Craig Crawford's Trail Mix

What if the hokey pokey IS what it's all about?

Craig...

Did you receive my snail mail addy and have you sent out the autograph book plates yet?

I still have not received mine for Helen and your new book and I did resend you my address since you said you lost all the addresses you needed so you could send them out.

Have a great day..

He is typical. "Don't look 'weak' not matter what it takes" -- even if it means we go broke on the bodies of our soldiers and the country's economy. I am so damned sick of this mentality I could puke.

anybody notice the change in delivery last night? for a few certain passages (obviously calling for their replay), he looked straight center at the viewer rather than the usual side-to-side sweep of the audience.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/12/obamas-afghan-folly.html#comment-272664

pogo, thanks. wonder if buzkashi will replace nascar here when gasoline becomes scarce. same type fans.

somehow tho' the game reminds me of playground days when boys ran around with a dead animal held high teasing all the girls.

Ha! I did notice that Patd, guess he splurged on a 3rd teleprompter. Was also wondering about the first round of applause within the speech. Didn't think he said anything remarkable and all of a sudden they were applauding then just as quickly stopped. Was wondering if they had an applaud prompt?

So Craig says that Britain is sending in 500 troops. Where are the rest? Obama reminded us of the coalition of 43 nations, just like Bush use to. what a bloody hypocrite. Also was very thankful that he set us straight on our history lessons some of us don't understand.

speaking of boys and girls

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8390055.stm

sorry about that, guys.

the good die young?

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/12/arbitratorinchief.html#comment-272737

sorry about the delay. i've got the signatures done for all who asked. now i'm trying to make time to find something for mailing them so they don't get mashed up. bear with me, i'm getting there

cc....i have a couple of books to send you and helen.....can you email me where to mail them?

Bush used to be criticized for using the military for photo ops. To me, staging the speech at West Point was on giant photo op. I thought the applause to be polite but not enthusiastic.

Now that we have his plan, the proof will be what happens in Afghanistan. It is interesting that it seems that no one appears to be satisfied with this plan. Then again, what reason is there to be satisfied. While he tried to preempt the criticism of the plan, there will be pleanty of that.

Good luck to the 30,000 heading over there. See you in a year and a half.

craig, any info on the leather bound book? can't find it on the easton web page.

sea, he needs to practice that direct look, wasn't done as smoothly as his usualy delivery.

made me think of the acting term "breaking the fourth wall"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourth_wall

almost expected him to tell us all to clap our hands and believe like peter pan. or classier from above link:
"A notable case of Shakespeare breaking the fourth wall is the end of A Midsummer Night's Dream, in which Puck suggests to the audience that they pretend, should they have disliked the play they just saw, that the entire production was only a dream."

ahhh, if only t'were a dream.

Patd- - wished he had taken a cue from Puck!

This is off topic, kinda cool so I thought I'd share anyways. Shirley MacLaine's marketing director contacted me yesterday by email. They want me to sponsor this Sunday's show. I didn't answer until last night- thought it was some sort of mass mailing sent to all new age wholesalers. Guess not, she told me that Shirley wanted some chocolates on the site for the holidays.

wow.... the tangled webs we weave....
muddled is a good word..... since Bush enjoyed outrage from the left over a determination not to give a timeline... it seems Obama decided to placate....

the right ,on cue, is outraged over Obama's perceived giving comfort to the enemy.... the left is outraged about a perceived continuance of Bush's war....

I'm stepping back and trying to digest the whole mess.....

Although after listening to Michael Ware on CNN last night talk about all the factions in all the tribes and all the problems with Karzai and the so-called central government.... maybe I'll take my cue from Patsi and just puke....

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/12/arbitratorinchief.html#comment-272744

Craig...

Thank you for your reply and...

Have a great day.

rez, off topic but did you see this article? true?

“This has probably been the best year for Native Americans” in a long time, said Tom Cole , an Oklahoma Republican who is part Chickasaw and the only enrolled member of a tribe now in Congress. “Certainly, in my experience, I have never seen anything like it.”

http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=news-000003256367

it's freakin' snowin' in Fort by God Worth this am.

Looks to me like NO ONE (right center or left) is happy about the speech last night.

WWHD?

"It was only in 1924 that Congress passed a law making clear that American Indians are U.S. citizens with full voting rights — about a half-century after passage of a constitutional amendment for blacks and four years after one granting voting rights to women. " I was way off- thought black women were at the bottom of the barrel.

Am very thankful to both of the Wampanoag tribes here, doing what they can to stop Cape Wind. Think we'll have a chance because of their help
http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/green/greenblog/2009/11/state_historic_ruling_may_add.html

As I've told you before Cape Wind is a bunch of corporate crooks. Click to read this i article regarding fraud in the wind power industry that exposes certain developers who take advantage of public subsidies for their own financial gain.
http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1212055

In the meantime, every one of the Democratic candidate support Cape Wind- yet all are invoking the memory of Ted. A Republican

renee, didn't you post the other day about the pipeline contract? interesting to overlay scedule dates with el prez' porposed benchmark and withdrawal dates

dooty, mccrystal is not macarthur

oops didn't finish- a lone Republican is against it. I'll be voting Republican for the first time in my life. Will be sad though- always loved voting for Kennedy, it would always bring a proud tear to my eye.

dooty, mccrystal is not macarthur

patd,

sorry I don't understand, not enough coffee yet today.

sea, wonder if greg craig wouldn't still be at wh and if a better healthcare bill wouldn't be on it's way to the prez' desk and a whole bunch of other "wonder ifs" if we still had teddy around.

dooty, tho't you meant harry truman by your wwhd (what would harry do). sorry for the misunderstanding

" Shirley MacLaine's marketing director contacted me yesterday by email."

OH how cool, Sea!!!!!

patd...
no I didn't post about that pipeline..... Divalicious did....

Patd- I don't wonder- I know the bills would be better. Wish I could have heard Ted's reply to last night though.

Just wrote to Coakley to let her know that I will not be voting for her because of her stand on Cape Wind. It just doesn't seem right that a woman would go against the Tribes. I know that is over simplified and putting a lot weight on women but I feel when it comes to the environment the Indians are like Ted. They fight the good fight. In my naive ideal world, which has deteriorated miserably, women should be fighting the good fight too.

Patsi- I think so- don't know what sort of influence she has, but certainly a larger market than this pile of sand.

If wars were financed 'Pay-Go' and we had a draft, my, how things would be different.

Cjoe....
isn't it interesting how neither the Republicans or the Democrats have the balls to reinstitute a draft....

patd, WWHD is a reference to Ms Hillary.

Craig, the problem with NATO is their rules of engagement this goes way back to 2005, when we hand over regions for NATO to hold - IT didn't. The Taliban came back when they figured out what the rules of engagement were for NATO troops. Canadians suffered a lot, when you talk to the folks who have been stationed there, they will tell you stories. Like how the NATO troops, like Canadians, would set up their Hooches and basically treat their deployment like an extended camping trip. My brother in law was in Afghanistan in 2005, he was there for the first elections. The Taliban had been routed from Kandahar region. Now it looks like we have to do the job all over again.

All Militarys are not equal, and when we hear how GREAT our Military is, we think it is jingoistic bragging, but it's not It's reality. We have one of the best fighting forces in the world.

OK

I'm in the "Obama is a ditherer" column.
He could have announce this "new policy" any time in the last 2 months.

WWHD
Harry or Hillary
You mean like maybe make a decision or fricken lead this nation.

Jack

Obama's not a Hawk, I thought that was the appeal for those who voted for him. I don't see that what he is doing as out of character or unexpected. He wants to manage Afghanistan. Managing a War and Winning a War are two different things.

He just committed 30,000. more troops that's not enough to win anything. Maybe that was a message was for the International community not us. A message to Iran maybe? After all Af/Pak is on their border.

either one Jack...I was just wondering what the supporters of Hillary think of how she would have handled the shit storm the last president left the new president. Not trying to make war just wondering.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/12/arbitratorinchief.html#comment-272755

pat, Thx for the heads up on the CQ piece. I don't know if very many in IC agree with Tom Cole but the gist of the article is right on. What is it? money talks and . . . Gaming been bery, bery good to (some) Indians.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/12/obamas-afghan-folly.html#comment-272724

I started talking about this last night. Craig is exactly right. Without talking about Iran and Pakistan with seriousness, Obama leaves his Afghanistan message in the cold. I mentioned before the speech I await the passion, the rally, the BIG PICTURE. I was surprised at what I heard, but then we all knew Obama's position more than a year ago.

SO this morning we hear that Admadinejad will increase levels of enrichment and build ten new facilities. We read that the Taliban will increase attacks and wait the Americans out. We see reports that Pakistan's moderates are not likely to curtail the very militants they created to attack India and extend influence in Afghanistan. Bhutto's husband faces the wraith of the very court he supported against Musharraf.

I mentioned last night the role of the Clintons in pressing their plan Bs which were dissed by Obama during the primary. Syria, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Cuba, Columbia and even Honduras has spun into what the Clinton's expected and the O-team Israel approach has lead to a complete meltdown with Abbas wanting Statehood now. Well, Obama let that cat out of the bag. Now Hillary must fix the mess.

Still, Obama could have been weaker. West Point however, was not the place to lecture new officers that there is a price for liberty and security we can't afford. It was stunning really. His only passion came in describing 9/11 which Old seahag had some good comments about. AQ is our only terror threat? The Iranian government just approved another $20 million for militants seeking to confront the US.

Rangel is always trying to reinstitute the draft. If the fires get out of control in Iran and elsewhere, we may need the draft. Obama failed to paint the big picture and fell short of the inspiration Reagan and Kennedy had. In fact, Bill Clinton's famous speech to the military on the eve of Desert Fox was light years beyond the speech Obama delivered last night. In six months we get those troops to Afghanistan. Then they will have less than a year before we pull out?

The worst thing Obama said last night was his set up for the call to national unity. I am not sure he understands how this is done. We were all united after 9/11 except for large swaths of the very Liberal base because we were attacked and our enemies were protected by rogue regimes. He tried last night to minimize the extent radical Islam has taken hold in Iran and Pakistan. He talked about plots against the US, but narrowed that to AQ. After calling the war on terror a police action against man-made disasters, he failed to project gravitas. As I said last night, you do this not by trying to please all but by elevating the threat at hand and rallying the country behind a clear, reasonable and absolutely resolute judgment about how to go forward. Hillary would not have delivered such a speech before our young cadets. These are warriors not politicians. Had the Clintons gone on a long sabbatical after the election, I fear where our foreign policy would be now.

As I said, Obama would have made a better VP. Past Presidents have been centrists by and large. The middling way however, is not that. Obama seems to be a referee between the special interests that got him elected. Not sure how that will play out..

X, good job last night on Israeli history.

I hope our troops in Afghanistan are not at risk when Iran's nuclear facilities are hit. There has been no grand picture of where this administration is going in the face of escalating crisis and as far as Afghanistan goes, Hitchen was right over at Slate that India plays a huge role. Instead Americans are more interested in gate crashers that the anniversary of the Mumbai attacks. I would be pissed if I was the Indian President.

Note not one word was said of Russian and Chinese obligations to press for real peace in the region. Despite the gestures, there has been a resounding nyet to the call for support of international justice. Pirates still hold a supertanker filled with oil for New Orleans.

In light of these comments Sturg, there is a whole world of opinion between the black and white list you pinned on the GOP last night. Wanda says Fox is a great network to work for.......

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/12/arbitratorinchief.html#comment-272771

I think you missed alot of the primary debate. I did not.

Well dooty
You got my answer.

They could provide leadership.
Obama has consistently dithered and been behind the ball.
He has abdicated the one real power he has over legislation, that is the ability of the president , as a single individual to use his bully pulpit to advocate for his policy.
Just look at healthcare, what is Obama's policy position?
What he did with healthcare was to facilitate behind the scenes with the various factions until we get this monumental pile of crap that does more harm than it does good. He has never taken a strong advocacy position.

All the time he was delaying his Afghanistan policy, I assumed he was taking time to develop a clear policy. But the mishmash he has put together can lead to only one conclusion.
The man is a political coward. He is pissing away a tremendous advantage in political capital from his election and getting nothing for it.
Some are comparing him to Carter, lol we should be so lucky.
He is starting to look a lot like GWB, we are just fortunate that Dick Cheney is not in the back ground.

Jack

Thought for the day :
" Every Titanic has its iceberg. "

Posted by: maxtrue Author Profile Page | December 2, 2009 11:06 AM

Do you understand what they are talking about when they say we have three different factions inside our embassy in Kabul? They say one faction is against sending more troops into Afghanistan. I thought that the State Department follows the President's policy. The State Dept is in charge of the civil side of the policy, setting up working government depts for Afghans. Obama mentioned this as one of the prongs in his Speech. It sounds like our embassy staff are not all on the same page. What can the SOS do about that?

After great Deliberation and Agony, Pres. Obama did copted for an Escalation of the "struggle" but married it with a specified end date of this Struggle through military might.

I saw in Pres. Obama a heart that bleeds for this decision for anyone whose heart center is open and active feels the pain of this task, yet, speaking with a Heavy Heart, I also heard in that speech the unspoken wish or Intent that he was going to also bring Bin Laden to justice ( the great Prize and Symbol)! I also heard the great Urgency he feels to bind up all loose nuclear threats and to prevent them from getting into those hands within Afghanistan and Pakistan which might annihilate the world as we know it. He has not made this this "call to arms" for Oil or for profit based upon a lie but a heartfelt desire to keep safe the people in the world, in the binding up of these nuclear threats to the world by this faction which he knows is still out there plotting to do harm! That in this way we are Standing up for Peace and that somehow we must go into Hell for a Heavenly cause.

I heard him also say to the Military Industrial Complex Machine that there will be an end date, and that it will not be open-ended, but that the battle for peace might call for other strategic ways to get to this goal -- that giving the benefit of the doubt to his generals -- he will try their way (since they are so much more knowledgeable about military than him).

As, he spoke about true security from a world without nuclear weapons (his real true goal), he also spoke about the need to unite with the world to accomplish this task because in truth, terror and nuclear weapons is a world problem! And finally, he called us to the time after 9/11, when we were all united but got deviated from the course, but to return to that Unity of purpose, one more time.... and that if he is lucky, he will bring home the Prize, Bin Ladin, break the back of this threat, and then for the weary and battle scarred-soldiers they can look onward and say, well done -- yet, there's no place like home, there's no place like home!

Let us trust " that there is a goodness in all of life that cannot even be eliminated by thoughts that temporarily cause you to believe that negativity is the underlying reality of human life on earth... " (1) Let us call on that goodness to illuminate our way forward towards that peace and goodwill and seal the door where evil dwells.

1. Ron Scolastico. Doorway to the Soul

Jack,

thanks but the question I asked was WWHD? What Would Hillary Do? You didn't answer that. All you did was show your distaste for the man.

WWHD?

Well Jack, Biden is a questionable replacement.....

Iran and the Taliban unite this morning. This from the boys at Debka and remember they are about the only news source willing to report on Jordanians dying in Yemen or how the ISraelis knew about the secret nuclear programs between Syria, North Korea and Iran:

"Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said Wednesday, Dec. 2, that Iran will enrich uranium to 20 percent. His latest show of defiance, focusing on the US and Israel, follows Tehran's announcement of plans to build another 10 enrichment plants capable of producing 300 tons of enriched uranium a year in response to the UN nuclear watchdog's censure of its second enrichment plant near Qom.

The building of two new plants will begin in two months.

Deliberately taunting Israel, he said in a speech from Isfahan broadcast live by state television: "The Zionist regime is nothing. Even its masters cannot do a damn thing." For Tehran the nuclear issue is "over." The Islamic republic will "not back down from its rights."

On his visit to Isfahan, site of a nuclear fuel plant, Ahmadinejad said: "The Iranian nation will by itself make the 20 percent (nuclear) fuel (enriched uranium) and whatever it needs," after threatening: "Any finger which is about to pull the trigger will be cut off."

The western powers would not be able to isolate Iran, he said, and dismissed the possibility of a military attack.

Tehran has turned down the international offer for Russia to convert 70 percent of Iran's low-grade enriched uranium into fuel for medical research; France was to have neutralized its possible conversion into weapons-grade material. Now, Ahmadinejad accused the Western powers and Israel of using against Tehran what he called an Iranian proposal to trade its low-enriched uranium in return for 20 percent enriched material.

Tension between Tehran and the world powers has heightened over this controversy.

DEBKAfile adds: The centrifuge technology that increases the concentration of U-235 isotopes up to the 5-20 percent level can also be used to increase it to nuclear-weapons grade. It is a question of intent."

If healthcare and AfPak are signs of administration smarts, I would be worried. Still, I can't see Hillary and Bill staying quiet if the ship was really sinking.....

A three-way split threatened to develop between the US, Afghanistan and Nato after the American ambassador to the war-torn country, retired lieutenant-general Karl Eikenberry, urged US president Barack Obama not to send more forces.

http://news.scotsman.com/latestnews/Doubt-deepens-over--Afghan.5821460.jp

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/12/arbitratorinchief.html#comment-272778

One faction is against sending more troops. They are the faction Obama rewarded that is most closely aligned with his base. Another faction is on board and is most likely lead by Hillary while another faction wants far more effort as Afghanistan is well positioned to influence Iran and Pakistan. This would include numerous Hillary supporters. While I think it good to have divergent opinion, war strategy at some point is not open for debate. Given the power base of special interests, it is no suprise division exists in Kabul.

I say burn the poppy down, mission strike forces and reward regional tribal leaders in getting back on board. The Pashtuns were beaten by the Northern Alliance. While they require a serious role in Kabul, they put the Taliban in power. THey harbor and hail AQ. As Putin should know as trains get blown up in Russia, there can be no safe havens for terrorists. But Obama silenced his message of resolve by dissing the totality of Bush's War on Terror. This radicalism and terror is actually the greatest threat of our time besides ecological destruction.

It always amazes me that so many Liberals had no problem connecting the Bush Cheney dots, but fail miserably to connect the dots of terror and danger in perhaps the last remaining years of the American Era.

History will not be kind to mistakes made here on out, but it aboslutely right that Obama must contend with mutiple threats and limited resources -another reason his healthcare better lower costs and deficits. Who said Obama might very well be Carter on Steroids inevitably creating a Reagan-in-the-winds. Dems are fortunate Palin and Rush dominate the stage for the GOP.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/12/arbitratorinchief.html#comment-272783

Ree, I was talking about the division within our own State Department. Then add allied divisions.

Reagan had far more sway.....

Iceberg.

Remember, Obama will have many opportunities to change course before striking the iceberg. Yes, there are opportunities for mistakes and disasters. A strike on Iran would change things as would impeachment of Pakistan President. (How ironic). How much does the fast deployment depend on Putin? What troops will NATO send? What are the the costs of failure?

Many things can change plans and a time table may spur Kabul to action. Still, Obama the arbitrator at a going out of business sale comes across. Clearly, with what he really knows, now is not the time to create discord between the adimistration and Intel/Military.

I was surpised how political Obama made his speech. Again, in front of West Point cadets, a photo op Dems would have roasted Bush for (and did).

Gravitas often rsies above politics and wishful thinking, but yes New Pogo, I did back McChrystal's request.

Max, it's a bigger mess than people think, if he has our folks in Kabul going three different ways. These folks are responsible for the civil prong of this strategy. The Military doesn't have any sway over the State Department component in Afghanistan that's Hillary's headache.

I remember the mess in Baghdad with the State Department, when they needed the competent and experienced, they got the loyal and willing.

Max, I am reading that NATO will only send 5,000 more troops.

Posted by: sturgeone | December 2, 2009 7:20 AM : "the good die young?"

I knew there was something wrong with me.

1. I oppose Buzkashi. It spoils the meat..

2. Posted by: Ree | December 2, 2009 10:32 AM :
"We have one of the best fighting forces in the world."

Amen. Most militaries are so bad that it is usually in their nations best interest that they don't suit up and hit the field.

reagan's put fx kelly in charge of Lebanon. kelly used Lebanese to guard the perimeter of the high rise hooch. I think it will be a very long time before an American officer, especially a Marine General screws up that badly on the perimeter. Maybe it will also be a long time before a Canadian or Dutch officer makes one of those errors.

Obama Afghanistan war policy...

Once more Obama crawls on his hands and knees to beg the right wing to not hate him.

"See. I can be just as stupid and brutal as Bush. Won't you like me, just a little?"

Nope.

Good piece by Joan Walsh. She speaks for me in this.

http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/joan_walsh/politics/2009/12/01/afghanistan_speech

Dooty -- regarding Hillary, WWHD. That's a good question. Speaking only for myself, I believe she would not withdraw immediately. For the same stupid reason Obama is making his decision: fear of looking weak.

My issue is that Obama (while talking about finishing the job in Afghanistan) hung Iraq and war itself around Hillary's neck. You'd have thought she was Kubla Khan to hear some of his wide eyed supporters talk.

I think some of his decisions have been good, and will ultimately prove helpful. But why has be not rolled back some of the more egregious decisions of Dubya? What about wiretapping?

I continue to think he wants to be the popular guy, continuing the beauty contest the primary turned into. Will I vote for him next time? No doubt. Will I criticize him when he panders to Republicans? You bet yer butt.

In the cable news wars MSNBC is always at, or near the bottom. Now why would that be? Well here is one possible explanation.

http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=YzdhYTY0MDRiYTBlYjVkOTAwMjE2YWM5OGU5OTg1MDA=

Patsi....
your 12:43.... CLAP! CLAP!
I couldn't have said anything better.

I've been all over the "progressive blogosphere" this AM. What amazes me is how little criticism there is on the left for Obama's Afghan war policy. Except for a few isotated voices, the left is STILL giving Obama the benefit of the doubt.

We need another stimlus package (Ain't gonna happen.)
We need public option (Ain't gonna happen.)
We don't need another pointless, enormously expensive war. (Yeah, we can do that.)

We are now in Bush's third term.

One of the worst sections of southern Afghanistan is called " Little America ".
We built a huge irrigation project there back in the day, ..... when we still did those things. It was the bread basket of the country, now it's the poppy basket.

Oh the irony.

Are progressives prepared for the bloodbath that will follow an expeditious withdrawal? If so, then let's get the hell out. Who cares what the conservatives say... they're not in power.

Yes Ree. Obama was not completely truthful last night about the help he says NATO promises. I would be concerned about where events are leading Japan and Germany (on a separate note). History might not be kind to our ignoring trends and even ignoring a vital Afghanistan player like India who we should be building a stronger alliance with. Reagan on the other hand, prevented India and Israel from taking out AQ Khan's nuclear program by informing Pakistan of the planned attack by Israel from Indian air bases back in the eighties.

Also, civilian support to Afghanistan can come only once the situation is more stable.The time table is absurd on this count alone as Omar decalres open warfare. Hell, the UN headquarters and the Indian embassy were recently rocked. It is astounding the money we have given to both Kabul and Islamabad and how much of it has gone to corruption, nuclear proliferation and bribes or ransoms for terrorists.

You are right in being pissed, but let's focus the objections to policy problems and not the stale debate about war v anti-war. I have a lot of symapthy for Obama. He said much to beat Hillary and was handed a bad hand. He can't control his political base as the GOP could control their own. He is bound by his past calculations and how many under-the-bus moves allowable in a given month.

My suspicion is that the troops will be fluid and that the administration knows the possible crisis in Iran and Pakistan can easily change things. Obama is being too much the arbitrator and not enough principled inspirer. Just read how hawkish his speech was two summers ago on Afghanistan and his comments on Iran during the primary. If most Americans could review the list of behavior of those Obama has offered a hand to, the NYT would be blasting the administration's foolishness. Still, Obama up until now has raised our image if not our credibility. Unfortunately those who plot against us don't care about our image. Those in the middle watch only our resolve...

Here is just one example: Iran is deploying small silent subs beyond the Gulf. The nexus between Chavez, Kimmie, Ahmadinejad, Assad and their proxies seek advanced smuggling networks and weapons. The entire idea that we can track all of this and identify future terror is ludicrous. Obama knows this from his daily briefing with or withour Cheney at his back. Reality is the thorn in Obama's agenda with Hillary breathing down his back. I am thankful for that.

And Blue Dogs are not just hesitant about bad reform. They know the game changer many likely events will bring. Obama is trying to balance the politics at home and now many question if this is how great issues are solved and rallied for.

One year after Obama's election we see a troubling trend. I am not ready to give up on Obama because Hillary seems to have been called into action with her ideas intact. You all must know that she would not be less the hawk, less an advocate for human rights, less willing to destroy the enemy.

On another front: I hope that NY has the smarts to pass the gay inheritance bill right now as they debate voting. Afterall, isn't full "civil" benefits the alternative to gay marriage? Unless gay marriage passes, how can we obstruct gay couples of at least enjoying the right to pass on their property to their loved ones?

China Now Spending $9 Billion a Month on Renewable energy

http://cleantechnica.com/2009/12/01/china-now-spending-9-billion-a-month-on-renewable-energy/

I couldn't support the Afghanistan 'Surge' if
I thought that we were just in there for oil, ala SolarCrete, or to play world policeman, ala don1one.

The US suffered 2 horrific attacksagainst it before the 9/11 attacks that killed nearly 3,000 people, at the hands of alqaeda and their taliban. Unlike the republicans frist, bush, cheney, and rumdum, I do not think that the US should turn the other cheek in this matter, but ought to strive to capture or kill the leaders and organizers of these twin salafist groups. That ought to be the mission. As long as that appears to be the mission, and the operation is sunsetted, I'm on board.

Our peace policy regarding Afghanistan ought to revolve around building schools, training teachers, and helping to facilitate the efforts of Afghan citizens to make better lives, primarily through the Peace Corps and micro-banking.

All that said, it makes no sense to maintain our huge military presences in Northern Europe or Iraq. Presently, it seems that our most important mission in Iraq is to maintain airbases on the way to Afghanistan.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/12/arbitratorinchief.html#comment-272792

And while I have tried here to show what Hillary has been up to, the truth is that Obama needs Hillary and Bill now to stabilize his absurd Israel/Palestinian policy, bring credibility to the table against Iran and their regime, support the majority of Hondurans who don't want another Chavez, call attention to a Cuba now worse under Raul, call Syria out about their violation of law, go to Lebanon and help in the moderate victory months ago, bring more fire to the moderate government in Pakistan and even protest certain actions by the Iraqi government. It seems her campaign positions have been validated to the point of Obama needing the Clintons to validate his administration.

So much of what is unfolding was predicted here by Clinton supporters. I'm not trying to rehash, but state the irony.......

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/12/arbitratorinchief.html#comment-272800

smart, but we should be careful where this leads Germany and Japan...

Afghanistan still pales behind Pakisatan and Iran...

India's provisional CO2 cut target at 24 pct by 2020

http://www.reuters.com/article/internal_ReutersNewsRoom_BehindTheScenes_MOLT/idUSTRE5B13C320091202

------------
This is the first item I've seen on the Indians actually saying anything with numbers in it. Now this may be a fiction, but never the less it's movement.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/12/arbitratorinchief.html#comment-272780

Dooty
I did answer your question, twice
No I was not expressing my distaste for the man.
I was exprtessing my extreme disapointment and doing so by giving examples.

I noticed that you couldn't counter them
nuff said
Jack

....we could put lithium in their water supply. Just brainstorming here.

Giant wooden horse?

Wave Clouds from South Sandwich Islands

http://www.redorbit.com/images/images-of-the-day/

MAX,

Not once have you mentioned how we are responsible for Iran's attitude toward us; we made them who they are today.!! We made them by influencing who their leader were to be... Every since ww11 we have made them what they are today; and turned on them after they have helped us...and almost all of what you say is just more war bull shit. Just one example:

The Khatami administration provided crucial help to the U.S. in Afghanistan by opening Iran’s airspace to the U.S. aircrafts.... and providing crucial intelligence on the Taliban...... Iran’s Afghan ally, the Northern Alliance that it had supported and trained for years, was the first force that entered Kabul, Afghanistan’s capital, and overthrew the Taliban..... Iran also played a crucial role in the formation of Afghanistan’s national unity government in December 2001.

But, the Bush administration rewarded the Khatami administration by making Iran a charter member of the axis of evil.... in February 2002, and began threatening it with military attacks. This further hurt the credibility of the Iranian reformists who were advocating a rapprochement with the U.S.

this from Jack,
"OK

I'm in the "Obama is a ditherer" column.
He could have announce this "new policy" any time in the last 2 months.

WWHD
Harry or Hillary
You mean like maybe make a decision or fricken lead this nation.

Jack

and this from Jack also,
"Well dooty
You got my answer.

They could provide leadership.
Obama has consistently dithered and been behind the ball.
He has abdicated the one real power he has over legislation, that is the ability of the president , as a single individual to use his bully pulpit to advocate for his policy.
Just look at healthcare, what is Obama's policy position?
What he did with healthcare was to facilitate behind the scenes with the various factions until we get this monumental pile of crap that does more harm than it does good. He has never taken a strong advocacy position.

All the time he was delaying his Afghanistan policy, I assumed he was taking time to develop a clear policy. But the mishmash he has put together can lead to only one conclusion.
The man is a political coward. He is pissing away a tremendous advantage in political capital from his election and getting nothing for it.
Some are comparing him to Carter, lol we should be so lucky.
He is starting to look a lot like GWB, we are just fortunate that Dick Cheney is not in the back ground.

Jack

so Jack, Please point out in these two "answers" to my WWHD question where you even mentioned Hillary. I think you are ducking the question.

WRT, my not countering your argument...not relevant. I am not too pleased either I just wanted to know what the Hillary supporters think.

Also, Dooty, Maybe you don't view leadership as important but it is really the presidents main job, His other job is making the hard decisions. For all the rest of the stuff he can hire it done.

Jack

Well I'd love to stay and fight, but I'm just about to finish making the last 30 components for my model.

Arbitrator in Chief is the way Obama said that he would preside. He made a big to-do about his admiration for President Lincoln, and Lincoln ran a this type of team. From March 1861 to July 1863, the American people wondered what was going on. Pundits pontificated and railed. Many figured that we would 'get a licking' from the new foreign enemy down south. But, by the mid-summer of 1864, after a good deal of debate and experimentation, and a lot of pain and death, almost everyone could see that America's future was secure, and the voters returned Lincoln with a large margin. Of course, the Southerners couldn't vote, having turned themselves into foreign enemies, and that really helped Lincoln.

The story of FDR's first term is similar. After years of endless carping from all the stuffed shirts, know-it-alls, and unindicted conspiritors, America finally saw great improvements in employment and confidence. In '36, FDR whomped the republicans by the largest margin up to that date, leaving the reds only tiny New Hampshire and midget Utah to call their own.

"You mean like maybe make a decision or fricken lead this nation."

"They could provide leadership"

And let me repeat

"Maybe you don't view leadership as important but it is really the presidents main job, His other job is making the hard decisions. For all the rest of the stuff he can hire it done."

Jack

Yo- A HELL OF A LOT BETTER

"This speech was an ode to ambivalence, an aria of ambiguity, a rasher of reluctance. It was addressed to those who, like him, really didn't want to send more troops to Afghanistan. It was for those who care more about rebuilding New Orleans than Kandahar or Mosul. He was explaining to them why he was breaking with them. He had after great deliberation concluded that it was necessary to escalate. "

http://ricks.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2009/12/02/quit_picking_on_obama_s_ode_to_ambivalence

Sea,

That is great news about your candy...its going to take off now.... fasten your seat belt ...Oh and stop dipping your self in it chololate.....

chocolate that is

One would think Hillary Clinton were exiled on some Mediterranean island to listen to her fervent supporters. She's the goddamn Secretary of State... she is in all these meetings.

There are two things:

First- The Clinton advisors are making the choices for Obama..they are his handlers now...

Second-They would be the same ones advising her....the only difference ...it that she would have made some choices on her own...after listening to them.

The thing that no-one talks about...is that there is no difference...not much...between the two parties....they are the same...and that is why I said many, many months ago..after watching Obama...that this was bushes third term...can't see a lot of difference.....he will be led by the nose...just like bush was...and onto Iran......b/c the big corps want him too..just like they wanted Bush to invade Iraq....

If someone like Ronn Paul, or Dennis K. were elected..we would have been out of ther.....XR..your question..about him operating on a soldier or vet....is a non question...

I don't put Obama down in the dithering column. He's has been dealt a lousy hand, and he has to play it.

I hope the Pentagon has some clue that rising causalities in Afghanistan isn't going to meet with much patience, we have been at war for 8 years now, and we are feeling the fatigue.

Jack,

Do you have any more pics, info on that bridge? What I saw of it was cool.!

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/12/arbitratorinchief.html#comment-272819

And where did you come up with that?
Not on this web site.

Jack

Solar

I've got a bunch on the camera, don't know how good they are.
When I get this kidney stone passed I will see if I can post them.

Jack

Jack,

Ok,,but I want pics of the bridge...not of your stones..thanks

"When I get this kidney stone passed"

I thought that you did that recently..

solar, i don't think jack was talking about his discussion with dooty.

Solar
3 or 4 months ago.
But that is too many, looks like I need to go to the doc and get on some more meds to stop it.

Jack

jack, are you in a region of the country that has more than normal incidence of stones? sometimes it's something in the water or soil....

Solar,

It's a Q that comes out of something I read somewhere, maybe here. Maybe it's correct, maybe it's false, but the story is that paul refuses to treat anyone using any Fed Insurance, like vets' Tri Care For Life. My Q is, is this rumor true ?

If not, is it something mean that willard or muckain smeared him with during the last primary campaign ?

Does anyone recognize it ? If so, where did it originate ?

And, waddaya got against Jack's stones ?

Jack,

yeah, what Pat said...something in the water...

XR, I find that hard to believe,,and will think that it was a smear...there are both R;s and D's coming back from the wars....and both need treatment.....must be out of context or somtin...I don't have nothing against Jacks stones....just want know how many he can save for a rock garden is all..he like gardens HA.!

Pat

I don't know. I haven't had many attacks. Just that monster one 1/2 inch across that I talk about every time we discuss our healthcare system. That was back in 2004 , one about a year later that was a small one that they had left in me and told me to exercise to get it to move so I could pass it.(needless to say I was less than enthusiastic about the exercises at the time)
Now 2 in the last 3or 4 months.
I had an online friend who had to drink distilled water and still passed stones on a regular basis. If he even looked at a glass of tapwater he would pass a stone.

So Dooty, if I seem a bit testy, now you know why.
That demeral keeps calling but I'm trying to put it off till it gets really bad.
Jack

So Dooty, if I seem a bit testy, now you know why.

jack, TMI :) sorry for your pain. I have been told via ultra scan that I have a stone but it has not caused any problem yet. If demeral eases the pain, I say go for it.

xr, re ron paul from a pbs series on the candidates:
"In an early sign of his disdain for government spending, he refused to accept Medicare or Medicaid payments from his clients. He would instead treat them at a lower cost or set up extended payment plans."

http://www.pbs.org/kcet/tavissmiley/special/forums/candidates/paul.html

jack, looks like it's not so much what's in the water but how much water is in you according to this:

"The leading cause of kidney stones is a lack of water. Stones commonly have been found in those that drink less than the recommended eight to ten glasses of water a day."

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/154193.php

Jack....
I hope you feel better very soon.... and I agree with Dooty.... if you need the medicine... take it...

maxtrue,

alqaeda and Iran working together ? Na. alqaeda participated in the hunting down and slaughter of Shi'a Hazara tribesmen, and Sufis. Iran aided the "great satan" in overthrowing the taliban in 2002 - 03. Iran and alqaeda are at war in northern Yemen. Wahabbist Saudi Arabia has viewed 12er Iran as the principal threat to its existence for the last 30 years. The alQaeda network went down in Algeria, and is going down in the Philippines, Indonesia, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Iraq. Of what value can they possibly be to the mad Mullahs of Iran ?

This is not to say that it isn't possible - look at the naturei karta crazies - but rather that I just don't see anything in it for Iranian dictator.

Thanks, Patd.

I've been wondering how what I read could be true of anyone who gets elected. The more I think about it, the more unlikely it seems. Prolly, a smear from last year, that's still bouncing through the internet.

Of course, that doesn't mean that I'd ever vote for the guy.

Helen Thomas writes, "Afghanistan war looks like Vietnam".. http://bit.ly/81Edmw

Pat,

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/12/arbitratorinchief.html#comment-272835

Thanks for taking the time. I should have done it. It did not have any dates that the interview was taken ( the year) but I read a little bit more of the questions that were made to him....I don't agree with all of it....but found his answers to be in the best interest of our country...and he went against the grain, against what the R's believes are mostly about.!!

If we just took a look at someone like him; regardless of party...this complete loyalty to one, or the other; is responsible for a lot of the harm that has been done to us...we did it ourselves.!!

Treating at a lower cost ?

Paul's treatments would have to be just about free and delivered to the door to match the value of Medicare, so paul's dog don't hunt, no way.

He won't get my either my vote, or the chance to fondle my prostate, poor old loser.

"dooty, mccrystal is not macarthur" - Patd

Lucky for Afghanistan, eh ?

Helen Thomas: great article..and tell it like it is...she has more guts then Obama any day.!!

Pat, I would vote for this guy also; regardless of party:
From another pbs interview:

Congressman, Ohio
DENNIS KUCINICH

DEMOCRAT

Dennis Kucinich entered politics early. He was elected to the Cleveland City Council in 1969, at age 23. In 1977, he became mayor—the youngest person ever elected to lead a major American city.

He made news when he refused to sell the city's 70-year-old municipally-owned electric system as a precondition of obtaining credit from the banks. In an incident unprecedented in modern American politics, the Cleveland banks forced the city into default. Kucinich lost his re-election bid in 1979.

He moved to Los Angeles and, during the next three years, earned money as a radio talk show host, lecturer and consultant.

In 1994, he began a political comeback, winning election to the Ohio Senate. In 1998, the Cleveland City Council honored him for, "having the courage and foresight to refuse to sell the city's municipal electric system."

Kucinich has been a longtime critic of nuclear power and is a staunch environmentalist.

Well, if a gutsy non-conformist is what you want, paul certainly demonstrates plenty of that. As does Kucinich. As, in their strange ways do Sanders, burris, palin, and bachmann.

Gutsy bi-partisan Presidential Tickets :

Kucinich/bachmann vs palin/Sanders

I'll go with the solid downta earth Midwesterners, not those hoity toity Velveeta and Boones Farm Coasters.

I stopped getting kidney stones when I cut out all milk, cheese, yogurt, keffir, Kimiss, and I scream.

I feel so much better. It's like when you stop dropping that anvil on your toe, only it's in your back.

Silly I only considered the pain. When I finally thought about a rock garden, it was years later. But by that time, I'd sold the mineral rights and moved away.

Thomas has plenty of experience. She prolly stayed awake through more Cabinet meeting time than reagan did.

She's prolly familiar with all the baloney and can smell it from 12,000 miles away, a really handy quality in a president who is funding some general's pet war half way around the planet.

HT for Prez ?

Helen, go girl go!!! Wow! He can't lecture her with a "false reading of history" What a courageous article. I have a new heroine.

don't forget........joshua fit the battle of jericho.........

oh, why not..........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPZuWzZvoYQ

Nascar, Lawsuits, and the Family Farmer........

http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2009/dec/02/ex-racer-irvan-wife-sue-to-limit-get-this-cars/

local columnista takes a crack at the big story:

http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2009/dec/02/a-bit-of-irony-in-former-nascar-drivers-lawsuit/

How's it going people...snow in TX today...can I get a WTF...

Craig, how soon until your first "Are Americans Bored with Obama Column"?

Lord knows I am and I voted for him. Once he missed the clarion call that the only way to achieve bipartisanship was to impose it upon Republicans I just had a feeling that he would be Bush's equal in the "Pissing Away Golden Opportunity" department...

BTW, did you and Helen send out the Autograph plates sticker thingies yet???

http://bit.ly/53gyRm

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/12/arbitratorinchief.html#comment-272744

Bear...

I ask Craig about that earlier today. See above link, he hasn't sent them yet.

Cool thanks ANON...

BTW, did anyone just watch Aretha Franklin "perform" on the NBC tree lighting event? She forgot when to lip sync more than once and the fur she wore made her look like an Ewok on roids...egads...

ROME (Reuters) - A Roman Catholic Cardinal told homosexuals and transsexuals on Wednesday they would never get into heaven, prompting a rebuke from the Vatican itself.
"Transsexuals and homosexuals will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven, it's not me who says it but St. Paul," said Mexican Cardinal Javier Barragan, a former Vatican official who recently retired, referring to one of St. Paul's epistles.
Asked if people were born homosexual Barragan, whose comments were posted on a conservative Catholic website called www.pontifex.roma, was quoted as saying:
"One is not born homosexual but they become that way. This is for various reasons: education, for not having developed their identity during their adolescence, maybe they are not guilty but by going against the dignity of the body they certainly will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven."
"Everything that goes against nature and against the dignity of the body offends God," he added."

Of course, the crazy cardinal has nothing agaist haircuts, shaving, or tatoos of crosses or the Madonna, all of which pretty much go against nature and the dignity of the body, right ? How do fools like this become cardinals, while big-hearted and brainy guys like Harry Flynn and Kevin McDonough get stuck at archbishop, and parish priest respectively ?

Tennessee is stopping enrollment of poor children in the state health program. I almost didn't clink to read the letters because I figured mornoic wingers would be flapping (as usual)....but did. Here's one of the letters. And this was about par for the course:

"It's obvious the female writers of this article are swimming in an ocean of liberalism and feel-good notions that it's government's job to 'save' the children yet once again! These writers cry and moan and wail and spew their guilt trip onto actual people who work and provide their own health care and living. Not only should we responsible citizens be changing the communist members of our government, but we should also be getting rid of pseudo-journalists who aspire to be members of the Communist Party like these two dummies!"

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/12/arbitratorinchief.html#comment-272857

X,
Wow a double dose of homophobia today.Stupid man and then there's NYS deciding against gay marriage..It will take years until all these homophobes die off.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/12/arbitratorinchief.html#comment-272858

Oh Patsi,
Stupid and terrible.I heard today on XM America Left (Bill Press Show) that the Salvation Army is not going to give children toys unless citizenship can be proved!! Very charitable of them,i won't give them a dime..

How can one tell if Iran is deploying small silent subs beyond the Gulf ? If they aren't silent, they emit a signature sound and one can tell where they are. But if they are truly silent, one can't, and therefore, one wouldn't know that they are cruising abroad. My guess is that the Iranians are the only ones who can't hear them.

An alternative way of knowing is to see them dock at one of their few ports outside the Gulf, and then notice when the subs leave. A navigator can run a ring around a map that describes the maximum range. We know the ranges, because we have all the specs and reports from the ship builders.

Back around 1970, the Soviets still hadn't learned to refuel from oilers. I rather doubt that the Iranians - land lubbers since China's Ming dynasty - will have learned the trick of it yet. If I am right, we should be able to tell pretty near to exactly how far the Iranians can roam before heading in to refuel.

Further, the Gulf, Arabian Sea, and Indian Ocean bottom are studded with US, Brit, and French
(and perhaps Israeli) sensors. I don't think Iran's puny navy, including subs, is going to sneak off where we aren't tracking them.

Mr. 39,

I can't believe that TSA would keep toys from kids. Can you link or have you Snopesed it ?

I'll be very disappointed in TSA if it's true.

Patsi,

That's another ugly voice from the republican death cult. WWJD must have no positive meaning among Mammon worshipers of Tennessee. Sacrificing kid's lives over pennies. It's positively Satanic.

The 7th Day Adventist have the HQ in Knoxville. I wonder if they took sides in the fight to take medical care away from kids ?

Posted by: sturgeone | December 2, 2009 7:20 AM :
"the good die young?"

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/12/arbitratorinchief.html#comment-272862

Hey X,
If I have some time tommorrow I will go to the XM sight or I think it was Bill Press on his show and try and find a link...I thought at the time i heard it, how could people really be expected to prove such a thing?They were also talking about how happy Lou Dobbs would be..Research is in order..I've already given to the Salvation Army this year though..

This is a re-post of something I posted late last night and I think most of you never saw it. I just hate to waste all the typing - HA!

Hi, Jack, I just keep giving you straight lines. don't I? But I think I know what you mean, and XR, also. See, this is what happens when I don't try hard enough to explain what I mean.

I don't want the rest of the world to look like us, which a lot of people accuse the US of doing. What I want is for nations and their governments to be stable enough that internal problems can be worked out internally and not spill into other nations causing wars. I think our immigration problems could be handled easily if most people did well in their own lands, and just wanted to travel. Our immigrants have no chances at home and that's why they want to come here.

I don't think our laws would work in other countries necessarily, so prohibition and our bill of rights don't have to come into it.

I also know, Jack, how frustrating our form of government is and how angry one can get with it.

What I meant (and I hope I do a better job this time) is that I do think our essential setup as federalism and local power being accomplished by the citizens themselves could be tailored to any ethnicity and history.

It's pretty simple - 3 sections, one to make laws, one to carry them out, and one to interpret them. 4 sections
are too easy to divide, and 2 is already divided. The most important thing is to delegate one unit of power to each adult citizen, and recognize the legality of each person's right to his/her power.

I don't not know how the make-up of Iraq's "new" government was decided, or what other "hurting" nationshave as their governmental organizations.
I don't know re Afghanistan's. I would never want us to tell anyone they had to be like us because I don't want them to be like us - variety is the spice of life, after all.
Formica doesn't look right in just every kitchen.

We can go crazy dealing with our government, but we can also work to change it. I think our government structure, the basic structure, is the most logical that has ever been constructed. There's not another one I want to live under. If ours fails, it won't be because of it - it will be because of un-restricted capitalism, which is both an economic system and a religion.

A good system has to be built on all people having equal power and equal rights and choosing their own representatives according to the rule of law. Semantics don't have to be a problem.

All wealthy and stable governments have something like this, I think, and the up-and-comers are working on it, it seems to me. The only alternative is a benevolent dictatorship, which is a time bomb.

One last thing - I know I got a little zealous, and I hope I haven't made a fool out of myself. It's not patriotic, it's real awe at the work those people did over 200 years ago, and how supple and pliable it is, capable of being stretched without losing its real shape. How did they manage to go so far, but still not too far? They even gave us a way ti fix it way ahead of time!

To hell with Scalia. I'm thankful was born here, even if he's here, too.

XR's answer to me, then, and I think it's pretty good.

""To hell with scalia. & may he experience it soon. In fact, this week would be quite convenient for the nation. May he take tomorrow off to go hunting with cheney. He's a loud mouthed, low talent, pompous, fussy, smug, and dim bulb of a twerp. grumble grumble.""

Hope you don't mind my copying your words, XR.

tony / XR

Salvation Army issued a clarification that no child would be denied toys because of citizenship or lack of it. They are asking for IDs to prevent fraud not to identify citizenship, and they won't be report ing anyone.

As long as someone can prove where they live so that a family doesn't receive several donations, they are fine.

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/12/arbitratorinchief.html#comment-272862

X,
I did a little looking tonight on the Bill Press sight and Salvation Army sight and I see nothing pertaining to citizenship and toy giving.Maybe it was some joke on the radio show,but it sure wasn't funny!! I will look some more tomorrow.I will certainly post anything I find on the issue...

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/trailmix/2009/12/arbitratorinchief.html#comment-272868

Oh Jamie your swell!! I thought of you as I began looking and knew you could find the answer pronto!! Thank you...

What a relief.

Bethyboo, not only ok, but thanks a bunch.

Thanks Jamie. Mr. 39 and I were pretty worried. He gives to TSA, I just buy plate to put under flower pots at their local thrift store, etc. But they've been marvelous through the years in helping prostituted and crushed women, and I'm glad you set things straight..

Thanks Solar, you are more interesting than you imagine.

I hardly slept a wink last night and Sweetie is kindly offering to help by hitting me in the head with a baseball ba...........................................................

"...buy plate to put under flower pots at their local thrift store."

That sorta makes sense after being hit in the head.

One more try.

ZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzZ

Patsi,

After reading your last post, I'm forced yet again to ask why is it that the pro life movement cares more about the unborn fetus instead of living and breathing kids?

If they are so adamant about when life starts, why haven't they tried to change the tax code to codify a fetus as a dependent and thus a tax deductible entity?

Jack, Why can't you have that stone blasted?

I agree that we probably have the best fighting force in the world, but then why have the leaders like Powell and Schwarzkopf (sp?) all gone on record as saying the soldiers wouldn't tolerate having gays as colleagues? For my money, if they're ordered to get along with gays, they'd damn well better. Other armies do - the logic needs to be addressed.

The way the media is digging after Tiger Woods and his family is really - I mean, really - reminding me of the Jonbenet Ramsey story.

I'm taking Obama to suggest that if things are really working in Afghanistan, plans could be adjusted.

Flatus, How does what he said match up against your idea?

Avast, me hearties, and enjoy your timbers shivering.
It seems the late Michael Chricton left a rollicking pirate story called Pirate Latitudes, taking place in the Caribbean in 1665. Think I'll have to check it out.

Good to see that y'all are still here even thought I can't be so much lately.

OK, time to rant.

[rant] KO didn't need to be such a jerk about pushing the button to light the tree in Rock Plaza.

Tiger should, as I've said BEFORE, just come out with the truth. It fells good. He likes doing it and will continue. It's not at all about his wife, it's ALL about HIM. Don't come out with the bull that it was a 'mistake'. It was no mistake. It was purposeful. The mistake was his leaving the message on one of his GF's phones. She was PO'ed that he lied to her that it was only her and his wife. He neglected to mention the other GF's.

It was no mistake.

I think that concludes my rant for now.[/rant]

tt

Oh and one more [rant] There's absolutely nothing that Obama can say or do about anything including wars.

The conservatives are bitching that he sent troops in.

They're SO negative. NOTHING pleases them.

Bah humbug.[/rant]

P.S. Scrooge was a conservative.

tt