Hey Arthur wrote on Aug 25, 2008 3:38 AM:Maybe NCT doesn't owe apologies to any Guadalcanal vets, but I think you do, sir.

I am a retired Navy Chief Petty Officer who served on one of those ships you flippantly refer to as, "Marine troopships", which makes me and my shipmates Guadalcanal vets.

Our ships belonged, not to the Marines (who I have unwavering respect for), but to the Navy. Our ships faced extreme enemy fire to put you ashore so you could do your job, and to refer to any one of them as anything less than a "United States Navy Man-o'-War", or a "Ship of the Line", makes us feel like we were little more than taxi drivers for your colleagues.

Sir, we were far more than that! And, we lost shipmates in action doing our duty to support your mission!

ChangeIsAllThatWillBeLeft wrote on Aug 25, 2008 5:38 AM:It was all over the news yesterday that foreign oil producers have the US over a barrel. That news was a complete surprise to Hussein and Biden. Yet, 80% of the American peole know it and, along with Bush & McCain have advocated drilling and nuclear plants until other sources are available in sufficeint quantities to meet our needs. Yet Pelosi, Reid, Hussein, Biden and Kennedy wave their middle finger at drilling. They prefer we send $700 billion to the 2-bit oil sheiks, as gas prices and grain commodity inflation choke our economy. In addition, Hussein and Biden want to drastically increase taxes on employers, which shall certainly be passed down to the workers through lower wages and lower benefits. Then, he wants to turn the medical delivery system over to the same bureaucrats who have bankrupted Social Security & Medicare. The only change Hussein & Biden stand for is the change that will be left in your paycheck when you vote for them.

Truthiness wrote on Aug 25, 2008 6:25 AM:Melissa Peterson's letter today could have been written especially for Ron and Reardon. Please do be smart enough to check rumours before you bring them here. Most of us use Snopes. Why not try it?

Those Darn Democrats wrote on Aug 25, 2008 6:32 AM:Charles Bagwell says: "I'm a bit puzzled about the Democrats using government positions to fatten their bottom line and keep the country in dire straits."

I KNOW! You wouldn't catch the Republicans doing such a thing! For eight years. Those darn Democrats!

Ron wrote on Aug 25, 2008 7:05 AM:Now, "gracchus" {Aug 24} @7:21 PM...

This greatly disturbs me, all this time, I could have sworn you were a man of conscious.
Now, yesterday.. I gave you several great options to help someone right here, today, but you bocked.
gracchus, no one ever said you had to save them all equally at the very same time. You start as any great movement does, one person at a time. And the movement, begins with you.
Like I said, nothing is stopping you from adopting a person, a family today, to help them with their medical needs, their food, their housing. But you gave me an excuse, I am truly, truly disappointed.
If everyday we fail to act, someone dies.. then why do we not act? Even if I can only save one, I'm going to do that, because that is what I'm called to do, according to my faith.
I dedicate my revenue, over and above what the goverment takes for their "charity", and provide income to a few charitable causes I feel are deserving.
The boat I bought, is regularly used by Boy Scouts to earn merit badges.
These are not things I'm telling you to impress you, or make myself look better to anyone. If all I had was the ability to make coffee & sandwiches for the homeless, that's what I would use.
The key difference between me and you is that I will act upon my beliefs, and you will wait for leadership.
In your technocratic mindset, which is very common with most liberals, the thinking goes, If I can't save them all, then it's not fair, it's not just, and it's not right. So, you'll hold back, and not act, when misery surrounds you. You'll go out and light candles to "bring awareness", and not actually get in, do the hard work, person to person, and help with what you got. Even if all you can afford is a can of corn, buy it, and give it away.
Further, I think many liberals think of the government as their "church." However, in this church, they wait for those with "more" to be taxed, thus escaping their own personal commitment.
When Jesus said: feed the hungry. He did not mean wait for the government to tax the Rich, so that a program will be made to feed them. He meant for you to do it, with whatever you have, and when the government misses certain people, and you see that need, you are required to do it, on his behalf.
This is a very key difference between you and me. I choose to act individually, you will wait for some big collectivist cause, with the Rich pulling the cart. That's your form of charity.

To Changeleft wrote on Aug 25, 2008 7:07 AM:Try getting your opinion from somewhere else than Faux News and you just might have some credibility.

Change is Scary wrote on Aug 25, 2008 7:10 AM:The world is changing and I know it's frightening for some. Things will get better, I promise. Be afraid no more.

Q Ship wrote on Aug 25, 2008 7:24 AM:Ryan is right about the problem, he simply has the wrong solution.

If there is one thing we do not need it is more physical infrastructure. Aside from social and span of control aspects, most work can be done collaboratively from home with telecommuting.

I ran a Los Angeles TV station entirely from my Poway home in the early 80s by computer, finally spending one day a week at the office only because when I did visit, no one knew me!

Many jobs do not require face to face work. My clients today do not know if I am on the mainland, or on the north coast of Kauai -- and they don't care. They hire my mind, the results of which are electronically transportable to anywhere, anytime.

We need to reorganize our society to work independently, electronically, instead of building more terribly expensive freeways and even more expensive light rail.

We spend far too much time and money transporting bodies instead of minds. Obviously it won't work for everyone, or for every project, but it will work for sufficiently large group that there is no need for more costly and time consuming physical infrastructure.

Reardon wrote on Aug 25, 2008 7:43 AM:Truthiness: Reardon loves Snopes, and checks all "Pass this along" e-mail.

But Snopes is not the end all and be all, particularly when the subject is as complicated as the age of China's women gymnasts or Obama's complicated early history.

Both of those are now challenged in appropriate courts, not courts of public opinion. In the case of Obama, the challenge is by a long-time Democratic Party activist lawyer, and the decision will be rendered not by Snopes but by a court.

The story is not Obama's past so much as it is the citizenship challenge by a Hillary supporter, who says he is doing it to keep the Republicans from sabotaging the election after Obama is selected this next week, by revealing what he has revealed now.

Is this a Clintonian move to stop Obama? I have no clue. Is this a crazy Democrat lawyer? I have no clue. Is Obama's early history suspect as to citizenship? I have no clue. Are some of the Chinese female gynmasts 14? I have no clue.

Neither does Snopes. And neither do you!

Vista Granny wrote on Aug 25, 2008 7:44 AM:Actually read Ron's post today. I have decided that he, too, is a joke perpetrated by a liberal. No one could really be that big a stuffed shirt and so narrow minded.

Pluto wrote on Aug 25, 2008 8:09 AM:Hurray for George Buzzelli for starting a realistic conversation about domestic oil. Republican talking points call for ignoring all of our other problems and simply pretending that domestic drilling is the answer to our energy needs and "those darn democrats" are the only obstacle to a utopia of energy independence. This is a disgusting lie that insults our intelligence, but what can we expect? Oil in the Middle East can just be sucked out of the ground. Oil in the U.S. is trapped in shale and is prohibitively expensive to extract.

Siemper FU wrote on Aug 25, 2008 8:15 AM:It's sad to see old vets in a pissing contest about who deserves the glory in WWII, and to see young Marines proudly flaunting the rule of law (Web Comments, "Marines refuse to testify"). "Serving" doesn't necessarily make people mature or law-abiding.

DD Wiz wrote on Aug 25, 2008 8:42 AM:The published letter from Ryan Strausbaugh is excellent and correct, as far as it goes, in recommending increased electric-powered light rail as an alternative to just putting more cars on the road (and making sure they actually go to places people want to go to), but he misses additional important aspects of this solution.
1. Light rail can't cover every place in the County. Many times North County people are involved in personal or business activities in other parts of the County that go places where light rail is not feasible. Why not have some transit that allows carrying autos so that we could get our cars off the roads going into San Diego, but have them when we get there to enable driving the rest of the way to out-of-the-way destinations?
2. Provide tax and other incentives to business that promote telecommuting. Today, with high-speed Internet available and easy access to teleconferencing on almost every computer, including laptops, it simply is not necessary for many workers to drive into offices each day. By definition, everyone in this forum can understand this (unless, like McCain) they had to have their staffers log on for them.
Peace (and sunshine) to all, DD Wiz

Ron wrote on Aug 25, 2008 8:59 AM:Now, see.. this disturbs me when I read something like this from George Buzzelli; "Shale oil {is} not a viable option."

The United States established the Office of Naval Petroleum and Oil Shale Reserves in 1913 under Progressive Woodrow Wilson, no less.
{which will tell you how far down the slide this current crop of progressives as fallen}
During World War II, concern for conserving and increasing the nation’s oil resources prompted passage of the Synthetic Liquid Fuels Act of 1944 under FDR.
Oil shale has a fairly episodic history in America, all based on the cheap price of conventional oil. Stewart Udall, founder within the Democratic Party of the environmental movement, was pro-shale. As Secretary of the Interior, he mobilized in the 1960s to move shale forward, to lease it, to make it commercial, but this effort failed again, the very low price of conventional petroleum ruled out shale,
the economics were not favorable.
The OPEC embargo in the 70's, cause conventional petroleum price escalation, shale once again attracted attention. American oil companies applied for leases and paid $41,000 per acre in Colorado.
In the 1970s, The Air Force looked at shale, tested it, and found that it was a superior liquid for jet fuel. Roughly 65 percent of the oil shale is liquid, which could go into jet fuel. The J-8 engine can take shale oil as premium jet fuel.
The Air Force last year, began testing a synthetic fuel blend for the B-52, and next in line is the C-17, a crucial step to the private sector, since the C-17 shares engines in common with some commercial aircraft.
You might be able to run your car on a battery for 30-50 miles by the end of 2012. But you cxan fly an airplane on em. They need jet fuel, shale is but one method.

Focal Point wrote on Aug 25, 2008 9:03 AM:Hey Arthur[-] wrote on Aug 25, 2008 3:38 AM: You are correct. All Navy ships of all types faced great jepardy. Many hands were lost in battle and after the landing of the Marines. My father who was on Guadalcanal remembers watching the Navy battle at night. He had the highest respect for the USN and would have said, "well done" to you and your shipmates.

Santo wrote on Aug 25, 2008 9:31 AM:"As the World's cop, it is our job to ensure the survival of liberty, everywhere. That is the mission of the United States." So writes "Ron" in Sunday's Letter to the Editor, NCT.
My question is, "Who made us the world's (no cap necessary) cop? It seems that "Ron" also believes that we are judge and jury as well, for he tells us, daily, what's right.
It would seem preferable that a country be seen as a leader, a friend, a teacher, a counselor or another figure that instills kindness and hope. Most people, when they see a cop say, "Oh, oh." If that is what "Ron" wants the world to think of us we will have far more enemies than friends. From the letters I have read this seems true for "Ron."

Focal Point wrote on Aug 25, 2008 9:33 AM:Siemper FU[-] wrote on Aug 25, 2008 8:15 AM:Old vets are not interested in glory. They are just interested in correct history and the recognition that the battle for Guadalcanal was due to the NAVY/USMC team effort along with the aid and sacrifice of gallant allies of the time. Your FU remark is not that of a keen observer nor of a gentleman.

Ron wrote on Aug 25, 2008 9:40 AM:Ya gotta love people like Gordon Archibald. I mean... does he not see this? This need by the Obamaman for
"Gravitas?"
Now, Gordon take on this, is this:
"Contrary to inferences...
Obama's answers to questions are well thought out and cover the complicated issues."
Hey.. eh.. Gord? I distinctly heard:
That's above my pay grade.
That's what I heard.

And that's funny, ya know? Cause you know who else has used that particular phrase? Any guess's?
That's right, Joe Biden.
In a response to Scott Ritter former UN weapons inspector who was advocating against the war in Iraq, Joe Biden told him: "That decision is above your pay grade."
Are ya getting just how delicious this is? I mean.. He's Joe, who know's he's more qualified, and Obama know's he's more qualified, so he picks the guy for his "Gravitas." It's just righteous!
And ta boot...
Now this is the really, really good part. Pay attention, cause I'm educating you here.
Here's the good part...
Biden voted for the war! Yes, the stupid war, the dumb war, that the Obamaman has based his entire theme on.
And he went to a guy, with supposed great foreign policy experience, who voted for a stupid war.
Is that great, or what?
If it's all about "Judgement", he ain't showing any.

gracchus wrote on Aug 25, 2008 10:18 AM:ron, in your communique of 7:05 a.m. you talk of your chaity. i congratulate you for your generosity. concerning your genorosity, which you base upon your christian perspective, i would encourage you to look at your bible and read Luke, chapter 21, verses 1-4.
you have repeatedly conflated personal finances with with government entitlements and tax policy. because of this you have been unable to propose clear, rational ideas of what we as a nation can do to fix social security and medicare.
you have only expressed your distaste for paying taxes and your dislike for all entitlements.
i will tell you, ron, that with the fdr administration in power, very rich americans say their taxes go up incredibly. it did put a cramp on their life-style of conspicuous consumption. but those tax increases helped create the united states middle class of the 20th century. if you think that fdr's tax policy was bad and you don't like its consequences, i'll gladly accept your opinion, although i'll disagree with it.
i would like you, ron, to give a clear, rational critique of social security and medicare. and think, ron, what the consequences of your suggestions might be. we all then can determine for ourselves whether we like your ideas and their possible results.
and best of all, ron, you can do this without hurling personal insults to those who question your opinions and without making incorrect observations on world history.

Setting The Example wrote on Aug 25, 2008 10:32 AM:The Denver Democratic National Convention is going to great lengths this year to be the greenest convention in DNC history. From the Convention Committee's Suggested Lean 'N Green Guidelines, which encourage on-site vendors and Denver restaurants to serve a colorful palette of foods to the newest green initiative to replace 70,000 plastic hotel key cards with birch wood alternatives in 90 of Denver's hotels, the Greening Committee led by Andrea Robinson is working tirelessly to green the convention. Even Molson Coors Brewing Company is advancing the environmental awareness movement by donating fuel made from beer waste to power the DNC car fleet.

Bucky wrote on Aug 25, 2008 10:49 AM:Government is broken.
Joe Biden said so, he also said that he has never seen it this bad and I agree.
One thins he forgot to mention, for the last two years it has been his party, the Democrat Party that has control of congress. The Democrats like Biden and Ms. Pelosi have been the most devicive and do nothing party in charge in history. Want more of the same, vote Democrat.

Go DNC wrote on Aug 25, 2008 10:51 AM:If I can make fuel from beer waste, count me the heck in! I've been brewing my own beer for years. I think I will go do some research. Thanks for the post!

Ms M wrote on Aug 25, 2008 11:07 AM:Bucky
[-] wrote on Aug 25, 2008 10:49 AM:...Oh Bucky we've had this conversation too many times to count. It's fun to see you folks try to blame the condition of our country on the libs. It ain't gonna happen. The cons have been in charge regardless of the number of libs in congress. Our "commander in chief" is the "decider". It will be years before before we fix the mess the cons have gotten us in. And we will once we get a lib president to work with a lib congress. No more gridlock!

Chris wrote on Aug 25, 2008 11:07 AM:I agree with Siemper Fu. The attitude of many Marines,not all, is that they are the greates and the rest of the military doesn't count. The fact is that if it wasn't for the support and efforts of the rest of the military the Marines would be out of luck. As far as Siemper Fu's comment about the young Marines and his reference to the article concerning the Marines who refused to testify, I couldn't agree more.

Randy wrote on Aug 25, 2008 11:12 AM:I have been patiently "Biden" my time, but my invitation to the DNC hasn't arrived yet!

But Bucky wrote on Aug 25, 2008 11:14 AM:Democrats did NOT have sufficient control of Congress to override a Bush veto, did they?
As for Pelosi, she is as bad as Bush and Cheney.
If you want something different than what Bushco has shafted us with, give Democrats 67 percent of Congress, that's 67 percent of the Senate and 67 percent of the House. And NO McShame.

Almost to Karl wrote on Aug 25, 2008 11:19 AM:Karl
[-] wrote on Aug 25, 2008 4:11 AM:Almost @ 8:11 PM:

All I can say is HUH? I don't get it.

Karl, I am suprised, of all the people it would be you to jump in front of the line, and say something stupid! Alf/God complex refers to Als's insistence on always thinking that his opinion is the correct one in all things. Now, most of us know that anyone's opinion on a particular matter is just that, an opinion. and not correct all the time, and Suprise, Even Alf's. What was it that the Surfing guy called him? "The big Kailua", Oops, I mean "The big kahuna". And guess what Karl, I could be wrong, After all, It's only my Opinion!

Bill wrote on Aug 25, 2008 12:03 PM:Refusing to provide testimony is not flaunting the rule of law as long as one is willing to do the time.

Refusing to testify is contempt of court and it is about the only remedy the Marines have for countering this gross abuse of our court system and appeasement to war opponents. The ones that are flaunting the rule of law are the Government that uses the courts in violation of the spirit of Posse Comotatus.

This is unprecedented and is a classic example of government abuse.

Yet liberals applaud this sham prosecution.

This is being handled by a Prosecutor that has no legal jurisdiction over the military as the state and federal courts have no jurisdiction over UCMJ cases and never have.

These Marines are only following the lead set by the prosecutor.

Why can the governments lead prosecutor violate the law and the Marines cant?

Is he above the law?

This is a result of liberals whining and the need to appease them. You liberals ought to be real proud of yourself for this. These young men have put their hides in harms way so you can do this to them. Another example of how liberals love their country. The anti war groups pushed for this and got it.

This is flat out appeasement to liberals.

I hope you liberals are proud.

Bill wrote on Aug 25, 2008 12:08 PM:What liberals are complaining about with these Marines amounts to a far less serious charge than waht Bill Clinton did.

These Marines are only witnesses and are not targets of an investigation. Thats why they dont have 5th ammendmant rights in this. The prosecutor refuses to give them any immunity for a broad complaint agains the defendants. That way, he can get them to say what they do and then prosecute them later using their own words.

This is a blatant attempt to undermine thyeir 5th ammendmant rights should he try to prosecute them later.

What happened to liberal concern for justice?

Bill Clinton was a defendant in a civil trial and LIED.

At least these kids are keeping their mouths shut.

Chuck wrote on Aug 25, 2008 12:16 PM:>>>>Try getting your opinion from somewhere else than Faux News and you just might have some credibility>>> Actually, it was on the front page of the NCTimes main competitor on Sunday. Faux wont understand the problem until Murdock tells them its time to understand it

For Karl from Poppy wrote on Aug 25, 2008 12:17 PM:I got a business card from a customer of mine today and on it was this:

I only play golf on days that end in Y

I thought you would get a kick out of that!

Chuck wrote on Aug 25, 2008 12:19 PM:I had written Cheney two rather nasty letters on how the crdit card companies have turned up the rape of the American public, instead of just the opposite when Washington made it harder to delare bankruptcy. And, my, my-- we now find out Biden is taking $$$ from the cridit card companies in this issue. Why am I not surprised that the liberals now have the CC comanies in their back pockets

Whos Been Naughty Whos Been Nice wrote on Aug 25, 2008 12:19 PM:Santa will be bringing a copy of "Team America, World Police" by Parker and Stone to Ron for Christmas this year. I peeked at his Naughty and Nice list, that's how I know.

Chuck wrote on Aug 25, 2008 12:22 PM:>>>The world is changing and I know it's frightening for some. Things will get better, I promise. Be afraid no more.>>> I get it, he can wave his staff, the women will faint and swoon and all will be well

To Ron wrote on Aug 25, 2008 12:25 PM:It is clear to the rest of us that you are not able to comprehend what Obama meant when he remarked that the issue of knowing for sure the exact moment a living being becomes "human" was "above his pay grade." I won't bother to explain it to you (again) because you don't really want to know.

I will say that isn't it wonderful that McCain is smarter than all the world's philosophers and learned people of wisdom who admit they don't know that answer to that question.

In Ron's world, and in McCain's world, everything is black or white.

Very sad.

Oh Bucky wrote on Aug 25, 2008 12:32 PM:Your post blaming the Democratic Congress is rather pathetic. First, as has been pointed out innumberable times, they do NOT have the votes to override Republican filibusters, let alone Presidential vetos. Second, most Democrats are NOT pleased with their Congressional reps. Third, your post admits, in effect, that this Congress has done nothing to make things better, in other words, to change what the previous Congress has done. From 2000-2006 Bush got whatever he wanted from Congress. It was Republican rule for six years. What did they accomplish? So much that you criticize the Democrats for not changing things! LOL

Whats Jesus got to do with it wrote on Aug 25, 2008 12:38 PM:Ron says Jesus said feed the poor, and meant directly, not via government. OK, so doing charitable work is a good thing to do, according to Christ's teachings. But last time I checked, our nation was founded on the Constitution, not on the New Testament, so while Ron or anyone might value Christ's teaching (as I certainly do), this has absolutely nothing to do with anything. If we the people decide to feed the poor via government and taxation, it's our business. (I'm pretty sure Jesus said nothing about being the world's policeman, for example. In fact, if I read His teachings properly, my guess is that He'd be quite opposed to this role. It's not exactly "turn the other cheek" or "love your enemies as yourself".)

oh Bill wrote on Aug 25, 2008 12:41 PM:What in the world does Bill Clinton have to do with the Marines who won't testify? How many people do you know who are going around comparing these two? As a liberal, I certainly never condoned Clinton's perjury. But I don't condone other law-breaking either, even by Marines or members of the Bush administration. Unlike you, I put the rule of law above my personal ideology.

OBSERVATION wrote on Aug 25, 2008 12:49 PM:BAGHDAD (AP) — Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki dug in his heels Monday on the future of the U.S. military in Iraq, insisting that all foreign soldiers leave the country by a specific date in 2011 and rejecting legal immunity for American troops.

hardtack wrote on Aug 25, 2008 1:06 PM:“Those Darn Democrats” at 06:32, makes a good point and should remind us that there are actually people running for office who are neither Democrats nor Republicans.
Things are not going to change until we do. You know what Einstein or Yogi Berra (does it matter?) said about people who do the same thing over and over and expect a different result.

To Observation wrote on Aug 25, 2008 1:06 PM:But they can't do that! How will Bill put bases in Iraq if we are forced to leave? How will Ron protect the rest of the world if he can't get immunity for our troops in Iraq? How will John McCain save the world if he can't occupy Iraq for 100 years? Oh, say it isn't so! That stupid Obama, this is all his fault!

Boat wrote on Aug 25, 2008 1:41 PM:Bill,

You stated that: "These Marines are only witnesses and are not targets of an investigation."

I am not a liberal. I do not believe that I can judge these men. However, if they are, as you yourself stated, witnesses, then they should testify to what they saw. They were put in an impossible situation in Iraq. Now they are in an equally impossible situation. As I understand it,
the Marine Corps has granted them limited immunity, they should take it. I hope that all of this turn out well for them, I really do. After all that they have been through this is the last thing that should be happening to them. We used to have a saying in the Navy " **** flows downhill."

You further stated that:"Bill Clinton was a defendant in a civil trial and LIED."

With this scenario in mind what do you have to say about Scooter Libby? Didn't he also lie? To a Federal Grand Jury? And about a much more serious matter than a marital infedility?

hardtack wrote on Aug 25, 2008 1:44 PM:I could not care less if shale is a viable energy source, since I am not a Big Oil shareholder or a member on their board of directors. Frankly, I can’t understand Congress’ or Joe Sixpack’s interest either. It seems to me, if it’s Big Oil’s money it’s their decision and they should be able to invest where they want.

With that said, Joe Sixpack’s puerile interest in matters beyond him seems harmless enough – whereas Congress’ interest in the matter definitely has the smell of money and power about it.

Question Then wrote on Aug 25, 2008 2:12 PM:If we figure out how to make our own fuel using beer waste, will the government ban home-brewing?

Chuck wrote on Aug 25, 2008 2:23 PM:>>>Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki dug in his heels Monday on the future of the U.S. military in Iraq, insisting that all foreign soldiers leave the country by a specific date in 2011 and rejecting legal immunity for American troops.>>> Fine, if the free people of Iraq want us out, then we should leave, as soon as they repay every cent we've invested over there with oil or cash

sdraoul wrote on Aug 25, 2008 2:23 PM:"To Ron" is as idiotic as Obama.

The question posed to Mr. Obama was : "When does a baby get human rights?"

Obama refused to answer that question despite the California State Legislature and the United States Supreme Court having answered that question decades ago.

The Supreme Court--at the second trimester. The California State Legislature, when the "fetus" is killed with or without the mother dying by murder.

Who cares what great thinkers think when the question is settled in law?

McCain answered the question -- he considers babies to have "human rights" from conception forward.

That happens to be the position of the largest church in the world, as it happens. Its thinkers have been around longer than most.

Three D wrote on Aug 25, 2008 2:29 PM:Ron at 7:05 a.m. correctly notes that when Jesus tells us to feed the "least of these" (Matt 25:31-46), he is telling us what we need to do to be saved. It is, yes, an individual thing. So I am confident that Ron, hanging on every word of Jesus, joins in keeping church and state completely separate or, as Jesus said, rendering to Caesar the things of Caesar and to God the things of God.
And since Jesus made it so very, utterly clear that this teaching (to individuals) is how they can be saved (without even mentioning faith), he will join those who honor Jesus by rejecting the heretical teachings of Paul who repeatedly taught exactly the opposite, i.e., that salvation is based on belief without regard for your actions (Romans 3:28; 4:6; Galatians 2:16; Ephesians 2:8-9; II Timothy 1:9; Titus 3:5).
Blessings,
3D

Ron wrote on Aug 25, 2008 2:42 PM:I think it's pretty simple...
there, ah.. "Three D" @2:29 PM.

When I was hungry, YOU fed me.
When I was naked, YOU clothed me.

Standing down in front of a city hall, lighting candles, trying to "bring awareness" to the plight of the homeless is a good idea.
But you know what's even better?
A warm blanket, a hot cup of joe, and a sandwich.

Chuck has nerve wrote on Aug 25, 2008 2:46 PM:Chuck thinks that Iraq owes us big time and that we shouldn't have to leave until they pay us for all we've invested. Can you imagine the gall? We invade a country. We bomb its cities. Between our invasion and the insurgence that was caused by the invasion, the nation's infrastructure was destroyed, it's cultural and archeological treasures were lost forever, thousands of people were killed, millions went into exile. Now Chuck demands a thank you from them, and further feels that we have some kind of "right" to remain under any circumstance we wish until we get satisfactory payment. This is the Chuck (and raoul) model of national behavior. Anarchy. Might makes right. Others should be made to submit to our superiority. One nation, under the God of psychopathology.

Ron wrote on Aug 25, 2008 2:49 PM:Todays Survey (check those that apply)

[ ] I checked my tire pressure and
and purchased a Hussein signature tire gage.

[ ] I need a No-Doc Home Loan, anyone got the phone number of Chris Dodd & Kent Conrad's Country-Wide Exec?

[ ] I need the number of a good non-religious medical doctor to solve my same-sex partners infertility.

[ ] Hussein jr. is stowed next to frozen Toaster Strudal, in case of fire.

Oh Raoul wrote on Aug 25, 2008 2:50 PM:What does "human rights" mean? Do fertilized eggs own property? Do they sign contracts? Are they entitled to free education? McCain was making a stupidly simplified answer to a very difficult question and, as we might have predicted, some people lapped it up. God forbid we should have a President who sees that an issue is tough and complicated and has the guts to say this. Oh, no! Never! We insist that every issue have a simple direct answer, preferably something catchy that you could fit on a bumper sticker. Yeah, that's what we want in the man who will be the most powerful on earth, a simpleton. Great.

Chuck wrote on Aug 25, 2008 2:50 PM:Iraqi police have released a video of teenage girl in suicide vest. The liberals and CAIR will want to be sure 20 old ladies get stripped searched at the airport while allowing this one through

TFB wrote on Aug 25, 2008 2:53 PM:SDRaoul at 2:23 p.m. is just being downright disingenuous. I know he is smarter than to say that the question of abortion "is settled in law."
Surely he can't be so naive as to not be aware that most legal scholars believe the U.S. Supreme Court is one vote away from fully overturning Roe v. Wade and, with several judges on the Court even older than McCain, it is likely that one or more of the liberals will be the ones to go, and whoever gets to appoint their replacements will decide whether or not abortion remains available to everyone (including those who can't afford to just pick up and travel to states where abortion is legal).
Has Raoul really lost sight of the big picture on this issue, or is he, yet again, playing fast and loose with the facts and the truth?

The answers were important.
McCain showed a simplistic, knee-jerk, shoot-from-the-hip recitation of talking points - the kind of thing that got is into our current domestic and international messes.
Obama showed depth of thought, wrestling with the full range of complexity on this subject - the kind of serious, thoughtful leadership this nation needs.

Alf wrote on Aug 25, 2008 2:55 PM:Well, "Almost to Karl" at 11:19AM,
I have no God complex.
I ask simply that you provide an example of something about which I am wrong, with proof of your assertion that I am wrong,
rather than make a blanket insult of a statement with no specifics.
The ball, as they say, is in your court.
Regards, Alf.

Ron wrote on Aug 25, 2008 2:56 PM:Interesting take there by...
"Whats Jesus got to do with it"
@12:38 PM. Sure, and most of us don't mind when it's given to the truly needy. But when you have a party, a group of people, who wants to give health insurance to a family that makes $60,000 a year, who's son lives in the basement, is 25, and is trying to "make it" in a band...
I don't think that's covered.

For me, personally, I think that's stealing from the truly needy.
He don't have to have a career right now, but he definately, needs a job right now. Ya see what I'm saying?

Reader of the Constitution wrote on Aug 25, 2008 2:59 PM:To What's Jesus Got to Do With it: Jesus has nothing to do with the Constitution, but the Constitution has nothing to do with charity!

James Madison, the primary author of the US Constitution lived long enough to pen: "I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents." He wrote that concerning, as my memory recalls, a mere $15,000 that Congress was considering to pay to some community of unfortunates in need of charity.

Charity was never authorized by the Constitution -- and neither was authorized a Department of Education, or an Air Force or a number of other things, They are all extra-Constitutional constructs and done illegally without amending the Constitution.

Alf wrote on Aug 25, 2008 3:07 PM:Well, "sdraoul" at 2:23PM,
when you say "McCain answered the question -- he considers babies to have "human rights" from conception forward.
That happens to be the position of the largest church in the world, as it happens. Its thinkers have been around longer than most.",
it makes me grateful that our country is a democratic republic and
not a theocracy.
Regards, Alf.

Ron wrote on Aug 25, 2008 3:11 PM:Another Oops by Biden....
Just in...
Got the Kossacks & the Huffer's all in a panic....

The "Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005" has hit the fan, ladies and gentlemen.
And according to my sources {yes, there are many..}
it wasn't aimed at preventing abuse or protecting consumers, and everyone knew it.

According to them, this legislation was so hostile to ordinary American families that it could only have come about in a place as corrupt, cynical and unmoored from reality as Washington, D.C. The bankruptcy bill is morally bankrupt. And so is any senator who votes for it.

"So what does the bill do? It makes it harder for average people to file for bankruptcy protection; it makes it easier for landlords to evict a bankrupt tenant; it endangers child-support payments by giving a wider array of creditors a shot at post-bankruptcy income; it allows millionaires to shield an unlimited amount of equity in homes and asset-protection trusts; it makes it more difficult for small businesses to reorganize while opening new loopholes for the Enrons of the world; it allows creditors to provide misleading information; and it does nothing to rein in lending abuses...."
My compliments to the Huff post!

And Biden voted for it.

That's right, ladies and gentlemen..
Joe Biden never forgot his upbringing in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Where "...it's not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy toward people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."

Three D wrote on Aug 25, 2008 3:20 PM:So glad Ron at 2:42 p.m. agrees with me (and Jesus) about the importance of separating church and state.
And yes, in addition to that warm blanket, hot cup of joe and sandwich, don't forget that Jesus was very, very big on wine (or as Michael Jackson would say, "Jesus juice) - including his first miracle (turning water into wine at Cana), last ritual (last supper sacramental wine) and even to the point where he observed that some called him (Jesus) a "drunkard" (Luke 7:33-34).
Though, in all honesty, for most of the troubled ones I see on the street, I think the blanket, joe and sandwich are a safer bet than the booze, no matter the vintage.
Blessings,
3D

Focal Point wrote on Aug 25, 2008 3:23 PM:Bill[-] wrote on Aug 25, 2008 12:03 PM: Baloney. The USMC is apolitical. The accused is being tried per UCMJ and due to the decision of the convening authority.
That is what is wrong with you, conservatives. Anything that you do not like or does not meet your criteria is the fault of liberals. When are you going to wake up that there just are not that many liberals who can influence the policy or action of any group or organization or the events of the day.

Oh Please wrote on Aug 25, 2008 3:28 PM:Oh Raoul[-] wrote on Aug 25, 2008 2:50 PM:
McCain knew the answers that the Christian right wants to hear. They asked and he answered right from his play book.

Alf wrote on Aug 25, 2008 3:50 PM:The letter from Jack Pomeroy is quite right about how wonderful aour National Parks are.
Mrs. Alf and I spent a week in Brian Head, Utah, so that we couls bounce back and forth between there and Zion National Park and Bryce Canyons National Park.
The mountain bluebirds were the most vivid blue I've seen.
Regards, Alf.

DD Wiz wrote on Aug 25, 2008 4:59 PM:The post from "Reader of the Constituion" (2:59pm) is absolutely right that Jesus has noting to do with the Constitution," but as to the claim that "the Constitution has nothing to do with charity," there is that pesky "general welfare" clause, which occurs both in the Preamble (emphasizing its importance) and in the enumerated powers delegated explicitly to Congress, showing its Constitutional authorization.
Clearly, charities for religious purposes are clearly constitutionally forbidden, but if the government determines that proactive efforts to prevent problems, such as education, job training, family support services, etc., are preferable to reactive solutions to problems (cleaning up messes after they occur), as long as it is a public policy endeavor rather than an effort at being a "do-gooder" to win "salvation," this is for the public to decide through their representatives.
The most successful public policy efforts understand that "stitch in time" approach to preventing rather than solving problems.
Peace (and sunshine) to all, DD Wiz

Alf wrote on Aug 25, 2008 5:13 PM:It seems that the sovereign nation known as Iraq is insisting on being sovereign.
In the article -
"Iraqi leader insists on deadline for troop pullout
By QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA and ROBERT H. REID | Monday, August 25, 2008 1:45 PM PDT"
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2008/08/25/ap/headlines/d92pg11g5.txt which may change its URL as it goes from "Breaking" to elsewhere.
The first paragraph says -
"BAGHDAD - Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki dug in his heels Monday on the future of the U.S. military in Iraq, insisting that all foreign soldiers leave the country by a specific date in 2011 and rejecting legal immunity for American troops."
The second paragraph says -
"Despite the tough words, al-Maliki's aides insisted a compromise could be found on the two main stumbling blocks to an accord governing the U.S. military presence in Iraq after a United Nations mandate expires at the end of the year."
In an April 24, 2007 interview with Charlie Rose, however, GWB "said he would remove troops if asked by Iraq, but he predicted that Maliki would not ask for a withdrawal:

ROSE: But if he said get out now, we don’t want you anymore–

BUSH: I don’t see how we could stay. It is his country."
They have been asking us to leave for some time now, YET we are STILL THERE.
GWB is perpetually proving that he is a flat-out liar.
Regards, Alf.

Alf Its Almost For You wrote on Aug 25, 2008 5:33 PM:Well Alf, I just got back in from flying my wife and a couple of our friends over to Catalina for lunch and a walk-a-bout, I guess some would say my plane and I are responsable for all the global warming. Anyway, another topic for another day. So I just saw your post and could not help but laugh at your habitual arrogance.

Well, "Almost to Karl" at 11:19AM,
"I ask simply that you provide an example of something about which I am wrong"

Alf, It does not get much more apparent than that, Need I say more. Except maybe to give you the same answer you gave me one time several months back, when I proposed the same type of challenge to you. You said, and I'll peraphrase, "I don't have the time or desire to go over every post written in the last few days, weeks or months, just to prove to you I am correct". So Alf, If that answer from you was to be good enough for me, then it will have to work for you as well. You see Alf, there will be no double standards here. So there is no court to put any ball in to, as you say. Just saying something Alf, or quoting someone else does not make it so.

hardtack wrote on Aug 25, 2008 6:12 PM:According to the “Book,” what did Jesus say? Go and petition Caesar to “do likewise” – or [you] ‘go and do likewise’ [as the good Samaritan did]?

Truthiness wrote on Aug 25, 2008 6:18 PM:Because Ron insists on being our own in-house, cherry-picking, out-of-context Faux News repeat-ad-nauseum reporter, I will repost the entire paragraph that includes the statement Ron presented above. You can google it on the web if you want to read it in it's entirety.

As always, for those in search of the truth, read things in context and then decide for yourself what they mean. You most certainly don't need Ron to translate for you.

"But the truth is, is that, our challenge is to get people persuaded that we can make progress when there's not evidence of that in their daily lives. You go into some of these small towns in Pennsylvania, and like a lot of small towns in the Midwest, the jobs have been gone now for 25 years and nothing's replaced them. And they fell through the Clinton administration, and the Bush administration, and each successive administration has said that somehow these communities are gonna regenerate and they have not. So it's not surprising then that they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations."

Yes We Can Party wrote on Aug 25, 2008 6:25 PM:"Yes We Can" Party

Watch Obama's speech with us on Thursday!

Where: Hensley's Flying Elephant Pub & Grill (in Carlsbad)
When: Thurs., Aug. 28 at 5:00 PM

P.S. Can't make this event? Here are a few other events near you:

Encinitas at 6:00 PM—RSVP

Cardiff on Via Tiempo, Cardiff by the Sea at 5:30 PM—RSVP

3110 Summit Dr. Escondido, Ca, Escondido at 5:30 PM—RSVP

North County Democratic Unity Office, Escondido at 5:30 PM—RSVP

Rancho Penasquitos and Bernardo, San Diego at 5:30 PM—RSVP

I'll be there. Chuck, can you make it?

Google for a link to RSVP and get more information.

Playing Both Sides wrote on Aug 25, 2008 6:36 PM:Well yes, sdraoul, but if the rule of law is only thing we need to consider, how do we reconcile that with the marines who are refusing to testify? You can't have it both ways. Or are you willing to say those marines are in the wrong?

to Raoul wrote on Aug 25, 2008 7:11 PM:Obama knew he was speaking to an audience of right-wing christians. A group that is hardly known for their education or understanding of nuances. McCain toed the party line and gave them what they wanted. Obama answered truthfully....that is, none of us knows when a human life begins. And it is not up to the government to decide that for us as individuals. Again I state that men need to stay out of this discussion. It is up to the woman to decide, not you, not the pope, not the people sitting in that "church" that day.

Chuck wrote on Aug 25, 2008 7:15 PM:Ron
[-] wrote on Aug 25, 2008 2:49 PM:
Todays Survey (check those that apply)

[ ] I checked my tire pressure and
and purchased a Hussein signature tire gage.

[ ] I need a No-Doc Home Loan, anyone got the phone number of Chris Dodd & Kent Conrad's Country-Wide Exec?

[ ] I need the number of a good non-religious medical doctor to solve my same-sex partners infertility.

[xx] I bet Public school copy machines are working overtime readying SB777 gender selection forms for the kiddies returning to school

Nick wrote on Aug 25, 2008 7:23 PM:Well "Alf", you bring back some good memories for me. I have skiied Brian Head a few times and always had fun.
Been camping and rock climbing in Zion and Bryce as well.
All those years I spent in Colorado were some of the best of my life. I climbed 9 of the 14'ers and have a lot more to go...lol.
Did a few week long ski hut trips in Aspen and the Grand Tetons as well.

If you and Mrs. Alf ever make it to Colorado, might I suggest Rocky Mtn National Park and also the drive over Independence Pass from Leadville to Aspen. They are both incredible, just have to wait for the snow to melt and both of the passes to open.
Definitely worth seeing.
Cheers, Nick.

Alf wrote on Aug 25, 2008 7:42 PM:Well, "Alf Its Almost For You" at 5:33PM,
insult away.
Your hollow and baseless insults only prove your character or lack thereof.
I suspect that you'll prove the latter to be true rather than the former.
Regards, Alf.

Alf wrote on Aug 25, 2008 7:57 PM:Well, "Nick" at 7:23 PM,
you made an excellent suggestion.
Even with gasoline at a premium (pardon the pun), we are going to make a loop road trip within the next "coupla three" years.
Here to Scottsdale to Tucson to Santa Fe, up through Colorado (gotta hit Colorado Springs and visit my friend from high school), find the points you suggest, then that Academy, then over to Las Vegas, a loop around the Grand Canyon and back. We did it once before, sans your suggestions and after I loaded the pictures and erased the memory cards, the computer crashed. Now I load into a laptop, copy the pictures to USB flash drives so that there is at least one copy and one or two backups.
Regards, Alf.

Richard wrote on Aug 25, 2008 8:02 PM:Many who voted for the pre authorization to invade IF it were to became absolutely necessary for self preservation, did so because they were humble enough to believe what Bush through Colin Powell had told them. When the truth was learned I applaud those who revoked that support and stated why, that they were given fixed intelligence lacking intentionally deleted Air Force reports that stated the opposite data than what Bush wanted to state. I'm sick and tired of people looking at voting choice and holding that against a person who learned the truth later and corrected his position. The liar is at fault, not the guy who trusted the man who was supposed to be their honest leader but instead turned out to be a guy who would fix intelligence to fit his personal desire. Blaming people like Biden, Hillary and many others, after Colin Powell himself concluded that it was the most deceptive speech he'd ever given, is insane. Those who followed the lies and don't bother to investigate to find the truth for themselves, even after years of time, are those who should hold blame. It is these party liners who should have stopped this Iraq nonsense long ago. Bush listens to no Democrat and stopping him had to be bipartisan but it simply isn't. This notion that because Biden voted for it, he is somehow an evil hypocrite for changing is insane. I know exactly who to blame for the Iraq nonsense and it's not Joe.

Alf wrote on Aug 25, 2008 8:07 PM:Since you seem to be a bit hampered, "Alf Its Almost For You" at 5:33PM, why not look at August