huh wrote on Jul 29, 2008 1:43 AM:Dolores Wiener says she is from Oceanside, CA. And she claims the beach area of the east Mediterranean for Israel. The really ancient Earth under our feet is laughing.

Alf wrote on Jul 29, 2008 5:46 AM:The letter from Walter Ross is right on the money. I only differ with the last part of his last sentence. Were I writing it, it would read - "it is clear that if you vote for McCain you are more a masochist or a fool than a patriot".
Regards, Alf.

Anderson wrote on Jul 29, 2008 5:49 AM:America is a REPUBLIC ... not a democracy.

Ron wrote on Jul 29, 2008 6:48 AM:That message is falling on deaf ears, Paul Marin. Impeachment is off the table, as far as Nancy Pelosi & Harry Reid are concerned. Why?
Because an impeachment would not be good for them, the Democrat party, politically. NOT, what would be good for the American people, but what would be good, for them, their party.

And after knowing ALL these things, ask yourself. Who is the bigger criminal?
The guy who commited the crime?
Or the person, who wouldn't put them in jail?

Now, imagine that. The Liberal leadership say they know beyond a shawdow of any doubt, that crimes have been commited. They say they have the evidence that crimes have been commited. They say that everyday this administration is allowed to remain in power, Bush & Cheney will commit more crimes.

But YOU refuse to impeach. Nancy Pelosi & Harry Reid say "they have the goods" on Bush & Cheney. And they say, everyday that Bush & Cheney have commited crimes against the American people. But yet, they refuse to impeach.

Why?

If you have the "goods", you have the evidence, and it is the "right thing to do", then why not just pull the trigger?
If Harry Reid & Nancy Pelosi are truly intereted in doing the right thing, for American, you have to ask yourself, why they will not pull the trigger on impeachment?

And if they know all these things, and.. can prove all these things.. but still refuse to impeach. You gotta ask Why?
And if your answer is, it's not good for them, the Democrats.. politically, then, that's a pretty sad answer, then. Isn't it.

CaroCogitatus wrote on Jul 29, 2008 7:10 AM:Ed DeCanniere seems not to be aware of who controlled the government (White House, Senate, House, and Supreme Court) from 2000 to 2006.
Republicans had the chance to do whatever they wanted, and apparently what they wanted was Trickle Down economics, the Unitary Executive, and military bases in Iraq.
You can be damn sure that if Al Gore were President in 2000, we would have had an energy policy that did more than enrich the oil companies. But you just go ahead and drill for the last few drops off our beautiful coastline, while Europe and Asia outpace us on renewable energy technology.
DeCanniere's brand of forward thinking is pretty much backwards.

Correction wrote on Jul 29, 2008 7:20 AM:Yesterday my good friend Reardon, posting under Shhhhh (Oops and various other names) accused Obama of flip flopping on Blackwater. Let's see what the truth is, since Reardon, aka Factchecker, hasn't quite got on board the Truth Train yet.

"A senior foreign policy adviser to leading Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama [said] that if elected Obama will not "rule out" using private security companies like Blackwater Worldwide in Iraq. The adviser also said that Obama does not plan to sign on to legislation that seeks to ban the use of these forces in US war zones by January 2009, when a new President will be sworn in. Obama's campaign says that instead he will focus on bringing accountability to these forces while increasing funding for the State Department's Bureau of Diplomatic Security, the agency that employs Blackwater and other private security contractors.

"If Barack Obama comes into office next January and our diplomatic security service is in the state it's in and the situation on the ground in Iraq is in the state it's in, I think we will be forced to rely on a host of security measures," said the senior adviser. "I can't rule out, I won't rule out, private security contractors." He added, "I will rule out private security contractors that are not accountable to US law."

Ron wrote on Jul 29, 2008 8:32 AM:I agree, James Buchenau: "We are close to losing our democracy."
But but don't agree that we are for the same reasons.

You say: "The behavior of the Bush administration has been disgraceful."
I agree, in some respects, it has been very disgraceful. A huge increase in entitlement spending, while allowing previously given entitlements to break the back's of our children.

President Clinton was impeached for lying under oath to a Federal Judge, held accountable, and rightly so.

But, we will not lose our freedoms from either of these two men, the Supreme Court will steal them from us.
What we have with this court, is Judicial Tyranny.

Where your own breath is considered a pollutant. Where your home can be taken without just compensation. And where a fish is given more rights than your own child.

That's where we are.

to Anderson wrote on Jul 29, 2008 8:32 AM:Your comment is quite obtuse. We're a democratic republic. By insisting we're not a democracy, you are equating us to the Peoples Republic of China. We're better than that. Thanks.

Thanks correction wrote on Jul 29, 2008 8:33 AM:Yesterday I posted how Shhh's post about Obama and Blackwater was silly. You mean on top of that, it's also false? Too funny. "Shhh" is a much better name for the dude than "Factchecker", that's for sure. LOL

Nick wrote on Jul 29, 2008 8:47 AM:Hmmmmmmmm......I guess Obama is just like all the rest of the politicians. You know, lies to folks and tells them what they want to hear to get a few votes, but doesn't really mean what he says....LMAO.

On Iraq, Obama said Thursday that his upcoming trip there might lead him to refine his promise to quickly remove U.S. troops from the war.

He now supports broader authority for the government's eavesdropping program and legal immunity for telecommunications companies that participated in it, after opposing a similar bill last year.

After the Supreme Court overturned the District of Columbia's gun ban, the handgun-control proponent said he favors both an individual's right to own a gun as well as government's right to regulate ownership.

Obama became the first major-party candidate to reject public financing for the general election after earlier promises to accept it.

He not only embraced but promised to expand Bush's program to give more anti-poverty grants to religious groups, a split with Democratic orthodoxy.

He objected to the Supreme Court's decision outlawing the death penalty for child rapists, even though he has been anti-capital punishment.

Obama also said "mental distress" should not count as a health exception that would permit a late-term abortion, saying "it has to be a serious physical issue," addressing a matter considered crucial to abortion rights activists.

Every time I hear these Obama nuts spout his great virtues, I can't help but laugh and it just reaffirms just how gullable people are.
Cheers, Nick.

Thank You wrote on Jul 29, 2008 8:54 AM:Thank You Dolores Wiener for your courage to continue writing the truth about Israel. .... Pulse cannot realize that the other countries in the area have made nothing of themselves if not for the oil. Their population of ordinary people have little or no chance to rise above their poverty and killing others and self status.

Their selfish governments and religious leaders spew hate and plan to annihilate America and others that believe in freedom of speech, separation of church and state, etc.

How many oil countries produce Nobel prize winners.

What will happen when an oil government takes away Pulse's right to write his lies.

Alf wrote on Jul 29, 2008 8:57 AM:I agree with Paul Marin and believe that the Pelosi should also be impeached and removed for failure to do her job, part of which is to IMPEACH GWB and The Cheney Branch!
Regards, Alf.

Ron wrote on Jul 29, 2008 9:00 AM:Man! Why does it always fall on me to explain to the uneducated what Social Security is, and what it is not?

Social Security is social insurance. If you pay the premiums, you get compensated. Period.
It is available to all... ALL Americans who have worked and paid into the system, regardless of wealth.

Noralee Sherwood misstates what Social Security is, a "system that was set up as a safety net for the elderly."

Noralee, that may have well been the intent, but as the laws currently stand, anyone who pays into the system receives a benefit.

Now, you can ask your Liberal Representative why they have allowed "the Rich" to collect, but I'll answer that for ya. Because they do not want Social Security to act like, or look like another welfare system, like the hundreds they already have.
Liberals want to continue to insist this is an "insurance plan", all the while, making changes to it more similar to a welfare scheme.

For example, Means Testing. John McCain's social security income taxable up to 85% of his benefits. In short, he gets to keep only 15%, or $327.75.
That's hardly a windfall.

And with Liberals arguing that ALL income, something no one has ever argued before that ALL income should be taxed by social security, that raising the cap, or removing the cap.. would only add to the redistribution. If your putting more money into an insurance plan, for fewer benefits, what's your incentive?

The lib's should just make it clear that they want to turn Social Security into another welfare scheme, cause.. that's really what they want.

And people like Noralee already think that way, so what's holding them back?

Additionally, I think with all these new young Democrat voters coming on board thru the Obamapalooza, they ought to have a sit down with these young workers, and give them the real skinny.
That they intend to require from each of these workers about $500 a month, just in Social Security taxes.
Think that will get this young group of voters all fired up? LOL
But, they will try to fool them, like they always do, with "We're gonna tax "the Rich." And it won't be until these young workers look at their paystub to know, they've been hoodwinked. And then.. they'll get angry.

Ron wrote on Jul 29, 2008 9:04 AM:>>>You can be damn sure that if Al Gore were President in 2000, we would have had an energy policy>>>

Yeah, a "Bus Pass" Energy Plan.

Hey, are you 24 percenters riding the bus yet? Or are ya just blowing smoke again? Inquiring minds want to know.

Poppy wrote on Jul 29, 2008 9:18 AM:I still have a Get Fuzzy cartoon on my desk that shows Satchel holding a big sign that says, "Please don't bomb Iraq." It's old and faded now, but the message still haunts me.

Now that those of us opposed to the war in Iraq because we said it was ALL ABOUT OIL have been proven correct, where are all the apologies, Ron? Chuck? sdraoul? Bill? Reardon? Now that Richard Perl, one of the architects of the War in Iraq has been exposed at making secret oil deals in Iraq, are any of you guys ready to admit you were WRONG?

No, I didn't think so.

Anderson wrote on Jul 29, 2008 9:22 AM:to Anderson[-] wrote on Jul 29, 2008 8:32 AM: "...We're a democratic republic. By insisting we're not a democracy, you are equating us to the Peoples Republic of China."

Where in our Pledge of Allegiance does it say "...to the Democratic Republic for which it stands..."?

I am not obtuse.

I was referring to the NC Times essay title "We are close to losing our democracy"

Waiting for Nicks next post wrote on Jul 29, 2008 9:22 AM:Thanks for the rundown on Obama's changes of tune. I expect your next post will catalogue McCain's, right? Start with immigration policy. You can go from there to his relationship to the religious right. Next, there's Iraq (he was for the small invasion force before he was a surge-guy). How about talking to Iran? The Bush tax cuts? I'll leave it to you to get the rest. face it: at best, your attack on Obama is "why he's like McCain!" LOL

Consider privatizing wrote on Jul 29, 2008 9:24 AM:Ollie Arbogast’s budget reduction ideas make sense, and occur regularly, in private business – but not in government. When bureaucracy fails, the top bureaucrats survive (usually with a pay raise) by sacrificing lower level bureaucrats.

However, when backed up against a fiscal wall, politicians usually go for the unpopular decision that costs them the fewest votes. In the past, that has been: tax the rich or corporations. But that tactic is becoming risky. First, constituents are becoming more sophisticated about who really pays corporate taxes; and, secondly, smart politicians don’t want to make fiscal matters even worse by driving the money out of the state.

The ultimate political decision should be privatization. But that’s the smart decision – so it’s not guaranteed. With privatization of services, some jobs will be terminated (and some jobs will open up in the private sector). That’s less unpopular than cutting salaries or services. It worked for England in the ‘70s.

To Ron wrote on Jul 29, 2008 9:24 AM:Thank you for your insightful post on why it is appropriate for John McCain to collect Social Security. Now can you address the question as to why John McCain accepts money from a social insurance that he calls "a disgrace"? Money he doesn't need, yet pockets it anyway? Is this your idea of a leader? Denigration on one hand, hand out on the other? Can you educate ignorant me on that point please? And while you are at it, can you explain to uneducated me why John McCain consistantly votes against benefits for the troops? Exactly why does John McCain hate the troops? Thank you in advance for your illuminating and educated answer for a poor uneducated slob like me.

Floyd wrote on Jul 29, 2008 9:34 AM:Actually, Social Security is a ponzi scheme that would be illegal in private industry.

Alf wrote on Jul 29, 2008 9:43 AM:Well, "Ron" at 8:32AM, you are wrong when you say "we will not lose our freedoms from either of these two men", Clinton and GWB.
GWB and Congress have robbed us of our FOURTH AMENDMENT right to be free from warrantless searches,
GWB and Congress have robbed us of our FOURTEENTH AMENDMENT right not to be deprived life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.
GWB has robbed us of our RIGHT to habeas corpus on many an occasion via his coining the term "enemy combatant" to attempt circumvent the Constitution and the Geneva Conventions.
Whether you know it or not, the Constitution, Article 6 Section 2 says "This Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme law of the land".
This means that when GWB violates (or does an end run around) the Geneva Conventions, he is violating the Constitution.
GWG has been treating our Constitution like toilet paper for well over 6 years, why should he stop now?
Congress, with its petty partisanship is no help and, in fact, they contribute to the problem.

No, "Ron", it is the Judiciary, the Supreme Court, who will, hopefully, save us from un-Constitutional laws, from un-Constitutional acts by GWB, from un-Constitutional acts of Congress and from un-Constitutional Propositions from the People.
Regards, Alf.

Faux Chuckles wrote on Jul 29, 2008 9:48 AM:Richard Mathews letter is right on target about taking responsibily. It sounds as though he has someone in mind even though he doesn't point to any specific group, that is what makes his letter work. I take it that he is pointing out how we have become so driven for the self-interested outcome that we always inflict pain to those on the other side of the issue. We have lost the art of compromise in our politics and our comments, and that is what is going to kill this great country. The proof is in this comments section, not one of the regulars that spew their own points of view as though it is an edict from God thinks this letter is addressing them.

To Nick wrote on Jul 29, 2008 9:56 AM:Sorry, you are fighting a losing battle. People will google your points and decide for themselves how to interpret them. In the end, Obama will be president. McCain is such a poor candidate that even he can't come up with anything except bashing Obama. While I know you are not a McCain supporter, those who are cannot come up with anything good to say about him either.

Sorry about Ron Paul, he would have made a great president.

Media Matters wrote on Jul 29, 2008 10:17 AM:Dems Running Scared on Drilling
Rick Moran
From the American Thinker today: "Majority Leader Harry Reid is feeling the heat on the offshore drilling issue. He and Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Jeff Bingham have crafted a bill that would open nearly a billion new acres off the coast of Alaska for study as well as accelerating Gulf of Mexico leases."

Yes, Obama will flip on this. He must, and the longer it takes to worse the flip will have to be.

Media Matters wrote on Jul 29, 2008 10:35 AM:Dick Morris’ analysis of the poll numbers shows that Obama’s weakness is “women over 40” where he trails McCain in the most recent polls by 4%, while Obama leads in younger women in general by 13%.

Admittedly, no poll numbers mean squat right now – and possibly never if the “Bradley effect” has any merit – but it is interesting because, given the debacle of the Republican Party, ANY Democrat should be leading overall by 10 points or more, and USA Today has McCain ahead by four points among likely voters.

That means less than nothing right now, but given Obama’s advantages he should be in another Zip Code from McCain at this time.

Impeachment humbug wrote on Jul 29, 2008 10:45 AM:Impeachment has never done anything except to allow adversaries to feel a sense of revenge.

America expresses its political discomfort at the ballot box.

And, that's an unfortunate thing, this time around, for McCain...The same thing happened to Gore.

McCains imminent defeat, and Gore's past defeat are/were results of discontent with their party's leader.

Bush has done more damage to the GOP than any impeachment, or acts of revenge or sabotage the Democrats could have enacted.

And, I'm saying all this as a Republican, who supports McCain--but, also as a realist, who knows he doesn't have a chance.

Alf wrote on Jul 29, 2008 10:54 AM:An AP story "McCain backs off his no-new-tax pledge" is of no surprise.
There are only three REAL ways to balance a budget;
1) Increase revenues by way of more (higher) taxes somewhere or everywhere,
2) Reduce spending,
3) A combination of increased taxes and reduced spending.
THERE IS NO FOURTH WAY.
If spending is going to stay the same or increase, increased revenue (higher taxes) MUST happen (The equivalent of getting that second job.) in order to balance the budget.
If taxes are going to stay the same, spending MUST go down in order to balance the budget. (The equivalent of "tightening our belts" at home; fewer dinners out, fewer luxuries, etc.)
It really is as simple as that.
Right now the U.S. is hemorrhaging the life blood of our American Troops and hundred(s) of BILLIONS of dollars every year for the un-necessary occupation of Iraq.
There is enough pork in many of the other areas of the budget to "kill a horse".
Increase taxes or cut spending or both, them's the choices.
Regards, Alf.

Gotta Love It. wrote on Jul 29, 2008 11:14 AM:Here is a room mate for Randy Duke Cunningham. "WASHINGTON — Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska, the longest-serving Republican senator in United States history and a figure of great influence in Washington as well as in his home state, has been indicted on federal corruption charges."

Lets count wrote on Jul 29, 2008 11:19 AM:Go to the MSM and count the number of times anything about new offshore drilling or the ANWR is mentioned. Now count the number of reports there are about the amount of oil-rich land the oil companies already lease. Funny how that famously "liberal" media just seems to be a propaganda arm for the President and his corporate employers, isn't it? I can't decide: are we living in a soft totalitarian system, or are Americans just very, very stupid and easily led by the nose?

Dont Think So wrote on Jul 29, 2008 11:21 AM:Reardon continues to insist that Obama will flip on offshore drilling. Hmmmm, funny, now it's coming out that McCain received huge amounts of donations from Big Oil as soon as he changed his position on offshore drilling.

So far the Obama Camp has the strategy advantage, so it would make a lot more sense for Obama to stand firm and let the McCain take the grief.

Once again, I think Reardon's opinion is no more than wishful thinking.

To Reardon Media Matters wrote on Jul 29, 2008 11:24 AM:Polls are just empty fodder to give the masses something to talk about. Not only are they contradicting themselves, depending on who you ask, but they don't include the young voters whom are so fired up about Obama because they aren't done on cell phones. Do the math in your head and find another game to play than "gotcha". You say you are a published columnist but you have zero credibility. Just goes to show that one doesn't have to be a Factchecker to get published.

Shhh... wrote on Jul 29, 2008 11:32 AM:Red herring Alert! Red Herring Alert!

The concern about Obama and Blackwater was never about Obama – it was about Bloggers on this Blog. Shhh never accused Obama of flip-flopping (although he did and does), it was about Bloggers on this Blog who have trashed Blackwater! “Quick, Pepto-Bismol for Alf and Chris! Fainting salts for Ms. M and Oh!” is the exact quote from yesterday.

The Left on this Blog have beaten Blackwater like a drum, but Blackwater is just fine now that they have protected “The One." It is not the Right that has blasted Blackwater. In fact, Hillary co-sponsored a bill to ban: “the use of Blackwater and other private mercenary firms in Iraq. “ (February 28, H. Clinton press release)

Show me the words “Obama” Blackwater” and “flip-flop” in the same sentence, or even paragraph – heck, even posted blog.

No, but Blackwater has taken a lot of grief from Obama supporters, and the left in general on this Blog.

And don't think you are doing any harm by “outing" Reardon. He never tries to cloak his tracks -- he can't -- but many names makes it difficult for the spoofing twit to assume a single identity. His become obvious anyway because of his limited vocabulary, and simple sentence structure.

(resubmitted)

News that is not news wrote on Jul 29, 2008 11:37 AM:Well, another Republican bigwig, Senator Stevens of Alaska, has joined the GOP list of the indicted, standing up for individual responsibility and old fashioned values. You have to laugh at this stuff, don't you? I know, I know: Democrats do it too. This is always the way to attack Democrats: "you guys are just as bad as republicans" LOL

GFN wrote on Jul 29, 2008 11:50 AM:Well we just had an earthquake!!!! Hmmm...we just had an article a few days ago that said we were overdue for one and--wow--here it is. Is the big one imminent???? Hmmmm...are YOU prepared???? I am; I have a motor home!!!

Read his lips wrote on Jul 29, 2008 11:59 AM:From the AP QUOTE WASHINGTON - Republican presidential candidate John McCain's signal that he may be open to a higher payroll tax for Social Security, despite previous vows not to raise taxes of any kind, is drawing sharp rebukes from conservatives. McCain's shift has come in stages, catching some Republicans by surprise. Speaking with reporters on his campaign bus on July 9, he cited a need to shore up Social Security. "I cannot tell you what I would do, except to put everything on the table," he said ENDQUOTE Yawn I hope this contributes to everyone just accepting that when people run for office, they say a lot of things, and they also come to change their minds as they look at issues more closely. I hope I never hear the phrase "flip flop" again. It was slimy and dumb when introduced to attack Kerry, and it's been slimy and dumb ever since. RIP Flip Flop. You're boring.

Chris to to Chris wrote on Jul 29, 2008 12:04 PM:Regarding your blog for Sunday. I had some computer problems so that is why this blog is a belated one. I notice that you make a point that no one mentioned Pulse's letter. I think Bill did in a round about way. But anyhow I see that all you could do in your blog was make more sarcastic remarks instead of having any rebuttle to what Pulse said. But I see that you are doing business as usual.

Chris to Thank You wrote on Jul 29, 2008 12:13 PM:Obvously you know nothing about the history of Israel. The main reason the countries around Israel are backward is because their governments are paid off by ours and we keep the despots in power. Also look at what happens when these countries try to join the modern era like Iran building nuclear facilities. Israel and the U.s. are threatening to bomb then into the stone age. When Palestine was under the mandate the British gave Israel all the help they needed to form their own government and interact with the rest of the world whereas they did every thing they could to isolate the Palestinians and never allowed them to set up their own governmetn. So it is Israel and the U.S. that has done everything they could to keep the Arabs down.

Alf wrote on Jul 29, 2008 12:18 PM:You are right "GFN" at 11:50AM, a 5.8 nearest to Chino Hills with several 3.8's after. The NCT still doesn't have it as Breaking News, but the San Francisco Chronicle had a banner on their sight within 5 minutes.
The article was for the San Andreas fault, this one was between the Whittier Fault and the Chino Fault according to the USGS page.
Regards, Alf.

Oh Shhh wrote on Jul 29, 2008 12:19 PM:Not about Obama, eh? Yeah right. So you can backpedal. What in the world sense is there telling off the lefties here that Obama had Blackwater protection? What point does that make? That the Blackwater they hate protected their "Messiah"? Well, what did they expect? Besides, when they say they "hate Blackwater" what they mean is that they are opposed to the ridiculously expensive need to privatize our wars. Sorry, Shhh. Just admit your original post was dopey and move on. You'll hurt yourself doing that moonwalk. LOL

Alf wrote on Jul 29, 2008 12:22 PM:Well, "Shhh..." at 11:32AM, the only Pepto ever does for me is make me regurge.
Deep breathing, that's the way!
Regards, Alf.

to Shhhh wrote on Jul 29, 2008 12:34 PM:From the AP QUOTERALEIGH, N.C. - Private security contractor Blackwater Worldwide and its affiliates may have misrepresented their size to win more than $100 million in government contracts set aside for small businesses, federal auditors said Monday. A report by the Small Business Administration's Office of Inspector General questioned the agency's decision to approve Blackwater as a small business even though there were signs the company could be much larger than executives claimed. ENDQUOTE Ahh, the Bush administration and war profiteers, a match made in heaven. I wonder how much pleasure they get out of seeing our hard-earned taxdollars going into the pockets of their pals. Hey, Shhh, I'm glad you think the right loves Blackwater. Must make you proud.

Alf wrote on Jul 29, 2008 1:04 PM:The USGS downgraded the initial quake from 5.8 to 5.4.
Either way, it was a heckuva shelf-rattler.
Regards, Alf.

Chris wrote on Jul 29, 2008 1:13 PM:Chris Pulse once again speaks of Palestine as if it was soveriegn country.

All while accusing others of lacking in knowledge of history.

The Pals got their wish and couldnt handle the responsibility of being autonomous.

Hey Chris.

You never reponded to me when I educated you on who the Palestinians are and how they got to be both Arab and Semite. You never listed any attrocities either when challenged.

You keep lecturing all of us on how we are uneducated on the history of the region but avoided my posts like the plague.You also ignore the fact that the Pals are discriminated against by ARABS!!!!!Nobody in the middle east cares about the bastardized Palestinians.

They finally got the Gaza and what did they do?

But, according to you, these countries only need for a military is to protect themselves from the USA.

Right?

Your views make me think Bush knew what he was doing by authorizing wire taps.

I worry about your type one day aligning themselves with Al Qaeda right here in the USA.

Your hatred of America concerns me.

Your "facts" about the region amuse me.

There was history before 1948 Chris.Everything you accuse Israel of doing is excactly what the Muslims have done for centuries. ...

Poppy puck wrote on Jul 29, 2008 1:13 PM:I am confident that the media would have done to Bush and Cheney what Jesse Jackson promised to do to Obama if it were possible to prove that the Pres. & VP made a penny oil profit out of the Iraq debacle. Personally, I don’t think Bush was smart enough to make it ALL ABOUT OIL. If Bush had invaded Iraq to insure a steady, economic oil supply, he would have demonstrated more intelligence than he did by making it all about WMDs.

What Earthquake wrote on Jul 29, 2008 1:15 PM:Absolutely unfelt and unnoticed in Hidden Meadows. Alf, you need to lay off the sauce this early!

At the Saloon wrote on Jul 29, 2008 1:26 PM:WWhat Earthquake[-] wrote on Jul 29, 2008 1:15 PM: Earth quake felt in San Diego, Cardiff, Encinitas, Carlsbad and Oceanside. Maybe you out lay off the sauce this early.

Ms M wrote on Jul 29, 2008 1:31 PM:What Earthquake
[-] wrote on Jul 29, 2008 1:15 PM:..It was felt in Mira Mesa...in fact per the news it originated in Los Angeles and felt from San Diego to Las Vegas...Could it be that you are hung over from too much late night sauce to have known what was going on? LOL

Chris wrote on Jul 29, 2008 1:53 PM:Who is it that wrote the blog for 1:13. I assume it was Bill. Just more smoke and nothing in his blog had anything to do with the subject. Since when were the Palestinians autonomous? Anyway having a discussion with Bill is pointless because he just goes off into some meanigless argument. Just more smoke and I refuse to go off all over the map.

I saw yahoos wrote on Jul 29, 2008 1:56 PM:The NY Times has a photo of people from the far right protesting the arrest of Radovan Karadzic for war crimes. He was a killer, of course, but from the protester's point of view, he was killing bad people, terrorists, the enemy. It was easy to imagine a future trial of Dick Cheney for war crimes, the usual yahoos similarly protesting that their guy was defending the USA from the axis of evil. Chilling how people can so easily lose their moral bearings, isn't it? Our yahoos, like these Serbs, will all swear that they are good Christians, too. Sad

to Poppy Puck wrote on Jul 29, 2008 2:01 PM:I would be shocked too if you could find a direct profit going to Bush and Cheney. But in a few months, they will be citizens again, and we will have no way to observe the rewards their employers doled out to them for the work the government did on their behalf. Bush was hired to be the face of the Republican party because he is affable, not because he's smart. Other people have been smart for him. Remember Reagan's diary entry: Bush senior is bringing his ne'er do well son around, probably looking for a job for the bum. Or something like that. If he looks like that to Reagan, imagine what Bush looks like to your run of the mill, but intelligent, liberal! LOL

Boat wrote on Jul 29, 2008 2:01 PM:SPARKS, Nev. -- Republican John McCain today ruled out raising taxes if he is elected president, and rejected suggestions that he had flip-flopped on the issue.

As I was saying yesterday, the President does not have the Constitutional Authority to raise or lower the people's taxes. According to:

U.S. Constitution
Article 1 Section 8

The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States.

Would someone please send John McCain a pocket sized copy of the U.S. Constitution? He has Constitutional Authority now over tax policy as a Senator.

Asteroid wrote on Jul 29, 2008 2:03 PM:Chris
[-] wrote on Jul 29, 2008 1:13 PM:
I worry about your type one day aligning themselves with Al Qaeda right here in the USA.
Your hatred of America concerns me.

That's all you needed have said! But arguing intelligently with chris is a complete and total effort in futility. One thing moves him; "HATRED". He hates our country, her military, Christians, Jews, straight white men, etc. However he doesn't hate Muslims, not yet anyway. Be happy and revel in his self imposed misery. Cheers.

Anderson wrote on Jul 29, 2008 2:31 PM:Check out the barackbook...It totally highlights Hussein's ideology, friends and stuff.

Heard it on Fox News this morning.

BTW, as much as the NC Times may appear to be "leftist" I find that it is pretty reasonable. Not too far left and not to far right.

Alf wrote on Jul 29, 2008 2:32 PM:Well, "What Earthquake" at 1:15PM, it was Mrs. Alf who was getting ready to go to Temecula for her late Tuesday who felt it at the table.
I was walking about and didn't feel it.
No sause for Alf unless it's root-sause or near-sause.
Regards, Alf.

to Anderson wrote on Jul 29, 2008 2:40 PM:"Leftist" print includes things like The Nation and The Progressive. When people talk about MSM as liberal, I scratch my head over the transparent effort at propaganda. Why in the name of heaven would anyone suspect the NCT of being "leftist"? How many leftist papers have an Ollie North column? I think those that brand MSM papers and other media "leftist" are complaining that they give voice to ANY liberal opinions. Silly.

Chris to I saw yahoos wrote on Jul 29, 2008 2:48 PM:I agree completely with your blog for 1:56. And the leader protesting the Arrest of Cheny would be people like Asteroid, and Bill.

Ralphs wrote on Jul 29, 2008 2:49 PM:It is fairly obvious that Alf and Ron must be the most intelligent two people in the U.S. At least in their own eyes. They seem to know everything about everything. As soon as I see either of their names on the log in, I delete and go to something that might be interesting.

hardtack wrote on Jul 29, 2008 3:33 PM:Richard Matthews says: “strength of union ... allows our freedoms to exist.” True. But, strength of union alone does not guarantee freedom; a larger “union” may take it away. Freedom’s guarantee only comes by way of individual responsibility, whether the individual is part of some collective body or not.

Those who want to guarantee liberty must live by three principles: (1) Do not encroach upon the rights or property of others; (2) Do not ask government to do the encroaching for you; and (3) Keep all contracts and agreements that you enter into knowingly and voluntarily. Those three rules are the basis of individual freedom and Constitutional law.

One cannot have personal freedom without accepting personal responsibility. Since individuals make up collective bodies, the same principle applies to a union of individuals. Individual responsibility, self-determination, and personal freedom are not granted to us by government; they exist in nature, and continue to exist as long as government is not allowed to take them away under the guise of “majority rule” or “rescuing ” us from our personal responsibilities.

Ron wrote on Jul 29, 2008 3:33 PM:The reason my good friend "Correction"
@7:20 AM has to "cover" the Obamaman's "you know what" on Blackwater, is because he said this:
QUOTE: "We know Iraqis don't benefit from this. We know it ruins our relationship with the world. We know that we are paying through the nose for these services. We know its unjust." END Quote

Before he said this:
"A senior foreign policy adviser to leading Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama [said] that if elected Obama will not "rule out" using private security companies like Blackwater Worldwide in Iraq."

Of course, he won't "rule them out", who do you think has a ZERO kill status of protectee's?

Don't let the smooth taste fool ya!

bogie wrote on Jul 29, 2008 3:36 PM:Alf,
I was parked on a small bridge in Sorrento Valley at 11:42 am waiting for a red light. My ride was rolling back and forth like those huge engines in hopped up cars do when you gun the engine while idling. Knowing that I was in a 6 cylinder GMC I assumed earthquake right away. It was a long one but not nearly as intense as the 6.something I went through on the 12th floor of the Riverside in Laughlin a few years back when the epicenter was 60 miles away. As I remember is was about 2 in the morning and I checked out immediately by cell phone. I am still amazed to this day that the slot machine players were still going at it with plaster chips all around them. they must have thought it was a good omen from the Gods.

Apollo wrote on Jul 29, 2008 3:41 PM:Re: Anderson (5:49 & 9:22 a.m.)
and Caro Cogitatus (7:10 a.m.)
Couple of corrections needed here.
Anderson stubbornly insists that "America is a REPUBLIC not a democracy" and when corrected that we are a Democratic Republic, asserts stunning legal authority by indignantly (and ignorantly) asking, "Where in our Pledge of Allegiance does it say '...to the Democratic Republic for which it stands...'?" I've got some news for Mr. Anderson: the Pledge of Allegiance is an officially recognized ritual observance that has no legal standing. Only the Constitution does that, and in addition to specific references to the representative functions of a republic, there are repeated references in that document and its amendments to voting, elections, etc., which are the mechanisms of democratic process. We are indeed a "democratic republic" with representatives chosen through democratic means.
And while Caro is correct that Republicans completely dominated all branches of government from 2000-06, since that time the Democrats have not had an actual majority in the Senate (they only have the votes for committee chairs because two independents caucus with them, one of whom votes against them on Iraq) and they especially have nowhere near the votes to override either a filibuster or a presidential veto. The Democrats do not have actual control of any single branch of the government right now.

Poppy puck wrote on Jul 29, 2008 3:47 PM:The “smart people” who are supposed to keep loose cannon presidents out of war and debt are sitting in Congress. Kind of hard to figure out who is the more stupid, isn’t it? Unfortunately, since most of the dipwads in Congress will still be there after the president is gone, we must be the stupid ones.

Greendergy wrote on Jul 29, 2008 3:54 PM:Ed DeCanniere's letter asks how much better we would be now if we had drilled eight to 10 years ago.
While this is a legitimate question to ask of those sitting on long-standing oil leases already approved, as to why they haven't developed what they already have.
But the bigger question is not about continuing to drill deeper into our addiction to oil. The real question is how much better we would be now if we had been developing solar, wind, geothermal, hydro and fuel cells over the last 40 years during which "can't do" Republican obstructionists have blocked any meaningful progress on alternatives to greedy profiteering by the Big Oil cronies of Nixon, Reagan, Bush41 and Dubya.

Alf wrote on Jul 29, 2008 4:04 PM:Sorry if I have a broad knowledge base "Ralphs" at 2:49PM.
I guess you are easily intimidated.
Regards, Alf.

Dont worry Alf wrote on Jul 29, 2008 4:18 PM:Ralphs must be one of these Americans who is convinced that knowledge, intelligence, being articulate, curious, etc are bad things that only the "elite" do to make others feel bad. Sure do seem to be a lot of them around lately. Enough to elect Bush, for example. Don't let them get you down.

Ron wrote on Jul 29, 2008 4:26 PM:So, I'm sitting here, and it just dawns on me, what Barack Obama really represents, and why the lib's just love this guy.

Now, to me it's another version of "Mascot politics", wherein, voting for Obama is meant to say far more about the voter, than it does about the Obamaman.
I mean.. think about it.

Here's the first real Black nominee, with a real shot at the White House.
What liberal would not want to be on that train, of electing the very first Black President? It's historic, and they want to be a part of making history, regardless of his weak "qualifications."

Ah, but then.. it hit me.

He's also the best example of affirmative action we have.
With 143 days as a US Senator, he will probably be the least qualified of any one elected President.
Now, isn't this the ultimate in both catagories? Black, so we get to be historic. I can tell my kid's, regardless of how weak the guy is, That I helped elect the first Black President, and aren't "I" great!

When you kid's say: "But, Daddy.. they guy really messed things up when you elected him."

You can tell em, "Well, son... sometimes you have to give the unqualified a chance too. How do you think you got into college with a GPA of 1.7, and an SAT of 960?"

"Boy, I am proud of you now, ever since you left school, you've been working hard at the 7-11 nearly everday, excluding band practise in your Mother's basement."

Bogie wrote on Jul 29, 2008 4:28 PM:I second that Alf @ 4:04

Peace

Analyst wrote on Jul 29, 2008 4:38 PM:Greenergy: Let me tell you who constitutes "Big Oil": (Saudi Arabian Oil Company, National Iranian Oil Company, Qatar Petroleum, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, Iraq National Oil Company, Gazprom (Russia), Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, Petróleos de Venezuela S.A., Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, National Oil Corporation (Libya))

Investor-owned oil companies are barely "Little Oil" -- but we spend far too much on REALLY BIG OIL, and we need to transfer to profit to Little oil.

I'll just bet your car runs on an oil derivative.

Alf wrote on Jul 29, 2008 4:56 PM:Did you birdie today, "Bogie"?
Regards, Alf

Mark wrote on Jul 29, 2008 4:58 PM:As it comes to Social security, remember people, that we are not paying for ourselves. We are paying for the retirees of the next 20-50 years. This is obviously a problem now because we have about 1 taxpayer to pay for two retirees, whereas previous generations have had had more taxpayers to retiree ratio. The good news(I think) is that births the last year have increased dramatically, so that the future generations won't have the same burden we are about to have with the baby boomers. The next 20-50 years may be rough as it comes to paying for S.S. Privatizing is obviously not the answer, as many retirees have come to discover, and Conservatives seem to think that the problem will go away if they don't think about it. Tax raises may not be what people want to hear, but the fact is we have to decide how important S.S. is to our nation. Like the oil issue, I really don't think the solution will be easy or painless.

GAY MAN wrote on Jul 29, 2008 4:59 PM:…. This just in: NO on 8-Equality California today received a significant contribution of $250,000 from Pacific Gas and Electric Company to help secure the freedom to marry for all Californians. PG&E is partnering with EQCA and the NO on 8 campaign to defeat Proposition 8, the November statewide ballot initiative that aims to treat same-gender couples differently by excluding them from marriage. PG&E's contribution is the largest corporate and only utility-made donation received by the NO on 8 campaign.

In addition to the $250,000 shareholder contribution, PG&E today announced it will become a founding member of the Equality Business Advisory Council, an organization that will challenge other businesses to join NO on 8 in supporting fairness and equality for all people.

California Proposition 8, on the November ballot seeks to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman.

There is a major funding effort by the promoters to reverse the constitutionality of same gender marriage, much of it coming from San Diego County. Some of the large contributors include The Law Office of Chuck Limandri ($25,000), The San Diego Rock Church in San Diego ($25,679), Terry Caster of Caster Family Enterprises ($445,000), and Doug Manchester of Manchester Financial Group of San Diego. A list of all contributors is found on the web site of the CA Sec. of State.

Ralphs wrote on Jul 29, 2008 5:03 PM:To Alf. Not intimidated at all, and your not as smart as you think. You know just enough about things to be dangerous. I think you are starting to believe your own BS.

SOLON wrote on Jul 29, 2008 5:14 PM:== McCAIN & OBAMA in Lake Forest ==

The first joint appearance in the nation of John McCain and Barack Obama will be in neighboring Lake Forest in Orange County on Aug. 16, at 5:00 PM, it was announced yesterday. The so-called debate will not really be a debate one on one, but one after the other, for about one hour each, and will be at Saddleback Church, a mega church of 22,000 members. Dr. Rick Warren, founding pastor, will be moderator for the event, according to their news release. Information is also posted on the website of the Saddleback Church, with tickets available starting Aug. 1. (Google Saddleback Church Lake Forest)

"This is a critical time for our nation and the American people deserve to hear both candidates speak from the heart ­ without interruption ­ in a civil and thoughtful format absent the partisan `gotcha' questions that typically produce heat instead of light. "The primaries proved that Americans care deeply about the faith, values, character and leadership convictions of candidates as much as they do about the issues.

While I know both men as friends and they recognize I will be frank, but fair, they also know I will be raising questions in these four areas beyond what political reporters typically ask. This includes pressing issues that are bridging divides in our nation, such as poverty, HIV/AIDS, climate and human rights."

A coalition of pro-peace groups from San Diego County plan to demonstrate in Lake Forest to voice their opposition to “war-monger” McCain.

gracchus wrote on Jul 29, 2008 5:27 PM:ron, your distortions about obama's accomplishments are reprehensible. do you really think that obama became editor of the harvard law review through affirmative action? do you really think that he lectured on constitutional law at the university of chicago through affirmative action?
does the possibility occur to you that i am supporting obamabecause i like his ideas and his presentation of them rahter than because he is black?
rather thanthrowing out superfficial remarks about obama, many of which are untrue, why don't you take the time and read the substantial article about obama which appeared in THE NEW YORKER? te article contained some unflattering information about obama which can help you raise your expressions of distaste toward obama from the merely ridiculous to the more serious.
concerning your remarks about obama and blackwater, i am reminded of one of the great lessons of the u.s. civil war. the federal government was still very weak in 1860. it had to rely upon private entrepeneurs for logistics. the corruption of the war profiteers was horrifying. the bush administration allowed war profiteers to run rampant in iraq and thus earn the enmity of the iraqi people. when blackwater agents are making a minimum 6 figure salary compared to a borderline poverty income of many of our troops, and when blackwater is antagonizing iraqis and afghans so that they have a bad opinion of the usa, i will not hesitate to call blackwater a war profiteer.

SOLON wrote on Jul 29, 2008 5:27 PM:== Apollo speaks the stark truth (3:41PM) ==

The Democrats do not control any of the 3 branches of government, and have not for several years. The Regressives control the Supreme Court, the Executive Branch and the Congress. The Congress is not controlled a party until it has a WORKING SUPER MAJORITY of 60% in the Senate. Until the Democrats reach this Senate majority, Congress remains dead in the water.

From what Apollo says, it is apparent why the Democrats must pick up several Senate seats and win the White House. By doing so, they will be able to get our constitutional system of checks and balances government back on track in the right direction.

Three of the very senior Supreme Court justices are eager to retire, but are waiting for responsible replacements. If luck favor President Obama, he will appoint at least 3 strong constitutional judges to the court in his first four years.

OBAMACAN wrote on Jul 29, 2008 5:32 PM:I see Ron at 4:26 p.m. needs more help keeping his facts straight on government, past and present.
He predicts that Obama will be the "least qualified of anyone ever elected president."
Ron obviously has never compared two back-to-back presidents, our 15th and 16th, James Buchanan and Abraham Lincoln. Buchanan had one of the broadest, deepest resumes of "experience" ever, with extensive legislative (state and federal), foreign policy and diplomatic experience, yet was a one-term failed president with one of the worst administrations ever - Washington insiders aren't always so wonderful. Following this debacle, voters turned to probably the least qualified president ever, a self-educated farm-boy turned small-town lawyer, serving one term in the U.S. House of Representatives, oh, and yeah, that stint in the legislature of, what was that state now, oh yeah, ILLINOIS. Yet many consider him to be the greatest of all our presidents.
As for the Affirmative Action thing, Ron mentions the help with getting INTO school for those who show grit and street smarts and the ability to work 3 times as hard to get a score that shows more achievement than a higher one garnered by someone born to opportunity, advantage, support and tutoring, but deceptively fails to mention that no such advantage is conferred in getting out of school with an actual diploma. One must do all the same work and complete all the same requirements to get the sheepskin. But then, that would kind of deflate Ron's little theory, wouldn't it? Big time!

Anderson wrote on Jul 29, 2008 5:35 PM:Thomas Jefferson defined a republic as:


“ ...a government by its citizens in mass, acting directly and personally, according to rules established by the majority; and that every other government is more or less republican, in proportion as it has in its composition more or less of this ingredient of the direct action of the citizens.

Such a government is evidently restrained to very narrow limits of space and population.

I doubt if it would be practicable beyond the extent of a New England township.

The first shade from this pure element, which, like that of pure vital air, cannot sustain life of itself, would be where the powers of the government, being divided, should be exercised each by representatives chosen...for such short terms as should render secure the duty of expressing the will of their constituents.

This I should consider as the nearest approach to a pure republic, which is practicable on a large scale of country or population ... we may say with truth and meaning, that governments are more or less republican as they have more or less of the element of popular election and control in their composition; and believing, as I do, that the mass of the citizens is the safest depository of their own rights, and especially, that the evils flowing from the duperies of the people, are less injurious than those from the egoism of their agents, I am a friend to that composition of government which has in it the most of this ingredient."

Jefferson to Taylor, 1816

OBSERVATION wrote on Jul 29, 2008 5:35 PM:POWER OF THE PROTEST VOTE:
"Don’t be surprised if third or fourth party presidential candidates garner enough votes in November to make a difference in some of the hotly contested swing states. The polls show more than enough Republican disaffection with John McCain’s candidacy to make a case that Bob Barr, the Libertarian candidate, or another right-of-center candidate could take votes away from the G.O.P. standard bearer. And on the Democratic side, Barack Obama has to worry about defections of not only Hillary Clinton’s supporters, but also of liberals, who are beginning to grumble that he is moving too much toward the center."

Oh Please wrote on Jul 29, 2008 5:44 PM:# LETTERS: NCT, July 29, 2008 (67)
What is with all of you? Didn't anybody have their vitamin B complex this morning?

OBSRVATION wrote on Jul 29, 2008 5:56 PM:Reversing Account, US Admits Killing Iraqi Civilians But Won’t Prosecute Soldiers

In Iraq, the US military has admitted to killing three innocent civilians and then issuing a false statement covering up the attack. On June 25th, two women and one man were killed when soldiers fired hundreds of rounds at their car as they drove to work at a bank at Baghdad airport. The US military later released a statement saying the victims had fired on US troops. The military now admits that claim was false but insists there was no crime because the soldiers fired warning shots.

Well wrote on Jul 29, 2008 6:02 PM:Chris
[-] wrote on Jul 29, 2008 1:53 PM: Then ANSWER his questions!!!

SOLON wrote on Jul 29, 2008 6:09 PM:== OLD MAN, OLD IDEAS ==

Standing before a room of oil company executives in June, John McCain flip-flopped and declared his support for coastal oil drilling. Now the Washington Post is reporting that, within days, oil and gas execs forked over nearly $1 million to elect McCain. It's another piece of evidence that in a McCain White House, oil companies will call the shots—just as they have with President Bush. McCain seeks to continue the Oiligarchy rule.

Yesterday young people jumped into action in response to the Post story by placing "For Sale" signs on McCain headquarters in 10 states to call public attention to it. At the very same time, McCain was holding a photo-op yesterday in front of a California oil well and renewing his push for offshore drilling. Do not forget this, Californians!

The energy crisis is shaping up to be a decisive issue in the election.

OK - Now go to the NC Times today’s page A-6 and read Thomas Friedman’s column “Energy revolution” for the great solution bursting out around the world, of which old man McCain is unaware. He is the wrong side of progress.

You can find this enlightening article by Googling “J. R. Ewing T. Boone Pickens”

Bud wrote on Jul 29, 2008 6:19 PM:Actually, Sen. Obama has claimed to be a Progressive, as did Sen. Clinton. And his statist agenda is completely consistent with that admission. His shifting positions are all a piece of the strategy, long documented in Progressive literature: avoid having principles regarding any issue and be ready to change at any time, when it offers advantage.

Lanyon wrote on Jul 29, 2008 6:20 PM:"All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent".
- Thomas Jefferson

sdraoul wrote on Jul 29, 2008 6:21 PM:You impeachment nuts are laughable.

Woodrow Wilson truly violated the 4th Amendment by rounding up people for expressing their political views -- The Red Scare -- and deporting themw ithout hearings or tirals.

Woodrow Wilson invaded Mexico twice in two years just so he could prepare us to go to war in Europe for no legitimate reason.

Woodrow Wilson re-segregated the U.S. Government and violated the 14th Amendment millions of times in the process.

FDR sent 100,000 Americans to concentration camp without trials or hearings but based only on the color of their skin.

Harry Truman seized private companies illegally and never suffered for it.

Jimmy Carter allowed American diplomats to be kidnapped and held for over 400 days without a scintilla of anything but diplomatic reproach.

Bill Clinton allowed the U.S.S. Cole to be attacked and Americans killed, he allowed the Khobar Towers to be bombed and Americans killed, he allowed our Embassies in Africa to be bombed and Americans killed. He allowed S. Hussein to stay in power despite attacking American planes every day.

He allowed Osama Bin laden to live when he was in the sights of a Predator armed with missiles.

Impeachment, baloney. Let's go back and try real criminals like Wilson, FDR, Truman and Carter.

SOLON wrote on Jul 29, 2008 6:26 PM:== Terminator’s Wrong target ==

I just received an email from John Chiang, Controller for the State of California, detailing Schwarzenegger’s proposal to use CA state workers as power pawns in the budget battle by cutting their pay to the federal minimum wage of $6.55 which is lower than the CA minimum wage.

This is an outrageous idea. If Schwarzenegger wants to use a power play, he should propose that CA legislator will get NO PAY during the period we are without a state budget. Even better, why not a proposal to dock them a day’s pay for every day we have no budget.

The civil servants should not bear the brunt of the budget stalemate. Requiring a cut in pay for public employees -- especially as they, like many of us, struggle with their mortgages and higher gas and food prices -- will not only cause significant harm to those families, but also irreparably impact our fragile economy by further eroding consumer spending.

GAY MAN wrote on Jul 29, 2008 6:29 PM:.... This just in: NO on 8-Equality California today received a significant contribution of $250,000 from Pacific Gas and Electric Company to help secure the freedom to marry for all Californians. PG&E is partnering with EQCA and the NO on 8 campaign to defeat Proposition 8, the November statewide ballot initiative that aims to treat same-gender couples differently by excluding them from marriage. PG&E's contribution is the largest corporate and only utility-made donation received by the NO on 8 campaign.

In addition to the $250,000 shareholder contribution, PG&E today announced it will become a founding member of the Equality Business Advisory Council, an organization that will challenge other businesses to join NO on 8 in supporting fairness and equality for all people.

California Proposition 8, on the November ballot seeks to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman.

There is a major funding effort by the promoters to reverse the constitutionality of same gender marriage, much of it coming from San Diego County. Some of the large contributors include The Law Office of Chuck Limandri ($25,000), The San Diego Rock Church in San Diego ($25,679), Terry Caster of Caster Family Enterprises ($445,000), and Doug Manchester of Manchester Financial Group of San Diego. A list of all contributors is found on the web site of the CA Sec. of State.
Submitted 4:55pm Re-submitted 6:27pm

Evidence wrote on Jul 29, 2008 6:34 PM:Bill Clinton allowed the U.S.S. Cole to be attacked and Americans killed, he allowed the Khobar Towers to be bombed and Americans killed, he allowed our Embassies in Africa to be bombed and Americans killed. He allowed S. Hussein to stay in power despite attacking American planes every day. Show us the documented evidence?

Oh Please wrote on Jul 29, 2008 6:35 PM:SOLON[-] wrote on Jul 29, 2008 6:26 PM:
Such an act wuold have immediate political and social implications with results. Arnold would find out how it feels to lose a special election.

Evidence wrote on Jul 29, 2008 6:37 PM:Jimmy Carter allowed American diplomats to be kidnapped and held for over 400 days without a scintilla of anything but diplomatic reproach.
Documented evidence please?

Evodemce wrote on Jul 29, 2008 6:38 PM:Woodrow Wilson invaded Mexico twice in two years just so he could prepare us to go to war in Europe for no legitimate reason.I think that Black Jack Pershing was after a hero/desperado, Pauncho Villa.

hey Anderson wrote on Jul 29, 2008 6:41 PM:It seems Mr. Anderson is offended by the term Democracy, insisting we are not one. Yes, our country is a Republic as our founding fathers deemed it. While are not a pure democracy, but a representative democracy. We hold elections to democratically elect our leaders.

Over the years, our country has moved closer and closer to a pure Democracy, and I'll bet Mr. Anderson finds that irritating. In a Republic, the ruling class can decide who is allowed to cast a vote. Two hundred years ago, you had to be white, male and wealthy to vote. Thankfully, things have changed and we have become more Democratic.

Perhaps that is what Mr. Anderson would prefer, to go back to where Women and African Americans were denied the right to vote. And why he gleefuly posts about the RNC's juvenile propaganda website attacking Senator Obama.

I for one will be thankful when our country is once again run by grownups who appreciate everyones right to vote in our Democracy. Mr. Anderson, I'm sure, will be miserable.

OBAMACAN wrote on Jul 29, 2008 6:42 PM:Submit 5:33 p.m. - re-submit 6:42 p.m.
Looks like editors feel the need to protect Ron again.

I see Ron at 4:26 p.m. needs more help with facts about government, both past and present.
He predicts that Obama will be the "least qualified of anyone ever elected president."
Ron obviously has never compared two back-to-back presidents, our 15th and 16th, James Buchanan and Abraham Lincoln. Buchanan had one of the broadest, deepest resumes of "experience" ever, with extensive legislative (state and federal), foreign policy and diplomatic experience, yet was a one-term failed president with one of the worst administrations ever - Washington insiders aren't always so wonderful. Following this debacle, voters turned to probably the least qualified president ever, a self-educated farm-boy turned small-town lawyer, serving one term in the U.S. House of Representatives, oh, and yeah, that stint in the legislature of, what was that state now, oh yeah, ILLINOIS. Yet many consider him to be the greatest of all our presidents.
As for the Affirmative Action thing, Ron mentions the help with getting INTO school for those who show grit and street smarts and the ability to work 3 times as hard to get a score that shows more achievement than a higher one garnered by someone born to opportunity, advantage, support and tutoring, but deceptively fails to mention that no such advantage is conferred in getting out of school with an actual diploma. One must do all the same work and complete all the same requirements to get the sheepskin. But then, that would kind of deflate Ron's little theory, wouldn't it? Big time!

Anderson wrote on Jul 29, 2008 6:45 PM:Let's try this a second time.

Thomas Jefferson defined a republic as:

“ ...a government by its citizens in mass, acting directly and personally, according to rules established by the majority; and that every other government is more or less republican, in proportion as it has in its composition more or less of this ingredient of the direct action of the citizens.

Such a government is evidently restrained to very narrow limits of space and population.

I doubt if it would be practicable beyond the extent of a New England township.

The first shade from this pure element, which, like that of pure vital air, cannot sustain life of itself, would be where the powers of the government, being divided, should be exercised each by representatives chosen...for such short terms as should render secure the duty of expressing the will of their constituents.

This I should consider as the nearest approach to a pure republic, which is practicable on a large scale of country or population ... we may say with truth and meaning, that governments are more or less republican as they have more or less of the element of popular election and control in their composition; and believing, as I do, that the mass of the citizens is the safest depository of their own rights, and especially, that the evils flowing from the duperies of the people, are less injurious than those from the egoism of their agents, I am a friend to that composition of government which has in it the most of this ingredient.

Well Now wrote on Jul 29, 2008 6:46 PM:Miss/Mrs/Ms. Cruz has a great idea! Think I will try that.

The GREEN MAN wrote on Jul 29, 2008 6:46 PM:--- The latest conundrum facing the Fed and Treasury at the end of July, as
regulators seize two more banks, is: will we be engulfed by a further collapse in our economy or can the damage be contained, or, even turned around?

We know what goes up must come down but when will what's down go back up?

It ain’t looking good -- and, even now, the two presumptive major party presidential candidates are talking about everything but this deepening crisis. They are debating terrorists and Afghanistan and how to meander out of Iraq but not the reality that so many Americans are living with: a squeeze that is leaving so many of us broke, in deeper and deeper debt and disgusted.

Until now, the doom and gloomsters were mostly to be found in the margins, in financial blogs or in the campaigns of Ron Paul, Ralph Nader or the GREENS. The mainstream media has been looking the other way and mostly downplaying the unfolding disaster. Even as foreclosures double, and the price of gas and food rises sharply, it's been business as usual on the business pages, and among the liberal political pundits who would rather debate the cover of the New Yorker than the growing desperation of so many Americans.

Congress finally passed a housing bill a year into the crisis with most of the money going to shore up two housing agencies with more than a half a trillion in housing assets. The markets are melting down with more major stocks tanking, banks writing off still more billions and unemployment rising.

People in the know like George Soros are saying this is the worst financial crisis since the depression. Others fear another depression. This pessimism has reached Newsweek, a guardian of conventional wisdom, which now says "It's Worse Than You Think.”

Evidence wrote on Jul 29, 2008 6:51 PM:sdraoul: W. Wilson violated the 14 th amendment millions of times? Million of times? LOL

Oh Please wrote on Jul 29, 2008 6:52 PM:FDR sent 100,000 Americans to concentration camp without trials or hearings but based only on the color of their skin. Did he send only Japanese to camps?

Evidence wrote on Jul 29, 2008 6:55 PM:Bill Clinton allowed the U.S.S. Cole to be attacked and Americans killed, he allowed the Khobar Towers to be bombed and Americans killed, he allowed our Embassies in Africa to be bombed and Americans killed. He allowed S. Hussein to stay in power despite attacking American planes every day. Do you have any objective documentation or evidence or just presenting us once again with your enlarged opinion.

Reality Check wrote on Jul 29, 2008 6:58 PM:SOLON: Carefull, T. Bone supports drilling everywhere there is oil to be found -- including Greenergy's personal automobile!

Just Wondering wrote on Jul 29, 2008 7:37 PM:if Al Gore, DD Whiz and Greenergy have taken any time out from lecturing their countrymen about green energy and pollution, to look at the nightly news photos of China's air pollution greeting the world Olympians?

Hey Anderson wrote on Jul 29, 2008 7:43 PM:Wow... Mr. Anderson can copy and paste. What talent. However, no one is denying that our country is a Republic. So your post is pointless.

Our country is also a Representative Democracy, elected by the people for the people. I doubt even resident Republicans Ron or Chuck would deny this. But I guess you'd be happier if only Rich White Males could vote as it was in our Republic over 200 years ago. Thankfully, we're making Democratic progress.

I have to ask: why do you hate our Democracy so?

Apollo wrote on Jul 29, 2008 7:45 PM:Re: SDRaoul (6:21 p.m.)
The difference between objective liberal DEMOCRATS is that we openly condemn the immoral and illegal breaches of Constitutional liberty by Woodrow Wilson, who was openly racist, as well as the illegal internment of U.S. Citizens in concentration camps by FDR.
We openly condemn these failings, as well as the Vietnam War by LBJ.
Harry Truman did NOT get away with trying to take over the steel mills due to a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Clinton and Carter did not "allow" attacks against the U.S. any more than Dubya "allowed" 9/11 - and in any case, all of them were on foreign soil and most of those cited were not civilian targets. These presidents did keep us 100% safe from attacks of civilian targets on U.S. soil.
And it was Clinton who neutered Saddam Hussein and enforced the No-Fly Zones, rendering him incapable of attacking us or maintaining WMD, despite all the lies of the Bush/Cheney/Rice/Rumsfeld terrorists.
And neither Carter nor Clinton ignored a specific PDB warning them in advance of the attacks, nor did they set aside extensive files from previous outgoing administrations.
However, yes, when Democratic presidents have done wrong, we condemn them for it instead of making excuses.
That is the difference between the party of critical thought and self examination, and the one full of self-described "dittoheads" (Liberal Democrats cannot imagine the self-loathing and intellectual insecurity of calling onesself that).

Boat wrote on Jul 29, 2008 7:52 PM:sdraoul
[-] wrote on Jul 29, 2008 6:21 PM:
Bill Clinton allowed the U.S.S. Cole to be attacked and Americans killed.

Actually, the Cole's CO failed, despite being warned, to take adequate in-port precautions and as a result the ship was attacked. He bore the ultimate responsibility. This was borne out by the fact that he was not promoted and was forced out of the Navy.

sdraoul, you are entitled to your own opinion but you are not entitled to your own facts. You should read an account of the incident that happened in Yemen.

By your logic Bush "allowed" the terrorists the destroy the World Trade Center. Let's not forget that the Bush Administration presided over the worst intelligence failure in the history of this country.

The bottomline, I guess, is that terrorism transcends partisan politics. If these guys want to get at you they will find a vulnerable area and get at it. When I went through counter-insurgency training the main thing that they taught us was this - you can kill all of them. But, if you fail to address the idea - what is driving them - then you will fail. Why are they terrorists to begin with? Is it ideology? Religion? Hunger? Land? What? If one survives and the driving force survives with him or her then you fail. And that idea always scared the hell out of me. And it has gotten a lot worse in th years since I got out of the service.

Evodemce wrote on Jul 29, 2008 7:57 PM:sdraoul: "mmediate steps were taken to organize a punitive expedition of about 10,000 men under Brig. Gen. John J. Pershing to capture Villa. The 7th, 10th, 11th, and 13th Cavalry regiments, 6th and 16th Infantry regiments, part of the 6th Field Artillery, and supporting elements crossed the border into Mexico in mid-March, followed later by the 5th Cavalry, 17th and 24th Infantry regiments, and engineer and other units.Seems there was good reason to invade Mexico.

Evidence wrote on Jul 29, 2008 7:59 PM:sdraul: Harry Truman never suffered to it because the companies were returned to the private business. Truman obeyed the courts when their legal opinion was given.

gracchus wrote on Jul 29, 2008 7:59 PM:sdraoul, you are distorting the facts.
1) the roosevelt administration resettled us citizens of japanese ancestry in internment camps, not concentration camps. it was illegal and immoral, and it would be nice if individuals who speak disparagingly of us muslims and citizens of arab ancestry remembered this disgraceful episode in our history. concentration camps first arose in the soviet union and other communist states as well as in nazi germany. their sole purpose was slave labor and extermination of the inmates. this was not the purpose of us resettlement camps in the usa during the second world war.
2.) jimmy carter did not allow iranian revolutionaries seize our embassy in tehran. they did that on their own. his negotiating with the iranians saved the lives of those embassy workers and destroyed his presidency. how would you have had carter deal with the situation? would you have liked him to have convinced congress to wage war against iran?
3) bill clinton did not allow terrorists to bomb two of our embassies in africa. they did it on their own. most of the murdered were africans, not us citizens. clinton pursued the perpetrators and they are in us prisons.
4) clinton did not allow terrorists to attack the uss cole. the terrorists did that on their own. clinton had 3 months left of his term. he sent fbi agents to yemen to find out who the perpetrators of the crime were. what more could he have done?
5) clinton followed george bush's policy of containment toward saddam hussein. it worked. saddam's government was crumbling, and perhaps with time the iraqi people, or more likely another strongman, would have ousted saddam on their own. we'll never know. but after 1991 saddam never posed a credible threat to us security. containing saddam cost the usa a few billion dollars a year. the iraqi war has cost the usa at this time 3/4 of a trillion dollars. what do you think is better--containment or war?

Nick wrote on Jul 29, 2008 8:17 PM:To "To Nick":
Sadly amigo, I think you are correct.
You always seem to get me to look at things a little bit differently.
Thanks.
Cheers, Nick.

Well Now wrote on Jul 29, 2008 8:48 PM:Is the RNC's Barack book not at all true?

Is there facts to support the claims?

How will Barack fire back?

Focal Point wrote on Jul 29, 2008 8:55 PM:Ralphs[-] wrote on Jul 29, 2008 5:03 PM:
I think that you have Alf mixed up with Ron. Alf has never acted like a know it all about anything. He has always been a first class gentleman on this blog. Alf stands up for his principles and for the Constitution of the United States. Show us an example where Alf acted like a pompous know it all or sought to belittle somebody? Otherwise, I suggest that you discontinue your complaining about Alf. If you have an opinion on any subject, express it.

Anderson to the Editor wrote on Jul 29, 2008 9:04 PM:I stand corrected about my "third time."

Thank you, for being gracious and not posting my post the last time I sent it to you.

OINKOCAN wrote on Jul 29, 2008 9:05 PM:OBAMACAN
[-] wrote on Jul 29, 2008 6:42 PM: What a lady. LOL

SOLON wrote on Jul 29, 2008 9:21 PM:== To Reality Check (6:58 PM) ==

Yes, you are absolutely right: You have to keep an ever wary eye on T. Boone Pickets. He is an unscrupulous and greedy man, even at age 80. Guess he thinks he is going to take it with him on the other side. Though he is deplorably unscrupulous, he is a very savvy money maker. He knows that big oils days are numbered, so he is converting his $ billions into buying up land in the Texas panhandle on which he is constructing the world’s largest wind farms. He placed the largest single order General Electric ever received for wind generators.

I despise his personal morality, but acknowledge his business acumen.

ORACle wrote on Jul 29, 2008 9:30 PM:**** I ran across this commentary by Michael Robinson of BBC:

With the American housing market in its worst crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s, President Bush is expected to sign into law a massive new government intervention designed to slow the slide.

The intervention would come as a little known quirk of US law threatens to drive down house prices even faster.

Faced with seemingly never-ending falls in the value of their properties, some American home-owners are taking radical action; they are choosing to walk away from homes and their mortgages.
***
Though banks can repossess and sell the homes of borrowers who stop paying their mortgages, under a legal quirk originating in the Great Depression of the 1930s, banks cannot easily pursue borrowers for any balance outstanding on the main mortgage on their homes.

"The losses for the financial system from people walking away could be of the order of one trillion dollars when the entire capital of the US banking system is only $1.3 trillion."

The entire US financial and banking system could collapse overnight.

sdraoul wrote on Jul 29, 2008 9:39 PM:grachs--you live in a dream world.

FDR committed the most vile violations of the Constitution ever in this country.

These were U.S. citizens he jailed in concentration camps. You and FDR can sugarcoat them with a name --internment -- camps but ask them how and when they could leave the camps or just say no to being rounded up bya rmed men and trained off tot he desert. What bull!

Carter betrayed the countryw hen he did so little to get our people back. All Reagan had to dow as get sworn in as President to get them back because the Iranians were scared to death he would attack them, an opiton carter refused to use.

Americans were killed at the embassies in aFrica nd that happened on Clinton's watch because he treated terrorist like a crime and sicked the FBI on them, not the Marines.

Dozens upon dozens of terrorist acts were perpetrated on America and Amereicans because Clinton was too busy with non-smoking cigars.

Sending the FBI wasn't enough, was it? Notice that since the Marines and Army landed in Afghanistan and Iraq no one has attacked us. There is a place and time for the FBI, but not now.

To cap it off, nine, count them, nine Americans only were killed in Iraq this month, July. Thats fewer than Clinton lost in Somalia in a few hours.

Grachus, you're full of bull and so is anyone who agrees with you.

eagle wrote on Jul 29, 2008 10:06 PM:Did anyone else notice that the City of Los Angeles in a unanimous decision by the city council put a moratorium on fast food in poor neighborhoods? What the heck is that all about? Are they asking for lawsuits?

Reality Check wrote on Jul 29, 2008 10:09 PM:OBAMACAN mades a virtue out of Obama's inexperience. Perhaps we should elect a desert hermit as President -- by OBAMACAN's analysis, he would be the most qualified of all!

follow the leaders wrote on Jul 29, 2008 10:15 PM:Poppy puck wrote on Jul 29, 2008 3:47 PM: "The “smart people” who are supposed to keep loose cannon presidents out of war and debt are sitting in Congress. Kind of hard to figure out who is the more stupid, isn’t it? Unfortunately, since most of the dipwads in Congress will still be there after the president is gone, we must be the stupid ones."

We get what we deserve. We the people have been divided, not united, and have helped make the mess we are in.

This includes: the war, our economy, housing, education, USA equal human rights, oil, etc. All too soon, food will be another problem.

We have been dumbing down and are proud of it. We do not talk to nor listen to others with different ideas; and we are not able to be civil and agree to disagree.

We don't want to believe accurate scientific findings. We do not check the facts. We make up self-serving stories that are not true.

We do not understand that religion and sex are private matters.

Our leaders are politicians, wealthy business, religious fanatics, sport-players, etc. who do not follow the laws of the United States of America. They seemingly are above the Constitution.

Our leaders do not have any ethics. They go hand in hand with Chaos, Greed, Hate, etc. We copy-cat them.

Not wearing a USA pin flag or burning a USA flag is nothing compared to how poorly our leaders actually treat us by taking away our rights.

"Here is my advice as we begin the century that will lead to 2081. First, guard the freedom of ideas at all costs. Be alert that dictators have always played on the natural human tendency to blame others and to oversimplify. And don't regard yourself as a guardian of freedom unless you respect and preserve the rights of people you disagree with to free, public, unhampered expression. ~Gerard K. O'Neill"

"Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves. ~Abraham Lincoln"

gracchus wrote on Jul 29, 2008 10:17 PM:sdraoul, i did not excuse roosevelt's actions toward us citizens of japanese ancestry. read my words again.
you are perfectly correct: the iranians released the embassy hostages upon reagan's inauguration. i do not think that the people of the united states would have supported military action against iran to secure their release. we are fortunate that the iranians were satisfied with humiliating carter.
reagan himself proved weak in the face of terrorists. he unnecessarily posted a contingent of marines in lebanon and more than 230 of those marines were murdered by terrorists. and what was reagan's response? he pulled the marines out and had naval vessels fire artillery onto the lebanese coast. that really showed the terrorists who was boss!
and whom would the marines have attacked in africa after terrorists bombed tow of our embassies? the fact that the terrorists murdered more africans than us citizens won them no sympathy.
Nine us troops have died in july so far. if you say that this number is fewer than the troops who died in somalia when clinton was president, i accept your number. i hope that you will recognize that more than 4000 troops have died in iraq since 2003 in bush's war. how many war casualties did the us suffer during clinton's eight year presidency?
finally i direct your attention to Samantha Power's article on national security which has appeared in the august 14, 2008, issue of THE NEW YORK REVIEW OF BOOKS. she quotes a terrorism expert who states that anothermajor terrorist attack will likely occur in the usa. this is because bush's use of military force has angered so many people in the muslim world.

Alf wrote on Jul 29, 2008 10:44 PM:Thanks, "Focal Point" at 8:55PM.
You're right about the way I feel about our Constitution.
Our Constitution is a double-edged sword -
The same right to free speech that allows me to express my opinion also demands that I do not try to deprive others of the right to express theirs.
Regards, Alf.

bogie wrote on Jul 29, 2008 10:48 PM:follow the leaders
[-] wrote on Jul 29, 2008 10:15 PM:

Excellent and pretty apropos for this blog

Alf wrote on Jul 29, 2008 10:52 PM:Well said, "follow the leaders" at 10:15PM. If I may add something, Benjamin Franklin said this -
"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
Regards, Alf.

Apollo wrote on Jul 29, 2008 11:16 PM:Re: Just Wondering (7:37 p.m.) and Oinkocan (9:05 p.m.)
Just Wondering makes a great point, highlighting China as an example of what happens when a country like China refuses to accept reasonable enviornmental standards. They are copying us, the way we were going in the 1950's before we smartened up and put the brakes on unregulated pollution. Some of us are old enough to remember when clean air days were really, really rare in Southern California and especially L.A., where I grew up.
But China wants to copy us. Since we can't be the "ugly American" and dictate their internal policies, the only way we can influence them to change is to be the example of showing that it is even more profitable to have a green, self-sustaining economy.
And Oinkocan examplifies perfectly what some conservatives do when they really, really want to join in the dialogue but just cannot deal with the substance of the blog they want to respond to. What a perfect parody ridiculing an over-the-top example of the wannabee conservative blogger. Must win some kind of award for humorous satire.
Great blogs!

Realist wrote on Jul 30, 2008 12:00 AM:I agree with follow the leader at 1015 pm - this is what happens when only 50% of the American public decides to involve themselves by voting in elections. When people vote, they have a say in their government. When people vote, the representatives come in and fix what needs fixing. When people vote, the government is held in check. When people do not vote, they have NO RIGHT TO COMPLAIN. Vote for the best candidate in the upcoming elections to fix the problems that plague our government! -Realist

follow the leaders wrote on Jul 30, 2008 1:02 AM:Alf read my mind or is using a secret wire connection into my computer. Seriously, Ben Franklin is an outstanding Founding Father. And the quote is my favorite (Jul 29 08 10:52pm).

"Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." ~ Benjamin Franklin.

"The sound of tireless voices is the price we pay for the right to hear the music of our own opinions. ... Every man has a right to be heard; but no man has the right to strangle democracy with a single set of vocal chords." ~ Adlai Stevenson, speech, New York City, 28 August 1952.

"I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations." ~ James Madison, speech, Virginia Convention, 1788.

Good Grief wrote on Jul 30, 2008 6:56 AM:sdraoul[-] wrote on Jul 29, 2008 9:39 PM
Not true. A rescue mission was sent. It failed in the desert as the helos were not prepared for desert sand/wind. More over, there was no government in control in Iran during this time. Negotiating for release of hostages is not betraying this country.
The Iranians held the hostages to the very last second due to their desire to continue to humiliate Carter not due to fear of Regan. By the way, do you have any quote from Regan where he stated that force would be employed?

Boat wrote on Jul 30, 2008 8:10 AM:sdraoul: To repeat my theme from yesterday - terrorism transcends partisan politics. Case in point: you brought up the "Blawk Hawk Down" incident in Somalia. You blame Clinton when in fact it was Bush Senior who first committed our troops there. When things went bad during that incident we subsequently left. Just like Reagan left Lebanon. There was no functioning government in Somalia at the time. What would have been the point of stayng? All these years later Somalia is still a failed state.

This has nothing to do with U.S. politics and everything to do with the people in those faraway places. They have been telling us for a long time that they want to have self determination for themselves and their countries. You know, like we did in 1776.

I do not condone terrorism. But, unfortunately there is some truth to the saying that "one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter." Until we, and by that I mean the world, address the root causes of terrorism, it will always be the scourge of civilization.

Pointing partisan fingers in the U.S. accomplishes absolutely nothing.

Good Grief wrote on Jul 30, 2008 9:09 AM:sdraoul[-] wrote on Jul 29, 2008 9:39 PM:
9 dead in Iraq. Yeah sdraul count em and then add them to the other 4200 dead Americans. Death is just a numbers game to
sd raoul. He then compares them to other military deaths under Clinton. This is not a tit for tat numbers game. We are talking about dead Americans. You make this subject trite. But, that is the kind of guy you are!