The usual liberal propaganda organs, like the New York Times, have already begun the politicization of the Virginia Tech tragedy with demands for more restrictive gun control laws as the key to preventing future Blacksburg like mass killings. Like most liberal social and law enforcement policy, this demand ignores statistical reality.
Suffice it to say, it’s harder to legally purchase firearms than at any time in American history. Mass shootings are a relatively new phenomenon so even a cursory review of real life undermines the premise of the argument.
A closer examination is even more critical. Every statistical analysis shows that right to carry states experience significant reductions in violent crime relatively quickly, usually within five years, after liberalizing right to carry laws. Some data suggests this beneficial result even applies to mass killings. The liberal gun control scree simply ignores irrefutable statistical reality based on surveys of every American county.
Do we need to do a better job of getting the names of persons found likely to be a danger to themselves or others into a federal database, so they cannot purchase firearms? Not just yes but hell yes! So ask yourself this, if we cannot enforce and administer existing gun laws why would further un-enforced and un-administered laws create a safer society? The liberal gun control scree ignores this rather practical question as well.
So, get ready because the liberal search for a victim as a spokesman for whatever liberal nonsense is being foisted on the public is going to find fertile recruiting soil in the hills of southwestern Virginia.
Suffice it to say, it’s harder to legally purchase firearms than at any time in American history. Mass shootings are a relatively new phenomenon so even a cursory review of real life undermines the premise of the argument.
A closer examination is even more critical. Every statistical analysis shows that right to carry states experience significant reductions in violent crime relatively quickly, usually within five years, after liberalizing right to carry laws. Some data suggests this beneficial result even applies to mass killings. The liberal gun control scree simply ignores irrefutable statistical reality based on surveys of every American county.
Do we need to do a better job of getting the names of persons found likely to be a danger to themselves or others into a federal database, so they cannot purchase firearms? Not just yes but hell yes! So ask yourself this, if we cannot enforce and administer existing gun laws why would further un-enforced and un-administered laws create a safer society? The liberal gun control scree ignores this rather practical question as well.
So, get ready because the liberal search for a victim as a spokesman for whatever liberal nonsense is being foisted on the public is going to find fertile recruiting soil in the hills of southwestern Virginia.
67 comments:
So you think its not appropriate to have a political discussion about the murder of 32 people?
So you favor the Big Govmint solution of creating another data base to keep tabs on us?
So you think liberalized concealed weapons policies would prevent this sort of murder spree? I guess not: Virginia already has a liberalized policy.
So did you ever look up the word "scree"?
This is at least a two-part problem.
1) This kid had some serious mental health issues. That's the understatement of the year. He did not get the mental health treatment he needed. Somehow, the system broke down there, and needs to be re-examined. Does Iowa have the same problems? I understand Iowa has a serious workforce shortage of mental health professionals. What can or should be done?
2) This kid was deemed mentally unstable and should not have been provided a hand gun. No matter who you are, I think we can all agree that mentally unstable people should not have guns. Instead of playing the blame game, we should be making sure that Iowa doesn't have a similar loophole in our gun laws. Can anyone say for certain?
These seem to be things that could/should have been done BEFORE the act was carried out. The rest of your discussion focuses on what happens DURING the act, which I feel misses the point. It's too late, at that point. We should be treating the disease, not the symptoms.
Stop it before it starts. Everyone should put their energies toward that goal.
http://www.blogforiowa.com/blog/_archives/2007/4/19/2891595.html
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At some point, an older gentleman interrupted the Senate Majority Leader, (Democrat Gronstal) saying, "You're nothing but a Republican in Democrat clothing."
Like a petty tyrant who has finally been called on his bad behavior the Senate Majority Leader lost it. Gronstal squared off with the older gentleman and said, "That's the lowest blow that anyone's ever dealt me. You can kiss my ass!"
Visibly shaken, Gronstal stormed off. He walked a short distance away from the group and then lifted his head up to the top of the Capitol and SHOUTED "F*ck You!" A large group of elementary school children were touring the Rotunda while this was happening.
Being called a republican is the worst thing you can say to Senate Democrat Majority Leader, Mike Gronstal.
Wow - THAT's all it takes to make him throw a temper tantrum.
Nice.
and easy.
Professor Fired Over Va. Tech Discussion
Apr 23 08:28 AM US/Eastern
BOSTON (AP) - An adjunct professor was fired after leading a classroom discussion about the Virginia Tech shootings in which he pointed a marker at some students and said "pow."
The five-minute demonstration at Emmanuel College on Wednesday, two days after a student killed 32 people on the Virginia Tech campus, included a discussion of gun control, whether to respond to violence with violence, and the public's "celebration of victimhood," said the professor, Nicholas Winset.
During the demonstration, Winset pretended to shoot some students. Then one student pretended to shoot Winset to illustrate his point that the gunman might have been stopped had another student or faculty member been armed.
"A classroom is supposed to be a place for academic exploration," Winset, who taught financial accounting, told the Boston Herald.
He said administrators had asked the faculty to engage students on the issue. But on Friday, he got a letter saying he was fired and ordering him to stay off campus.
Winset, 37, argued that the Catholic liberal arts school was stifling free discussion by firing him, and he said the move would have a "chilling effect" on open debate. He posted an 18-minute video on the online site YouTube defending his action.
The college issued a statement saying: "Emmanuel College has clear standards of classroom and campus conduct, and does not in any way condone the use of discriminatory or obscene language."
Student Junny Lee, 19, told The Boston Globe that most students didn't appear to find Winset's demonstration offensive.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
In case anyone missed it, iowafathers.com is going after State Senator Mike Gronstal very soon. We have a location (and a back up location as well) identified in Council Bluffs.
We will knock him out of office regardless of who runs against him. Last time the Republican Party of Iowa ran negative adds against Gronstal without the approval of the Republican candidate. It backfired horribly as Gronstal went negative claiming the Republican candidate was in on it.
In our case, we are doing this for his lies regarding SF507 (Presumptive Joint Custody getting a floor vote after passing judiciary 16-0). I love autodialers! Speaking of such things, I want to buy another one I suspect is going unused in Polk County.
liberals arguments about basic freedoms and rights, the ones they like to take away, - such as freedom of speech, freedom of religion, and the right to own a gun - are like the rocks that fall from a mountain as so much loose debris to form a scree.
to never talk politics above:
It was the D's that put in the database to screen for people with mental health issues. It doesn't work, clearly. Far better to have armed the 77 year old holocaust survivor with a real gun rather than with just a door.
It's not US that is the problem. We can't stop THEM unless we have an equalizer.
Where are our flight 93 american heros?
If V Tech and all of our campuses, allowed law abiding responsible teachers to have guns, I'm betting we may have only lost a couple of young people, not dozens.
They allowed themselves to be lined up and shot.
Have we completely lost our will to defend ourselves? Why didn't they throw the desks, throw their backbacks, throw their purses, their cell phones whatever they could have at hand and try to at least knock the guy over?
What has happened to our men that they no longer defend women and old men?
Perhaps those 20 somethings that would fight are in IRAQ saving Western Civilization from the Islamofascists. They would have gone Flight 93 on him and charged the shooter to save lives.
If guns are so dangerous why is it everybody around me has one and nobody shoots anybody? With 150,000 fully armed soldiers milling about in the most stressful of circumstances nobody blows a fuse and starts shooting. One of the reasons has to be the fact any shooter would be dropped so fast it would be forgotten not worthy of the news.
Guns aren't the problem it is liberal laws discharging clearly crazy people.
Sporer,
Based on even my cursory reading of news after the VA shootings, it is pretty clear the gun rights people were very quick to bring politics into this discussion. And as a previous commenter noted, do you really think we should not be discussing these issues after 33 people end up dead? Do you find this normal?
I think we can definitely argue if further gun control is needed or if we just need to better enforce the laws we already have. The point about coming up with new laws when we are not enforcing existing ones is a valid one. But when you really think about it, this incident and our overall high gun violence rates indicate we have a serious cultural problem. Those “old Europeans” you R’s so like to disparage appear to be much more civilized in this area. As we all know, the way our nation was formed we got plenty of social misfits thrown into the wild west. Maybe we are just paying for that genetic and cultural baggage? We have people freaking out about a glimpse of Janet Jackson’s breast, but violence is part of our prime time lineup every single day and parents don’t give a shit if their 3-year-olds are watching it - seen it first-hand many times. (Thus, more nudity and sex, less violence. We would all be happier and our kids would grow up with much healthier attitudes.) Seeing how people lose it in rush hour traffic, I really feel very uncomfortable with the idea that we have a lot of these folks walking around with concealed weapons. I can’t see it as a solution to the problem.
I would say it is the girlieman spoiled brat conservatives who have created the culture of not wanting to fight or sacrifice, not matter what the cause. People are waiting for someone else or someone else’s kid to do the fighting.
sex and violence are not the same thing. The arguments are apples and oranges. small children are damaged when exposed to sex innapropriately at an innapropriate age. That is why pedophiles are heinously evil people, even though the sex act itself is not innapropriate when done appropriately.
violence if a different pathology requiring different responses appropriate to dealing with violence coming from others towards oneself.
On a smaller scale to VTech, what is the libs instruction to the 10 year old boy that is bullied at school? Is that violence? It's a kind of violence, I think libs would agree - based on their hysterical need to pass legislation on the topic this year.
What is the bullied to do about the bully?
Do you appease the bully or do you stand up to the bully? What is a liberal's child instructed to do when the bully comes a calling for his sandwich on the playground?
Does the lib child give the bully his sandwich and tell him he'll bring him a better sandwich tomorrow? Does the lib child keep giving up his sandwich every day?
What does teaching your child to appease bullies do to their self-esteem? Do they feel good about themselves when the bully exerts control over their ability to each lunch in peace?
Likely not. The best thing we can teach our children about violence is to learn to defend themselves from the person who chooses to commit violence upon them. Violence cannot be irradicated by eliminating the weapons of destruction that presently exist. New ones will be found to wreak havoc.
rf - the old europeans do not have to defend themselves, because we do it for them. It's not due to increased sex being available in europe. they became lib and too lazy to defend themselves.
You are right. Sex and violence are apples and oranges. But the comparison does show our twisted priorities. (And I do maintain that if we as a society had a healthier attitude about sexuality, we would not have as many twisted freak sexual abusers.) Your point about bullies is also a valid one. My main point is that I suspect we have a real cultural problem. I don’t know if and/or how we can solve this problem. However, common sense will tell you that the “let’s all be armed” approach is just as ridiculous as the “let’s legislate this problem away” approach.
With Europeans, you are going with apples and oranges. I’m talking about gun violence on the more personal level. I suspect we agree that it is ridiculous that the U.S. still maintains troops in Europe and provides for their defense.
With the strong conservatives, you must be thinking about some old glory days of conservatism. To say that about the current girlieman spoiled brat conservatives makes me laugh. Plus, we should fight smarter, not harder. Just common sense.
How would Raul Duke have characterized this mass hysteria over guns?
Even the fact he got 17 years too many and ate the barrel of shotgun in a general protest against life I still think he would have laughed at liberals for going after the gun and not the shooter.
What makes you folks feel safe, frightens me to death. What makes me feel safe, scares you. - Kind of funny and tragic at the same time.
Was that a Hunter quote?
Liberals don't appreciate honest debate! Check out the following:
BOSTON - An adjunct professor was fired after leading a classroom discussion about the Virginia Tech shootings in which he pointed a marker at some students and said "pow."
During the demonstration, Winset pretended to shoot some students. Then one student pretended to shoot Winset to illustrate his point that the gunman might have been stopped had another student or faculty member been armed.
Sorry for being off topic. - Obama on the Imus controversy, from the New York Times:
“I’ve heard those words around the kitchen tables,” Mr. Obama said, speaking to members of the Rev. Al Sharpton’s group, the National Action Network at its ninth convention. “All of us have been complicit in diminishing ourselves, and engaging in the kind of self hatred that keeps our young men and young women down. That’s something we have to talk about in this election.”
How refreshing. I suspect many of my R friends agree.
Anything to do with Al Sharpton is like dancing with the devil. I can't accommodate Rev Sharpton as he is worse than Jesse.
I was very disappointed to see Obama with Al.
From AP:
The president said that Gonzales' testimony before skeptical Judiciary Committee senators last week "increased my confidence" in his ability to lead the Justice Department. Separately, a White House spokeswoman said, "He's staying."
As much as I don’t believe in being anti-W as a political strategy, it does seem like the man has completely lost touch with reality. For the good of the country, the Supreme Court should appoint Robert Gates to be the caretaker president for the remaining two years.
Ken - Like it or not, Al does lead a powerful group. All major D contenders spoke to them. Isn't it good that those folks hear the kind of message Obama is delivering?
Ken:
What happened to the student?
The students overwhelmingly defended the professor and the point of his demonstration was to show the college had been stifling honest debate. Well, they fired the guy immediately so I would say they proved his point that Liberal Catholic Universities are Meccas of Liberal thought.
I guess he should've used "The Force" for his demo since even holding a "marker" constitutes an inappropriate weapon in Boston.
The gun loophole in Virginia is more one of those data base things that Newt talks about. However, we'd better get that funded ASAP.
Old Europe is so messed up, and such a cowardly weak and morally bankrupt that we should typically resist comparisons. Remember, these are the lambs that let Nazis and Facsists rise to power through the willingness to just muscle their way to the top, and today's weaklings lack even the minimal willpower that their cowardly forefathers had, at least the Chamberlain Renaud era appeasers ultimately were willing to resist the monsters of their time when they became imminently dangerous.
Finally, quite a bit of training goes into getting a concealed weapons permit. Not just every J.B. Books wannabe gets to pack heat.
Sporer,
I know this doesn’t fit your black & white world view (R’s = always good & right; D’s & old Europeans = always evil & wrong). But you have a serious problem with reality and facts if you can’t admit that we in this country have a huge cultural problem with guns and gun violence and the old Europeans are doing much better in that regard. I know Europeans have many issues they need to deal with, but this ain’t one of them. Unless you think murdering people is ok.
Sporer - when was the last time you actually were in Old Europe?
Here's what the Islamofascists wish to bring to the Americas, and to Europe - old and new.
If the D's get their way on cutting and running, here's what is at stake. This is why we have a stake in the Civil War in Iraq.
On one side of that civil war are the taliban type islamofascists and on the other side are NORMAL people who want to NOT become Taliban slaves like is happening in Iran right now.
We have a personal stake in that fight.
--
Criticism mounts over Iran headscarf crackdown
Apr 24 09:40 AM US/Eastern
...Thousands of women have been warned and hundreds arrested for wearing overly loose headscarves or excessively tight coats.
The crackdown which started Saturday was triggered by a new code of conduct banning the wearing of shorts and sleeveless vests outside.
It is not clear whether the new directive was in line with the nationwide clampdown on dressing, which also applies to men.
Some have applauded the crackdown as important at a time when many women are pushing the boundaries of what is acceptable by showing off naked ankles and fashionably styled hair beneath their headscarves.
Iran has issued 3,500 warnings nationwide and detained around 200 women in the new drive launched on Saturday.
The campaign is aimed primarily at women seen to infringe the rules of covering their heads and bodily contours that have been in place since the Islamic revolution in 1979.
The democrats do not believe that terrorism is a threat to America. See what Joe Biden's list of To Do's are? Not one thing on keeping America safe. And, they wonder why we laugh when we hear them say they care about national security. Hahahahah!
Joe Biden was the last candidate to address the crowd (at the Polk County D event), and took the stage to robust applause.
According to Joe Biden, the job description for President this time is:
restore America's place in the world,
restore the middle class, and
put an end to the politics of polarization.
Let's see, how do we restore the middle class? First, you have to believe there is no middle class, which only D's do. But, this is code speak for TAX INCREASES.
Restore America's place in the world: Apologize, apologize and apologize some more about how terrible America is and that we will let Iran and North Korea do whatever they want with impunity - even wiping Israel off the face of the earth. At least no americans will get bruised or bloody. We don't really care about anyone else's security.
and, put an end to politcal polarization. Joe Biden is going to head that up????
hahahahahah - He's one of the MOST polarizing.
Hillary had another chance to practive her "black" accent in New York talking to Al Sharpton's followers. Why does she do that? Anyway, here is the fun part.
Tubman is clearly an inspiration to Clinton, but is there something a little off in invoking Tubman's fight to free slaves and Clinton's fight to get elected President?
Full quote is after the jump.
- Michael McAuliff
"There may be some bumps along the road! You know this reminds me of one of my favorite American heroines, Harriet Tubman. For when she made it to freedom after having been a slave and she got to New York and she could have been so happy to just stay at home and just breathe a big sigh of relief but she kept going back down South to bring other freed slaves to freedom. And she used to say, 'No matter what happens, keep going.' So we're going to keep going until we take back the White House!"
Here's what Bill Richardson has in mind if he becomes president. This from the Polk County D event on Saturday night.
Richardson discussed the future as he laid out what he would do his first five days in office.
"On the first day, I would get us out of Iraq," he said.
The second day would be dedicated to introducing his plan for energy independence. He wants to see solar roofs on schools and vehicles that get 40 miles per gallon.
Day three would deal with global warming,
and the fourth day would be dedicated to education.
His education plan calls for early childhood preschool for all children, increasing the pay for teachers and reducing classroom sizes.
And, on the fifth day, he plans to introduce his for universal health care.
His plans all are code speak for TAX INCREASES except for the part where we no longer defend ourselves against our attacking enemies. We apologize for making them mad at us instead.
So what is the R plan? Stay the course?
Really, honestly, what are the R candidates (other than McCain) on the stump saying about Iraq and WOT? - It is easy to criticize the critics, call them cut and run. At least the D’s are talking about it and coming up with proposals and plans.
A question for our feisty anon and Sporer: What is going to be the song and dance the R nominee is going to do to separate himself from W? - We all know the R nominee will do it. Sticking by W in the general election is like handing the White House keys to the D nominee.
McCain will say not enough force to begin with, bad execution, etc. What will the other ones do to disown W?
rf - the r plan is as it's always been - WIN. You can't win if you don't play.
Edwards said that the next president must spend his/her first few months in office traveling the world to talk about, as he put it, “the idea of America”: equality, diversity, a force for good.
(code speak for apologize apologize apologize about how awful america is)
Moreover, Edwards continued, the next president must demonstrate through action that the United States is committed not just to our own interests, but also those of all humanity, by, among other things, “solving Darfur” and addressing AIDS in Africa.
(notice no mention of islamofascists or terrorism)
“We’re better than this,” Edwards declared. “We need to show the world who we are,” by taking the $500 billion in the current Iraq appropriation bill and using it to fund primary education around the world.
(Oh, this is what he intends to do. instead of protecting and defending america, he wants to give more money to the NEA lobby. HE's right. that will show the world what we are: no longer the shining city on the hill. just a bunch of protectionist cowards)
“We’re not an example for good,” Edwards said, “we’re an example for bad.
(Edwards is telling us he hates america and intends to make sure the rest of the world agrees with him. he is a self hating american. they wonder why we call them that)
John Edwards concluded with a prose hymn to organized labor.
(yup, edwards is bought and paid for by the thug unions and he intends to unionize america to pay them back for all of their support)
rf - the only plan the D's talk about is cutting and running. they have no plan. which candidate talked about it? which one? anyone?
None of them. they all can't cut and run fast enough. there isn't a difference among them.
R's want to win, D's want to lose.
And “winning” means what? - More substance, less sloganeering would be nice from the fearless R crowd. One-liners only take you so far.
And you really can’t win if you play in the wrong game and the wrong place.
Clearly in your partisan hatred you are missing the clear messages of pretty much all D’s: Diplomacy, trying to solve the root causes of Middle East conflict, engaging with our enemies, restoring destroyed alliances, maybe most prominently being “the exemplar of freedom and a beacon of hope for those who do not now have freedom” (Reagan’s words, 1981). All of these things are difficult, slow processes. I know they are hard approaches for the impatient R’s to accept. It would be so much easier if we could just go and kill the bad guys and call it a day.
I suspect the greatest improvement in this area will happen automatically come January 2009. For us to have any chance to be a credible force for good in this world, we need a new administration. I cannot imagine that any potential R or D administration would continue on this disastrous course.
Notice that Reagan did not say that we are going to go and kill all the people who don’t believe in freedom. He was smart enough to know it doesn’t work that way.
We can win this war if we feel like it. I suggest we stop prosecuting our warriors to the point they let many enemies escape without firing waiting for clearance to kill.
We need to learn how to occupy and stop playing games. Liberals should be banned from reporting or at least invited to visit Iraq for an extended visit. Al Franken doesn't count and notice nobody liked him when he did visit....
kenrichards - "We need to learn how to occupy"
I didn't think we were an occupation force (at least that was what the Repubs have been saying for several years)
rf - tell me again what the d's intend to do. what kind of conversation are they to have? exchange recipes? what happens when they nuke israel? still feel like chatting? is there ever a moment when democrats think force is necessary?
How do libs deal with bullies? if your child was being thugged at school (likely by a son of a union worker), what would you tell him to do?
Would you recommend chatting? Seriously. D's are nothing BUT slogans and no substance.
WHAT WILL DEMOCRATS DO ABOUT ISLAMOFASCHISM?
rf - what are the roots of middle east conflict and what on earth difference does it make now?
are you in the camp of moving israel to Europe?
are you using the 60's poverty model?
are you using the 60's civil rights model?
is it all about sexual repression?
Do you recognize the right of Israel to exist?
do you want to apologize for all the terrible things americans do?
are you a self-hating american who thinks all the world troubles are OUR fault?
not one democrat candidate addresses terrorism or islamofascism.
In fact, you guys eliminated the phrase War on Terror from your vocabulary as if that will make the WOT go away.
Harry Reid says the war is alreay lost.
What will you do?
What do you believe is going on?
Touchy, touchy, touchy! I know, sometimes truth hurts. Reagan must be turning in his grave seeing today’s neocon/W strategery.
Still nothing on the R plans. Anything there besides “winning” or “stay the course”? Anything?? And what is going to happen if we “win” in Iraq? What then? Are we all done? WOT over. No more problem?
D’s are talking about this every single day, coming up with their plans and sharing their opinions. If you don’t know what they are talking about, you are not paying attention.
What do I tell my child to do with a bully? – I certainly won’t tell him to go and shoot the guy who was sitting next to the bully (the W solution).
So you have no interest in solving the root of the problems in the Middle East? – I’m more in the camp of curing what is causing the symptoms rather than only worrying about the symptoms. I believe that is also in the long-term interest of Israel. I doubt Israelis are too happy about the mess W and his buddies have created in the last few years.
What happened to winning the hearts and minds of people?
How about the Islamic radicals who were pissed at bin Laden about 9/11, turning practically the whole world against their cause? – No worry, W and his friends more than made up for it by starting the dumb war. Nice going!!
Trying to be at least a bit fair and balanced, I should repeat my earlier criticism of D’s re: WOT. I disagree with most of my fellow D’s in that I’m perfectly fine with the authorities listening in on my calls trying to prevent the terrorists from killing us. The knee-jerk reaction to opposing absolutely everything W does is not productive. One can debate the details of some of these programs, but I strongly feel we all need to make some sacrifices to combat terrorists.
RF,
What about Hamas breaking the Cease fire with Israel? Sure, they blamed Israel but what else is new as every petty crime and pothole can be blamed on Israel all the way to Tehran right?
rf - I'm disappointed. You dodged every single question. Nobody told you to tell your child to shoot anyone. what will you seriously tell him to do if he is bullied by another?
and, I was seriously asking for a D plan. I have not seen one plan discussed. just leaving and coming home. that is not a plan. that is an escape from reality.
The former New York City mayor, currently leading in all national polls for the Republican nomination for president, said Tuesday night that America would ultimately defeat terrorism no matter which party gains the White House.
“But the question is how long will it take and how many casualties will we have?” Giuliani said. “If we are on defense [with a Democratic president], we will have more losses and it will go on longer.”
“I listen a little to the Democrats and if one of them gets elected, we are going on defense,” Giuliani continued. “We will wave the white flag on Iraq. We will cut back on the Patriot Act, electronic surveillance, interrogation and we will be back to our pre-Sept. 11 attitude of defense.”
He added: “The Democrats do not understand the full nature and scope of the terrorist war against us.”
For starters, see my 4/24 1:30 pm post. I’m answering plenty of your questions. You just don’t like the answers.
For D candidate positions, check their websites. Easy to google. They talk about this all the time. You post news articles about their views. You just don’t like what they say.
You are the one dodging my questions. Nothing on the R plans. Nothing, nothing, nothing. Seems like R party is really running on empty on the biggest issue of our day.
To finish the bully issue. Realistically, yes, I would tell him to talk first. To the bully, teacher, parent, whatever is appropriate. If needed, I would talk to the bully, teacher, parent. If that doesn’t work, he has my blessing to kick the bully’s ass. But he needs to punch the bully, not the guy next to the bully. Call me a weak liberal, but I don’t teach my child to punch someone at the first insult.
As I’ve stated before, D’s record and stances on WOT are not perfect. Some of the R points are valid. However, as long as R’s ignore and don’t acknowledge the big, fat elephant in the room – the Iraq disaster – I have a real difficulty taking anything they say seriously. “Mistakes were made” does not cut it for me. Talk about avoiding responsibility.
As I said, it will be fascinating to see the song and dance the R nominee will do to distance himself from W after securing the nomination.
Richard Clarke’s excellent article on W and his illogical sloganeering:
http://www.nydailynews.com/opinions/2007/04/25/2007-04-25_put_bushs_puppy_dog_terror_theory_to_sle.html
Industry caught in carbon ‘smokescreen’
By Fiona Harvey and Stephen Fidler in London
Published: April 25 2007 22:07 | Last updated: April 25 2007 22:07
Companies and individuals rushing to go green have been spending millions on “carbon credit” projects that yield few if any environmental benefits.
A Financial Times investigation has uncovered widespread failings in the new markets for greenhouse gases, suggesting some organisations are paying for emissions reductions that do not take place.
Others are meanwhile making big profits from carbon trading for very small expenditure and in some cases for clean-ups that they would have made anyway.
rf - do you believe that israel has a right to exist - yes or no?
Yes. Of course.
On the carbon markets. Of course it is important that the markets are transparent and run properly with no scams. Just like it is important on Wall Street. No argument there. Carbon markets are still young and surely need much further retooling.
The beauty of the carbon markets is that people/companies will naturally pick the lowest hanging fruit first. Thus, even a small investment can yield nice profits. Very capitalistic, you want the best bang for your buck. What is more American than that?
Plus, what is wrong with Al Gore putting his money where his mouth is and making tons of money? Sounds pretty darn American to me.
From your favorite news source, NYT:
MANCHESTER, N.H., April 25 — Senator John McCain, Republican of Arizona, formally began his second bid for the White House on Wednesday with a thinly veiled critique of the Bush administration, pledging that he would restore competence to foreign and domestic policy and welcome compromise with Democrats.
Ouch! - We know McCain’s play book. Looks like he’s serious about not just the nomination, but general election as well. What will the other R’s do?
rf, I don't know who aksed the question but your answer then indicts the rest of your foreign policy opinions.
the starting point for peace with the islamofascists is letting them nuke israel-unless you think the israelis are somehow going to just pack up their country and leave the region.
that is the problem with the left wing view. iran/syria/and the rest of the islamfascist gang is that they are at war with us. they do things that are acts of war-like provide weapons to our enemies in iraq and launch hezbollah wars in lebanon-so where is the room for peaceful diplomacy.
what do you offer the iranians to persuade them to stop supporting iraqi shia terrorists and hezbollah.
or are you in favor of the US coercing israel into some forced migration into a new part of the world-a little farther from the center of their unifying religous faith.
that might buy us a generation before they come after us hard again.
where in old europe should we put all those israelis?
"I don't know who aksed the question but your answer then indicts the rest of your foreign policy opinions."
Only in your partisan talking point view. Again, logic and at least a hint of intellectual honesty, please.
I mean really. Criticizing the W foreign policy disaster makes you automatically anti-Israel. – Huh??
I will take some solace in the likely fact that come February 6, 2008, we will start hearing a much more rational discussion of foreign policy on the R side. I suspect the mindless partisan defense of the W foreign policy failure will diminish greatly at that time. Kudos to McCain for not waiting that long.
RF, the real tragedy of America is we have just enough leftists within our own country to hand an enemy a victory they never would have won otherwise.
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