Thursday Open Thread
Iranian president denied access to WTC site - I thought that was a good story.
Giuliani: Israel and others should join NATO. Says would use military force to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons. - A man after my own heart :)
This is an Open Thread.
Submitted by Ender on Thu, 2007-09-20 09:02
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Shameless diary plug ...
A Retrospective on Skymutt's diary.
Republican Maverick at Large
-4:Strongly Disagree; 0:Meh; +4:Strongly Agree
another interesting story
U.S. forces seize Iranian officer in Iraq
:
"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
I'm gonna use this one when I write up the Iran bit tonight (nt)
Come, my friends. 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world -- Tennyson
Just one more indication of who the real culprit is in Iraq.
Perhaps the time to expand the military so that we can erase the border between Iraq and Iran is coming faster than we thought?
I hear that the Democrats are in favor of expanding the military so that we can station more troops outside of Iraq. Perhaps Iran would be a good next choice?
What do you think, Ender?
Republican Maverick at Large
-4:Strongly Disagree; 0:Meh; +4:Strongly Agree
when they speak of redeployment
I thought that's what they meant. It's a logical choice and Hillabamawards say that all options are on the table.
"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
OMG, I think you're right!
And all this time I thought they meant Okinawa like Murtha was taling about. And here I thought that they were borderline traitors. Go figure.
Republican Maverick at Large
-4:Strongly Disagree; 0:Meh; +4:Strongly Agree
You guys crack me up
Cranky old white men indeed.
"Perplexity is the beginning of knowledge" -- Kahlil Gibran
heyyyy
I am not old!
"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
:) Check the timestamps!
Republican Maverick at Large
-4:Strongly Disagree; 0:Meh; +4:Strongly Agree
I think we need seconds
on the timestamps :)
"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
I object!
Ender is not old ...
Republican Maverick at Large
-4:Strongly Disagree; 0:Meh; +4:Strongly Agree
well now
When push comes to shove, I think all the Dem candidates will do the right thing. Including of course defending our country. So I am not all that worried. Well I am slightly worried about Edwards but I think he has no chance in the Dem primaries.
If a Dem has to win, Hillary is the best of them as she'll be proving her toughness all the way.
"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
Bite your tongue, young one.
Republican Maverick at Large
-4:Strongly Disagree; 0:Meh; +4:Strongly Agree
she can't be the worst of the Dems
1. She does not have a very clear ideological bent.
2. She is motivated by power and thus will do everything possible to keep herself popular (no drastic changes).
3. Obama has no experience.
4. Edwards is a panderer to the Far Left.
Who is better than Hillary on the Left?
"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
well...
Bill Richardson is better than Hillary.
Joe Biden is better than Hillary.
To name two.
I submit that Obama is better than Hillary as well, though you obviously disagree.
Obama's "experience" is not really much less than Hillary's. 8 years in the senate for her vs. 4 for him. But he has a longer history in politics in general, and a pretty impressive educational pedigree.
"First Lady" doesn't count as experience to me... sorry.
“Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.” --- Albert Einstein
I respectfully disagree
1. Bill Richardson is a doddering fool... I've heard him in the debates and he is just not that good at thinking on his feet.
2. I like Joe Biden (to some degree) probably best of all Dem candidates but he has no chance and I only listed those who have a chance.
Hillary is intelligent, pragmatic, and realistic. Obama sounds like a high minded idealist without a real clue about what running a country might involve (a lot more than speechifying).
"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
Hillary is just a front group for Bill.
She is Bill's end run around the 2 term limit.
Republican Maverick at Large
-4:Strongly Disagree; 0:Meh; +4:Strongly Agree
but even if that is the case
(which I doubt because I think she is plenty capable and ambitious enough to do her own thing) Bill Clinton is a 100 times better than any other current Dem candidate :)
"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
Anyone but Hillary.
Ender, you better have your water checked.
Republican Maverick at Large
-4:Strongly Disagree; 0:Meh; +4:Strongly Agree
Well...
....maybe me and Ender should have the same color bar after all.
;-)
Bill Clinton is/was 100 times better than the current idiot in chief.... and yes... better than any other current candidate in either party.
What people dont understand is:
Bill != Hillary
and
Hillary != Bill
Hillary is a drier, less persuasive, less effective campaigner. Her philosophies are NOT the same as Bill's and she wouldn't govern as well.
Just my opinion...
“Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.” --- Albert Einstein
No, what people don't understand is ...
Hillary = Bill's Puppet
Republican Maverick at Large
-4:Strongly Disagree; 0:Meh; +4:Strongly Agree
Obama is the best
of the lot.
He is transformational.
It is the economy, stupid.
I can't wait until President Hillary takes office
Republicans across the country will have strokes and heart attacks and drop dead. It'll mean less traffic on the roads and more stuff for the rest of us.
And Fox and Rush will go out of business.
qui tacet consentire
Opposite is true...
The Republican party is currently de-energized and listless.
The only thing that changes that is a Hillary nomination.
You want to energize the GOP and drive 50% more listeners to Rush and Fox?
Elect Hillary.
A Hillary presidency would be the best thing that ever happened to Rush's career and to Fox's ratings. Just as Bill's presidency catapulted Rush into the mega-ratings territory 15 years ago.
No matter what you think of a Hillary presidency (I think it would be a net negative thing for the country), it will make the likes of Rush Limbaugh and Rupert Murdoch much much much richer.
“Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.” --- Albert Einstein
Why is my bar red now?
Did the definitions of the bars change?
“Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.” --- Albert Einstein
yeah
check the Comment Colors option at the top. It's now based purely on Ideology.
I'll probably change it to take Party into account again but not yet.
"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
I object...
I object to "Objectivist" being lumped in with "Conservative" and "Right-Wing".
I'm an Objectivist... but I'm as far from Right-Wing as they come.
Right-Wing implies a certain solidarity with the Christian Right... and Objectivism, at its core, is basically agnostic and/or atheistic.
I will admit that Objectivism and the classical definition of Conservative are not far off... but the bastardization of the term "Conservative" over the past several decades has made that not such a clear distinction anymore.
If anything, Objectivism should be the same color as Libertarianism.... even though Ayn Rand did not want her movement lumped in with the Libertarians, they have far more in common than Objectists and Conservatives do.
Rand would not consider herself a red bar in the least.
“Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.” --- Albert Einstein
I disagree :)
Most objectivists I've met (probably more than you, considering I've actually been to lectures and club meetings of College Objectivists) were Right Wing despite being completely secular/atheist. They supported the War in Iraq and the War on Terror (though preferring much tougher measures against the whole Radical Islamic ideology) which differed radically from Libertarians, and despised Liberals (though no love lost for religious conservatives).
The Objectivist College Newsletter had an article about Bush fighting a war like a Liberal. I would prefer to keep Objectivist as a flavor of the Right Wing :)
If you really want me to though, I'll change your bar to orange like that of Libertarians.
"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
No need to change...
I'll just pick something else...
...if for no other reason that I dont want to be the same color bar as GoRight. ;-)
I still say that Ayn Rand would not consider herself Right Wing in any way shape or form.
The war on terror is the only major area where Objectivists differ from Libertarians. Philosophically, Objectivist/Libertarian is a much better fit than Objectivist/Conservative.
But it's your site. I just roam around here. ;-)
“Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.” --- Albert Einstein
Funny, I feel the same.
I tried switching to green but Specter, knowing full well my intentions to do so, decided to be a squatter there. Besides, there was a popular demand that I switch back to red so I did.
But I find the color being polluted by the likes of CLC, lately, a scurge that I simply can't seem to shake loose. Whenever skymutt needs a credibility boost so he uses it too. Now you.
I guess that red must be the "in color" nowadays. :)
Republican Maverick at Large
-4:Strongly Disagree; 0:Meh; +4:Strongly Agree
I've gone purple
Two reasons:
1. it is the color of "Other". And since Ender has kicked me out of the Objectivist movement, I need a new color.
2. it is the color of purpleface. My SwordsCrossed BFF. ;-)
Somewhere, in Kenisco Cemetery in Valhalla New York... the corpse of Ayn Rand is spinning and turning itself "purple".
“Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.” --- Albert Einstein
My father's buried there.
God, if I had known Ayn Rand was there I would have made sure to pounded a 6 pack and pay a "respectful" visit to her grave.
Look for this when you're there...
Tombstones
“Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.” --- Albert Einstein
Purple
is the new black ;}
Glad to see you back BTW. We missed you.
"Perplexity is the beginning of knowledge" -- Kahlil Gibran
Purple....
... is where it's at. Or maybe where it is. It's good.
Actually, I wouldn't mind being sort of mauve.
A politician is an arse upon which everyone has sat except a man -- e e cummings
Welcome back puppethead
good to see you back too!
"Perplexity is the beginning of knowledge" -- Kahlil Gibran
Also...
....any coloring system that has myself the same color as GoRight and you is inherently flawed... wouldn't you think?
;-)
“Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.” --- Albert Einstein
Anarchist, communist?
By what stretch of the imagination am I an anarchist/communist?
qui tacet consentire
Actually....
...when you think about it...
Anarchy and communism are polar opposite philosophies.
No matter what you think about the Objectivism/Right-Wing linkage... there is absolutely nothing in common between Anarchy and Communism. One is the ultimate embodiment of authoritarianism, the other is the absolute lack of it.
If anarchists could organize (forget that by doing so, they would cease to be anarchists ;-) ), they'd constantly be at war with communists.
“Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.” --- Albert Einstein
And yet there is Tlolac.
Who professes to want get to Anarchism through State Enforced Policies. This is why I call him the Stalinist Anarchist.
Republican Maverick at Large
-4:Strongly Disagree; 0:Meh; +4:Strongly Agree
Or Tlaloc....
....you could at least address him by his chosen handle, instead of spelling it wrong constantly.
I'm not sure what your reason is for doing so, but it smacks of a passive/aggressive tactic.
Kind of like all the wing-nuts referring to Bill Clinton as "Klinton" for 8 years.
“Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.” --- Albert Einstein
Sorry, didn't even realize I was doing it.
I stand corrected as this was not my intent.
But now that you raise the point ... maybe I should keep doing it. Hmmm.
Did you miss the toilet bowl and hit your corn flakes by mistake this morning?
Republican Maverick at Large
-4:Strongly Disagree; 0:Meh; +4:Strongly Agree
Klinton
Unlike transposing the "a" and the "o" in Tlaloc which has not semantic implications, the replacement of the "C" with a "K" in Clinton is a short hand for reminding everyone about the communist tendencies of Bill. The K is a symbol of the harsh domination of the U.S.S.R. as well as a reference to the sharp pronunciations in their languages.
Republican Maverick at Large
-4:Strongly Disagree; 0:Meh; +4:Strongly Agree
Damn it, PM!
You ruined it. You have no idea how I giggled when GR railed about how I was misreading things and then couldn't spell the name right.
I came. I saw. I posted.
Veni, Vidi, Bitchy.
If it makes you all giddy inside ...
I can keep doing it.
Republican Maverick at Large
-4:Strongly Disagree; 0:Meh; +4:Strongly Agree
Change your ideology then =)
I think it's just the default. Bars used to be based on party.
Come, my friends. 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world -- Tennyson
Done. Thanks.
qui tacet consentire
Because you want to be a True Patriot?
Republican Maverick at Large
-4:Strongly Disagree; 0:Meh; +4:Strongly Agree
So...let them get even more money.
Our nation was much more balanced and fair when President Clinton was in office. Compare any time of his 8 years with any time of bush43's. Clinton whips bush's ass. Hillary will still be a fine improvement over the current crop of meglomaniac wanna be dictators.
And I thought you guys were upset ...
about that whole impeachment thing back then. Now it was fair and balanced? Hey, that sounds familiar, fair and balanced ...
Republican Maverick at Large
-4:Strongly Disagree; 0:Meh; +4:Strongly Agree
True...
Hillary would be better than any Republican candidate....
..... but she still would not anywhere near the best we can do.
This nation is already extremely polarized. A Hillary presidency pours gasoline on that fire.
Hillary is not much different than Bush in her approach to governing. The left is delusional if they think they will make any headway under a Hillary presidency.
The last thing this nation needs is to portray the image of an oligarchy to the world.... Bush, Clinton, Bush, Clinton, Bush (Jeb?), Clinton (Chelsea), etc.....
New blood. Fresh ideas. innovative approaches.
That's what is needed.. and we won't get that from Hillary.
“Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.” --- Albert Einstein
Yep, she will galvanize folks
Fox and Rush will have a field day every day of a Hillary! presidency. If you thought the Bill and Monica show was fun, wait until they get a hold of her.
And the core base will be baying along with them.
That might impede progress. It will certainly be a distraction to whatever goals she wishes to accomplish.
"Perplexity is the beginning of knowledge" -- Kahlil Gibran
Yep, Hillary might upset the Republicans
We can't elect Hillary because the Republicans might get mean.
So what?
Screw em.
qui tacet consentire
That's not what I'm saying
I'm just suggesting we have no illusions about what kind of media circus will ensue and what affect that might have on her agenda.
Of course it won't matter a bit if the Dems intend to be every bit as partisan and divisive as the Reps have been. Turn about is fair play I suppose, but you cannot honestly expect me to like it [continued rancorous division and obstructionism] or to think it is a wise move for this country.
EDIT (before I get misinterpreted): The "it" I am referring to is not a Hillary presidency. Hillary might make a decent president, or at least no worse than the other Dem choices.
"Perplexity is the beginning of knowledge" -- Kahlil Gibran
You misunderstand
Republicans will be mean no matter who runs. That's besides the point.
Only a Hillary nomination can get them to open their checkbooks.
A Hillary nomination would be a gift to the Republican party.
2008 is lining up to be a landslide Democratic year... the only thing that changes that is a Hillary nomination.
Do the GOP a favor... nominate Hillary.
“Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.” --- Albert Einstein
I agree with you PM, on this point ...
the Democrats may be setting themselves up to snatch Defeat from the Jaws of Victory.
Republican Maverick at Large
-4:Strongly Disagree; 0:Meh; +4:Strongly Agree
You know, maybe I am being hasty here.
You have an excellent point. Perhaps a Hillary Presidency is exactly what we need to shock the Republicans out of their malaise. I guess a one term Hillary Presidency could help make that happen!
Republican Maverick at Large
-4:Strongly Disagree; 0:Meh; +4:Strongly Agree
Great! GR endorses Hillary!
Fantastic news, Larry's brother!
If you really believe this is the "fight of our lives," how come you're not in Iraq?
No problem, CheneysLoveSlave
Republican Maverick at Large
-4:Strongly Disagree; 0:Meh; +4:Strongly Agree
Hmmmm
The never ending fight over the government pie cutter will endure forever.
I've got my eyes on a few Hummers
qui tacet consentire
I'm sure
Maybe we can make them 100% tax deductible so everyone can buy one! I'm sure the makers of Hummers would love it.
Bush pushed for them to be 100% deductible in the first year
... for business purposes.
If you really believe this is the "fight of our lives," how come you're not in Iraq?
Of course,
I totally disagree with that law. The premise behind the law may have made some sense but it was poorly applied with respect to Hummers.
There are currently 5 users and 40 guests online
That seems like too many guests to be regular lurkers... wonder what's going on.
Come, my friends. 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world -- Tennyson
might just be
search engine's spiders... Wonder if those are counted. They don't raise the hit count - I checked. Must just be bots, nothing major. Saw almost 200 late last night.
"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
What the heck is that?
Search engine spiders?
Do we need to call Terminex?
qui tacet consentire
hehehe
they crawl through the site, mapping all the pages for stuff like google search, etc. Automated programs. :)
"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
It's Big Brother.
They heard this is a site that draws "loyal patriots" as well as "enemy sympathisers".
Which one are you? Which one will you be when President Hillary controls the levers of power?
I am going to
be goosestepping along doing my Heil Hillary salutes :)
"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
She'll see right through you.
But she might keep a light on for you at Guantanamo.
I think Hillary will ditch the far left
and try to gain support of the Independent Conservatives like myself :) So I am not all that worried.
"To discuss evil in a manner implying neutrality, is to sanction it." AR
Except
you'll be doing it in one of the many new re-education camps that will be set up for Republicans -- built by Halliburton in peaceful Anbar province.
I've seen the list. You've been assigned to the camp where Al Sharpton is the commandant.
qui tacet consentire
The re-education camps already exist.
They are called public schools and they have been liberal indoctrination centers for decades.
Republican Maverick at Large
-4:Strongly Disagree; 0:Meh; +4:Strongly Agree
We're having fun and you're spouting lunacy....
What gives with you some times?
It's not lunacy, it's the truth.
Public schools are indoctrination centers for the left. The NEA is hardly a right wing or even a neutral entity, nor are the bulk of the teachers and administrators in these schools. School policies are consistently aligned with a left-wing agenda.
Republican Maverick at Large
-4:Strongly Disagree; 0:Meh; +4:Strongly Agree
There's a reason for that...
say it with me: reality has a well known liberal bias.
Notice how pretty much any group that is highly educated or cosmopolitan is skewed to the left. Notice how small town idiots are skewed right? Not a coincidence.
I came. I saw. I posted.
Veni, Vidi, Bitchy.
Actually, the reverse is true.
Republican Maverick at Large
-4:Strongly Disagree; 0:Meh; +4:Strongly Agree
Examples?
The right constantly harps on academia being lefty, so there's the highly eductaed. Hollywood and big cities, both of which tend to be cosmopolitan (i.e. exposed to a wide variety of views) are lefty.
Meanwhile small towns and the south (both of which do poorly in measures of education) lean right.
Now what are your counter examples?
I came. I saw. I posted.
Veni, Vidi, Bitchy.
And you people complain about my over generalizing?
No, you can't find any educated conservatives in big cities, why whatever was I thinking? This is so self-evident...
And small town and the south? Why there's not a liberal to be seen in those places, nor any educated folk. Stupid blacks, stupid latinos, and stupid poor white trash, that's all you find in the South, right? Why its amazing that they have cities at all.
Bigotry, look it up!
Republican Maverick at Large
-4:Strongly Disagree; 0:Meh; +4:Strongly Agree
You fail to get it, naturally.
This is about general trends not iron clad laws that apply to every individual.
I'll take that to mean you concede the point.
I came. I saw. I posted.
Veni, Vidi, Bitchy.
If the point is that you are a narrow minded bigot ...
then yes, I agree.
Republican Maverick at Large
-4:Strongly Disagree; 0:Meh; +4:Strongly Agree
You're always so petulant
when you lose an argument. Cheer up, sunshine!
I came. I saw. I posted.
Veni, Vidi, Bitchy.
Meh. I just don't agree with your reasoning.
The cheap shots are just icing on the cake that is your embarrassment! :)
Republican Maverick at Large
-4:Strongly Disagree; 0:Meh; +4:Strongly Agree
Re-education with Comrade Michael Moore
to assist in your "re-integration" back as a productive member of the fatherland.
Camp sessions are slated for just 12 months
But there is a possibility that we might have to extend those tours three or four times.
qui tacet consentire