mentioned this. If "Ron" can find a letter or post where I have said this, I implore him to please identify it specifically, as I always do.
The closest thing I can find where someone interjected the subject of children and sexuality was, let me see, someone posting as, let's see, oh it's "Ron" back on 11/30 (1:26pm) who talked about adults in "loving relationships" with 14-year olds. When several people, including me, jumped on him for equating child molestation with mature, adult, consensual relationships, he had the gall to repeat the comment and expand on it in a post at 5:02pm the same day, confirming that it was no slip of the keyboard.
What is his obsession with this, and why does he bring it up again now?
OK, "Ron," I have cited specific examples. Please do the same or admit you are just making stuff up -- again!

Liberals wrote on Jun 4, 2008 10:19 AM:The right's fear of liberals and propensity to blame them for so much reflects their core, paranoid view of the world. If they see things as each person against everyone else, it's not hard to understand why they'd become paranoid about others trying to take their stuff away. The strange thing is that they believe this is good! They don't realize, first, that if all the liberals in the country magically disappeared, nothing would change for them, in fact, it'd be worse for them. Why? Because they'd still have each other to worry about! And they'd better worry because each of their conservative compadres is always out to get more, sometimes by any means possible. The whole approach to life on earth is based on suspicion and resentment. What a terrible way to live. So for all their trumpeting about individual responsibility, when you actually listen to them or read their posts, it's nothing but a blame game. They don't seem to get it: their fear and discomfort and sense that things are not right, all this comes from their own paranoid philosophy, and nothing that anyone else could do would change that. I can picture their childhoods, poor things.

Roger wrote on Jun 4, 2008 10:49 AM:While Richard Kline's letter makes a valid point, a lot of us are still upset that Scoll McClellan (as well as Colin Powell) didn't come clean sooner.

Greenergy wrote on Jun 4, 2008 10:49 AM:Ron at 10:01 a.m. continues to peddle the "CAN'T DO" mentality of conservatives. Someone once posted here the analogy to the engineers who can prove mathematically that it should be impossible for bumblebees to fly, but still they fly.
Solar is available and practical NOW. It is ideal for sunny climates such as ours, and produces the most at times of the highest peak demand.
Wind is up and running NOW and there are wind farms all over the country RIGHT NOW. True, not every site is appropriate for a wind farm, but that doesn't mean that because one site isn't right that none of them are, unless you have the limited mind-set of all-or-nothing extremist conservative thinking.
Hydroelectric is up NOW and already provides much of our existing electricity, and is widely used throughout the world.
Geothermal is available in many parts of the U.S. and world. Just as solar is not right in every location, geothermal is not a good match for every region, but it is a part of the total equation for energy independence.
I am not saying to tear down existing power plants at this time. But all new development should utilize the clean, renewable alternative sources currently available.
And who is this "we" he claims is so certain that "fuel cells are a ways off yet." Hello, they have been used for decades! Many companies already use them NOW! You can go online and buy a fuel cell system NOW. Because of the corporate welfare and special tax breaks to Bush oil cronies, it is not generally cost competitive with oil right now, but could be. As for being "a ways off" I think Ron is confusing general use of standing fuel cell systems with fuel-cell powered autonombiles, where the need for infrastructure and small, mobile units have not proven practical yet. But that's Ron for ya, confused.
Or, just trying to preserve the value of those precious oil stocks.

Focal Point wrote on Jun 4, 2008 11:03 AM:AMERICAN REDUCED STANDARD OF LIVING: Now we have conservative cranks claiming that Obama will reduce the standard of living for the American people? Huh! What do you think has been happening for the last seven years of the reign of His Majesty, "the Compassionate Conservative?" The poor get poorer and the rich get richer and the middle class is contracted with millions joining under the poverty level. The bottom lines is that the conservatives and people of wealth never cared about the poor. Now, they can not hide from the fact that they do not care about the middle class too.

Chris wrote on Jun 4, 2008 11:20 AM:Have you noticed that these people who are critical of someone saying that they are tired of hearing about the Holocause are the same ones who say to forget what happened in Iraq in 2003. No the difference is that we committed the holocaust in Iraq and the Iraqis are not Jews so we should just forget what we did and talk about all the great things we are doing. When we Americans start talking about and commemorating the MILLIONS of people we killed or those we supported the killing of then we can cry about the Holocaust. The only reason these holier than thou talk about the holocaust is because it allows them to point the finger at the attrocities that someone else did.

Focal Point wrote on Jun 4, 2008 11:22 AM:Let Scripps buy Tri-City Well, Eddie, what makes you think that Scripps Health is interested in buying or making Tri City part of Scripps Health? What makes you think that you can force Scripps Health to buy Tri City? Presently, Scripps Health is attracting physicians from entities like Sharp to affiliate with Scripps Clinic. A Scripps Clinic member need only secure an authorization form the prime Dr. to be treated at Tri City. Happens every day. Scripps Hospital in Encinitas as a massive expansion plan to the increased population in the Encinitas area.

Olaf wrote on Jun 4, 2008 11:41 AM:Chris has topped even himself with his hatred of the jews and love for the "persecuted". Is that anybody who in his history books (many that he qoutes agree with his side of the debate) who is not in control of the country now? So maybe in his view it was OK for Saddam to take back Kuwiat? Anyway what a true showing of what he wants. The destruction of Isreal.

Patriot wrote on Jun 4, 2008 11:46 AM:Of all the renewable sources Greenergy mentioned in the 10:49 AM post, solar seems to be the most practical for California. When is the last time a hydroelectric plant was built in California? Dams are harmful to river ecosystems. Wind farms have to be built in remote areas because the windmills are unsightly and noisy. Geothermal is available only in certain areas. All of these options require massive, long distance transmission lines. Rooftop solar panels are less unsightly, and the energy is produced locally, meaning the consumer isn't powerless if a storm, wildfire, terrorist attack, or other disaster takes out a central power plant or transmission line.

Paul wrote on Jun 4, 2008 11:57 AM:Bob...Ron can take his meds but I am not going anywhere. This country has decended into the worlds toilet and I am going to work my tail off to elect a person that has more of an agenda than personal wealth!
He can whine and call it liberalism or socialism or any ism that he wants but it is time we all stood up and end the cronyism of the puppet moron that occupies the (p)residency of this country!

Focal Point wrote on Jun 4, 2008 12:15 PM:Ron[-] wrote on Jun 4, 2008 9:48 AM: Yeah Ron. The market is distorted due to competition for the same product. Its based on competition mostly among the USA, China and India. The same product is oil mostly from Arabia. I really do not have to know what of which I speak. After all, Ron, you do it repetitively every darn day.

Bob wrote on Jun 4, 2008 12:34 PM:Have to agree with Roger, at 10:49 AM, that Scott McClellan, Colin Powell, et al. coming clean is a matter of too little, too late.

Daniel Ellsberg leaking the Pentagon Papers back in 1971 was also too little, too late.

What continues to amaze me is Remainder Table Raoul, and the rest of the ultra conservative posters on this board, haven't seen a pattern yet.

Bob wrote on Jun 4, 2008 1:03 PM:Regarding Paul's 11:57 AM post, Ron's problem isn't with you. It's with the evil liberals lurking under his bed, lurking under the dash board of his car, etc.

sdraoul wrote on Jun 4, 2008 1:12 PM:Two things to comment on today: 1. Senator Robert Taft of Ohio protested the round-up and illegal incarceration of American citizens of Japanese descent by "liberal' Franklin D. Roosevet. That concentration camp episode ranks as one of America's low-points jsut as Democrat protected slavery of Africans.

2. Al Qaeda militants and terroriosts rushed into Iraq where they didn't exist before our invasion. yes, of course. Now they are all dead and unable to atatck us anywhere else.

To paraphrase a great American general, Phil Sheridan, the only good terrorist is a dead one.

Chris to Olaf wrote on Jun 4, 2008 1:13 PM:Your response to Pulse's letter is just typical of the misrepresentation you clueless conservatives are known for. Where in Pulse's letter do you get his call for the destruction of Israel. In fact he claimed the oppisite. What is this hatred of the jews and love for the persecuted. That doesn't make sense but you conservatives never do make sense. It's just pointless to argue with you conservativs because rational thought is not part of your culture.

From Russia with love wrote on Jun 4, 2008 1:43 PM:Just say Nyet on Free Speech. Updated, 3:30 p.m. | This morning, a Boston-born performance artist, Yazmany Arboleda, tried to set up a provocative art exhibition in a vacant storefront on West 40th Street in Midtown Manhattan with the title, “The Assassination of Hillary Clinton/The Assassination of Barack Obama,” in neatly stenciled letters on the plate glass windows at street level.
By 9:30 a.m., New York City police detectives and Secret Service agents had shut down the exhibition, and building workers had quickly covered over the inflammatory title with large sheets of brown paper and blue masking tape. The gallery is across the street from the southern entrance to The New York Times building.

Ron wrote on Jun 4, 2008 1:58 PM:The first thing I would say about my friend "Observation about Europe" @
9:52 AM, is that, I hereby recommend him to receive a prize for the best quote of the day! QUOTE: "The liberals are more like the French..." END Quote
Never spoken more truly, can I get a second on the motion?
As to my "usual strawman tactic", hey.. All I said was if the Euro's think nuclear power is a good idea, let's replecate it! But, it is true, in virtually every "other" way, you guy's want to be Euro's. You said it, you like their system better. I'm guessing cause it's more collective in it's orientation. And less "individualistic {than} aspects of American life, I'm not thrilled with what it produces."
So, why do you guy's get upset when we simply call it, as we see it? You don't like certain individualistic aspects of the American life, so you want to change it, to a more Euro style. Just come on out and say it! So, to rephrase:
You don't like individualism beginning with our Founders, and you are more drawn to socialist/collectivism practised by France, as written about by Karl Marx. And since you perfer their system, and don't want to move from American, your trying to change my country into another European country.
Is that about right?
One last question...
Why do you hate my country?

snerd wrote on Jun 4, 2008 2:02 PM:Does anyone actually understand what conservative religious types call "partial birth abortion"? I didn't until a friend of mine needed one. Why? Because her unborn child had a brain that was developing outside its skull. It could've survived to birth but then would have lived for a few days probably in pain. The religious right has used this procedure as a political tool to shock people into opposition to all abortions. An unconscionable use of a serious medical procedure. But then the religious right doesn't spend much time worrying about the truth when they are busy trying to win an arguement. Abortion was legal when Jesus was on the earth, what did he say about it?

Ron wrote on Jun 4, 2008 2:04 PM:Again, thanks for the speech "Greenergy"
@10:49 AM: the question was: Where & when?

Focal Point wrote on Jun 4, 2008 2:20 PM:Scottie the Flunkie: Don't think so. Ole Scottie is a political appointee and saw the President on a daily basis. I suggest that Scot was in a different catagory than the thousand of federal employees working daily the cesspool called, Washington, DC.
Any hoo, it really does not matter if he was a just a flunkie or a super flunkie. What is of significance is that the content of his book is accurate.

Beth-SM wrote on Jun 4, 2008 2:35 PM:Marcy Young is right. What in the heck is going on? Clinton ceded way too much to the UN. And Obama says we need to sit down and talk with Iran,. ha ha what a joke he is

Question for raoul wrote on Jun 4, 2008 2:44 PM:If all those terrorists came pouring into Iraq and are now dead, how can it be that the membership of al Qaeda in Afghanistan/Pakistan is much larger than it was 5 years ago, according to every estimate, including our own intelligence reports (Harper's magazine just quoted our national intelligence director saying that at this point only 30% of Afghanistan is currently controlled by its government, our ally)? The logical answer seems to be that we have created a ton more of them by our behavior. You and others have a theory that says that there are a number of "terrorists" in the world, and we enticed them to come to Iraq, so there are fewer of them elsewhere. All the facts contradict this. You will say, as usual, that every fact you don't approve of is false, so I don't know why I even bother asking.

Focal Point nails it wrote on Jun 4, 2008 2:50 PM:I am consistently impressed by how the right "fights" allegations made by people such as McClellan, Clarke, and all the others by smearing their character, inventing slimy motivations for them, etc etc. But Focal Point is exactly right: the ONLY issue is the truth of the claims that these people make. Even "proven liars" and "disgruntled employees" tell the truth at time, and the whole ball game is about whether the stuff in their books is true. So many of them say such similar things, and those things are so corroborated by objective evidence such as the Downing Street memo, that to continue to try to insist they are all making stuff up for lousy reasons borders on insanity. The tiny details may yet be discovered, but the rational world has a pretty good sense of how the US came to invade Iraq and how the administration came to promote their invasion. It's a dead issue as far as I'm concerned. The evidence is overwhelming and comes from too many independent sources. This country would be better off if those of you who were had would face it and admit it and be more careful in the future. But, tragically, because protecting your egos is so darned important to you, you will cheer for another senseless war with Iran and all the deaths that will cause rather than admit your errors. We don't deserve democracy.

To Beth-SM wrote on Jun 4, 2008 2:51 PM:Laugh all you want, President Obama is coming. In 2006, Obama visited Kibera, Kenya, one of the worst slums in all of Africa. As he came to the village, children from the outskirts of town, seeing him approaching, turned and ran to the village center, chanting, "Obama biro yawne yo! Obama biro yawne yo!"

"Obama's coming. Clear the way."

Focal Point wrote on Jun 4, 2008 3:01 PM:Beth-SM[-] wrote on Jun 4, 2008 2:35 PM: See ya in November. President Obama will not be inviting you to the Inaugural. As you say, ha ha.

Oh Ron wrote on Jun 4, 2008 3:07 PM:I wonder if you'll ever be able to see things other than as exaggerated black and white ways. I do think liberals are more collectivistic and I do think excesses of individualism are harmful. This hardly makes me a socialist or Marxist. You might recall that Marx was not yet in action during the French Revolution. You might also recall that "liberty" was also part of the French aim. (You like to pretend that it's EITHER liberty or socialism.) In other words, it's all about where the good life exists in that vast space between radical individualism and radical communism. Ron plants himself WAY on the individualism side because his world is that paranoid place where each person tries to beat everyone else and he either fears or rages against anyone whom he perceives as wanting his stuff. This is, we see from his posts, a very unhappy way to exist on this earth, constantly on the lookout for enemies, constantly complaining, constantly blaming or yelling "no fair". As I said before, people like Ron believe that their problems come from liberals, but if you look at it, the problem stems from their own view, and they have much more to fear from their fellow social Darwinists than they do from liberals. It's this paranoid and hostile attitude towards humanity that sends the Rons scurrying off to otherworldly religions. Ron knows that left without some authority telling him to chill, he and others would gladly kill each other to get ahead. So he comes up with a God to keep him in his place, pretending it's to keep others in their place. Fascinating. My only point before was that a society that balances concern for individual freedom with group well being is better than one based on radical individualism. The VAST majority of Americans agrees with me when you ask them without loading the question with labels like "communist". Ron, if you could only realize how extreme your view of things is, how distorted, how sad...it's nothing like that of the founders, much as you wish to inflate yourself as their compadre...they were, on the whole, civilized people. Radical individualism is by definition uncivilized. Your posts are an excellent example of this uncivil stance towards others. I wish you well.

Chuck wrote on Jun 4, 2008 3:13 PM:Beth-SM (at 2:51 PM) is right! Those sissy liberals want to sit down and talk with Iran! Next they'll think we can just sit down and talk with that wacko Patrick Leahy! Sometimes, the military option is the only option!

BOMB, BOMB, BOMB
BOMB, BOMB VERMONT

A moment to remember some good news wrote on Jun 4, 2008 3:19 PM:This is a good time to pause a moment and realize that both Presidential candidates oppose torture; both agree with Al Gore about global warming; both align pretty well on immigration issues. So even though we still have to choose between knee-jerk preemptive war and intelligent foreign policy, between radical anti-abortionism vs a woman's right to choose; between endless tax breaks for the rich and some attention to the middle class...at least on some major issues we are certain to make significant progress over the Bush years. Here's to the candidates!

Why we need gay marriage wrote on Jun 4, 2008 3:49 PM:Opponents of gay marriage usually claim that allowing homosexuals to marry would have a negative impact on traditional marriage. Yet the data on this says, if anything, the opposite. The open discussion of gay issues, or "gay liberation" began in the 1970s. It was at just this time that the divorce rate among heterosexual couples was climbing steadily. Since 1970, in other words, since the time that we have become more open to talk about gay relationships and marriage, the heterosexual divorce rate peaked in the early 80s and has been declining ever since. Obviously, bringing gay relationships out of the closet has had a steady accumulating positive impact on heterosexual marriages. The divorce rate now is the lowest it's been in almost 40 years! We need homosexual marriage to save straight marriages. QED

chuck wrote on Jun 4, 2008 3:52 PM:>>>President Obama will not be inviting you to the Inaugural>> That really hurts. A new dog catcher gets inugurated in Chicago and I'm not at the party. How could that be?

Greenergy wrote on Jun 4, 2008 4:03 PM:I fully answered Ron's earlier rant at 10:01 a.m., but now at 2:04 p.m. he asks "Where & when."
Sorry, I don't need to give exact addresses.
When? All of these alternative energy sources are NOW being used and have been used for some time.
Solar is rapidly growing. It is now in use throughout San Diego County and several on this board have it. And no, I'm not going to give you specific individuals' addresses. When you sign on to NCTimes.com, you often see ads for various companies that provide solar. Where? Here. When, NOW!
Wind is widely available in the several Southern California desert and mountain passes. If you haven't seen them, you need to get out more. There are many Great Plains areas just begging for wind farms.
Hydroelectric from Hoover Dam and the Colorado River is one of the major energy sources for Southern California, and has been for decades. Remember Tennessee Valley Authority? And many others throughout the U.S. and world.
Fuel cell exists now. You can do a Google search and get an order for your home or business this week.
Geothermal is not practical in Southern California, but is in other parts of the country and an important part of the overall energy mix for energy independence.

Remember wrote on Jun 4, 2008 4:15 PM:As some of us get caught up in the Hillary vs Obama struggle and bad feelings, please keep in mind 5 little words: aging liberal supreme court justices. If people believe that the Scalia/Thomas way of looking at the law is fabulous, McCain is your man. If people believe that Scalia and Thomas take the country in the wrong direction, vote for Obama as often as possible and get all your illegal pals to do the same.

to Obama Supporters wrote on Jun 4, 2008 4:18 PM:Don't blame the rest of us when he doesn't live up to ANY of his promises. We've seen it once already. One would think you slow types would catch on.

to the Democratic wrote on Jun 4, 2008 4:25 PM:supporters, you promised us you would get us out of the war, if we elected you into congress and the senate. LIES! Nancy Pinhead said when the elections were going the democrats don't have a plan, it is a day by day plan. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, WON'T HAPPEN!

an Obama supporter wrote on Jun 4, 2008 4:40 PM:Don't worry, I won't blame you. Did you blame Bush when he failed to be the President you supported? Of course not: you blamed liberals. We Obama supporters are smarter than that: we don't list or invent an inventory of "promises" that Obama presumably makes. We admire his intelligence and judgment. He can't buy our votes with a couple of tax dollars. We think the job of the President is immensely complex and requires a very smart person with a lot of integrity. Oh, never mind, you wouldn't understand. LOL

Cluck wrote on Jun 4, 2008 4:51 PM:P U!!! Whoa what's that smell? The desperation of these ignorant conservatives reeks!! It's palpable. Where to start?
Ron's typical daily diatribes have taken a passive aggressive turn towards the ludicris. Literally blaming Liberals for everything. He sounds like the new Chuck.
Old Chuck, don't be hurt, there will be plenty of mutts at the pound for company after the new dog catcher gets inagurated in Chicago.
"To Obama Supporters", great post from the status quo. Way to vote your fears over your hopes. Maybe you could work for McCain't and use the slogan "We promise not to deliver-one promise we will keep".
Marcy Young-too idiotic of a post to even warrant a real response.
"Remember"-Thanks for reminding us of the disasterous Scalia and Coke Can Thomas.
Chris and Chris Pulse-you sound like a conservative when you say those things about Isreal. This is the worst insult I can possibly levy against anyone.

Oh Ron wrote on Jun 4, 2008 4:52 PM:I tried to reply to your comments about Europe before but Random, the editor decided against it. Maybe I should be shorter. I know that when you and the talk-radio types see things like "liberal" and "France" together, you get all giddy because one of your favorite little slogans has appeared. And I also know that this is how you folks scan the news, listening for that word or two that you can jump on and repeat. Anyhow, the point was that we live in a world that is somewhere in the vast grey area between extreme individualism and extreme co