Democrats versus Republicans

[PBzeer]

I know what you mean Chuck, but I was using commas to emphasis.

[PBzeer]

Now that Obama has pulled a classic bait and switch (for those who don't get it ... bait: a new type of politics, switch: the same old type of politics), it will be interesting to see how things play out.

[SailorMitch]

Originally Posted by PBzeer

Now that Obama has pulled a classic bait and switch (for those who don't get it ... bait: a new type of politics, switch: the same old type of politics), it will be interesting to see how things play out.

yes,surprise-- Barack is just another politician!!!!! Plus Barack has handed McCain a juicy tidbit right up front. as my wife is fond of saying---anyone who wants the job is automatically unqualified. hard to argue the point.

[SailorMitch]

Originally Posted by chucklesR

I think as the article says, and past current events (i.e., boom's on the ground) have indicated, Fadl has been considered a turncoat in custody singing the song of unity - and is largely ignored.

wish i had the new Yorker artcle in front of me to confirm, but I think the gist of it was that the other jihadist spiritual advisors for obl were taking it seriously. if someone can confirm, please let me know. in my current condition if I asked my wife to go to the newstand to buy a magazine for a post on Sailnet she would throw my weary body in the front yard. instead of being here so much she thinks I need to spend this time on mt pt exercises. I told her this is mental therapy for my brain. sorry guys she thinks this all is a big time waster.

[sailaway21]

Originally Posted by hbpierrat

"12 dead in a month, we lose more than that monthly during basic training and off base auto accidents".

Its great how you can trivialize the deaths of 12 soldiers/sons/daughters who died in a war zone for the sake of your endless drivel....

It reminds me of another of your posts concerning the typhoon ferry deaths in the Phillipines...." oh let me guess...its in the Phillipines"....same mindset

Drivel? Perhaps.

I would hazard though that your inability to put matters Iraqi or Phillipine in perspective bespeaks something of far more concern than mere drivel. We could start with a lack of knowledge of history or perhaps an overly solipsitic view of life. I'd put my money on just old-fashioned immature emotionalism.

There were 22,720 casualties at Antietam. In one day. It is still the bloodiest day in American history. In three days at Gettysburg there were over 50,000 casualties. Now that's a tremendous loss that serves to put the loss of 12 irreplacable soldiers in some perspective. And one must always have perspective in war. Had D-Day not gone as it did, our perspective of the horrendous loss of life on those beaches would be different, wouldn't it?

Soldiers die. That's part and parcel of the job they do. And that's why I honor even the lowest rate cook stationed the furthest from the front. He may well be called upon to sacrifice his life, unbeknownst to me, at any time so that I may have the freedom I cherish. I honor every last one of them, alive or dead. But I also give credit to their generalship and the overall leadership of the military that allows us to engage the enemy half a world away, totally devastate him, and sustain so relatively few losses.

If I read about a ferry disaster with large loss of life my mind immediately turns to the Phillipines. It was much the same 32 years ago when I first travelled there. If I hear of massive casualties in a flood, I immediately think of Bangladesh where keeping track of the annual death toll due to flooding is merely a matter of guessing. Both reactions stem from an intimate acquaintance with reality in the world as I know it.

Your sensitivity to those 12 deaths is admirable. You're obviously more sensitive than I. You win the moral superiority contest of the day. If you've any spare time, perhaps you might consider picking up the burden of lamenting the 5000 young people we lose to suicide each year. There are approximately 50,000 traffic fatalities per year just awaiting your lamentations. I've got a real good idea as to what those 12 soldiers died for In Iraq. I have absolutely no idea or understanding as to why almost 5000 young people would extinguish their own lives. Perhaps they were exposed to the moral vacuousness you espouse and saw no reason to continue.

You might want to print off this thread and show it to the padre; he'll punch your ticket for you.

[sck5]

Hey for those of you who care about US casualties in Iraq here is a graph of the facts as reported up to last week

http://pollkatz.homestead.com/files/...5_image001.gif

You can see that the average deaths per day is slightly over 2 over the whole period. The current moving average (the black line) is around 1. Therefore my statement that deaths are down by half is pretty accurate. However, if you measure from a more recent point you can see a much steeper decline. So Sway's statement is also correct.

Of course if you also think Iraqi lives are worth worrying about, these numbers are tiny. Iraqis have died by the hundreds of thousands from war related destruction, disease, lack of medical care, etc. For an estimate from the foremost medical journal in the world, (though from a few years ago) see

Iraqi Death Toll Exceeds 600,000, Study Estimates - WSJ.com

[chucklesR]

For what it's worth, and as a veteran who has lost friends, and picked up bodies in the field:
The death rate per 100,000 in the US averages around 800 a year, adjusted for age.
Adjusted for the number of troops, and especially in view of the ongoing terrorist activity a quick estimate says troops in the US are statistically more at risk than those in Iraq. Now we know that's not precisely true, but Sway's point is germane, 12 is an incredibly good month for the US in Iraq. I hope it's a sign of the times.

[sck5]

What those soldiers in Iraq died for?

Because republicans cant admit a mistake. And they wont be the last. Republicans will defend this pointless war and the lies that got us into it until the end of time. Strategy to end it? Keep on with more of the same!!!!! Victory is just around the corner!!

If you think that is a good idea, then vote for McCain!!!. He sometimes seems to be pissed off we arent still fighting in Viet Nam. Forward to the twentieth century with McCain!!

[sailaway21]

The Dem's just don't get Joe Lieberman. And they sure don't appreciate him. And the irony is that neither should be so. They really don't have a beef. Here's an excellent article on the matter. Joe isn't close to being, or becoming, a Republican. He's just ethical. Which probably explains the Dem's cognitive dissonance.

Article

[sck5]

Bush reaches levels of popularity even Nixon never got to!!!

And Obama leads McCain by double digits!!

Obama holds 12-point lead over McCain, poll finds - Los Angeles Times