Karl Two wrote on Jul 23, 2008 2:53 AM:My appologies to the Karl who was upset with my posts as "Karl" On July 21, at 6:17 PM, 6:21 PM, and 6:28 PM.
I do not have to post every day so I did not realize someone else was now using the handle "Karl". I will use "Karl Two"

Ron wrote on Jul 23, 2008 4:50 AM:Now see, this letter today gives me hope. How does Gary Myers put it?

"...I'm becoming concerned about his statements that he's moving more and more into the middle, along with John McCain."

Is he more concerned that he's moving to the center, or that John McCain beat him to the center? Huh?

Since the majority of all American's is center-right in political orientation, he's got a lot more moving to do.

Ron wrote on Jul 23, 2008 5:17 AM:"Don't be greedy and you won't be scammed", good advise by Jack DeLessio today.

"...if it sounds too good to be true, it is."

I'm gonna give you healthcare by taxing the Rich. -Barack Obama-

"Don't be greedy, and don't be stupid and you won't lose your money."

More good advise from Jack.

Ron wrote on Jul 23, 2008 5:30 AM:I look at it this way, Orv Hale.
We are told that driving is a privilege, and not a right. And since the State has decided to regulate driving for the safety of the general public, I see no validity to Bill Flores, or any other open-border advocates argument against driver checkpoints. The courts have already ruled on this, and frankly, it just makes good sense.
Given the statistics about uninsured motorists, I believe this is a great idea to remove illegal drivers from the road. Afterall, if simply mandating car insurance actually worked, then I would no longer need to purchase uninsured motorist coverage, now would I?

Ron wrote on Jul 23, 2008 5:47 AM:So, I'm sitting in my home office, making phone calls, answering some emails, reading the newspapers, and of course, I got CSPAN on, which is my daily routine.

Up pops this Senate hearing, chaired by my own Senator Barbara "Bouncer" Boxer, and this guy named Jason Burnett.

Of course, my interest peaked, I turn up the volume to listen.
Pretty apparent, this former low tier EPA official knows a heck of lot of generalities, but relatively few specifics. But I marvel as I watch these Hyena's from the Left use this honorable whistleblower for their own purposes, and then toss the guy like yesterdays garbage. Afterall, who'd want a whistleblower in their own office? Certainly not Barack Obama, who a whistleblower also exposed that while the Senator speaks openly of "equal-pay-for-equal-work", it don't quite work out that way in the good Senator's office. In fact, he pays his female staff some $6,000 less than their male counterpart, but I digress...

So I do some reading, as I'm apt to do about this guy, who he is, what he's done, who he's affiliated with.
And low & behold! He resigned to support Obama! Now Burnett is using his checkbook to do his talking. After quitting the administration last month, he donated $3,600 to Democrat Barack Obama’s presidential campaign. That came on top of a $1,000 contribution he made to Obama before joining the EPA.

And he's supposedly a trained economist?
Working at the EPA?
Heck, all this time I thought the Bush Administration was only hiring Robertson law graduates.

Chuck wrote on Jul 23, 2008 6:20 AM:I'm wondering when Al Goreleone and his band of racketeers are going to sue the the sea-floor of the Gulf Of Mexico. Shell reports that there is so much oil (that Hussein wont go after) that it is seeping into the Gulf waters in record amounts. Also, why is it the liberals are telling us that we are running out of oil, when estimates of the worlds oil reserves climb higher and higher each year despite what is mined??? Maybe Goreleone can sue te organic materials in the worlds waterways to stop them from turning into oil?

Chuck wrote on Jul 23, 2008 6:22 AM:>>>What a great (and oh so true) cartoon in the July 11 Letters section of the North County Times ��“- the "single digit.">>>> The single digit is what Hussein is waving at the American people when they say they want to drill for oil so they afford gas, keep their jobs and cool the exploding commodity inflation

Chuck wrote on Jul 23, 2008 6:24 AM:Now Hussein Barackback Mountain is telling us what his favorite movies are. Gee, at leat we know where his campaign funding is coming from, despite him saying he wont take "special interest" money

Chuck wrote on Jul 23, 2008 6:34 AM:>>>Bush claims privilege to withhold CIA leak records," July 17:>> First of all, who cares about the Valerie Plame case. She hadn't been covert for years, and was better known for making great coffee for the CIA staff in the office. Second, Dick Armitage clearly admitted he was the source of the leak, and then follwed it up that he heard all about her CIA escaped from Valerie Plame herself, while she was bragging in a Washington DC bar. This is a nothing story. Even Bob Novak said he was surprised it was suck as issue, since he had heard all about her in the Washington bar circuit.

Ron wrote on Jul 23, 2008 6:34 AM:I'm sittin here chuckling about Joe Martin's letter today. His remarks about McCain are a disguised attempt, by many Liberal Democrats to say McCain is "too old." In fact, yesterday, we had a whole slew of people who repeated that same statement.
I would remind my dear friends, that is was THEY who first sought, and passed "age-discrimination" policies, and I find it just a bit hard to recouncil how they match those two thoughts? But, it's an election, I understand, you'll say what you need to, and do what you need to, because the reality is, when the policy don't work for you, chuck it.

Anyways...
Short story. My Dad to this day will not touch a computer, he just won't. I think when the Navy decided to deploy computers, he decided to retire.
On the other hand, my Mother likes them, and has taught herself to use one. Now she enjoys emails from her friends, and has adopted this new technology into her lifestyle. One point about my Mother. You know, how you get those emails that are passed around, based on a rumor? Well, she's fallen victim to one of them, and try as I might, she ain't budging. She wholly believes Barack Obama is a muslim. I can not talk her out of it, she got the email from one of her trusted friends, and that pretty much settles it, for her.
Both parent's, life-long Democrats, dyed-in-the-wool types.
Since she also has my Dad's ear, they are both voting for McCain. They wanted Hillary, but that ain't gonna happen.

Chuck wrote on Jul 23, 2008 6:37 AM:>>>>Criticism of Gen. Wesley Clark uncalled for>>>>> Why? Is he someone special or something? He gum-flapped his liberal spew by criticizing McCains service, so did he think he wasnt going to get a bit of scrutiny himself????

ExperienceHusseinsChange wrote on Jul 23, 2008 6:52 AM:Hussein offers you change, and you all genuflect to his very name as waves his staff to walk on water.
The change he offers is the change that you will be all thats left in your paycheck. You can change your medical benefits to universal care and wait 6 months for a heart operation, as it wil be run by the same bureaucrats who bankrupted Social Security. Change is all that will be left in your pockets when you pay for his $8/gal gas, and $6 for a box of Corn Flakes and Wheaties. By all means, go vote for someone you know nothing about, and then ask yourself, "Where did my job go". "Where is my pesnion and health benefits" LOL, suckers

Answer for Chuck wrote on Jul 23, 2008 6:54 AM:Who cares about the Plame case? Well apparently your President cares one heck of a lot! If, as you say, there was nothing to know and what there is to know is already known, why in the world would your dear W and his compadres be so adamant about refusing to provide documents, evidence, testimony? Oh, wait, don't tell me: it's the principle. He wants to assert his need to block the processes of checks and balances whenever and wherever possible. I hope the yahoos are just as smug about this practice when President Obama does the same thing.

Chuck wrote on Jul 23, 2008 7:02 AM:>>>To the point, according to San Diego Public Road Standards, "Bikeways shall have the same structural section as the roadway">>> As you claim your constitutional rights to equal use of the roads, normal people ask bikers to wear a helmet, wear clothing that is clearly visible during the dawn and dusk hours, and keep to the right. We also beg you not to wear lycra if your butt doesn't fit into it.
The same goes for kayakers and paddlboarders, who insist on dark blue kayaks, and rowing in 4 foot surge in the exit channels where they are virtually invisible. It's fine to ride a bike, a kayak and a paddleboard, I do it myself. But I make sure I'm totally visible

Chuck wrote on Jul 23, 2008 7:04 AM:>>>why in the world would your dear W and his compadres be so adamant about refusing to provide documents, evidence, testimony? >>> Its called separation of powers. Why should Bush volunteer anything to a congress who does nothing but screw his administration over daily

Question for Chuck wrote on Jul 23, 2008 7:56 AM:If Congress is such a foe of your guy W, why don't you look up how many times Bush has used the veto. It won't take long. You'll only need about one hand to count them. By that evidence I'd say Bush was rather pleased with his minions across the mall. (Oh, and Chuck, responding to a subpoena is not "voluntary" in the rest of America)

Focal Point wrote on Jul 23, 2008 7:57 AM:Chuck[-] wrote on Jul 23, 2008 6:22 AM: Obama is not President. GWB is President.

Focal Point wrote on Jul 23, 2008 8:00 AM:Chuck[-] wrote on Jul 23, 2008 6:37 AM:More lies from Chuckie. Clark praised the service and personal sacrifice of John McCain. He questioned his command experience to be President of the United Sates. The quote has already been produced on this blog.

Nate wrote on Jul 23, 2008 8:01 AM:To John,

Where can we find out more on the prop A?

TOO OLD wrote on Jul 23, 2008 8:03 AM:ExperienceHusseinsChange: I prefer to vote for Obama as Johnny boy is too darned old.

But Too Old wrote on Jul 23, 2008 8:10 AM:Did I hear that McCain has Henry Kissinger on board as an advisor? Could that be true? There's that great McCain judgment again. If you're into quagmires, who better to get advice from than war-monger Kissinger? After such success advising Nixon and W, McCain just couldn't resist I guess. LOL Can McCain do ANYTHING well?

TOO OLD wrote on Jul 23, 2008 8:39 AM:Sunni Awakening: Oh John. Contact with the Air Force officer came a full two months before the surge. The Sunni had already decided to get rid of Al Queda before the surge not after the beginning of the surge. You are too old. When is the media going to call John on his goofs instead of deferring to his age?

to Too Old wrote on Jul 23, 2008 8:55 AM:For that matter, when is the media going to write about the surge in more complicated and truthfull ways than the slogans it currently gives us? If McCain is deciding to rest his entire campaign on "the surge worked", the media is obligated to help us all look at the exact history of what happened, when it happened, what else happened. Sunnis, as you say, were hammering al qaeda in mesopotamia (and while they're at it, how about the MSM really tell us what this group has to do with the al qaeda that attacked us, other than adopt its name). Militias had declared a cease fire on their own. We started paying tens of thousands of Iraqis to be nice. Mixed Sunni/Shiite neighborhoods in Baghdad had become almost nonexistent. And, yes indeed, putting US patrols on every streetcorner 24/7 helped as well. And finally, after MANY months of this, the Iraqi government began making progress. And now they want us out, as is their prerogative as a sovereign state. We have no rights in Iraq, you might recall. Even Bush insisted on this. "We'll leave when they ask us to", "We'll stand down when they stand up". OK, so let the pullout begin now. Let the wish for permanent bases be given up. Let the Iraqis have their country and the rebuilding job, it's their call. They owe us nothing...after all, we invaded without justification. Hundreds of thousands of them are dead. Twenty percent of their population is in exile. A huge proportion of the national cultural treasures and archeological sites have been destroyed forever. I'd say we've done quite enough for them, thanks.

Ron wrote on Jul 23, 2008 8:55 AM:The "Criticism of Gen. Wesley Clark was uncalled for...?"
I am shocked!!!!

You mean, we can't bring to attention the fact that Gen. Wesley Clark, who oversaw the Chinese Embassy bombing in Belgrade is not a fair criticism? Because he used 4 year old maps to plan the bombing? And, That's totally unjustified? I don't think so...

Or can we criticise the good General for his OK'ing the use of depleated uranium {called by the Left, the ultimate "dirty bomb"}, cluster bombs, or other known and supposedly "illegal" weaponry?
Are these not justifible criticisms?
Of the good General, Herb Fromm?

No one I know, doubt's for one second, that Wesley Clark was heroic in Vietnam. He showed us what a real combat officer did, unlike John Kerry, who used his "wounding" as an excuse to escape. Clark was like many soldiers in Vietnam, they took the Purple Heart, and went back to their units. Can't say that for Kerry.
But people change Herb. Look at Duke Cunningham. From hero to zero.
Just because Clark was never tried, don't mean he didn't commit the crime. Now, does it?

Of course, me. I don't believe any of this nonsense. You use whatever it is that you need to use, to win.
But, that would be a Leftie's argument against any other General, I just thought I'd let them see how the shoe fits. Or not.

Chuck wrote on Jul 23, 2008 9:00 AM:>>>to get rid of Al Queda before the surge not after the beginning of the surge. You are too old.>>> Too old? How about on Memorial Day, when Obama said Memorial day was to honor the very troops that were here and all around the world today. He's so stupid and loathful of the military, he doesn't even know the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day

jay wrote on Jul 23, 2008 9:10 AM:CLARIFICATION: Bikeways shall have the same "structural section" as the roadway. This means it shall have the same "thickness and strength" as the rest of the roadway. This is so it doesn't break down from inadvertent excursions by heavy vehicles, or when being used as a regular lane during pavement repairs.

Now Ron wrote on Jul 23, 2008 9:14 AM:McBush says he will balance the budget while fighting on two fronts, Iraq ans Afghanistan, as well as some other "campaign promises" material. It makes me want to flush the toilet to get rid of the stuff that McBush says.

hardtack wrote on Jul 23, 2008 9:21 AM:When Gary Myers reaches my age he will realize that politicians will say anything and do anything to get elected and stay in office. If that sounds cynical, it is. If you are not cynical about politics these days you have your head buried in the sand – or someplace else where the sun never shines.

hardtack wrote on Jul 23, 2008 9:24 AM:At Joe Martin’s age, he should be wise enough to not sweat small stuff like an executive’s computer literacy. I never met a commanding officer, CEO or chief engineer who could, or wanted to, type. It would be my prayer that both McCain and Obama are reading the Constitution and some good textbooks on economics, rather than spending valuable time at a keyboard.

T. Boon is Right wrote on Jul 23, 2008 9:25 AM:From the LIBERAL Huffington Post:

"Wolf Blitzer interviewed T. Boone Pickens about his sudden push for alternative energy today on The Situation Room. The oilman-turned-renewables-pitchman has been the subject of much buzz in the greeen blogosphere, even earning several mentions and high praise from Sierra Club Executive Director Carl Pope.

Today on TV, though, Pickens sounded a lot more like the oilman, when Blitzer asked him about Senator John McCain's support for offshore drilling. Pickens said he was more aggressive than McCain: "McCain says, OK, off the east and west coasts, I say, east, west coasts and ANWR, get it all."

Yes, we need it ALL.

T. Boon is right, and DD and Greenenergy are WRONG!

hardtack wrote on Jul 23, 2008 9:27 AM:Bryan Mace has a good idea if viable from a national security point of view. At least someone on this page is thinking outside the box.

The Washington Post is Right wrote on Jul 23, 2008 9:53 AM:about Obama, when it says Obama is wrong. Here is a excerpt, ut google it and read it for yourself.

..."So it seems worthwhile to point out that, by Mr. Obama's own account, neither U.S. commanders nor Iraq's principal political leaders actually support his strategy.
Gen. David H. Petraeus, the architect of the dramatic turnaround in U.S. fortunes, "does not want a timetable," Mr. Obama reported with welcome candor during a news conference yesterday. In an interview with ABC, he explained that "there are deep concerns about . . . a timetable that doesn't take into account what [American commanders] anticipate might be some sort of change in conditions."
…
Arguably, Mr. Obama has given himself the flexibility to adopt either course. Yesterday he denied being "so rigid and stubborn that I ignore anything that happens during the course of the 16 months," though this would be more reassuring if Mr. Obama were not rigidly and stubbornly maintaining his opposition to the successful "surge" of the past 16 months. He also pointed out that he had "deliberately avoided providing a particular number" for the residual force of Americans he says would be left behind.
Yet Mr. Obama's account of his strategic vision remains eccentric. He insists that Afghanistan is "the central front" for the United States, along with the border areas of Pakistan. But there are no known al-Qaeda bases in Afghanistan, and any additional U.S. forces sent there would not be able to operate in the Pakistani territories where Osama bin Laden is headquartered. While the United States has an interest in preventing the resurgence of the Afghan Taliban, the country's strategic importance pales beside that of Iraq, which lies at the geopolitical center of the Middle East and contains some of the world's largest oil reserves. If Mr. Obama's antiwar stance has blinded him to those realities, that could prove far more debilitating to him as president than any particular timetable. "

DD Wiz wrote on Jul 23, 2008 9:57 AM:The published letter from Jack DeLessio and the posted response from "Ron" (5:17am) are not wrong as far as they go, but they do show incredible insensitivity for the victims of crime. It is true that there are often things people can do to make themselves safer and reduce the risks of becoming victims of crime, but even if someone leaves a pile of $20 dollar bills on the passenger seat and the car doors unlocked, it is still wrong to steal and the guilty party is the thief, not the victim.
Sure, let's promote consumer education and safety instruction, but the emphasis should be on the criminal, not the victim.

And the published letter from Cliff Roche only needs "one word" (ENRON) to respond to the claim that the private sector is always better. Here's another: "DILBERT." There is a reason that this cartoon, lampooning the inefficiencies and stupidity of greedy corporate managers resonates so strongly with anyone who has ever had to deal with upper corporate management.

TOO OLD wrote on Jul 23, 2008 9:57 AM:to Too Old[-] wrote on Jul 23, 2008 8:55 AM Thank you for your excellent summation of the Iraqi situation. McCain is too old.

Say What wrote on Jul 23, 2008 10:43 AM:The Washington Post is Right The known Al Queda bases are in the bordrer area of Afghanistan and Pakistan. How do you think 200 fighters attacked an American camp the other day killing 9 of our soldeers! This piece shows that in the opinion of the Washington Post we should be more concerned with oil reserved Iraq in the Middle East. That has been it from the git go. We were not after Sadam or Al Queda. We are after oil.

gracchus wrote on Jul 23, 2008 10:43 AM:i watched wesley clarks's interiew on FACE THE NATION with bob schieffer. in no way was clark disrespectful toward john mccain. he expressed his respect for maccain's military service. he observed that being afighter pilot and a pow does not indicate a capacity to serve as president. and clark is right. military service can be a helpful experience, but it does not prove that a president whos has it will be succesful. most of the presidents in the last quarter of the 19th century were civil war veterans, but they presided over an era of political and fiancial corruption. two of our greatest presidents, lincoln and fdr never wore the uniform, although they had other experiences and qualifications thatmade them successful presidents.

Chuck wrote on Jul 23, 2008 10:43 AM:The news is reporting that a newsman allegedly hacked anchor's email, and may face jail time because of it.
Lets see, liberals went to China, and the Chinese hacked all of their computers, and God only knows what they've hacked their way into at Los Alamos, with all the liberals working there. Yet none of them are in the orange jumpsuits and without jobs or pensions. See, when you are in industry, you are held accountable for your actions, that doesnt seem to be the case in government, unless you are a Republican

to Washington Post wrote on Jul 23, 2008 10:47 AM:In other words, without any national discussion, the US has decided to more or less forget Bin Laden and 911 and make a major shift in our foreign policy. This shift is simply to become an imperialist power in the Iran/Iraq region in order to control the oil and protect Israel. We will start WWIII preemptively, since there is little opposition. We will "live with" increased terrorist attacks as we give the Muslim world ever more reasons to believe we are out to kill or control them (which we are, apparently). In exchange, our kids will be sent to die so that Exxon,etc. get the oil to sell to grateful, piggish Americans and to the skyrocketing markets in China and India. Gee, I wish we'd talk about this first...or am I being naive?

Chuck wrote on Jul 23, 2008 10:49 AM:>>And the published letter from Cliff Roche only needs "one word" (ENRON) to respond to the claim that the private sector is always better>>>>
I am still of the belief, that if the government just arrested the criminals at Enron, and didnt let the government bureaucrats take it over and run it into the ground, as attorneys and judges do at will, its possible Enron could have ben salvaged. Instead many are out of jobs and pensions because their money went to receivers, lawyers and bean counters.
And I'm even more sure that WorldCom could have been salvaged had the government stayed away.

TOO OLD wrote on Jul 23, 2008 10:49 AM:"
A string of erroneous word choices is helping opponents make his 71 years a matter of age, not experience.
Photo: AP

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said “Iraq” on Monday when he apparently meant “Afghanistan”, adding to a string of mixed-up word choices that is giving ammunition to the opposition.

Just in the past three weeks, McCain has also mistaken "Somalia" for "Sudan," and even football’s Green Bay Packers for the Pittsburgh Steelers."
John you are too darned old.

OBAMACAN wrote on Jul 23, 2008 10:52 AM:Submitted 9:34 a.m. - Resubmitted 10:52 a.m.

What an interesting assortment of comments on the presidential election in this morning's paper!
Gary Myers expresses understandable concern about Obama's perceived "move to the center" but I do not see any substantial changes at all. As his audience changes from the primary election voters (all Democrats) to general election voters (everyone), the scope of what he emphasizes and how he explains things changes to meet that audience. If I am a math professor and I'm teaching a class for advanced engineering students, what I teach to this specialized audience will differ tremendously than if I am teaching an introductory or remedial math class. But the math is still the same.
Joe Martin makes an interesting observation - do we really want another President too stupid to figure out how to get on the Internet by himself? Hello! HOW HARD IS IT? Everyone here, by definition, can at least get onto the Internet. I recently read about a lady who died at an age over a hundred and was running a blog right up to the time of her death; she first got online while in her 90s. It isn't that McCain is "too old" - he's totally unqualified!
And then there is Bob Ference, who with as much sensitivity to the suffering of real Americans as Phil Gramm (the architect of deregulating both the mortgage industry AND oil speculators) and whose circle of cronies is doing just fine, thank you, doesn't grasp the need for "change." Yes, this country is the greatest nation on earth. But for the last 7+ years, the Bush/Cheney cabal has been dismantling our freedoms, ruining our economy, hurting real-life working people and consumers and reversing all the things that made us the greatest. We need a change to put us back on the path of what made us so great!

Ms M wrote on Jul 23, 2008 10:52 AM:Chuck
[-] wrote on Jul 23, 2008 10:43 AM:..you are held accountable for your actions, that doesnt seem to be the case in government, unless you are a Republican...Chuck thank you for the humor. Please tell me when the cons have been held accountable for ALL the things that they have done starting with the debacle called Iraq. You are just too funny!

Chuck wrote on Jul 23, 2008 10:53 AM:>>>military service can be a helpful experience, but it does not prove that a president whos has it will be succesful.>>> Well, Dear Wesley thought that Ketchup Boy John Kerry would have been the perfect president because of his service, and that Clinton was Gods gift to the Presidency because he loathed the Services.

Ms M wrote on Jul 23, 2008 11:04 AM:The Surge: Hopefully now that McCain and the cons are screaming the "surge has worked" the media will do their job and put to rest the idea that it worked. The whole purpose of the surge and the results need to be looked into. We have paid the Iraqi's not to fight and they had turned against Al Queda then Sadr called a truce so we really do need to know what exactly did the "surge" bring us. Our troops did the job they were sent to do - but there is more to it.

liberaljim wrote on Jul 23, 2008 11:09 AM:It's 11:00 a.m. and there are a total of 38 posts and 16 are from Ron and Chuck. In other words, we have yet another NCTimes Tweedlede and Tweedledumb page. Editor, please give them their own page. We all know their litany by heart now. The adults would like to exchange ideas without sifting through their childish "me me me" blather.

Accountable actions wrote on Jul 23, 2008 11:09 AM:Let's ask Scooter Libby about accountability. Let's ask Karl Rove and Dick Cheney and Harriet Meiers and all the rest who refuse to respond to subpoenas issued by courts or Congress. Or lets just read Chuck's posts for twenty daily examples of conservatives whining about everything they don't like being the fault of liberals. Man, I must say it's attractive, the life of a conservative: blame everything on liberals and, if you ever get busted, just refuse to go to court. Nice life!

Greenergy wrote on Jul 23, 2008 11:11 AM:Submitted 10:28 a.m. - Resubmitted 11:11 a.m.
Editor: Why are some blogs skipped, delayed and then processed much later, out of sequence?
Really, is it too much to ask that entries be posted in the order received?
There is nothing wrong with this blog. It comments favorably on two letters from this morning's paper - exactly what this page is supposed to be about!

Leon Smith's letter makes the excellent point that, no matter what alternative energy sources are used, big corporations will do whatever they can to try to corner it and manipulate centrally-controlled markets, just as we see with the proposed Sunrise Powerlink which would have solar energy produced at distant energy farms and shipped long distances through fire-causing transmission lines instead of putting on-site solar on local rooftops that now sit empty.
And yes, as Robert deGoerges letter points out, eventually OPEC will take over all our transportation if we continue our self-destructive addiction to their oil monopoly. And no, Bryan Mace, more drilling is the problem, not the solution. When we are no longer dependent on their power, they will no longer be able to dominate our economy.

Not at war wrote on Jul 23, 2008 11:19 AM:As long as the American people accept the proposition that we are at war, we will be at the mercy of an imperial president. A terrorist attack is NOT cause for war. It's cause for concentrated internationally cooperative police action. SAYING it's cause for war is a politician's way to trick gullible, frightened Americans into giving him more power than the Constitution does. I say: let's stop voluntarily giving up our form of government. Reject the idea that we are at war in every way that it's put to us. Using some troops to participate with NATO in peacekeeping here or there is not war. The occupation of Iraq is not war. We are not at war. The war is over.

Focal Point wrote on Jul 23, 2008 11:57 AM:Ron[-] wrote on Jul 23, 2008 8:55 AM:
Nothing is certain in war. Kosovo or in Iraq. Are you going to try the generals in charge for the death of 70.000 Iraqi civilians? Rather doubt it.

Those In Favor of Offshore Drilling wrote on Jul 23, 2008 12:02 PM:Why would we agree to offshore drilling when WE ALREADY KNOW WE WILL NOT BENEFIT FROM THE OIL RETRIEVED? It will be sold on the World Market for the best price, not saved for the Americans. There is nothing in place that would make it so, thanks to George Bush Sr. and there is no talk about changing the status quo. You waste our time thinking we don't know this.

Well then John wrote on Jul 23, 2008 12:46 PM:From the AP QUOTE WILKES-BARRE, Pa. - Republican John McCain on Wednesday credited the recent $10-a-barrel drop in the price of oil to President Bush's lifting of a presidential ban on offshore drilling, an action he has been advocating in his presidential campaign. ENDQUOTE So why the heck did Bush wait so long to do this bold thing? Probably wasn't given the ok by the oil companies is my guess.

Ms M wrote on Jul 23, 2008 12:48 PM:The Washington Post is Right
[-] wrote on Jul 23, 2008 9:53 AM:about Obama, when it says Obama is wrong. Here is a excerpt, ut google it and read it for yourself. ..."So it seems worthwhile to point out that, by Mr. Obama's own account, neither U.S. commanders nor Iraq's principal political leaders actually support his strategy.

I followed your advise and in googling I found the following:

Washington Post Editorial Falsely Claims Iraqi Political Leaders Don't Support Obama's Withdrawal Plan....

Do a google and read the rest of the article. Once again the cons are desperately pathetic. Trying to spin things to make Obama look bad. You cons have to realize IT'S ALL OVER! Stop the madness. Give it up - it's getting embarrassing.

Ms M wrote on Jul 23, 2008 12:51 PM:I wonder why McCain cancelled his press conference. Could it be that he has "put foot in mouth" too many times and it would embarrass him further? When he landed in New Hampshire the other day there was only one yes one reporter to meet his plan. McCain is beyond too old!

To Ms M wrote on Jul 23, 2008 2:06 PM:They are putting the real McCain under wraps and getting ready to replace him with a double that can speak without putting his foot in his mouth.

Peter wrote on Jul 23, 2008 2:24 PM:Thank you Mr. Fromm for your service in the Army, but I think soldiers like Colin Powell and Norman Schwarzkopf would be better examples of those that make you proud of your service. When working with the Army on occasion I had the pleasure of working with some good soldiers, but as the Army is a much larger service than the Corps and must fill its ranks it also ends up with more soldiers that would do the Army a favor by seeking another profession. Clark, who was a company commander at the time, was wounded while leading a platoon-sized patrol. His commanding officer put him in for a Bronze Star for the action, but higher headquarters upgraded the award to a Silver Star. Clark should take his retirement and his board memberships and go away.

AGE wrote on Jul 23, 2008 2:25 PM:It is not a matter of AGE but a matter of physical and mental health and capacity to be rational, ethical, educated, skillful, have common sense, etc. etc.

It is a matter of knowing that no one person knows it all, and to surround the president-to-be (and the actual president) with adults of any age, any sex, any color, people that are ethical, skilled, brilliant, rational, creative, etc.

People that can think out-of-the box and continue to learn and carefully explore possibilities, understand the truth, ignore falsehoods, understand the need to plan for the present and for the future.

People that work hard with honesty, with truth, etc. can make mistakes that can be explained in a factual way. No baloney.

It is not the AGE that counts; it is the mindset that is important.

We need Pres. Harry Truman. As our President he had a sign on his desk
saying "The BUCK STOPS here!" which derives from the slang expression "pass the buck" which means passing the responsibility on to someone else.

From Harry S. Truman's farewell address January 15 1953, QUOTE "... The President -- whoever he is -- has to decide. He can't pass the buck to anybody. No one else can do the deciding for him. That is his job. ..." ENDQUOTE.

Chuck wrote on Jul 23, 2008 2:32 PM:>>>liberaljim [-] wrote on Jul 23, 2008 11:09 AM:It's 11:00 a.m. and there are a total of 38 posts and 16 are from Ron and Chuck>>> It goes to show you what whiners the liberals are. Most of our posts are done between 6am and 8am. Your whiney post is at 11:09, when the monitor is doing other jobs. The moral of the story is to get your butt out of bed at a normal hour like capitalists do. You know the old saying "When you do more than you get paid to do, you will eventually get paid more for what you do" or you can be a public school teacher and do nothing

Chuck wrote on Jul 23, 2008 2:37 PM:>>>Are you going to try the generals in charge for the death of 70.000 Iraqi civilians?>>> What 70,000 civilians. The only one using that number is George Soros and Nancy Pelosi.

Ms M wrote on Jul 23, 2008 2:43 PM:Chuck
[-] wrote on Jul 23, 2008 2:32 PM:...The moral of the story is to get your butt out of bed at a normal hour like capitalists do...Yea Chuck and then you log on to the NCTimes and spend those wonderful hours writing garbage. Sorry, but I can think of a lot more productive ways to start my day.

Wont benefit wrote on Jul 23, 2008 2:45 PM:>> “Why would we agree to offshore drilling when WE ALREADY KNOW WE WILL NOT BENEFIT FROM THE OIL RETRIEVED?” <

Do you dipsticks just make it up as you go along?

Chuck wrote on Jul 23, 2008 2:51 PM:>>>>spend those wonderful hours writing garbage.>>>
One mans garbage is another mans gold.

TOO OLD wrote on Jul 23, 2008 3:01 PM:AGE[-] wrote on Jul 23, 2008 2:25 PM: It is a matter of mental dexterity and compotence. McCain shows that he is degenerating in these areas. John is too darned old.

Ms M wrote on Jul 23, 2008 3:06 PM:Chuck
[-] wrote on Jul 23, 2008 2:51 PM:>>>>spend those wonderful hours writing garbage.>>>
One mans garbage is another mans gold...yes that's true - if you are of the same immmature mindset ...but it's still garbage!

Focal Point wrote on Jul 23, 2008 3:07 PM:CHUCK; See the CRS Report to Congress. Iraqi Civilian Casualities Report. This is a lowest estimate.
Iraq Body Count
March 19, 2003 - May 2, 2008 83,221 - 90,782.

T. Boone is Right wrote on Jul 23, 2008 3:29 PM:T. Boon did not get rich by being dumb!

He knows that energy is where you find it, and the US is the energy capitol of the world! We have more coal, more oil, more shale, more...

For some unfathomable reason, liberal environmentalists want us to send almost a trillion dollars a year outside the country, to people who do not like us.

Much of that money goes into the tinderbox Middle East, and funds our enemies!

T. Boone is absolutely right -- we need all the US produced energy, from whatever sources, we can get. Then we can let the Middle East erupt without our help.

I am nonplussed at a charge that we invaded Iraq for oil, while at the same time refusing to support drilling here! IF, and it is a BIG IF, wars are being fought for oil, you would think that using all of our native sources would extract us from Middle East wars!

T. Boone is a Texan who remains in oil, but recognizes that we need all of our energy. Texas already has the most wind energy, and intends to tripple its capacity.

Greenenergy and DD do not agree with T. Boone, but have not commented on T. Boone's remarks.

Focal Point wrote on Jul 23, 2008 3:33 PM:Peter[-] wrote on Jul 23, 2008 2:24 PM:
Gen Clark was wounded (shot) four times per his medical record and the after action report. He was awarded the silver star. I did not find any source or reference stating that the first recommendation was a bronze star. I look forward to Gen Clark continuing to making contributions to his country and community.

John McShameful wrote on Jul 23, 2008 3:36 PM:It's actually mind-boggling that ANY vet would vote for McCain, including the vets on this blog.

First he tried to defeat the recent Vet's initiative, refused to vote, and then took credit for it when it passed.

Today he is suggesting that vet benefits be "limited to those who sustain injuries directly in battle."

Why does John McCain hate our service people? Why does he hate our vets?

Oh Reardon wrote on Jul 23, 2008 3:38 PM:DD Wiz and Greenergy will get around to responding to your post about TBone; you know they have better things to do than hang around here all day. Keep your panties on.

Dipstick wrote on Jul 23, 2008 3:40 PM:"Wont benefit
[-] wrote on Jul 23, 2008 2:45 PM:
>> “Why would we agree to offshore drilling when WE ALREADY KNOW WE WILL NOT BENEFIT FROM THE OIL RETRIEVED?” <

Do you dipsticks just make it up as you go along?"

Definition Dipstick: Someone who takes things out of context and attaches a rude remark. See picture of Chuck.

Watching Obama Pivot wrote on Jul 23, 2008 3:43 PM:Analyzing Obama “recalibration” Quotes from Today’s WSJ:

Then:

"Well, look, if that's the criteria by which we are making decisions on the deployment of U.S. forces, then by that argument you would have 300,000 troops in the Congo right now--where millions have been slaughtered as a consequence of ethnic strife--which we haven't done," Obama said in an interview with The Associated Press. "We would be deploying unilaterally and occupying the Sudan, which we haven't done. Those of us who care about Darfur don't think it would be a good idea," he said.

Obama's Iraq plan was recently updated to include the following pledge:

Now:

“Obama would also work with Iraqi authorities and the international community to hold the perpetrators of potential war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide accountable. He would reserve the right to intervene militarily, with our international partners, to suppress potential genocidal violence within Iraq.”

Flip-flop, flip-flop

Greenergy wrote on Jul 23, 2008 3:55 PM:T.Boone at 3:29 p.m. jumps to conclusions and, as is common for many conservatives GETS IT WRONG, when he/she says, "Greenergy and DD do not agree with T. Boone, but have not commented on T.Boone's remarks."
Please read more carefully, and please don't put words into my mouth.
Please refer to MY post last night (yesterday, Greenergy at 8:55 p.m. when the capricious blog editor finally let it through) in which I specifically made the following comment: "The best place to look is T. Boone Pickens, oilman billionnaire and longtime REPUBLICAN donor.
He has now concluded that the only viable FOR-PROFIT energy source is renewables.
If this long-time REPUBLICAN BILLIONAIRE OILMAN comes to this conclusion, how can any other conservative Republican with less money and less oil experience possibly disagree?"
Pickens is a REPUBLICAN BILLIONAIRE OILMAN. I'm not going to agree with him in every particular. But he does have a lot that is worth listening to.

Hank wrote on Jul 23, 2008 4:17 PM:Ron, Ron Watcher, et al: Re: The Monckton article (in the July 2008 American Physical Society [APS] newsletter from their Physics & Society forum) which has globally excited the global warming skeptic blogging community. You really should read (and at least try to understand) before you write. Perhaps not, it may be more fun to argue about that of which you know little.

The Physics & Society forum newsletter is NOT peer-reviewed. A debate requires at least two (2) viewpoints. That is what was presented. A couple of physics profs (Hafemeister, Schwartz)from Cal Poly SLO wrote the "for" article. Christopher Monckton of Behchley, a non-scientist, wrote the "against" article.

Ron, the full quotation is: "There is a considerable presence within the scientific community of people who do not agree with the IPCC conclusion that anthropogenic CO2 emissions are very probably likely to be primarily responsible for the global warming that has occurred since the Industrial Revolution." The "scientific community," as in consensus, majority, does not dispute global warming, the disagreement is as to the extent of mankind's responsibility for same.

This is the header which the APS has now inserted above BOTH articles: "The following article has not undergone any scientific peer review, since that is not normal procedure for American Physical Society newsletters. The American Physical Society reaffirms the following position on climate change, adopted by its governing body, the APS Council, on November 18, 2007: “Emissions of greenhouse gases from human activities are changing the atmosphere in ways that affect the Earth’s climate.”" Doesn't sound like the 50,000 member APS has changed its position on global warming.

Indeed, if you had logged onto the APS site on the day the newsletter was published, the APS had inserted a disclaimer IN RED that disavowed any APS support for Monckton's viewpoint, but did not insert anything before the Hafemeister article. Monckton raised holy h--- in a letter to the APS, resulting (apparently) in the politically correct disclaimer cited above in front of BOTH articles.

The Hafemeister article is entitled "A Tutorial on the Basic Physics of Climate Change." And that it is. They do not get into politics, graphs and assertions of others, or polemics. They do consider such things as CO2 ppm in the troposphere, emissivity of CO2, the earth's albedo, variations of solar radiation, and so on. Boring? Perhaps, but THE ASSUMPTIONS OF THE "TRUE" VALUES OF THESE THINGS is what all the fuss is about. Monckton's article is pure polemic, with endless citations of the work of other skeptics, mockery of the role of assumptions in engineering and scientific work, gratuitous graphics, and accusations of IPCC prevarication.

The APS is apparently willing to host an INTELLIGENT debate on the issue of anthropogenic influences in global warming. The overwhelming scientific consensus is that GLOBAL WARMING IS REAL. THE QUESTION is whether or not the contribution of mankind is significant, and if so, is it correctable?

Check out the APS site. Check out lots of sites, especially those with some scientific crediblility.

Conspiracy Theory wrote on Jul 23, 2008 4:27 PM:Greenenergy: I Got It!

When wind energy is proposed by a Republican, THAT is BAD wind energy!

Everything is a Republican conspiracy!

(Watch out for the Black Helicopters!)

(Sorry I messed your important blog last night -- it may have been
postmarked at 8:55, but nothing since 3;29 had been posted at some time past 10 p.m. You KNOW I never miss one of your posts, and I remain MUCH Greener than Gore! )Come to think of it I am also much more faithful than John Edwards!)

AGE wrote on Jul 23, 2008 4:39 PM:"TOO OLD[-] wrote on Jul 23, 2008 3:01 PM:AGE[-] wrote on Jul 23, 2008 2:25 PM:

It is a matter of mental dexterity and compotence. McCain shows that he is degenerating in these areas. John is too darned old."

Are you certain that all his errors are real and not a figment of your or others imaginations.

You yourself used the word compotence. Definition please. My 1600 page Dictionary is almost too heavy to pick up and it does not recognize the word.

We all make (human) mistakes.

FYI I will not vote for McCain because he talks just like the current president. It does not make sense to have more people die or maimed in a war much like Viet Nam.

The Bush War has been a huge mistake. We lost too much; lives and money.

Ms M wrote on Jul 23, 2008 4:41 PM:Watching Obama Pivot
[-] wrote on Jul 23, 2008 3:43 PM:...Flip-flop, flip-flop...do you really, really , really want to have a discussion about flip-flop, flip-flop - I don't think so!

Apollo wrote on Jul 23, 2008 4:43 PM:Re: Wont benefit (2:45 p.m.)
Do you just shoot from the hip without knowing what you are talking about? The oil will not help us because Bush's oilman daddy president repealed the long-standing requirement that oil from leases of PUBLIC LANDS had to all go to DOMESTIC CONSUMPTION first. Now, they can just sell to the highest bidder, including buyers from China and India. It won't even exist for years, and when it eventually produces oil they don't even have to sell to the people who own the land it came from.

Re: Watching Obama (3:43 p.m.)
Quoting from the WSJ means NOTHING.
It used to be a respected publication.
Now it is owned and controlled by Rupert Murdoch, who has prostituted it the same way he transformed 20th Century Fox from a respected media giant into a joke now known as Faux News. Quoting Murdoch's rag means NOTHING.

Alf wrote on Jul 23, 2008 4:57 PM:I think it only fitting, "Focal Point" at 3:07PM, to mention the 4,125 dead American Troops and the 30,324 wounded American Troops as well as the number of Iraqi people that you mentioned.
Regards, Alf.

Concerned One wrote on Jul 23, 2008 5:00 PM:T Bone Pickens for President! Oh wait, did I just get a Ross Perot flashback? Never mind. Regards C-1.

Watching Greenenergy wrote on Jul 23, 2008 5:07 PM:Greenenergy says "He has now concluded that the only viable FOR-PROFIT energy source is renewables."

Not true! T. Boone says the US needs all the energy it can find, including drilling oil offshore and even ANWAR. His exact quote was:

"I say east, west coast and ANWR—get it all! To get off of foreign oil, that is the enemy...You’re drilling and whatever you are able to find and put into the domestic system will help us.”

I support his wind energy, AND his drilling plan. It is you who does not!

gracchus wrote on Jul 23, 2008 5:19 PM:i have never heard wesley clark assert that clinton was god's gift to mankind. clark commanded nato forces in the former yugoslavia and disagreed substantially with clinton on us policy toward bosnia and serbia. he subsequently left his command, because in the usa, civilians control the government and formulate policy, not the military.
of course clark supported kerry in 2004. kerry served honorably in the us navy. he was a successful prosecutor in boston. he has served honorably in the us senate. he is bilingual. given that kerry's opponent was an unsuccessful businessman, has shown a complete lack of intellectual curiosity, and demonstrates a poor command of his native language, and at one news conference mocked a us journalist who posed a question to the french president in french, i think that without question kerry was a superior candidate.

DD Wiz wrote on Jul 23, 2008 5:46 PM:The posts from "T.Boone is Right" (3:29pm) and "Oh Reardon" (3:38pm) speculate about prospective posts from myself and "Greenergy." I think "Greenergy" speaks for herself adequately at 3:55pm and I concur with her comments, both regarding the propensity of some conservatives to shoot off at the keyboard without reading what has already been posted (and, typically, guessing WRONG), as well as being mostly in agreement with the efforts of Republican billionaire oilman T. Boone Pickens to prove that renewable energy is NOW feasible to operate profitably in private enterprise.

TOO OLD wrote on Jul 23, 2008 6:18 PM:Watching Obama Pivot[-] wrote on Jul 23, 2008 3:43 PM: I'm wathcing John McCaine grow older and older and interpreting his mistakes.

Focal Point wrote on Jul 23, 2008 6:48 PM:Alf[-] wrote on Jul 23, 2008 4:57 PM: I quite agree. Thank you for your input. At the time, I was replying to Chuck's comment about dead Iraqi civilians. Regards. FP.

Apollo wrote on Jul 23, 2008 7:13 PM:Edit and resubmission

Re: Wont benefit (2:45 p.m.)
The oil from proposed new drilling leases will not benefit us because Bush's oilman daddy president repealed the long-standing requirement that oil from leases of PUBLIC LANDS had to all go to DOMESTIC CONSUMPTION first. Now, they can just sell to the highest bidder, including buyers from China and India. It won't even exist for years, and when it eventually produces oil they don't even have to sell to the people who own the land it came from.

Re: Watching Obama (3:43 p.m.)
Quoting from the WSJ means NOTHING.
It used to be a respected publication.
Now it is owned and controlled by Rupert Murdoch, who has prostituted it the same way he transformed 20th Century Fox from a respected media giant into a joke now known as Faux News. Quoting Murdoch's rag means NOTHING.

Focal Point wrote on Jul 23, 2008 7:16 PM:John McCain goof: Surge issue: Will any of the media do its job? Will any of the media interview now Gen. Macfarlane? Lets find out what he said to John McCain?

Focal Point wrote on Jul 23, 2008 7:18 PM:Chuck[-] wrote on Jul 23, 2008 9:00 AM:
That bother's you? There are millions of voting Americans who can not name the two Senators from their states.

Another one wrote on Jul 23, 2008 7:19 PM:Didja see McCain on CBS? Now he's claiming that the word "surge" doesn't mean the increase in troops at all, like we thought it did. Now "surge" means "successful things" in Iraq. For example, months before the increase in troop size, when the Sunnis decided to stop fighting in Anbar, THAT was part of the "surge", according to McCain today. Fascinating. Not satisfied with flipflops and lying, McCain makes up new meanings of words. He then cancelled a press conference as well as a trip to an oilrig, and his people complained about the coverage Obama is getting.

Focal Point wrote on Jul 23, 2008 7:24 PM:WASHINGTON - Al-Qaida's foreign fighters who have for years bedeviled Iraq are increasingly going to Afghanistan to fight instead, the Iraqi ambassador to the United States said Wednesday.

"We have heard reports recently that many of the foreign fighters that were in Iraq have left, either back to their homeland or going to fight in Afghanistan. Afghanistan is now seeming to be more suitable for al-Qaida fighters," said Ambassador Samir Sumaida'ie.

DD Wiz wrote on Jul 23, 2008 7:46 PM:The posts from "T.Boone is Right" (3:29pm) and "Oh Reardon" (3:38pm) speculate about prospective posts from myself and "Greenergy." I think "Greenergy's" post (3:55pm) speaks for itself and I concur with those comments, both regarding the propensity of some conservatives to shoot off at the keyboard without reading what has already been posted (and, typically, guessing WRONG), as well as being mostly in agreement with the efforts of Republican billionaire oilman T. Boone Pickens to prove that renewable energy is NOW feasible to operate profitably in private enterprise.

Greenergy wrote on Jul 23, 2008 8:03 PM:Conspiracy Theory at 4:27 p.m. and Watching Greenenergy at 5:07 p.m. (both aka Reardon making the same spelling error he does of my online personae) show that he has more problems than spelling.
I don't know if you need to:
a) get reading glasses
b) read more carefully
c) get literacy assistance.

My post was very clear. I do support his wind and solar proposals. He is a Republican billionaire oilman. I specifically stated I don't agree with him on everything, but I do agree with him on many things.
What part of that was so hard to understand?

Ron Watcher wrote on Jul 23, 2008 8:13 PM:Hank -- It is true that Monckton is not scientifically educated, but he was the scientific advisor to Margaret Thatcher, and more importantly -- HE WAS INVITED BY APS TO PRESENT!

I have followed the debate carefully on the APS website, including the red to black episode, Monckton's claim is that his submission was peer-reviewed and the changes he made as a result of the questions, and his demand for an apology because of that review. I don't know t5he answer of Monckton's claim to his article being peer reviewed -- and neither does anyone else.

The important thing to recognize is that the debate has opened in an important forum. Science is seldom "settled" -- or rather it is often settled until there is new information.

Science is not in a "stable state."

Watching Obama Pivot wrote on Jul 23, 2008 8:27 PM:Ms. M -- Yes, I want that debate!

It is NO SECRET that McCain is a politician, he has, and will flip-flop.

But Obama was the candidate of change, the "different" candidate -- thei anti-politician.

He is not. He is simply another politician with a Chicago background, less than 150 days of national political experience and approaching 20 days of international experience.

He is a standard, Mark Zero, Mod Zero politician.

Hey Boomer wrote on Jul 23, 2008 9:04 PM:Apollo
[-] wrote on Jul 23, 2008 7:13 PM:"Quoting Murdoch's rag means NOTHING". Only in your not so humble opinion.

He Who Watches the Watcher wrote on Jul 23, 2008 9:25 PM:News Flash! The Democratic National Committee is in Denver, preparing for their National convention -- and guess what?

They are buying their gas (and car washes) at the TAX FREE city pumps, where the police and fire fill their vehicles and get their washes for FREE!

"Let them eat cake?"

Greenergy wrote on Jul 23, 2008 9:50 PM:Conspiracy Theory at 4:27 p.m. and Watching Greenenergy at 5:07 p.m. (both rdon making the same spelling error Reardon does of my online personae - hmmm) misstate my post and show that they have more problems than spelling.
I don't know if you need to:
a) get reading glasses
b) read more carefully
c) get literacy assistance.

My post was very clear. I do support Pickens' wind and solar proposals and welcome his demonstration that these are profitable energy sources. But he is a Republican billionaire oilman, so it should not be surprising that I will find some points of disagreement with him. I specifically stated that I don't agree with him on everything, but I do agree with him on many things and welcome his ventures into renewable energy sources.
What part of that was so hard to understand?

Greenergy wrote on Jul 23, 2008 10:39 PM:Conspiracy Theory at 4:27 p.m. and Watching Greenenergy at 5:07 p.m. (both making the same spelling error Reardon does of my online personae - hmmm) misstate my post.
My post was very clear. I do support Pickens' wind and solar proposals and welcome his demonstration that these are profitable energy sources. But he is a Republican billionaire oilman, so it should not be surprising that I will find some points of disagreement with him. I specifically stated that I don't agree with him on everything, but I do agree with him on many things and welcome his ventures into renewable energy sources.
What part of that was so hard to understand?

to Those In Favor of Offshore Drilling wrote on Jul 24, 2008 2:05 AM:Hey genius, the more oil placed on the world market; there-by increasing supply, the lower the price will be bid down! Understand???

to to Those wrote on Jul 24, 2008 7:22 AM:Nice Econ 101. The key phrase is "placed on the world market". Who says this will happen? Maybe the oil people LIKE the price high. Ya think? They sure haven't done everything possible to drill the land they already lease. Bush, who is not exactly their enemy, never encouraged offshore drilling before. I think the public pressure is seen by Bush and big oil as yet another "opportunity" to get some cheap or free land, some more subsidies. They can always release a little oil to temporarily lower the price to show us that the giveaway "worked", then go back to raising them again. Time for Econ 102

Boat wrote on Jul 24, 2008 8:47 AM:gracchus: re: John Kerry's Viet Nam service.

Most people don't realize that he actually served there twice. He was First Lieutenant aboard the USS Gridley which did gunfire support off the coast. He then requested transfer to Swift Boat training at NAB Coronado. He was subsequently sent back to Viet Nam.

Swift Boats were all voluntary. They were fifty feet long & made of aluminum & fiberglass. Heavily armed but no armor. Dangerous duty.

Any way you look at it, aboard the Gridley or aboard the Swift Boat he was a lot closer to the War than Bush was. A cheap shot, I know, but I couldn't help myself.

to Boat wrote on Jul 24, 2008 10:55 AM:thanks for the facts. facts are so refreshing here, and so rare. So Kerry voluteered to return to Nam, volunteered for swift boat training, and went into dangerous duty aboard one. And his military career was trashed in comparison to draft dodging Bush's and Cheney's? We know that if Bush and Cheney had been Democrats, they'd have been linked to Jane Fonda for their behavior and choices during the Vietnam era by the same swift boat-type republican slime machine. LOL