Chcuk wrote on Aug 15, 2008 5:49 AM:The news is reporting that the Russians are shooting civilians and journalists in Georgia. Apparently, their Vladamir Murtha is not doing his job by jailing and chaining those Russian soldiers. And, of course you wont hear people like Chris ever condemn the Russians, just as he has never condemned the terrorists for 9/11, bombing market squares, bombing orphanges, bombing hospitals, bombing bridges and pipelines, etc

Chuck wrote on Aug 15, 2008 5:55 AM:>>>William Ficere (Letters, August 12) complains about increased corn prices and blames Obama?>>>>
Well, lets see. Bush wants to drill, McCain wants to drill and Pelosi, Hussein, Reid, Clinton won't even allow the proposal to drill to come to a vote. Drilling brings down gas prices and eases pressure on the grain commodity inflation Pelosi won't allow the vote because she knows when all the democrats vote NO, and the 80% of Americans who favor drilling see the names of the NO voters, the liberals will have an electoral armageddon.

Chuck wrote on Aug 15, 2008 5:59 AM:Calls to drill oil are foolish. Yea, sure they are Mr Wilder. China is drilling, so is Russia, Venezuela, Mexico, Indonesia, all the Arab states, most of the African states, and people like you would rather pay them $700 billion a year and have your employer taxed to death. There is a reason the approval rating of Congress is just short of 1/4 of Bush's approval rating, and its because there are too many of you in Congress

Chuck wrote on Aug 15, 2008 6:04 AM:>>>I've always tolerated, rather than liked, Escondido>>> Thats because the sheeple buy the "we're doing it for safety" line from the police. Lets be clear. What law enforcement does is tops 20% for safety, and 80% to raise money for their raises, benefits and pensions. And if you dont believe me, see how long it takes for them to respond to crime, because they're all sitting at the bottom of a hill, writing the old ladies tickets.

Chuck wrote on Aug 15, 2008 6:14 AM:>>>Republicans against women>>> LOL. You must be kidding. If you don't like what you're making(which is what you agreed to get paid), then find another job and work yourself up the pay scale. Why do you need a Daddy (can you say that word in California?) to watch after your pay. There is another way to get higher pay. Instead of running to a lawyer because you were shorted 15 minutes on your time card, try working another hour or two without getting paid, because its a universal law of business that when you do more than you get paid to do, you will eventually get paid more for what you do. It worked for me. The majority partner in a competing business saw my car in lot when he got to the office, and saw it when he left. Guess what, a year later he offered me a huge raise over what I was getting paid at the other firm. I know its a concept that is totally hateful to liberals, but, give it a try- it does work.

Chuck wrote on Aug 15, 2008 6:20 AM:>>>I would like to take a moment and thank Pala Casino for the wonderful skate park they just built.>>> LOL, the bottom feeding lawyers are cringing, because the casino can tell them to go shove it when little Johnny breaks his arm and sprains his ankle doing tricks he shouldnt be trying. See, little Johnny and his parents are the ones taking responsibility and are glad to do it. The bottom feeders prefer to make someone else responsible- as that is how liberals survive- by making it all someone else's fault

Ron wrote on Aug 15, 2008 6:24 AM:From the North County Time article about student testing:
QUOTE: "Of the 375,000 students who took the tests in spring in San Diego County, 51.2 percent passed the English portion of the test and 46.5 percent passed the math exam, a new report from the California Department of Education shows." END Quote

If you further study those numbers, you will see, the longer a child stays in public school the stupider they become.
When tested at the 4th grade level, they do better, by 7th, they do worse.
And by 10th grade they do even worse.

The public schools have ceased to be the dream of Thomas Jefferson, an equilizer of people's, and has become a tool of the Left to control the masses over time.
Ever year we allow this system to operate, we doom more & more children to a life of enslavement.

Chuck wrote on Aug 15, 2008 6:24 AM:>>>In this time of economic (and environmental) crisis, does it make sense that Brian Bilbray is taking advantage of a taxpayer-funded allowance for political mailings>>> Yes it does. Its a political season and he's providing jobs with local priting offices by doing what is perfectly legal. By the way, you liberal shills are always looking to get into the back pocket of Uncle Sam, so why can't Bilbray do what liberals running for election do.

Chuck wrote on Aug 15, 2008 6:30 AM:Bush should move 100 or so F-16's into Georgia to help repel the Russian invaders. You'd think the liberals would love that idea, they've been bashing Bush for 7 years calling Afghanistan and Iraq invasions to the point that Chris is a supporter of the terrorists against America. So, liberals should highly favor the US trying to help a small country repel the socialist and marxist invaders

Ron wrote on Aug 15, 2008 6:39 AM:Obviously, Douglas Dunn missed my post from the otherday regarding votes for the 2005 Energy Bill, Senate bill S.10, the supposed "secret Cheney energy bill" written by oil company lobbyists.
Despite what Mr. Dunn may say, Obama voted for this very bill. Now, you can say who has been in charge, and all that other baloney.. but when it came down to THE vote on THIS bill, Obama voted Yea. Obama had the chance to stop the oil companies, and he did not.
Also, we keep hearing about the "68 million acreas of leased public lands the oil companies are sitting on." That particular quote is from one senator, One Jeff Bingham, Democrat-New Mexico.
It should be noted that Mr. Binghma himself voted Yes on senate bill S.10, the Cheney seret Energy Bill.
So, I must ask all of my good Liberal/Progressive/Whatever they are calling themselves today...
Why did they vote for it?
Obama has said, he voted because the bill included huge incentives for alternatives. If you look at the goverment charts on the deployment of alternatives, you will see them dead flat during the Clinton years, and peaking in the Bush year.
Also, it should be noted for the record the two who voted against this bill, Hillary Clinton and John McCain.
Now, who really favors Big Oi & Big AG?
So, fellas... you can't have it both ways.

As to John Edwards' affair, he told us all that he told 99% of the truth.
Were simply waiting for the other 1%.
Who's the baby's Daddy?

Ron wrote on Aug 15, 2008 6:44 AM:I'll assume from Martin Hershfeld lettery today, that she's one of the 24% of those who are against drilling anywhere, at anytime. Good for her.
Can I also safely assume that she is not using ANY oil for her transportation needs? That she has purchased her bus pass, and is using mass transit on a daily basis?
That I will not be passed by her in a car with her Obamo08 sticker on it?
And that car NOT being a hydrid or electric?

I've inflated my tires... NOW CAN WE DRILL?

Ron wrote on Aug 15, 2008 6:47 AM:Perhaps you should bring that up with Barack Millhouse Obama, Robert Tormey?

On second thought, he pays his female staff about $6,000 less than their male counterpart too.

Focal Point wrote on Aug 15, 2008 6:51 AM:Republicans against women: Its simple. Business is used to paying women less. In fact, its bottom line depends upon paying women less. Equal pay for equal work means an increase in labor cost factored into the selling price of their product or service which makes them less competitive which means loss of profit. Of you could follow the conservative line about working more than you are worth in order to be paid someday what your worth. But, ladies you have been doing that for centuries!

OBSERVATION wrote on Aug 15, 2008 7:01 AM:WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush on Friday chided Russia for Cold War-style behavior, saying, "Bullying and intimidation are not acceptable ways to conduct foreign policy in the 21st century. Bush said the United States stands "with the people of Georgia and their democratically elected government." He said the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity "must be respected."

Ron wrote on Aug 15, 2008 7:05 AM:Man, are the Lib's all in a panic or what? LOL.. Charles Wilder is one of those 24%er's who I'm hoping is himself "beyond oil", riding his bike, not eating too much, and turning off his air conditioner.

Did I not tell you, that overtime they would begin to cave in? Yes, yes I did!
That's why around these parts, I'm known as the Prophet.

But, leaving that aside for the moment...

This is not good for the Democrat party, and the Democrat party will not do anything, that is not good for the Democrat party. Notice, I never said what is good for the American people, because the two are not connected.

Remember, "good news in Iraq, would not be good news for Democrats?" Just as impeaching Bush was supposed to be good for the country, but it was not good for Democrats. Immunity for telecoms was supposedly not good for Americans, yet Obama voted for it.
Liberals/Progressives/ and whatever else they are calling themselves today.. do has a reason to be bitter, because they have been abused, by their own. Not by Bush, not by Cheney, not by Republicans... by DEMOCRATS! LOL
This is what I like to refer to as "Battered Liberal Syndrone."
It is real, and yes.. there is a cure.
Quit being a victim of your party, and throw the rascals out. Redeploy THEM to Okinawa.

But, here is the hope by these liberal Democrats. This year, they will be forced to vote up or down on drilling, and they will because of pressure by regular Americans be forced to open up more areas to drill.
Their hope is for next year. that they will take more seats in both the House & the Senate, so then they can repeal the drilling sites, and implement the "Bus Pass Energy Plan." Oh, no... it won't be them riding the bus, or riding a bike.. that kind of stuff is for you, the "little people", the rice paddies workers.
You'll get a preview in about 3 weeks when the Democrats hold their convention in Denver. I have it on good authority, that the streets have been cleared of all the homeless, so the big oil guzzling Limo's with air conditioning running at full blast can roll. Of course, after arriving on their private jets.
For you, for me, for the rest of us pee-on's, they have something completely different in mind. Think rice paddie...
The Prophet has left the building.....

To Randy White wrote on Aug 15, 2008 7:17 AM:NO ONE should be driving on the road without insurance or a license! NO ONE should be driving when drunk especially after a long night of bar hopping in Pacific Beach! NO ONE should be speeding! NO ONE should be crossing double yellow lines! NO ONE should be running red lights or not stopping on stop signs! NO ONE should be driving without seatbelts!NO ONE should be fighting like little children on the road quenching their road rage. NO ONE should be passing up cars when other cars are in opposite lanes! What part of NO ONE do you understand?

Paul wrote on Aug 15, 2008 7:17 AM:'Realize now that if an illegal crashes into you with no insurance, you have to pay! Your rates increase, and you have to claim on your insurance, uninsured motorist (if you carry it)'

hey, Randy, what does a person's immigration status have to do with insurance? Are you saying that all legal citizens carry insurance, because if so you are wrong. Are you saying that if there were no illegals in the country you would drop your UM coverage, because if so you would be foolish. Also, UM claims do not increase your rates.

Basically your obvious point that people should carry UM is true, then you threw in a little immigrant bashing because you can't help yourself?

One last point, look at the bill from your company-the UM part (UMBI and UMPD) is cheap

Focal Point wrote on Aug 15, 2008 7:17 AM:Chuck: Reports are not facts. But there are certain facts that the Georgians came into South Otessia killed 12 Russian soldiers, wounded 150 and then began terrorizing the non Georgian population. You and our government conveniently ignore this fact. It turns out both Russia and our C. Rice warned the Georgian Prime Minister not to military enter South Otessia. He did it anyway. The result is in the headlines.

Paul wrote on Aug 15, 2008 7:23 AM:Thanks to Robert Tormey for pointing out the anti-female nature of the GOP-you are right on there, sir

Paul wrote on Aug 15, 2008 7:37 AM:>>>Republicans against women>>> LOL. You must be kidding. If you don't like what you're making(which is what you agreed to get paid), then find another job and work yourself up the pay scale

Chuck, are you joking? So if you're a woman (or minority or homosexual) and you're paid less than others for the same job, you should go out and find another job in the same rigged system? In civilized countries women receive retirement credits for running a household and raising kids.

that doesn't even make sense to you-and the writer's point about the GOP being anti-women could have pointed out other sexist aspects of the gop platform as well-good luck arguing this one, Charles!

Focal Point wrote on Aug 15, 2008 8:20 AM:Chuck[-] wrote on Aug 15, 2008 6:14 AM:
The issue is discrimination. The issue is equal pay for equal work.

Focal Point wrote on Aug 15, 2008 8:23 AM:Chuck[-] wrote on Aug 15, 2008 6:24 AM: I am surprised at you, Chuck. The author wants to reduce government spending of your tax dollar. All you can do is call her a liberal. The letter writer is against all franking. It is a dream on her part. But dreaming is American.

Focal Point wrote on Aug 15, 2008 8:26 AM:Chuck[-] wrote on Aug 15, 2008 6:30 AM:
Now you are acting really crazy Chuck.
Do you think for one minute the Russians would permit it. They have the weaponry and the will to make sure those jets never even land in Georgia or anywhere in their sphere of influence. You must think Russia is Iraq. We are dealing with a resurgent nuclear world power.

Ron wrote on Aug 15, 2008 8:34 AM:>>>Paul @ 7:23 AM:
"Thanks to Robert Tormey for pointing out the anti-female nature of the GOP-you are right on there, sir" >>>

If so, Democrats had their chance to vote for a woman, but chose a man.

How do you square that?

Ron wrote on Aug 15, 2008 8:42 AM:>>>Focal Point @ 8:20 AM:
"Chuck, The issue is discrimination.
The issue is equal pay for equal work." >>>

And then we have this:

"On average, women working in Obama's Senate office were paid at least $6,000 below the average man working for the Illinois senator. That's according to data calculated from the Report of the Secretary of the Senate, which covered the six-month period ending Sept. 30, 2007. Of the five people in Obama's Senate office who were paid $100,000 or more on an annual basis, only one -- Obama's administrative manager -- was a woman.

The average pay for the 33 men on Obama's staff (who earned more than $23,000, the lowest annual salary paid for non-intern employees) was $59,207. The average pay for the 31 women on Obama's staff who earned more than $23,000 per year was $48,729.91. (The average pay for all 36 male employees on Obama's staff was $55,962; and the average pay for all 31 female employees was $48,729. The report indicated that Obama had only one paid intern during the period, who was a male.)" End Quote

Source: NewsMax July 1, 2008

To Paul wrote on Aug 15, 2008 8:54 AM:The fact that the Equal Rights Amendment failed aside, women might get less pay for doing different jobs than men, but the myth that women are getting less pay for doing the same work is unfounded. Isn’t Pelosi getting the same as Speaker of the House as a male Representative would? More liberal smoke attempting to blame Republicans for inaction on the part of Democrats.

richard wrote on Aug 15, 2008 8:58 AM:Liberals blaming others for being at fault, yes, that's exactly why Bush is an ultra liberal. He blames Iraq for what was his own fault, increasing anthrax production here that led to the deaths of U.S. citizens. It wasn't Iraqis, but he blames them anyway. And blaming Iraq for the possibility they might WMD the Eastern US seaboard. For falsely blaming Iraq, Bush is being bizarrely ultra liberal on that issue, and I agree with you on that, hands down.

Chuck wrote on Aug 15, 2008 9:26 AM:>>>Chuck, are you joking?>>> No I'm not joking. If a woman makes a deal to take a job at $75,000, she should not have the right to run to some bottom feeding lawyer because the man they hired yesterday got $85,000 for similar work. It's called deal making, or negotiation. If I went to Bob Baker and grinded out a $18,000 deal and your wife went in and got taken for $26,000, do you think she deserves a refund??

Focal Point wrote on Aug 15, 2008 9:29 AM:Equal Pay: Listen to the Cosnervatives going nuts with all their tangents attempting to lose the issue of equal pay for women for the same or similar work.
I do not care who is the culprit or the political party membership etc. Women are not part time non career persons in our economy. They are full time bread earners, in many cases head of household and doing the same or similar work for less pay in comparison to men. Women need and should be paid the same pay for the same or similar work. This means all women in the work force doing the same or similar work as the men. What the Speaker of the House is paid has nothing to do with the real working world.

Floyd wrote on Aug 15, 2008 9:29 AM:In a given day, a typical man will speak approximately 600 words while a typical woman emits closer to 3,000 words. There is obviously more content in a man's speech, which is why he gets paid more. If women would concentrate more on communication instead of merely creating a barrage of words, they might get paid more.

Karl wrote on Aug 15, 2008 9:38 AM:In my industry (construction) men for the most part are paid more than women. I believe this is because construction was a male dominated industry for many years and still is. When I ran a medium/large construction company I hired the best I could regardless of sex, race, religion etc. My philosophy was that our company was only as good as our worst employee and our worst subcontractor. The most experienced and brightest were men while I was doing the hiring. This is slowly changing as women are making inroads in the project management field. I can quarantee you that even in a male dominated field like construction, companies will hire anyone who is organized, dedicated, can build a good product and have a good relationship with their clients. All the companies that I know will pay according to those abilities.

I have a great feel for the construction industry and don't know squat about others but I find it difficult to believe that there are neandrethals out there that do not compensate according to ability. It's just plain stupid. Now my experience is limited to a company with about 45 employees and excellent contributers stick out like a sore thumb in a company this small. I would hope that they do in large companies also but maybe people like Paul have experience lately that I do not.

Apparently Chuck is a Girl wrote on Aug 15, 2008 9:39 AM:Chuck's heartwarming story about how he worked hard for no pay and got offered a big raise surely illustrates that if Chuck, being a woman, can do it, then other women can as well. Thanks Chuck, appreciate your helpful anecdote.

Shocking News wrote on Aug 15, 2008 9:42 AM:Saw on CSpan this morning that deployed troops are donating money to Obama six to one over McCain. Surely this is incorrect? Our troops are not cowards, these are people who are willing to lay down their lives for their country. Why DO you suppose they are heavily favoring Obama over McCain? So basically, CSpan is saying that the troops know something that Chuck, Ron, and sdraoul do not? Shocking.

Media Matters wrote on Aug 15, 2008 9:43 AM:From today's NY Times:

(Quote)It was nearly 2 a.m. on Wednesday when President Nicolas Sarkozy of France announced he had accomplished what seemed virtually impossible: Persuading the leaders of Georgia and Russia to agree to a set of principles that would stop the war.

Handshakes and congratulations were offered all around. But by the time the sun was up, Russian tanks were advancing again, this time taking positions around the strategically important city of Gori, in central Georgia.

It soon became clear that the six-point deal not only failed to slow the Russian advance, but it also allowed Russia to claim that it could push deeper into Georgia as part of so-called additional security measures it was granted in the agreement.

Mr. Sarkozy, according to a senior Georgian official who witnessed the negotiations, also failed to persuade the Russians to agree to any time limit on their military action.
By mid-morning,

European officials were warning of the risks of appeasing Russian aggression, while Georgian officials lamented the West's weak leverage. (UNQUOTE)

OBAMA MAMA wrote on Aug 15, 2008 9:43 AM:McCain’s INFIDELITY --

-- Question of the month: "Why would revelations of past adultery and lying have derailed an Edwards nomination, but not McCain's?"

We have letter writer Douglas Dunn to thank for not only raising this important question, but for phrasing it so succinctly. Can Chuck explain why McCain’s reckless youth is any different from that of George W. Bush?
Both men were reckless playboys, neither of which learned to calculate the fallout from their recklessness nor to take responsibility for the consequences of their actions. These traits became engrained in both men at an early age. MAMA has seen too many men in her lifetime like these, and I have no respect for such men.

Sad Actually wrote on Aug 15, 2008 9:45 AM:I can't help but feel sorry for Ron, needing to pat himself on the back every day and needing to anoint himself "Prophet" because no one else will.

George says he is "The Decider".
Ron says he is "The Prophet".

I believe this is called "selfism".

SOLON wrote on Aug 15, 2008 9:45 AM:Restore US to its greatness:

It is extremely painful to face the truth of what has been done to our country in the last eight years, as we have veered sharply from those things that made us a great nation, and now we are being superseded by a repressive and totalitarian super nation, China. I applaud letter writer Jeff Lassle for his terse letter today, expressing his deep concern.

Lassle reminds us what we can do to reverse our course, and get this nation back on the high road: When you step into that polling booth, you may want to greatly consider what made this great country and vote as our forefathers, who built this country, did.

SOLON wrote on Aug 15, 2008 9:51 AM:At long last ...

Today for the first time in days, I was able to post a comment on my first try. For days now, it has taken two tries, and occasionally three. I read all the comments yesterday, and affirm that it happens to myself as well. Well, let’s see how this one goes ...

Nick wrote on Aug 15, 2008 9:59 AM:It's time for folks to realize that the whole Dems vs Repubs nonsense is exactly what those in power want and it is what is driving this Country into the abyss. It's time for a change and I don't mean Obama. It's time for a Revolution folks. It's time to rid ourselves of BOTH Parties.

Americans have grown up in a society that, while it appears to be free and open, is anything but.
America is controlled.
From the education system to the media to the government, America has been infiltrated by those wishing for a communist/fascist-type World Government System.
First of all, you need to question all your beliefs and “knowledge” because you were educated in a school system that’s far removed from the 19th century American school system that focused on putting out people skilled in reading, writing, and math.
Over the last six or seven decades, there has been a deliberate attempt to dumb America down.

"We no longer see the teaching of facts and information as the primary function of education."
- Dr. Shirley McCune, at the 1989 Kansas Governor’s Conference

"If every parent in America knew what was really going on in the public schools, there would be a revolution."
- columnist Thomas Sowell
What Sowell is speaking of is the change in focus where children are being taught labor skills and are being subjected to a curriculum that focuses on changing their behavior and social behavior.
The focus is getting children to accept a socialist-type society led by a strong police state atmosphere.

More to come.
Cheers, Nick.

Chuck wrote on Aug 15, 2008 10:01 AM:>>>The letter writer is against all franking. It is a dream on her part.>>>
No she isnt. That letter writer is a democratic shill whose group attacks Bilbray on a daily basis in this newspaper. If sending out election materials is the best they can come up with, why waste the ink of the NCTimes???

SOLON wrote on Aug 15, 2008 10:06 AM:An astute OBSERVATION ...

... made by OBSERVATION (7:01 AM) about the revival of the Cold War, which clearly exposes the hypocrisy of the United States shouting accusations at Russia.

How mocking of his own self is Bush for accusing Russia of doing exactly what he himself has been doing for the last eight years. On the news this morning I saw the U.S. envoy in Poland with the Polish prime minister where both signed the agreement which permits Bush to place eight long range ballistic missiles in Poland, in Russia’s back yard. Do we not remember how the United States under Kennedy reacted when the Soviets placed missiles in Cuba? We came within an inch of nuclear war. Now we are doing the same thing, except we are encircling Russia with a ballistic missile system in Poland, the Czech Republic, and Romania.

We accomplish this by bribing and browbeating their government officials, because popular polls show overwhelming disapproval of such missile placement.

And do sign such a cold war agreement on the same day that Bush, McCain and WAR Sec. Gates are shouting invectives against Russia because of little South Ossetia? How self-accusatory can one get?

Nick wrote on Aug 15, 2008 10:07 AM:And a little more food for thought people:

The U.S. media is controlled. It’s designed to get you arguing or talking about the death penalty, abortion, Democrat vs. Republican, Left vs. Right, conservative vs. liberal, which rock star parties hardest, which actor/actress lost the most weight, blah, blah, blah.
All the while, the corrupt officials in the U.S. Government are passing draconian legislation or Presidential Executive Orders that have slowly built the United States police state.

"The main purpose of the Council on Foreign Relations is promoting the disarmament of U.S. sovereignty and national independence and submergence into an all powerful, One World Government."
- Admiral Chester Ward, former CFR member and Judge Advocate General of the U.S. Navy

Here’s the thing… It doesn’t matter what anyone tells you concerning some stuffy Democrat vs. Republican definition when the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) conspiracy includes members of both parties.
The CFR shadow government has been working to destroy America’s sovereignty since 1921 in pursuit of World Government.
Ever wonder why your life never really changes whether a Democrat is president or a Republican is president? Sit back and really think about that… both parties are part of the U.S. Government deception. Both parties pass police state legislation such as that passed in the name of those false “Wars” called the War on Drugs and the War on Terrorism.

A Democrat vs. Republican definition simply doesn’t matter!

What matters is rooting out the CFR agents who are working toward a North American Union and the official demise of America and the United States Constitution.
Who’s behind the CFR and the plan for Globalization/World Government?

Ultimately, it’s the international bankers and industrialists. When you thoroughly investigate Federal Reserve banking history and money creation as we have, you see clearly that the official Democrat vs. Republican definition has been created by the banksters.

The bottom line is that the people who are the producers in America are being scammed by the banking elite.

While the producers slave away in their little shack homes, the bankers create money from nothing and steal the wealth of the land through the Federal Reserve, the illegal United States central bank. The bankers produce nothing and contribute nothing but misery and slavery to the people.

Educate yourself on why things will never change as long as people keep voting in “Democrats” or “Republicans” who are simply CFR puppets. Educate yourself on why your debt is impossible to pay off because the interest must be paid with more borrowed money.

If you really want change people it's time to break from the norm

The Campaign for Liberty!
Cheers, Nick.

Alf wrote on Aug 15, 2008 10:09 AM:Well, "OBSERVATION" at 7:01AM,
it really is too bad that GWB does not see how the actions that he chides are EXACTLY what he did to Iraq.
I forgot,
God spoke to him, so -
GWB's actions are absolutely justified.
Bull feathers.
Regards, Alf.

Ms M wrote on Aug 15, 2008 10:10 AM:This is an excerpt from an article posted 8/14:

"Why do the troops hate the troops?"

Honestly, after years of hearing that if you don't support the Bush military policy, you don't support the troops, you have to wonder what the neo-cons will do now. Today, a study by the Center for Responsive Politics reported that members of the military are giving more donations to Senator Obama than Senator McCain, and when you just examine those troops who are deployed, Obama attracts more donations by a 6 to 1 factor.....

It seems that the military is looking for a "commander in chief" who is not a warmongerer. They are tired of being used by the cons to fight unnecessary wars. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

Oh brother wrote on Aug 15, 2008 10:22 AM:I am so sick of reading Chuck's and others negative comments about women and just about every other topic. Please editors, can't you give these boys another blog area to clog up? Our comments on important local issues are becoming lost in their childish back and forths.

SOLON wrote on Aug 15, 2008 10:24 AM:Our oil is OUR oil !

All US offshore oil is extracted from public lands, and such oil belongs to this nation. For the right to drill on any new public lands, President Barack HUSSEIN ("the GOOD and HANDSOME") Obama must see that it is dedicated exclusively for domestic use by Americans. We must have new legislation for this new oil forbidding its sale on the world market.

Leaders of foreign oil nations have done this for generations. Before Dubya hung Saddam by the neck, oil was plentiful in Iraq and sold at 5 cents a gallon. The Bush occupation has increased that by over 45 times higher. Oil in Mexico is so cheap even today that Americans have been crossing the border to fill up, forcing the Mexican authorities to collect taxes at the border. And Venezuelan oil is provided to the Venezuelans at a deep discount. Same in Indonesia. So why is Bush such an oil ogre? Why does he hate his own people? Or, rather, why does he love the Oil Ogres more than the American people?

We must cease permitting Exxon/Mobil and Chevron to gouge Americans consumers and extract egregious profits at our expense.

Poor Randy wrote on Aug 15, 2008 10:41 AM:"so my voice will count and people will listen and obey!" Your voice doesn't count your vote does!!! You want us to listen and obey, you? I pay over $200 a month for my car insurance and I am glad I have it!!! Why must we be concerned about what others do? If I am protected why should I worry about Joe Blow. If I thought the way you did than I would be worried about the liability limits others carry on their insurance policies. It is none of my business how much coverage you carry just like it is not any of your business if I have insurance or not!!!! Why do you worry yourself over things we cannot change. Serenity Now!!

To Ron wrote on Aug 15, 2008 10:48 AM:Ron asks: "If so, Democrats had their chance to vote for a woman, but chose a man.

How do you square that?"

The man was the better candidate. The sex of the candidate is of no consequence. Why would you think otherwise?

Rons Confusion wrote on Aug 15, 2008 10:50 AM:Well Ron, you are one of the very few people on this blog who think that people vote according to sex or skin color, so I understand why you are confused as to why, even though liberals agree that women should get equal pay for equal work, it does not necessary follow that women should get the job by virtue of their sex.

Glad I could help out.

DD Wiz wrote on Aug 15, 2008 10:51 AM:The post from "Ron" (6:39am) shows his failure to grasp the realities of politics compared with the purity of extremist ideologies. It is the same shallow thinking that, on the opposite end of the political spectrum, convinces liberals to vote for the losing purity of a Ralph Nader rather than the victorious pragmatism of a Gore or a Kerry.
As so many others have stated, no one considers Obama perfect or "messianic" except those such as "Ron" (who now, at 7:05am, narcissistically calls himself the "prophet" unless it was a typo meaning to use the word "profit"), who will never ever vote for Obama under any circumstances.
Obama is a politician. The art of politics is to get the possible -- to achieve as much as you can. That often involves compromise, especially in a legislative role. There were many aspects of the energy bill that Obama opposed, just as there were many aspects of the recent Telecom bill that Obama opposed, but in order to get some concessions rather than get nothing, he agreed to certain compromises. This was especially true when negotiating from a minority position in 2005.
Many of us might have drawn the line as to where we would compromise in different places than Obama, or in other instances, from the Clintons (such as on NAFTA or the welfare "reform" bill of 1996). But we do understand the reasons why effective leaders choose to draw the line somewhere, and to enter into compromises, rather than come away completely empty-handed, as the extremists would do. And the fact remains that, on energy as well as other issues such as healthcare, Iraq, consumer protection, worker protection and fixing the economy that "nation-of-whiners" McCain has repeatedly stated isn't even broken, an Obama presidency will be tremendously different than McCain bringing four more years of the same failed policies, which is why the few (as "Ron" claims to be) who benefit from those excesses are so terrified of having their free ride of corruption and corporate welfare coming to an end.

As for "Ron's" pathetically voyeuristic interest in the private sex life of a private citizen, I am more interested in the integrity of the current nominee from a major party who has repeatedly lied this year about how his dishonored his sacred vows and commitment to traditional marriage.
Peace (and sunshine) to all, DD Wiz

Unload the Oil Stock wrote on Aug 15, 2008 10:57 AM:I can only wonder when the Chucks and Rons will connect the dots and realize that EVERY SINGLE AGGRESSIVE ACT OF THE UNITED STATES IN THIS CENTURY IS BASED ON THE CONTROL OF OIL. When we get off the oil teat we will have no more need of war. Perhaps they already know but are in favor of war. My advice is to start selling the oil stock because pretty soon it anit gonna be worth beans. The warmongers day is done and oil is over.

Ugly statistics wrote on Aug 15, 2008 10:58 AM:27 comments. first 12 by Ron and Chuck.
7 of 27 from Chuck. 7 of 27 also from Ron. 14 of 27 from Ron and Chuck. 5 of 27 from Focal Point. 19 of 27 from Chuck, Ron, and Focal Point.

Don't ya love it when internet trolls take advantage of a good thing?

Media Matters wrote on Aug 15, 2008 11:09 AM:The latest international rankings are announced by the Wall Street Journal, and we rank second in the world just behind Japan in corporate tax rate!

Now if your corporation is in a high tax state, like California, the corporate tax rate is even higher than in Tokyo – so we can say, “We are Number One! We are Number One.”

I am sure you have read the headlines of all of those terrible corporations that pay no taxes? Well, an analysis of the corporations paying no taxes shows that 85% also made no profits, which of course is unfair to liberals, I suppose. (General Motors lost $10 billion in the year in which they paid no taxes.)

(Senator Byron Dorgan {North Dakota} cited the GAO finding that 28% of large U.S. corporations paid no income tax in 2005. "It's time for big corporations to pay their fair share," Mr. Dorgan roared.)

European nations corporate tax rate averages 10% lower than U.S. corporate taxes, and we wonder why corporations move offshore, or as Budweiser did, to Europe. That is considered “unpatriotic” -- as if there is some virtue in holding still to be punished.

Obama and the Democrats in general, want to RAISE corporate taxes. Of course they expect corporations to hold still for this.

Good luck!

Chuck wrote on Aug 15, 2008 11:09 AM:The liberals apparently are willing to defend the Russians against the Georgians. I have a sneaking suspicion if Bush decided to take Cuba, they'd be screaming at the top of their lungs, calling for impeachment, and calling America an imperialist invader.

Chuck wrote on Aug 15, 2008 11:16 AM:>>>"Of the 375,000 students who took the tests in spring in San Diego County, 51.2 percent passed the English portion of the test and 46.5 percent passed the math exam, a new report from the California Department of Education shows>>> And dont forget that 60% of seniors can't pass the exit exam, which is 8th grade equivalency. I'm sure glad Uhnuld threw $60 billion at the teachers yoonyun, He got a great return out of that money

Media Matters wrote on Aug 15, 2008 11:28 AM:The Gallup Daily Tracking Poll has Obama and McCain tied today at 44%.

Considering the visceral hatred for the Bush administration over so many issues, can anyone explain why Obama does not have a solid 12 point margin?

I knew it wrote on Aug 15, 2008 11:37 AM:I see that in Georgia (the US state) a carcas that has been identified as bigfoot was discovered. I also see that this event was not covered in the NY Times or Washington Post, proving for once and for all that Bigfoot is a conservative.

Chuck wrote on Aug 15, 2008 11:40 AM:In a move surely to please the liberals, the Russians have now threatened Poland, and Neville Bush sits in Texas eating tacos.

Chuck wrote on Aug 15, 2008 11:45 AM:>>>"Why would revelations of past adultery and lying have derailed an Edwards nomination, but not McCain's>>> Thats easy, when people have to choose between having a job, gas they can afford and food they can pay for, they will vote for that, as opposed to Hussein, a Muslim and marxist, who thinks your gas is too cheap, food is too cheap, and he'll give you unemployment if your job goes away

Chuck wrote on Aug 15, 2008 11:50 AM:>>>CSpan is saying that the troops know something that Chuck, Ron, and sdraoul do not? Shocking.>>> No, CSPAN is a liberal shill and will say anything they want to support socialism

Focal Point wrote on Aug 15, 2008 11:52 AM:‘Bullying’ unacceptable
Aug. 15: President Bush says Russia needs to stop pursuing a policy of confrontation and isolation and its actions in Georgia have hurt its credibility among other nations.
MSNBC
This is public propaganda. Blaiming Russia for what happend to Georgia. Georgia is the one who fired the first shots killing 12 Russians and wounding another 112. Georgian President did it because he thought that Georgia had the military protection of the US and NATO. Bush is lying to the American people and the world on Georgia just like he did on Iraq. Then Bush signs a missle treaty with Poland which the Russians will view as a real threat.

Chuck wrote on Aug 15, 2008 11:53 AM:>>I see that in Georgia (the US state) a carcas that has been identified as bigfoot was discovered>>> Yea, and superman flew in from Krypton. Finish dressing your Ken & Barbie in their uni-sex outfits (SB777 conforming) and eat your peanut butter and jelly sandwich

Focal Point wrote on Aug 15, 2008 11:56 AM:Chuck
[-] wrote on Aug 15, 2008 9:26 AM: No Chuck that is called discrimination. It is not an indidual case but a common business practise. Same way on promoitons that need to be based on merit and accomplishment instead of the good ole buddy, boy system.

Chuck wrote on Aug 15, 2008 11:59 AM:>>The Gallup Daily Tracking Poll has Obama and McCain tied today at 44%.>>> I can explain it. There are apparently 44% voting morons who think Obama will lower gas prices & inflation, and protect jobs. But, when they go into the booth, the big question will pop up:: My Job, or $6 gas, $7 Wheaties, and a huge tax increase for my employer that will get me layed off

Focal Point wrote on Aug 15, 2008 11:59 AM:Chuck
[-] wrote on Aug 15, 2008 10:01 AM: How would you know? Have you met her?
Ever had a conversation with her. Maybe you have seen her voting regislation paper work. I rather doubt it. It is just your deluded mind at work.

Focal Point wrote on Aug 15, 2008 12:04 PM:Chuck
[-] wrote on Aug 15, 2008 11:09 AM: Why take Cuba. In ten years, it wall fall into our lap. You need wake up. Your solution for every problem is a barrel of a gun. Not that way int he 21st century according to GWB.

Focal Point wrote on Aug 15, 2008 12:07 PM:Chuck
[-] wrote on Aug 15, 2008 11:40 AM: Russian statement was in reply to a missle treaty placeing American missles in Poland. Bush and his Polish buddies are provoking the Bear. She feels threatoned.

Chuck is right wrote on Aug 15, 2008 12:08 PM:We should attack Russia immediately. Launch the nukes, get it on. Anything less is pantywaist liberal nonsense. Let's do it! Let's end the world. (BTW, there is enough of an American population that feels this way also answers Media Matters' question about why Obama is not way ahead of McCain...that and a chunk of plain old racism. No one can doubt that there is SOME part of the voting public that simply would not vote for a Black candidate. How many percentage points would Obama be leading by if he were white?)

Focal Point wrote on Aug 15, 2008 12:16 PM:Chuck
[-] wrote on Aug 15, 2008 11:59 AM Polls are just polls. They do not matter. We have not even had the conventions yet. Fire works and debates yet to occur. You people waste your time over polls. Don't you know that many people lie.

What wrote on Aug 15, 2008 12:23 PM:Ahhh...Focal Point..."Russia feels threatened."

By interceptor missiles, designed to shoot down ICBMs?

You are joking.

Right?

Chuck wrote on Aug 15, 2008 12:27 PM:>>>Russian statement was in reply to a missle treaty placeing American missles in Poland>>>> Sorry, they are defensive missiles and have no warhead and are designed as a shield against Russias offensive missiles. Do not the Poles have the right to defend themselves. Its amazing how you liberals spit your hate at America all day long, and at the same time defend Russia on everything

Alf wrote on Aug 15, 2008 12:38 PM:Well, "Karl" at 9:38AM,
when I worked in Chula Vista,
it was a woman who was the fastest and best electrician that we had work for us.
No bull, I watched 4 other electricians do the same job on other portable buildings (the small ones that are right next to cell towers) that had the same specs and she did the job in 2/3 the time.
An added bonus, she was pretty as well.
As a contractor, she got paid by the job (the same $ as a male), so she had more time to do more and, therefore made more $$ than her male counterparts.
Regards, Alf.

A man of principles wrote on Aug 15, 2008 12:47 PM:So Bush lashes at Russia for "bullying". Remember when the US leader could make such statements and be taken seriously? When we stood for something? Since Reagan, we've invaded Panama, Granada, Iraq, among others. Bush's little invasion of Iraq was a great military duel between the greatest power in world history and a nation with no WMD's, no air force, and hardly an army. Bush's exit will by itself do wonders for American foreign policy and world standing. Does Russia have any reason to fear the US at this moment? I didn't think so. Does any nation or person in the world have a reason to admire Bush's condemnation of "bullying"? I didn't think so. January 20 can't come soon enough. With luck and a LOT of skill, McCain or Obama might be able to begin rebuilding what America used to mean to the world. It will take guts. The new leader will have to insist that this goal is more important than oil company profits and similar competition. Are McCain or Obama up to it? Let's pray that our next President has the strength and soul to inspire us and the world again, and to stand up to the corporate money that put him in the White House.

Chuck is right again wrote on Aug 15, 2008 1:01 PM:I have no doubts that if the US invaded and, as Chuck puts it, "took" Cuba, liberals (along with everyone in the world that favors the rule of law) would be outraged. Notice how Chuck condemns the Russian action against Georgia, but salivates at the notion of our "taking" Cuba.

Chris to Chuck and Nick wrote on Aug 15, 2008 1:14 PM:I just got another book called "Bleeding Afghanistan" by Sonali Kolhatkar and James Ingalls. It tells how our military indescriminately kills innocent civilians but we neve hear about it. Oh, of course we hear all about what supposedly other countries do but our government, military and the press make sure we don't hear about our atrocities. So once again who are we to point fingers.

Focal Point wrote on Aug 15, 2008 1:16 PM:What[-] wrote on Aug 15, 2008 12:23 PM:
Russia feels threatened by the encroachment direct or indirectly by proxy.
The missiles being placed in Poland are not ICBMS. Does not matter if I am joking. Russia is not joking. She is beginning to act based upon perceived or real threats.

Chris to Bill wrote on Aug 15, 2008 1:18 PM:So the land doesn't belong to the Palestinians. Tell me if the land of Palestine belonged to Israel way back then why wasn't it called Israel instead of Palestine. Huh. Anyway as I said all you can do is blow smoke and going around with you in circles is pointless.

Focal Point wrote on Aug 15, 2008 1:21 PM:What[-] wrote on Aug 15, 2008 12:23 PM: ... Yes, Russia does feel threatened by missiles designed to shoot down ICBMs. A reduction in her possible outgoing ICBMs upgrades the US ability to strike her enemy. It gives the US additional leverage which Russia obviously wishes to decrease.

Focal Point wrote on Aug 15, 2008 1:24 PM:Chuck[-] wrote on Aug 15, 2008 12:27 PM:
You really need to pay attention, Chuck.
Per GWB these missiles are placed to intercept a possible terrorist attack or an Iranian attack. Now the Poles can put US missiles on the territory. But, like the Russian General just stated today. Poland will become a nuclear target.

Focal Point wrote on Aug 15, 2008 1:30 PM:Chuck[-] wrote on Aug 15, 2008 12:27 PM: Oh Chuckie, I do not hate America. I spent 27 years defending her and will do so again. My rants are about the lies and distortions going on in the press and the propaganda put out by the Bush administration. Bush for the last eight years has had a policy of placing weapons that threaten Russia (perceived or real) in former nations of the Soviet Union or Warsaw Packs. Instead of reducing tensions and creating posetive negotiating environment, Bush prefers to try to intimidate Russia. Well, the results are in the head lines. I am old enough and smart enough not to be some xenophobic jingoist and merely accept the crap that comes out of Bush's mouth.
I am tough enough to laugh in your face when you state or infer that I hate America. Those who hate America are the liars and policy makers that just might get us all dead.

Focal Point is obviously right wrote on Aug 15, 2008 1:31 PM:For someone to say that Russia shouldn't fear defensive missles is nuts. As Focal Point says, if a country takes away my ability to retaliate to a strike, it just got one whole lot weaker. If Russia made a deal with Mexico to install missles all along the US-Mexican border which could shoot down any American launches, would the US be cool with it? In addition, we might add that the US has been at least as aggressive militarily as Russia has, probably more so. Putin is the one who fears being thought of as a Neville Chamberlain. And Russia's memories of Hitler are one heck of a lot more vivid than are ours. I'd feel better if either McCain or Obama were at the helm right now. Cheney and Bush have thoroughly proven themselves to have a misguided view of foreign policy. They owe it to the US to run out the clock doing as little as possible.

Chris wrote on Aug 15, 2008 1:44 PM:Just remember what a fit we had when Russia put missles in Cuba. Oh, thats different because we make the rules.

Ron wrote on Aug 15, 2008 1:50 PM:to OBAMA's MAMA @ 9:43 AM:

Would you like to instead talk about the JFK years?

Why in the heck does a 30 year old story, that was already vetted, and aired by McCain's own home state newspaper, the Arizona Republic, have to do with John Edward's?

Besides, we want to know who the Baby's Daddy is!

snerd wrote on Aug 15, 2008 1:51 PM:The comments from DDWiz concerning the need for compromise are right on the mark, as usual. There is a myth that this country was founded by rugged individuals, but in reality that is just a myth. The Founding Fathers compromised on many issue in order to bring about the greater good which in their minds was the defeat of the British and the establishment of a new country. The same myth applies to the westward movement. In order to survive people had to work together. So while there may have been some rugged individualism the settlement of the west was made possible by citizens ability to compromise. The inability of some people to compromise about anything is readily apparent on this blog. Could you imagine trying to get anything done with people like Ron? Or poop humor Chuck? The ability to compromise is a sign of strength, not weakness.

snerd wrote on Aug 15, 2008 1:57 PM:Isn't it amusing how Ron excuses McCain's infidelity because it happened so long ago, but readily attacks Clintons infidelity even though it happened a long time ago. Gee, do ya think he picks his opinions depending on which political party someone is in? Rather than applying critical thinking, issue by issue. How un-American.

Apollo wrote on Aug 15, 2008 2:11 PM:Re: Ron (1:50 p.m.)
Okay, help me out here. I really am trying to understand Ron's thinking.
He criticizes Obama Mama's reference to McCain's marriage-wrecking adultery that happened 30 years ago (coupled with new lying about it from THIS YEAR), by bringing up JFK's dalliances (which did not end his marriage) from 45 years ago?
Is this really how the conservative mind works?

Ron wrote on Aug 15, 2008 2:12 PM:The fact of the matter...
"To Ron" @10:48 AM & "Rons Confusion"
@10:50 AM: is that I, as I always do, have already addressed this very issue.

It's called Mascot politics.
You guy's have opted out of a very good, and qualified woman candidate, for an unqualified, bl