Ron wrote on Jul 3, 2008 5:35 AM:Great letter today by Grant Kuhns. A poll was recently taken where 71% of Democrats basically said America sucks.
These are people who look to the Government for their happiness.

Those of us who really appreciate this great country, know if left alone, the sky is the limit.

In fact, just the otherday I had the opportunity to meet another gentleman who had begun a business in 2003 from his home. It eventually required he use his garage for storage. Soon, his wife quit her job and began working full time for their company. By 2005 he hired another person because the work load was too great for the two of them.
By 2006 he hired another, all squeezed in his home. 9 months ago, he leased an industrial space, hired yet another person and today, in 2008 is on track to make 1.5 million, with pending proposals leading into 2009 of more than 5 million.
Yes, it can be done in America. You just gotta want it bad enough.

To Jerry Heiss wrote on Jul 3, 2008 5:42 AM:Are you kidding me? With high gas prices and pollution, the war in Iraq and other more important issues, you're worried about hot rods?? Cruising should be the last thing on your mind.The world could be falling apart around you and you'll porbably be thinking about cruising. Save the gas for important trips like grocery shopping or just getting to work. If you want to look at hot rods, just log onto a website or buy a magazine. Shame on you.

Chuck wrote on Jul 3, 2008 5:42 AM:Gee, I bet on this 4th of July, Hussein will actually face the flag and will be wearing the flag pin, that he refused to do last year. What has changed, other than his arrogant hypocrisy??

Ron wrote on Jul 3, 2008 5:43 AM:Oh, the lib's "got it", Darrell Beck.
You see, when you travel in the "Hate America First" circles, this kind of humor is common. In fact, that's how you make friends inside this liberal groups, you run America down. Why do you think all these mindless types are responding Barack Obama's statement of wanting to "remake" America? Remake it to what?
For those of us who love this great country, we don't want a European style liberal social democracy. We love our Republic, our Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.

Chuck wrote on Jul 3, 2008 5:44 AM:>>>"Behind every good man stands a strong woman" >>> Well, Mr Crews, try telling that to the precious couples who are being married by the bushel load these days

Ron wrote on Jul 3, 2008 6:00 AM:The fact of the matter Dan Shapiro, is most liberal think your a kook, and a gun nut if you want to own a gun.
I've already heard from the liberals how this decision really didn't say, what it said, that.. yes, You personally can own a gun without being in a militia.
Now, what they will set about doing with their ACLU slip & fall types is to attempt to make having a weapon such a high hurdle, that most will simply just not want to go through all the hassle.

Best photo was John Kerry trying to be "a regular guy" and going hunting. LOL

But obviously, what the lib's will now do inside the States is to make the requirements on legal gun owners so diificult, it will preclude any ability to self-defense.

As to your poem, and "depending on those in power."
If I've heard it once, I've heard it a hundred times by my liberal friends.
They have this concept of "Our People" running the Government. They've said: "If we can get those people into government who truly believe in government, then things will be better.
It is only because those in power now, do not believe in government, that things are running so badly, cause they don't believe in govenrment."

I like to call these folks, the sliding scale socialists. Oh, sure.. I like this aspect, and I'll take a little bit of that, and that seems nice..so I'd like that too."
These are the folks who are being played the tune by the piper, leading them to the rice paddies, where we will all be "equal", and the Vanguard, the ruling elite will be supervising.
And they will be standing knee deep in the muck of the paddie saying: "How did this happen? I voted for Hope & Change.
Well.. He re-made America.. to look like every other socialist disaster around the world.

Ron wrote on Jul 3, 2008 6:16 AM:This letter today by Austin Marx shows that the advertising about a supposed "oil-addiction" is working.
Unfortuately, even George Bush said Americans are addicted to oil, and I reject this. Just as i rejected his statement about men & women who sit in lawn chairs, calling the Border Patrol with their cell phones "Vigilantes."

Oil is not a drug, it is the life's blood of this country. Take a look around, everything runs on oil.
Most everything in your home was either made with oil, or transported by oil, or manufactured by energy made from oil.

I have no beef with people who think THEY are addicted, get off. Ever meet an ex-smoker? These are some of the most annoying people to me. Always noticing if someone else is smoking, how they smoke, and where they smoke.
Some of these folks are in fact Smoke Nazi's. Take a trip through Del Mar, or some of these other beach communities, you'll see em. Can't smoke her,e can't smoke there.. But, they still sell cigarettes in their stores. Why is that?
If it's bad for you, kill's you, dirty your city? Why sell em? Cause the tax money is just too good to pass up.
Same to with gas. If you guy's realy believed the stuff your smoking, you'd ban selling gas in your cities. Go to your local council and tell them "your making me sick." Just like your leader Harry Reid said the otherday. Gas is making me sick, and we can't sell it here. In fact, tell them you can't burn it here. See what they say.

Chuck wrote on Jul 3, 2008 6:17 AM:Oil up anopther couple bucks to $146 as liberals celebrate the huge treasure we are sending to the cartel and corn has quadruples in price because of the liberal greeniacs and their phoney ethanol/global warming scare. And the market is plummeting, and pensions and 401K accounts are crashing. How do liberals respond?? They tell Americans "Screw You", there will be no more drilling because our donor base will be hurt. Their donor base is more important than American jobs and massive inflation, and they assume America is going to sweep them into office. Where they will get swept is to the manure pile

Ron wrote on Jul 3, 2008 6:29 AM:No kidding Arnold Singleton. and then these clowns have the nerve to tell us about all this infrastructure that is falling down. In the United States, there are well over 200 million personal cars. Just personal cars, not anything else that runs on gas or diesel. Think about the money Arnold is talking about in taxes,and multiply that by just the 200 million cars.
And these clowns still have the nerve to tell us they need even more money to repair infrastructure? You've got to be kdding me, right?
And it just kills me to know that inside our own State we have a bunch of suckers. Bond, after bond, after bond to build infrastructure all taken from gas & diesel taxes, and put into mass transit. We have the money folks, we just need to focus it on what is was collect to do in the first place, roads, bridges, you know? Things CARS use.

Crews wrote on Jul 3, 2008 6:30 AM:Hey J. Howard Crews, instead of bashing Mrs Bush, why don't you look up on what she has done for schools, orphans, poor, etc. Don't throw her in the middle of a woman that won't be the first lady. What has Michelle done besides being a lawyer?? Shoot you probably loved Hillary!

Wont hurt... wrote on Jul 3, 2008 6:34 AM:...the kids to get up early. Farm kids do it all the time.

Simple solution, have the kids go to be earlier.

As for test scores -- they are invalid anyways. The kids are taught the test. All it shows is that some can take a test. There are others that do not test well (I am talking about English speaking children; not the whole other issue of English as a second language).

Just because one does not test well, does not bode ill for the child or the country. For example, my son does poorly on tests. On the other hand, he can do just about anything with his hands.

On the other hand, my daughter aces exams but cannot figure out how to flip a light switch.

Both are intelligent in his/her own way. They don't need an exam to say otherwise.

Ron wrote on Jul 3, 2008 6:44 AM:In central Montana, Horizon Wind Energy is attempting to develop a 300-megawatt wind farm, but they are running into lawsuits from enviromentalist groups.

Horizon Wind Energy would erect up to 100 turbines near Martinsdale, about 80 miles east of Helena, to tap into winds sweeping through the Musselshell River valley.

Horizon had been solicited to develop in the area by the state Department of Natural Resources and Conservation. The agency owns about 2,400 acres of land within the 19,000 acre project site.

Gov. Brian Schweitzer and the Montana Legislature have aggressively pursued wind energy over the past several years by courting developers, offering tax incentives that favor wind over fossil-fuels and pitching state lands as potential project sites.

However, progress to date remains slow: The state's total energy production from wind remains less than that generated by a single coal-fired power plant.

Only one major project - a 135-megawatt wind farm near Judith Gap - has been completed. And late last year, the administration's efforts suffered a setback when another Texas company, GreenHunter, scaled back a 500-megawatt proposal near Glasgow to 50 megawatts after running into opposition from enviromentalist groups.

Now, how can this be? You have here, all the elements. A Govenor and a State who wants it, they employ tax incentives, it's "clean" energy...
And yet, still opposed?
You know, after reading something like this, I'm really beginning to understand what Barack Obama is talking about with less. These people want nothing built.

Ron wrote on Jul 3, 2008 6:56 AM:You see this? this letter today by Sarah Thomas? You gotta be kidding me, right?
This is why kid's after they graduate can not get to their jobs on time.

Wouldn't you just love to be a fly on the wall, when Sarah tried to tell her boss, she needed more sleep? Traffic was terrible? Or his schedule didn't meet her needs? LOL... no wonder I get the applications I get.
That's right Sarah, you go on keep making excuses for little Johnnie, and he'll be the one living in your basement when he's 40.

Laurian wrote on Jul 3, 2008 7:04 AM:Well Mr. Kuhns, there are alot of us left who believe as you do but, sadly, the San Diego City Council has a different viewpoint because they and Mike Aguirre are proclaiming July 8, 2008 to be "National Council of La Raza Day in the city of San Diego."

Don't know if it'll be reported in the North County Times, but it "is" a fact, so hopefully this comment will get printed.

Words fail me on this one. I couldn't be more disgusted and I hope the voters of San Diego remember Mike Aguirre's actions on this come November.

Alf wrote on Jul 3, 2008 7:38 AM:I can only use this once a year, so ---
Don't buy a fifth
On the third
For the fourth
And then drive on the fourth!!
Regards, Alf.

Focal Point wrote on Jul 3, 2008 7:44 AM:LAURA BUSH: I am a liberal. Mrs. Bush is aces with me. She has been first class all the time. In fact, our country would have been better off with Laura Bush as President.

Focal Point wrote on Jul 3, 2008 7:49 AM:Darrell Beck: I have read most of your letters. You are giving advice about jokes,laughter and humor. LOL LMAO

Hey chuck wrote on Jul 3, 2008 8:03 AM:Barack Obama rocks and he will be our next President so show some respect!!!

Hey Hinton wrote on Jul 3, 2008 8:09 AM:"Just as i rejected his statement about men & women who sit in lawn chairs, calling the Border Patrol with their cell phones "Vigilantes." You can reject and object all you want about those people but they are just that vigilantes!!! That is really the ONLY thing I have EVER agreed with that our illustrious President Bush has ever said.

Alf wrote on Jul 3, 2008 8:10 AM:While I am proud and blessed to be an American, I am completely and totally ashamed at what America, as a country with GWB as president, has done in the last 5 and change years in Iraq. While I will celebrate our independence tomorrow (as well as my middle sister's birthday, yes, she was born on the 4th of July) I will mourn the loss of over 4,100 American Troops in a country that they should never have been ordered to go, doing the bidding of a raving lunatic who craves oil and money more than he values the the lives of our American Troops, the United States Constitution, the economy of the United States and the American People.
Regards, Alf.

to Jerry Heiss wrote on Jul 3, 2008 8:15 AM:Thank you for letting us know that the R&R flavor has changed, not for the better, at Cruisin' Grand.

We will save our gas for some other fun activities.

R&R is important especially in these stressful times.

Ignore the bloggers that are often overly critical and make many incorrect statements. Blogger 5:42AM should have stayed in bed.

jvc wrote on Jul 3, 2008 8:16 AM:Karl, there are many ways to describe a suspect....height,weight, apparel and if
light or dark-skinned,etc....but to describe by race is not one of them
because a race is hard to describe!
Also, it is bad to describe by race
because of a danger of typecasting!
We are still in the dark ages on this issue!

Bernie wrote on Jul 3, 2008 8:20 AM:Dan Shapiro is on target. What he quoted should be memorized by all of us.

"When the Nazis came for the Communists, I remained silent; I was not a Communist. When they locked up the Social Democrats, I remained silent; I was not a Social Democrat. When they came for the trade unionists, I did not speak out; I was not a trade unionist. When they came for the Jews, I remained silent; I wasn't a Jew. When they came for me, there was no one left to speak out."

Be careful what you wish for; it may come true.

Second amendment wrote on Jul 3, 2008 8:26 AM:I fully agree that the second amendment guarantees individuals the right to keep and bear arms. But it says that this is so in order that citizens will be prepared to join a militia if needed. This whole idea that it's my gun that protects me from my government is an invention. It would only BE the government that would call you up to join the militia and this is the scope of the second amendment. The amendment doesn't say you can't use your guns for other things, it's silent on that. It says, simply, that you can own a gun and says why it thinks that's important. But that's all it says. Please, keep your yahoo fantasies to yourself and don't promote them as if the founders agreed with you.

Alf wrote on Jul 3, 2008 8:26 AM:The poem that Dan Shapiro refers to was written (and part of a speech) by Pastor Martin Niemöller. It refers to the incremental method by which Hitler relieved Germans of their rights. He used fear and prejudice to systematically remove those who he didn't like and those who might thwart his plans. I have seen a systematic diminution and/or destruction of our Constitutional rights, especially over the last 5 years. Bit by bit, GWB has worked to reduce the Rights of The People while increasing the power of his office, that is one of the many reasons that I object to GWB, his tactics and this fiasco in Iraq. Regards, Alf.

Blessed yes Proud no wrote on Jul 3, 2008 8:28 AM:I never understood why people say "I'm PROUD to be an American. Pride has to do with accomplishment. Almost everyone who says this, well, their "accomplishment" was that they happened to have been born here. Lucky? Absolutely! Blessed? Amen! "Proud"? Not unless you are an immigrant who chose to come here and did all the hard work to attain citizenship. The rest of us shouldn't really brag about something we didn't do.

Ron wrote on Jul 3, 2008 8:29 AM:"Hey Hinton" @8:09 AM, give it up man. You don't have a legal argument about illegals, so you have to distract. Admit it.

Concerned One wrote on Jul 3, 2008 8:33 AM:Solon, I think my message was clear (4:43 July 2). I am adamantly pissed off at this administration, but I just as mad at our legislators who are just as bad. It's time for a regime change. Obama is not the answer. McCain is not the answer. Yesterday's post by Vet for Peace was excellent. Where have all the flowers gone? Regards, C-1.

It was for the oil sure enough wrote on Jul 3, 2008 8:37 AM:Did we invade Iraq for the oil? Did our kids die for some oil people to get wealthier? Now why would anyone think that? From the NY Times QUOTE Bush administration officials knew that a Texas oil company with close ties to President Bush was planning to sign an oil deal with the regional Kurdistan government that ran counter to American policy and undercut Iraq’s central government, a Congressional committee has concluded. United States policy is to warn companies that they incur risks in signing contracts until Iraq passes an oil law and to strengthen Iraq’s central government. The Kurdistan deal, by ceding responsibility for writing contracts directly to a regional government, infuriated Iraqi officials. But State Department officials did nothing to discourage the deal and in some cases appeared to welcome it, the documents show.The company, Hunt Oil of Dallas, signed the deal with Kurdistan’s semiautonomous government last September. Its chief executive, Ray L. Hunt, a close political ally of President Bush, briefed an advisory board to Mr. Bush on his contacts with Kurdish officials before the deal was signed ENDQUOTE Once again, the law seems to mean nothing to our dear leader. Neither does progress in Iraq. At least not compared to the desires of a pal and donor for that Kurdish oil. Can there be ANY Americans other than oil people and military contractors who have any respect for this President?

perhaps an improvement wrote on Jul 3, 2008 8:39 AM:For me, mostly a reader, it would be an improvement if letters to ed and blogging would be direct.

In other words, no sarcasm, ambiguity, etc.

Or, indicate sarcasm follows, so there is no misinterpretation nor misrepresentation of what you are writing.

To Crews wrote on Jul 3, 2008 8:46 AM:Laura Bush has more class in her little finger than Michelle Obama has altogether. She has restored dignity to the White House. When the Clintons left, it was hard to find a staffer who would say one good thing about them. Michelle Obama has the same imperious attitude that Hillary had. Laura Bush has championed the causes of women's rights in Afghanistan and gone there to do something about it. She has also brought the importance of reading well to the forefront of our education progams. When the Bush's leave the White House, they won't leave it ransacked, and the staff will be sorry to say goodbye to their gracious hosts.

Alf wrote on Jul 3, 2008 8:51 AM:SARCASM ALERT - How dare "Wont hurt..." at 6:34AM make such a common sense solution to getting children up earlier by saying "have the kids go to be earlier"! What, have them miss that "must see" TV show or their favorite internet sites? You must be joking! END ALERT. NO, "Wont hurt..." is not joking and neither am I when I say (and have said) the same thing. Regards, Alf.

Bernie wrote on Jul 3, 2008 8:58 AM:Alf for president.

He is always on target.

Am certain Mrs. Alf would make a great first lady, too.

Am certain President Alf would surround himself with honest, intelligent supporters / cabinet. People that are open to new info, people that want the truth. People who take pride in what they do and understand history.

Pres. Alf would get the very best minds to help him fashion a better America.

It really is our job (the people) to help improve America, but we need strong independent forward thinking leaders at all levels (Fed, State, County, City, School Board, Water District, etc.).

Am certain Pres. Alf would work for both the majority and minority based on the Constitution.

Our politics are ugly and seemingly those who take the high moral ground are not interested in running for office. So we suffer without leadership.

Daily, our Founding Fathers turn in their graves.

to to Crews wrote on Jul 3, 2008 9:04 AM:I guess no one told you that all the stories about the White House being trashed by the Clinton team were made up by the Bush team? I guess that's your idea of restoring dignity to the office. Eight years of lies, cover ups, appointments of incompetent cronies. Mrs Bush seems to be a fine woman, I completely agree. But the Presidency has been soiled in ways that the Clintons couldn't have dreamed of. Bill had a sordid, repulsive affair. Bush set out to destroy the constitution. Dignity?

Alf wrote on Jul 3, 2008 9:07 AM:The letter from Sarah Thomas is, unfortunately, no joke. She and her children have much growing up to do. I live in Encinitas and worked for a few years in Chula Vista. Work started (you were there and ready to work) at 6:30AM by the time-clock, so I had to leave no later than 5:30AM, which meant that I got up at no later than 4:45AM. That is if I wanted to keep my job, which I did. That job helped prepare me to build my own house as co-designer, carpenter, plumber, electrician and roofer. My point is that the world does not revolve around the individual student and most people (unless they are self-employed, in which case they usually have the meanest boss they can possibly have) fit their schedule around their job and do not expect their job to fit its schedule around the them. Regards, Alf.

Bernie wrote on Jul 3, 2008 9:13 AM:No fireworks because of fire season is a good idea from my point of view.

Also, be careful of what kind of equipment you use if you are pruning around the house, etc.

Best not to use fire prone equipment during the hot hours. Always have an active hose very close to you.

People and equipment especially during hot weather, have caused many accidental fires which in turn are costly and dangerous.

A Good Safe Holiday weekend be you on the road or at home.

Alf wrote on Jul 3, 2008 9:13 AM:Well, "It was for the oil sure enough" at 8:37AM, the answer is no with the exception of a few whack-jobs who cannot imagine not having a war somewhere ala "Major Payne". Regards, Alf.

OBAMACAN wrote on Jul 3, 2008 9:26 AM:J. Howard Crews' letter really hits the mark, highlighting the differences between rich trophy wife Cindy McCain, who in her early twenties played homewrecker to a man twice her age who was still married to the first wife who waited for him through the POW torture years and stood by him through the greatest trials of his life. Oh dear! Talk about family values, loyalty, honor.
In contrast, Michelle Obama got nothing from Daddy except a nurturing, loving home and the encouragement to rise above the urban poverty and mean streets of South Side Chicago to achieve success at Princeton and Harvard.
Obama is now about the same age as McCain was when he dumped his long-standing wife for a rich, blond heiress, but Obama has shown real family values, standing by a strong woman, instead of acting out his juvenile mid-life crisis.

Alf wrote on Jul 3, 2008 9:32 AM:Well, "Bernie" at 8:58AM, I am flattered. Mrs. Alf would go happily nutz in the rose garden (although her patients would miss her, (seriously, she truly does have one patient who comes from Las Vegas once a month to see her in Temecula)) and I would go slowly insane trying to undo the damage caused by my predecessor(s). I'd have to shave off or trim my beard and get a haircut more than twice a year, but the worst part would be not living in the home that I built. I've become spoiled by living in coastal north county. Thanks for this little flight of fancy. Regards, Alf.

Greenergy wrote on Jul 3, 2008 9:33 AM:Self-described oil company stockholder (pusher) Ron at 6:16 a.m. assures us:
"Oil is not a drug, it is the life's blood of this country."
Ron, we need a blood transfusion. Stat!

jvc wrote on Jul 3, 2008 9:38 AM:The only way Mrs. Bush can restore dignity to the White House is to kick Mr. Bush out of it!

Dont Stop Living Jerry wrote on Jul 3, 2008 9:48 AM:To Jerry Heiss
[-] wrote on Jul 3, 2008 5:42 AM:"Are you kidding me?" **** No Poster, Life does not stop just because harder times are here. If you allow that, you might as well just pack it in.

Surfer wrote on Jul 3, 2008 9:50 AM:Bernie[-] wrote on Jul 3, 2008 8:58 AM:
ALF FOR PRESIDENT: Right on Dude. Don't know if Alf would prefer to President or the Big Kahuna. Either way, he has my vote. See ya!

Up To Twelve Times Alf wrote on Jul 3, 2008 9:52 AM:Alf
[-] wrote on Jul 3, 2008 7:38 AM: As we have 12 months in the year, You could use it up to 12 times. LOL

the dude wrote on Jul 3, 2008 9:52 AM:to sorad ghandhi bring on the STONES!

DUH wrote on Jul 3, 2008 9:57 AM:jvc
[-] wrote on Jul 3, 2008 8:16 AM: Don't be ignorant jvc, Race has been used for centuries.

Bill One wrote on Jul 3, 2008 10:06 AM:I agree with Concerned One. It is time for a regime change. I concider myselve a conservative (not to be confused with a Rebiblican) and I am not happy with any of our choices for this election and not happy with those who hold office now. I wish we had a canidate that stood for something. I have yet to here someone stand up and say we need an energy plan. And here is what my plan is, I would do this, and this and this...etc. None are saying that, just the same ole same ole, lots of talk and nothing said. McCain doesn't seem to say much and Obama says he wants change and hope but doesn't say what that would be....

ShawnP wrote on Jul 3, 2008 10:15 AM:To "Hey Chuck" at 8:03 am - You're so sure Obama will be the next President? Be careful what you wish for, you just may get it. Also, until he has earned my respect, I will show him NONE.
To All - I am so BLESSED and happy to be an American! Having said that, notice I didn't say anything about my government; I love this country SO VERY MUCH, but it really hurts me to see what rampant, out-of-control government and politics has done to us.

Bill One wrote on Jul 3, 2008 10:19 AM:Austin Marx bring up an interesting point. Allot of people are talking about our "oil addiction". Americans have a freedom addiction. Oils allows us that freedom. We want to be able to travel in our cars and go whenever we want. Oil provides us that means. So to attack our lifestyle is to attack our freedom. We need more energy, that doean't have to be oil in the long run but I do believe it will be the short term fix. The problem needs to be attack from all angles. We need to explore all options and be open to them. This also means oil.

Academic news for yahoos wrote on Jul 3, 2008 10:23 AM:Good article in the NY Times today about how the boomer generation of college professors is nearing retirement and is being replaced by younger faculty whose history is less radical. Among faculty over 50, 17% still call themselves "activists", but in the younger cohort it's less than 2%. I don't know if this is good news or bad news for the yahoos. On the one hand, you might think they'd be celebrating as the 60s radicals fade away from the classroom. On the other had, I suspect they enjoyed having this group as a scapegoat to blame all their suspicion and dislike of higher education on. Time will tell, I guess, although the radical-blamers themselves are aging and fading away right along with their foes.

Very liberal wrote on Jul 3, 2008 10:27 AM:I love America and am a huge patriot and supporter of the Constitution. What I am not supportive of is the police state that bush and his cronnies have created. They have contributed to the erosion of the middle class and the erosion of human rights and civil rights throughout the world as well as in America. I love America and will do my duty to support candidates that I believe will change the dangerous course this country is on. So when you think liberal, think about me folks. Be afraid because there are millions of us out here just like me who want a better country, not business as usual. PS- this liberal is a gun owner and supporter of gun rights so don't even try to go there with my blog.

Mama wrote on Jul 3, 2008 10:29 AM:Just remember that your mean, negative comments about your neighbors and co-workers and colleagues will come back to bite you some day. I believe most people are trying to make a living and provide for their families. The negativity and pessimism in these blogs on a continual basis tell me you folks need to go out and do something nice for someone. A random act of kindness or tell someone you love them. Quit being so nasty.

sdraoul wrote on Jul 3, 2008 10:46 AM:I wonder if Alf cried about President Roosevelt rounding up Americanmc itizens and throwing them into concentration camps in WWII when he read about the incident...I wonder if he cried when he read that President Truman authorized the drafting of all private railroad workers when they threatened to strike...I wonder if Alf cried when he read that President Truman "seized" steel mills when the Steelworker's unions went on strike... I wonder if Alf cried when Clinton didn't lift a finger to get rid of Osama Bin laden after Osama ordered the bombings and killings of Americans throughout AFrica, especially when we had Bin Laden walking around in broad daylight which we video taped with a Hellfire missile equipped Predator...I wonder if Alf cried when the Clintons ordered up FBI files on Bush appointees for illegal reading, an act which is illegal.

Alf bemoans President Bush in an insulting manner, but his crocodile tears do nothing but reflect hypocrisy and are inherently insul;ting to Alf (regards).

For many, the War in Iraq was considered necessary as part of a worldwide war on terrorists of which Saddam and his government were. They are gone and the IRaq people are building a new nation. Some of us think that is a good thing for the Big Picture and long term, some of us don't, but we are all entitled to our opinion.

The President did what he thought was right and many of us agree with him. After 9/11 President Bush's popularity reached 89 percent among the general population and over 90 percent among Mexican Americans (obviously, Alf was in the 11 percent who didn't approve of post 9/11 Bush).

Were 4000 plus lives wasted in Iraq? Alf thinks so, I don't. History will judge by comparing Iraq to Truman's Korea and the 35,000 Americans that died there and Vietnam where 58,000 people died under the direction of Democrats JFK and LBJ (more Americans were killed on average in ten months than have died in Iraq in six years). Nixon pulled us out.

Like I said, Alf is entitled to his opinion, wrong as it is. Americans voted for the war in 2004 and will do so again this November when they vote against Obama. His juvenile position that he gave a speecha gaisnt the war in 2002 doesn't measure up much when prominant Democrats like Rockefeller, Clinton and msot other democratic Senators voted for it after reviewing available intelligence.

Obama didn't have access to the information in 2002. For him to have oppsoed the war without that information reflects his lack of judgment and world view.

OBSERVATION wrote on Jul 3, 2008 10:47 AM:"No matter what happens in Iraq, the Bush Administration and John McCain always have the same answer: 6 more months."

Concerned One wrote on Jul 3, 2008 10:51 AM:Alf may be a good candidate for pres (or a VP for Rex), but his poetry leaves a little to be desired. And really, does anyone really by "fifths" anymore? (I'm being sarcastic) Regards, C-1.

sdraoul wrote on Jul 3, 2008 10:58 AM:For all those who were not in the meetings with the President during which the decision was made to war on Iraq, here are some words from Douglas Feith who was there:

)Thoughtful, patriotic Amersicans differed then and now on whether the risk of leaving Saddam in power outweighed the risk of war (Is Alf one of these thoughtful patriots?). But Mr. Bush concluded that it did, and that war therefore was necessary. In Congress, many Democrats as well as Republicans supported that conclusion (Obama was still cutting his teeth in
the Chicago political machine so he probably didn't know where Iraq was). Debates will continue over whether the president should have balanced the risks differently. But characterizing the Iraq war as "a war of choice" sheds no light on the issue."

Mr. Feith, under secretary of defense for policy from 2001 to 2005...

OBSERVATION wrote on Jul 3, 2008 11:35 AM:The U.S. Labor Department reported Thursday businesses cut payrolls by 62,000 in June. The national unemployment rate held steady at 5.5 percent.

Oh Obamacan wrote on Jul 3, 2008 11:56 AM:Whenever a poor person gets a check in the mail, conservatives call that person the scum of the earth and rage in resentment that any fraction of a penny of that check came from their own pockets. When Cindy McCain gets checks in the mail from dad, she's applauded for getting rich the old fashioned way. The only way to make sense of this is that it's all and only about that fraction of a penny. When they buy a few beers from Cindy's pop, and the same fraction of a penny goes to Cindy, they feel great because it's all happening in the free marketplace. This makes Cindy a money-earner and the flat-out-of-luck person as worthy as dung. Go figure.

Oh raoul wrote on Jul 3, 2008 12:00 PM:many people have commented on such meetings, including people who were there. you found one you liked and call it the truth. big surprise. The giveaway is the comment about Obama. It seems that Obama DID know where Iraq was, because in October 2002 he made a speech about it that seemed not only informed but, in retrospect, exactly accurate. You might try reading that speech: it's available via googling. You bet on the guys with lousy judgment at best (and possibly plain liars). Yet rather than admit this, you quote that bad judgment and call it "the truth". Raoul, are you blind?

Ms M wrote on Jul 3, 2008 12:06 PM:sdraoul
[-] wrote on Jul 3, 2008 10:58 AM:For all those who were not in the meetings with the President during which the decision was made to war on Iraq, here are some words from Douglas Feith...Yes SDR see a little info on Mr. Feith

Right Web News

last updated: May 29, 2008

Douglas Feith, a longtime neoconservative and former lawyer who has promoted militarist security polices in the United States and Israel, served four years in the George W. Bush administration as Donald Rumsfeld's deputy undersecretary of defense for policy.1 The extremely controversial (and now defunct) Office of Special Plans, recognized by many as the origin of bad information leading to the Iraq War, was set up under Feith's purview.2 Feith left office in August 2005 amid investigations into allegations that he deliberately skewed intelligence on Iraq to bolster arguments to go to war,3 which some observers have argued could amount to war crimes.4 Feith tried to fend off criticism of his record in War and Decision: Inside the Pentagon at the Dawn of Terrorism, a memoir about his service in the Bush administration that was published in April 2008.

Feith has never been formally charged in connection to his work at the Pentagon, but official reports link him to faulty evidence used to justify the war. An investigation by the Department of Defense's Office of Inspector General (IG) concluded that despite widespread consensus among intelligence agencies, including the CIA and the Defense Intelligence Agency, that there was no conclusive evidence linking Iraq to al Qaeda, Feith ignored these conclusions. His office "inappropriately" produced analyses regarding the relationship between Iraq and al Qaeda—including "some conclusions that were inconsistent with the consensus of the Intelligence Community"—and shared these assessments with senior decision makers, sometimes presenting the analyses as intelligence products, according to the report.5 The IG also concluded that in preparing briefing charts, Feith's office "went beyond available intelligence" regarding the Iraq-al Qaeda relationship, and that his staff gave a White House briefing on that relationship "containing information that was different from the briefing presented to [Director of Central Intelligence], not vetted by the Intelligence Community, and that was not supported by the available intelligence."

Ms M wrote on Jul 3, 2008 12:08 PM:sdraoul
[-] wrote on Jul 3, 2008 10:58 AM:
Obama was still cutting his teeth in
the Chicago political machine so he probably didn't know where Iraq was...But Obama made the right call on Iraq! LMAO

Surfer wrote on Jul 3, 2008 12:10 PM:ALF: Dude, you could be President and stay in the north county area. As I remember, President Nixon had a residence at San Clemente. You would not have to trim your beard or hair. After all, you would be the President and can start new fashions. How about lamb chop side burns? See ya Bud!

Alf wrote on Jul 3, 2008 12:11 PM:Well, "Up To Twelve Times Alf" at 9:52AM, ya got me. Regards, Alf.

sdjuan wrote on Jul 3, 2008 12:12 PM:Oh raoul[-] wrote on Jul 3, 2008 12:00 PM:
I was going to answer you. Naw. I have better things to do.

Bill One wrote on Jul 3, 2008 12:12 PM:To Obamacan,
I am a conservative, I don't look at that guy who gets "a check in the mail" as the scum of the earth. What I do resent, is every year I find more of my money being taken away from me and my family (Taxes) and the given to others who didn't earn it. Cindy McCain recieved her money from her dad because he wanted her to have it. He wasn't forced to do it. That is freemarket, having a choice. Taxing me because I have earned it and giving it to others is much closer to scocialism. And that's only going to get worse under Obama. You go figure.

Oh Please wrote on Jul 3, 2008 12:23 PM:sdraoul[-] wrote on Jul 3, 2008 10:46 AM:
Playing magic again. FDR, Truman and even Clinton have nothing to do with GWB Iraqi War. Many voted for the war based on the faulty intelligence and the 935 lies told them by Bush and his cowboy circus. Yeah, the truth is now out and Bush's figures are about 17%. It does not matter what Americans think of Iraq or Iraqis. It matter what they think of themselves. It does not matter what we think is good for Iraqis. It is what Iraqis think that which is good for them. You try to play slight of hand on this blog. The war was and is about oil, over 4200 dead Americans, over 25,000 wounded Americans all because GWB with his good buddy, Rummie and Dead Eye Dick thought it would be a short war, that Americans would be greeted as liberators and that a sphere of influence could be established. Its just plain old Imperialism/Colonialism spread under the lie that democracy was being spread throughout the Middle East.

Surfer wrote on Jul 3, 2008 12:25 PM:ShawnP[-] wrote on Jul 3, 2008 10:15 AM:
Dude, I am sure that Obama is really concerned by your lack of respect for him. See ya!

Alf wrote on Jul 3, 2008 12:28 PM:Well, "sdraoul" at 10:46AM, does it again. He put his foot in his mouth up to his behind. Had I been alive and old enough to know such things at that time I might have cried about the internment camps for the Americans of Japanese descent. Some good friends of my in-laws (one son of whom had his artwork on the cover of Rolling Stone and was present with his parents at our wedding) were shipped to a camp. For some unknown reason, they still love this country even though they were treated like the enemy and effectively put in prison for no other reason than they were of Japanese descent. Regards, Alf.

SOLON wrote on Jul 3, 2008 12:30 PM:= MEDIA NEWS =
Just heard this morning that the Los Angeles Times is cutting 250 employees immediately, most in the news room. That makes over 1,000 news employees cut at major newspapers nationwide in just the last week. Well, I guess “no news is good news”. If the American people don’t know what is going on, the Fascists can operate more effectively.

Hate to hear this about the LA Times. Newspapers all across the nation are struggling. Many of them are still profitable, but because merger and acquisition debt is so high, they have to turn an exceedingly high profit these days.

Do you notice how much more and more of your news you get off of the Internet? Sometimes you can even pick up a bit of breaking news on this blogsite. I myself get more news from Huffington Post and Common Dreams than I do from the LA Times already.

Ron wrote on Jul 3, 2008 12:32 PM:Just speaking for me, "Academic news for yahoos" @10:23 AM. I will be glad to see these "activists" disguised as college professors heading out into the sunset. I will glad to know that their vision of a socialist America has been denied, at least.. for now. And that they will go into their yonder years knowing their work was for for not.
And that will please me greatly.
And as they move into our form of government run socialized medicine, they will get to know first hand what they had in store for the rest of us. Yes, they will experience an uncaring buearacrat, who will deny their medical treatment. I do not take great joy in their suffering, but it will be a fitting end to those who truly hate America, by taking some of their own well deserved medicine.
And speaking of medicine...
Once again the government run socialized medical system in Britian is cutting back.. yet again, on dental work. Yes, the Brit's aren't paying the dentists, and people are pulling their own teeth.

Alf wrote on Jul 3, 2008 12:35 PM:Well, "Surfer" at 12:10PM, having every aspect of my life put under a microscope and transmitted to the world just ain't what the doctor ordered. Ron Paul for President! Regards, Alf.

Concerned One wrote on Jul 3, 2008 12:35 PM:I remember the Western White House. It was at Cotton's Point. Great surf on the way to Trestles. We used to sneak through the Cotton's Estate until Nixon came, then Secret Service pretty much cut us off. Tricky Dick liked to watch the surfers. Ah, those were the days. Getting ready for a great holiday weekend. Maybe a few rights tomorrow early, then BBQ and PowWow. Hope everyone has a good and safe Independence Day (also my late mother's birthday). Chill All, regards, C-1.

To Ron wrote on Jul 3, 2008 12:37 PM:Somewhere along the line the Minutemen made a wrong turn and they have become a laughing stock. Sadly nobody takes them seriously any longer and they are just a big joke. I was a supporter and I attended some of there events but found the violent tendancies to be unnerving. I decided to step away and go through legal channels to try to get the Feds to step up to the plate and do their jobs. The Minutemen's activities and motives are questionable you have to admit that. When I saw the light I ran the other way. They are doing us a disservice by pretending to want to serve the American people. Most Americans are put off by them.

PURSUIT of HAPPINESS wrote on Jul 3, 2008 12:38 PM:- - Ain’t it wonderful. Money can buy happiness, as Ron points out at 5:35 am.
I appreciate the letter by Grant Kuhns today also, but the first thing I notice that he changed the phrase in the Declaration of Independence. Grant wrote about the individual’s right to “life, liberty and property.” I believe the correct phrase is “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
Money does not necessarily bring happiness. Money as happiness is far to narrow a definition. Let us permit each individual to pursue his own happiness in his/her own way, whether it be chastity or wealth or whatever.

Alf wrote on Jul 3, 2008 12:41 PM:Unlike "sdraoul" at 10:46AM, a very high percentage of Americans are NOT in favor of this quagmire in Iraq, they don't like the way GWB has been running this country, the way GWB gets our American Troops killed IN THE WRONG COUNTRY, the way GWB is running our economy into the ground and the way GWB is attempting, and is succeeding in some ways, to destroy our Constitution. Unlike "sdraoul" at 10:46AM, there are many people with common sense enough to know when to say ENOUGH! Regards, Alf.

SOLON wrote on Jul 3, 2008 12:44 PM:== Chuck had dreams last night about President Barack HUSSEIN Obama, and awoke very early pondering his dream. By 5:42 AM Chuck posted his first reminder to us readers of the noble name of Senator Obama.

Chuck never tires of reminding us that the Semitic name Barack translates as BLESSING, and the Semitic name of HUSSEIN translates as GOOD. This is a good and noble campaign which you wage, Chuck, because there are so many anti-Semitic people in our land.
May President Obama's blessing be upon you, Chuck.

Ms. BUSH wrote on Jul 3, 2008 12:52 PM:**** I’m not aware of anything particularly notable that Laura Bush has done while she has been in the White House except act like a wallflower at social events, lending only her vacuous presence to notable causes. (blog at 6:30am) Why don’t YOU tell us all about her great achievements.

Oh Bill wrote on Jul 3, 2008 12:52 PM:The ability to hop in the car and go for a drive is hardly an interesting or meaningful definition of "freedom". Do we really ever think about what the word even can mean? Do you think the founders fought and died for, in essence, the freedom to have lots of choices of brands to buy? Freedom means freedom from oppression, coertion, from being under others' thumbs. Is it our cars that make us free? Or do our cars oppress us? Bob Dylan asked "are birds free from the chains of the skyway?" And Thoreau said, "That is mine which none can steal from me." If you need your car and its gas, and the roads, then you cannot be free because your sense of freedom depends on all these things. It's like a junkie saying that when he has his fix, he's free to fly anywhere in the universe.

poor raoul wrote on Jul 3, 2008 12:57 PM:It must get exhausting to present "information" and be shot down again, and again, and again by more credible sources. To put something out that's claimed to have a special expert's view only to find out, again, that the expert was a criminal and a liar. To cite data only to learn that the data was wrong, or invented. Gotta give you credit, raoul, for persistance. You seem to not mind being shown up, no matter how often.

OBAMA MAMA wrote on Jul 3, 2008 1:02 PM:…. You got that right, Focal Point, about Ms. LAURA BUSH (7:44 AM). She would have made a better president than Dubya, who is even more vacuous than sweet little Laura. How did such a sweet li’l ol’ thing like her get hitched to this feisty little bantum rooster?

sdraoul wrote on Jul 3, 2008 1:07 PM:Poor Alf, many people like him, the negative types, said exactly the same things about President Lincoln who actually did suspend habeas corpus which Bush has not (for people in the USA).

Apparently, Alf wants a President who pays attention to polls not principle. Such as President Roosevelt who created concentration camps for U.S. citizens.

Personally, I don't give a tinkers darn whether or not a majority of Americans don't like the war because a majority did when it really counted in 2002. I don't give a tinker's darn that most people don't approve of the President because they did when they gave him a hsitory setting record vote in 2004.

Election day is the only day that counts in apoproving or disapproving a President.

The fact that Obama leads McCain by two percentage points in legitimate polls is an indication that he will lose in November for the simple reason that while Bush may be down in the polls, that won't affect Obama because he simply is an inferior candidate.

His loss and history will vindicate Bush.

Waiting for Daddy wrote on Jul 3, 2008 1:11 PM:Can ya just sense the hostility in this post from "Oh Obamacan" @11:56.
Just the seething rage of being done wrong in America. Poor baby, wasn't born to the right Daddy, so I'll invent one who'll do everything for me, the Cindy's Daddy does for her.
Isn't that about right?
Sitting at home, waiting on that government check, day after day. And when it gets there, you've already spent it. So now your waiting for the next one, and it can't come soon enough.

FOCUS on this POINT .. wrote on Jul 3, 2008 1:12 PM:... Focal Point has his razor sharp focus today. It is indeed highly amusing that Darrell Beck writes a letter today giving advice on jokes, humor and laughter. But I do find Beck’s buffoonery a blast.

Chuck wrote on Jul 3, 2008 1:13 PM:>>>>Just heard this morning that the Los Angeles Times is cutting 250 employees immediately>>>>
It happens in all businesses that produce total garbage. They are into the liberal America hate and are in the back pocket of the gay agenda

Ron wrote on Jul 3, 2008 1:14 PM:Oh Ye of little historical knowledge.. "PURSUIT of HAPPINESS" @
12:38 PM. Originally, the Founders wanted to say Life, Liberty, and Property. As in wealth.
But if you read what they wrote before, during, and after the convention, it's all there.
As I have said on many, mnay occassions, money is a tool. When you learn that, you won't need mine.

Susie wrote on Jul 3, 2008 1:17 PM:With tomorrow being the 4th of July I just have to say that I really don't think there is much to celebrate. Folks are loosing their jobs, foreclosures, the war, the stock market, and the terrible gas prices. I am so ashamed we have that man in office that calls himself our President. I want my country back.

perhaps raoul wrote on Jul 3, 2008 1:17 PM:I can think of one way that history will vindicate Bush. The analogy would be that if Germany had won WWII, history would have vindicated Hitler. I'm pretty sure that unless we really do eliminate the Constitution in favor of a kind of dictatorship (forced, of course, by national security interests), the approved historians will celebrate the rule of your guy Bush. I'm sure that regime will also find a position for you in the press corps. But if the constitution stays intact and academic freedom is permitted to persist, the things that scholars will find out about how the Bush presidency was conducted will be shocking to all true Americans. If you asked me to bet on my hunch against your hunch that Bush will be vindicated, I'd call that a winner for me.

esteban wrote on Jul 3, 2008 1:19 PM:Crews...at least Ms. McCain is proud of her country.

Oh raoul wrote on Jul 3, 2008 1:20 PM:Naturally the few polls that show McCain closest to Obama are, in your view, the only legitimate polls. Just like Doug Feith was the only legitimate reporter of the decision for war. Raoul, I'd swear that the word legitimate in your dictionary might mean "agrees with me". LOL

SOLON wrote on Jul 3, 2008 1:20 PM:== Bless you ==
… for saying "I never understood why people say 'I’m PROUD to be an American.'"

Pride is one of the Seven Deadly sins, and as the Bible says, "Pride goeth before a fall."

Pride has to do with accomplishment, not LUCK. We are all LUCKY to be born in the USA, but PRIDE comes with utilizing the opportunity which this great country affords us. But be not TOO proud and boastful, lest you fall.