NationStates Jolt Archive

Well, well, well. What was that they say about imitation being the most sincere form of flattery? This daily column now has an imitator. No, I don't think it's competition, because it offers a completely different product. As to the advertising for that other column, well, I will leave the decision up to you.

In the Christian tradition, today is the day that Jesus Christ and his 12 disciples held their Last Supper prior to the events portrayed in the Mel Gibson movie, The Passion of the Christ. Tomorrow is Good Friday, and this column will probably take the day off.

- Seems like there is a backlash developing among US Catholics against the Nation's most visible Catholic. This site has more about the topic.
http://www.catholicsagainstkerry.com/

- We all have know how close the final vote count in Florida's 2000 Presidential Election was. We also know how many people were removed from the voter lists due to their being convicted felons. In addition, we have heard a lot of accusations about how many of those were not actual felons. Felons tend to vote overwhelmingly Democrat. John Samples examines this issue more in depth.
http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/samples200404080851.asp

- What was that? The economy is in the tank? I beg to disagree.
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=1504&e=7&u=/afp/20040408/bs_afp/us_economy_040408214817

- Former Senator Bob Kerrey (D-NE) weighs in on the credibility of Richard Clarke's testimony before the 9/11 Commission. Did I mention (or did you notice) that Sen Kerrey is part of that Commission?
http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110004923

- Yesterday, we had a column by the incomparable Thomas Sowell on the government's lack of accountability for the costs it forces on businesses. Here's Part 2:
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/thomassowell/ts20040408.shtml

- Ross McKenzie has a suggestion for the perfect running mate for John Kerry.
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/rossmackenzie/rm20040408.shtml

- Chappaquiddick Ted Kennedy suggested the other day that Iraq is becoming George Bush's Vietnam. Emmett Tyrrell notices several parallels between Vietnam and Iraq.
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/emmetttyrrell/et20040408.shtml

- It has been noticed in another thread, that Senator Christopher Dodd (D-CT) made some remarks about his colleague, Senator Robert Byrd (D-WV), on the occasion of his 17,000th vote. The remarks were something to the effect that "Sen Byrd would be the right man at any time in American history." Oops, does that include the time when Sen Byrd was Grand Kleagle of the KKK, or the time when Sen Byrd voted against the Civil Rights Act of 1964? Maybe the time that Sen Byrd dropped the "N-word" on TV, not once but several times during an interview on TV? Armstrong Williams wonders where is the outrage among Democrats.
http://www.townhall.com/columnists/Armstrongwilliams/aw20040407.shtml

- Joe Mariani ponders the Democrats' obsession with Vietnam...which of course, started and escalated under Democratic presidents.
http://mensnewsdaily.com/archive/m-n/mariani/2004/mariani040804.htm

- Isaiah Sterrett looks at the Left's efforts to portray Condoleeza Rice in a bad light. Fortunately, they fail.
http://mensnewsdaily.com/archive/s/sterrett/2004/sterrett040804.htm

- Condi Rice had a great testimony today. More importantly, she debunked many of the claims by Richard Clarke, though she admitted what all of us knew, that the US was not ready for 9/11. No one could have been.
http://apnews.myway.com//article/20040408/D81QKVQ00.html

- And in case you missed it, here is the transcript of her 3-hour long testimony.
http://wid.ap.org/transcripts/rice.html

- Finally, some humor for tonight: Day by Day, by Chris Muir. http://www.daybydaycartoon.com/

To the imitators, hey, jump in, the water is warm and the margaritas are ice-cold. Just try to be a little more truthful about how you advertise.

http://www.geog.ucsb.edu/~jeff/earthgifs/world.gif


Oh well, if it's truth you want, try this. A slight insight into why Rice had to be dragged into the light.
http://www.bushsecrecy.org/

Manufactoring jobs are on the rise? Hmm guess Ohio missed that one. Oh Wait I forgot! McDonalds and BurgerKing are hiring all the time! :roll:

I don't think that is a turn around more like people being under employeed out of desperation.

I know a bunch of IT guys that are out of work. A chunk are very good and a bunch are not. I will belive things are turning around when I see them working.

Anoter indicator is free lance Graphic Design. My wife does that and when times are hard that is usually one of the first things to go. When I see her work load increase that should tell as well.

Now as to Viet Nam? It's a matter of definition. Ground Troups sure Kennedy Administration had them in. However, Eisenhower was supplying advisors and prevented elections that would have unified the country. Even Ike said he felt Ho would have won.

1957 is when the Viet Cong started on the South.

The first 2 American deaths were in 1959 which was Ike's time as well.

Panhandlia, are you Snubis??

tag, for later. or tomorrow when I actually get home. Hey Pan!

Condi Rice had a great testimony today. More importantly, she debunked many of the claims by Richard Clarke, though she admitted what all of us knew, that the US was not ready for 9/11. No one could have been.
http://apnews.myway.com//article/20040408/D81QKVQ00.html

Condi Rice's testimony was indeed great--if you don't like the Bush adminstration. The Center for American Progress is on top of it, as usual (http://www.americanprogress.org/site/pp.asp?c=biJRJ8OVF&b=44918) and they have a point by point debunking of her testimony. I have a couple of favorites.
Here's one:CLAIM: There was "nothing about the threat of attack in the U.S." in the Presidential Daily Briefing the President received on August 6th. [responding to Ben Veniste]

FACT: Rice herself confirmed that "the title [of the PDB] was, 'Bin Laden Determined to Attack Inside the United States.'" [Source: Condoleezza Rice, 4/8/04]
And another:CLAIM: The Bush Administration has been committed to the "transformation of the FBI into an agency dedicated to fighting terror." [responding to Kean]

FACT: Before 9/11, Attorney General John Ashcroft de-emphasized counterterrorism at the FBI, in favor of more traditional law enforcement. And according to the Washington Post, "in the early days after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, the Bush White House cut by nearly two-thirds an emergency request for counterterrorism funds by the FBI, an internal administration budget document shows." And according to a new report by the Congressional Research Service, "numerous confidential law enforcement and intelligence sources who challenge the FBI's claim that it has successfully retooled itself to gather critical intelligence on terrorists as well as fight crime." [Source: Washington Post, 3/22/04; Congressional Quarterly, 4/6/04]
And one last one:CLAIM: "There was a discussion of Iraq. I think it was raised by Don Rumsfeld. It was pressed a bit by Paul Wolfowitz."

FACT: Rice's statement confirms previous proof that the Administration was focusing on Iraq immediately after 9/11, despite having no proof that Iraq was involved in the attack. Rice's statement also contradicts her previous denials in which she claimed "Iraq was to the side" immediately after 9/11. She made this denial despite the President signing "a 2-and-a-half-page document marked 'TOP SECRET'" six days after 9/11 that "directed the Pentagon to begin planning military options for an invasion of Iraq." [Source: Condoleezza Rice, 3/22/04, 3/22/04; Washington Post, 1/12/03]

Blam!!!!! Yet another one shot down. :lol:

Panhandle if you thought "Condi" did good today you are far more conservative than anyone on this earth.......but someone I dont think you mind.

Former Senator Bob Kerrey (D-NE) weighs in on the credibility of Richard Clarke's testimony before the 9/11 Commission. Did I mention (or did you notice) that Sen Kerrey is part of that Commission?
http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110004923

Two points on this one. First off, if someone is going to weigh in on the credibility of someone's testinomy, don't you think that a member of the commission being testified before is uniquely qualified to judge that testimony?

But more importantly, what exactly in that article deals with Clarke's credibility? I've read it, and he never talks about credibility, especially about Clarke, and in fact, he disagrees with Clarke vehemently on one point. Since Panhandlia is too chicken to post it, I'll do it. Mr. Clarke's most startling statement was that there have been more terrorist attacks against the United States in the 30 months since 9/11 than in the 30 months prior to the attack. You could almost hear a clap of thunder when he went on to say that this happened because we substantially reduced our efforts in Afghanistan and went to war in Iraq, causing a loss of momentum in the war against al Qaeda.

That's his argument. I think he's wrong, but I don't think he is being duplicitous. He is wrong because most if not all of the terrorism since 9/11 has occurred because al Qaeda and other radical Islamists have an even dimmer view of a free and independent Iraq than they do a free and independent United States.
Now I happen to think Kerrey is wrong, but what this essentially comes down to is a difference of opinion, not a matter of credibility.

Former Senator Bob Kerrey (D-NE) weighs in on the credibility of Richard Clarke's testimony before the 9/11 Commission. Did I mention (or did you notice) that Sen Kerrey is part of that Commission?
http://www.opinionjournal.com/editorial/feature.html?id=110004923

Two points on this one. First off, if someone is going to weigh in on the credibility of someone's testinomy, don't you think that a member of the commission being testified before is uniquely qualified to judge that testimony?

But more importantly, what exactly in that article deals with Clarke's credibility? I've read it, and he never talks about credibility, especially about Clarke, and in fact, he disagrees with Clarke vehemently on one point. Since Panhandlia is too chicken to post it, I'll do it. Mr. Clarke's most startling statement was that there have been more terrorist attacks against the United States in the 30 months since 9/11 than in the 30 months prior to the attack. You could almost hear a clap of thunder when he went on to say that this happened because we substantially reduced our efforts in Afghanistan and went to war in Iraq, causing a loss of momentum in the war against al Qaeda.

That's his argument. I think he's wrong, but I don't think he is being duplicitous. He is wrong because most if not all of the terrorism since 9/11 has occurred because al Qaeda and other radical Islamists have an even dimmer view of a free and independent Iraq than they do a free and independent United States.
Now I happen to think Kerrey is wrong, but what this essentially comes down to is a difference of opinion, not a matter of credibility.

I guess you somehow have more info than Sen Kerrey does. How do you do it? You read Clarke's mind? Maybe you were in the room when Kerrey took a potty break? No, it's simply your opinion against the opinion of someone who has seen all the testimony and gotten all the briefings you will never qualify to receive. But, hey, it is your opinion.

tag, for later. or tomorrow when I actually get home. Hey Pan!

Sup, Blarg.

Panhandlia, are you Snubis??

Wow, are you reduced to presuming I am someone else? Dang, that's low, even for you libs.

Panhandlia, are you Snubis??

Wow, are you reduced to presuming I am someone else? Dang, that's low, even for you libs.
One: That wasn't necessarily an presumption; that was a question, and likely a valid one, too
Two: Quit making generalisations of a group you don't like. ANYONE can presume.

We all have know how close the final vote count in Florida's 2000 Presidential Election was. We also know how many people were removed from the voter lists due to their being convicted felons. In addition, we have heard a lot of accusations about how many of those were not actual felons. Felons tend to vote overwhelmingly Democrat. John Samples examines this issue more in depth.
http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/samples200404080851.asp

Put quite simply, NRO's got their numbers wrong, and they're misleading on the law. Greg Palast (http://www.gregpalast.com/detail.cfm?artid=55&row=2) has already handled this far better than I can, so I'll leave it to him as far as the numbers are concerned.

As far as the law is concerned, NRO gets one part right. Florida does have the right to disenfranchise felons who are convicted in Florida and they do. What they do not have the right to do is disenfranchise felons who have had their voting rights restored by the governments of the states in which they were convicted. In fact, the state of Florida is under a consent decree to this very day because of this very issue--they've been busted before and a judge has ruled against them.

That's what, three now? Time to reload. :lol:

Panhandlia, are you Snubis??

Wow, are you reduced to presuming I am someone else? Dang, that's low, even for you libs.
One: That wasn't necessarily an presumption; that was a question, and likely a valid one, too
Two: Quit making generalisations of a group you don't like. ANYONE can presume.

On your second point, it's behavior like this that gets him likened to a pseudo-neoconservative troll, so it really does make a lot of sense.

I guess you somehow have more info than Sen Kerrey does. How do you do it? You read Clarke's mind? Maybe you were in the room when Kerrey took a potty break? No, it's simply your opinion against the opinion of someone who has seen all the testimony and gotten all the briefings you will never qualify to receive. But, hey, it is your opinion.You misunderstand--I don't think Kerrey is wrong on the matter of Clarke's credibility, mainly because that issue never comes up. I think Kerrey is wrong on the matter of Iraq being a necessary extension of the war on al-Qaeda. He thinks it is. I think, like Clark does, that it was a distraction and that al-Qaeda has gotten stronger as a result.

Huzzah for Panhandlia!

John Kerry is about as much Catholic as I am martian.

http://www.geog.ucsb.edu/~jeff/earthgifs/world.gif

A couple of hours ago I watched someone described as a personal friend of Rice stating that she thought Rice's appearence as 'America at its best'.
I hope not.
I'll tell you when I last saw America at its best; 11/9/2001. Along with millions of others I watched the courage and tenacity of ordinary people and the emergency services. I don't know why, but as a Brit, I felt proud of those real heros.
The firefighters have been snubbed since then by the Bush regime, apart from the occasional photo opportunity. The delivery of deperately needed radio equipment has just been put back five whole years. New York has been receiving a steadily declining share of state funds.
The relatives of the murdered who sat behind Rice, who were 'so much in the thoughts and prayers' of Bush have been ignored and had to fight for this investigation.
And this war-mongering regime has seen fit to cut some veterans pensions.
Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice etc continue to attend lavish dinners, continue to make large sums of money, continue to deceive the American public (the rest of the world will not be deceived).
And they continue to say things like: 'Bring 'em on'..........'We shall prevail'.........'We will not give in to terror'.
Meanwhile their soldiers give their lives in their hundreds, Iraqis die in their thousands, Iraq itself slides slowly into civil war, and the world is a far more dangerous place than it was 12 months ago.
The poor of America get poorer, the rich get richer, anyone without access to expensive legal advice has less rights as a citizen than a year ago, the sick who are unable to afford decent medical care move lower down the pile. The woman molesterer governor of California takes a break from his regular family holiday in Hawaai to fly back, at the states expense, to push through another law to bash the poor.
America at its finest? Not so.
America is still seen as the land of the free........just.
America is still seen as a land of compassion.......only just.
Another four years of Cheney / Bush and that will be gone, possibly for a very long time. It has taken 100 years for the US to become hailed as the worlds leading democracy. It has taken about 30 months for this regime to piss it all away.

Hey SO--speaking of the firefighters, have you heard that the NY firefighters won't allow themselves to be photographed with Bush anymore because of the way the federal government has shafted them time and again? And that's where the Republican National Convention will be this year--hope nothing catches fire.

Easy on the flamebait folks please.

Panhandlia be very , very careful here with what you say to people. I just want you to think about what you say before you post. Last night you came very close to the line with calling my husband a liar and then not backing up any of your claims. The fact that he is my husband is not the point.. the point is you will NOT insult people. Okay?

Stephanie
Game Moderator

Hey SO--speaking of the firefighters, have you heard that the NY firefighters won't allow themselves to be photographed with Bush anymore because of the way the federal government has shafted them time and again? And that's where the Republican National Convention will be this year--hope nothing catches fire.
http://www.geog.ucsb.edu/~jeff/earthgifs/world.gif

Yes, I've read that too. As for hoping nothing catches fire at the convention......I must admit I'm torn.

- Seems like there is a backlash developing among US Catholics against the Nation's most visible Catholic.

Funny, I thought that would be Mel Gibson.

Here is my daily does or Right (when I say Right, I mean correct, not right wing) Thought.

The personification of the devil as the symbol of all evil assumes the living shape of the Jew. - Adolf Hitler

Here is my daily does or Right (when I say Right, I mean correct, not right wing) Thought.

The personification of the devil as the symbol of all evil assumes the living shape of the Jew. - Adolf Hitler

Actually now that I know you're a complete racist (add nasty word here) .. I don't mind that you hate me..lol :P

Huzzah for Panhandlia!

John Kerry is about as much Catholic as I am martian.

As a matter of clarification...just how Martian are you?

Huzzah for Panhandlia!

John Kerry is about as much Catholic as I am martian.

As a matter of clarification...just how Martian are you?

And more importantly, who cares (about either)?

Here is my daily does or Right (when I say Right, I mean correct, not right wing) Thought.

The personification of the devil as the symbol of all evil assumes the living shape of the Jew. - Adolf Hitler

Actually now that I know you're a complete racist (add nasty word here) .. I don't mind that you hate me..lol :P

who said I hate you? I love you because you and me share the same ideas about race issues.

Easy on the flamebait folks please.

Panhandlia be very , very careful here with what you say to people. I just want you to think about what you say before you post. Last night you came very close to the line with calling my husband a liar and then not backing up any of your claims. The fact that he is my husband is not the point.. the point is you will NOT insult people. Okay?

Stephanie
Game Moderator

Yeah now whoever posted the message who called another person a complete racist, you must not of been thinking clearly, after all a GAME MODERATOR had just warned people not to use insults. and then you just completly ignore that warning and call someone a racist. The only way i can imagine it was that you either dont view racism as a bad thing or you didnt read the whole post.

Oh wait a minute the person who DID that post WAS the game moderator. It is a sad sad thing when a game moderator can not follow her own rules. After all a game moderator should lead by example. Although reading this post i am sure Stephanie will review her actions and apologize. BTW doing poll on how well stephestian has been doing.

For the record, Camulot, "racist" is a word that can have more than one usage. It can be an insult, true. But it can also be a statement of fact, and I would argue that anyone who uses a quote by Hitler that demonizes Jews as an example of "correct thought" can rightly be labelled a racist.

Oh, and for the record, there are a number of people who wear the label "racist" as a badge of honor. You might want to consider that before you go making accusations.

Easy on the flamebait folks please.

Panhandlia be very , very careful here with what you say to people. I just want you to think about what you say before you post. Last night you came very close to the line with calling my husband a liar and then not backing up any of your claims. The fact that he is my husband is not the point.. the point is you will NOT insult people. Okay?

Stephanie
Game Moderator

Yeah now whoever posted the message who called another person a complete racist, you must not of been thinking clearly, after all a GAME MODERATOR had just warned people not to use insults. and then you just completly ignore that warning and call someone a racist. The only way i can imagine it was that you either dont view racism as a bad thing or you didnt read the whole post.

Oh wait a minute the person who DID that post WAS the game moderator. It is a sad sad thing when a game moderator can not follow her own rules.

:roll: Do you think they'll punish me if I call you a dipshit? I'll take the risk.