LETTERS: NCT, Sept. 7, 2008
By Readers of the North County Times | ∞
Human rights program for ovum
Rick Warren asked John McCain, "When does a baby get human rights?" McCain answered: "At the moment of conception." Well, that's all right –– as far as it goes. But what about the unfertilized eggs? Why are they relegated to less-than-second-class status? They're human, too. Why should they be denied fulfillment and enjoy the same rights to fertilization and implantation?
Someone must step up and represent these beings who cannot speak for themselves. Untold millions of unfertilized eggs have been consigned to oblivion by an unfeeling populace concerned only with their dissolute desires, using contraception and other acts against nature, such as female chastity and celibacy. Further, some 20 percent to 50 percent of fertilized eggs fail to implant and are lost also.
I'm proposing a comprehensive human rights program to ensure fertilization for every human ovum and to provide comprehensive support services for the implantation-challenged. I recommend naming the program No Egg Held Back, with the hope of emulating the outstanding success of the No Child Held Back program.
John Terrell
Fallbrook
Creating wealth the American way
Writers Joe Martin and Rachel Rott (Letters, Aug. 27) seem really perturbed that Sen. McCain has wealth and seemed to forget he had seven homes. Follow the money? Yes, and tell me who does not? Neither of them mention the Ted Kennedy clan, Barbara Boxer, Feinstein and dozens of extremely wealthy Democrats. No space to name them all.
Is there something wrong with creating wealth, creating jobs, owning multiple homes and occasionally marrying a wealthy woman or a man? That happens in our society on a regular basis. "Living in a bubble" for decades, as Rachel describes McCain, really gets under her skin. ...
Personally, I am in envy of people with all that extra cash, and I don't suppose it makes any difference to Joe and Rachel that Obama really lives well and is building wealth like so many politicians do. Giving credit to successful people must be difficult. Martha Stewart, Oprah Winfrey and the dozens of star performers worth millions are probably idolized, even though their fortunes and fine homes are not mentioned. Cindy McCain's father left her a fortune and the McCains live comfortably with a prenuptial agreement.That is great! This is an opinion page and we are all entitled. Hope you have read mine.
Bob Limpus
Fallbrook
Apartheid? You decide
President Carter's book, "Palestine: Peace not Apartheid," has evoked outrage, often by people who have not read it. This outrage is focused on the word "apartheid." So let's define "apartheid" by considering conditions in the West Bank, as they are today. This region, comprising 22 percent of the original U.N. mandate, is riddled by a network of roads connecting an expanding number of illegal Israeli settlements. A typical Palestinian, after navigating checkpoints, has to travel 40 miles from one town to another, when the actual distance between them is only five miles. This makes a viable sovereign Palestinian state impossible.
In addition to these roads, which break up the Palestine community, there is the issue of control. This results in a prisonlike environment, where 95 percent of the space is occupied by the Palestinians, but it is the other 5 percent that determines who is in control. The Israeli military, backed by helicopter gunships and tanks, decides if and when one can go to work, to market, to school, to the church or mosque, to the doctor or hospital, or to visit relatives. All of this is done for security reasons, I am told. As Fox News might say, "Apartheid? You decide."
Sorab Ghandhi
Escondido
Fallbrook will no longer tolerate gangs
The Fallbrook Citizens' Crime Prevention Committee and community members of Bonsall, Fallbrook, Rainbow and De Luz are grateful to the North County Times for informing their readers about the crime prevention meeting on Aug. 26 in Fallbrook. The objective of the meeting was to show our elected officials the large number of citizens who are concerned about public safety that merits a gang injunction. Because of your excellent coverage of our efforts, we had 320 signed-in attendees, and the final total was even bigger. We established short/long-term crime prevention community goals.
The citizens will no longer tolerate gangs, drugs and violent crime to consume our communities like a cancer out of control. The FCCPC asked the audience to contact San Diego County Sheriff Bill Kolender, e-mail address: bill.gore@sdsheriff.org; Supervisor Bill Horn, e-mail address: caroline.smith@sdcounty.ca.gov; to ask for more law enforcement resources and a gang injunction.
We commend the community members who attended this meeting, helped take action and had a voice in our crime prevention efforts to bring positive changes for our communities. Thank you.
Patricia Braendel,
founder and president,
Fallbrook Citizens' Crime Prevention Committee
Learn all facts before buying a mobile home
The Community Forum, "Escondido City Council disappoints," by Larry Steneck, Aug. 26, was thoughtfully written, but it omitted key facts everyone should know before they purchase a home in a mobile home park with space rents. 1. Without a Space Vacancy Control Law, every park owner can charge any amount they wish to a new homeowner/space renter. 2. Without this law, the City Council has no duty to consider anything regarding fairness in the contractual agreement, despite one side's wealth or the other's age, even though it's often asked for. Consequently, all the responsibilities of obtaining fairness in these contracts belong to each buyer.
Every buyer has to understand that uniqueness exists within these contracts that requires conscientious learning, if fairness is to be recognized. To avoid disappointments later on, learn all the facts and closely evaluate the terms of your contract before you agree to them. Create the fairness you desire. Don't expect others to provide it for you after the contract has been finalized, regardless of your convictions.
So, sorry, Mr. Steneck, you can't shame our City Council on this matter, even though I agree with your opinions of them.
Richard Matthews
Escondido
No punishment for killing man's best friend
Man's "best friend" has recently died. Man's best friend died at the hands of a neglectful handler. This resulted in a death of a well-trained dog protecting the public. Man's best friend was tortured via a slow, agonizing torture with no mercy nor pity ("Report shows police dog died of heat stroke"). ... Citizens are helpless to tell the correct officials of such travesty when peace officers have committed such brutality with minor recourse regarding their part.
Government dogs are responsible for drug seizures, violence, ad infinitum, while protecting the public as well as peace officers. Government's best friend was subject to such cruelty, bringing tears to any man or woman with even the smallest amount of pity or kindness. ... "No one is above the law, no one is beneath the law, there is the law." I wish I had said that.
All of us may use this paper for tears falling out of our heart for a tortured helpless dog, when the only value of a dog is money. I am suspicious of the amount of recourse against the handler of best friend. Goodbye, my best friend. Bet I see you in heaven.
Michael Kearns
Vista
All women should have the same opportunity
Gov. Palin has become a hero to the Christian right because her unmarried pregnant teenage daughter decided to keep her out-of-wedlock baby and Palin decided to have a baby with Down syndrome. Since Palin has the luxury of hiring a full-time nanny (she returned to work three days after giving birth), she does not have to cope with round-the-clock problems inherent in raising a mentally challenged child. Her daughter will also receive help with her newborn from the Palin family.
But who is going to pay for the cost of caring for babies born to average working women struggling to feed their children; or to women who can't afford health care; or to unwed teenagers who barely know how to take care of themselves and don't have the support of their families? Palin and her daughter had the right to choose what was best for them. All women should have the same opportunity.
Bunny Landis
Oceanside
Smart Canada, stupid America!
About 10 years ago, the liberal Socialist Canadian bureaucrats wised up to the fact that the massive influx of pregnant women –– especially from Asia –– whose sole purpose was to give birth to babies in Canada, who, by then-Canadian law, automatically became Canadian citizens, was bankrupting their free medical and welfare systems. The result? They repealed the law! Smart.
On the other hand, our bleeding-heart liberal bureaucrats seem to care less that our identical law is bankrupting our free medical and welfare systems. I can only assume that they figure that there is a bottomless pit of tax money that can be levied to take care of all the illegal sponges while those who pay the taxes have to wait. What happens when the money runs out? Stupid!
Merrill Brown
Oceanside
National security –– a new definition
I believe that the top priority for all voters is, understandably, safety and national security, i.e., Maslow's hierarchy of needs. The Republican approach is, wait until we are attacked –– or even before, i.e., unilateral pre-emptive military action. The Democratic approach is –– does anyone understand the concept of prevention?
National security is about relationships. Relationships, whether personal or international, are a combination of the basic principles of psychology, sociology and theology.
Sociology 101 teaches that "behavior is reflective" –– Psychology 101 teaches the value of active listening –– Theology 101 teaches love one another. Let's try diplomacy for a change –– good-will communication, negotiation, compromise, mediation –– maybe even sharing resources.
Let's work toward the goal of win/win. Peace activists' slogans of "Words, not war," and "Bread, not bombs" and "Peace begets peace and war begets war." Our politics and economy are based on war. How about a paradigm change from war to peace, starting with a Department of Peace?
Donna Taylor
Encinitas
Don't close our beach path
This weekend the North County Transit Authority closed the beach access to Buccaneer Beach. They placed an officer at the top and bottom of the path that leads to the beach from the west end of Morse Street. They spouted "private property," they quoted Calif. penal code and threatened citations. And, yes, they pointed out another beach access only another 100 yards away, but still, change is unwanted and hard to swallow.
I was born in south O'side, and have been using that path since I was old enough to go to the beach alone (about 50 years). I don't ever remember once complaining about sharing our path with the train, and yes, I hear how that statement sounds. But the point still remains that is my beach, my path, and I don't want it closed. Period.
I know the next step is a big, black, heavy chain-link fence. I've seen them at other beach crossings. Let them spout public safety all they want, but more people have been hit at street crossings than that path. Fact is, I can't recall anyone ever being hit there. This is all pointless though, isn't it? The fence will go up, the path will close and the residents of our area will do without their path!
Jim Roberge
Oceanside
Keep an eye on this, Escondido
A U.S. District judge has just ruled that a Farmers Branch, Texas, ordinance forbidding illegal immigrants from renting there is unconstitutional because only the federal government has the authority to regulate immigration.
While awaiting the decision, the city was already revising the ordinance that will be implemented Sept. 13. The City Council says this new ordinance is constitutional and will be upheld in court. The plan is to have the federal government determine people's citizenship or legal status before they are allowed to rent an apartment in Farmers Branch. (From an article in the Star Telegram.) This will be interesting to follow.
Carol Larner
Fallbrook
Let's uphold our immigration laws
I read your article regarding Escondido and their policy to uphold the law. Hooray! I applaud the Police Department and the City Council for their actions. According to a reply e-mail from Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi I recently received, 700,000 illegal immigrants come into the U.S. every year! Our hospitals, schools and community services are overwhelmed with responsibility for these lawbreakers. If we took the financial resources we spend on them and used them for our own community services, we could do a great deal to help our lower-income people have better opportunities.
I wish Vista and every other city would take the same stance. I am not racist. I adore my legal Latino neighbors. They are the best I have ever had. They are law-abiding citizens and a positive addition to our community. Take the benefits away from people breaking the laws of our country, and they won't have as much incentive to come here in the first place.
Wendy Pickett
Vista
Moral relativism from the right
Over the last four years of President Clinton's term, the right-wing conservative talking heads and the Christian organizations were merciless in their moral repudiation of Clinton's infidelity with Monica Lewinsky. As Democrats, the act and the cover-up were shameful to the many of us who admired and appreciated Clinton's leadership and statesmanship.
Now, we have a Republican presidential candidate who ... cheated on his first wife, and a VP candidate with a daughter who is pregnant out of wedlock, yet, the conservatives say that "life happens"! Yes, it happens in both parties, but to be fair, both sides should be treated to an equal moral standard.
When Hillary Clinton spoke about women finding their way as mothers and career women, she was castigated by the religious right and the unfair and unbalanced press. Now, we have a woman vying for the VP job with five children, one of whom has Down syndrome, yet her political aspirations will assuredly take away focus from her children and family to deal with the ... rigors of running for the higher office. Has there been a moral change in the Conservative Party, or is this more hypocrisy? We all fall short of moral perfection, but certainly we should give equal criticism to all parties when it is due.
Michael Cushner
Fallbrook
Parcel-tax request a nonstarter
I am probably one of the few people who was polled regarding the proposed $52 parcel-tax ballot measure. It would be interesting to have the results of the poll released, and to know the funding source.
There are many questions surrounding this requested increase in taxes. My first question is, what benefit will Oceanside receive? If the goal is to provide fire infrastructure to protect rural county areas, then I say "no way." The county has been allowing development in dangerous areas without providing the needed infrastructure protection. The supervisors might begin funding the rural fire needs by dedicating the $2 million they each use to subsidize their favorite organizations. Ten million a year would go a long way toward public safety.
Oceanside residents have provided for their local fire protection, and will assist on a regional basis. The city dispatched men and equipment for the duration of the wildfires of 2007. Their performance earned high praise from other agencies. The parcel tax needs more explaining, and until the voters get important answers, this tax request is a nonstarter.
Kay Parker
Oceanside
Highway robbery in Escondido
In the late 1980s, my wife and I were on a short visit to Chicago. We parked legally overnight, but imagine our surprise to find our car had been towed away during the night. We paid a hefty fine to get it back. A couple of weeks later, I was told that the tow truck operator was arrested for randomly picking up cars from the streets, but we never got a penny of our money back.
It's easy to understand why I might have a low opinion of tow truck operators. In my humble opinion, the Escondido operation of the rip-off of unlicensed drivers is blackmail, and [possibly] is a crime ("City, tow companies rake in millions from unlicensed drivers," Aug. 31). During my more than 50 years in this city, I have often bragged about it to friends and acquaintances, but not anymore. I just say a bunch of highway robbers.
Davis Bell
Escondido
Vote 'no' on 8 to protect fairness to all
Marriage is a fundamental freedom in the pursuit of happiness that our Constitution guarantees. Equal protection of the law should continue to be the rule in California, but if Proposition 8 passes, some people will be able to marry whom they love and some won't. Some people will get to enjoy the dignity and security that marriage provides, while others only get domestic partnerships.
State-sanctioned marriage is primarily a civil and legal relationship, which everyone should be able to enjoy if they choose. Religions are free to set their own rules and marry or refuse to marry whomever they wish, but they shouldn't impose their beliefs on everyone in the state, which Prop. 8 would do. We don't need more government in our lives; we need more love, understanding, kindness.
My wife and I believe everyone should be treated equally, and can't see why it's so important to some people to deny fundamental freedoms to others. The dignity, happiness and equality of gay and lesbian couples doesn't threaten our marriage or family. Vote "no" on Prop. 8 to protect freedom and fairness for all.
Dick Eiden
Vista
The chicken that saved America
In the war of 1812, the British fleet attacked Washington, D.C., and burned the White House and our Capitol, but President Madison and the Congress escaped to New York City. The British then tried to capture New York, but were repulsed by the guns all around New York Harbor. Their next plan was to enter New York from the rear. They would come down from Canada, cross Lake Champlain, float down the Hudson River and walk in through the unprotected back door.
Sept. 11, 1814 ... as the British approached, the American sailors were fearful. They knew the British had more ships, bigger ships, bigger guns and more of them. ... The American sailors wondered whether they could survive. The first shot fired by the British blew apart the chicken coop on the deck of the Saratoga. ... Out of the rubble, a rooster stepped forward, raised his head and crowed loudly. The American sailors saw this, gave a cheer, went to their guns and fired an answering salvo.
The Battle of Lake Champlain didn't take long. The American guns caused such destruction that the British surrendered. The remaining British fleet gave up their expedition and went home. America was saved by that brave chicken. This is a true story, according to historian Walter R. Borneman. You can show your appreciation for the courage of that chicken by voting "yes" on Prop. 2, the Standards for Confining Farm Animals initiative statute.
Robert de Georges
Encinitas
Democrats' truth whatever they want it to be
Two recent letters referred to other writings as laughable. Nothing was laughable about their writing. One showed no character by degrading honorable, moral people like Tony Snow and Ronald Reagan. The other presented Clintonism –– the truth is whatever you want it to be.
Noralee Sherwood (Aug. 29) repeated Democrats' demand for oil exploration on already leased land. How many millions is Sherwood willing to invest in drilling where there is little or no oil? "Bush alienated Russia, Venezuela and Iran." Explain how Clinton's pandering to those dictators benefited the United States. Obama would do the same, and those countries would be pleased to see him in the White House.
Uninsured health care is more socialist propaganda. The Constitution doesn't authorize government stealing from productive taxpayers to fund health care for illegals, and tobacco, alcohol and illegal drug users who abuse themselves. Furthermore, refuse the uninsured health care and see how soon the ACLU lawyers come for you.
The national debt is trillions, not billions as stated. The debt is there because we elected irresponsible, corrupt senators and representatives.
Murel Fisk
Escondido
Committees overcome helplessness
Many of us feel helpless. But did you ever consider that our discussion groups are committees? Committees are groupings for sharing information. Now knowledge, information, is power. So isn't it the case that what we do in committees is democratically overcoming helplessness? Providing power for others and increasing our own power?
On the other hand, domination, dictatorship, requires secrecy. Squirreling away information power. Eliminating it from as many of us as possible. When corporations, FDR's privatized governments, control our lives, we have fascism.
Democracy is sharing power cooperatively to increase it. Domination is reducing power, information, decision-making to the minimum possible number of persons involved. Industrialization makes forevermore personal exercise of power, input and output of knowledge. Using, not misusing, machines to take on tasks of drudgery. In the long past, humans had to be turned into machines so a few had surplus enough to civilize society. Not so today; with computers, instant communication, automation, that's no longer true. Doesn't the Internet allow for a mega-committee-discussion group?
L. Bertrand
Halsema
Oceanside
A snapshot of America's mental health
Letters to the editor are snapshots of America's mental health. Example: Super insanity displayed by calling for a pre-emptive attack on Russia! As if they lack A-bombs and continental missiles for which we lack defense.
Weaker versions, but along the same line, are George Will and the Bush administration giving Putin orders. Especially on Georgia. It's insanity to tweak the bear's snout when one hasn't the capacity to follow through. All these tough-talking columnists and administrators are doing is openly demonstrating most clearly to the whole world our incapacities and weakness. Perhaps it's only for domestic political reasons. But its worldwide effects are the same. The truly tough negotiate, not uselessly threaten.
Sun Tzu's "Art of War" notes that truly great generals never battle. America has weakened because, like Hitler, we have bitten off globally more than we can chew. Benefiting big oil.
Helen Strand
Oceanside
Study carefully all elections
This year's elections will include federal, state and local races. Whew! We all seem to know about the president/vice president. It's either we want a woman or not. ... State election are reason to read carefully, and a magnifying glass won't hurt.
Local elections will include Oceanside mayor. Do you want a mayor who is of the people, not of himself? Do you want safety in our city? Do you want good morals and good family? Even a sense of humor? Here's an example of how to vote: Jim Wood, mayor. Please vote.
Brenda Souza
Oceanside
McCain's new crush
Regarding Sarah Palin: John McCain has another crush. Be warned, Cindy.
Dolores Welty
Encinitas
The First Amendment is under attack
America, you are not watching. Our Bill of Rights is fast being lost. In the past two weeks, a woman was convicted for written pornography (no pictures) and a man was given six years for racial threats, not actions, against a black neighbor. Two years ago, a book was banned because it attempted to "fool" the IRS with ways of claiming "zero income" tax return, which was a fraudulent claim, not protected speech. It is only bad, ugly, repugnant, indefensible speech that needs protection of the First Amendment; friendly speech never needs protection.
Anyone who does not perceive the loss of the right to free speech, free press, free religion in the above acts clearly does not understand history or China, which promised the right to protest –– then punished every single one of the 77 persons who applied for that permission to protest during the Olympics.
Any censorship is an abridgment of the First Amendment. Let the marketplace refuse purchase and shun these miserable works/people as they did with O.J. and his book. Hate crimes are unconstitutional because they punish thought, not actions. Get them off the books. Save our Constitution. As always, the biggest threat is from within –– ourselves.
Noel Spaid
Del Mar
Letter writers try to discredit Palin
As expected, letter writers to the North County Times have wasted no time in trying to discredit Sarah Palin. There are three letters in the Sept. 3 paper with similar themes. They say she is no Hillary! No, she isn't. Sarah is a breath of fresh air. She is not a multimillionaire. She stands by her principles when it is not popular to do so. How refreshing it would be to have someone like her, who is familiar with all aspects of our lives as vice president.
They say she does not have enough experience. She has governed Alaska, dealt with corruption and balanced their budget. She went to Iraq before she had any idea she would run for vice president. She actually has more experience than Barack Obama, and he is running for president!
Joe Biden may have been in the Senate a long time, but whatever he advocated failed. What good is that kind of experience? They say she is against women's rights. How can someone who is the mother of five children and the elected governor of one of our states not be a shining example of the rights of women?
Janet Arris
Vista
Supporters thanked
I would like to publicly thank all those who encouraged me to run for the Vista City Council –– those who signed my nomination papers and the many who contacted me in support of my candidacy.You know who you are! If elected, I will do my best to have merited your trust and support.
Gene Ford
Vista
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Bill wrote on Sep 7, 2008 12:55 AM:Just as I predicted yesterday, no liberals can point to me where the framers put disqualifying requirements in the constitution which apply to Palin.
Instead, I got stories about how certain people werent allowed to vote for 100 years, and about how the framers didnt want the common man involved in the process.
Yet no evidence of anything that disqualifies Sarah Palin.
Not one word just like I predicted.
They avoided it like the plague.
How nice it is to have the luxury of being able to judge people who lived 200 years ago and apply todays moral standards. That is the height of hypocrisy and shows how some people think. The framers left the doors open for changes that they knew would not go well due to current mores and norms at the time. The framers were bound by the politics of their times just like todays legislators are.
Look at how hard it is to get things done due to what the public wants and how that will play out in elections?
Oh and BTW, I would ridicule anyone on the right who cheapened the term communist just like I did with the term fascism. We could split hairs like Alf did or we could acknowledge that both the left and right extremes have both had their attrocities throughout history but its ridiculous to say that fascism or communism is alive and well in America.
That is just plain silly.
I would assume that anyone who thought otherwise was just uneducated.
Nothing in America resembles fascism or communism in any way.
Using those terms cheapens the term and is an insult to their victims.
Show some respect people.
To John Terrell wrote on Sep 7, 2008 3:42 AM:Surely you jest. We're not talking here about potentials; that is pure idiocy. An INDIVIDUAL human life, one that is a combination of, but seperate from its parents, just doesn't exist until the sperm and the ovum unite. Is this really a new concept? God help us all if we are this ignorant and confused!
Yea Gangs wrote on Sep 7, 2008 4:06 AM:The ACLU needs to step up and defend their right to assemble. If they and their activities create a problem for the non-gang populace, GET OVER IT! Who are we to deny any gang its pursuit of happiness? If intimidation of the general public makes them happy, what right do we have to deny that?
Re McCains new crush wrote on Sep 7, 2008 4:16 AM:I thought I was the only one who picked up on that. Maybe we need a new definition of 'first lady.' I wouldn't want to be Cindy. I hope I'm wrong.
Try try again wrote on Sep 7, 2008 5:23 AM:Carol Larner writes: “A U.S. District judge has just ruled that a Farmers Branch, Texas, ordinance forbidding illegal immigrants from renting there is unconstitutional because only the federal government has the authority to regulate immigration.” (You could see that coming from here.)
“While awaiting the decision, the city was already revising the ordinance that will be implemented Sept. 13.” (Because they knew it to be unconstitutional.)
“The City Council says this new ordinance is constitutional and will be upheld in court.” (I’m sure they do.)
“The plan is to have the federal government determine people's citizenship or legal status before they are allowed to rent an apartment in Farmers Branch.” (If the Feds get involved, under the 14th Amendment they’d have to check every renter in the United States because they can’t have different rules in different cities. Didn’t Bush v. Gore teach these people anything?)
“This will be interesting to follow.” (Not really.)
To Patricia Braendel wrote on Sep 7, 2008 6:26 AM:I hope you also take action against the worst gang of all, the SDMM. They make the church look bad by loitering with their silly signs and yelling. I hate driving through that street when they are present.UGH!
TO Wendy Pickett,I think you must be psychic because you must be one of those people that can tell if someone is a "legal Latino" based on... appearance?'I love my legal Latino neighbors"...just sweet talk to cover up your bigotry? GET A JOB WENDY!Do more work and the immigrants wont come to this country. WORK WENDY, WORK !
Just who is he protecting wrote on Sep 7, 2008 6:35 AM:Noel Spaid appears to be concerned more with which classes of people have protected speech. Child pornographers, people who make threats against blacks, tax cheaters and people who harm others because of what they are. Great examples, Noel.
David in Carlsbad wrote on Sep 7, 2008 7:00 AM:Yes Palin is different from Hillary. Hillary freely takes questions from the media and Palin is kept in a bubble.
Seems like the Straight Talk Express ran off a cliff somewhere in Alaska.
More of the same wrote on Sep 7, 2008 7:10 AM:Janet Arris writes that, "(Palin) went to Iraq before she had any idea she would run for vice president."
Well, no, she didn't. She went to Kuwait to visit wounded Alaskan soldiers.
"I’m not here to judge the idea of withdrawing, or the timeline," Palin said in a teleconference interview with reporters from Kuwait in 2007. "I’m not going to judge even the surge."
Also in 2007 she told the Alaska Business Monthly, “I’ve been so focused on state government, I haven’t really focused much on the war in Iraq,”
She previously has said about Iraq, "Our national leaders are sending them out on a task that is from God."
Is this the type of critical thinking we can expect one heart beat away?
Marlowe wrote on Sep 7, 2008 7:20 AM:Well I see that Cheney is still trying to be a neocon tough guy. He's in Europe warning Russia to back off any expansionist intentions it may have. Can you imagine Putin watching this? Cheney? Who the heck does he think he is? He's the sovereign nation-invader. But he's also the war-bungler. He has American military troops overextended and quagmired down in the wrong place. He is losing ground, militarily and, even more so, politically in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The American people themselves hate the guy. And he's leaving office in a couple of months. And he's blustering and threatening at me? LMAO
More of the same Addendum wrote on Sep 7, 2008 7:32 AM:As many on this blog have told us, Palin's qualifications to be VP include being Commander-in-Chief of the Alaska National Guard. One would think she'd at least find the time to think about how they're being deployed.
Must be above her pay grade, and experience.
Chuck wrote on Sep 7, 2008 7:50 AM:As Hussein waves his staff on this Sunday morning, the heavenly hosts will sweep done in adoration. The women will swoon and faint, as the saviour promises no negative effects on you when he raises taxes on your employer, raises taxes on the gasoline companies, refuses to drill for oil, preferring to send $800 billion to the 2-bit oil barons, and closes nuclear power plants instead of building more. Glorrrry Be
Pluto wrote on Sep 7, 2008 7:52 AM:I'm glad Wendy Pickett "adores her legal Latino neighbors" and thinks they are the best she has ever had. Now if she would only take the trouble to find out the facts about our neighbors without papers. They contribute more to our economy than they use in resources. They DO NOT overwhelm our schools, hospitals and community services, which are consistently under-funded because of chronic problems with the economy and pandering politicians who always promise to cut taxes (services). We get what we pay for.
FeelThe Desperetness wrote on Sep 7, 2008 7:56 AM:The liberals are desperate. McCain picked a heterosexual woman, who hunts, fishes and skins game, was the governor of a big state and knows oil. Palin has 10 times more experience in leading than Hussein will ever have. In November people will have no interest in a Hussein who promises to overtax our employers, grab our pension money, and drive gas prices up to those of Europe. And George Soros, Michael Moore and the gay racketeers are beginning to understand this and their breathing tubes are beginning to become constricted.
Pluto wrote on Sep 7, 2008 8:01 AM:Davis Bell is right! There's lots of money to be made towing and impounding cars, and there are "highway robbers" both in and out of city government. And when they can make millions pursuing a (racist) crusade, look out!
Ron wrote on Sep 7, 2008 8:09 AM:Barack "That's above my pay grade" Obama could have settled this whole subject, to most people's liking, the question is... Why didn't he?
The answer to this question seems to be, in part, his advocacy of being against children slated for abortion, survived the abortion attempt, yet were left to perish because the mother's intent was not to have the baby.
While chairman of an IL state Senate committee, he voted down a bill to protect live-born survivors of abortion. Even after the panel had amended the bill to contain verbatim language, copied from a federal bill passed by Congress in 2002.
If you'll recall that particular Federal bill the "Born-Alive Infants Protection Act", passed the U.S. Senate unanimously, even the stanch abortion advocate Sen. Barbara Boxer voted AYE. The Bill extended legal protection to an infant born alive after a failed attempt at induced abortion. Even NARAL accepted this bill, Obama apparently, still has the view, that once a child is lsated for death by it's mother, that's it, done deal. Even if the child survives the abortion, in the view of the Senator Obama, based upon his voting history, he believes that once the mother makes the decision, that child should die.
Now, I know, I'll be attacked for stating such views. But, these are the same people who will tell me, in the same breath, that disposing of a child is no more different than cutting your toe nails, and disposing of them.
That seems to me, to be the mind of Barack Obama, by his record.
Chuck wrote on Sep 7, 2008 8:31 AM:Why was it necessary for Hussein to pay for a big rock concert in Germany, just to draw people to his speech? Kennedy didnt do that. Reagan didnt do that either. They didnt care about the photo-op that Obama wanted, and ultimately thats why he didnt visit the wounded troops in Germany -- He wasnt going to be able to get the big photo -op out of it.
jvc wrote on Sep 7, 2008 8:32 AM:Human Ovum needs human rights?
Not even non-ovum humans get human rights!
Marlowe wrote on Sep 7, 2008 8:33 AM:I see that when the NY Times claimed that Palin had not been "vetted" by McCain's team to any degree before she was selected, further checks have proved them right. We now know the FBI never checked her out. We now know that no one from the McCain team interviewed anyone in the Alaska governor's office, nor did they call or visit Wasilla. This says everything about McCain doesn't it? The party bigwigs told McCain they had a honey for him. They told him to put aside his own choices for veep. No one checked Palin out first. Maverick McCain said, "Sir, yes SIR" and picked Palin, probably without knowing that she was under investigation for abuse of power, without knowing that she opposed his views on many key issues, without knowing that she had no knowledge or experience in foreign policy or even, when you look closely, at her touted strong suit: energy policy. McCain was an obedient little puppy dog, licking the shoes of the fanatic right, willing to put up someone a heartbeat away that he knew absolutely nothing about. This is "country before politics"? No. This is the opposite. Hey independents: you'd be nuts to vote for McCain.
Chuck wrote on Sep 7, 2008 8:33 AM:Barack Hussein?? Does that sound like a good Christian name to you, or does sound mid-eastern, maybe Saudi or Yemeni to you??
Alf wrote on Sep 7, 2008 8:44 AM:"Ron" at 4:39 PM on the 6th, I made a mistake, a wrong choice of words, by using the word "offering" in my sentence -
"Sarah Palin's hypocrisy of offering her daughter the option of an abortion".
I should have used the word "allowing" instead of "offering".
The fact is that Palin said that her daughter made a choice to carry the fetus to term.
Quotes from 3 sources are below.
""Our beautiful daughter Bristol came to us with news that as parents we knew would make her grow up faster than we had ever planned. We're proud of Bristol's decision to have her baby and even prouder to become grandparents," Sarah and Todd Palin said in the brief statement." - Palin Huffingtonpost
"Sarah and her husband, Todd Palin, issued a statement saying they are "proud of Bristol's decision to have her baby and even prouder to become grandparents."" - CNN
"We're proud of Bristol's decision to have her baby and even prouder to become grandparents" . - CBN
GIVEN that Palin has advocates "abstinence only" sex education (as "birth control"),
and that abortion should be illegal, not allowed even in the case of RAPE or INCEST, FOR ANYONE,
admitting that her daughter CHOSE to continue the pregnancy is hypocritical.
Palin would deny that CHOICE, for which she praised her daughter, to anyone and everyone.
When the governor of a state who wishes to limit sex education to "abstinence only" has an underage daughter participate in acts that result in her becoming pregnant,
it shows how effective the strategy is, doesn't it?
When that same governor praises her underage daughter for making a certain "decision" when that same governor would STEAL FROM OTHERS, TAKE AWAY FROM OTHERS AND ROB OTHERS of the choice that allows a decision to be made,
she is a hypocrite, pure and simple.
Regards, Alf.
Ron wrote on Sep 7, 2008 8:45 AM:I hear what your saying, Bob Limpus.
It seems as though, the extremists within the Democrat party are doing all the talking for them right now.
It is, in fact, the oldest play in the Democrat playbook, the class-warfare card.
I think your exactly right, no one seems to care about Liberal politicians wealth, they only seem to care about Republicans wealth. If that be the case, let's settle that, right here.. right now. Let's do a comparison, shall we? Yes, we shall....
Dick Cheney is probably the most hated man on the left, bar none. Yet, when you look at his tax returns {which are made public}, it's clear, year after year, he and Lynne Cheney give nearly 70% of all their annual earning to one type of charity, or another. 70%...
In 2005, 77%.. which included a $2.3 million check to Katrina victims.
In 2007, The Cheneys donated $166,547 to charity, bringing the Cheneys' total charitable contributions during his Vice Presidency to $ 7,966,566.
Now, let's look at the last presidential candidate John Kerry to contrast. In 2003, with an income of $395,338, Kerry reported giving $43,735, or about 11 percent of his total income, to charity. In 1995, Kerry reportedly had a taxable income of $126,179, and made charitable contributions of $0. In 1994, he gave $2,039 to charity. In 1993, the figure was $175. In 1992, it was $820, and in 1991, it was $0.
Also in 2003, John Kerry's largest single source of income came from the sale of his half-interest in a painting by a 17th-century Dutch artist. Kerry's 2003 return shows that he received $175,000 as his part from the sale of a work by the 17th-century Dutch seascape painter Adam Willaerts.
Yet, people want to believe John Kerry or other Liberal care far more, than their conservative counterparts.
The facts, simply do not bare this out.
But, then again... when was the last time a Liberal ever followed the facts?
Oh Bill wrote on Sep 7, 2008 8:52 AM:Where in the world do you come up with these make-believe issues. I cannot think of a single person in the world who ever claimed that Palin was not constitutionally qualified to be President. I think even you, Bill, can understand that when people have asserted that she is not qualified (as many on your side have claimed about Obama), they meant this to indicate that she did not have the knowledge, character, experience, or ability to lead the mightiest nation in world history. I believe that this is true of her. The absurd claims that by being in charge of the Alaskan Guard misses the point altogether, although, as it turns out, she gave the guard not one single order while she was governor. No. I truly believe that anyone who calls himself/herself an American, as opposed to a conservative or a Democrat or any other partison affinity, any American who has looked at who Sarah Palin is knows full well that this is not someone who should be at the helm of this great ship of state. To claim otherwise is plain and simply to put party or faux-Christianity far ahead of patriotism. In an election this important, that's unconsciounable, IMHO.
Marlowe wrote on Sep 7, 2008 8:59 AM:Here we go again, with someone claiming that Palin's heading the Alaska Guard and her being on the state oil and gas commission is proof of her knowledge and experience. Fact: Sarah Palin gave exactly zero orders to her state guard while governor. Fact: when given the prize seat on the oil commission as a political prize, with its $122K salary, she knew zero about energy. And she got off that commission as soon as could find a way to do so. She told her associates that she couldn't stand the commute. If any independent voter bothers to look even a little bit at what this woman has done and who she is, they will realize that without lies, the GOP has nothing to offer about her other than her rigidly radical desire to control our private lives. And they will also realize that McCain's biggest decision as a nominee was to choose someone without knowing a thing about her, someone whose views he opposes in many ways, someone dictated to him by his Rovian campaign chief. His willingness to do this shows how dangerous and desperate and meek John McCain is.
CHELSEA wrote on Sep 7, 2008 9:09 AM:Janet Arris is just another conservative crybaby, whining about those mean liberals picking on poor, poor Princess Sarah.
Good grief, the woman is running for Vice President of the United States! If elected, she would be a heartbeat away from assuming office from the oldest newly-elected President ever, a four time cancer survivor from a family where (notwithstanding his well-aged mother) all the males died young from sudden cardiace events.
We have every right to question who brings to this office the best skill set and experience and policy proposals to solve problems, and whose views and hypocrisy (morally) disqualify them. And no, Bill at 12:55 a.m., I do not mean that she does not meet the very meager LEGAL qualifications specified in the Constitution. No one has questioned that, so you are just trying to change the subject so you can cut and run from the actual point.
The POINT, BILL, is that we are going to have a vigorous debate - not about who "legally qualifies," but who is most ready to lead this nation.
The issue is not just about Sarah Palin. It is about John McCain's judgment and hypocrisy in selecting her after claiming that he would pick the most qualified person, someone "ready on Day One" if necessary to step into the role. But she is not even ready to face the Sunday talk shows (all three of the others on the tickets did today). They said she'll do interviews "when she's ready." So you mean John McShame LIED to us? Just like he said he would get someone to "clean up Washington" and picked the queen of small-town earmarks, who is now governor of the state that has the highest per-capita earmark receipts of any state in the Union.
To Janet Arris: NO ONE WHO KEPT SILENT WHEN ADULT MEN - INCLUDING JOHN McCAIN - RIDICULED AND BELITTLED HONOR STUDENT CHELSEA CLINTON HAS THE RIGHT TO CRITICIZE THOSE WHO SPEAK UP ABOUT COMMENTS REGARDING SOCIAL AND FAMILY POLICIES AND LEGITIMATE SOCIAL ISSUES.
Alf wrote on Sep 7, 2008 9:14 AM:Well, "Bill" at 12:55AM,
I did not "split hairs".
FASCISM and FASCISTS operate in a spectrum.
Your family experienced one end of that spectrum, the far end of what might be called "hyper-FASCISM".
You seem to think that FASCISM should be used to refer to ONLY the extreme.
DO you also apply that same standard to the word "poor"?
If so, then the U.S. has no such thing as "poor" people because there are countries that have "poor" people who make our "poor" seem "filthy" rich BY COMPARISON.
Neither Hitler nor Mussolini started out the way they were at the height of their power, they BOTH started on the lesser end of the scale of their respective "evil" and worked up to the higher or highest end.
As in many other things -
early detection and recognition of a problem can stem it BEFORE it reaches the point of being life-threatening.
Be less thin-skinned and -
look at what is being pointed out, ask yourself if the action or person or group described as being FASCIST OR FASCISM is, in fact, on the lower end of the scale, getting ready to move up.
What are the early symptoms of that disease?
What are the precursors?
What sets the stage?
Are there recurring themes?
These things run through my mind when I look at things and they "just don't feel right" and I can't put a finger on it.
Regards, Alf.
TFB wrote on Sep 7, 2008 9:15 AM:The person responding to John Terrell's letter at 3:42 a.m. was obviously up either way too early or way too late, and didn't get the point Terrell was making.
The POINT is that, yes, new fertilized blastocysts are human life, but eggs and sperms are also alive and human, therefore they are also HUMAN LIFE.
The POINT is that you are admitting that the issue is NOT about "human life," but when human life becomes a human person. Why is YOUR standard, the joining of sperm and egg, more valid than a standard, say, based on the onset of measurable EEG brain waves (which is more consistent with end of life definitions, even if a heart is beating), or when the organism is biologically autonomous?
Who gets to decide?
Yours is just an opinion, possibly based on religious beliefs.
You do not get to impose your beliefs on anyone else. It is for each woman to make that decision regarding her own body.
And for Ron at 8:09 a.m., Obama's thoughtful response showed a grasp of the complexities of the issue and the need to respect women. The comment "above my pay grade" which obviously went above your shallow head referred to the fact that both God and Women are the ones who need to make that decision, and even the President of the United States is not higher in making their personal choices.
We Are All Vegans Now wrote on Sep 7, 2008 9:16 AM:From The Guardian: (Quote)People should have one meat-free day a week if they want to make a personal and effective sacrifice that would help tackle climate change, the world's leading authority on global warming has told The Observer
Dr Rajendra Pachauri, chair of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which last year earned a joint share of the Nobel Peace Prize, said that people should then go on to reduce their meat consumption even further. (UNQUOTE)
See! Palin is a hunter, and is flying in the face of the UN! Oh, the terrible message she sends! Reardon is agog!:-)
Two questions wrote on Sep 7, 2008 9:20 AM:Who is running for president, Palin or McCain? And how do I join this new Church of the United States that everyone else is already a member of?
Oh, never mind. I'm voting a straight Democrat ballot and won't join any church.
He Said wrote on Sep 7, 2008 9:20 AM:Keep up the garbage Marlow. Your driving the independents away from your Messiah.
FIRST LADY wrote on Sep 7, 2008 9:22 AM:McCain's New Crush at 4:16 a.m. notes that maybe we need a new definition of "First Lady." Or maybe we just need to count further. Of course, Cindy would NOT be the first lady, that was Carol, who was unceremoniously dumped by her cheating husband after she waited for him during his captivity.
Cindy would be the "Second Lady" and, as roving-eye McCain (search YouTube with the phrase "John McCain's Wandering Eyes" for a video of just how he, um, "sees" his newest younger beauty queen) gets cozy with Sweet Sarah, she will, of course, be "Third Lady."
Ron wrote on Sep 7, 2008 9:24 AM:And do you know who you can blame for this, Sorab Ghandhi? Palestinians.
Or are they actually Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Umayyad, Abbasid, Fatimid, Mamluk, Ottoman, Egyptian, then Ottoman again.
You catching the drift here?
The fact of the matter is, Palestine has always, geographicly included parts of contemporary Israel, the current Palestinian territories, parts of Jordan, and parts of Lebanon and Syria.
My question is: Why all this central focus on just Israel, when Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria also sit on Palestinian ground? It's just obsurd.
Heck, even back during the Persian rule (538 BCE), Jews were allowed to return to what their holy books had termed the Land of Israel, and having been granted some autonomy by the Persian administration, it was during this period that the Second Temple in Jerusalem was built.
What we have now is anti-semitism, and anti-semitic leadership, not only in Palestine, but surrounding Israel.
Look at the history, first Yasser Arafat, now Hamas. Both chosen terrorists to represent Palestinians.
Today, we have a Persian President Iminthemoodforajihad, saying openly he wants to wipe Israel off the map.
That's what's changed.
The Palestinian people have chosen very poor, very dangerous leadership to represent them. All with the sole focus of exterminating Jews, not living side by side.
That's what has changed.
To To John Terrell wrote on Sep 7, 2008 9:27 AM:God help us if we cannot recognize sarcasm because of our unrelenting ideology.
Thanks NCT wrote on Sep 7, 2008 9:29 AM:I appreciate the NCT giving so much space to an issue by issue comparison of the Presidential candidates today. My guess is that many independents will be surprised as they read about Obama's stance on many matters of importance to the nation. They might notice how different his actual positions are from his stances as portrayed by conservatives. I encourage especially independents to read this carefully and to explore Obama's website if their curiosity is prodded. I wonder what independents will make of their realization that the right has been lying to them about Obama. I wonder if this will affect their vote. Thanks NCT for doing what a paper should be doing.
Ms M wrote on Sep 7, 2008 9:34 AM:FeelThe Desperetness
[-] wrote on Sep 7, 2008 7:56 AM:...um, desperation is the choice the cons made in Palin. If she is so ready to take charge, where the heck is she. Oh I forgot, the cons are in the process of "getting her ready". Palin was a hail mary pass - and hail mary passes are made due to desperation. You don't throw a hail mary pass when you are on top!
TALK SHOWS wrote on Sep 7, 2008 9:50 AM:OK, enough about Princess Sarah having to be protected from those mean ol' news questioners on the talk shows. We all know she is not "ready on Day One." Old news, end of story.
But what about the Number Ones?
Barack Obama went fearlessly into the den of pit bull Bill O'Reilley, and even left O'Reilly impressed and unable to dominate him. He is clearly ready on Day One to go head to head with Putin - or worse.
So, shall we start the clock counting down to how many days before McCain sits down and goes head-to-head with Keith Olbermann?
Or is this another way in which the once-heroic maverick has deteriorated in a McClone of Bush?
He Said wrote on Sep 7, 2008 9:54 AM:Alf, your former short, informative, to the point, posts seem to be getting longer and longer. Are you attempting to simulate Ron and DD? Has your self esteem been increased by the adulation from the "follower" (stalker?) a couple of days ago? Please don't get sucked into the major ego crowd.
Marlowe wrote on Sep 7, 2008 9:54 AM:TFB is exactly right. No sane person can deny that the question of when a human being appears is debatable. No sane person can deny that people, good people, smart people, caring people, differ on this matter. I have no problem with someone deciding for themselves, even with personal certainty, when this occurs. I do have a problem with people insisting that their certainty MUST BE the law of the land. That kind of disrespect to fellow Americans, good, smart, caring Americans, is a deep insult to the kind of nation we are. If you are positive that human personhood begins at conception, I fully, 100%, support your right to act on this belief and refuse abortion. But in a matter so obviously open to interpretation and differing opinion, I must insist as a person who lives in our system of government and not a dictatorship or theocracy, that you have the same respect for others. Please, pray for them if you feel that would help. Feel free, I encourage you, to make your case verbally to people who disagree with you. Pray that at some point every American will agree with you. But please, don't insist your view MUST dictate the law that governs others' behavior. Remember: the same freedom of thought that allows you to think and say what you believe about abortion, that your beliefs depend on, also exists for others.
OLD FASHIONED WAY wrote on Sep 7, 2008 9:57 AM:Great point in the letter from Bob Lumpus and reinforced by Ron at 8:45 a.m.
Barack Obama has achieved financial security the "old fashioned way" - he worked hard and made something of himself, coming from rags to almost riches as a truly self-made man.
Then, of course, there are John and Cindy.
They got their wealth, many hundreds of times that of the Obamas, the really old-old-older fashioned way: she inherited it from Daddy and he (also from an elite family of Admirals) married a young heiress.
Talk about the sweat of your brow!
Or something.
And for the record wrote on Sep 7, 2008 10:03 AM:Regarding the right to choose debate: we have learned on this space, and no one has ever contradicted it, that nowhere in the Bible is abortion prohibited. Neither Testament. The only mention of abortion is advice to men, that when their wives are pregnand by another may, they should abort the fetus. It tells them how to proceed. The Bible is chock full of very clear and specific prohibitions and abominations. Abortion is not one of them. So even among the Jews and Christians, this simply must be a matter of opinion, of someone's interpretation. Or else it's a belief that comes from somewhere else (where?). To say that the Commandment not to kill covers abortion is to assume that a fertilized egg is a person. Where in the Bible does it say this, and, if it does, why would the Bible recommend and instruct in abortion if a pregnancy is the result of infidelity? No, as far as I know, the so-called pro-life position has no anchor in any religious text that I am aware of. I could certainly be wrong, and continue, and continue, and continue, to wait for such.
Harry wrote on Sep 7, 2008 10:04 AM:Well Pluto and Davis Bell don't get it.It's not about money,It's all about safty whether you like it or not.Get the unlicense,uninsured,drunks, drug addicts and illegal alien criminals off the road.
Nick wrote on Sep 7, 2008 10:05 AM:In your post on Sep 6, 2008 9:48 PM "Gracchus", you state
"the formerly rebellious and traitorous confederate states were not under military duress when the XIV amendment was ratified. they were under military occupation while traitors were purged from civil affairs. was the federal republic of germany an illegal state because it was formed while under military occupation of western allied troops who purged nazis?"
You are gravely mistaken and wrong.
For one, you claim the Southern States to be "traitorous" Why? Because they refused to ratify the 14th Amendment? Isn't that a States right?
Secondly, you claim The Military Occupation to be for rooting out "traitors". Again you are wrong. I think you need to brush up on the real reasons for The Reconstruction Act.
The Reconstruction Acts had 4 main points:
1-Creation of five military districts in the seceded states (not including Tennessee, which had ratified the 14th Amendment and was readmitted to the Union)
2-Required congressional approval for new state constitutions (which were required for Confederate states to rejoin the Union)
3-Confederate states gave voting rights to all men.
4-All states must ratify the 14th Amendment.
Johnson’s vetoes of these measures were overridden by Congress, repeating a familiar pattern.
The Military occupation (in direct violation of The Constitution)was used to FORCE The Southern States to ratify The 14th Amendment, Plain & Simple.
And the “Act” of June 25, 1868 (15 Stat. 73, Chap. 70) to admit the States of North Carolina, South Carolina, Louisiana, Georgia, Alabama, and Florida, to representation in Congress at Section 1 reads:
“That each of the States of (naming them) shall be entitled and admitted to representation in Congress as a State of the Union when the legislature of such State shall have duly ratified the amendment to the Constitution of the United States proposed by the Thirty-ninth Congress, and known as the article fourteen, …”
Is this not apparent enough for you "Gracchus"?
And lastly, you make a very ignorant statement in your comparison to The Military Occupation of The Southern States to Military Occupation of Germany.
Our Constitution FORBIDS Military Occupation of our States to enforce The Federal Governments will(i.e., The 14th Amendment) and trying to compare the two makes absolutely NO sense.
You accuse others here of making ridiculous claims, but then turn right around and do the same. I urge you to dig a little deeper on the subject before claiming to really understand it.
Cheers, Nick.
Ron wrote on Sep 7, 2008 10:06 AM:"Alf" @8:44 AM,
I hear what you are saying, and I as well, am the victim of my own fingers sometimes.
Alf, seriously....
She "allowed" ???
Your kidding me, right? LOL
When was the last time you had to deal with a 17 yeard old? Parent's, even parent's who teach abstinence only in their own homes, do not have the control over their own children, as much as you'd like to think so.
I've written about this, with my own children in this age of "hooking up."
I guess they could have forced her, I guess that's possible, browbeat her into submission. That's possible.
We will probably never know.
But, I will say this. Given what I know about kids, especially my own, if they really wanted to do something behind my back, they would probably do it. No matter what I said. I know in my teen years, I know I did. What about you?
And that's the reality for all parent's, not just pro-life parents.
And based upon the statements you provided, it sounds to me they respected her own autonomy. But again,
What would you have them do? Lock her away in her room? No parent could do that to impose their will.
And, as far as imposing her will upon the millions of other women who abort their own children, wouldn't she also be legally imposing her will upon her own child, in the same action, thus not giving her an option? And how would that be hypocritical? Unless your suggesting that she is giving her own special treatment, then not offering that to others. But again, how would she actually impose her will upon the daughter? Your talking as if, the daughter does not have a mind of her own.
Also, while this governor may "wish" to limit sex education to abstinence only, Alaska has conventional sex ed education. So much for imposing her own will upon other's.
Nick wrote on Sep 7, 2008 10:10 AM:I do wonder what all these whiney Liberal Dems are going to cry about after their hero Obama loses the election?
I, for one, will laugh and laugh and laugh.
I will be extremely bummed out, for I do not want McCain to be President, nor Obama either, but I do relish in watching Dems squirm.
It's pleasure I hold right up there with good BBQ and cold beer.
Cheers, Nick.
Commonly Accepted Terminology wrote on Sep 7, 2008 10:13 AM:Alf: Perhaps you read different history books than I, but mine do not refer to "Hyper-Fascism" in the WWII era. (Or, for that matter any era.)
"far end of what might be called "hyper-FASCISM".
Then again, it "might not."
Until we have defined our terms, it is difficult to communicate. You seem to want to define terms ONLT in the "Alf" way, and not use commonly accepted terminology.
Your right, of course, but it does make communication more difficult.
"'When I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said, in a rather scornful tone,' it means just what I choose it to mean, neither more nor less.'
'The question is,' said Alice, 'whether you can make words mean so many different things.'
'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master - that's all.' (Through The Looking Glass)
Harry wrote on Sep 7, 2008 10:16 AM:Hey Michael Kearns,It was a dog cmon.We all love are dogs,well i do.Hey it was a accident.This man loved his dog.What do you want to do to him.
Ron is right this time wrote on Sep 7, 2008 10:26 AM:Ron finally gets it. Abortion is, has always been, and will always be a CHOICE. Almost all of the time, as Ron notes, it is the woman's choice (except when someone locks them in a room...and some parents have...you know folks, not all parents are out of Norman Rockwell pictures). The only question in the political domain is whether this choice should be made illegal. Whether the woman should do it under medical supervision. Whether she should revert to back-alley, coat hanger methods. Whether she and/or her doctor should go to prison.
Vegans UN Palin LOL wrote on Sep 7, 2008 10:30 AM:We Are All Vegans Now
[-] wrote on Sep 7, 2008 9:16 AM: You Liberal liberators of the world can be creative, if nothing else! Funny Stuff.
Ron wrote on Sep 7, 2008 10:31 AM:Now, I'm going to go against my better judgement, and give you some advice, "Marlowe" @8:59 AM.
I know you think your helping your cause, in defeating Sarah Palin but...
When you keep repeating her resume,
your help us. Thank you.
Heading the Alaska Guard,
And Ethics Supervisor of the State oil and gas commission is proof of her knowledge and experience. Over and above, what Barack Obama has as experience, and even Joe Biden for his 36 years of no-change politics in Washington D.C.
And even if she went to the position without any previous experience, that's not where we are now. The fact of the matter is, she sat on the commission, gained very valuable experience, and now has more oil & gas experience from working in the industry, than any other person in the entire race. Including John McCain.
Marlowe wrote on Sep 7, 2008 10:31 AM:I'm glad an Obama loss would be beer-worthy for you, Nick, and humorous. But as all beer guzzlers know, there's often a hangover. As you chuckle as Obama and Biden head back to the Senate, have a look at McCain, whoever he is today vs tomorrow. And then decide if you think you should pray for his health. One recurrance of cancer and Sarah Palin is the leader of the free world. Think on that and see if you're still laughing. I know Putin will be. Ahmadinejab will be. Bin Laden will be. Maliki will be. The heads of state in Afghanistan and Pakistan will be. As will the heads of Britain, France, Germany, Italy...
Alf wrote on Sep 7, 2008 10:37 AM:With the same 'tongue-in-cheek' hyperbole that John Terrell uses -
I propose to make all forms of cancer treatment and removal illegal,
after all,
cancer cells are "human" too.
Hell, let's make it a crime to take any action aganist any part of, or anything within, the human body,
no matter what the cause and no matter what the effect!
Make it a crime to vaccinate anyone for anything!
Remember, it's God's plan!
Dark ages, here we come.
End of 'tongue-in-cheek.
Regards, Alf.
To Dick Eiden wrote on Sep 7, 2008 10:38 AM:Great letter! It is so true no one has the right to dicate who I love and who I want to marry. Vote NO on Prop. 8 for the good of every one.
Marlowe wrote on Sep 7, 2008 10:43 AM:Oh, Ron you are so desperate that you're willing to split hairs. A few months on a commission that she was dying to escape and that makes her an expert, even among the candidates? If someone went to college and got halfway through his first semester, would he have it all over mere HS grads? Uh, I don't think so. What DID she learn on that job? Fact: neither of us know. My suggestion: give up this nonsense about how "she spent a few weeks in this post or that post so she's the readiest". I think about Obama's life. He absolutely kicked butt in the toughtest, most demanding educational institution in the US, the most competitive University and law school. Can you imagine what it takes to do that? Probably not. Well, let me educate you: to accomplish what Obama did, he had to (HAD TO) be an incredibly fast learner, an incredibly focused and disciplined person, an incredibly bright and able thinker. He had to master enormous amounts of information, an enormous number of complex opinions, and make important decisions about the worth of each side's case. I would offer: this might be the kind of thing we want in a leader. Thi