http://electioncentral.tpmcafe.com/blog/electioncentral/2007/jan/10/video_of_liberal_mitt_romney_quotes_surfaces
I'm confused. Which Romney do you like?
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
The "unchanging institution of marriage"
A Bushie friend got his shorts in a bundle over gays in the military. When I asked him why he chose to put America in danger b/c boys kissing made him feel icky, he got onto gay Marriage (a tactic he's no doubt learned from watching America's most dangerous idiot, Sean Hannity, on a loop). That thread had started when the article about retired General Shalikashvili wrote in the NY Times that he felt gays should serve openly in the military.
_______________
In response to his claim that Marriage was an institution that was thousands of years old and was "the basis for our civilization and culture".
My response:
Again, Marriage wasn’t the topic, so I’ll just assume you put your “icky feelings” about gays above the safety of America.
With that established, you need to do some research on marriage. The concept of “civil” marriage is relatively new. Marriage as a religious sacrament is quite older, so if you’re supporting a Libertarian solution that states should completely get out of the civil marriage game, they’ll be glad to have you.
Additionally, since you’ve brought up “thousands of years” you’ve opened up this debate to the globe (since the United States did not exist thousands of years ago). What about other parts of marriage, polygamy, arranged marriage, daughters sold into marriage and assorted other practices that have existed as “marriage” for thousands of years, do you also support those for the mere sake of nostalgia? That seems to be your argument. “Because we did it that way, that’s the way we should continue to do it” That is your position, no? Fortunately, most of the world doesn’t hold on to things b/c that’s how we’ve always done it. If so, we’d still be riding horses and reading by candlelight.
I don’t even need to get into the dissolution of marriage and how that has changed.
As for your belief (wrong as usual) that the “institution of marriage” is this unchanging bedrock here’s just a few points to challenge your mind:
1830 - Right of married woman to own property in her own name (instead of all property being owned exclusively by the husband) in Mississippi.
1848 - Right of married women to own property in her own name in New York.
1854 - The Republican party referred in its platform to polygamy as one of the "twin relics of barbarism" (in addition to slavery). At the time, polygamy was a practice of some Mormons. See plural marriage.
1862 - The United States Congress enacted the Morrill Anti-Bigamy Act, signed by Abraham Lincoln, which made bigamy a felony in the territories punishable by $500 or five years in prison.
1873 - Supreme Court rules that a state has the right to exclude a married woman from practicing law.
1874 - Congress passed the Poland Act, which transferred jurisdiction over Morrill Anti-Bigamy Act cases to federal prosecutors and courts in Utah, which were not controlled by Mormons.
1879 - The Morrill Anti-Bigamy Act was upheld by the United States Supreme Court in the case of Reynolds v. United States
1882 - Congress passed the Edmunds Act, which prohibited not just bigamy, which remained a felony, but also bigamous cohabitation, which was prosecuted as a misdemeanor, and did not require proof an actual marriage ceremony had taken place. The law also allowed polygamists to be held indefinitely without a trial.
1887 - Congress passed the Edmunds-Tucker Act, which allowed prosecutors to force polygamist wives to testify against their husbands, and abolished the right of women in Utah to vote.
1890 - Mormons in Utah officially renounce polygamy through the 1890 Manifesto.
1900 - All states now grant married women the right to own property in their own name.
1904 - Mormons in Utah officially renounce polygamy again, excommunicating anyone who participates in future polygamy.
1907 - All women acquired their husband's nationality upon any marriage occurring after that date.
1920 - Right of women to vote.
1933 - Married women granted right to citizenship independent of their husbands.
1965 - Supreme Court overturns laws prohibiting married couples from using contraception.
1967 - Supreme Court overturns laws prohibiting interracial couples from marrying (Loving v. Virginia).
1971 - Supreme Court upholds an Alabama law that automatically changed a woman's legal surname to that of her husband upon marriage.
1972 - Supreme Court overturns laws prohibiting unmarried couples from purchasing contraception.
1975 - Married women allowed to have credit in their own name.
1976 - Supreme Court overturns laws prohibiting abortions for married women without the consent of the husband.
1996 - President Clinton signs the Defense of Marriage Act into law.
2004 - Massachusetts recognizes same-sex marriage.
_______________
In response to his claim that Marriage was an institution that was thousands of years old and was "the basis for our civilization and culture".
My response:
Again, Marriage wasn’t the topic, so I’ll just assume you put your “icky feelings” about gays above the safety of America.
With that established, you need to do some research on marriage. The concept of “civil” marriage is relatively new. Marriage as a religious sacrament is quite older, so if you’re supporting a Libertarian solution that states should completely get out of the civil marriage game, they’ll be glad to have you.
Additionally, since you’ve brought up “thousands of years” you’ve opened up this debate to the globe (since the United States did not exist thousands of years ago). What about other parts of marriage, polygamy, arranged marriage, daughters sold into marriage and assorted other practices that have existed as “marriage” for thousands of years, do you also support those for the mere sake of nostalgia? That seems to be your argument. “Because we did it that way, that’s the way we should continue to do it” That is your position, no? Fortunately, most of the world doesn’t hold on to things b/c that’s how we’ve always done it. If so, we’d still be riding horses and reading by candlelight.
I don’t even need to get into the dissolution of marriage and how that has changed.
As for your belief (wrong as usual) that the “institution of marriage” is this unchanging bedrock here’s just a few points to challenge your mind:
1830 - Right of married woman to own property in her own name (instead of all property being owned exclusively by the husband) in Mississippi.
1848 - Right of married women to own property in her own name in New York.
1854 - The Republican party referred in its platform to polygamy as one of the "twin relics of barbarism" (in addition to slavery). At the time, polygamy was a practice of some Mormons. See plural marriage.
1862 - The United States Congress enacted the Morrill Anti-Bigamy Act, signed by Abraham Lincoln, which made bigamy a felony in the territories punishable by $500 or five years in prison.
1873 - Supreme Court rules that a state has the right to exclude a married woman from practicing law.
1874 - Congress passed the Poland Act, which transferred jurisdiction over Morrill Anti-Bigamy Act cases to federal prosecutors and courts in Utah, which were not controlled by Mormons.
1879 - The Morrill Anti-Bigamy Act was upheld by the United States Supreme Court in the case of Reynolds v. United States
1882 - Congress passed the Edmunds Act, which prohibited not just bigamy, which remained a felony, but also bigamous cohabitation, which was prosecuted as a misdemeanor, and did not require proof an actual marriage ceremony had taken place. The law also allowed polygamists to be held indefinitely without a trial.
1887 - Congress passed the Edmunds-Tucker Act, which allowed prosecutors to force polygamist wives to testify against their husbands, and abolished the right of women in Utah to vote.
1890 - Mormons in Utah officially renounce polygamy through the 1890 Manifesto.
1900 - All states now grant married women the right to own property in their own name.
1904 - Mormons in Utah officially renounce polygamy again, excommunicating anyone who participates in future polygamy.
1907 - All women acquired their husband's nationality upon any marriage occurring after that date.
1920 - Right of women to vote.
1933 - Married women granted right to citizenship independent of their husbands.
1965 - Supreme Court overturns laws prohibiting married couples from using contraception.
1967 - Supreme Court overturns laws prohibiting interracial couples from marrying (Loving v. Virginia).
1971 - Supreme Court upholds an Alabama law that automatically changed a woman's legal surname to that of her husband upon marriage.
1972 - Supreme Court overturns laws prohibiting unmarried couples from purchasing contraception.
1975 - Married women allowed to have credit in their own name.
1976 - Supreme Court overturns laws prohibiting abortions for married women without the consent of the husband.
1996 - President Clinton signs the Defense of Marriage Act into law.
2004 - Massachusetts recognizes same-sex marriage.
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Why we don't need to jump the gun with Iran (and screw that up worse than it is)
As I've said (although it was said by people a lot smarter than me longbefore) that Iran's moderate's don't want to live in an Islamistbackwater. They've tasted Capitalism and freedom and they like it (Justlike Levi's in Russia). So, it looks like the worst thing we could dowould be to act aggressively toward Iran and unify the entire countrybehind the psycho currently in power.
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/12/19/iran.elections.ap/index.html
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/12/19/iran.elections.ap/index.html
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
excerp[t from email "discussion" with Bushie friend
Initially he claimed "all the data shows" that gay marriage is bad for kids, implying that gay parents are not as suitible parents. I then showed him data that said otherwise and he changed his tune to "noboby knows": So, I hit him with this:
As for your “nobody knows” (although I’m still confused how you went from “all the data shows” to “nobody knows” in 13 minutes…and especially since you went to such to such absolutes from “ALL” data to “NOBODY” knows. Quite a position shift in 13 minutes.
This is from a meta study of dozens of studies about the children of Gay parents vs. Heterosexual parents from the American Psychological Association.
But it seems like the biggest problem the children of Gay parents experience is from bigoted people like you who deny or are ignorant of empirical studies.
So, if you want to see what the worst thing that happens to children of gay parents…look in the mirror.
As for your “nobody knows” (although I’m still confused how you went from “all the data shows” to “nobody knows” in 13 minutes…and especially since you went to such to such absolutes from “ALL” data to “NOBODY” knows. Quite a position shift in 13 minutes.
This is from a meta study of dozens of studies about the children of Gay parents vs. Heterosexual parents from the American Psychological Association.
In summary, there is no evidence to suggest that lesbian women or gay men are.
unfit to be parents or that psychosocial development among children of lesbian
women or gay men is compromised relative to that among offspring of heterosexual
parents. Not a single study has found children of lesbian or gay parents to be
disadvantaged in any significant respect relative to children of heterosexual
parents. Indeed, the evidence to date suggests that home environments provided
by lesbian and gay parents are as likely as those provided by heterosexual
parents to support and enable children's psychosocial growth
But it seems like the biggest problem the children of Gay parents experience is from bigoted people like you who deny or are ignorant of empirical studies.
Unlike heterosexual parents and their children, however, lesbian and gay parents
and their children are often subject to prejudice because of their sexual
orientation that can turn judges, legislators, professionals, and the public
against them, sometimes resulting in negative outcomes, such as loss of physical
custody, restrictions on visitation, and prohibitions against adoption
So, if you want to see what the worst thing that happens to children of gay parents…look in the mirror.
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Incoming Defense Chief says the obvious
Before Bush emasculated the GOP last month, this kind of talk would have resulted in a firing, smear campaign, etc. Now the Bushies have to face reality, this and the rest of reality they have ignored for 6 years. Bush figures he’s got 2 years to get out of Iraq and claim victory. And with only he and Karl Rove knowing what “Victory” is, they can declare it whenever they want.
I would expect a declaration of victory somewhere around June 2008 regardless of what Iraq looks like.
Incoming defense chief says U.S. losing in Iraq
By Robert Burns The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Robert Gates, the White House choice to be the next defense secretary, conceded today that the United States is losing the war in Iraq and warned that if that country is not stabilized in the next year or two it could lead to a "regional conflagration."
At the outset of his Senate confirmation hearing, Gates said he is open to new ideas about correcting the U.S. course in Iraq, which he said would be his highest priority if confirmed as expected.
Gates, 63, said he believes President Bush wants to see Iraq improve to the point where it can govern and defend itself, while seeking a new approach. "What we are now doing is not satisfactory," Gates said.
"In my view, all options are on the table, in terms of how we address this problem in Iraq," he added. Asked point-blank by Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., whether the U.S. is winning in Iraq, Gates replied, "No, sir."
I would expect a declaration of victory somewhere around June 2008 regardless of what Iraq looks like.
Incoming defense chief says U.S. losing in Iraq
By Robert Burns The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Robert Gates, the White House choice to be the next defense secretary, conceded today that the United States is losing the war in Iraq and warned that if that country is not stabilized in the next year or two it could lead to a "regional conflagration."
At the outset of his Senate confirmation hearing, Gates said he is open to new ideas about correcting the U.S. course in Iraq, which he said would be his highest priority if confirmed as expected.
Gates, 63, said he believes President Bush wants to see Iraq improve to the point where it can govern and defend itself, while seeking a new approach. "What we are now doing is not satisfactory," Gates said.
"In my view, all options are on the table, in terms of how we address this problem in Iraq," he added. Asked point-blank by Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., whether the U.S. is winning in Iraq, Gates replied, "No, sir."
Sunday, November 19, 2006
This is how the democrats piss away victory
Rangel is at his bullshit draft proposal again. This is a great way to lose any support from liberals and moderate middle class. His reasons in the past have little justification in reality. His classic is that minorities are over represented in the military. This is true, but the military also provides lots of opportunities. Now, Rangel would take those opportunites from minorities who want to serve so that people who don't want to serve can have those jobs...well-played.
He also makes a leap in logic that b/c minorities are "over represented" they must be getting killed and injuried more. Statistics show this isn't the case. The last studies I saw showed that casuality rates are near general population ratios.
This is not what America voted for. Americans voted against Bush and his Iraq disaster and now this Democrat is going to try to make AMericans forceably serve in that same army? Could there be bigger proof that the Democrats are idiots and incompetent. If not for Bush's disastorous presidency, I would think the Democrats couldn't get their heads out of there asses long enough to run a town council, let alone the country.
He also makes a leap in logic that b/c minorities are "over represented" they must be getting killed and injuried more. Statistics show this isn't the case. The last studies I saw showed that casuality rates are near general population ratios.
This is not what America voted for. Americans voted against Bush and his Iraq disaster and now this Democrat is going to try to make AMericans forceably serve in that same army? Could there be bigger proof that the Democrats are idiots and incompetent. If not for Bush's disastorous presidency, I would think the Democrats couldn't get their heads out of there asses long enough to run a town council, let alone the country.
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Bush rejects idea of talks with N. Korea
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061012/ap_on_re_as/koreas_nuclear_213
Bush rejects idea of talks with N. Korea
This has worked so well so far. Isn't the sign of insanity, doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. What a clown...worst president ever.
Bush rejects idea of talks with N. Korea
This has worked so well so far. Isn't the sign of insanity, doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. What a clown...worst president ever.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
The Buck stops...well...not here, but it stops with the people who work for me...I shouldn't be held accountable for the people I hired.
Pathetic.
What a coward.
Fire the underlings. First, I believe Hastert knew andhas known for a long time. To blame the cover-up on HIS EMPLOYEES showsextreme cowardice and lack of any sort of leadership ability. This iswhat passes for leadership and accountability in today's GOP.Shameful.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/11/washington/11foley.html?ex=1318219200&en=5a96d8704b1f0582&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
What a coward.
Fire the underlings. First, I believe Hastert knew andhas known for a long time. To blame the cover-up on HIS EMPLOYEES showsextreme cowardice and lack of any sort of leadership ability. This iswhat passes for leadership and accountability in today's GOP.Shameful.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/11/washington/11foley.html?ex=1318219200&en=5a96d8704b1f0582&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Thursday, October 05, 2006
He's President, NOT King
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15145197/from/RS.1/
if you don't believe me go read the Constitution. The President has ZERO Constitutional authority to make laws. ZERO. The President ENFORCES the laws, he doesn't make them. As our Founding Fathers continue to spin in their graves over Bush's continued attempts to become King, "Conservatives" like the Bushies used to be, should be appalled at this incredible misuse of Constitutional Authority. But now that the Bushies have continually embraced the Stalinist vision of the Executive branch, I'm sure they'll have a staunch defense of King George's embarrassingly illegal behavior.
if you don't believe me go read the Constitution. The President has ZERO Constitutional authority to make laws. ZERO. The President ENFORCES the laws, he doesn't make them. As our Founding Fathers continue to spin in their graves over Bush's continued attempts to become King, "Conservatives" like the Bushies used to be, should be appalled at this incredible misuse of Constitutional Authority. But now that the Bushies have continually embraced the Stalinist vision of the Executive branch, I'm sure they'll have a staunch defense of King George's embarrassingly illegal behavior.
Saturday, September 30, 2006
Hypocrisy and Conspiracy
More of that GOP hypocrisy we've come to expect in the past 5-6 years.
On and On about family values and yet SO MANY examples of completely
inappropriate behavior. Especially when they try to sell themselves as
the arbiter of morality in this country. In this case, possibly
pedophile behavior and apparently a nice little cover-up by the
Republicans. Now, they are all "astounded" and "horrified", but only
because they couldn't keep it secret anymore...read: got caught.
Disgusting and hypocritical, but yet...becoming so typical.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15063977/
On and On about family values and yet SO MANY examples of completely
inappropriate behavior. Especially when they try to sell themselves as
the arbiter of morality in this country. In this case, possibly
pedophile behavior and apparently a nice little cover-up by the
Republicans. Now, they are all "astounded" and "horrified", but only
because they couldn't keep it secret anymore...read: got caught.
Disgusting and hypocritical, but yet...becoming so typical.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15063977/
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Oops...more data to disprove the lies
A few weeks ago my Bushie Friend told us with Hannity-like certainty
(read: having no data and just having a desire for it to be true amounts
to "Reality") that Iraqis loved having America soldiers in Iraq. Too
bad the data says otherwise:
Iraqis Want U.S. to Go Home
"
This came from those "liberals" at Cato.
(read: having no data and just having a desire for it to be true amounts
to "Reality") that Iraqis loved having America soldiers in Iraq. Too
bad the data says otherwise:
Iraqis Want U.S. to Go Home
"
About six in 10 Iraqis say they approve of attacks on U.S.-led forces,
and slightly more than that want their government to ask U.S. troops to
leave within a year, a [University of Maryland] poll finds," the
Associated Press reports. "The State Department, meanwhile, has
conducted its own poll... [which] found two-thirds of Iraqis in Baghdad
favor an immediate withdrawal of U.S. forces."
This came from those "liberals" at Cato.
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Bush reverses another Clinton trend
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/09/18/national/main2019494.shtml
So much for the "law and order" party.
* An estimated 16,692 persons were murdered nationwide in 2005, an
increase of 3.4 percent from the 2004 figure.
http://www.fbi.gov/page2/september06/crimeintheus091806.htm
So much for the "law and order" party.
* An estimated 16,692 persons were murdered nationwide in 2005, an
increase of 3.4 percent from the 2004 figure.
http://www.fbi.gov/page2/september06/crimeintheus091806.htm
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Bush reverses another Clinton trend
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/09/18/national/main2019494.shtml
So much for the "law and order" party.
* An estimated 16,692 persons were murdered nationwide in 2005, an
increase of 3.4 percent from the 2004 figure.
http://www.fbi.gov/page2/september06/crimeintheus091806.htm
So much for the "law and order" party.
* An estimated 16,692 persons were murdered nationwide in 2005, an
increase of 3.4 percent from the 2004 figure.
http://www.fbi.gov/page2/september06/crimeintheus091806.htm
Oops...Sorry. Oh yeah and we lied too.
Sorry we tortured you, even though we don't torture people in foreign
prisons. Sorry you are innocent, even though Bush has a messiah like
omnipotence.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14897315/
prisons. Sorry you are innocent, even though Bush has a messiah like
omnipotence.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14897315/
Monday, September 18, 2006
an excuse for the zealots
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/europe/09/18/pope.islam.ap/index.html\
So, when I first heard about the pope's speech I wondered what all theexcitement was about. He was, after all, quoting a 700 year oldpassage, not as if he was speaking it as if it were his own thoughts.So, I figured I'd try to find the speech and look at the context. Well,I can assure you that the idiots burning effigies and getting all crazywould have NO IDEA what the Pope was saying.
I think I'm a prettybright guy, Chuck's opinion notwithstanding, but the Pope's speech is about "Faith and Reason", I had a tough time understanding it. This part of philosophy has never been my thing, but this is a theological/philosophical discussion, hardly something that you could take out of context and blast him for it. Regardless of what I think of The Church, this Pope or what he believes, this speech of itself is just another way for the despots to get their followers riled up. And the Media in the West and the East has done a poor job covering this (by not really covering it).
So, when I first heard about the pope's speech I wondered what all theexcitement was about. He was, after all, quoting a 700 year oldpassage, not as if he was speaking it as if it were his own thoughts.So, I figured I'd try to find the speech and look at the context. Well,I can assure you that the idiots burning effigies and getting all crazywould have NO IDEA what the Pope was saying.
I think I'm a prettybright guy, Chuck's opinion notwithstanding, but the Pope's speech is about "Faith and Reason", I had a tough time understanding it. This part of philosophy has never been my thing, but this is a theological/philosophical discussion, hardly something that you could take out of context and blast him for it. Regardless of what I think of The Church, this Pope or what he believes, this speech of itself is just another way for the despots to get their followers riled up. And the Media in the West and the East has done a poor job covering this (by not really covering it).
Saturday, September 16, 2006
Bush insults anyone who disagrees with him...so much for "unity"
Combative Bush warns Congress detainee bill is critical
So yesterday Tony Snow called Powell “confused”, and now Bush is calling the former Joint Chief Chairman a man who supposedly believes that “it’s ok to kill innocent women and children”. (I think because Powell’s whole point was to protect American soldiers, but in classic Bush style, he insults his opponents with things they’ve never said or believed)
I like how Congress is stupid too. “Act wisely” because Bush says so. Has he been right about anything he’s said in 6 years?
Insulting everyone, questioning their morality, intellect and love of country is growing very tiresome. Didn’t this bozo call for Unity on Monday? (Sure that was days after he called everyone who disagrees with him morally and intellectually lacking and Nazi-like). I guess that call for Unity did not extend to him. His idea of “unity” is to agree with him no matter what, regardless of the Constitution, treaties, morality…just follow blindly. “Don’t question our Great Leader”
My favorite part is what was supposed to be a genius move by Rove to make the democrats look soft on terror by not supporting the tribunals has turned into GOP infighting. Rove is losing his touch, he didn’t realize how much Bush is damaged goods now.
By Terrence Hunt The Associated PressWASHINGTON –
Facing a GOP revolt in the Senate, President Bush urged Congress today to join in backing legislation to spell out strategies for interrogating and trying terror suspects, saying "the enemy wants to attack us again."
"Time is running out," Bush said in a Rose Garden news conference. "Congress needs to act wisely and promptly." Bush denied that the United States might lose the high ground in the eyes of world opinion, as former Secretary of State Colin Powell suggested.
"It's unacceptable to think there's any kind of comparison between the behavior of the United States of America and the action of Islamic extremists who kill innocent women and children to achieve an objective," said Bush, growing animated as he spoke.
So yesterday Tony Snow called Powell “confused”, and now Bush is calling the former Joint Chief Chairman a man who supposedly believes that “it’s ok to kill innocent women and children”. (I think because Powell’s whole point was to protect American soldiers, but in classic Bush style, he insults his opponents with things they’ve never said or believed)
I like how Congress is stupid too. “Act wisely” because Bush says so. Has he been right about anything he’s said in 6 years?
Insulting everyone, questioning their morality, intellect and love of country is growing very tiresome. Didn’t this bozo call for Unity on Monday? (Sure that was days after he called everyone who disagrees with him morally and intellectually lacking and Nazi-like). I guess that call for Unity did not extend to him. His idea of “unity” is to agree with him no matter what, regardless of the Constitution, treaties, morality…just follow blindly. “Don’t question our Great Leader”
My favorite part is what was supposed to be a genius move by Rove to make the democrats look soft on terror by not supporting the tribunals has turned into GOP infighting. Rove is losing his touch, he didn’t realize how much Bush is damaged goods now.
Those with the knowledge of war oppose Bush on prisoner treatment
Why do men who spent much of their lives defending America, with guns… in combat…as opposed to fake deferments in Wyoming or coked up in Alabama, hate America?
Colin Powell: Powell was commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Army, and was one of the 16,000 military advisors dispatched to South Vietnam by President Kennedy in 1962. In 1963, Lieutenant Powell was wounded by a punji-stick booby trap while patrolling the Vietnamese border with Laos. He was awarded the Purple Heart, and later that year, the Bronze Star.
Powell served a second tour of duty in Vietnam in 1968-69. During this second tour he was injured in a helicopter crash. Despite his own injuries, he managed to rescue his comrades from the burning helicopter and was awarded the Soldier's Medal. In all, he has received 11 decorations, including the Legion of Merit.
John McCain: After graduating from Annapolis, McCain reported to Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida to begin training as a Naval Aviator. While in training, he suffered a mishap during which his aircraft crashed into Corpus Christi Bay, though he escaped. Eventually he graduated and entered the U.S. Navy's light attack community.
McCain escaped death once again on July 29, 1967. While the USS Forrestal steamed off the coast of Vietnam preparing to launch attacks, a Zuni rocket from an F-4 Phantom was accidentally fired across the carrier's deck. The rocket struck McCain's A-4E Skyhawk as the jet was preparing for launch. The impact ruptured the Skyhawk's fuel tank - after which leaking fuel ignited, knocking two bombs loose. McCain escaped from his jet by climbing out of the cockpit, walking down to the nose of the plane, and jumping off the nose boom onto the burning deck. Ninety seconds after the impact, the bomb exploded underneath the airplane. McCain was struck in the legs and chest by shrapnel. The ensuing fire killed 134 sailors, destroyed at least 20 aircraft, and threatened to sink the ship.[1] Film shot aboard the Forrestal shows McCain narrowly escaping the explosion.
On October 26, 1967, McCain was shot down in his A-4 Skyhawk over Vietnam, by a Soviet-made anti-aircraft missile, landing in Truc Bach Lake. McCain was held as a prisoner of war in Hanoi for five-and-a-half years, mostly in the infamous Hanoi Hilton. He suffered two broken arms and a broken leg after ejecting from his plane. After he regained consciousness, a mob gathered around him and stripped him of his clothing. He was then tortured by Vietnamese soldiers who bayonetted him in his left foot and groin. His shoulder was crushed by another soldier's rifle butt. He was then transported to the Hanoi Hilton, also known as Hoa Lo Prison.
He was released from captivity in 1973. McCain was reinstated to flight status and became Commanding Officer of VA-174 Hellrazors, the East Coast A-7 Corsair II Navy training squadron. He then became the Navy's liaison to the Senate. He retired from the Navy in 1981 as a Captain. On the same day he watched his father buried next to his grandfather in Arlington National Cemetery. During his military career he received a Silver Star, a Bronze Star, the Legion of Merit, the Purple Heart, and a Distinguished Flying Cross.
John Warner: The Senator’s first public service opportunity began during World War II when, in January 1945, at age 17, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He served on active duty until the summer of 1946 when he was honorably discharged as Petty Officer 3rd Class, electronic technician's mate. Following the war, he attended Washington and Lee University on the G.I. Bill, and was awarded a B.S. degree in 1949. He then entered the University of Virginia Law School.
At the outbreak of the Korean War in the summer of 1950, Warner interrupted his law studies and commenced a second tour of active military duty, beginning in October 1950, this time as an officer in the United States Marine Corps. A year later, in October 1951, as a first lieutenant in communications, he volunteered for duty in Korea and served as a ground officer with the First Marine Air Wing. Following his active service in Korea, he remained in the Marine Corps Reserve for 10 years and was promoted to the rank of Captain.
Lindsey Graham: From 1984-1988, he was assigned overseas and served at Rhein Mein Air Force Base in Germany. Upon leaving the active duty Air Force in 1989, Graham joined the South Carolina Air National Guard where he served until his election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1994.
During the first Gulf War, Graham was called to active duty and served state-side at McEntire Air National Guard Base as Staff Judge Advocate where he prepared members for deployment to the Gulf region. His duties included briefing pilots on the law of armed conflict, preparing legal documents for deploying troops, and providing legal services for family members of the South Carolina Air National Guard. He received a commendation medal for his service at McEntire.
Since 1995, Graham has continued to serve his country in the U.S. Air Force Reserves and is the only U.S. Senator currently serving in the Guard or Reserves. He is a colonel and is assigned as a Reserve Judge to the Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals.
As opposed to:
George W. Bush: 6 years National Guard “duty”; never showed up for National Guard duty for a period of approximately one year, possibly more, in 1972-1973.
Dick Cheney From 1963 to 1966, Cheney received five deferments: four student deferments while attending the University of Wyoming and one for having a child. "I had other priorities in the '60s other than military service," Cheney told a reporter in 1989.
Paul Wolfowitz, did not serve
Donald Rumsfeld - Mr. Rumsfeld attended Princeton University on academic and NROTC scholarships (A.B., 1954) and served in the U.S. Navy (1954-57) as an aviator and flight instructor. In 1957, he transferred to the Ready Reserve and continued his Naval service in flying and administrative assignments as a drilling reservist until 1975. He transferred to the Standby Reserve when he became Secretary of Defense in 1975 and to the Retired Reserve with the rank of Captain in 1989.
Colin Powell: Powell was commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Army, and was one of the 16,000 military advisors dispatched to South Vietnam by President Kennedy in 1962. In 1963, Lieutenant Powell was wounded by a punji-stick booby trap while patrolling the Vietnamese border with Laos. He was awarded the Purple Heart, and later that year, the Bronze Star.
Powell served a second tour of duty in Vietnam in 1968-69. During this second tour he was injured in a helicopter crash. Despite his own injuries, he managed to rescue his comrades from the burning helicopter and was awarded the Soldier's Medal. In all, he has received 11 decorations, including the Legion of Merit.
John McCain: After graduating from Annapolis, McCain reported to Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida to begin training as a Naval Aviator. While in training, he suffered a mishap during which his aircraft crashed into Corpus Christi Bay, though he escaped. Eventually he graduated and entered the U.S. Navy's light attack community.
McCain escaped death once again on July 29, 1967. While the USS Forrestal steamed off the coast of Vietnam preparing to launch attacks, a Zuni rocket from an F-4 Phantom was accidentally fired across the carrier's deck. The rocket struck McCain's A-4E Skyhawk as the jet was preparing for launch. The impact ruptured the Skyhawk's fuel tank - after which leaking fuel ignited, knocking two bombs loose. McCain escaped from his jet by climbing out of the cockpit, walking down to the nose of the plane, and jumping off the nose boom onto the burning deck. Ninety seconds after the impact, the bomb exploded underneath the airplane. McCain was struck in the legs and chest by shrapnel. The ensuing fire killed 134 sailors, destroyed at least 20 aircraft, and threatened to sink the ship.[1] Film shot aboard the Forrestal shows McCain narrowly escaping the explosion.
On October 26, 1967, McCain was shot down in his A-4 Skyhawk over Vietnam, by a Soviet-made anti-aircraft missile, landing in Truc Bach Lake. McCain was held as a prisoner of war in Hanoi for five-and-a-half years, mostly in the infamous Hanoi Hilton. He suffered two broken arms and a broken leg after ejecting from his plane. After he regained consciousness, a mob gathered around him and stripped him of his clothing. He was then tortured by Vietnamese soldiers who bayonetted him in his left foot and groin. His shoulder was crushed by another soldier's rifle butt. He was then transported to the Hanoi Hilton, also known as Hoa Lo Prison.
He was released from captivity in 1973. McCain was reinstated to flight status and became Commanding Officer of VA-174 Hellrazors, the East Coast A-7 Corsair II Navy training squadron. He then became the Navy's liaison to the Senate. He retired from the Navy in 1981 as a Captain. On the same day he watched his father buried next to his grandfather in Arlington National Cemetery. During his military career he received a Silver Star, a Bronze Star, the Legion of Merit, the Purple Heart, and a Distinguished Flying Cross.
John Warner: The Senator’s first public service opportunity began during World War II when, in January 1945, at age 17, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He served on active duty until the summer of 1946 when he was honorably discharged as Petty Officer 3rd Class, electronic technician's mate. Following the war, he attended Washington and Lee University on the G.I. Bill, and was awarded a B.S. degree in 1949. He then entered the University of Virginia Law School.
At the outbreak of the Korean War in the summer of 1950, Warner interrupted his law studies and commenced a second tour of active military duty, beginning in October 1950, this time as an officer in the United States Marine Corps. A year later, in October 1951, as a first lieutenant in communications, he volunteered for duty in Korea and served as a ground officer with the First Marine Air Wing. Following his active service in Korea, he remained in the Marine Corps Reserve for 10 years and was promoted to the rank of Captain.
Lindsey Graham: From 1984-1988, he was assigned overseas and served at Rhein Mein Air Force Base in Germany. Upon leaving the active duty Air Force in 1989, Graham joined the South Carolina Air National Guard where he served until his election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1994.
During the first Gulf War, Graham was called to active duty and served state-side at McEntire Air National Guard Base as Staff Judge Advocate where he prepared members for deployment to the Gulf region. His duties included briefing pilots on the law of armed conflict, preparing legal documents for deploying troops, and providing legal services for family members of the South Carolina Air National Guard. He received a commendation medal for his service at McEntire.
Since 1995, Graham has continued to serve his country in the U.S. Air Force Reserves and is the only U.S. Senator currently serving in the Guard or Reserves. He is a colonel and is assigned as a Reserve Judge to the Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals.
As opposed to:
George W. Bush: 6 years National Guard “duty”; never showed up for National Guard duty for a period of approximately one year, possibly more, in 1972-1973.
Dick Cheney From 1963 to 1966, Cheney received five deferments: four student deferments while attending the University of Wyoming and one for having a child. "I had other priorities in the '60s other than military service," Cheney told a reporter in 1989.
Paul Wolfowitz, did not serve
Donald Rumsfeld - Mr. Rumsfeld attended Princeton University on academic and NROTC scholarships (A.B., 1954) and served in the U.S. Navy (1954-57) as an aviator and flight instructor. In 1957, he transferred to the Ready Reserve and continued his Naval service in flying and administrative assignments as a drilling reservist until 1975. He transferred to the Standby Reserve when he became Secretary of Defense in 1975 and to the Retired Reserve with the rank of Captain in 1989.
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Random comments about Bush's failure
I made the following in an email string with a Bushie:
Oh yeah, and there is the way that Bush squandered a world that mourned with America on 9/11. A world that supported and cried with us 5 years ago. He has turned that goodwill around 180 degrees. I know you don’t care about anyone that lives outside of you house, but I work with people around the world daily. I’ve talked to people in Malaysia, India, Ireland, England, Israel, Germany and others about politics in recent years and I know this goes against your poorly informed opinions. But these people do not hate America. They LOVE America, they LOVE Americans. They do NOT like the current administration. They are smart enough to know the difference between the Bush Administration and its citizens. They know the difference between Bush policy and American Ideals and American culture. Why is it that these people who you have such contempt for are smart enough to know the difference, but you are not? America is not Bush and Bush is CERTAINLY not America.
Oh yeah, and there is the way that Bush squandered a world that mourned with America on 9/11. A world that supported and cried with us 5 years ago. He has turned that goodwill around 180 degrees. I know you don’t care about anyone that lives outside of you house, but I work with people around the world daily. I’ve talked to people in Malaysia, India, Ireland, England, Israel, Germany and others about politics in recent years and I know this goes against your poorly informed opinions. But these people do not hate America. They LOVE America, they LOVE Americans. They do NOT like the current administration. They are smart enough to know the difference between the Bush Administration and its citizens. They know the difference between Bush policy and American Ideals and American culture. Why is it that these people who you have such contempt for are smart enough to know the difference, but you are not? America is not Bush and Bush is CERTAINLY not America.
Friday, August 04, 2006
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Remember "a Christmas Story"?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14021722/
You'll recall in A Christmas Story when Ralphie finally can't take getting picked on by the bully any more he finally hits him back, but he just keeps hitting and hitting and hitting him until his mother comes and takes him off the bully. This is what is happening here. Israeli is Ralphie and Bush will be the mom, who will tell Israel when to stop.
You'll recall in A Christmas Story when Ralphie finally can't take getting picked on by the bully any more he finally hits him back, but he just keeps hitting and hitting and hitting him until his mother comes and takes him off the bully. This is what is happening here. Israeli is Ralphie and Bush will be the mom, who will tell Israel when to stop.
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