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Home > Opinion > Mike Luckovich > Archives > 2007 > October > 02 > Entry

Perfect fit

By Mike Luckovich | Tuesday, October 2, 2007, 09:32 PM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

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Permalink | Comments (202) | Post your comment | Categories: Editorial Cartoon

Comments

By Luckoduh

October 3, 2007 8:04 AM | Link to this

Is there any surprise that Shrillary Klintoon would abuse the powers of government to propagate a lie against a political opponent who is a private citizen exercising free speech?

{{{{HILLARY CLINTON, OBAMA SIGN LETTER CONDEMNING LIMBAUGH IN U.S. SENATE…}}}}

Make no mistake, this is an attack on Talk Radio, just the same as the “Fairness Doctrine” is, an abuse of government power by those who cannot defend their positions with open, honest debate.

They will stop at nothing but the silencing of all talk radio. They hate your freedom to discuss ideas, to debate different topics, to hear opinions that dissent from theirs.

They hate that they are no longer in total control of the media. They will censor you, they will make laws contrary to the freedoms of the 1st Amendment, they will foment lies and take things out of context trying to create negative feelings towards those that exercise free speech against them.

If the “dissing” of American soldiers is such a big concern now to kandy as-s koward democrats, then why is Jack Murtha not condemned, he who prejudged a group of innocent Marines, disseminating false information against them in a PRESS CONFERENCE NOT AS A PRIVATE CITIZEN BUT WITHIN HIS DUTIES AS A CONGRESSMAN?

And where are the puny little Republicans at, we aren’t frightened again, are we? This is a direct attack on your base, you know, the people that voted you into your office that you have ignored for all these years. Do we need new Republicans, ones that will fight for the principles and the people that they were elected to serve?

By Luckoduh

October 3, 2007 8:07 AM | Link to this

Duh:

{{{{Federal employees wasted at least $146 million over a one-year period in 2005 and 2006 on business—- and first-class airline tickets, in some cases simply because they felt entitled to the perk, congressional investigators say. A draft report by the Government Accountability Office, obtained Tuesday by the Associated Press, is the first to examine compliance with travel rules across the federal government following reports of extensive abuse of premium-class travel by Pentagon and State Department employees. The review of travel spending by more than a dozen agencies found 67 percent of premium-class travel by executives or their employees was unauthorized or otherwise unjustified.- Urinal}}}}

Duh, so let’s expand S-Chip into a massive behemoth at the mercy of bunch of sorry government employees to abuse and steal from, duh.

146 million, the only reason the Urinal is calling this out is because it is the Pentagon and they want to play to their anti war base and get them angry at our defense department.

Is anyone that stupid to think these types of things happen only at the Pentagon and are not a regular, everyday occurrence across the full spectrum of government?

I would love to see what kind of dollars are being blown out our behinds to “study” global warming and all the other junk science that the libs use to extort government.

~~~~~~

{{{{Recently, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution published an ——>exhaustive<——- series on the death penalty, showing that it remains as arbitrary a punishment in this state as it was 35 years ago, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled it unconstitutional for that very reason. Some of the most heinous murderers escape death, while less horrific offenders go to death row. And, over the past decade, Georgia prosecutors have been more than twice as likely to seek the death penalty when the victim was white than when the victim was black, according to the series, “A Matter of Life or Death.”- Queen Pinko, Urinal}}}}

“Exhaustive,” eh? So much hard work that we overlooked the fact that most black victims of murder were killed by OTHER BLACK PEOPLE, which means that the death penalty is seriously biased against white men, because they are the vast majority of death row inmates.

It’s like duh. What do you want Sinthia, more black people executed?

By Mrs. Godzilla

October 3, 2007 8:08 AM | Link to this

We went into the war with far fewer troops than we should have. But, we did get mercenaries, ooops I should say contractors.

And when Congressman Henry Waxman says he wants to investigate:

{{{Rep. Darrell Issa went on CSPAN’s Washington Journal this morning and had this to say about the House oversight committee’s investigation of Blackwater: If Henry Waxman today wants to go to Iraq and do an investigation, Blackwater will be his support team. His protection team. Do you think he really wants to investigate directly?}}}

What the hell does that mean?

By reebok

October 3, 2007 8:28 AM | Link to this

Why do we need contractors anyway? After all, we were greeted as liberators! Mission accomplished, we’ve turned the corner! The insurgency is in its’ last throes - all that’s left are a few dead-enders! And as promised, the revenue from the Iraqi oil fields has paid for the whole thing! Now that we’ve secured the WMD’s, it’s time to face the facts - everything’s just great!

By @@

October 3, 2007 8:33 AM | Link to this

Oh the theatrics ml! If the Democrats, having failed to hang “tight” with what is proving to be a successful surge in Iraq, can’t find a place where they “fit”, their only recourse is to “shove” themselves into congressional investigations.

The mutual defense, in back-to-back appearances before the House Oversight Committee, seemed to frustrate congressional Democrats. At one point, Rep. Jan Schakowsky of Illinois accused the State Department’s top security official of ——>parroting Blackwater’s “talking points.”<——

Didn’t they already play that losing hand with General Petraeus?

Why is Harry Reid interviewing O.J.? Slow day?

By Phil Dolan

October 3, 2007 8:38 AM | Link to this

I loved the Blackwater testimony. “Out of 1000 armed mercenaries, there were only 86 incidents involving firefights”….. Hell, the confederates had less shooting incidents during Picket’s Charge. What the hell is this guy talking about?

If anyone might follow us home from Iraq it’s going to be the hoards of armed mercenaries who’s trigger fingers gets itchy everytime they see an unarmed pedestrian or group of people gathered together near a church or mosque.

If these blackwater renegades band together and act as one, then we may witness a coup of sorts, and a takeover of our government by foreign interests who may try to direct our foreign policy and try to sell us wars……..oh yeah, nevermind.

I only know one thing: my trigger finger gets itchy every time I hear the name, “blackwater”.

By @@

October 3, 2007 8:40 AM | Link to this

Oops…sorry ml, it’s so rare that I can commend you on artistic talent.

Excellent likeness of “The Juice”.

Excellent!

By Phil Dolan

October 3, 2007 8:45 AM | Link to this

I predict roving bands of renegade blackwater mercenaries organizing our bloods and crips and latino gangs into real armies and we’ll have the devil to pay.

They’ll follow us home, count on it.

By @@

October 3, 2007 8:46 AM | Link to this

Phil Dolan a/k/a PoliFore:

I’m beginning to get a visual image of you armed to the teeth amidst the canned goods in your basement.

Hunker down buddy!!!

By Ditzty

October 3, 2007 8:49 AM | Link to this

I’m sure Mike is just dancing in delight!!! The depressed @@ has complimented his likeness of OJ!

Go ahead Mike throw out them Pulitzers, @@ likes your likeness! Wow. Take the day off. WooooooHooooooo!

By Phil Dolan

October 3, 2007 8:53 AM | Link to this

Good one!

By @@

October 3, 2007 9:04 AM | Link to this

Andy’s right! You just can’t win with the liberals.

They criticize conservatives for attacking ml, then they criticize when we praise.

Who’s depressed again?

Not me….life is good!!!!

By Paul

October 3, 2007 9:07 AM | Link to this

@@ 8:33

I watched NBC news this morning and one statement by Sen Reid crystallized all this effort by oveOn and Dems to recover from Gen Petraeus and look for a way to attack Reps - the Limbaugh thing. NBC showed Sen Reid reading a statement wherein he stated:

“Rush Limbaugh took it upon himself to attack the courage and character of the soldiers who are fighting and dying for him and for all of us.”

Dems have made a real effort to separate Iraq from anything to do with America’s security, in fact, having to do much of anything with Iraq. Yet here, Sen Reid is speaking of the soldiers “fighting and dying for… all of us.”

Not for Iraquis. Not for oil. Not as part of a Bush conspiracy. The Senate Majority Leader said “for all of us.”

If this doesn’t demonstrate this is all politics, nothing does.

Mrs Godzilla 8:08

Blackwater personnel are not mercenaries. Mercenaries fight under the flag of (usually) a foreign nation, for money. They fight alongside the country’s military forces and are integrated into the combat operations.

Blackwater personnel are contractors, paid specifically to protect US and other dignitaries. Their contract is with the State Department.

My interpretation is the rather clumsy statement meant “Blackwater has had over thirty of their people killed protecting dignitaries. Not one dignitary has been killed. Does Congressman Waxman want to impose restrictions that might impede their record, at a time when he’s going to use them?”

For clarification - I believe it entirely possible to put in place a system of accountability, rules of engagement for contractors, without weakening their capabilities.

By Dusty

October 3, 2007 9:14 AM | Link to this

Who cares about OJ and Blackwater. Blackwater is a security agency that cannot “prosecute” anybody. They have protected hundreds of important Americans with care.

If you think an approaching mob is nothing to fear, then don’t call yourself “security”. Investigations will prove that Blackwater was doing its job—keeping people safe before they were shot, not afterwards.

What you need to worry about is the Democratic-led Congress. Rep.Waxman(D) has decided NOT to fund the troops. No sir, he wants to tie a departure time to any funding bill or he won’t go along with it.

Oh but the troops will be funded under EMERGENCY funds. In other words, treat the troops like they are some kind of temporary employees who may or may not get funded because of Democrats like Waxman. Oh yes..butttt…Democrats support the troops!! What a sad joke!!!

By Groucho

October 3, 2007 9:16 AM | Link to this

I have never divulged a fact about myself that I think may calm down many of my fellow americans who fret over blackwater cowboys in the usa: I’m the best shot in the country since Daniel Boone. Annie Oakley could shoot pretty good, but when I was five, I mastered her crouching derringer, hidden muzzle technique.

I have made olympic-team-qualifying shots using a rusty old .22 caliber single shot rifle with broken sights. I nailed a woodchuck at 300 yards, no scope, with a .22 one day and trust me, I couldn’t believe I made the shot. All I could see was it’s ears, but I somehow predicted where the rest of him be. Woodchucks are pests to farmers who have been killed when their tractors overturned from the ubiquitous chuck-holes.

I’ve made 1000 to 1 shots on a consistent basis all my life, even in my mid fifties, today, using a modified BB air rifle, (I am a master welder). I’ve nailed squirrels in flight as they scamper from tree to tree. I’ve shot birds out of the sky as they approached the baited bird feeder in my neighbor’s yard in front of their living room picture window. My court date’s on Friday.

But I aint scared a no blackwater renegades, capiche? With folks like me what’s around, then neither should any of you.

word.

By Dusty

October 3, 2007 9:22 AM | Link to this

Groucho aka PoFo,9:16

I have a few words for you from General Patton: SHUT UP!

By RW-(the original)

October 3, 2007 9:26 AM | Link to this

Blackwater personnel are almost exclusively retired United States special operations forces. You moonbat(ic)s&red; can spin on a dime when it comes to pretending to support our troops and going right back to trashing them.

Disgusting!

By IN THE NEWS

October 3, 2007 9:33 AM | Link to this

Report Says Firm Sought to Cover Up Iraq Shootings

By Groucho

October 3, 2007 9:36 AM | Link to this

Well!

Look how war has helped wall street! and oil companies!!

If a little baby war like Iraq can do that, imagine what a larger regional war will do to enrich us all. I’m praying for an invasion of Iran and Syria and Lebanon. With what troops? Israeli troops!! and whoever else wants to join in.

We can hoard all the oil in the middle east for ourselves and use it to control china who’s gotten to big for their britches.

All americans love the sting of battle. I will be proud to lead you good soldiers into the fight against the enemy, or whoever wanders into range of our panzers.

Without war, then what would we do all day? (from “Ronald Reagen, the assisted living years” on bookshelves today)

By RW-(the original)

October 3, 2007 9:36 AM | Link to this

According to the left wing talking heads and you bobble head parrots here nobody can go anywhere in Iraq without coming under fire, so why isn’t the incidence of Blackwater firing back 100% especially considering they have a perfect record protecting visiting dignitaries including Henry Waxman?

Although how anyone can consider Waxman a dignitary is beyond me.

By hadanuff

October 3, 2007 9:39 AM | Link to this

I also thought it funny that the Dems are crying about Rush’s statement. Who was it after all that called the soldiers murders and rapist, I think this came from Kerry, Obama, Edwards and Murtha among others. Why is it that it is OK for them to make statements (unproven lies) without an uproar by the so called party of the people, opps I am sorry, I forgot the Dems can say what they want for their political agendas. I am in no way supporting Rush with his views, I just think the other mo-mo’s should be treated the same way, or better yet STFU about our troops, support them, all the time, not when it is just politically the correct thing to do.

By @@

October 3, 2007 9:41 AM | Link to this

Do Senators and Congressmen use Blackwater convoys? Maybe the Democrats are out to get Blackwater so they’ll have a convenient excuse NOT to visit Iraq. No protection available. That way they can report on what they don’t want to see.

A successful surge. They can argue with blind ignorance of the facts.

The Democrats have not disappointed me. Their usual tactics of political “overkill” are true to form.

Paul:

Political indeed! Let’s get Michael Ramirez’s take on their game.

By RW-(the original)

October 3, 2007 9:45 AM | Link to this

@@,

It looks like Ramirez got dangerously close to stealing my moveon.morons® name for these clowns.

By IN THE NEWS

October 3, 2007 9:45 AM | Link to this

Q&A: Private Military Contractors and the Law

By Duhsty

October 3, 2007 9:46 AM | Link to this

Hillary ‘08.

Woman 4 prez. Healthcare. Women want healthcare and a woman prez will rally our female citizenry to demand it. Nothing can stop ‘em now.

Dont you just love Hillary? I mean, she’s got this je n’est ce quois.

By @@

October 3, 2007 9:48 AM | Link to this

This one’s for “WoooooHoooootey and the Blowfish”.

Cocaine supply down sharply, U.S. officials say

I know…I know, that ^^^ too can be news a liberal can “snort” at.

By Goldie

October 3, 2007 9:51 AM | Link to this

Yep, looks like OJ’s book “If I Was An Idiot” is not a big money-maker, so he may need to get shipped over to Iraq to find suitable employment…

By AmVet

October 3, 2007 9:54 AM | Link to this

Paul, good morning.

I’ve commented before how the inept Democrats never cease to amaze me when it comes to trying to play “hardball” with the GOP.

This MoveOn incident, Limbaugh’s supposed dissing of all anti-war troops and now Blackwater shows me yet again what rank amateurs they are in the game of sliming the opposition. Unlike the pros in the right wing of the GOP.

And the fact that they seemingly always let the Republicans exceed at framing the context of these incidents is quite revealing.

Perhaps they’ve never heard of “p!ssing in the wind” but I get the feeling there are a lot of wet legs on the Dem side of the aisle.

When are these clowns, from BOTH parties, going to learn that the vast majority of Americans are no longer amused at their wasting valuable time and resources to denounce this person or apologize for that group.

Do the freaking job that you were sent to Washington to do and quit wasting another minute on political gamesmanship!

Leave that to the dummkopfs on these blogs.

By Can't Resist

October 3, 2007 9:55 AM | Link to this

I wonder if the Snorter-in chief is aware of the supply down turn?

By DirtyDawg

October 3, 2007 9:58 AM | Link to this

Blackwater is just more evidence of the depths that Republicans - and in particular bushco (think M&M Enterprises) - have taken us. The common denominator is that if some of their ‘Rangers’ can make money off of it then it’s OK. The only salvation we have as a country is to rid ourselves of this vermin - finding all the cronies will take some time but it must be done - through an election in ‘08 that removes as many Republicans from office as possible. I can only imagine the crap that this bunch has actually done that’ll be uncovered over the next few years.

By RW-(the original)

October 3, 2007 10:02 AM | Link to this

Let’s see if we can get a simple yes or no answer from the liberals here.

Are Blackwater security guards phony soldiers?

By Goldie

October 3, 2007 10:03 AM | Link to this

AmVet @ 9:54 — one push by somee Dems right now is to remove Limbaugh from the taxpayer-supported Armed Forces Radio… he’s making megabucks shrilling for Bush at taxpayers’ expense.

By IN THE NEWS

October 3, 2007 10:03 AM | Link to this

What Kind of People?

By RW-(the original)

October 3, 2007 10:17 AM | Link to this

HEY IN THE NEWS,

A sole source contract means there is but a single provider able to perform the necessary operation.

Exactly what point would it serve to bid this job out?

By AmVet

October 3, 2007 10:17 AM | Link to this

Hi Goldie!

Good luck at getting that ultra right-wing talking head off of AFRN.

I remember reading the Stars and Stripes (I still have the July 4, 1976 issue!) many years ago and it had it’s share of almost propaganda.

I know things have subtly changed since then, but make no mistake about it the US Armed Forces are not going to let your average GI read or hear much that isn’t rah, rah, rah, pro- war, pro-President.

But for the troops who are interested, it is now more than ever, incredibly easy to find out the other side of the story and to learn what is going on that hasn’t completely white washed for acceptability.

By IN THE NEWS

October 3, 2007 10:18 AM | Link to this

security guard –noun a uniformed guard employed by a bank, airport, office building, etc., to maintain security.

sol·dier /ˈsoʊldʒər/
–noun 1. a person who serves in an army; a person engaged in military service.
2. an enlisted man or woman, as distinguished from a commissioned officer: the soldiers’ mess and the officers’ mess.
3. a person of military skill or experience: George Washington was a great soldier.

By Dusty

October 3, 2007 10:21 AM | Link to this

Goldie @ 10:03

Just the kind of thing that Democrats think is working for the country.

Oh yes, checking on a radio commentator to see that he is off the air. Wow! What a project! Protect the country, win the war, cover immigration, discuss health care, all by FUSSING ABOUT A COMMENTATOR who has free speech like every other American.

And what was the other DEM project?? STOP approval of a bill that funds the troops by kill-a-bill Waxman (D).

Yes, Democrats in Congress are real busy. Next they will investigate the subversive elements of tiddly-winks.

By Right-wing nut job in full glory

October 3, 2007 10:25 AM | Link to this

RW-the original,

Blackwater employees are great soldiers. Unlike regular soldiers who want to win and just go home, these Blackwater soldiers have a financial incentive to protract this glorious war indefinately. No war, no paycheck.

So to answer your question, they aren’t phony soldiers, they are the best we’ve got. Frankly, I’d like to take all the money we spend on social programs like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid so that we can free up money to spend on more Blackwater soldiers and less on regular soldiers.

As we all know a “market-based approach” is always superior to a huge Government beaurocracy like the Pentagon anyway.

RWNJIFG

By RW-(the original)

October 3, 2007 10:29 AM | Link to this

Yes Amvet, I’m sure that when our troops get back to the base after kicking butt on the battlefield they love it that they can hear from the majority leader of the U.S. Senate that they lost.

IN THE NEWS,

Blackwater personnel are not standing in a bank lobby. Let’s narrow it down for you since you’re scared to give a straight answer. Are the retired military personnel working for Blackwater and performing security operations in Iraq less than honorable military men?

By Hallelujah

October 3, 2007 10:30 AM | Link to this

We heard it here. AmVet said dems are “rank amateurs in sliming the opposition.”

In times of war never face the enemy with rank amateurs. Vote Republican.

Well said friend.

By ray

October 3, 2007 10:30 AM | Link to this

it’s official…the Republicans do not ‘support the children’.

By IN THE NEWS

October 3, 2007 10:32 AM | Link to this

sole-source /ˈsoʊlˈsɔrs, -ˈsoʊrs/ adjective designating a company contracted, without competition, to be the sole supplier of a product or service, as a firm having an exclusive contract for certain military technology.

What is Sole Source?

From Wikipedia

No-bid contract is a popular term for what is officially known as a “sole source contract.” A sole source contract is one awarded usually, but not always, by a government after soliciting and negotiating with only one firm (see 48 CFR § 2.101).

RW says “”“A sole source contract means there is but a single provider able to perform the necessary operation.*

That is only the PART of the definition, and not at all ALWAYS the case.

By getalife

October 3, 2007 10:33 AM | Link to this

Prince is a bushie who contributed millions to his campaign.

Geez, I wonder if w broke our government?

By Shawny

October 3, 2007 10:34 AM | Link to this

Today’s toon is good…hats off. Blackwater is a renegade and OJ is perfect and probably needs a job.

On another note, condemn the hypocrisy.

First of all, Limbaugh is a talk show host, not a newsperson nor a highly regarded general. No, Steny Hoyer, the goose / gander analogy does not apply. How about apples and oranges, as in not even close.

The following knuckleheads signed the Limbaugh letter, but voted against condemning moveon: Akaka, Boxer, Brown, Byrd, Dodd, Harkin, Inouye, Kennedy, Kerry, Lautenberg, Levin, Menendez, Reed, Rockefeller, Sanders, Stabenow, Whitehouse, and frontrunner Hillary Rodham Clinton. Condem these idiots.

By Jesus

October 3, 2007 10:34 AM | Link to this

IMPEACH BUSH NOW!!!

By Paul

October 3, 2007 10:37 AM | Link to this

@@ and RW-(the original)

Re: Ramirez - LOL! The one from the day before with Hillary is spot on, too.

RW [[nobody can go anywhere in Iraq without coming under fire, so why isn’t the incidence of Blackwater firing back 100%]]

There you go again, attempting to take an emotional statement and question it with reason and logic…

IN THE NEWS 9:45

Thanks for bringing in Order 17 - that’s been missing from this forum. Although done for very good reasons, the weakness I see is the lack of accountability to State. This could easily be provided in a modification to the contract - Blackwater can accept or not, or other contractors can step forward.

There’s way too much moaning, groaning and fingerpointing over what was and is, rather than what can be. Any problems in this regard aren’t all that difficult to fix.

If you don’t care about shortening the political theater.

But your 9:36 link “outsourcing the war” - I’m surprised at this date people making such outrageous statements are given any credibility or taken at all seriously.

Wait, there’re certain members of Congress… and MoveOn…

AmVet 9:54

Good Morning and more LOLs! Just as I finished writing the last sentence then resumed scanning I was thinking “can’t the Dems get any of this Iraq PR right?” I read your first sentence! They’re doing a better job with SCHIP PR but looking pretty inept elsewhere.

If much of their source material to find an effective strategy and statements emanates from MoveOn - well, there’s one “contractor” who should be terminated. But they have way too much money and party activists. They’re really in a no-win situation there.

DirtyDawg 9:58

[[Blackwater is just more evidence of the depths that Republicans - and in particular bushco (think M&M Enterprises) - have taken us. The common denominator is that if some of their ‘Rangers’ can make money off of it then it’s OK.]]

Ummmmm…. Blackwater began operations in 1997. Care to guess the name of the (Republican?) President in 1997? Sooooo…. maybe the power and influence of the vast right-wing conspiracy are more insidious than even Hillary thought?

Goldie 10:03

Limbaugh’s show is one of many available through Armed Forces Radio.

From Byron York:

By AmVet

October 3, 2007 10:42 AM | Link to this

{As we all know a “market-based approach” is always superior to a huge Government bureaucracy like the Pentagon anyway.}

Outfreakingstanding!

You gotta love this guy!

With tongue planted firmly in cheek, he makes his point about these blogging “war experts”, and more sense in one sentence than those he parodies can in weeks!

By Paul

October 3, 2007 10:42 AM | Link to this

Goldie - con’t from 10:37 regarding Limbaugh on Armed Forces Radio.

AmVet 10:37 - you may find this perspective interesting:

Limbaugh’s show is one of many available through Armed Forces Radio.

From Byron York:

But American Forces Radio provides not only NPR programs like Morning Edition and All Things Considered but NPR commentary, as well. American military men and women abroad have access, for example, to the talk show of liberal host Diane Rehm. Indeed, Rehm’s biographical sketch on the NPR website says her program is “heard on U.S. military instillations around the world via Armed Forces Radio.”

Military listeners can also hear NPR’s Tavis Smiley Show, Talk of the Nation, and Fresh Air programs. Beyond NPR, listeners can also hear brief commentaries by former talk-show host Jim Hightower and CBS News anchorman Dan Rather. Viewed as a whole, the list of names suggests that military listeners, if they want to hear a variety of views, can do so on American Forces Radio.

According to those who design its programming, the point of American Forces Radio is not to provide some sort of perfect ideological balance but rather to give military men and women a representative sample of the programming they could hear at home. To that end, American Forces Radio provides about 1,200 different programs to military radio stations around the world, which then make up their own schedules.

By IN THE NEWS

October 3, 2007 10:46 AM | Link to this

If their behavior is not honorable they are not honorable.

Honor is not bestowed because of a uniform, an Armani suit or a cassock.

Save your straw man questions for Halloween.

By the way the definition said ETC.and you couldn’t scare my dog, my granny or me.

But let me ask this question, and see if you might be afraid to answer it.

What do you think of a guy who gives up his place in the American Military, where the pay sucks, benefits are limited, the hours are really lousy….gives up the distinction of serving his country as a member of the armed forces…. to take a fabulously (in comparison)paid position to do the same thing US military men and women could do?

Hmmmm?

By RW-(the original)

October 3, 2007 10:53 AM | Link to this

IN THE NEWS,

There is no such position swap or occurrence taking place. The military is doing the fighting and Blackwater is protecting visiting dignitaries. Perhaps if there would be less Congress critters running to Iraq for a photo op we wouldn’t need quite as many Blackwater security forces.

By Aaron Burr V. Mexico

October 3, 2007 10:59 AM | Link to this

“Support the Party! All Hail Oceania! The Party Can Do No Wrong!”

By getalife

October 3, 2007 11:05 AM | Link to this

Well they did not protect the Polish ambassador from being bombed.

Waxman is on it. If you actually watched the hearing you would know, they are murderers with no accountabilty.

Well, they did fire one drunk that killed an Iraqi.

Geez, I wonder if w broke our military?

By Paul

October 3, 2007 11:09 AM | Link to this

IN THE NEWS 10:46

The “overworked, underpaid” is applied often to the military. Couple points:

If one wants to say the military attracts and retains the numbers needed, then pay is in line IF pay is a primary factor.

General Accountability Office pegs the compensation value - average of all from basic private to four-star general at $100,000 a year. That’s the value of everything - retirement contribution, medical coverage, tax-free pay, etc.

The military’s own “what does it cost the American taxpayers to pay for one soldier” tables are (not direct pay in the pocket, but value of compensation if the soldier went to civilian firm and said “this is the pay and these are the benefits I want): (O is officer - 01 is second lieutenant, O10 is four-star general; E is enlisted, E1 is basic private, newbie, E) is chief master sergeant):

DoD Financial Management Regulation Volume 15, Appendix C August 2004 FISCAL YEAR 2004 MILITARY COMPOSITE STANDARD PAY AND REIMBURSEMENT RATES

Grade Annual DoD Composite Rate O-10 $213,991 O-9 210,245 O-8 193,478 O-7 177,658 O-6 170,199 O-5 147,209 O-4 127,481 O-3 102,492 O-2 77,723 O-1 64,550 E-9 $103,453 E-8 87,114 E-7 77,013 E-6 66,474 E-5 56,248 E-4 45,648 E-3 39,248 E-2 36,985 E-1 34,457

By IN THE NEWS

October 3, 2007 11:13 AM | Link to this

Position swap? What? Who said anything about a poistion swap? Watch the framing, eh?

Why are we paying contractors mighty bucks for security that poor underpaid US soldiers could be doing?

Could it be because this poorly planned war was begun without enough troops to do the job?

On the cheap?

And how much sense does on the cheap make (thanks, rummy) when we are paying contrators so much more than our troops?

And how much sense does it make to have private companies run large portions of our war? Isn’t it in their best interest as a business to keep the war going?

And how much sense does it make to have these guys basically unaccountable for their actions? (thanks Bremer)

Most of us on the left have been b***!n’ about contractors and their questionable actions and no-bid contracts for years.

At long last we are beginning to see some oversight.

RW, if I were you I’d just sit tight on this. The investigations into Blackwater, CACI, Haliburton et al haven’t even really begun.

By IN THE NEWS

October 3, 2007 11:16 AM | Link to this

Yes, Paul I reviewed the military pay grade tables this morning.

Glad you did too.

Are you trying to say that Blackwater guards are taking home less than Private U.S. Trooper?

By getalife

October 3, 2007 11:17 AM | Link to this

Here is your hero bashing the troops again:

Limbaugh Compares Purple Heart Recipient In Vote Vets Ad To A Suicide Bomber

He edited his phony soldier comment from broadcast on the Armed forces radio along with the transcript.

Geez, I wonder if wingnuts hate the troops?

By AmVet

October 3, 2007 11:19 AM | Link to this

Paul,

{According to those who design its programming, the point of American Forces Radio is not to provide some sort of perfect ideological balance but rather to give military men and women a representative sample of the programming they could hear at home.}

And that is exactly correct.

NPR, Tavis Smiley and the list of other supposed “liberal” viewpoints combined are not even close to offsetting the rabid right wing espoused by Limbaugh, who I’m sure is a BIG fan of fair and balanced!

But that mix definitely reflects the actuality of American radio today and that is fine by me.

BTW, I already mentioned that I think this hullabaloo over his supposed dissing of the anti-war troops is a bunch of hooey, based on the transcripts I’ve read.

But I would not be in the tiniest bit surprised if Limbaugh and his other minions wish they could somehow silence the anti-war voice.

Even that of combat veterans who are only true patriots if they agree with the esteemed “journalist”.

By RW-(the original)

October 3, 2007 11:20 AM | Link to this

IN THE NEWS,

Ever since the Pelosivitch regime began you’ve been holding witch hunts and show trials. So far you’ve uncovered exactly zero wrong doing or scandal In fact you’ve taken to manufacturing scandal to distract from the fact that for all your bluster you’ve found nothing.

You know there’s probably a reason Blackwater was founded in 1997. When did Clinton finish cutting the active Armed Services in half?

Oh and as for a position swap, you said they leave one job and waltz into the other on a whim, so I guess you did. You probably should stick to spamming, you aren’t very good at backing a position.

By Dusty

October 3, 2007 11:21 AM | Link to this

RW (the original) 10:53,

You surely did make a good point. Almost every news program shows some “Congressional critter” walking a block or two in Baghdad to show they know all the answers. And we now know who is guarding them with success.

Members of Congress also like to mention that “they were in Iraq ” for a number of visits.

Just wondering. Who guarded Nancy Pelosi when she went to Syria and how much did that cost?

By Paul

October 3, 2007 11:23 AM | Link to this

IN THE NEWS

By jacksonwolff

October 3, 2007 11:26 AM | Link to this

the only thing I have to say about the whole Limbaugh thing is this

people who live in glass houses, shouldn’t through stones.

I find it most hilarious when talk radio hosts say that they were “taken out of context” when they (on both sides) spend most of their air time doing just that!!

By Buy Danish

October 3, 2007 11:27 AM | Link to this

RW,

This cartoon ties with “Pot to Kettle” as the most disgusting products of ML’s diseased Leftist mind.

The “Pulitzer Patriot” is comparing members of our retired military, many of whom were in the Special Forces, to O.J. Simpson - a depraved, murdering psychopath?

If O.J. Simpson is to be compared to anyone in Iraq, it should be to AQ who routinely kill people by slitting their throats, and beheading them.

By getalife

October 3, 2007 11:35 AM | Link to this

Geez, I wonder if the wingnuts ever see anything wrong with their ilk?

By Paul

October 3, 2007 11:37 AM | Link to this

IN THE NEWS

Glad to hear it. Most people aren’t even aware of the composite rates. Many more are now, though.

My understanding is the Blackwater guys make about four times the composite rates. But the special ops guys get considerably more than the composite - I don’t know if they’re still getting $150k bonuses or not.

If the answer is “increase the pay” - I believe that’s been tried through the bonuses. If we want to go that route, then it seems we’d have to address cutting pay of others - such as pilots - whose military pay is generally greater than the civilian pilot pay. Opens up a bucket of worms -

I was merely addressing the “underpaid” comment. I’m not sure of the point of further discussion on this matter.

AmVet

Programming crosses the spectrum - some will argue some on one end is milder than that on the other end of the spectrum. That’s the kind of theater we hear from Sen Reid. I think it fair enough to make the programming available to the stations and let them and the troops select the programs.

I’d rather expect the numbers of troops who’d prefer to listen to Rush instead of Al Franken or Jeanine Garofolo (sp) is not too far off the numbers of Americans who prefer listening to Rush as opposed to Franken. (BIG grin!).

Hmmm. For those who for so long dismissed and ridiculed the likes of Limbaugh, they now seem to hang on his every word. Geee. Wonder why that is?

By @@

October 3, 2007 11:40 AM | Link to this

Paul @ 10:37:

(((RW [[nobody can go anywhere in Iraq without coming under fire, so why isn’t the incidence of Blackwater firing back 100%]])))

Brit Hume and his discussion panel made a good argument the other night.

If the number of troops in Iraq has gone up with the surge, then why are the number of attacks on our troops declining?

Probably has something to do with uhmmmm, what’s the word I’m looking for here?

Oh yeah……SUCCESS!!!! which can be attributed to our fine military and their brave and committed efforts.

Success is not a word familiar to the Democrats so they work hard to avoid it but are great at PROMISING it.

By getalife

October 3, 2007 11:43 AM | Link to this

The word you are seeking @@ is genocide.

The ethnic cleansing is complete.

Geez, I wonder why wingnuts love genocide and slaughter by blackwater?

By getalife

October 3, 2007 11:46 AM | Link to this

Geez, I wonder why the Senate approved by Biden’s plan?

By Paul

October 3, 2007 11:46 AM | Link to this

@@

The quote was from RW-(the original). Proper attribution and all that.

What was that word, again? I can’t hear it… keeps getting drowned out by the choking…

By Buy Danish

October 3, 2007 11:47 AM | Link to this

{{{{By getalife

October 3, 2007 11:35 AM |

Geez, I wonder if the wingnuts ever see anything wrong with their ilk?}}}

Getalife,

Since the topic is Blackwater, and Blackwater’s security forces are retired military, by our “ilk” I assume you mean the men and women of our Armed Forces and retired military personnel.

Thanks for including me in with that heroic group of Americans, but I’m afraid I have to decline the honor as I don’t deserve it.

By getalife

October 3, 2007 11:51 AM | Link to this

Geez, I wonder why RW does not have the guts just use RW?

By ray

October 3, 2007 11:53 AM | Link to this

@@: extremely impressed that you and brit hume have figured out that 4 marines are better than 2. further evidence of military brilliance from the republican party.

By @@

October 3, 2007 11:53 AM | Link to this

Getalife:

Didn’t we discuss your use of the word “ilk” the other day? What did I liken it to?

(((Geez, I wonder if the wingnuts ever see anything wrong with their ilk?)))

Do you examine your “ilk” closely? How does it smell? Is it delivered “up” with “chunks” from DKos, C&Ls, TP.

On second thought, the TP could come in handy for clean up I suppose.

By Buy Danish

October 3, 2007 11:58 AM | Link to this

{{{Hmmm. For those who for so long dismissed and ridiculed the likes of Limbaugh, they now seem to hang on his every word. Geee. Wonder why that is?}}}

Paul,

Most of these people have never listened to Rush. Indeed after calling Rush and “idiot” rushncap told us that he’d rather slit his throat than listen to Rush’s program, and I don’t think it would be an exaggeration to say that he represents the Leftist mindset.

It’s clear that there are a few things at work here.

The Dems are trying to fix the General Betrayus fiasco.

The Dems via their proxy Media Matters want to force Rush off the air if possible, just like they did (albeit temporarily) with Imus. Every day that Rush is not on the air, is a day where the Left can spin their lies without being held accountable. They may also think that they can turn this into a Donovan McNabb situation which caused Rush to lose his commentator position on ESPN.

The Dems want to use this as an excuse to revive the Fairness Doctrine.

By Luckofreak- DUH

October 3, 2007 12:00 PM | Link to this

Luckoduh: Why don’t you do something of value with your life? Can you manage that?

By Truthman

October 3, 2007 12:00 PM | Link to this

The only problem with the cartoon is Blackwater doesn’t employ many black folk (I know because I work with Soldiers who have deployed and I asked them).

It’s not that they aren’t willing to hire blacks, it’s just that black folk are smart enough not to fight the Chimperor’s and the Angel of Death’s (Cheney) war of hubris and for oil.

See, Bill O’Reilly, black people really are smart (smarter than you, you schmuck/hack/traitor/basturd!!).

By getalife

October 3, 2007 12:01 PM | Link to this

Prince is a rich wingnut bushie that used daddy’s money to form this company.

The Iraqis hate them, the army said they are making it more dangerous and there is no accountability for their murders.

Ah, that is some ilk you ♥ wingnuts.

Geez, I wonder if wingnuts will burn in hell?

By Truthman

October 3, 2007 12:05 PM | Link to this

I’m just guessing, but I’ll bet most of the people on this blog wouldn’t know the Fairness Doctrine if it came up and slapped them in the face.

What’s wrong with “Equal time for opposing viewpoints?” That’s how it used to be (much as The News Hour with Jim Lehrer does today).

The repeal of the Fairness Doctrine under Ronnie Raygun opened the door for the likes of Lush and Vannity and O’Really — squawking like parrots without any worry about having to present opposing views.

Then, “Dick” Cheney has a seance at the WH with those same neo-con mouthpieces and, lo and behold, everything the WH liars say is parroted on their stupid, white boy radio shows.

Some Fairness!!

Bring back the Fairness Doctrine…Yesterday!!!

By @@

October 3, 2007 12:07 PM | Link to this

ray:

(((@@: extremely impressed that you and brit hume have figured out that 4 marines are better than 2.)))

How many losses of youthful lives, attributed to gang violence, will make an impression on you? Just how “progressive” can we afford to be with our greatest natural resource, our kids?

By Buy Danish

October 3, 2007 12:11 PM | Link to this

Just catching up on some commments. Rush doesn’t call you Moonbats members of the “lunatic fringe” for nothing.

Meet Phil Dolan, potentially dangerous paranoid:

({{If anyone might follow us home from Iraq it’s going to be the hoards of armed mercenaries who’s trigger fingers gets itchy everytime they see an unarmed pedestrian or group of people gathered together near a church or mosque. If these blackwater renegades band together and act as one, then we may witness a coup of sorts, and a takeover of our government by foreign interests who may try to direct our foreign policy and try to sell us wars……..oh yeah, nevermind.}} I only know one thing: my trigger finger gets itchy every time I hear the name, “blackwater”.

By getalife

October 3, 2007 12:12 PM | Link to this

Geez, I wonder why wingnuts ♥ a drug addicted entertainer, who deferred from serving and hates the troops?

By Truthman

October 3, 2007 12:17 PM | Link to this

Bye Danish,

A broad like you voting for Bush is like a chicken voting for Col. Sanders.

I hope you “gracefully submit” to you husband every friggin’ night as your Southern Baptist Convention demands of you!!

Remember, women are inferior to men in Bush’s (and most neo-con’s) relgious delusions.

Hoq does it feel to be a second-class citizen in the land of the free?

No god? Know Peace!!

By Buy Danish

October 3, 2007 12:22 PM | Link to this

Truthiman,

Why does it not surprise me that you are an advocate for Stalinesque control of free speech, where the government gets to decide what we hear and decides in what portions ideas are doled out, presumably by partians like you who have no tolerance for opposing viewpoints.

The truth is that Rush presents both sides of the story. He goes through the news, accurately reports on what Liberals say and do, and then offers his own commentary. Indeed, I know more about what the Democrats are up to by listening to Rush than I would if I relied on, say, the New York Times or CNN.

By Dept of Slogans

October 3, 2007 12:25 PM | Link to this

Viagra popping in third world country, hooked on drugs, doctor shopping Rush Limbaugh calling others “lunatic fringe” is truly insulting! LMAO

Mission Accomplished!

By Dept of Slogans

October 3, 2007 12:33 PM | Link to this

Merry Christmas time is approaching. Please be on the look out for non “Merry Christmas” greetings.

ACTION ALERT: Not one “Merry Christmas” from Wal-Mart today even though they have their Christmas decorations up!!!!!!

Boycott Wal-Mart. Merry Christmas.

By AmVet

October 3, 2007 12:33 PM | Link to this

Paul, one clarification on your 11:09.

The vast majority of the income a serviceman receives is included in gross income for federal income tax purposes and all gross income is taxable. This includes basic pay, special pay, bonuses, etc… All of these are included in gross income and are taxed accordingly.

Combat pay is exempt for an entire month if a GI spends even a single qualifying day in the combat zone.

Most allowances - food, housing, clothing, travel and transportation - are not taxed.

BTW, as my son shipped off to boot camp Monday night, I checked the current pay scales.

What a hoot!

He’ll make $1534 per month when he reports to California for advanced training.

Back in the dark ages, I made the outrageous sum of $288 per month!

And at the age of 17, felt fairly rich…

By Buy Danish

October 3, 2007 12:35 PM | Link to this

Oops, Make that doled out by “partisans” like you.

Truthiman,

More lunacy from the lunatic fringe I bet you’re very proud of your demented contribution at 12:17!

If anyone thinks women are inferior to men, that would be the Left who seem to think that women need all sorts of extra help to get into college and further their careers.

By juan

October 3, 2007 12:35 PM | Link to this

getalife@11:35 . Search for “commandment” . Yo

By Lysol

October 3, 2007 12:35 PM | Link to this

May be we should use the Blackwater folks to fight our next wars…The pay is better than uncle Sam’s, and there is no accountability. So there should not be a lack of ‘boots’ on the ground.

By RW-(the original)

October 3, 2007 12:37 PM | Link to this

It’s 77 and overcast at Citizens Bank Park. I’ll see you guys after Cole Hamels shuts down the Rockies, time permitting. It the meantime would a few more of you moonbat(ic)s® weigh in with your thoughts about how our retired special ops heroes are nothing but bloodthirsty mercenaries? Oh and when you do be sure to express your phony outrage at Rush. By the way, how many millions have you pathetic losers raised for the families of fallen Marines?

getalife,

As you well know I only post under one name.

Buy Danish,

Phil is just another of Polly’s aliases. Good luck talking any sense into this “bunch.”

By Paul

October 3, 2007 12:40 PM | Link to this

Buy Danish 11:58

Well, I still don’t listen to him (did years ago). I did a bit after you suggested - but by that time of day I switch over to some other programs. Just me - I enjoy issues presented in a different format.

You have some valid points on the analysis. Some would say he’s “too” effective. So much for the marketplace of ideas. It does look like a smokescreen effort “we’re ineffective in our opposition to everything Bush and Iraq but not doing so well. Let’s get a hoopla going somewhere else.”

Maybe they think they’re turning Rush’s tactics against him? I’m not saying those are his tactics, just that his opponents think they are. If so, that’s another reason his opponents can’t get it right.

I do find the comments by the likes of Sen Harkin (?) about his drug problem pretty distasteful. I use it as a rule of thumb - when discussing an issue, when one side includes references to the personal difficulties of an opponent not bearing on the issue, the side has a weak position.

Oh boy, here come the Family Values Democrats bemoaning Rudy’s marriages…

By ray

October 3, 2007 12:42 PM | Link to this

@@: doubt very seriously you stray from your glass castle enough to see the ‘gang violence’ of which you speak (maybe you heard brit hume mention it? or saw it in a movie?). as far as our kids, your fearless leader showed this country what he thinks of our kids by crayoning his ‘x’ on the childrens health care bill this morning.

By Paul

October 3, 2007 12:47 PM | Link to this

AmVet 12:33

I had a nephew in the same situation. (When they’re brand new, they’re going through training, live in barracks, eat in mess hall, so don’t receive a couple hundred a month housing and food allowance). He’d bemoan how much he got “paid” every two months. His mom would tell him “get real. You have housing. You get fed. You have complete medical. You know nothing and are serving an apprenticeship (like a guy learning to be a plumber). Your pay is what’s left over after paying your living expenses AND IT’S MORE THAN I HAVE LEFT OVER EVERY TWO WEEKS.”

I always got a kick out of that exchange, which got repeated often.

By Right-wing nut job in full glory

October 3, 2007 12:52 PM | Link to this

Buy Danish,

You are correct about Rush. He gives both sides to the story. Like when Michael J. Fox did that commercial for Sen. McCaskey in favor or stem cell research the listeners were given a choice:

1) is Michael J. Fox faking his Parkinson’s? or

2) is Michael J. Fox simply a political w******* for the commies?

It was a tough choice and a solid debate, but after I watched the video of Rush mimicking Fox’s symptoms I concluded that Fox was probably making the whole Parkinson’s thing up.

I would also like to add that I have heard that there is a debate about modifying the meaning of “taken out of context” that would include: “any recorded words of a winger which are later found to be embarrassing to said winger.”

Further, the definition of “obfuscation” will be modified to include “any and all words uttered by wingers in defense of a winger who has made an embarrassing statement.” I just love how the Rush debate has been transformed into a debate about how the left wants to eliminate talk radio because the left is afraid of the people having a forum to speak. Given that we are the same people who support a President who won’t let anyone other than the Kool-Aid drinkers attend his rallies, this particular obfuscation is both brilliant and hypocritical, but is stated with such conviction that you almost think that they really believe what they are saying. It truly is an amazing thing to watch.

I think that some of these wingers who are defending Rush would make great criminal defense lawyers. For example:

Q: Why was your client found in possession of a knife with the victim’s blood on it?

A: I’m not going to sit here and have you attack the simple ownership of cutlery. This is a fine example of the media’s bias against those who like to cut their food before they eat it. I suppose if liberals were in charge that we’d have to eat with our hands, wouldn’t we?

RWNJIFG

By RE

October 3, 2007 12:54 PM | Link to this

Fairness doctrine:

Just a refresher, the idea of the fairness doctrine is rooted in the basis that the broadcast airwaves are public domain. As public domain they are subject to FCC and other guidelines. Cable TV and Satellite radio are not subject to these guidelines nor should they be because they are a privately funded and maintained means of communication. However broadcast airwaves are public common assets that can be leased to radio and tv stations to use, however they can not own a specific frequency.

As public domain, they are subject to whatever rules and regs the people (congress) puts upon them. Fairness doctrine is a valid and constitutional law which may be enacted, however you feel about the merits of the law, it is no more of an infringement of free speech than any other FCC guideline.

By Luckoduh

October 3, 2007 12:54 PM | Link to this

{{{{By getalife October 3, 2007 11:35 AM Geez, I wonder if the wingnuts ever see anything wrong with their ilk?}}}}

al-Gitmo: It would be much easier to do that if they had actually done something wrong, instead of just being victims of the goony left wing smear campaign.

Know what I mean?

{{{{By getalife October 3, 2007 12:12 PM Geez, I wonder why wingnuts ♥ a drug addicted entertainer, who deferred from serving and hates the troops?}}}}

Geez, I don’t love Bill Klintoon.

Pervert.

~~~~~

{{{{By Luckofreak- DUH October 3, 2007 12:00 PM Luckoduh: Why don’t you do something of value with your life? Can you manage that?}}}}

Oh, what’s the matter, Nancy, don’t I meet up to your exacting liberal standards?

Wish you had control of my life, weirdo?

By Paul

October 3, 2007 12:54 PM | Link to this

AmVet

I’m sure you deduced at 12:47 I meant how much my nephew got paid every two weeks, not every two months.

By steve-o

October 3, 2007 12:59 PM | Link to this

It’s kinda hard to win the hearts and minds of Iraqis when American mercenaries are killing innocent civilians.

By Buy Danish

October 3, 2007 1:01 PM | Link to this

Paul,

In addition to Sen. Harkin’s despicable drug comments, are you aware that he is a “phony combat veteran” who lied about flying combat air patrols in Vietnam?

For him to turn around and lie about, and condemn, Rush over his phony soldiers comment is chutzpah only a congenital prevaricator like Harkin could muster.

By getalife

October 3, 2007 1:01 PM | Link to this

“The White House sought as little attention as possible, with the president wielding his veto behind closed doors without any fanfare or news coverage.”

Geez, I wonder why w and his ilk hate children?

By Truthman

October 3, 2007 1:03 PM | Link to this

Please read and support Lt. Ehren Watada as the Bushies try to retry him for standing up and not following unlawful orders. Do not let him face the double jeopardy the government is trying to pull.

Watada is a true patriot and Soldier, not a phony, drugged up, fata$$ comedian masquerading as a talk show host!!

End the war in Iraq.

Support Lt. Ehren Watada.

http://www.politicalaffairs.net/article/articleview/5939/1/287/

By IN THE NEWS

October 3, 2007 1:12 PM | Link to this

RW,

Your nasty little habit of adding your own flourishes, whims and waltzes to other people’s words is your only, and rather pitiful, method to claim you’ve won a debate. To declare Mission Accomplished. You are truly the poster child for Bushbots.

To say no scandal has been uncovered is incredibly disingenuous. I know you come from another planet, but really! While the congress and the courts continue the fight to get the information requested from this ultra-secret government, little in the way of prosecution can be done. However, there will be indictment and prosecution in the future. Rest Assured.

Clinton cut the military in half? That sounded preposterous so I looked.

All I can find is “”Active duty personnel declined in Clinton’s first term from 1.7 million to under 1.5 million.”” (source answers.com)

According to the GAO, at the end of 2003 there were 1.4 million in the Navy, Army, Air Force and Marines plus 38M in the coast guard.

Now if you can show us some reliable numbers I would accept your statement as truth. Otherwise – cut the bulls!t.

As for your snarky comment regarding spamming – I suggest you do the right thing and look at the definition of spam. My work here, my MISSION here, to provide information unseen in the traditional media by most folks doesn’t fit. You may not want to see it, but you would be less than truthful if you said others here felt that same way. I am humbly pleased by the number of times I’ve been supported for my work here by the reality based bloggers. I have told you this countless times, words mean what they mean – not what you wish them to mean.

I actually am excellent in backing a position with facts and data. Doing it your way, with innuendo, smears, lies and just general crap – well, that’s beneath me.

As is engaging with you any longer.

So now ladies and gentlemen it’s back to IN THE NEWS.

By IN THE NEWS

October 3, 2007 1:18 PM | Link to this

War News for Wednesday, October 03, 2007

Baghdad:

1: A bomb targeted the convoy of the Polish ambassador to Iraq in Baghdad on Wednesday, killing an Iraqi civilian and injuring the diplomat and at least three others, authorities said. Iraq’s Interior Ministry said a parked car detonated in the downtown neighborhood of Karrada and struck a multi-vehicle Polish convoy — sport utility vehicles that sported Polish flags on the side. The Polish deputy chief of mission in Baghdad said the ambassador was in a three-vehicle convoy traveling in Baghdad when an improvised bomb detonated. The ambassador, Gen. Edward Pietrzyk, is at the U.S. military hospital in Baghdad in stable condition. Several private security guards were wounded and rushed to hospitals. The vehicles were “burned down,” the chief of mission said

A civilian passer-by died after at least two roadside bombs were detonated about 10 a.m., according to an Iraqi police official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to release the information. A Polish security guard, believed to be Pietrzyk’s driver, died at the hospital a short time later, said Robert Szaniawski, a spokesman for the Polish Foreign Ministry. At least 11 people, including three security guards with the convoy, were also wounded in the attack in the Karradah neighborhood, police said. The guards worked for Poland’s Government Protection Office, which is responsible for the security of Polish officials in Iraq, the agency’s spokesman Dariusz Aleksandrowicz told the AP.

2: U.S. forces killed six gunmen and arrested two others during operations on Monday and Tuesday in central Iraq, U.S. military said. 3: The Iraqi army killed two gunmen and arrested 33 others across Iraq in the last 24 hours, the ministry of defence said.

OTHER PROVINCES HERE

By AmVet

October 3, 2007 1:19 PM | Link to this

Paul, that’s interesting about your nephew complaining about his pay.

I know that now, many American kids, AND I’m not talking about this particular young man, live in a “new” age where mommy and daddy buy them anything and everything Johnny’s and Susie’s little hearts desire.

It’s mistaken for actual parenting and is apparently VERY prevalent.

And if they’re lucky enough to have a really wealthy, spineless daddy they’ll get a shiny brand new BMW or Benz for their 16th birthday to show off to their envious friends at Marist or some such place.

NOT that those are the kinds of parents who would allow their darlings to enlist or lift a finger to defend the nation, I suppose.

But still now that many want and get $400 ipods on a whim, I guess dealing with military pay is quite a shock indeed!

I keep wondering if mandatory service in this country is one possibility if this administration keeps running our military, active duty and reserves/guard into the ground though.

By IN THE NEWS

October 3, 2007 1:23 PM | Link to this

Tell Congress to Dump Rush

By Roll Call

October 3, 2007 1:25 PM | Link to this

Senator Larry Craig (Republican) Idaho Voted NO on SCHIP funds.

By Buy Danish

October 3, 2007 1:28 PM | Link to this

Right Wing Blow Job,

Ah, it’s time to pile on, I see.

Rush quoted comments from Michael J. Fox’s own book where he confessed that he purposely did not take his meds so that his symptoms would be at their worse when he testified before Congress. Because of his history of ADMITTEDLY exaggerating his symptoms, Rush questioned whether or not Fox had taken his meds when he made the Stem Cells ad.

That was a reasonable question under the circumstances, but for you Muckrakers it’s just an opportunity for a smear.

By the way, if you actually listened to Rush and didn’t get a distorted translation from smear groups like Media Matters you’d know that and wouldn’t be making a fool out of yourself right now.

RE,

Spin it any way you want. With the Fairness Doctrine the government decides what you get to hear and in what quantities.

That is an infringement of free speech exactly as the Founders meant it - where the government controls access to ideas, and controls what We the People can say when criticizing our government and our representatives.

It seems to me that if anything defines the “public domain” it is we the people who voluntarily tune in to radio.

Considering the plethora of media sources nowadays, the idea that the American people need the government to intervene to make it “fair” is farcical and illustrates the failure of the Left to compete in the marketplace of ideas.

But hey, maybe programs like the Today Show need to change their format so that both sides are always represented in equal quantities. Time to bring in a conservative co-anchor!

Where I always get stumped is figuring out who sits behind the curtain and decides what is fair and what isn’t.

Gotta run folks…

By Paul

October 3, 2007 1:32 PM | Link to this

Buy Danish 1:01

How sad people like Sen Harkin, if they choose to cite their military record, don’t just say “I served” and leave it at that. Instead, here come embellishments (which leads to the “if you support it then make your kids fight” nonsense). No, have to go on with “I flew fighters” - not just jets, but fighters. Ooohhhhh. Not just fighters, but in combat. Double oooohhhhhh.

It’s getting harder to resist making comments about testosterone in politics.

Truthman 1:03

What part of the order given though military channels telling someone to be somewhere at a certain time is unlawful?

AmVet

What’s the expression? If they’re not griping they’re not happy? Seriously, when they hear repeated, over and over, how underpaid they are, the tendency is to say “hey, yeah, we ARE underpaid.”

Let’s see, no experience, in training, may or may not stick around….

But I think you’ve nailed a big part of it - no previous connection with financial reality.

See you later this afternoon (figuratively speaking, just to fend off the lalaland left who will now say “Paul claims he can SEE people on the blog at certain times of day. He said it!!!!! Liar!!!!).

By @@

October 3, 2007 1:33 PM | Link to this

What are you doing, Amvet? Hacking my alliteration? I warned you about that. you know, You support Bush and his wife Bush, but Heetler and his wife Teetler had more compassion for their army. Ditto Mussolini and his wife Pussolini.

So maybe Bush and his wife Bush are not the mavens of muffery you seem to think they are, and maybe you should just stfu, you phoney vet.

My dad fought in three wars and I can spot a phoney vet a mile away, sir. I think it’s a felony to pretend that you are a combat veteran, and it cheapens the sacrifices real heroes made, so one phone call and you get noticed by authorities. I wont do it, though, because you will blog yourself into prison all on your own with your lies, distortions, death threats and hate speak that drip from your soul like honey from a bee’s patoot!

If you are a real vet, then never mind, I’m sorry, I’m just having a bad day.

By Buy Danish

October 3, 2007 1:34 PM | Link to this

{{{By IN THE NEWS

October 3, 2007 1:13 PM | Link to this

Limbaugh Complains Press Didn’t Call Him For Comment, Then Ignores MSNBC’s Call For Comment}}}

Rush mentioned Norah O’Donnell of MSNBC calling to find out what Rush had said the very first day this story broke, so I don’t know wtf they are talking about here, and I don’t have time to read it right now.

BYE Moonbats.

By getalife

October 3, 2007 1:38 PM | Link to this

Take Rush Limbaugh Off Armed Forces Radio

Yes sir General.

He is a pathetic disgrace like his ilk making excuses for that pos.

Geez, I wonder why they hate the troops?

By AmVet

October 3, 2007 1:40 PM | Link to this

Paul, the phrase you’re thinking of is, “A b!tching Marine is a happy Marine!”

Another of my favorites was, “This place is just like the Boy Scouts, but without adult supervision!”

By rushncap

October 3, 2007 1:40 PM | Link to this

But do drop by, @@, if you’re ever having a good day. We’ll be glad to share it.

You’re leaving, Muffin? What’s the matter, did you see something shiny?

By getalife

October 3, 2007 1:47 PM | Link to this

Speaking of shiny, here is BD

Bwa.

By RE

October 3, 2007 1:47 PM | Link to this

You are missing the point BD, the airwaves are public domain and subject to oversight. Private media such as cable and satellite are not.

The fcc does infringe on free speech, it fines radio stations for objectionable language, it also has the ability to enforce the fairness doctrine.

I would like it to be free and open and get rid of the FCC, but that is not how it is. Public domain = government oversight. Private domain = private oversight.

Constitutional.

By Political Foreskin

October 3, 2007 1:53 PM | Link to this

Rushncap sir, if you can’t recognize my work when I’m posing as @@ then I’m either off my game or you are up for the title of King of the Morons sir.

And I’m never off my game.

ISAIDNEVER

By rushncap

October 3, 2007 2:00 PM | Link to this

Ah, PF, I think it’s a bit of both. I was wondering if our dear @@ finally snapped. Glad to see she hasn’t, and there is more fun to be had with her.

And I’m all outta gum.

By Luckoduh

October 3, 2007 2:08 PM | Link to this

{{{{By IN THE NEWS October 3, 2007 1:18 PM War News for Wednesday, October 03, 2007}}}}

Hey, thanks for the updates on how well the surge is going, it is awesome news to see the civilian casualties falling so low.

Did you ever figure that the reason you have to post it is because it is too good for the drive by media and they want to keep you idiot libs in their dark, stupid cellar?

Looking forward to your next dispatch from the front lines, bozo.

By Mel

October 3, 2007 2:13 PM | Link to this

Another day. The same day. @@’s dad “served in 3 wars.” @@ doesn’t even know who his dad was. Dustbrain mentions “General Patton,” but has no idea who, what, where Patton was. RW speaks of Blackwater, yet knows nothing of that largely group of self-effacing and make-believe goons. Then BD adds his/her personal stench to this grisly group of cowards. What a show! The Repunks are active here today. Celebrating Bushie’s latest criminal veto. A great cross section of Americana slithers on this blog. Is it any wonder a Bushbrain sits in the Outhouse?

By RE

October 3, 2007 2:14 PM | Link to this

This might be somewhat important

anyone know is security clearences are grandfathered in after a merger?

Why spend money on spies when you can just buy out the contractor.

I am trying to not be too alarmist, but I think China has the business model that will dominate this century. A state controlled capitalist system with the corporations reporting back to and making decisions in the best interest of China. Our version of capitalism does not give much weight to the good of the nation as much as the good of the bottom line.

By IN THE NEWS

October 3, 2007 2:20 PM | Link to this

I may want to cut my fingers off after typing this….

But ZellDuh, I agree with you.

It’s good to see the casualties down.

It would be better though if there were none.

If your reasoning is correct about why the “drive by media” doesn’t provide this info…..and following your convoluted logic….what reason did they have to not cover this info when the casualties were much higher? Could have been so it was easier to sell this war for oil to intellectual lightweights like yourself?

Yes, I will continue with posting that daily. Glad you appreciate it.

Meshugga.

By getalife

October 3, 2007 2:27 PM | Link to this

With the decline of the dollar, many countries like China will buy up US companies and more jobs will be lost.

This is the global economy with the clear winner being China.

The “corporcrats” and “corporacans” could care a less about the people.

Geez, I wonder if our government is broken?

By Tony

October 3, 2007 2:29 PM | Link to this

Duh, can you take a moment from your exciting day which begins and ends with this blog to tell us of your vast military background and experiences? A tiny creature such as you, hiding within and throwing cheap insults from your little machine can surely share with us the source(s) of your hatreds, bitterness, jealousies, failures, disappointments that have left you as no more than a skelatal reminder of a would-be man. Seems the least you could do to prevent any other potential American Patriots from following in your flip-flops. Puhleeeze, Duh, puhleeze.

By Right-wing nut job in full glory

October 3, 2007 2:30 PM | Link to this

Buy Danish,

Let me get this straight:

Tom Harkin, who wore the uniform of this nation, is a “phony soldier” because he exaggerated his service? So you are saying that it is ok to call soldiers “phonies” if they either are against the Iraq war or claim to have done things that they didn’t do in war, but that Rush didn’t actually call any soldiers “phonies”, but if he had that would be o.k. too?

I’m really confused here. Are we as wingers saying that its ok to call soldiers phonies or are we saying that Rush didn’t call a soldier a phony or are we saying that he didn’t but it would be ok if he did?

Please clarify.

BTW: If a war veteran had saved 9 lives on the way to earning a CMH, but he claimed to have saved 11, would he be a phony soldier?

Also, isn’t a bit unfair for people who refused to serve when they had the opportunity to question anybody elses service in any way? I mean shouldn’t a draft dodger like Rush refrain from making such distinctions? Wouldn’t it be like a guy who avoided service running TV ads against a vet who lost 3 limbs and calling into question his patriotism?

Would it be ok to call people who were pro-Vietnam for people other than themselves “phony Americans?” If so, get ready for the left to start calling Bush, Cheney, and Rush “phony Americans.”

RWNJIFG

By Bosch

October 3, 2007 2:57 PM | Link to this

Can anyone tell me what exactly Blackwater does and why we need them in Iraq? Are contractors like Blackwater typical in “conflicts” like Iraq?

Do we need private security contractors? It just seems odd that we have hired private security forces when our troops are doing so well. Or are they there because they do not have to go through the usual military channels and report only to the President?

But seriously, what is the reason for having such an organization like Blackwater in Iraq?

By RE

October 3, 2007 2:57 PM | Link to this

So I think I am finally getting an sense of why many right wing folks think that a new war with Iran is not only in the best interest of the US, but is also possible for an army already stretched thin by afghanistan and iraq.

I goes back to math and the economy. we have a 9 trillion dollar debt and a yearly shortfall of 200-400 billion dollars, depending on how you count the war spending bills. When you start to believe that indefinate difict spending is possible, it is a short leap to think that deficit troop deployments are also possible. If we need an additional 100k soldiers to fight in iran (just throwing it out there, probably more like 500k) but we only have reserves of 40k, I guess they believe we can do a deficit deployment to make up the shortfall of 60k. China gives us dollars to cover our debt, maybe they will let us borrow some PLA troopers as well. It all makes sense now.

By Paul

October 3, 2007 3:04 PM | Link to this

RE 2:14

Clearances attach to the person, there is a time limit. Clearances can be canceled before expiration. The company also has authorization regarding level of work it can perform. Hopefully that’ll be canceled, too.

Yeah, that’s prob the most important story here today.

getalife

That’s spot on about the level of care for the people. Same as what’s said for people managing pension funds invested in repressive regimes or companies serving those regimes, “we have a responsibility to our shareholders to receive a high rate of return.”

This is worth another nickel: geez-

By Luckoduh

October 3, 2007 3:04 PM | Link to this

{{{{By getalife October 3, 2007 2:27 PM With the decline of the dollar, many countries like China will buy up US companies and more jobs will be lost. This is the global economy with the clear winner being China.}}}}

al_Gitmo: Read and try to comprehend:

{{{{Using U.S. technology, including stolen secrets, China has been able to make substantial gains in modernizing its own nuclear weapons program, according to those who have seen a long-awaited congressional report that may be released on Thursday. Meantime, a senior intelligence officer for the Energy Department told a Senate hearing Thursday of repeated attempts in early 1997 to bring his concerns about espionage and lax security at weapons labs to then-Energy Secretary Federico Pena, but said he was repeatedly thwarted by senior department officials.- CNN}}}}

{{{{To raise $850,000 for Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s presidential campaign in just eight months, Norman Hsu tapped an eclectic group of donors that included wealthy investors in his apparel ventures}}}}

You lbs are supposed to ♥ China, duh.

~~~~~~

{{{{By Tony October 3, 2007 2:29 PM Duh, can you take a moment from your exciting day which begins and ends with this blog to tell us of your vast military background and experiences?}}}}

Hey, I got an idea for a new blog contest.

See if you can figure out which pinko regular here is posting messages under the name Tony/ Clem/ Steve and all the other messages which are basically the same thing recycled over and over.

I’m guessing al-Gitmo.

By Paul

October 3, 2007 3:08 PM | Link to this

Hey Bosch!

Recovered from the gin? What kind was it? Well drinks? Ewwwwww, hangover city!

By Aaron Burr V. Mexico

October 3, 2007 3:10 PM | Link to this

Support the Troops! Deport their families!.

The War on Children Marches On!

By RE

October 3, 2007 3:14 PM | Link to this

Nice, China is buying out a US security firm dealing with our nations computer security, and andy chimes in with “clinton’s fault”

By Paul

October 3, 2007 3:22 PM | Link to this

RE

Please…. one less House/Senate investigation on who called whom what name… or another airline merger… or oil company profits… and just one teeny, tiny hearing on this?

By getalife

October 3, 2007 3:25 PM | Link to this

He always does RE.

Geez, I wonder if duh is a moron?

McLoser said Americans will enlist if w asks them.

Geez, I wonder if he is like duh?

By WTF?

October 3, 2007 3:30 PM | Link to this

I thought liberals said everything in the Moonie Times was trash that couldn’t be believed.

By RE

October 3, 2007 3:37 PM | Link to this

Paul,

I am getting the feeling that our government in general is failing, congress, the executive branch, supreme court… all of it.

The GOP is corrupt beyond measure, and the dems cannot or will not do anything. The executive branch has more power now than I believe at any time in our nations history, and has the idea that going against the desires of the populace is a show of strength. The supreme court is being filled with hyper-partisan judges how rule more on idealogy than on legality. Governmental appointments are based almost solely on political loyalty with little regard to competence.

They are all bought off by the same companies.

Anyone up for this option, file RICO charges against the GOP and democratic party, wipe out the infrastructure and let there be more options than A or B.

By Luckoduh

October 3, 2007 3:41 PM | Link to this

{{{{By RE October 3, 2007 3:14 PM Nice, China is buying out a US security firm dealing with our nations computer security, and andy chimes in with “clinton’s fault”}}}}

O.K. RE I’ll try real hard to stick my head up my rear end like you and pretend that China didn’t transform from a third world country into a superpower while Bill Klintoon was in office.

And then I’ll hop aboard the idiot wagon and blame SHrillary’s illegal Chinese campaign contributions on Bush.

Gosh, this is better, I don’t have to think, research anything, it’s nice and quite but it does stink somewhat, I can see why like this so much RE.

Duh, freaking, duh.

By Bosch

October 3, 2007 3:41 PM | Link to this

Hey Paul! Yes, I’m recovered. Gin and the beach go hand in hand with me-Beefeater’s and grapefruit juice - classic Bosch beach drink.

I haven’t read through the thread much, just wondering about Blackwater. I know what they are, but not sure why they are there, needed, justified, etc.

Seems like a bunch of secret mercenaries doing the Chimper’s bidding to me.

But as I admitted, I don’t know a lot about them, I do know about defense contracts and this contract seems like just another company getting rich off the American taxpayers. Also, if our troops are doing so well, then why do we need them? Just a little confused - ha ha, basically, this just seems like one of Bush’s underhanded deals.

I watched the third Star Wars movie this morning - not the good Star Wars movies, but the bad ones made a few years ago. This one was where Anakin went over to the dark side, and I couldn’t help but chuckle to myself during the part when the evil emporer makes himself the emperor and Padame says something to the effect, “So this is how liberty dies, with thunderous applause.”

I can kind of sympathize with that remark these days.

By getalife

October 3, 2007 3:43 PM | Link to this

They are debating the S Chip veto on C-Span.

They will keep trying to override it and will be successful closer to election time.

It is political suicide for the gop.

By Bosch

October 3, 2007 3:44 PM | Link to this

RE, Have you heard about Clarence Thomas’ new book? Scary stuff. It scares me when a Supreme Court judge seems so bitter and vindictive, but I guess that is how I’ve taken the news over the book. Of course, some would think him totally justifiable in his anger, but I don’t know, it just seems weird for a Supreme Court justice to write such a book.

By Rico Sauvee

October 3, 2007 3:51 PM | Link to this

Good idea RE, please don’t read any further in this comment.

.

Is this duhmbass serious? Democrats are in full control of Congress yet he blames the Republicans. The Executive is equal to the entire Congress yet he thinks the President has to bow before Congress no matter what. He must think have a Parliamentary system. We have added two of the finest legal minds to the Supreme Court ever and he calls them ideologues, but doesn’t name a single thing they’ve done to deserve that moniker. Then he wants the government he just told you is corrupt from top to bottom to prosecute itself as mobsters. This guy is at least 100 lbs. of stupid in a five lb. sack.

By getalife

October 3, 2007 3:52 PM | Link to this

I see RE is starting to get it and I guess I am way ahead of the learning curve.

Geez, I wonder if our government is broken?

By Can't Resist

October 3, 2007 3:58 PM | Link to this

Luckoduh is insane.

Probably a pervert.

His family hates him.

He’s funny looking.

Body odor is a problem for him.

His breath stinks too.

Has no fashion sense.

Wears womens underwear.

Eats dog food

His soul is stained by hatred

BUT it’s ok

Because

…

,,,

keep scrolling

… …

….

….

It’s Bill Clinton’s fault!

By Paul

October 3, 2007 3:59 PM | Link to this

RE

Why not? I’m in a bit of an anarchist mood today.

I’ve heard indications some of the GOP candidates aren’t all that pleased with the actions or results of this administration and the GOP in general. Mitt leveled a blast, I believe Rudy also. I would hope the GOP leadership who’s left behind when the administration leaves will quickly get to work.

FDR was pretty big for executive power. But he was also big on consulting with Congress and holding his opponents and downright enemies close.

Frankly, I think much of the secrecy and “them-us” came from a perception of some in the administration that we are at war with a deadly foe and the political opponents would fight everything. So it rather leads to the mindset we see. Look at the Patriot Act. Weaknesses? Sure. Addressed in subsequent legislation? Sure. But look at the intervening angst.

Many on the Right would say the same thing about the Court, but point to the classic case of Roe v Wade as law invented to support ideology. Then again, look at Sen Biden, says he won’t vote for anyone who opposes Roe v Wade - ideologically or theoritacally, as a matter of law. That just keeps the divisions going.

But on the high-level functions, I think the polls support your thesis. Excusing Congress’s ratings because “people love their Congressman but hate Congress” doesn’t cut it. It’s the level of disgust that’s alarming.

Full Federal Funding. Change rules to give other parties more of an “in.” But it goes up against the two cardinal controllers of all political action: money and power.

Bosch

Beefeaters - whew. I was afraid it was “Old Englishman” or some such. Your head would still be splitting. Doesn’t the astringency of the grapefruit juice mask most of the gin ‘s nuance?

I’ll let you finish reading. Just keep in mind security companies are not attached to the military, are not engaged in military ops, are administered by the State Dept, the mission is to protect dignitaries, and their accountability and rules of engagement are whatever we want them to be.

By RE

October 3, 2007 4:01 PM | Link to this

Thomas seems to have a rather large chip on his shoulder. It also seems like his rulings start with his idealogy and then stretch to find constitutional basis after the fact. I would also include Allito and Scalia in the same category as using idealogy as the basis then looking for some shread of legal ground to support that. No doubt there is the same thing to a degree with Ginsburg on the other side, souter and roberts seem to at least read the constitution on occasion.

Andy,

Good call, China has been an established country for about 2200 years, but it was probably the clintons fault that they started having an army. Probably clintons fault that they hold about a third of our debt. Probably clintons fault that they have become the world largest producer of finished goods. Probably clintons fault that they have increased thier influence in Asia to the point that they are far more influential than the US, Japan or australia.

I think andy has the answer to that age old question “why do bad things happen to good people?”, apparently, it is clintons fault.

By Paul

October 3, 2007 4:13 PM | Link to this

Bosch

You may want to put this on audio - from the archive - Diane Rehm show today was about security contractors.

[[10:00Private Security Contractors in Iraq

The founder of the private security firm Blackwater testifies on Capitol Hill after a shooting incident in which 17 Iraqis were killed, and we look at the larger questions about the role of private security contractors in Iraq. Guests

Doug Brooks, president of the International Peace Operations Association

Karen DeYoung, senior diplomatic correspondent, The Washington Post

Deborah Avant, professor and director of International Studies at the University of California, Irvine

Ali Al-Dabbagh, special envoy for the Iraqi Prime Minister and spokesman for the Iraqi government]]

Link: Private Security Contractors

Bosch and RE

There was also a good discussion yesterday on the Court, Thomas, other justices. [[two best-selling authors provide a rare, behind-the-scenes glimpse at the inner workings of the Court. They discuss how the personalities and philosophies of the Justices may influence how they rule on such controversial issues as voter identification, lethal injection, the rights of terrorism suspects, and executive power.]]

Link: Supreme Court Preview

It’s archived here:

By Paul

October 3, 2007 4:16 PM | Link to this

Bosch

The security contractors link:

Link: Security Contractors

By Oddsmaker

October 3, 2007 4:17 PM | Link to this

I put the odds at about 100,000 to 1 against RE or Bosch having read My Grandfather’s Son.

By @@

October 3, 2007 4:17 PM | Link to this

Every once in a while, some person in my subdivision rents a speed trap device that reminds drivers what the speed limit is, and then using radar, displays the driver’s oncoming speed. Today, the sign said, “Speed limit, 25, your speed: 60”.

I mean, who is this guy talking to? What is his point? If I ever see this guy on the road, it’s gonna be all middle fingers and full moon rising, that I can promise you.

Watch your own speed, Officer Krumpkey.

By getalife

October 3, 2007 4:25 PM | Link to this

Ron Paul is raising big money beating McLoser.

Bwa, that is rich.

By Paul

October 3, 2007 4:27 PM | Link to this

@@

Can’t be you. Gotta be an impostor. Must obey the law, especially when little kiddies are about, yes?

And in the interest of Broadway Purity, it’s Officer Krupke.

By @@

October 3, 2007 4:30 PM | Link to this

Bless your heart rushncap. When you so naively fall for PoliFore’s namejacks it makes me just wanna….well….give you a big hug but only if you’ll alert me that PoliFore is coming up from behind.

Bless your heart RE. With the exception of these two naive posters’ comments

(((“We as citizens of the United States of America can use the media to our advantage when choosing candidates for our nation.)))

(((“Yes, the government is affected by the media, but the public affects the media.)))

you may find the reasons and answers for and to your personal dilemma here.

BTW, there is a good book on the shelves called “WHEN Bad Things Happen to Good People”, but it’s religious in nature so you’re probably not interested.

By Doomsday is coming! Friday Oct 5,2007.

October 3, 2007 4:30 PM | Link to this

@@,

Some people have nothing better to do with their time than to tell other people what to do. Everyone has an agenda. This idiot,obviously, gets off on telling people about their driving habits. He no doubt is engaging in other types of deviant behavior.

Doom

By Right-wing nut job in full glory

October 3, 2007 4:31 PM | Link to this

Why Barack Obama is unqualified to be President:

In a speech at that time, five months before the U.S. invaded Iraq, Obama said publicly that Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein “poses no imminent and direct threat to the United States, or to his neighbors,” that he could be contained, and that “even a successful war against Iraq will require U.S. occupation of undetermined length, at undetermined cost, with undetermined consequences.”

Obama added that such a war would “strengthen the recruitment arm of al Qaeda.”

How could have been more wrong? This is why I’m a winger. All of our predictions turn out to be true while these libs haven’t a clue about anything.

I wish that someone would show Obama all of the WMD we found, the film of them greeting us as liberators and how Iraqi oil revenue has paid for the whole thing. That’ll show him something about winger predictions.

RWNJIFG

By Paul

October 3, 2007 4:38 PM | Link to this

RWNJIFG

Haven’t you been listening to Hillary? Obama’s too inexperienced…

By @@

October 3, 2007 4:39 PM | Link to this

Damn, I was rear ended by PoliFore at 4:17.

Paul & Doom:

I have no idea what has PoliFore’s GPS driving system set on me. He’s been driving my @@ over at Wooten’s too.

There’s nothing quite like waiting for my post to appear and then thinking…WTH, I didn’t post that at 4:17. Where is my post???

I’m sitting here laughing at my own response to that realization.

By Paul

October 3, 2007 4:43 PM | Link to this

@@

It just clicked - PoliFore, Political Foreskin. He just popped up again a couple days ago. Hadn’t heard from him for eons, not long after I asked him to schedule a bris.

By Bosch

October 3, 2007 4:47 PM | Link to this

Oddsmaker, No, I haven’t read the book, I just heard about it yesterday. I can’t read that fast. I just commented that I thought it was odd for a Supreme Court justice to write a book in that particular vein. I say that particular vein because the couple of reviews I’ve read on the book, aren’t that flattering to Thomas.

Thanks for the link Paul -

Check back in later.

By @@

October 3, 2007 4:48 PM | Link to this

Bless your heart Paul.

You’ve been hearing from PoliFore daily, just under the guise of many different names. He hasn’t gone anywhere. I should be so lucky…

I can provide a list if you like. It’s long. He’ll return with a new name but his style is unmistakable.

By @@

October 3, 2007 4:52 PM | Link to this

Oh lawdy Paul, I’m still laughing.

PoliFore: Schedule a bris.

I can just see it now. Wooten’s and ml’s littered with a whole bunch of “little weiners”.

By Paul

October 3, 2007 4:52 PM | Link to this

@@

Thanks, but no. I have enough difficulty keeping up with the posters who don’t have multiple personalities! I’ll just continue addressing issues, such as they are.

By @@

October 3, 2007 4:56 PM | Link to this

:-OMG!

(((He just popped up)))

Yup….that’s our PoliFore.

I need a tissue I’m laughing so hard.

By Paul

October 3, 2007 4:58 PM | Link to this

@@

I was wonderin’ if you were going to “notice” that!

:-)

By AmVet

October 3, 2007 4:58 PM | Link to this

{Haven’t you been listening to Hillary? Obama’s too inexperienced…}

I think after this President’s abysmal track record, and lack of credible experience, the country is very concerned, rightfully or not, about that issue and whether another pretend leader will again screw up most everything he touches.

Barack is the only viable candidate (Paul, Gravel and Kucinich to their credit have also remained from the beginning steadfastly opposed to giving you-know-who the OK to do you-know-what) to oppose this clusterf@ck from the get go.

I respect him for that.

The other Democrats are all IMHO, to some degree or another, political opportunists who have recently found the “courage” to say, “no I made a mistake” listening to the malarkey from this administration.

They were either blind, fools or just spineless politicians without the principles to take a stand, although it might well hurt their precious political careers.

And shamefully the GOP has, almost to a man, the “luxury” of only falling into that latter category on this matter.

By Oddsmaker

October 3, 2007 5:02 PM | Link to this

Bosch, I’m setting the odds at 50,000 to 1 that you haven’t been lied to in those reviews. Every review the oddsmaker has seen has taken tiny portions of fabulous story and tried to make a giant of a man into a bitter and small one. The odds are 1,000,000 to 1 against Clarence Thomas allowing them to do that to him.

To recap, if you bet $1.00 that the reviews are honest, thorough and accurate you can win $50,000.00 if they were. It’s a suckers bet though because you’ve been lied to again. The oddsmaker has read the book and leaves nothing to chance.

By Right-wing nut job in full glory

October 3, 2007 5:05 PM | Link to this

Paul,

If experience is what leads us to great and glorious wars like Iraq then we need some more experience. Obama is obviously out there in left field with those ridiculous predictions. Hell, you couldn’t even find anyone in the media saying those things before the war. Why? Because they are so far off base they weren’t worth any air time.

It makes you wonder why he would go from making such looney statements to running for President. I mean all we have to do is go back and look at the transcripts to see what a moron he is.

I’d like to see winger predictions before the war compared to Obama’s. I’d bet that would be embarrassing.

I know one thing, it shows that the left can’t be trusted with our foreign policy. Only wingers can be trusted to make these life and death decisions. I mean can you imagine if the Democrats had been in charge during WWII? It would have been a disaster. History has shown that we need good solid conservative leadership to win these struggles.

RWNJIFG

By Paul

October 3, 2007 5:09 PM | Link to this

AmVet

I was being sarcastic. I //think// you discerned that.

I’ve gone back and forth on this issue. He’s not much different from JFK in that regard. He got suckered into the Bay of Pigs, but stood against prevailing wisdom during the missile crisis.

I’ve been concerned about the experience - more along the lines of how gov’t works, the interrelationships and all, but that’s nothing that picking people familiar with such things will ameloriate. And by that I do not mean vested interest old school types.

That concern extends way past the current situation in Iraq. Mitt and Rudy don’t have the Iraq anchor around their necks - altho it matters much less with the Rep party faithful - and Mitt has a history of fixing things while gaining cooperation, Rudy’s experience with NYC is more than some heads of state.

Still kickin’ it around -

PS If you can, pls go to your son’s boot camp graduation. It’s a fine experience.

By ID jackers are losers

October 3, 2007 5:18 PM | Link to this

@@ and PAul,

Polifore or whatever his name is, is an example of the type of ignorance that prevents Doom from spending more time on this blog. When people are too stupid to express their own ideas, they resort to ID jacking to compensate for their loserhood. getalife does this frequently.

Doom

By getalife

October 3, 2007 5:20 PM | Link to this

Another gop Senator will not run.

They should all retire.

By AmVet

October 3, 2007 5:24 PM | Link to this

Paul,

I’m probably going to wait until he gets out to Monterrey before I visit!

Can’t imagine why?!

I realize that you were poking fun at Obama’s “inexperienced” record.

As for the experience “needed” to be President, I’m beginning to believe that being a governor is apparently not much help.

In my lifetime, we’ve had Nixon, Carter, Reagan, Clinton and now, Bush.

Not exactly the 1927 Yankee’s “Murderer’s Row” is it?!!

Enjoy your evening everyone!

By The Babe

October 3, 2007 5:29 PM | Link to this

Murderer’s Row

By Luckoduh

October 3, 2007 5:38 PM | Link to this

{{{{By RE October 3, 2007 4:01 PM Andy, Good call, China has been an established country for about 2200 years, but it was probably the clintons fault that they started having an army. Probably clintons fault that they hold about a third of our debt. Probably clintons fault that they have become the world largest producer of finished goods. Probably clintons fault that they have increased thier influence in Asia to the point that they are far more influential than the US, Japan or australia.}}}}

Oh, so we’re going to hide behind the fog of liberal ignorance, eh?:

{{{{The October 1997 United States visit and summit between Chinese President Jiang Zemin and US President William J. Clinton yielded concentrated, daily, and prominent debate on the status of US-China relations Despite ongoing investigation into Democratic National Committee soft money practices, and the criticism that “Chinese campaign money may be Influencing US policy,”1 the President stands firmly by his 29 May 1997 decision to continue China’s Most Favored Nation (MFN) Status waiver and a more moderated approach to US-China relations US-China policy critics, such as Bill Bauer, president of the Washington DC based Family Research Council, mounted a prominent campaign during the week of the summit. Citing continued human rights violations, religious persecution, trade inequities, and intellectual property rights differences as overwhelming justification for MFN revocation, critics, including Congress, called for a tougher stand. The opposition repeatedly raised the issue of US policy towards China, and the US President, as being subservient to big business and political monetary gain rather than national interest or principle. (<—-hey, they’re talking about the Klintoon I know!) It is this issue that merits further investigation.}}}}

By The Peoples for a Nuked Amerika' Century~!

October 3, 2007 5:38 PM | Link to this

-=-

Heck —

I brought up the problems of Blackwater many months ago and the no-bid contracts and no oversite to hold New Orleans (after Katrina) under mashall law. This has been happening al along — just no one to stand up and say Corporate Mercenaries are now in charge of Iraq…

However on a more Patriotic Note:

Someone Buy this man a beer —- hell buy him a whole truck load of beer!

Cheers’

Thomas

By @@

October 3, 2007 5:41 PM | Link to this

Catching up here.

By ray October 3, 2007 12:42 PM

@@: doubt very seriously you stray from your glass castle enough to see the ‘gang violence’ of which you speak (maybe you heard brit hume mention it? or saw it in a movie?).

What makes you think I live in a castle ray? I am surrounded by a moat.

Take your pick.

Not to worry though. I don’t. I just think kids deserve better than to be victims of their peers or their heroes.

By Buy Danish

October 3, 2007 5:45 PM | Link to this

{{{By Right-wing nut job in full glory October 3, 2007 2:30 PM |

Buy Danish,

Let me get this straight: Tom Harkin, who wore the uniform of this nation, is a “phony soldier” because he exaggerated his service?}}}

Right Wing Blow Job,

MoveOn.BJ.

I said he was a “phony combat veteran”. He really was a soldier, he just embellished his resume’ to include nonexistent combat air patrols and photo-reconnaissance air missions in Vietnam.

Of course, since he’s just one more congenital liar serving in the U.S. Senate, it shouldn’t surprise us that he would lie about what Rush Limbaugh said.

Maybe he could run as Hillary’s running mate!

By getalife

October 3, 2007 5:55 PM | Link to this

“Federal employees wasted at least $146 million over a one-year period on business- and first-class airline tickets, in some cases simply because they felt entitled to the perk, congressional investigators say.”

MMMMmmmm, I wonder if they think it is welfare?

By GodHatesTrash

October 3, 2007 5:56 PM | Link to this

Let’s face it - the Blackwater scum are mercenaries, natural born killers. Animals. Vermin.

Trash.

The best of redneck America.

By Rovespierre

October 3, 2007 6:00 PM | Link to this

If you have to tell someone that you’re being sarcastic, then both parties are illiterate, sorry, I dont write the rules, so hate someone else.

And what is wrong with being a loser? There’s more losers than winners. I accept myself for the loser that I am. For I lose somedays. I lose some. Sometimes I lose. So what?

I write things. I’m a writer. I write better than most journalists. I’m not the greatest writer, that title is still Lincoln’s. Lincoln was the best because he knew it was about the beer:

“Four coors, and seven beers ago, our fermenters brewed forth on this continent a new libation, conceived in distilleries and dedicated to the…..(you write the rest if you think you got what it takes…go ahead).

By Buy Danish

October 3, 2007 6:00 PM | Link to this

{{{By RE

October 3, 2007 1:47 PM |

The fcc does infringe on free speech, it fines radio stations for objectionable language, it also has the ability to enforce the fairness doctrine.}}}

Yes, the FCC fines radio and tv stations for violating obscenity provisions. That is constitutional.

As for your statement that it has the “ability” to enforce the Fairness Doctrine, how does that work exactly?

I want to know who decides what’s fair and how they go about doing it.

Saying that it is authorized to enforce if, should Congress decide to revive this Stalinist relic does not explain what the process is.

But hey, I’m interested in your opinion, particularly in light of the fact that you are lauding “state-controlled capitalist systems” like in China.

Rah Rah.

By Rovespierre

October 3, 2007 6:25 PM | Link to this

Danish, I’m going to go way out of my way to help you too. Glw is water under the bridge, but as a writer, I can no longer let you make so many errors of style and content. You are going to get a lesson that I could charge someone a thousand bucks for.

Okay, lets start with the topic, which is the “illusory presumption of intrinsic liberty in capitalism”.

If you reread your second sentence, “That is constitutional”, you will zero in on your problem: in a fractal sense, you have lived the local blogging error all your life on a much larger scale. This problem isn’t just about germane replies to other bloggers, but about how you gloss over your entire existence expecting others to accept poor opinion as fact and presumption as deliberation.

To cure your inept blogging mannerisms I prescribe a mantra : “Be like a child and children will chill now and then.”

Say that over till you fall asleep and when you wake up, my buy, you will be a writer.

By RW-(the original)

October 3, 2007 6:33 PM | Link to this

Now I ask ya, does that whiny 1:12 where we get a few paragraphs of tears and then a sudden retreat back to spamworld not sound just like a certain Athens spit bucket carrier for the ultimate fighters gym?

How you been OotMVod? By the way, I told you to get back to spamming so obviously I wasn’t telling you I didn’t want to see those fever swamp links over here. It saves me a trip to see the DUmmies.

By Right-wing nut job in full glory

October 3, 2007 6:38 PM | Link to this

Dusty and Buy Danish,

Won’t you stand up for Ann Coulter’s cause and stop voting…because you’re stupid?

“COULTER: If we took away women’s right to vote, we’d never have to worry about another Democrat president. It’s kind of a pipe dream, it’s a personal fantasy of mine, but I don’t think it’s going to happen. And it is a good way of making the point that women are voting so stupidly.”

Of course, if Coulter finds herself embarrassed by this she was, of course, “taken out of context.”

RWNJIFG

By RW-(the original)

October 3, 2007 6:40 PM | Link to this

RE,

Doesn’t your newspaper get delivered over the public roadways? Do we now get a fairness doctrine for them too?

By Rovespierre

October 3, 2007 6:57 PM | Link to this

Stop myspacing, RW.

Nobody reads this blog because of GLW wordsmiths like you.

There is simply no payoff. Your as profound as a cheek splint.

And it’s totally ruining this blog.

By Buy Danish

October 3, 2007 7:01 PM | Link to this

The Stalinist left at the Daily Kos actually use this argument to support reviving the Fairness Doctrine:

There was also a personal attack rule, which required stations to notify people or groups who were attacked on their broadcasts and give them the opportunity to respond on the air. And, candidates were given the opportunity to respond to attacks or endorsements of opponents.

I never knew this “personal attack” rule existed.

If they need to be notified that they were attacked, isn’t that sort of like a tree falling in a desert?

By RW-(the original)

October 3, 2007 7:03 PM | Link to this

Aw Polly, you know you hang on every word. It’s OK to admit it.

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