LETTERS: NCT, June 18, 2008
By Readers of the North County Times | ∞
Marriage rights for all!
Congratulations to same-sex couples and all who are empowered and affirmed by the recent California Supreme Court decision. I'm sorry that Rocky Velgos didn't live to see this happy day, and I'm sorry that some misguided people are still trying to take away this victory and impose their narrow religious beliefs on everyone else.
Our Founding Fathers helped evolve concepts of freedom, justice and equality from the Dark Ages and earlier. Although they advanced these concepts greatly, their vision was limited by the times they lived in. Happily, slaves were later freed and their descendants are now full citizens, women can vote and own property, children have rights, etc. The concept of marriage has evolved too, especially since 1820. See NorthCountyForum.org for more information.
North County Forum will do what it can between now and November to educate the public on the proposition that would amend the Constitution to allow discrimination. We invite others to join with us in what we propose to call the "Rocky Velgos Coalition" to defend same-sex marriage. Contact me at ncforum@sbcglobal.net if you want to attend the first meeting or otherwise participate in this important work.
Dick Eiden
director,
North County Forum
Vista
Change, please!
Ever since Sen. Obama entered the presidential race, his theme has been change, change, change. I have yet to hear what he wishes to change. More important, how does he intend to change the issues with which he has a disagreement? He needs to prove to me why I should vote for him. What are his strong points? At this point, he has not proven to me that he can make change for a quarter.
Maggie Owen
Oceanside
Prosperity is a common achievement
You hear many conservatives talk about being self-made people in terms of financial success. They view taxes as theft of their hard-earned money and begrudge the poor assistance of any kind. Government should protect the country from invasion and citizens from other citizens and that's about it. Government should be small enough, as one famous conservative put it, to strangle in a bathtub.
Are the wealthy truly self-made? If you develop an innovative product or service, through hard work and determination, your dependence on the commonwealth increases. You rely on the military and police as mentioned, but also depend on public roads to transport your product ... and education for your work force and for more affluent customers.
Workers with health care and adequate nutrition produce more than sickly, starving workers. You need government to provide a stable currency or the system won't work. Without infrastructure, entrepreneurs couldn't exist. For proof, imagine Bill Gates born in Bangladesh or sub-Saharan Africa. Why is this important? For nearly 40 years, our commonwealth, our vital infrastructure, has been eroded by the rich and powerful. It's time for we the people to take it back.
Paul Cavanaugh
Ramona
Don't support the troops
Thomas Godwin's June 12 letter, "Backing our military, but not our war," exemplifies the problem with the current anti-war movement. Godwin states that "... supporting our military yet reviling the war will never be a contradiction in terms for me. Their commitment to an illicit war was ours to decide, and we, not they, came up short." This notion that the troops are helpless puppets of the U.S. government is wrong and it is past time that we face this fact. The troops are free individuals with the same capacity for rational, ethical thought and action as everybody else.
While the leadership and the people are responsible for the atrocities being committed as well, the troops are the most responsible, for they are the ones actually carrying out the war crimes.
The sooner people of conscience realize this and stop supporting the troops, the sooner we can end the U.S. occupation, heal our economy and, hopefully, move toward some just compensation for the Iraqi people.
Brian Williams
Oceanside
True democracy in action
As an involved community activist, it is sometimes very disheartening when city officials look at issues from a different perspective than my own and those of my neighbors and act accordingly. But I was very encouraged at the recent Vista City Council meeting, which heard the appeal by a renter in Vista who had challenged the decision of the Planning Commission to deny her request to expand her day care business in a residential area from eight to 14 children ("Council rejects Shadowridge day care expansion," June 11).
This meeting was well attended and the mayor maintained order for an emotional issue that easily could have gotten out of control. All who requested to speak were heard. Each council member asked several questions of the applicant with respect and attention.
In the end, in spite of significant outside pressure, the entire council showed considerable courage in voting unanimously to uphold the earlier decision by the Planning Commission. This was truly a demonstration of democracy in action and I am sure that the spirits of many residents were uplifted by this important decision.
Gene Ford
Vista
Someone who doesn't do the family shopping
When Steve Chapman says there is no inflation, you don't need a Charlie Chan to tell you who doesn't do the shopping in his family ("The return of stagflation?" June 13). And, as a purchasing agent for a small cosmetics firm, I see price increases every month on the same ingredients. In the past two months, they have accumulated to 40 percent.
If consumer indexes are down, it's due to slashed real estate prices due to foreclosures and dealers practically giving away cars. And using the price of gold as an economic barometer makes as much sense as using stock market prices. They are both based on investor confidence only.
Yes, the dollar is holding fast at $1.57 for .62 euro. And as the government debt continues to pile up, that will only get worse. Get a grip, Mr. Chapman.
Peggy Sanders
Oceanside
Artist's letter of intention
I'm a visual artist and writer. In lieu of all that I've gone through, overcoming shadows doubtful circumstances, notwithstanding, those whom I've known that deny me my rights of artist merits of authorship, applied for humane, human dignity's inspiration. I work exigently faithfully in my artist studio. Fending for what I share. Held in toll of whoever bares false witness against me for peace to be the strength of my freedom's liberty heard, felt and seen. For honest appreciable witnesses through this incredible reach ... discerned in all good moral conscience.
My art was displayed as a one-man show in Solana Beach City Hall gallery; no one from this city's powers that be showed up from Escondido to support me in any way, not even my studio opening years ago, nor have I been listed on the Second Saturday Artwalk, or the DBA's Experience Escondido Web site.
The DBA wants to raise its fees ("Council may revamp merchant fees," June 4), when I've been struggling financially in my artist studio for 12 years. I must work through myopic tunnel-vision's blind-sighted witless wondering, to save any days for future development proclaimed honestly. If you care you care to share what you truly believe in wholeheartedly.
Steven Drake
Poet's Den
Escondido
Terrorism redefined
I would like to respond to Amanda Barr's letter titled "We will always be in a war against terror," June 1, in which she states, "I hope we will always be in this war against terrorism."
I must point out that our country is no safer, nor in any more danger, than pre-9/11. Our so-called Homeland Security has not stopped daily border crossings in the south by illegals, who are mostly trying to better their lives. I'm not saying they are terrorists, but the potential exists (more so than our borders do, in my opinion).
Take that into consideration and look at how there has not been one single terrorist attack in the U.S. since 9/11. Now go onto the Internet, and go to Youtube.com and type in "police brutality." You will find over 2 million videos (although some are from other parts of the globe). You just may redefine your view of terrorism. And while you're on Youtube, watch "Loose Change."
Arne Hansen
Valley Center
Downward mobility?
Most of us have learned in our career that by taking on more responsibility our salary and bonuses have grown. So it would only stand to reason that now, with less responsibility, the yearly bonus and salary structure should decrease.
While we are in this recession it is expected to occur naturally in private industry due to lost profits, but I am not so sure it will occur in the local transportation sector. Both MTS and NCTD have had recent cutbacks, which should result in a decrease in responsibility at the top of the salary structure. Will we hear of bonus and salary reductions at the top, or will they just fire a few folks at the bottom?
Then there is the question: With less water coming to us, is there less responsibility for the high-paid folks at the water department?
Jack Key
Oceanside
Strife in Middle East began with Israel
Before Phil Epstein (Letters, June 6) attacks my letters, he should arm himself. During the British mandate over Palestine, the British helped the Zionists take over a part of Palestine to the detriment of the Palestinians. So the U.N. in 1947 decided, under American Jewish and American diplomatic pressure, to divide the land between Zionists and Palestinians, and civil strife began. Twelve days after the adoption of the U.N. resolution, the first expulsion of Palestinians began. The main purpose of the Arabs in the war was to get part of Palestine.
Jordan had an agreement with Israel on the eve of the war to take the West Bank. The strife we see today began with the atrocities of the Israelites in 1948-49 with the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians. The countryside, the rural heart of Palestine, with its colorful and picturesque villages, was ruined. Half of the villages had been destroyed by Israeli bulldozers, and three-quarters of a million Palestinians became refugees.
Epstein talks about the "whipping boy." No, I guess that someone else did these things and Israel is getting blamed. Read "A History of Modern Palestine" by Ilan Pappe to verify all I've written.
Chris Pulse
Vista
RMWD pump charge unfair
The Rainbow Municipal Water District charges a pump charge to some people, primarily in the community of Rainbow and in Morro Hills. Others in Fallbrook or Bonsall do not pay this charge.
There will be an evening meeting of the board on June 24 where I will present information demonstrating this is an unjust charge. If you are paying this unfair assessment, I hope to see you there.
Maureen Rhyne
Fallbrook
Ill patients deserve this right
I am writing to express my support of Assembly Bill 2747 �“�“ The Right to Know End-of-Life Options Act. I believe strongly that this is a very important bill to empower patients to have more control over their end-of-life care.
By requiring doctors and nurses to offer counseling to terminally ill patients on their options, this gives the patient diagnosed with the illness and their families an opportunity to talk together and with their doctors about what they feel most comfortable with. Who could be opposed to that?
Sven Jonson
Carlsbad
Stop discriminating against gays
In the past, African-Americans were enslaved and, even after being freed, were denied basic rights. Other ethnic and some religious groups were excluded from activities enjoyed by others. People with disabilities were not accepted in many settings. Interracial marriage was illegal. We have a history of denying rights to people who are different from us. We fear them because we are humans who tend to fear what we do not know well, what is beyond our comfort zone.
Currently, we want to deny gay persons the right to marriage. In stating reasons for this, we attempt to cast them in a negative light, as an entire group who are somehow not deserving of the same rights as the rest of us. It is time to accept our gay fellow human beings who deserve the same rights as the rest of us and stop stereotyping and discriminating against them because their sexual orientation is different from ours. They are people who should be accepted, loved and given a chance to prove themselves in society, just like the rest of us.
This letter is dedicated to Rocky Velgos, who worked tirelessly for gay rights until the day he died.
Joan Horn
Carlsbad
Footprint this!
I can't believe the way people are buying into this CO2-global warming bologna. If someone says anything against it, people treat them like a pariah. It is ridiculous to think we have the technology to forecast the weather or global conditions 100 years into the future when we cannot even get the weekend weather right.
Al Gore got a Nobel Prize for writing a book that is pure fiction and foisting it onto the world as fact. Of course, you have to remember Jimmy Carter and Yasser Arafat also got Nobel Prizes, so he is in like company.
Global warming is a way for governments to gain more control over citizens. It is nothing but human arrogance to believe we can make computer models that will accurately predict the infinite parameters necessary to prove this crazy theory �“�“ yes, I said theory, not fact. As it is my own arrogance to think that this letter will make any difference. Oops! Did I say that out loud?
Mark Payne
Ramona
Thoughts to ponder
Tell me why: 1. Gays want to be married �“�“ straights don't. 2. Prisoners get treated like pampered guests. Get those "guests" out cleaning up the fire hazards such as brush, dead trees, etc. Make them earn their keep, a la Joe Arpaio. Our sheriffs would do well to copy his tactics.
3. Why drivers can't move their middle finger an inch or two to activate their turn signals. Or are they saving them for other signals?
4. Why Christians seem to be the only ones to whom the First Amendment does not apply. 5. Foul language, indecency and immorality are protected by free speech, thanks to the liberal Democrats, the anti-Christian Lucifer's Union, the freedom from religion people, ad nauseam. Something's very wrong here.
6. Why Scott Peterson is charged with double murder for killing his pregnant wife, but doctors kill millions of babies �“�“ some during the birth process. 7. It's acceptable to use the name of Jesus Christ as a cuss word, but to worship and honor that precious name is offensive. The ridiculous idiocy going on is scary.
People, wake up! Christians, get to work. Let's get this country back to decency, morality and common sense! It is sadly lacking in all three.
Joyce Wilson
San Marcos
Advertisement
To Joyce Wilson wrote on Jun 18, 2008 4:44 AM:While I'm all for decency, morality, and common sense, I don't see this as a 'christian' issue. 'Decency, morality, and common sense ' should, and do, transend specific religions. Christians don't have the market cornered on positive values. Bible-thumpers - please get a clue. The world encompasses more than your small vision. We all matter!
To Reardon Please Check Your Sources wrote on Jun 18, 2008 5:45 AM:I really want to respect your opinion, you come across as fairly intelligent, but I have to wonder why you would use a biased source for your post yesterday on Al Gore? You must realize in this age of the internet we can google resources for ourselves, so why embarrass yourself? No credibility for you, sorry.
"In a March 1 Washington Post article, the Tennessee Center for Policy Research (TCPR) was referred to as "a Nashville-based think tank that advocates 'limited government through policy solutions,' according to its Web site." But the TCPR's agenda apparently goes beyond limiting the size of government. Like other recent reports on the TCPR's attacks on former Vice President Al Gore's purported home energy use, the Post article did not note that TCPR has reportedly joined the "Civil Society Coalition on Climate Change," which claims to have "been established as a response to the many biased and alarmist claims about human-induced climate change, which are being used to justify calls for urgent action by governments."
"Furthermore, the Post and other media have not reported on the backgrounds of TCPR's "Staff & Scholars," several of whom have supported anti-environmental causes or received support from anti-environmental groups."
the dude wrote on Jun 18, 2008 5:48 AM:to joyce thank my god im not a narrowminded christian
Chuck wrote on Jun 18, 2008 6:16 AM:Much to the disgust of Pelosi, Murtha, the liberal media and the liberal America haters Military Judge Colonel Steven Folsom, dismissed all charges against Lt Colonel Jeffrey Chessani in the Haditha incident.You know, the case where Murtha took statements terrorist sympathizers instead of gathering evidence and called the Marines cold-blooded killers. His hate of the Marines helped him get the dream job from Pelosi, and in the meantime he had the Marines build a $1 million media center to cover the trial and spent $36 million dollars and used over 60 CSI agents and still could not produce evidence to convict Chessani. I cant wait to see Murtha in chains for this--the same chains he used on US Marines, as one by one trials cleared their names.
HusseinsClarification wrote on Jun 18, 2008 6:22 AM:Recently Hussein Obama claimed he had visited 57 states and Fox News tore into him for not knowing that there are only 50 states (he probably went to the public schools or a madrassas). It now turns out Hussein did not mis-speak. There are exactly 57 Muslim states.
Pulling Tails Off Lizards wrote on Jun 18, 2008 6:40 AM:Yesterday's Chuck Confession allows that he delights in posting nasty slurs against those who do not agree with him. Chuck sees this as a form of "entertainment".
One must conclude that Chuck is a real riot at parties.
Chucks News Source wrote on Jun 18, 2008 6:46 AM:Hot off the Presses from Rush Limbaugh, Fox's most credible news source:
RUSH: Hey, folks, you want to tweak the Drive-By Media with me right now? Want to participate in tweaking the Drive-By Media? You are aware, probably, that Barack Obama lost his bearings recently and said that he was going to campaign in all 57 states. You heard this? And everybody chalked it up to, "Well, he's tired." You know, this is a Dan Quayle moment. I mean, Dan Quayle goes out there and misspells potato, and we still get jokes about it. Barack Obama says he's gonna go out and campaign in 57 states, he was just tired, you know, it's been such a long campaign, he's been so many places, he probably thinks there are 57 states. Well, I have here a printout from a website called the International Humanist and Ethical Union. And here is how the second paragraph of an article on that website begins. "Every year from 1999 to 2005 the organization of the Islamic conference representing the 57 Islamic states presented a resolution to the United Nations commission on human rights called combating --" yes, H.R., get ready for the phone calls up there.
We're participating here in a tweak of the media. Obama said he's going to campaign in 57 states, and it turns out that there are 57 Islamic states. There are 57 Islamic states. "Every year from 1999 to 2005, the organization of the Islamic conference representing the 57 Islamic states," this is from the International Humanist and Ethical Union. And the title of the piece here is, "How the Islamic states dominate the UN human rights council," and there are 57 of them. So did Obama just lose his bearings, or was this a more telling slip, ladies and gentlemen? Obama's 57 states, not just a simple gaffe. He might have been thinking of the 57 Islamic states when he said he was going to campaign in all 57 states. (laughing) Can't wait 'til the Drive-Bys hear about this.
to elaborate wrote on Jun 18, 2008 6:46 AM:on To Joyce Wilson @4:44am, so-called "values Christians" have been MIA during this criminal, murderous war on Iraq. And now they are blubbering about joyous couples violating their narrow religious beliefs. These terrible, misguided values come from reading the Bible to fit their backward political agenda. Back to the Dark Ages!
Not only that wrote on Jun 18, 2008 7:12 AM:I saw a photo of Obama chowing down on a burger the other day and you know what? He was using Heinz ketchup on it! You know, "57 varieties"? What does that tell you? Obviously, a Muslim terrorist. (Plus, we know who the Heinz family is, don't we? There you go!)
Oh Reardon wrote on Jun 18, 2008 7:14 AM:Poor Reardon claims he is a mere messenger who doesn't deserve to be questioned when he brings us something true. Reminds me of the post about Rush today. Blame Rush? Why? He only reported the true statement that there are 57 Islamic states. Puh-lease.
Chuck wrote on Jun 18, 2008 7:19 AM:>>>One must conclude that Chuck is a real riot at parties.>>> I just try to be fair and balanced
Chris to Shawn P wrote on Jun 18, 2008 7:21 AM:These "insurgents" are Iraqis and they are in their country. They have every right to attack our troops. Our troops invaded their country. What part of that don't you understand. Why should I be upset about the American soldiers that are dying. They voluntaraly joined the military but the Iraqis were living in their country and our military went in and killed a bunch of them. I just love how you just flip off the so-called colateral damage. These are men,women and children that died because the US went in and killed them. As far as Somalia goes that was a UN deal and our great military decided to hot dog it and got what was comming. They went into Somalia the Somalians didn't come over here did they. I stand for what is right and wrong and if we do wrong then I will not support criminal actions just because we did it.
Chuck wrote on Jun 18, 2008 7:21 AM:>>>Obama's 57 states, not just a simple gaffe. He might have been thinking of the 57 Islamic>>> or John Kerry's ultra rich wife from the 57 Varieties fortune,(that she shields offshore from US ytaxes
yadda yadda wrote on Jun 18, 2008 7:29 AM:Chuck[-] wrote on Jun 18, 2008 6:16 AM:
What a real stinker load. Murtha is a former Marine. Chesny was indicted by the convening authority based on biased or incorrect information from the legal advisory. I read the story. Did you?
hey Chucks news source wrote on Jun 18, 2008 7:51 AM:Yeah, Obama misspoke and said he'd been to 57 states, when he meant he'd been to 47. He said he had one more to go and could not make it to Alaska and Hawaii, which if you tally up that mistake = 60, not 57. Obviously there are 50, and the Harvard Law graduate misspoke. Let it go.
Obama is a great speaker, but he is human. It amazes me how some people can acknowledge that he is a great speaker, but to them his words are just that: words. Then when he has a gaffe like this, suddenly his words are put under a microscope to give them all sorts of crazy sinister connotations. Ridiculous.
John McCain confuses Shia and Sunni, Iraq and Iran. And how about those Bush gaffes? Enough to write novels! Yet Chuck voted for him not just once, but twice! Like this hilarious gem from 2004: "We got an issue in America. Too many good docs are getting out of the business. Too many OB/GYNs aren't able to practice their love with women all across the country."
Reardon wrote on Jun 18, 2008 8:09 AM:To Reardon: The Tennessee free-market think tank that I used as a source is the SAME source that CORRECTLY outed Al Gore's previous year's usage. They have a track record for accuracy on this issue.
The think tank used public records, so what is your beef? That the TCPR is wrong? That they are correct, but they are biased? That I was wrong to have posted the information? That Al Gore is a God, and does not have to answer for his hypocrisy?
(None of the above?) (Some of the above?) (All of the above?)
I write a column for a newspaper, but in doing research I often run across arcane information I love to share on the Blog, but most of which I will not be using in a column.
I thought it was an interesting "factoid." Didn't you?
(Apparently not.)
To Joyce Wilson wrote on Jun 18, 2008 8:11 AM:Let me just WOW!!! Where to start my goodness? How dare you try to equate the murders Scott Peterson committed to an abortion! Scott Peterson killed his lovely wife and unborn child that is called murder! A better analogy to use to support your retroactive active abortion theory would be the case of Susan Eubanks who killed her four children, why is she in prison? Joe Arapao is a cruel horrible man not one anyone should choose to emulate. You seem to NOT have any problem with exercising your First Amendment right. Do you really honor and worship the name Jesus, because I find you to be offensive. Joyce says in her letter " People, wake up! Christians, get to work. Let's get this country back to decency, morality and common sense! It is sadly lacking in all three." you are correct about that but if the Christians you are waking up are anything like you, I hope they stay asleep. You lack common sense.
Huh wrote on Jun 18, 2008 8:13 AM:Steven Drake is, apparently, persecuted. It is not particularly clear why, or by whom, much less who cares.
Observation wrote on Jun 18, 2008 8:19 AM:Obama leads in key battlegrounds
Boston Globe - 1 hour ago
For the first time, Barack Obama leads John McCain in all three key swing states of Florida, Ohio, and Pennsylvania, according to new polls released today.
Alf wrote on Jun 18, 2008 8:25 AM:From yesterday, "sdraoul" at 11:17PM said "stay the course, alf? it means we haven't been attacked sicne 9/11, or didn't you notice?". We have lost the lives of over 4,000 American Troops in Iraq alone in GWB's Quixotic "War on Terror" and are hundreds of billions of dollars more in debt with the dollar at pretty much an all-time low around the world. Or didn't you notice? We have lost more lives in this charade of a "war" than were killed on 9/11. Or didn't you notice? Your logic is flawed at best. Your rationalizations for torture, as are GWB's, are no more than pathetic excuses for Sadistic behavior. McGWB aka McCain does not stand a chance. Regards, Alf.
Apollo wrote on Jun 18, 2008 8:28 AM:Re: SDRaoul (6/17 - 11:17 p.m.)
Yet again, evasive Raoul changes the subject, as he insults the memory of Max Cleland, a true military hero who sacrificed much for this country.
It is true that Cleland's terrible injuries occurred in an unfortunate accident, however it was in close proximity to the battlefield and would not have occurred in a non-combat environment.
BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT I WAS REFERRING TO.
I did not even mention Cleland's injuries.
I referred to his extensive medals and honors, including the Bronze Star and Silver Star, which were issued for courageously risking his own life, under fire, to save others.
The slimy attacks of character assassination that spew from the hateful keyboard of North County Republicans is absolutely beyond disgusting.
Question for you Raoul:
Why are you so determined to hatefully denigrate those who earned real military honors, just because you disagree with them politically?
Two left wrote on Jun 18, 2008 8:30 AM:Yes, Chuck, the Mrs Kerry joke was already in the earlier posting. But now that we have a Democrat with a ketchup fortune and a Republican with a beer fortune, all we need is a burger fortune and a bun fortune and we're set. (Hold the tomatoes, please)
Let me know wrote on Jun 18, 2008 8:33 AM:When Christians start expressing their outrage about people not turning the other cheek, not loving their enemies, and not treating others as they wish to be treated themselves, I will start giving them some slack on gay marriage. Till then, fuggedaboudit...
OBAMACAN wrote on Jun 18, 2008 8:41 AM:When people like Maggie Owen write letters saying they "have yet to hear what [Obama] wishes to change," they only reveal their own ignorance.
With all the TV, cable and print media coverage, plus the Internet, including Obama's own extensive website, if Owen can't find Obama's extensive policy proposals for exactly what he intends to change as well as his bipartisan strategy for how he will get his programs passed, then she is really not trying or is in worse shape than we imagined.
And Husseins Clarification post at 6:22 a.m. shows the absurdity of pure fabrication that underLIES the smears and baseless attacks on a fine candidate.
There were exactly 57 primary contests (including non-states such as Washington DC, Puerto Rico, Guam, etc.), and Obama clearly made a one-time slip of the tongue which he immediately corrected. This pales in comparison with McCain repeatedly stating, over and over, confusion about Sunni and Shia relations in the Middle East, and (Shia) Iran harboring (Sunni) Al Qaeda, until corrected by Joe Lieberman.
As for being "exactly" 57 states in the Muslim world, again, someone just made this number up to match Obama's slip of the tongue. Including states within the nations of Iran, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, and all of the rest of the smaller gulf nations and those in North Africa, there are far more than 57. I challenge this previcator to list exactly which 57 he was referring to, and which nation(s) they are within.
Just wondering wrote on Jun 18, 2008 8:48 AM:Do conservatives EVER object to government spending on military-related things? Is there no limit to the weapons, salaries of merceneries, star wars research that any of you find excessive, even as we live in a world without truly military enemies? Do you guys just assume that if it's for such things, it's for our protection, no questions asked? All the suspicion and skepticism you have about rip-offs, corruption, wasteful spending, governmental incompetence...you're just willing to toss all this out the window if the expense is said to be "military"? Why is that?
chuck wrote on Jun 18, 2008 8:48 AM:>>>North County Forum will do what it can between now and November to educate the public on the proposition that would amend the Constitution to allow discrimination>>> The public doesnt need your education (agenda of filth) nor do they want it
Ron wrote on Jun 18, 2008 8:51 AM:"Marriage rights for all!" I couldn't agree more Dick Eiden. I too wish to
Congratulate all same-sex couples, and hope that now, we can move on to all the other's who want to be empowered and affirmed by the California Supreme Court. It will truly be a great day when we can add Party C, D, E, & F to the marriage roles.
I'm sorry that some misguided people would try to ruin a persons pursuit of their personal marriage definition and
impose their narrow beliefs, religious or otherwise on everyone else.
As Our own Founding Fathers declared, it is for each individual to define their own pursuit of happiness {and marraige} to help us all evolve our own personal concepts of freedom, justice and equality under a living Constitution.
My hope now is that those who have broken through the barrier, in this long, hard, and tough fight, will not now impose their own sense of bigotry onto other's who may see marriage defined differently. Afterall, They are people with equal right as well, with their own sense of right & wrong, and Constitutionally should not be prevented from pursuing their own happiness.
One theory wrote on Jun 18, 2008 8:54 AM:I've always wondered about why Bush cut and ran from Afghanistan, where our true enemies were, to fight in Iraq instead. I see that the British are pouring troops into Afghanistan now to bulk up NATO's fight against the Taliban and the real al Qaeda. Know what I think? The lesson from Reagan was that the US can overcome its Vietnam syndrome by being gung-ho to fight wars, provided the wars are easy to win. Reagan was deemed a hero (by some people) for his successes in, um, Panama and Granada. Now we all know that Afghanistan is a remarkably tough fight. Ask the Russians. Bush, even though this was the moral and right fight, didn't have the courage to risk what he thought might be a losing effort. So he turned Afghanistan over to NATO as soon as possible and high-tailed it to Iraq, which his advisors said would last only a few weeks and be a cakewalk. The show on the carrier deck was part of this script. Man, did that idea go south! On both fronts. Now we are desperately needed in Afghanistan because, as we all knew, it turned out to be one tough fight. But our forces are thin and worn out from the Iraq that was not supposed to be. Heckuva job, W. And McCain wants us to stay in Iraq indefinitely, saying "we will never surrender". Can you imagine a bigger disaster of foreign policy?
Brilliant wrote on Jun 18, 2008 9:03 AM:The NY Times ran an article about John McCain's 1974 thesis about the Vietnam war. One reader (Joseph Pequigney) responded with a brilliant letter worth sharing QUOTE Among the “welter” of emotions revealed in John McCain’s 1974 thesis was “a sharp impatience with the American government” during the war in Vietnam “for failing to ‘explain to its people, young and old, some basic facts of its foreign policy.’ ” I welcome these words, and I only hope that the nominee still harbors the same feelings. For the Bush administration has failed much more grievously to explain the basis of the foreign policy that led to the invasion of Iraq.
[...] Now we have good reason to assume, on the basis of his own words, that [McCain] will at last provide the electorate with a full and clear account of just how and why this country got bogged down and remains in the mess in Iraq. ENDQUOTE Wouldn't it be something, to see John McCain address the nation and spell out, clearly and persuasively and truthfully, why we are in Iraq. My money will be on the bet that he couldn't do it...that no one could. Those of us who saw the "reasons" at the time, and since, as desperate propaganda without basis in truth or reason, knew better and got it right, Obama among us. McCain at the time, a good buddy of Chalabi, was one of the chief cheerleaders for the invasion. Americans are still waiting for a true and good explanation. Ain't gonna happen.
Another on US health care wrote on Jun 18, 2008 9:16 AM:Fascinating article in the NY Times on surveys of doctor satisfaction with their profession today. Seems that dissatisfaction is growing steeply and steadily and many physicians are bailing out of the field or shifting to practice based only on cash payments. They are fed up with the growing non-medical demands of their jobs. Every prescription they write can be second-guessed by an insurance company. One said that a third of his referrals for hospitalization have been denied. Fees for service are being cut. Their relationship with their patients is increasingly compromised by profit-based demands of insurers who insist they know better what treatment should be provided, even though they never have seen the patient. There is a crisis in some fields, such as primary medicine: fewer people even want to go into these fields.
Focal Point wrote on Jun 18, 2008 9:26 AM:Not only that[-] wrote on Jun 18, 2008 7:12 AM: There is also pictures of Barak Obama filling sands bags in Ill. What does that tell you?
Ron wrote on Jun 18, 2008 9:29 AM:Here's the deal, Maggie Owen. The Obama campaign motto shouldn't be "change, change, change." It should be "More, More, More." You know, when I look back at the beginning of the GWB administration, I see cooperation with the liberal side. I see a huge new drug benefit written by Ted Kennedy. Not since LBJ and the Great Society have we seen such a huge increase in entitlement programs. You'd think liberals would be happy? But, they were not, it was not enough. Then, we had No Child Left Behind, another piece of legislation written by Ted Kennedy, allowing the Central Government even more power over local school districts. And again.. they were not happy. It was not enough.
You see, with liberals, it's alway more. They always want more. The utopia has to be built, and they just don't have enough right now. They need more.
In steps Barack Obama, the prototypical liberal, complete with Marxist training, and Alinsky agitation skills.
His goal, to make you think you deserve more. And not more freedom or liberty, more stuff. Stuff is what he hocks, to gain your vote. Now, of course, it won't exactly be what you want, it will be what he, they, the lib's want to give you. I like to call this the old liberal okie-doke. Oh sure, the lib's will promise you healthcare benefits matching their's, but when it is all said and done, you'll be waiting 18 weeks to see a doctor, and waiting in abulances. But you'll have healthcare. Why get picky, right?
He, they, the lib's will promise to make you feel better by "going after" the well to do, and they'll even kick you down a cool $1,000 bucks ta boot.
There are just so many exciting things coming with the utopia. You'll have a new "Green job" in the rice paddies that they will supervise. Of course, retraining to do such work will be included at $4,000, but you'll have to work the paddie to pay it back. That means, for free.
And of course, free speech will have to be rolled back for the sake of the utopia. A Fairness Doctrine will need to be installed to shut up right-wing talk radio, religious broadcasters, and "other's" who don't buy into the utopian ideal. This will ALL be for the good of the utopia, you see. Afterall, He, they, the lib's can't have a proper re-education plan if opposition is allowed to air their viewpoints.
Oh, there is just so much I could tell you Maggie Owen. You will get more, that is certain, it will be stolen goods, but that's not your concern. You'll get your cool $1,000 bucks, be happy. And don't question their authority.
To Chris wrote on Jun 18, 2008 9:31 AM:Re; Chris to Shawn P
[-] wrote on Jun 18, 2008 7:21 AM:These "insurgents" are Iraqis and they are in their country. They have every right to attack our...
Man are you out to lunch! The Iraq invasion was authorized by the U.N. but not backed by the same morons that you support from the first Gulf War, read your mandates. You must also be in the know about who is blowing up who in Iraq. Are you for certain that they are in fact Iraqis and not from, oh lets say, Iran, Syria, etc..? You and Pulse must scratch each others backs.
to to Chris wrote on Jun 18, 2008 9:47 AM:Well let's see, as I recall we started the invasion with a shock and awe bombing of Baghdad, the large capital city of Iraq. I suspect there may have been a couple of Iraqis killed at that time. Otherwise, your picture of Iraq is fascinating. Somehow you see our bullets only killing foreign fighters, and only foreign fighters killing Iraqis. These Iraqis are something, in your view, more innocent and incapable of violence than Tibetans. Just to start you thinking, remember the uprising in Sadr city a few weeks ago? Those folks were Iraqi followers of al Sadr, an Iraqi. Read about that and go on from there. Also look up "insurgent" and see what you come up with. And finally, remember that Congress and the UN might have said Bush was permitted to invade, but only Bush is responsible for actually invading. No body told him he had to.
Artsyrat wrote on Jun 18, 2008 9:51 AM:To Joyce Wilson.
How do Christians reveal the truth without offending those who don't agee it's the truth?
Ask God.
I wasn't always a believer in Jesus. When I started to believe in the Bible, Jesus and God it was something I wasn't expecting. I'm not ignorant, I'm not a goody two shoes, I'm just very fortunate to have become a Jesus believing Christian. Yes, I'm a little more narrow minded (pr: the dude) but that's because I have a little more self control and purpose than I did before. I'm not a party animal any more, the needs of the people mean more to me now, I love the hope that Jesus gives us for the future.
Being narrowminded isn't so bad, being closed minded is.
God is real and he loves His creation. Even if a person does not believe in Him or His son Jesus, God still loves that person. God created the heavens and the earth. Wow, who else can do better or more than that?
Give me God anyday. With God there is HOPE.
Sorry Ron wrote on Jun 18, 2008 9:51 AM:The slogan "more more more" is already taken: by McCain. More war, more torture, more warrantless wiretaps, more tax breaks for the rich, more more more of the same. If you think the Bush presidency has been a great success, you should probably vote for the more, more, more of it that McCain promises. Otherise: Obama. No-brainer. The fact that the right is already using such desperate tactics against Obama is telling: it's all you guys have. "Hussein", "Communist", "Fifty-Seven", "Reverend Wright", "Elitist". When all your opponent has is perfectly empty name-calling instead of reasoned arguments, and when your opponent cannot say anything positive about their guy, I'd say you were in the driver's seat.
Cluck wrote on Jun 18, 2008 9:55 AM:Boy oh boy. Is Joyce Wilson the wife of Chuck? Or maybe a relative. Old woman yells at cloud today. Typical McChristian attitude: Preach and don't practice. Let's break down the whiny complaints:
1. Gays want to get married and straights don't? Thanks for pointing out that gays are saving the institution of marriage.
2. Prisoners are treated like pampered guests? Remind me never to accept an invite to your house.
3. Why can't drivers use their signal? Liberals fault. Oh wait isn't the conservatives that have a "me first, me now, me last" attitude? OOPS
4. The First Ammendment doesn't apply to Christians? wRONg! Stupid straw man argument. First Ammendment applies to all Americans. You know it.
5. Foul language, indecency, and immorality are protected by liberal Democrats? You're welcome. Because if it weren't your type would be in trouble because the tripe you type is considered by some to be foul, indecent, and especially immoral(see #7 below).
6. Why is Scott Peterson charged with double murder? Because it's the law. What part of "illegal" do you not understand?
7. Why is it acceptable to use the Lord's name as a cuss word but to worship Jesus is offensive? What a sad and inaccurate thing to say. Do you find it offensive to worship Mohhamed? Using the Lord's name as a cuss word is using the Lord's name in vain. Worshipping Jesus in the name of a political agenda is the more accurate translation and transgression of this COMMANDMENT. And these McChristian's do it here daily. Taking the lead of their fearful leader GWB. And it isn't important if it's offensive to any people. What they should concern themselves with is whether or not it is offensive to God. Read your bible. Better yet, try to UNDERSTAND it. Typical conservative.
Teh next Commander in Chief wrote on Jun 18, 2008 10:00 AM:While Obama was making speeches calling the Afghanistan war good and necessary and the threatened Iraq invasion "bogus", here's McCain around that time, from the LA Times QUOTE McCain [...]when asked why he and nine other Congressional leaders urged President Bush in a letter dated Dec. 6, 2001, to next target Iraq since the Taliban regime had collapsed in Afghanistan. It is "imperative that we plan to eliminate the threat from Iraq," the lawmakers wrote. "We believe that we must directly confront Saddam sooner rather than later." Later that day, McCain told MSNBC that it is "possible, if not probable, that internal opposition forces can prevail over time." Asked if it wouldn't require 100,000 U.S. soldiers as occupation troops, McCain demurred. "Oh no," he said, "I don't think so at all." ENDQUOTE There you go. One got it right, one got it completely wrong and furthermore was among the loudest and earliest screaming to invade Iraq. I know which one I want to be our next commander in chief, the one that displayed good judgment and a keen intelligence. The one that got it right.
Karl wrote on Jun 18, 2008 10:01 AM:I response to "Pulling Tails Off Lizards
@ 6:40 AM: today". " One must conclude that Chuck is a real riot at parties.". Agreed, I think that most posters here would be a riot but Chuck would definitely stand out in a crowd.
Ron wrote on Jun 18, 2008 10:02 AM:You know, it is just insanity the lies these liberals will tell. Take Paul Cavanaugh today. He purposely wants to leave the impression that "the Rich" could care less, and do not pay their fair share to help this country succeed.
It's pap, it's baloney, and it's a lie.
The fact of the matter is, "the Rich" carry this economy by virtue of all the taxes they pay.
For example, the Top 1% with an AGI Threshold of $364,657 pays 39.38% of all income taxes in this country. Folks, that's nearly 40% of all income taxes just from the top 1%.
The Top 5% with an AGI of $145,283 pays
59.67% The Top 10% with an AGI of
$103,912 pays 70.30%. The Top 25% with an AGI of $62,068 pays 85.99%. And rounding out, the Top 50% with an AGI of
$30,881 pays 96.93% of all the income taxes in this country.
Now, what do these taxes pay for? they pay for all things commonly used by our society, be they hosptials, roads, bridges, our military, and yes.. all those welfare programs. For those who pay least, 3% of taxes, into our system.
In California, 80% of all State income taxes are paid by those who make $500,000 a year or more. That's puts everyone else who makes less into the 20% range. Should we assume that since they only pay 20%, they should only receive 20% of all benefits? Only drive 20%, only use a bridge 20% of the time?
No, we share these things.
And the minority pays the lion's share of maintaining the infrastructure.
And it is just so fitting that Paul would include in his diatribe this nonsense about Bill Gates & Bangladesh.
That's a funny thing, ya know?
Given all the money, 50% of our State's budget in California, we are not turning out the engineers that Bill Gates requires. I wonder why? Could it be the decades of Liberal Insitutionalism that has been running it into the ground? I think so..
So Bill Gates is hiring in Bangladesh.
A place where they lack all the goodies we have, and yet... they are producing qualified engineers? Now.. how can that be?
Apollo wrote on Jun 18, 2008 10:05 AM:Re: Ron (9:29 a.m.)
Ron compares proposed increases in public health to LBJ's attempt to establish a "Great Society."
Oh yeah, by having public policy to proactively act to prevent problems when they are small, Ron forgets that this was the last time we had a balanced budget (budget surplus) until Clinton came along.
This despite the enormous costs of the Vietnam War, the successful "can do" APOLLO space program and, yes, the efforts toward a "Great Society" that were promptly dismantled by successor Nixon.
Ron complains about a government that offers more.
But as Al Gore promised in 1992, and then delivered with Clinton/Gore, the balanced budget was by greater efficiency and rooting out Republican fraud, corruption and waste - a government that costs less and does MORE.
Greenergy wrote on Jun 18, 2008 10:16 AM:Mark Payne's letter is just more flat-earth blather from another victim of Big Oil's anti-science propaganda.
He says global warming is a way for governments to gain more control, but misses the fact that the only consensus is among scientists, where the issue orignated, not in the political arena. Among politics, even among liberals and environmentalists, there is not agreement on what corrective policy steps should be taken nor on strategies to implement them. The only consensus that has emerged is from the scientific community, in identifying what the problem is and backing it up with solid science that none of these armchair amateurs can deal with.
Thoughts to ponder wrote on Jun 18, 2008 10:18 AM:Why aren't letters by Joyce Wilson promoting a rigid hateful version of Christianity relegated to the Faith and Values section so I won't have to read them?
hardtack wrote on Jun 18, 2008 10:20 AM:Just as some of you are skeptical of Big Oil’s motives, I tend to agree with Mark Payne. I’m more skeptical of Big Government’s motives and their anthropogenic climate change (ACC) hoopla. Moreover, I am just as suspicious of an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report on ACC as I would be of any Big Oil sponsored report on ACC. Where Big Oil has big investments and big profits at stake, Big Government has even bigger taxes and regulatory power at stake. Personally, I am more persuaded by the following “peer reviewed” statement regarding the effect of CO2 on global climate change:
"There is no convincing scientific evidence that human release fo carbon dioxide, methane, or other greenhouse gases is causing or will, in the foreseeable future, cause catastrophic heating of the Earth's atmosphere and disruption of the Earth's climate. Moreover, there is substantial scientific evidence that increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide produce many beneficial effects upon the natural plant and animal environments of the earth."
The above statement, circulated by the Global Warming Petition Project (you may Google it), has been endorsed by 31,072 American scientists, as of May 2008.
Nor am I deterred by the fact that “American scientists” could represent a rather heterogeneous “peer group.” The Project assures us, (Quote): many of the signers currently work in climatological, meteorological, atmospheric, environmental, geophysical, astronomical, and biological fields directly involved in the climate change controversy. (End quote).
One does not have to be a climatologist or geophysicist to appreciate that the statement “contribute to” does not mean “cause;” that correlating data are not necessarily related; that “climate change” is not the same thing as “anthropogenic climate change;” and, that the word “event” does not automatically translate into “disaster,” except in the minds of some people.
Three D wrote on Jun 18, 2008 10:23 AM:Joyce Wilson in her letter complains that the First Amendment does not apply to Christians, and that it is offensive to worship the "precious name" of Jesus Christ.
She does not seem to understand that the First Amendment ensures your right to practice your own faith, but does not confer the right to force others to practice your faith, and especially not to use public resources to do so.
And she does not understand that there is no one who finds it "offensive" when Christians use their own resources to observe their own rituals. What is, indeed, offensive, is when they try to force others to worship that "precious name" or use public resources to force others to practice her faith.
As I have asked many times, why are Christians so insecure with their faith that they place more trust in the government to legislate their religion than in ther priests, pastors, families and churches?
Faith is a personal matter - it is not a matter of public policy.
To Reardon wrote on Jun 18, 2008 10:24 AM:Your "interesting factoid" came from a biased source with an agenda against Environmentalists and Al Gore in particular. Your failure to note this bias is also your failure to research and report truthfully. You can spin it any way you want, but the fact that you must use tainted information to make your point indicates you cannot find any valid sources and therefore what you post is wRONg. Not that you care. So give yourself all the credibility you want, but outside of Ron, Chuck and jvc, no one else believes anything you say. Sorry.
Chris to to Chris wrote on Jun 18, 2008 10:29 AM:You are the one out to lunch. The current Iraq war was not authorized by the UN. Who are the same morons that I support from the first gulf war? All the intelegence has led to the conclusion that forgign fighters in Iraq are only a few percent of those who fight our troops. Quite frankly I think you are on something.
Cluck wrote on Jun 18, 2008 10:33 AM:Come on, Maggie Owen. Take some "personal responsibility." If you don't know what he is talking about when he says change, what his plans are, etc, you are just not paying attention. And apparently haven't been paying attention for years. You're going to have to do better than that, otherwise you just look foolish, and uninformed. Typical of a conservative.
Karl wrote on Jun 18, 2008 10:34 AM:Another on US health care @ 9:16 AM:
At my last physical I asked my doctor what she thought about nationalized health care. I found out that her husband is also a doctor and they have close friends that are doctors in Canada. I got an earful of usefull info. I suggest that everyone ask their doctors what they think about Nationlized Health Care.
Karl wrote on Jun 18, 2008 10:36 AM:"Thoughts to ponder @ 10:18 AM:"
Here's a thought to ponder. You don't have to read any letters on this blog or letters to the editor. Why not just read letters that you agree with?
Karl wrote on Jun 18, 2008 10:39 AM:To Reardon
[-] wrote on Jun 18, 2008 10:24 AM:
Don't forget me on your list.
Karl wrote on Jun 18, 2008 10:43 AM:Cluck
[-] wrote on Jun 18, 2008 10:33 AM:
Typical of you cluck to lump all conservos into one group. Does your theory pertain to libs also?
Chuck wrote on Jun 18, 2008 10:43 AM:The news is reporting that Democrats reject Bush's call to lift ban on offshore oil drilling. We all knew they would. What do liberals care about choking gas prices, commodity price inflation and the staggering amout of jobs being lost. They want you to put your cute wind and solar panel on your roof and ride your bike. This will be a massive election year issue
Floyd wrote on Jun 18, 2008 10:48 AM:Iraq thumbed it's nose at many UN resolutons over a period of ten years. Finally, the UN said "comply or face serious consequences". Iraq did not comply. Serious consequences ensued.
Another on US health care wrote on Jun 18, 2008 10:50 AM:Karl, you might notice that my post was not advocating anything. I am sure that many American doctors would dislike the systems of other countries: MDs there might make less money. So? I'd rather look at the big picture of patient care in the entire population as the measure of a health care system. My earlier post had little to do with this, only that more and more doctors are getting turned off our system as well. I know that in mental health care, increasingly psychologists in private practice are also shifting to not taking insurance because it compromises their practice so much and entails so much time on paperwork. One consequence of this is that only a very few of the wealthier class will be able to afford psychologists. That doesn't lead to a net gain for our society as a whole. As this decision moves to include more and more of medical practice, the rich will get good care, the poor will get lousy or no care. Go read Dickens to see what that's like in a society.
But Chuck wrote on Jun 18, 2008 10:53 AM:You fail to mention that until yesterday, Bush and the Republicans also didn't care about any of those things. Why only blame the Democrats when so many, in your view, should share this blame? When Bush had the Congress as his rubber stamp for all those years, why didn't he do this then?
sdraoul wrote on Jun 18, 2008 10:57 AM:Max Cleland was thrown out of office by Georgia voters for the simple reason that he wasn't up to the job of representing the people of Georgia; he was stuck on representing the Democratic National Committee.
AS for Alf and his petulance, store it, Alf, the 4000 dead Americans in Iraq are actually less than American
service men who died under Bill Clinton during the same length of time and other than bombing Chinese embassies and Bosnia the only things Clinton has to show for all those dead were nuclear programs in North Korea and Iran.
As for insurgents in Iraq, who says they are local? We were roundly criticized for drawing so many foreigners into Iraq to fight us that the world was convinced that the entire Muslim universe was there fighting us.
Wrong! They can't fight us because they are dead.
Again, not a single attack on us has oocured in the USA or even against U.S. targets around the world as we suffered under the Clinton Justice Department and its briefcase carrying "soldiers" who bravely fought terrorists in the courtroom.
Cluck wrote on Jun 18, 2008 10:57 AM:Thanks Karl. So I guess you disagree with Joyce? If so I stand corrected.
Karl wrote on Jun 18, 2008 10:58 AM:To all those who delight in pain and misfortune suffered by conservos. I will be in the desert this weekend to play pasture pool in the 16th annual Roger Clark Memorial. When my friends and I started this thing some 16 years ago I was 38 and could drink beer and play golf all day in 100 to 120 degree heat (it's a dry heat you know). Well the forecast for this weekend is 114 degrees and I will be on the golf course for only 4 hours in the morning and will be drinking a lot of water, iced tea and jumping into swimming pools that line the golf course.
If you don't here from me again at least I croaked doing something I enjoy immensely.
Peace
DD Wiz wrote on Jun 18, 2008 10:58 AM:The post from "Chuck" (10:43am) continues to perpetuate the myth that high gas prices are caused by those who rightly want to limit future drilling in sensitive areas.
Let's look at the actual factors with which the Bush administration has forced prices up to benefit their oil cronies, as well as some that have nothing to do with Bush (or with new drilling sites):
1. Fuel diverted from general supply to war in Iraq
2. Oil production greatly reduced, contrary to pre-war predictions that it would increase and pay for the war, because we were NOT "greeted as liberators" but rather as despised occupiers with intentional disruption of production and delivery systems by those seeking to expel the occupiers.
3. Increased demand from China and India
4. Increased demand from gas guzzling SUV's and the lack of fuel efficiency standards
5. Profiteering allowed for Big Oil by lax oversight from cronies in the Bush Oil Administration
6. Speculative investing in oil futures.
7. Devaluation of dollar against other currencies (such as the Euro) by the Bush Treasury Dept.
And here is the big kicker: WE DO NOT NEED MORE DRILLING SITES.
The problem is not the lack of sites to drill on, but that Big Oil won't even use the ones they already have! According to Senator Jeff Bingaman, chair of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources committee, out of 41 million acres ALREADY CURRENTLY LEASED; Big Oil is "sitting on" 33 million acres that they could be drilling on, but are not. Info at the Senate ".GOV" site:
http://bingaman.senate.gov/news/record.cfm?id=297673
And I have a question for those who want to let more PUBLIC LAND be allocated for drilling: if public policy legislation is passed to enable access to resources on public lands, should public policy also dictate that all energy produced from such leases be limited to satisfying needs of domestic consumption?
Floyd the Scientist wrote on Jun 18, 2008 10:59 AM:Consensus is politics. Fact is sciencne. A consensus of scientists is still politics. The global warming crowd claims the rising temperature is caused by humans, but there has been no verifiable proof that humans are causing the global warming verified to exist on Mars. However, there is evidence that the global warming crowd does not understand grade-school concepts such as the idea that "climate" is derived from "weather". Calls for political action due to "global warming" are based on junk science and should be rejected.
TO Not only that wrote on Jun 18, 2008 11:02 AM:At 7:12AM, But did you also know that 57 happins to be the number just after 56 and right before 58! How can you trust Obama now? LOL.
hardtack wrote on Jun 18, 2008 11:02 AM:I believe homosexuals want to have the right to pay a fee and get a license for the same reason that some people get tattooed.
In both cases it is significantly less expensive to just do it, rather than invest all the time and money it would take in professional counseling sessions to convince them that they don’t need it.
Apollo wrote on Jun 18, 2008 11:04 AM:Re: SDRaoul (10:57 a.m.)
There goes Raoul again, always beating up on heroes who have already been defeated, always fighting the last campaign.
Karl wrote on Jun 18, 2008 11:06 AM:Another @ 10:15 am,
You might notice that my post was not advocating anything except asking the opinion of someone in the profession. My doctor started out by telling me that she was not in it for the money. She is truly a caring person and after having known her for 12 years I believe her on that. She made good points for both sides of the issue.
I am not advocating that everyone follow the opinion of their health care professionals, just seek their opinion to broaden your base of information on the subject.
Karl wrote on Jun 18, 2008 11:12 AM:Cluck,
I disagree with some of her points (1, 4 and 5 for sure)
Karl wrote on Jun 18, 2008 11:18 AM:But Chuck
[-] wrote on Jun 18, 2008 10:53 AM:
I can tell you why Bush and the Repubs didn't care about those things when they had a chance, they're short sided idiots and got away from their conservative roots. This is why I have been a registered independent for much longer than the current phase of cross overs.
Ron wrote on Jun 18, 2008 11:19 AM:I have to agree with my good friend "hey Chucks news source" @
@7:51 AM. "Yeah, Obama misspoke"... again, and again, and again...
I really liked the part where he finally had to admit that he did sit in a pew during one of the wrong Rev. Wright's diatribe's on America.
I'm certainly glad he cleared that up.
and then he stayed in the church.
If it's all about judgement, his is all wrong. He said so.
Karl wrote on Jun 18, 2008 11:22 AM:TO Not only that @ 11:02 AM:
Thanks for the chuckle. That was funny.
Alf wrote on Jun 18, 2008 11:36 AM:Well, "DD Wiz" at 10:58AM, to answer your last question - YES. I might take it one step further and suggest that the oil coming from those sources be priced at cost plus 10 to 20 percent, not the current market price, because that oil is not for sale outside the U.S.. How un-Libertarian of me. Regards, Alf.
Karl wrote on Jun 18, 2008 11:44 AM:DD Wiz" at 10:58AM,
Add me to the "yes" responders to your question. How unconservative of me. I also agree with Alf on the pricing.
Ron wrote on Jun 18, 2008 11:45 AM:I do.. "Just wondering" @8:48 AM.
I object to any military spending inside the State boundaries of Massachusetts. Since those two Senators, Kennedy & Kerry are two of the biggest anti-war lib's, I see no reason they should personally profit by being awarded any military contracts inside their State.
I'm beginning to believe, that we should also reconsider any war spending inside Pennsylvania, the home State of one John Murtha. I'm more than sure we can find many other congressional/senate districts in which to cut back.
Revelation wrote on Jun 18, 2008 11:47 AM:DD's information about how much land the oil companies already lease and have chosen not to drill comes as a shocking revelation, doesn't it? Think of the implications of this. And now, Bush goes to Congress, all of a sudden, and asks for offshore drilling. A sly political move. If the Congress says "No", he can falsely blame them for gas prices. If they bend to the popular pressure based on misinformation that we need those new drilling sites, then the oil companies get a whole new set of lands to play with,