Political dandruff.

[Cheb]

The same press that has been looking for the best spin to put on things instead of plain reporting for the last 50 or so years.

Well, we had two TV channels like this. Smearing everything in shit, yelling what a dirty bastard we are and that everything in the world is our fault. Then Putin came, they made a crunching sound and became a wet spot under the wheels of history. Now there were two loyal TV channels with the same names, with completely different teams. Of the old ones I miss only the radio subdivision who translated the excellent retro melodies 24x7.

But I always double-check everything with EuroNews that isn't particularly friendly towards Russia and as such it's an invaluable asset. Gives a dimension to everything.

If it can hurt you at the same time ignore it until it helps you the most then use it.

Well, our military's habit of lying and denouncing everything, even the glaringly obvious things, seems to be hard-coded into their DNA - regardless if denouncing hurts or benefits us. I suppose there's nothing to do but live with it

[Spokavriel]

Looks like a major part of the Republican National Convention will be called on account of Hurricane. Don't want to risk Bush being caught unawares like back in Katrina where he trusted his friend who got into position through cronyism to handle it.

Curfew has already been announced for anyone staying in New Orleans and I really hope that Mayor Ray Nagin doesn't use this as an excuse for another city wide search and illegal confiscation of all legal arms. There are now State laws to support the Second Amendment against him on that this time. Talk about a mess where you need state laws to reinforce Constitutional rights.

[Tovath]

Interesting, though that could backfire, if The USA is the only nation with a readily available supply, then it would stand to reason that many other nations would wage War against the USA to get to that oil. Why do you think the Chinese are drilling 70 miles off the coast of Florida? They're being prepared, I think, for something our governments are not telling us.

Oil is a finite resource, so that would happen anyway. the only way to avoid that is to develop alternate sources of energy that are not going to run out, McCain's energy policy doesn't even mention alternate energy.

But really the whole reason for any of America's financial problems in my opinion is the fact that we are all taught to be dependent on our debt.

Let me explain. Before Charge Cards we were all taught to save up to do things now we are spoiled rotten and constantly digging into any equity and credit ratings we can get so we can buy all we want now no waiting. Some bank wants to give us a charge card with $100,000 credit that they will increase the limit and intrest rate on no problem.

All of that culminated first in the .com bubble burst and now the Mortgage bubble. If we could just learn to live with credit as an emergency buffer again these bubbles wouldn't form in the first place.

I agree with you there.

Oh and back on the WMD thing I found reports on the Austrailian Broadcast Company web site about Canadian and French forces finding inoperable mid and long range missiles. Add the Yellow cake and sarin that still shows an active WMD program to me even if there wasn't anything ready for deployment.

That still means that Bush lied since he said that Iraq has WMD that could be targeted on the US within 15 minutes.

Little note on Obama there are at least 3 times in this campaign where he has spoken out in favor of Abortion pointing out that he even supports partial birth abortion. That is the one where they induce labor and crush the infants skull.

Two things, first partial birth abortions are hardly ever done and when they are done it is for medical reasons.
Second abortion can be looked on in a number of different ways. One is morally, It is wrong to kill a life,am I right. The problem with this way is you get religion mixed up with it. The thing is different religions or even can say completely different things. The government can't get involved in this without breaking the seperation of Church and State. The second is public helth stitisics show that the number of abortions that occur is exactly the same whether or not it is legal but the number of woman who die from haveing an abortion is high where it is illegal, because the people doing the abortion are notheld to any standard of practice, like saymakeing sure their interments are free of germs.Lastly is the "I don't want the goverment messing around in my life" I think the name explans their veiwpoint don't you.

[Spokavriel]

My personal view on abortion is that it's only right with any certainty when it is definite that continuing the pregnancy would ensure both the unborn and the mother will die. That is a rare instance but it is the only time I personally condone it happening late. If there is an unwanted pregnancy I would rather the kid get born and get put up for adoption.

Instead of it being an argument of Pure Choice or a matter of health I would rather any abortion be completely a decision based on health.

After the fetus' heart starts beating I clearly feel the time for a choice is over.

As you can see My line is fuzzy but I can't agree with Obama's the choice is there even partial birth stance it's too far to me.

[Tovath]

Actually Obama statement in this case is probably not so much about a medical procedure that is hardly ever used as it is just politics. By saying it he is saying that he is not a wimp who is afraid to take a stance and that he will stand up for what we belive.

[Spokavriel]

If you believe abortion should include aborting someone who could survive on their own after a few weeks in Neonatal ICU. I'm sorry but as I said there is a point where it changes from choice to infanticide.

Edit: I've added a link to the image on the first post. http://www.nraila.org/obama/ Because it sites all the references used in the creation of that list on the image.

[Tovath]

If you believe abortion should include aborting someone who could survive on their own after a few weeks in Neonatal ICU. I'm sorry but as I said there is a point where it changes from choice to infanticide.

I think I must have messed up what I was trying to say because I don't see how you got from what I said to this, probably because I am tied. So sorry if I have given offense and goodnight.

[Spokavriel]

Sorry Tovath. It wasn't really anything you said but the culmination of all the ways Obama has said it which paint clearly for me that he doesn't have that limit.

[runnerz]

I'm going to take a minute and reply with my thoughts. I do like politics, but I won't run it heavy here.

I'm of the belief that the reason that the Middle East is unhappy because they are easily misled because no one is particularly well educated. I do believe that will change in the long run as long as Iraq stabilizes. I believe also that Iraq is the key to Bush's legacy. If it succeeds, he'll be regarded as a very good president. If not, he'll be regarded rather badly.

I don't think you can blame this economic crisis just on the government. Both the banks are at fault for compromising their principles to take on that risk, and the homeowners are at fault for being irresponsible. There are a lot of places of blame. However, the important part is solving the problem, not playing the blame game. I did not agree with the bail out. I feel there were better ways of handling this. You could have done so many things more.

I don't agree with Obama, but I don't agree with McCain either. Neither would have accomplished a lot of economic growth. You can claim national security all you want, but one of the important things about a strong military is that it requires a strong economy to support it.

The thing about nuclear weapons, is, that they are the great equalizer. Any Nuclear weapon is deadly and causes catastrophic amounts of death and the like. That's why everyone wants one, it's a bargaining tool. If you have a nuke, the guy across from you can't walk off and kill you with nukes, because the cost to him will be substantial as well.

Btw, I voted for Bob Barr in this election.

Liberty for all Americans.

[Comartemis]

Dunno if anyone's been watching the news recently, but get a load of this:

Governor Accused in Scheme to Sell Obama’s Senate Seat

Is there a single politician in Illinois right now who isn't corrupt?! Goddamn, this makes me ashamed to be a democrat.

[Tuisto]

Yes, yet another of PEBO's close friends "accused" of wrongdoing.
Doesn't Obama know any normal people?
Of course, Prosecutor Fitzgerald has tapes going back to October, and Obama's name is mentioned some 46 times in the Criminal Complaint.

Draw your own conclusions about Barry's involvement...

[Comartemis]

According to the news article I linked to Obama and Ronny haven't exactly been on the best terms with each other. I sincerely doubt Obama has anything to do with this.

[Spokavriel]

The conversation is pretty clear (At least from the way the transcripts that have been published read) that he was looking for ways to get compensation by filling the seat with whomever Obama would have wanted to take his place.

While he could still have been innocent of the plot I don't see anything in his history to make me want to give Obama that benefit of doubt.

[Ellen Kuhfeld]

If I might wave my banner a bit -- my take on most of this is given in

Cycles of Violence

And yes, it does eventually get down to politics.

[Tuisto]

Obama and Ronny haven't exactly been on the best terms with each other.

Well that's a far cry from 6-8 or so weeks ago when he was laughing and patting Barry's back on a stage telling crowds what a great guy BO was for the campaign effort...
And yes, I believe BO is involved with this. I mean, a guy that plays BBall with Chicago Mobsters/Syndicate(Sammy Janulius anyone?) is capable of anything.