Democrats versus Republicans

[sailaway21]

Thanks, Fitz.

[sck5]

Hugo Chavez - For the life of me I cant understand why they pay so much attention to this guy since it is obvious that he is a grandstanding glory hound looking for attention. Why dont we just ignore him since he is far too weak to do anything threatening to us or his neighbors (and if he does we can easily squash him in two weeks). The one thing we need from him, oil, is going to be sold no matter what happens because without it he doesnt have any money. I just wonder why this guy has so gotten under the skin of the administration when he is actually more like a mosquito buzzing an elephant? Ignore him and he will have a lot less influence.

[sailaway21]

Try a new thread on that. We're getting way off Dems/Reps and, while it's largely my fault, we should get back on track sometime or we'll just lose it.

[cardiacpaul]

the lack of experience is very telling.
He's been in the federal government 2 years. TWO. He hasn't had time to get unpacked.
Although, not unlike Hillary, he hasn't had his name painted on ONE bill so, really, we have no idea what he really stands for.

heres his voting record, pretty sparse on "important" issues.
http://www.votesmart.org/voting_cate...hp?can_id=9490
Back in the day... the best way you got promoted at IBM was to not make any mistakes. How did you not make mistakes? Don't put your name on any paper.

[RAGNAR]

Originally Posted by PBzeer

Rags - I read that as pertaining to American policy, not you as an individual.

I read it as pertaining to the suggestion that the oil wells be returned to their rightful owners -- a point I made.

Either way, I find the ease with which people throw that term around, a term maybe 15% of people I see using it actually understand, to be offensive. Further, I find it amazing when those on the Left use the term to denounce America, as their philosophic premises are in near-perfect alignment with those that gave rise to Nazism.

[RAGNAR]

Originally Posted by PBzeer

Suprised I haven't heard of this before now. It would seem that after decades of throwing money at American poverty to no lasting effect

Oh, there's been an effect or two.

We have several generations of subcultures that have had their self-esteem sucked out of them, both through these handouts and what the handouts imply.

The economy has been stalled, making it that much harder for those on the lower segment of the so-called ladder to climb up.

[PBzeer]

Sorry Rags, I meant to no positive effect. Guess I thought that would be understood. Plus, I didn't want to run off on yet another tangent. I would have to say, for all the talk of Iraq being unwinnable, the same people keep fighting that unwinnable "War on Poverty".

[RAGNAR]

Originally Posted by rkfitz

Anyone ever read the Koran?

If you haven't read it, buy it now and do so. Then you will know what we are up against.

English translations have been "smoothed" out for some time. Like much intellectual work, the closer the translation gets to the mid-19 Century, the more intellectually honest, so look for the oldest possible translation.

If anyone cares to start a thread on Bible quotes -- I shouldn't do it, as I'm an atheist who denies the so-called Judeo-Christian origins of Western Civ -- I could list a dozen or so Bible quotes that are so violent and maniacal, contemporary Christians would attribute them to the Koran.

[RAGNAR]

Originally Posted by sck5

Hugo Chavez - For the life of me I cant understand why they pay so much attention to this guy since it is obvious that he is a grandstanding glory hound looking for attention. Why dont we just ignore him since he is far too weak to do anything threatening to us or his neighbors (and if he does we can easily squash him in two weeks). The one thing we need from him, oil, is going to be sold no matter what happens because without it he doesnt have any money. I just wonder why this guy has so gotten under the skin of the administration when he is actually more like a mosquito buzzing an elephant? Ignore him and he will have a lot less influence.

This is an excellent example of the lack of principled thinking that defines our times.

First, Chavez has stolen near-priceless property of Western concerns, costing these concerns, their customers and Govs enormous amounts of money.

Second, all thugs plot to disrupt, threaten/terrorize civilization. As the world has shrunk, these resource-steeling thugs are a potential threat to all.

Third, they vilify civilization to their population, giving rise to ignorant but dangerous groups which are used to expand the thug's sphere of influence -- often beyond the original borders.

Note that I'm not advocating getting involved in such conflicts in the name of the people being oppressed -- that would be an inappropriate though common use of our military. I'm saying that since these thugs are more and more of a threat to free nations, we can and should decimate them preemptively.

[RAGNAR]

Originally Posted by PBzeer

Sorry Rags, I meant to no positive effect. Guess I thought that would be understood. Plus, I didn't want to run off on yet another tangent. I would have to say, for all the talk of Iraq being unwinnable, the same people keep fighting that unwinnable "War on Poverty".

I just wanted to clarify my POV, PB. I took no offense to anything you said.