Consistently inconsistent wrote on Jul 12, 2008 4:26 AM:I’d have to ask Jane Silva as to her point number one, what would be the difference between Obama taking money from lobbyists and his taking in $28,500 per person at those fundraisers he held last week? I suppose those regular folks like “us” aren’t looking for anything in return, right? Now he’s trying to tap into the Clinton Machine’s fundraising bundlers. Yes, that would be the same Clinton Machine he derided in the primaries as politics as usual. New way, indeed!
And to her point number two, why then, if Obama’s never supported the war (illegal occupation) in Iraq, has he voted to approve every single funding request GWB has made to continue said occupation? Plenty in Congress who truly oppose the war, and who didn’t vote to authorize it in the first place, haven’t voted for any funding requests.
But they’re not trying to have it both ways. Which is what Obama’s been trying to do on every issue, included FISA, since he secured the nomination. Maybe he thinks people won’t notice.
Change we can believe in for sure, but every other day is a bit much.

Yokozuna wrote on Jul 12, 2008 6:49 AM:Lise Thompsen's letter: Is it for real? At least the dog owners were cleaning up after their animals. That's more consideration than I get. Some - very few - of the pet walkers just leave it on the sidewalk or on my lawn. I guess the best fix would be to train the dogs to use the public rest room facilities, laugh, laugh. If Ms. Thompsen is that sensitive maybe she should forgo window seating. Is this a major issue for the presidential candidates? Would any of them have the guts to tell her to piss off?

McCain and women wrote on Jul 12, 2008 7:00 AM:So lemme get this straight. I saw it on MSNBC so I'm suspicious, and would appreciate it if anyone out there can verify just the facts of this matter. Carly Fiorina, who is a prominent Republican and might love to be picked as John McCain's running mate, said that it's not fair to women that insurance companies will pay for Viagra but not birth control. She said also that McCain agreed with her on that. In fact, McCain had voted against a bill that would've required insurance companies to do this, so his record is exactly opposite of what Fiorina said it was. And when asked personally about this, on camera, McCain said he didn't know anything about the issue (even though he was reminded of his vote) and looked like someone who, without a script or a rehearsed sound bite, is an utterly clueless person. Fiorina has also told the public that her guy, McCain, was pro-choice, when his voting record is as hostile to a woman's right to choose as anyone in Congress. Did MSNBC report these facts accurately?

Oh Bill continued wrote on Jul 12, 2008 7:08 AM:Bill celebrates that al qaeda is on the run in Iraq and Afghanistan. This might be true. But I always thought that al qaeda was a relatively small operation. Maybe a few thousand members, tops, world wide. So if they are seriously crippled, as I hope is true, their membership must be quite small by now. Yet when you read Bill's posts, you get the feeling that Bill thinks al qaeda must be enormous! According to Bill, all the fighting in Iraq is betwen Sunni al qaeda and Shiite al qaeda, and that almost every civilian killed in that country was killed by al qaeda. And even when the US has killed an Iraqi civilian, it only happens when that civilian is being used as a shield for, you guessed it, an al qaeda operative. I don't understand, Bill. Does al qaeda have an infinite supply of fighters? Or is "al qaeda" just your name to hang on people when it serves your ideological purposes? Are they Sunni? Shiite? I know that the Taliban is not really an Arab organization, but are they al qaeda too? Bill, you're makin' no sense here, guy. LOL

Ron wrote on Jul 12, 2008 7:56 AM:Still having to clean up after the liberals make a mess of things...

I want you to listen to what my dear lost friend "liberaljim" {Jul 11}
@8:14 PM said:
QUOTE: "All we need to do is have Medicare cover everyone in the U. S. ane we all save 17-27%." End Quote

He is right, we would save money, but here's how we would save money:

We would pay doctors 1/3 their normal fee. Like I said yesterday, and repeatedly, how many times have we read right here about a medical provider complaining that the Government was yet again, reducing their payments to them for the services they provided to MediCare patients? I know I have read at least 5 letters.
If you look at any socialized medical system around the world, reduced wages to medical providers, doctors, nurse, lab tech's, etc., all will see their wages go down. And this is why those same countries are experiencing a brain drain. It is not in the interest of those providing the service to be paid wages they don't see as attractive, for the amount of education required to practise.
In the liberaljim scheme of things, he is advocating using the heavy hand of the government to mandate wage reductions, so that the costs will be lowered. In many of these same countries, a faceless bueracrat will post a price list of all the medical procedures they will pay for, those they will not, and how much they will pay on behalf of the patient.
Less money in the system is directly equal to less treatment, because these same faceless bueracrats want to keep their jobs, and by a system of meeting a specific metric on costs, could mean the difference between you getting less healthcare, or him losing his job for not holding down costs. Now, who do you think is gonna win?
Not to mention, just look at what our Government has on it's plate right now?
Are they doing their very best managing our money in social Security & MediCare? No, they waste it. A news report came out the otherday, while they are paying doctors less, at the same time they are paying 2-3 times what you or I could buy a wheelchair, a sccoter, or other medical devices on the free market.
In my mind, they need to clean up their plate with SS & MediCare first, make those bueracracies work better before adding the rest of us to the roles.

Focal Point wrote on Jul 12, 2008 7:57 AM:Consistently inconsistent[-] wrote on Jul 12, 2008 4:26 AM: Kinda interesting. Why would he have to tap into Clintons fund raisers? It is she that has come to him for assistance with her $20 mil debt. Any elected representative regardless of political party who did not vote for the troops would soon find himself out of a job. You would complain about Obama's vote regardless of the actual vote cast.
Please, we both know that politicians do try and many times do have it both ways.

BOW WOW wrote on Jul 12, 2008 8:06 AM:We know what your dog did: LOL. Why don't you yell at the dog to just hold it?

Ron wrote on Jul 12, 2008 8:08 AM:Als, my buddy liberaljim seems to think everyone paying for socialized healthcare is the way to go. I guess, because he believes it will "spread the costs" along a larger population.
Yeah, that's the theory, jimmy...
but here's the reality.
Let's say your an employer who currently pays part of your healthcare for your employees. Well, we get this universal plan in place, and then what happens? The Government will not have enough money to fund their bueracracy. They will reach down into those employers who provide insurance to their own employees, and demand payment for the Universal plan. This will double burden the employer, and he will do one of two things. He'll either jettison his own plan, or.. he'll reduce the benefits of the existing plan going to a cheaper plan to offset what the State is taking out of his pocket.
These are the real world effects of this.
With 50% of most Americans being employed by small business, almost every small business employer will jettison their insurance plans, and will be forced to go into the government plan, the Monopoly plan. And as we know, all monopolies control the price, which means, we can expect the cost of the same healthcare cost us more in very short order.

Ron wrote on Jul 12, 2008 8:21 AM:But with all Leftists, this is what really drives them nutty.
QUOTE: "If you have private insurance 20-30% goes for profit and overhead." END Quote

Like all extremists, they just can't stand anyone to make a profit, especially if it's in healthcare.
But focus for a second on the second half of his statement, he says "overhead." Now, jimmy... overhead is normally thought of as the cost of maintaining where the business operates, and true, that's part of it. But the therside of that is why they have buildings, pay electric bills, water bills, etc. They employ people.
Yes, jimmy... people, regular Americans work for Big, Evil, Hateful Insurance companies.
You start cutting their profitablity and their overhead costs, and the employees of those companies will go out right alongside with em.
And then what will you do? Now, you have just added more people to the unemployment roles, and they do not have health insurance. Again, jimmy .. real world effects.
that's one thing I always find in these liberals, leftisits, utopians. They love theories, they love how things look on paper, but have absolutely no clue how their pet theories and ideologies actually work in the real world.
Let me leave you with this thought.
If the average American pays $12K a year for their health insurance, and the goal is to get that down and competive with all these other countries who spend around $3K a year.
What real world effect do you think that will have on the quality of healthcare provided to all?
If your answer is LESS, you are correct.
When you explain how paying less for a service gets you equal or better service, then I'll believe you.

Whats up with this wrote on Jul 12, 2008 8:34 AM:We invaded Iraq and accomplished our mission of undoing Saddam. And now have stayed 5 more years to help the Iraq government quell the violence that was thereby unleashed. So now this violence has decreased and the Iraqi government says we can start to leave. Help me with this next part. Bush wants the Iraqis to allow us to stay. Um, what in the name of God gives Bush the right to say to any nation, "We're going to be stationing our military on your soil."? What "rights" does Bush think the US has in Iraq? What happened to all that noble talk about "democracy" and "sovereignty" in the Middle East? I don't know about you, but I find this absolutely appalling. Imagine the leaders of Iraq and Iran talking about Bush/McCain and the US. They do talk, you know. They are allies. Has any President ever been better at making enemies for the US, at making the world a more dangerous place? McCain says: stay the course.

OBAMACAN wrote on Jul 12, 2008 8:40 AM:To: Consistently inconsistent at 4:26 a.m.
There is a big difference between taking money from individuals and from registered lobbyists. Yes, individuals do have viewpoints and interests, but they are personal needs and interests and represent the entire spectrum of interests on all possible issues, including domestic, foreign policy, military, terrorism, economics, social issues, etc., and can change as personal opinions are swayed. Lobbyists are representing organizational, not personal, interests, and are very rigidly and narrowly-focused. I sincerely doubt that you are really unable to tell the difference; obviously you are looking for some way to use the old Republican slime tactic of turning the opponent's strength into a liability. We're on to you.
Oh, and by the way, more than half of Obama's record fund raising came in donations of $100 or less, an unprecedented achievement both in number and scope, and shows that, truly, his loyalty is to the PEOPLE, not to special interests.

To: McCain and women at 7:00 a.m.
You ask if MSNBC reported the facts about McCain accurately. One huge difference between Faux News and MSNBC is that Faux News just makes stuff up, while MSNBC shows that actual videotape. I copied the videos both of McCain saying that his chief economic advisor, Dr. Phil Gramm, was the greatest economic mind in the U.S. today, and also the video of McCain looking completely stunned and speechless when confronted with his actual voting record AGAINST the Viagra/contraception parity that his spokeswoman Carly Fiorina was touting, and both videos are now on my iPhone.
If you question the accuracy of the report, you have to accuse MSNBC of doctoring fabricated footage.

Question for yahoos wrote on Jul 12, 2008 8:57 AM:I know all you yahoos watch a lot of FoxNews. Am I correct in thinking that Karl Rove is an analyst of some kind for that station? Has he been on since he refused Congress's subpoena? Has he been questioned on Fox News about how he justifies refusing to testify? Do the Fox News people agree that he should not have to report despite being subpoenaed? Where does Fox News stand on the law? Thanks in advance.

Chuck wrote on Jul 12, 2008 8:58 AM:The news is reporting that N.Korea pledges to fully disable nuclear plant by October. What a bunch of BS. The world should not let one morsel of food aid enter NKorea until it is totally disabled and verified, and that every shipment made to Iran and Syria is returned and destoyed

Chuck wrote on Jul 12, 2008 9:04 AM:>>to vote for Barack Obama for these two reasons: 1. He is the only candidate who has not taken any donations from lobbyists>>> Well whoop-dee-doo. He's taken over $200 million form George Soros and the filth at Move-On. And I suppose you think they dont want anything in return?

Chuck wrote on Jul 12, 2008 9:06 AM:>>>I really have to ask, whose idea was it to outlaw bicycles?>>>> It was pathetic government bureaucrats that are too stupid to realize tourism makes up most of the money they get to spend (ie waste)

jswift wrote on Jul 12, 2008 9:06 AM:If we could just agree that both Obama and McCain are champion flip-flopper politicians, we could reduce the length of this blog by more than half.

Both will continue to "pivot" to find favorable winds.

Chuck wrote on Jul 12, 2008 9:12 AM:>>>There needs to be a very lively conversation about our governor's proposal of a 10 percent across-the-board>>> Stop your whining. The state is in a recession which followed Ahulds spending spree, as he has signed everything his liberal chief or staff and everything the socialist legislature has thrown at him. In a recession, one needs to cut back. And at the same time, throw the terminator out of office-- he's worse than Grey Davis at being governor-- he's just not al totally corrupt as Davis was

Ron wrote on Jul 12, 2008 9:13 AM:And one more thing....
Yesterday Vista Granny said one day I will be sorry because one day I will have to go on MediCare and that will enlighten me.
Couple of things.

1) When MediCare came on line, what do you think happened in the free market within the insurance companies? That's right, they no longer wanted to cover older people, and why should they? They could not compete with a government monopoly who could raise costs & revenues at a whim. Neither could they run massive deficits like MediCare does, nor could they insure you would stay with only them as the insurer, like MediCare can.
One of the worst things to ever happen to the insurance industry was to take a whole sector of the population off the roles, and place them inside a government subsidized program. It created artificiality into the marketplace, distorted the insurance roles, that would have normally and naturally offset older insurees with younger insurees. Even MediCare operates this way, for your entire adult working life, they take money out of your paycheck to pay for those currently receiving medical care.
And liberaljim can talk all he likes about a supposed 3% admin. cost, but whne a bueracracy routinully pays 2 to 3 times the free market cost for medical goods, something is out of whack, my friend.

2) Capturing an entire sector of the population, more precisely the senior population inside a government run monopoly, and giving that monopoly huge political power, can only lead to cost over runs, as we currently see in MediCare. Even though they literally sc**w doctors who take MediCare patients on payments for service, this bueracracy run in red ink. The political power exerted by AARP and others will not allow less spending, or reform of this program, they will by sheer political power demand more money be taken out of the younger workers paychecks to give them the medical treatment they think they deserve.
I say, go to your kid's and tell them you need to see the doctor, and have them write the check directly.
I'm personally not responsible for your parents, you are. Same too with Social Security, tell your kids to offset your own retirement money with their money to make your rent.
Somehow, my liberal friends seem to think that asking your neighbor to pick up your responsibility is the compassionate thing to do. In my own mind, if he's already doing his job and caring for his own parents, why would you jeopardize his ability to care for them, by mandating he take care of yours?

Ms M wrote on Jul 12, 2008 9:16 AM:Chuck
[-] wrote on Jul 12, 2008 9:04 AM:>>to And I suppose you think they dont want anything in return? They do want something in return. They want to make sure that the cons do not run this country again for the next century - it's going to take that long to fix the mess we are in!

He Said to Obamacan wrote on Jul 12, 2008 9:20 AM:In all fairness, to Phil Gramm. I have a brother in law who is a brilliant inventor and scientist but I wouldn't dare invite him to a social gathering where he might speak to somebody. With regards to Carly F. - a brilliant woman who was CEO of Hewlett Packard but a victim of some power brokers who didn't like her (one billionaire yachtsman in particular). One other short note: I don't think you should believe that every member of congress reads every line of every bill before voting on it. It's the attached amendments that will generally decide the vote.

to He Said wrote on Jul 12, 2008 9:28 AM:I get the bit about congressmen not reading bills they vote on. But as a follow-up question, McCain was asked what his position was on the issue, regardless of that bill. He had no idea what the reporter was even talking about. Big disconnect between McCain and regular people. He's never been one, you know, except perhaps for his days in Nam.

Why Obama wrote on Jul 12, 2008 9:33 AM:First of all, the only reason people are making SO much of a big deal out of Obama's recent "flipflops" is so they take that charge against McCain away. The right wants so desperately to get people to STOP pointing out all the ways McCain has switched sides that every time Obama does it, or can be falsely portrayed as doing it, they jump on it, hoping to show that it's really both candidates that do this. It's a strategy that (1) knocks Obama off the pedestal some people had him on and (2) eliminates flipflopping as a deadly issue for their guy. I stand by my earlier statement that Obama backers should continue to say to McCain "bring it on" when it comes to changes of mind. Once you get past the "flipflop" label and actually look at the issues each has changed on, McCain looks godawful. Second, Obama has been perfectly clear and consistent on the war (Afghanistan/al qaeda: yes; Iraq: no) and on women's rights to choose. If he agreed with McCain on everything else, these would be two HUGE reasons to vote for Obama. And I will.

Real Percentage wrote on Jul 12, 2008 9:38 AM:Oh Bill continued[-] wrote on Jul 12, 2008 7:08 AM: Al Queda in Iraq was estimated to be as high as 15% and as low as 2% of the fighters. Bill wants us to believe that all the fighters domestic and foreign are Al Queda. Not true.

More bad news for yahoos wrote on Jul 12, 2008 9:44 AM:QUOTE TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. - A federal judge has overturned a decision by the U.S. Forest Service to allow oil and gas drilling near a forest and a river in Michigan's northern Lower Peninsula.
U.S. District Judge David Lawson of Detroit ruled Thursday the agency had acted "arbitrarily and capriciously" in 2005 by giving Savoy Energy LP of Traverse City a permit to drill an exploratory well near the Au Sable River's south branch. ENDQUOTE Once again, Bush is found to be in violation of the law. Naturally, yahoos will insist this was a "liberal" "activist" court. This is because yahoos want to live in a military-industrial dictatorship and despise the Constitution and the system of checks and balances it describes.

hardtack wrote on Jul 12, 2008 9:45 AM:Pursuant to A. Rose yesterday @ 5:02 PM: “What’s in a name?” – here is a thought exercise for those who are interested. Below, are 11 thoughts on EQUALITY, all by different known thinkers with online bios.

"You cannot claim both full equality and special dispensation."

"In The Federalist, James Madison called the rage for equality 'a wicked project.' People differ and rewards differ — that's the essence of both liberty and justice. No nation that rewards effort, talent, inventiveness and luck can even pretend to cherish equal outcomes. In an inventive and dynamic society, equal (even relatively equal) incomes can be achieved only by abandoning liberty for tyranny."

"Democracy and socialism have nothing in common but one word: equality. But notice the difference: while democracy seeks equality in liberty, socialism seeks equality in restraint and servitude."

"In the natural world, freedom is incompatible with equality . . . that is the worm in every socialist's apple. Equality does not exist in nature; it can only be established by force."

"Today the old-fashioned liberal pretension of equality is dead. Replacing it is naked power and the use of government to protect and expand the privileged status of the Democratic Party and its courtiers and constituents. Liberals have become reactionaries, behaving as kings did centuries ago by robbing their opponents to reward their vassals. Liberals now believe that the main purpose of government is to play favorites, to bring down their foes and give privileges to their friends."

"Private property, though the enemy of equality, is the ally of equity."

"If all men are created equal, that is final. If they are endowed with inalienable rights, that is final. If governments derive their just power from the consent of the governed, that is final. No advance, no progress can be made beyond these propositions. If anyone wishes to deny their truth and their soundness, the only direction in which he can proceed historically is not forward, but backward toward the time when there was no equality, no rights of the individual, no rule of the people. Those who wish to proceed in that direction cannot lay claim to progress. They are reactionary."

"The doctrine of natural law that inspired the eighteenth century declarations of the rights of man did not imply the obviously fallacious proposition that all men are biologically and intellectually equal. It proclaimed that all men are born equal in rights and that this equality cannot be abrogated by any man-made law, that it is inalienable or, more precisely, unprescribable. Only the deadly foes of individual liberty and self-determination, the champions of totalitarianism, interpreted the principle of equality before the law as derived from an alleged psychical and physiological equality of all men."

"Progressives always expect their principles to harmonize with each other, and then are surprised when it doesn't work out that way. In their zeal for sexual equality, they oppose sex discrimination and favor abortion on demand, only to find that some people abort babies upon discovering that they are female. Since this happens most often in cultures where being female is regarded as a sort of birth defect and the decision to abort is made by the father, yet another sacred progressive principle takes it on the chin: multiculturalism."

"Soviet communism is now history but people who talk equality and practice elitism, who wrap their own selfishness in the mantle of idealism, and who sacrifice others on the altar to their own vision without a moment's hesitation are not only still with us but have become the norm in politics."

“In the state of nature...all men are born equal, but they cannot continue in this equality. Society makes them lose it, and they recover it only by the protection of the law.”

If you found you could comfortably entertain each of the above thoughts independently, on its own merits, move to the head of the class. If, however, you were made uncomfortable by the anonymity – not knowing whether it came from “your” guy or “their” guy – then, according to Aristotle, you need to educate your mind.

Too much time here seems to be spent labeling authors rather than contemplating and discussing their ideas.

Oh Bill wrote on Jul 12, 2008 9:47 AM:Thanks for the percentages. I was under the impression that those figures referred to percentage of acts of violence attributable to al qaeda in Iraq, which would make the percentage of PEOPLE in that organization much, much smaller. But either way, the facts show how gullible or delusional Bill is in his portrayal of our war on terror. Thanks again.

Bring Us Back Home wrote on Jul 12, 2008 9:47 AM:More distortion on Israel's founding: Why is the USA an ally of Israel today? What American freedoms or territories or even interests are we protecting thru this one sided alliance. Our alliance with Israel should have been concluded with the fall of the Soviet Union and the withdrawal of their support to the Arab nations. I do not want American soldiers to be dying in the future due to some Judeo/Christian tradition just like I do not want them dying for Iraqi oil.

He Said to to He Said wrote on Jul 12, 2008 9:48 AM:Interesting. With you permission I'll change your meaning slightly as if I misread it: If he had no idea of what the reporter was talking about (Viagra), perhaps he's not to old to run for office after all :)

Focal Point wrote on Jul 12, 2008 9:50 AM:Whats up with this[-] wrote on Jul 12, 2008 8:34 AM: The US will not have any legal right to be in Irag after the UN Mandate ends in December. That is why Bush is trying to force (negotiate) a long term status of forces agreement down the Iraqis throat.

Yokozuna wrote on Jul 12, 2008 9:51 AM:Jswift: thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you. If any candidate does not do a little "fine tuning" of their positions it just probably because they don't think they will win anyway.

Ron wrote on Jul 12, 2008 10:02 AM:>>>"...people are making SO much of a big deal out of Obama's recent "flipflops"...">>>

For the past 2 years, the Obamaman has been telling us that wiretapping is illegal and unconstitutional, and then he votes for wiretapping?
Plus granting immunity to telecoms when he said he wouldn't, because they broke the law?
That's a bit more than a "flip-flop".

I tried to tell you, the lib's understand they need wiretapping too, and they also will need the help of the telecoms to do it.
The display, and that's what it is really, A Display... is to provide just enough slick marketing & packaging to look like they oppose it, when in all actuality, they want it just as bad.
I can not think of anything worse for them, politically speaking, than to not have a tapping program, and then have an attack happen on their watch.
It will prove Bush right, that this is a valid and needed tool, and they opposed it. And they can't have Bush being right, on anything. Even if he is.

She Said to Ron wrote on Jul 12, 2008 10:04 AM:I don't agree with a lot of the things the conservative He Said spouts, however, at least he is upfront (9:48 AM) about changing the meaning of what someone else says. Love, She Said

Stay in Iraq wrote on Jul 12, 2008 10:13 AM:Yes, the UN mandate expires in December. And the Iraqi government and 75% of the Iraqi people say that we should begin leaving. By all the reasons given to us over the years for our presence in Iraq, we should honor that request, period. Saddam is gone. A democratically elected government is in place. The Iraqi army is standing up for itself. If ANY of the reasons Bush gave us for our being there were true, we'd be packing up. But this is not what Bush wants, and it makes it obvious that this was NEVER what Bush wanted. He's been given the perfect circumstance to say "You're welcome" to Iraq and to leave with all missions accomplished, with victory. But now the truth is out. All the reasons, no matter how noble they sounded, were bunk. Now we know the mission: to establish Iraq as a military post and to get Iraqi oil into US oil company control. These and ONLY these, it is now obvious, were the reasons our children were sent to die. Not to rescue the Iraqi people. Not to establish and spread democracy. Not to protect our freedom. All lies our kids died for. Cindy Sheehan, think what you wish of her, nailed it long ago. Sad and immoral and criminal but true.

liberaljim wrote on Jul 12, 2008 10:20 AM:Ron, Ron, Ronnie my boy. I'll not spend more of my time responding to your private insurance excuses to explain why their skimming off up to 30% of the health dollars paid by Americans is good for the country. I'll simply tie it up very neatly with your own words. Ronnie wrote: "If the average American pays $12K a year for their health insurance and the goal is to get that down and competitive with all these countries who spend about $3K a year. What real world effect will that have on the quality of healthcare provided to all? If your answer is LESS you are correct." No, Ronnie, it's the Americans who get LESS and pay more. If you look at WHO statistics you will find that we pay lots more for far less. We are ranked 37th in the world in quality of our health care. Last year Blue Cross of California sent over a billion dollars in profits to their parent company, Well-Point in Ohio. Don't bother to make excuses for high health costs to me, explain it to the tens of thousands of working Californians who can't afford to pay $12K a year for insurance. You continue the bully tactic of implying that I am some kind of layabout on the public dole. I am a 68 year old man who was able to retire and live off my investments at the age of 59. I eat well, travel frequently and live 2 blocks from the ocean in my mortgage free home. I'm doing quite well, thank you, so I don't need your insurance company excuses and disasterous trickle down Reaganomics theories.

Ron wrote on Jul 12, 2008 10:30 AM:What a great post, hardtack @9:45 AM.
Nothing like getting to the heart of the matter. It is much appreciated.

sdraoul wrote on Jul 12, 2008 10:31 AM:Newseek embarrasses itself by publishign a correct presidential poll instead of their phony 15 point Obam's ahead-poll last month.

Now, it is a statistical tie of three points, within the margin of error.
Newsweek lied last month.

In the middle of July 1976, Jimmy Carter was ahead of Ford by 33 points and won by less than one percent. A swing of just 10,000 votes in Ohio would have banished Carter from the political scene as he was foure years later.

She Said to Stay in Irag wrote on Jul 12, 2008 10:33 AM:That's the curious thing. GWB said no time tables. But, now Irag wants time tables and no long term U.S. presence. Evidently they have more confidence in themselves than GWB does. If Iraq holds to their position our next president at least will not have that mess to deal with.

DD Wiz wrote on Jul 12, 2008 10:42 AM:The post from "hardtack" (9:45am) lists a series of quotes that he claims are "all by different known thinkers with online bios."
Of course, he doesn't think enough of them to include their names, or the sources so that they can be examined in context. Even when one of the quotes claims to cite Madison from the Federalist Paper, he doesn't cite the reference so that it could have easily been examined as to context and accuracy.
In any case, the point is one "hardtack" has made many times, citing a former Nazi and unrepentant monarchist (the antithesis of the founders who revolted against monarchy), Erik von Kuehnelt-Leddihn, whose seminal work was to try to paint equality and liberty as incompatible opposites.
As I have before, I repudiate such nonsense.
True liberty and equality of OPPORTUNITY (not outcomes) are not only NOT incompatible but mutually necessary. One cannot have liberty (freedom to make personal choices) if they do not have an equal opportunity to do so.
Here is the manner in which differing ideologies balance equality and liberty:
Socialism: Left wing extremism.
Government owns and micromanages productive resources.
Loves labor; despises investment and administration.
Seeks equality of OUTCOMES.
Sees equality and liberty as incompatible: Exalts equality; denounces liberty.
Conservatism / Monarchism / Feudalism (deregulation): Right wing extremism
Lassiez-faire economic deregulation. Micromanage personal morals but economic anarchy.
Loves investment and administrations; despises, abuses, dominates and oppresses labor.
Does not seek equality. Seeks two-tiered class system where elites dominate subservient class.
Sees equality and liberty as incompatible: Exalts liberty (in name only); denounces equality.
Liberalism: Balance between the extremes
Entrepreneurial private sector of free enterprise, with infinite business decisions made within a framework of regulatory protections to prevent harming others such as workers, consumers and the common infrastructure and environment shared withh others.
(Workers+Investors+Consumers = Win - win - win
Recognizes that investment/administration and labor must work together for the common benefit of both.
Seeks equality of OPPORTUNITY (level playing field)
Sees equality of OPPORTUNITY (not outcomes) as an inextricable component of Liberty.

Johnny Reb wrote on Jul 12, 2008 10:44 AM:I want to know when it became permissible for people to LET their dog defecate on public and private property.

It does not matter that they pick it up.

It makes me angry to see a dog doing the deed in my yard. The owners pick it up but what about the RESIDUE left behind.
I cannot walk bare-foot through my yard because of INCONSIDERATE people.

One woman told me that it was a free country and she let her dog could "go" in the grassy boardwalk of my yard any time she felt like it.

If you keep your dog walking, with short stops, it won't do its deed.

Not to mention, if a dog marks/urinates on my yard, then the coyotes come even more often to mark. The circle never ends.

Dog people need to be considerate.

It makes me wonder, the people that allow their dog to "go" where-ever they want, what their homes look like.

A pig-sty because they have no pride or a meticulous castle because they don't let their dogs defecate in their own place/yard of residence.

Before you bite my head off -- yes I have a dog and it NEVER "goes" in others' yards because I don't allow it.

She Said to liberaljim wrote on Jul 12, 2008 10:47 AM:Good post to Ronny. He has no clue and attempts to build his ego with his little business. He doesn't have any clue how nice it is to retire young, (I was thirty six, more years ago than I would like to mention), live from investments, and freeing up our time for charitable works, travel, etc. Don't get me wrong, he is not a lesser person because he doesn't have these things he has just created his own stereotypes based on peoples political convictions. Love, She Said

Raoul is right wrote on Jul 12, 2008 10:53 AM:McCain is one lucky dude. Given free pass after free pass by the absurdly-called "liberal" media. Never pushed on any tought questions. He just hangs out in the background, riding the bus, smiling, talking about the POW days. At the same time, every utterance of Obama's (or of anyone who knows Obama) gets endless loops. Ain't America grand? Maybe someday we will become a democracy, maybe some benificent world power will invade and occupy the US to bring democracy to us.

Ms M wrote on Jul 12, 2008 10:56 AM:Why Obama
[-] wrote on Jul 12, 2008 9:33 AM: ...is so they take that charge against McCain away...To read about McCain's 61 flip flops - go to ... I really think the cons have a serious problem. That's why that don't want a conversation on what McCain actually stands on - no one really knows for sure. (2nd posting)

Call waiting wrote on Jul 12, 2008 11:08 AM:>>>his loyalty is to the PEOPLE, not to special interests.<< Who do you think is more likely to get their phone call returned from a President Obama, those who ponied up $28,500 for a dinner or those who sent him $100?

JSwift wrote on Jul 12, 2008 11:08 AM:Just as always, most people will vote against one candidate rather than for another. It will always come down to “Who scares me the most?”

Both candidates are moving to the center – and neither candidate can move beyond their major constituency regardless of what is their hearts – it will still take the cooperation of Congress and the Supreme Court.

Chris Pulse is forever going to be unhappy, as are many on this and other blogs.

There is room for education of the population, but there is no mass movement in any direction.

Point/counterpoint makes for entertainment, not movement. No one will change their minds among the committed.

And, after reading this blog for months, some should be committed.

Playing politics wrote on Jul 12, 2008 11:16 AM:Obama’s opposition to the war in Iraq but continually voting to fund it would be like his opposing illegal wiretapping and telecom immunity but voting to approve it.
Oh wait, he did.

Show a litttle backbone wrote on Jul 12, 2008 11:27 AM:>>>Any elected representative regardless of political party who did not vote for the troops would soon find himself out of a job.<<
You mean like a Ron Paul or a Dennis Kusenich?

Real Surfer wrote on Jul 12, 2008 11:31 AM:Surfer, you're a kook, a total barney. I'll snake you whenever I see you at one of my breaks. Go back to Arizona.

Ms M wrote on Jul 12, 2008 11:32 AM:Ms M
[-] wrote on Jul 12, 2008 10:56 AM: - Since my referenced site was edited out - just do a search "McCain 61 Flip Flops" and you will find the list and just about anything you need or want to learn about our candidates. Hope this passes the editor's delete key!
[Editor's note: Please see our posted comment policy at nctimes.com/blogpolicy : "No email addresses or Web links to pages other than those on this site or to public governmental sites will be allowed."]

DD is right wrote on Jul 12, 2008 11:42 AM:DD's analysis and explanation of the left and right extremes and of the middle, best position that liberals hold is always welcome, even if it needs to be repeated. The right doesn't like to see themselves accuratel;y portrayed as extremists, and they work hard and long to portray the good middle as some form of extremism, which is a lie. This is why when Americans are presented issues in simple language without hot-button code words like "liberal", they tend almost always to choose the liberal position on the issues. The right utterly depends on tricking people into thinking that these issues hide a communist agenda, and they often succeed. It's important to realize that trickery is what they MUST rely on, because at the end of the day, their interests are certainly NOT in the best interests of ordinary Americans, and they know it.

Focal Point wrote on Jul 12, 2008 12:00 PM:Ms M[-] wrote on Jul 12, 2008 10:56 AM:
Lets post them five at a time space permitting?

Oh Please wrote on Jul 12, 2008 12:01 PM:sdraoul: Newsweek lied? Yes we know. The only two places that you can find the truth is in a sdraoul blog and the Holy Bible. LOL

ShawnP wrote on Jul 12, 2008 12:05 PM:To "Raoul is right" at 10:53 a.m. - We are not a democracy, we have never been a democracy, and I pray we NEVER become a democracy; we are a REPUBLIC, our form of government is a democracy. We've been becoming too much of a democracy, which is why we're only a small step away from being Socialist.

pianolady wrote on Jul 12, 2008 12:06 PM:Wow! So Ms.Thomsen is upset that people have the nerve to let their dogs "do their business" in front of the establishment where she is trying to enjoy her breakfast! She does thank them for at least scooping it up. Well, how big of you, Ms. Thomsen! And how rude of those doggies to purposely ruin your breakfast! Come ON!! Dogs will "go" where they will, and at least the owners are scooping it up. Just raise your eyes a little higher and look beyond the "offensive display", maybe have another cup of coffee, or perhaps a Mimosa, and enjoy your breakfast! Sheesh!!

To Chris Pulse wrote on Jul 12, 2008 12:11 PM:The American Israeli supporters are not ignorant.

You are ignorant and hateful.

Israel is the only rational country in the area. Israelites do not teach Jews or non-Jews of any age to strap bombs to their bodies.

Jews worked hard to make their land/soil yield food. They have desalinated water.

Israelis continue to work and invent in many areas including sciences, medicine and health, engineering and electronics, etc.

The other countries do not teach nor work hard to make their countries flourish. The Powerful want and have a poor, lower class, dumb population. The powerful and the poor spew hate and fear.

You spew hate and fear.

You are stuck in the Dark Ages, Crusades, Hitler Germany time frames.

Bob wrote on Jul 12, 2008 12:23 PM:Regarding Ms M's 10:56 AM post, I wasn't aware that McCain actually stood for anything. He just keeps babbling about being a POW, as though this was somehow relevant. Even this, according to Viet Nam Veterans Against John McCain, is largely fictional.

My Yard wrote on Jul 12, 2008 12:27 PM:I don't know the specifics about Johnny Reb at 10:44, but I know that I imported the dirt and amended top soil and sculpted the land. I designed and installed the sprinkler system. I seeded the lawn area. I mow and edge the lawn. When some joker buys my place, then and only then may they let their dog defecate and urinate on the lawn, until then I believe in returning the feces to the dog-owner in the most unpleasant way possible.

Original Intent wrote on Jul 12, 2008 1:10 PM:DD is Right is correct – the average American has larceny in their hearts and will vote money out of another man’s pocket, likety-split!

Democracy is the illusion that everyone can live at everyone else’s expense, forever.

If I can’t afford it on my own, I’ll bet John down the street can be forced to pay for it, and I’ll vote for the guy who will make him do it.

Who said “There ain’t no such thing as a free lunch?”

Chris to JSwift wrote on Jul 12, 2008 1:12 PM:Chris Pulse was just trying to point out the real history of Israel in order to counter all the myths we keep hearing over and over. That is all he is trying to do and all you can say is that Chris Pulse is forever going to be unhappy. What has Pulse's happyness got to do with history. Is that the best you can do. But you can't counter what Pulse says so you want to talk about his happyness. Absurd.

HusseinOffersChange wrote on Jul 12, 2008 1:15 PM:Sure, Hussein offers you change. That is all that will be left in your paycheck after you pay for gas and food, as he says screw you to drilling, screw you to commodity inflation, and much higher taxes on your employer. How has your pension or 401-K balance performed since the liberals their middle finger to drilling?

pianolady wrote on Jul 12, 2008 1:16 PM:To Johnny Reb...hahahaha, how do YOU stop your dog from "going" while you are taking him for a walk. Do you put a cork in his little rear end?

Vista Granny wrote on Jul 12, 2008 1:17 PM:As I pointed out, Ron, you have much to learn. First of all, way back when Medicare first started, there was very little health insurance for anyone!! But then, doctors made house calls and an office visit was $20. When I had heart surgery (as a young person) my employer, who was self insured, paid most of the $50,000 bill. Today, that same surgery would cost $200,000 or more. Is that my fault? My kids fault? The governments fault? No, it's just life -- and the insurance companies. You know, today I have no Dental Insurance, so I pay about $1200 if I need a crown -- Those with insurance pay 10 or 20 % of what the insurance company bills the dentist -- private insurance. My dentist gets maybe $600 from the insurance company -- which is less than it costs him and I pick up the loss when I pay cash!! Yes, Ron, you do have much to learn if you believe Medicare and Social Security are cause of all problems. Let's start with the insurance companies -- who by the way, at one time were the largest real estate owners in the U.S., closely followed by the Catholic Church. Don't know where they stand today, but I'm sure it's still way up there. Have a good afternoon.

Chris to to Chris Pulse wrote on Jul 12, 2008 1:18 PM:I guess that you don't need to strap explosives on your body when you have tanks, F-16s and helecopter gunships. Now are you able to refute anything Chris Pulse said or are you just going to blow smoke and make deragatory remarks?

Bernie wrote on Jul 12, 2008 1:26 PM:from LA (AFP) As 300 fires rage on, California to get foreign help. 1 hr ago.

Plan Ahead

Hope you all have defensible space, clean gutters, etc.

There is a lot you can do to protect you, your family, your critters, your community.

QUOTE: From Bob Roper, Ventura County Fire Chief.
" ... the reality is that in a major wildfire, there will simply not be enough fire engines or firefighters to defend every home. ... Successfully preparing for a wildfire requires you to take personal responsibility for protecting yourself, your family and your property. ... the most important person in protecting your life and property is not the firefighter, but you." END QUOTE.

JSwift wrote on Jul 12, 2008 1:57 PM:Chris, my reference was to your domestic policy and Iraqi comments, not to your Palestinian/Israeli more recent comments. But then, nothing will ever make you happy, anywhere, on any subject, so explanations are useless. Had you lived in Stalinist Russia, you would have been a Trotskyite. In Mao’s China, you would have been a Dengist. In, well, you get the picture. Perhaps.

Bernie wrote on Jul 12, 2008 2:01 PM:Bernie

from LA "As 300 fires rage on, California to get foreign help."

REDUCE YOUR WILDFIRE RISK. Plan Ahead.

[1] For TIPS, GOOGLE "ucce/county publication wildfire zone tip cards" or GOOGLE "ucce/county publication wildfire tip cards".
[County of SD pays for this website.]

[2] WILDFIRE PLANS, TIPS, TOOLS at the Ventura County Calif Fire government website or GOOGLE the words "meet your first weapon against wildfire". 12 pages that can help you save your life and home.

[3] GOOGLE "homeowners wildfire mitigation guide". It is an Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California web.

Stakeholders (homeowners) must be part of the solution. Stay and Defend or Go Very Early. During the year continue to maintain defensible space, clean out rain gutters, plant hygiene (destroy weeds and sick old plants).

Fire season is YEAR round and there are not enough firefighters, trained volunteers, equipment, nor money.

QUOTE From Bob Roper, Ventura County Fire Chief.
" ... the reality is that in a major wildfire, there will simply not be enough fire engines or firefighters to defend every home. ... Successfully preparing for a wildfire requires you to take personal responsibility for protecting yourself, your family and your property. ... the most important person in protecting your life and property is not the firefighter, but you." END QUOTE.

REDUCE YOUR WILDFIRE RISK. Plan Ahead.

to ShawnP wrote on Jul 12, 2008 2:14 PM:The context of the democracy comment was the election of a President, which is closer to a democratic process than the government in general. Still, I hope your post was read by Ron, who believes that because most Americans want offshore drilling, it should therefore happen. How "democracy" relates to "socialism", though, I have no idea. Maybe you can explain that one to us.

Candidate for change wrote on Jul 12, 2008 2:18 PM:Since John McCain has supported Bush's policies and desires nearly 100% and has made it clear he wants most of them to continue, a vote for Obama is a vote for a change from the Bush policies. I don't need Obama to be a new kind of politician. I just need the country to get out from under Bush's philosophy of leadership. I'd like there to be less of a chance of pre-emptive wars with colonial goals. I'd like women to maintain the right to choose. I'd like the wealthy to stop being carried on the backs of the shrinking middle class. Those would all be fine changes. Simple.

Chris to JSwift wrote on Jul 12, 2008 2:56 PM:Are you happy that your government has killed hundreds of thousands and most likely millions ,counting sanctions, of innocent people under your name. Are we just supposed to ignore that because we have it better than under Stalinist Russia. So we are just supposed to ignore what is going on because we need to be in a constant state of happyness.
Well maybe you don't have any concern for the death and misery we are creating around the would just as long as you are happy with the fact that it is not your house getting bombed or your family that has been murdered but there are some of us, very few, who are not so shallow. Concidering what the Iraqis and Palestinians have gone through I concider my happyness a small sacrafice for being concerned enough to speak out.

friend wrote on Jul 12, 2008 3:09 PM:Keep in mind folks, when property taxes go up so do the rents. A word to the wise!

Bernie wrote on Jul 12, 2008 3:26 PM:Reduce your urban fire & wildfire risk:

1. When fire sprinklers alone are installed in a residence, the chances of dying in a fire are reduced by 69%, when compared to a residence without sprinklers.

2. When smoke alarms alone are installed in a residence, a reduction in the death rate of 63% can be expected, when compared to a residence without smoke alarms.

3. When both smoke alarms and fire sprinklers are present in a home, the risk of dying in a fire is reduced by 82%, when compared to a residence without either.

Above is quoted from:

United States Fire Administration
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
16825 South Seton Avenue
Emmitsburg, MD 21727
March 28, 2008
USFA Position Paper – Residential Fire Sprinklers

Alf wrote on Jul 12, 2008 3:46 PM:Well, "pianolady" at 1:16PM, my feelings are that if someone does not have a place that belongs to them where their dog may relieve itself, they have no business having the dog. The discourteous, disgusting, disrespectful, arrogant, lazy, inconsiderate, obnoxious dog owners who do not clean up after their dog in public places or walk their dog to someone else's property to "do their business" can be compared to smokers litter instead of walk 10 feet to put their butts in an ashtray or litter instead of stubbing them out and putting them in a trash can or make sure that you are downwind of them or blow smoke directly in your face. I smoke and do not do any of the above (unless accosted by a rabid, in-your-face anti-smoker). Some people seem to think that my acre of land is for their dogs to play on, defecate on and dig on, I quickly make them understand that it is not and I do so in no uncertain terms. Regards, Alf.

No to McCain wrote on Jul 12, 2008 3:58 PM:It has been very difficult living through the Bush years. He has ignored the minority. Believe the majority is supposed to bend and give something to the minority. Seemingly other presidents realized that they needed to represent the nation, pull us together.

The votes are not a mandate of 70% to 30%. The votes Nov 2 2004 were very close. SD County only: 52.34%/46.23%. All USA: 50.7%/48.3%.

The 7 something years were probably difficult for most middle class folks no matter who they voted for.

Time for a change.

sdraoul wrote on Jul 12, 2008 4:13 PM:Yes, Obama is the candidate of change. He changes his positions every other day and has to call two news conferences in one day to explain that
no he really didn't change his position of getting out of Iraq in 16 months, two days and three hours. Yeag, right.

He's going to order the Joint Chiefs to get out of Iraq, even though that breaks the law. He must order the secretary of defense, not ana dvisory group to the Secretary. How funny!

Obama doesn't even know what "Parade Rest" is or what consists of the "Chain of Command."

Right face; your other right stupid.

Yes, Newsweek lied when they published a phony poll declaring Obama in front by 15 points last month. For non-believers, please name any three antionally known polls that had Obama in front by 15 points. Just name three.

Now word is that Obama is considering Chris Dood, whsoe senator father was a xrook and who has two sweetheart deals from Countrywide Mortgage because he was a friend of "Angleo."

Angelo, like Tom Tancredo, is a blight on our system with Angelo leading Countrywide mortgage into a Black Hole as Tancredo led his followers into a political Black Hole.

Try today's Rasmussen tracking poll -- dead even, tied.

Rasmussen had the most accurate polls in 2004.