Recent comments

  • Subverting democracy in Montana   10 years 40 weeks ago
    Re: Subverting democracy in Montana

    And of course, that last comment was mine.

    -Ken

  • Subverting democracy in Montana   10 years 40 weeks ago
    Re: Subverting democracy in Montana

    Or, another alternative...

    People stop referring to America as a Democracy (which it's not) and start defending the concept of absolute individual rights, then we don't have to worry about tyranny of any majorities, be they Democrat or Republican.  Then we don't have to worry about needing a voters referendum to defend a basic human right that harms no one else.  Then we don't have to use the excuse that "democracy sucks" when a government outlaws something that they have no business outlawing.

    The sooner everyone starts building their arguments from a philosophical foundation that's worth a damn, the sooner we can get this country back on track with it's original premise: minimal government intervention in day-to-day activities between citizens of a peaceful nature.

  • There are more than two options for Iran!   10 years 40 weeks ago
    Re: There are more than two options for Iran!

    Wow, Cam.  You said everything I would have said--but only better. 

    I don't trust that we get our information straight.  I don't put it past this administration to feed us propaganda as it needs in order to justify attacking Iran.

    I disagree with the OP' statement that Iran cosistantly violates "...international weapons laws, chronically violates human rights, is regressively curtailing the rights of women, has inserted further chaos into an already disastrous Iraq, and maintains active calls for Israel’s annihilation."  Those are all statements that we've been fed. 

    What is really boils down to is that we don't want Saudi Arabia and Iran Shi'ite majority in control of most of the world's oil. If the Middle East oil resources link up to China, then the United States really becomes a second-rate power. 

    We were content with Iran when our guy the Shah was in power.  We were happy with the likes of Pinochet and Suharto  in power.  Even though they were the worst human rights offenders and murderers, they opened their countries to American business interests and other Western corporations--so we supported the coups to get them in power.  

    And how do you explain our history of throwing democratically-elected leaders in Latin and Central America, Africa, and the Middle East just because they don't support U.S. economic aka "national" interests?

    I'm not convinced we aren't trying to do the same for Iran.  I wary of our motives.

    Iran's previous president, Khatami, tried very hard to bring reform and western democracy to Iran.  He looked to the U.S. for support.  He looked like a fool when Pres. Bush listed Iran in his "Axis of Evil."  

    Then, along comes Admadinejad.  He is outspoken and often puts his foot in his mouth; however, many of his comments have been taken out of context and/or misinterpeted.  In regards to Israel, what he said was "Our dear Imam said that the occupying regime must be wiped off the map." Ahmadinejad did not say he was going to wipe Israel off the map because no such idiom exists in Persian.  He said that hoped its regime, i.e., a Jewish-Zionist state occupying Jerusalem, would collapse.  But of course our media had a field day with that one. 

    Pres. Polk lied about our reason for invading Mexico in 1846; Pres. McKinley lied about invading Cuba; Reagan lied about Grenada; I can list Truman, Bush, and so many other presidents here who have lied to us.  We've cried "wolf" too many times for me to trust.  Iran may indeed be a threat, but I'm not convinced.

  • Prison Rape S.O.P.   10 years 40 weeks ago
    Re: Prison Rape S.O.P.
    BITCH I BEEN TO PRISON, ID CUT YOUR THROAT AND FUCK UR LIL PINKY BITCH
  • Rhetoric and reality in Purple America   10 years 40 weeks ago
    Re: Rhetoric and reality in Purple America
    too true too sad and a shame most people seem to be so wishy washy
  • Rhetoric and reality in Purple America   10 years 40 weeks ago
    Re: Rhetoric and reality in Purple America
    Thanks Michael. And I TOTALLY agree with you about us on the left doing the same thing. Personally, I thought the Kerry/Edwards campaign was rather inspiring to have done so well in the face of what were originally seemingly insurmountable odds. Without a doubt I have my criticism of the way they conducted their campaign, but I think the way the left (as a collective) turned so viciously against them so quickly was rather unfair and placed too much emphasis on hindsight.
  • Rhetoric and reality in Purple America   10 years 40 weeks ago
    Re: Rhetoric and reality in Purple America

    Are you saying that Republican control is in it's "last throws?"  Cool

    We're definitely due for a swing left. 

     

  • Rhetoric and reality in Purple America   10 years 40 weeks ago
    Re: Rhetoric and reality in Purple America
    First off, I'm impressed that you've seen Downfall. Not many have. I saw it not knowing much about it, was totally awestruck and now consider it one of the truly great movies. Also I agree wholeheartedly with your statement: It is the mark of all radical ideologues facing failure to blame those around them for not being true enough to their core values. Of course, those of us on the left face the same temptation. We blame our candidates also -- not so much for lacking doctrinal purity -- but for conducting disastrous campaigns. People were pretty hard on both Gore and Clinton when GW won the first time, and they had it out for Kerry when GW won the second time. (although Clinton's Lewinski business was pretty unforgivable and undercut any chance he had for making a real lasting impact on the American political scene).
  • There are more than two options for Iran!   10 years 40 weeks ago
    Re: There are more than two options for Iran!
    Cam, wow!  As always, thanks for the thoughtful comment.  I don't know if you saw, but I really took a hit on this post over at the Daily Kos from those who thought I was buying unquestioningly into the administration's accusations.  In fact, I think you make an even broader point - whereas I have no faith in the administration and therefore view all his decisions and accusations with mistrust, in fact the same is true by extension for the reputation of the US and UK around the world.  With Bush at the helm (and given our longstanding history before him) we have squandered any moral high ground we may have had.  We are truly the country who cried wold too many times!
  • There are more than two options for Iran!   10 years 40 weeks ago
    Re: There are more than two options for Iran!
    One should never rule out military action as a last resort - however, Iraq style pre-emptive invasion is widely considered an international war crime. US military action against Iran would be seen the same way. As for Iran arming radicals - yes, I don't doubt they do. The issue is that the US historically does the same thing. We've seen how, who and what the US has sponsored. I, like you and many others around the world, don't trust that the Bush administration will exhaust all diplomatic options before reverting to war. Unfortunately his track record proves otherwise. I don't believe that Democrats have the backbone, even with a house majority, to keep Bush on a leash either. I believe more pressure should be put on China and Russia with regard controlling Iran given that American and British intervention in Iran, going back to the 50s, is actually at the root of much of the anti-Americanism in the area. The Ayatollah was only brought to power after the US/Britain spearheaded Operation Ajax and overthrew Iran's first democratically elected Prime Minister when he attempted to nationalize Iran's oil. The US installed the brutally oppressive Shah - which gave birth to the rise of anti-American radical religious fundamentalists like the Ayatollah Khomeini. Any US or British led sanctions or intervention will be seen as self serving and subjective due to an atmosphere that we created ourselves by way of twisted foreign policy. The best thing for everyone is to use countries with credibility with Iran to lead the process. Neither China, Russia or anyone else (US ally or not) want nukes in the hands of Iran - however, in the end - they are a sovereign country and above and beyond sanctions - not much else can be done if their own researchers are developing their own technology while the west is doing the same. Anything beyond sanctions and diplomacy is hypocritical. Despite the fact that the prospect of Iran having Nukes scares the hell out of me -- the powers of the west hardly lead by example and hardly have the right to subjectively decide who can and cannot develop that technology - especially given the willingness to trade, sell, sponsor and research technology in the same category. Any US military action will fuel more extreme radicalism and further destroy any credibility the US has internationally.
  • High Schoolers catch drug company's burning pants   10 years 40 weeks ago
    Re: High Schoolers catch drug company's burning pants
    interesting to read but i found your page a little more interesting...how did you find me sir?.....some of your stuff looks interesting and i'll look over some more of it in a day or two.....reply to me by e-mail
  • Legislation to mandate paper ballots   10 years 41 weeks ago
    Re: Legislation to mandate paper ballots
    Thanks for the clip wide awake. I was planning to look that up myself. I should probably keep those numbers written down somewhere for whenever someone tries to pull the GOP spin out on the mythical "slam dunk".
  • Fun with FOX News screenshots   10 years 41 weeks ago
    Re: Fun with FOX News screenshots
    Just like I occasionally listen to Rush I also watch FoxNews, I get so angry at how their screenshots and scrolls go unchallenged. Yet, they keep saying, "fair and balanced." They prove that the power of repetition works - they should get Philip Glass to do their music!
  • Legislation to mandate paper ballots   10 years 41 weeks ago
    Re: Legislation to mandate paper ballots
    "The study showed that if the two limited recounts had not been short-circuited -- the first by Florida county and state election officials and the second by the U.S. Supreme Court -- Bush would have held his lead over Gore, with margins ranging from 225 to 493 votes, depending on the standard. But the study also found that whether dimples are counted or amore restrictive standard is used, a statewide tally favored Gore by 60 to 171 votes." Doesn't sound like much of a slam dunk to me. And if it were, why involve the Supreme Court in a state court matter to stop the recounts? Why did Bush make a legal challenge against a "slam dunk" that favored him? I never understood why Republicans had to lie in order to advance their agenda.
  • Legislation to mandate paper ballots   10 years 41 weeks ago
    Re: Legislation to mandate paper ballots
    "Slam dunk," you say, hmmm...where have we heard that before?
  • Legislation to mandate paper ballots   10 years 41 weeks ago
    Re: Legislation to mandate paper ballots
    well, you can have paper ballots without chads. i say go back to basics. it's already been proven that the computers can easily be manipulated and have been. give me a pen and paper any day.
  • Legislation to mandate paper ballots   10 years 41 weeks ago
    Re: Legislation to mandate paper ballots
    well living in FL we will not be mandating paper ballots funny three separate college groups came in to count those dang ballots with the infamous hanging chads and all found that there was no question that Bush won but it was published on the back pages of our newspapers and when they counted the military votes that were mailed in well it was a slam dunk but we still hear about the infamous chads.
  • Fun with FOX News screenshots   10 years 41 weeks ago
    Re: Fun with FOX News screenshots
    Did you see the one in which former GOP Congressman and FAUX news analyst John Kasich is listed as a Democrat? These people are either that damn stupid or willfully stupid.
  • Fun with FOX News screenshots   10 years 41 weeks ago
    Re: Fun with FOX News screenshots
    Its an accurate screen shot
  • There are more than two options for Iran!   10 years 41 weeks ago
    Re: There are more than two options for Iran!

    I can't say I'm very comfortable with having even one nuclear weapon in the hands of the Ayatollahs, but do I trust President Bush and his buddies to pursue all courses of action on the table before deciding on a military strike?  I have to honestly say the answer is no.  

    We're between a rock and a hard place.  The costs of doing nothing are too high and the costs of letting slip the dogs of war upon Iran could be equally as costly, if air and sea strikes don't do what they're supposed to do.  What quite a few Americans don't understand is that Iran has quite the conventional army, and if we're going to strike, we'd better do it quickly or completely, or else Iran could make it very difficult on us, militarily speaking.

    I think we have to continue what we've already started, and that's engaging them diplomatically and economically.   

  • Lieberman considering GOP switch?   10 years 41 weeks ago
    Re: Lieberman considering GOP switch?
    i knew this was to happen! DAMN IT!
  • Thumbprint required for auto purchase in CA   10 years 42 weeks ago
    Ridiculous? Think again...
    To a certain extent I understand your point. However, one of the major problems with using biometric identification is the perception of finality that comes with its use. Using your eyes to identify someone on the street based on facial recognition is not even in the same league as providing an indelible record of your thumbprint. Photos (including drivers licenses) may be manipulated and are therefore subject to credible doubt and/or recourse in the case of their misuse. Biometric records such as thumbprints, DNA, etc. are subject to such a high level of statistical confidence that they are beyond question as a means of identification. This, of course, is why they are used as security measures and, consequently, why they should never be recorded and maintained in anything less than the most secure databases. To use your example, imagine two instances of database theft (for identity theft purposes). The first involves the theft of my drivers license, the second my thumbprint. In the case of the former, I (or the responsible party) retain the ability to report the record as stolen, have a new number issued, and flag the old record so that the offender may be identified should s/he ever try to use it. In the case of the latter, I have ZERO recourse - I can't have my thumbprint reissued (obviously) and have now forever lost any security my thumbprint may have once held.
  • Thumbprint required for auto purchase in CA   10 years 42 weeks ago
    Re: Thumbprint required for auto purchase in CA
    That argument is ridiculous.  Using fingerprints for identification is not much different than using a driver's license.  They are both photographs that can be used to verify someones identity.  In fact, you use biometrics every single day of your life without even thinking about it.  When you pass a friend on the street you identify them by the shape of their face, color of their eyes, the pitch and timbre of their voice.  These are all forms of biometrics.  A copy of your fingerprint provides absolutely no useful information.  Biometrics aren't the privacy concern, it is the wealth of information stored in various databases like your bank account that are the concern.  Biometrics is simply a method of identification or verification that can help secure these databases.
  • Thumbprint required for auto purchase in CA   10 years 42 weeks ago
    Re: Thumbprint required for auto purchase in CA

    The thing is, I mean, they've have to had access to all of your information anyway, most likely, to process the sale-name, address, social security number.  If they cannot reasonably verify your identity that way, how the hell do they think a thumbprint is going to help?

    Very troubling indeed.

  • Bush feigns interest in healthcare reform   10 years 42 weeks ago
    Re: Bush feigns interest in healthcare reform
    The healthcare crisis in this country only seems to be getting worse.  I'm tierd of listening to our leaders offering no real solutions to a problem they have little experience with.  This is an issue that greatly concerns The American Dream Project (http://www.americandreamproject.org), a non-profit organization that is partly focused on coming up with real solutions to today's real problems.  Recently Will Marre, the founder, posted a blog on the website addressing this issue.  He states that it does no good to have access to healthcare for everyone if the healthcare system itself doesn't work.  He states, "We just aren't getting much for the money we spend.  So it's sily to work on access to a ridiculously expensive health system when the system is broken and the cost of subsidizing it will bankrupt us."  To read more visit the site.  We need new leadership that isn't afraid of new ideas and extensive reform.  Let's stop going around the issue, and let's deal with it head on.  Â