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Home > Opinion > Mike Luckovich > Archives > 2008 > April > 18 > Entry

The great debate

By Mike Luckovich | Friday, April 18, 2008, 07:28 AM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Permalink | Comments (203) | Post your comment | Categories: Editorial Cartoon

Comments

By AJC Management

April 18, 2008 8:04 AM | Link to this

Operation Chaos, now the pinko media is hating on the pinko media, haha.

A beautiful thing it is.

~~~~~

{{{{Research: War feeds depression and PTSD-Urinal}}}}

Yeah, especially among wormy AJC reporters when America is winning the war.

POS.

~~~~~

Thee Environmental Terrorists scramble around and dissemble after their latest mass murder of poor children has been uncovered:

{{{{Ethanol leads only to higher food prices and greater greenhouse gas emissions. Such has been the case with ethanol ever since Congress latched on to the idea that it could be sold as a means of cutting greenhouse gas emissions.-Urinal}}}}

Hey, I got an idea! Let’s replace ethanol with……..oil.

Duh.

~~~~~

Ahhh, yes, Obambi and the Pinko Nation “cling” to religion trying to keep their sinking ship afloat, someone please throw them an anchor:

{{{{In a recent poll conducted by Relevant Magazine, which is second in influence only to the Bible among twenty something Christians, thousands of respondents were asked, “Who would Jesus vote for?” The number one response was Obama. Interestingly, the majority of respondents also described their political views as >>>>”conservative.”<<<<-Urinal}}}}

Uh, if you are really a Christian, you’ve heard about the false prophets^^, right?

Obambi is the most liberal Senator in all of thee land, he is pro gay, anti gun, anti American, pro illegal immigration, there is not a Conservative drop of blood in his whole entire body.

For anyone to endorse his views and considered themselves conservative, there can be only two possibilities; 1) they don’t know what he stands for, or 2) they don’t know what Conservatism stands for.

Or they’ve been brainwashed.

Freaking cultists.

By AJC Management

April 18, 2008 8:06 AM | Link to this

{{{{The 16-year-old was fatally shot by Marietta police responding to a report of a suspicious person with a weapon. The weapon turned out to be a pellet gun that resembled a semiautomatic handgun, police said. Asked why he ran, Drake said that was a natural reaction for young black males approached by seemingly hostile police.” That’s the first instinct for anybody when you see police with guns,” Drake said.-POS Urinal}}}}

Oh I get it, it’s just natural for people to run when they see the cops coming but it is not natural for a cop to defend himself against someone carrying a gun.

And of course the Urinal has no mention of PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY, let’s see, housing projects, kids playing in the street with look alike weapons, why, it’s the cops fault.

FY. SIUYA.

~~~~~

Misprint?

{{{{In that fight, no act of terrorism is out of bounds for the Hamas leader, who endorses the group’s recent ambush of Israeli civilians working at a fuel depot that supplies Gaza. The “total war” of which he speaks was initiated by Hamas itself through its deliberate targeting of civilians, such as the residents of the Israeli town of Sderot, who suffer daily rocket attacks.-Urinal}}}}

Sderot, what’s that? I only read the Urinal so I have no idea. Is that some Palestinian town that the Israelis use for target practice and their lust for the blood of Arab children?

Do tell, AJC.

~~~~~~

Sound familiar?:

{{{{There is no shortage of reasons to suspect the debate over manmade climate change has been woefully incomplete. After all, alarmists’ primary response to critical components of their case disintegrating — the “hockey stick” graph debunked, doomsday computer models exposed as farce, no actual temperature rise since 1998 — >>>>has been to cackle condescendingly, emit ever-louder catcall comparisons to flat-earthers and Holocaust deniers,<<<

By IN THE (Hussein) NEWS

April 18, 2008 8:15 AM | Link to this

Iraqi troops abandon positions, again

By jasper

April 18, 2008 8:16 AM | Link to this

The test here is how do you handle pressure and scrutiny, regardless of substance. If you can’t take it in the campaign, then you certainly won’t be able to stand it as commander in cheif. Bill Clinton was the best at this. He shrugged it off with ease and glee. Obama’s obvious frustration with the line of questioning shows a weakness. You can’t play the race or victim card once you’re president.

By IN THE (Hussein) NEWS

April 18, 2008 8:20 AM | Link to this

Welcome Jasper…

Always glad to have a new character join the cast

By w00t

April 18, 2008 8:20 AM | Link to this

Oh, Andy, the angry Christian. Do you beat your wife and kids too?

Or are you bossed around by your wife/mom and this is the only outlet you have to vent your frustrations and to look like you’re in some sort of control?

I find it funny that you obviously hover over the keyboard with a word document ready to copy and past from, waiting for the clock to strike 8:00am so you can post your garbage of the day.

If you spent at least a half of that anger and energy on something more productive like getting an education or a new job other than being a keyboard warrior, you would probably become a friendlier person. You might even be able to move out of that basement your currently living in.

By IN THE (Hussein) NEWS

April 18, 2008 8:20 AM | Link to this

Iraqi troops abandon positions, again

By IN THE (Hussein) NEWS

April 18, 2008 8:30 AM | Link to this

An Open Letter to Charlie Gibson and George Stephanapoulos

By IN THE (Hussein) NEWS

April 18, 2008 8:33 AM | Link to this

The Man Who Would Be Bush

By Paul

April 18, 2008 8:34 AM | Link to this

AJC Management

Here’s one right up your alley. They say a picture’s worth a thousand words.

Link: Ethanol-Subsidies-Law-Unintended Consequences

By AJC Management

April 18, 2008 8:36 AM | Link to this

{{{{By w00t April 18, 2008 8:20 AM If you spent at least a half of that anger and energy on something more productive like getting an education or a new job other than being a keyboard warrior, you would probably become a friendlier person.}}}}

w00sie: Do you really believe that a 4 paragraph angry rant at another participant on open public blog is “something more productive” than what I do?

I really don’t want to play the same game you liberals do, the only thing you are obviously capable of, but I do need to point out what a shallow, bitter person you truly are.

Why don’t you try “clinging” to religion or something, I hear that helps.

It is absolutely none of your busy body business if I choose to educate myself on the events of the day and emerging policy ideas, instead of clutching my pillow like you must be doing, and then use that education to humiliate one of the most goony anti American propaganda outlets in all of the land.

And check this out, dimwit, if I’m not so effective at applying said humiliation, then why do every single one of you panty waist mouth breathers whine and moan about me?

I’m the f’n man, hahaha.

By Glenn

April 18, 2008 8:39 AM | Link to this

AbFab cartoon today, PulitSir. Two top hats off. Way off!

By Paul

April 18, 2008 8:49 AM | Link to this

IThN 8:11

“US lacks coherent plan to fight terror: government watchdog”

Shouldn’t the headline “US lacks coherent plan to fight terror in Pakistan”?

Just two little words -

BTW - after all the press, which gov’t agency wants to be on the receiving end of the headlines “Agency X initiating govt-wide planning for invading Pakistan’s tribal areas, violating their sovereignty and inflicting torture and abuse, secret plans reveal”?

Clarification: I’m not surprised; in fact, I’d be surprised if it was done. Just as surprised as I’d be if a certain administration had paid attention to Richard Clarke for a couple of terms. See? Same tune, different words.

the 8:26

Notice how the author implies only “the rich” benefit from capital gains? Also asserts “He seemed far more concerned about the Democratic candidates’ proposal to raise the capital gains tax—and what he claimed would be the lost revenue” -

Question: what does the body of the record illustrate happens when capital gains tax is cut? Answer: an increase in revenue because of greater investment.

Question: where have some of the greatest turnarounds been in eliminating urban blight (rebuilding poor, minority neighborhoods)? Answer: where there’s no capital gains tax so investors will take more risk. Who benefits? The greedy, wealthy rich. And the poor people in the rebuilt neighborhoods.

Question: has Obama ever addressed this seeming contradiction? Yes. Response? More concerned with fairness (in fairness, it isn’t just Obama who invokes “fairness” in such responses).

Prediction: if there’s a response, it’ll be along the lines of “where’s the source? Who reported that?” not “let’s take a look at when capital gains decreases have led to a reduction in taxes collected.”

By Bosch

April 18, 2008 8:50 AM | Link to this

I’ll bet all those flag pins were made in China.

His stand on why he doesn’t wear a pin sounds good to me - move along - pins don’t prove patriotism.

By Paul

April 18, 2008 8:54 AM | Link to this

RW-(the original) - AmVet

On this Webb GI bill:

RW-(the original) Did you mean to type “36” months and missed the “6”? The bill provides benefit at 36 months. You are correct on the amounts. It’s full tuition. With no contributions by the servicemember.

Plus a grand a month for incidentals. Books and such.

Plus a housing allowance, equal to the rate paid a midlevel sergeant. Now. a midlevel sergeant gets about $730 a month, tax free, if they have dependents and live off post. With an extra allowance if they live in a “high cost area” (which seems to be most of the US). So it can go up to $2500 a month for an apartment allowance in areas near universities.

Webb’s bill is here:

Link: Webb’s GI Bill

Oh, and for the argument it’s to help them get back to a good civilian job real quick (the reason I saw cited time and time again on the sites urging passage): the benefits are good for 15 years. So much for that ‘logic’. Then again, maybe 15 years is real quick in Washington-speak.

By w00t

April 18, 2008 9:02 AM | Link to this

Because, Andy, you’re the joke of the blog.

What are you going to accomplish by posting about a story on the AJC, making some sort of derogatory comment, and then finishing it off with “GFY”? Nothing, because it is an opinion. What you enjoy most is the self satisfaction that you get when you ruffle a few feathers on the blog. It’s a game of “how many rocks can I throw at this hornets nest before I get a response”. At least we have ITHN to offset you.

But, I digress.

When did ABC start working for Fox news?

By Paul

April 18, 2008 9:05 AM | Link to this

RW-AmVet

It seems this Library of Congress source has a timeout provision.

My mistake. It seems the benefits are paid over 36 months. It takes only two years of service to qualilfy.

Here’s a better link. Just click on “See Full Bill Text”

Link: [S22]*(http://www.opencongress.org/bill/110-s22/show)

By Paul

April 18, 2008 9:12 AM | Link to this

IThN

Obama’s proposed eliminating the cap on earnings for Social Security tax. He refuses to consider changes in benefits calculation, postponing, even for a few months, retirement age, or any other changes.

I don’t believe Hillary has offered any specifics.

McCain’s proposed what you cited, plus other steps such as having people who make more than $160,000 a year pay a bit more for part of the drugs they get under Medicare.

I think these “it doesn’t solve the whole problem” (translation: McCain’s a Republican) are misleading. It’s going to take a series of initiatives.

BTW - what was it, two, three years ago, such cites were talking about the “myth” of the impending crisis in Social Security/Medicare funding? It was before the US Comptroller began his speaking tour -

By The Devil You Say

April 18, 2008 9:19 AM | Link to this

The funny thing about this poorly drawn doodle today is that it lacks the real historical context of the Lincoln/Douglas debates and Luckovich is also obviously completely ingorant of the personal nature of 19th century politics in both this country and Great Britain, the only two true representative democracies in the world before 1860 - and no Switzerland did not truly have a representative democracy at that time.

Obama DID state that he would not wear a flag lapel pin because he thought that it signified ‘phoney’ patriotism. This was a quite elitist statement on his part at the time. He was also questioning the true sincerity of those who at that time were wishing to openly show their support for this country after a brutal and UNPROVOKED attack.

Also, character matters. The questions asked were completely relevant and they have been in the news. Character is almost always at the forefront in the presidential campaign. Just think if that issue had been taken more seriously in elections such as those in which we elected such humanitarians and sober fellows as Andrew Jackson, James Buchanan, Ulysses S. Grant, Warren G. Harding, Lyndon B. Johnson and Richard M. Nixon! Not to say that all of our other presidents were angels, but those were probably the worst.

We have also avoided some really bad presidents simply because character and intelligence were issues. William Jennings Bryan lost three times and his actions later in life proved his utter lack of fitness for high office. Ditto for John W. Davis, the Democrat nominee in 1924. Adalai E. Stevenson proved himself to be an utter fool as the Ambassador to the United Nations. Ted Kennedy was defeated for the Democrat nomination mostly because he IS unfit to hold higher office. His life is an open pornographic novel. Michael Dukakis proved himself to be a nice and a good man, but spineless. We dodged a real bullet there.

We did elect a liar and moral reprobate when we elected Clinton, and many on the left are now agreeing with that synopsis. If only they had spoken up during the 1992 primaries!!!!

The funniest thing is that Obama and Clinton are complaining about the questions asked. They are exposed as whiners and complainers and neither handled their answers well, although Clinton certainly was better than Obama. And when he complains about substantive questions, then he might thing about being substantive in his answers and in his speeches. Hope

By Truthman

April 18, 2008 9:26 AM | Link to this

I really don’t give a flip about Jenna Bush’s wedding. Please put that pablum on the society page.

Oh, and Bush sux!

By AJC Management

April 18, 2008 9:26 AM | Link to this

Here, let’s all “joke” about this:

{{{{Michael Hirsh- The Democrats’ Wimp Factor- As Obama’s patriotism is questioned, he’s starting to look more and more like John Kerry in ‘04. Between the questions about Obama’s meager association with William Ayers, a former Weatherman, and the suspicions raised by his lack of a flag lapel pin, the likely nominee is slowly being turned into John Kerry. He is becoming, in other words, a candidate who may be mostly right about national security but who will lack the Red State street cred to carry his point—and the election.-“News” Weak}}}}

Hahaha, funny, ain’t it?

By Carbon Footprint

April 18, 2008 9:26 AM | Link to this

Duhng has so much to say today. Dont anyone miss one word! Aw, he likes to express important stuff he thinks of. I’ll bet there’s more, he’s thinkin’ real hard right now, and he’s gonna be so happy when he thinks how he’s informin’ folks about clever clever ideas that he thought of all by himself!

Pingate. Bittergate. Pastorgate. (Heh, heh, he said pastorgate).

Obama is a teflon president. Hillary cant recover from snipergate. The admission about getting it wrong came from her spin-central boiler-room of parse-meisters who have failed her at every turn in this campaign, and was a gaunt, hollow shell of her, “I take it personal” reflection which resurrected her campaign a few months ago. (never mind she hacked it from Edwards, her voice’s timber and the rhythm and pace of her reflection that day was a tonal masterpiece and a campaign coup and should B taught 2 wannabes 4 generations 2 come.)

By Paul

April 18, 2008 9:28 AM | Link to this

IThN

Minor point: I wrote “the body of evidence”

Your rebuttal was on a singular event.

It’s economics. Nothing always happens a certain way. To make things more murky, many factors can affect the outcome. So the discussion can easily break down in focusing on a single event when discussing general principles.

I also wrote about the impact of targeting such cuts - such as in Urban Renewal Zones. I tried to make the point - raise capital gains, refuse any reductions, especially to zero in some cases, and watch the economically depressed suffer even more.

By Truthman

April 18, 2008 9:32 AM | Link to this

Republicans crybabies want to take away Jimmy Carter’s passport because he dares to use diplomacy instead of Soldiers to bring about peace.

Idiot chickenhawks!!

By w00t

April 18, 2008 9:34 AM | Link to this

distraction questions != great debate

By Jesus

April 18, 2008 9:36 AM | Link to this

IMPEACH BUSH NOW!!!

By Paul

April 18, 2008 9:41 AM | Link to this

IThN 9:28

ThinkProgress really needs to get a military advisor.

An earmark is an earmark. Either eliminate them or stay in the business of analyzing each one to see if it’s good enough to bypass the standard legislative process.

Does ThinkProgress want to eliminate earmarks or not? Do you know their position? If they do, you’ll have to ask them if they want to cut military housing. If not, you’ll have to ask them if they want the Bridge to Nowhere.

The housing was for Family housing at two posts. If there’s not enough housing on post, military get money to live off post. If it’s a high-cost area, they get a bonus that can amount to thousands a month. Tax free.

So post builds more housing on base, members live their and give up their housing allowance.

Normal procedures are for Congress to vote to individually fund each and every building (literally).

Again, they completely miss or misrepresent the larger issues to bash their political opponent.

By Goldie

April 18, 2008 9:41 AM | Link to this

Love this ‘toon, Lucko! No one was wearing a flag pin up on that stage during the debate Tuesday night — how irrelevant can that question be?

Oh, and your drawing of Stephanapoulos is wonderful — what a mental midget he seemed to be on Tuesday!

By AmVet

April 18, 2008 9:44 AM | Link to this

IMHO, former President Jimmy Carter is to be commended for taking the initiative toward resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

(This administration has done exactly what to further that aim?)

His meeting in Damascus with Khaled Meshal, the leader of Hamas, is consonant with a March 1, 2008 poll by the leading Israeli newspaper - Haaretz - that found 64 percent of Israelis favor direct talks with Hamas. Only 28 percent were opposed. (Hamas was created years ago with the critical support of both the Israeli and U.S. governments as a counterweight to the Palestine Liberation Organization.)

By Goldie

April 18, 2008 9:47 AM | Link to this

The Devil @ 9:19 — I think that Sen. Obama shows more “patriotism” and concern for our veterans when he worked vigorously for exposing the shabby treatment they were receiving while at Walter Reed Hospital… that’s a little more effective way of exhibiting “patriotism” as opposed to wearing a flag pin, dontcha think???

By Paul

April 18, 2008 9:54 AM | Link to this

Goldie 9:47

There you go again, citing substance over style.

:-)

By Georgia 74

April 18, 2008 9:58 AM | Link to this

It doesn’t matter who is elected next because even an ejactulating monkey would be better than what we have now.

By IN THE (Hussein) NEWS

April 18, 2008 10:00 AM | Link to this

John Edwards on The Colbert Report-4.16.08: Hilarious!

By Carbon Footprint

April 18, 2008 10:01 AM | Link to this

Wrong, Goldie! Stephanopolus is looking at the general election and asking the dirtytricks questions that McCain’s writers are going to arm him with in the upcoming national debates of Obama and McCain.

It’s all about how you look while you’re saying what you’re saying, and Obama’s writers now have plenty of time to prepare and rehearse for the oblique, embarrassing, and cruel, and stupid, and moronic, and idiotic and loaf-pinching questions that the media will pepper any future debates with in the months to come, if I may be so pedantic.

By tiff

April 18, 2008 10:12 AM | Link to this

With every toon you draw Mike, I say this one is my favorite. This one truly is my favorite of the year. I’m sure when you decided to draw Stephanopolous small you were referring to the size of his mind and not just his body. And to think I could have been watching the Biggest Loser. Oh my bad, George Bush was not on tv that night.

By N-GA

April 18, 2008 10:12 AM | Link to this

No flag pin? Dammit, I guess we will have to start burning Christians at the stake if they fail to wear their crosses around their necks.

By Bear

April 18, 2008 10:14 AM | Link to this

The importance of lapel pins cant be overstated. Look how aids was cured after everyone wore the pink armbands. Or how people’s moral improved (and prices dropped) when everyone wore the smiley face pin. Or when we all wore the davey crockett coonskin hat, which was a patriotic emblem, (and notice how the mexicans never attacked the alamo after that ever ever ever?)

No, Obama was wrong about the pin, but he’s going to be wrong about lots of things. He’s not a god, or a king, or an infallible pope. He’s our next president, warts and all.

Obama 08. he’s not the pope, and you’ll never catch him at bingo night. he’s just our next president.

By Goldie

April 18, 2008 10:16 AM | Link to this

Carbon @ 10:01 — I don’t believe the Dems trying to decide our next nominee need to have the Hannity & Limbaugh talking points used during a Dem debate… the Repugs’ “issues” of flag pins, Weather Underground members from ‘68, etc., will arrive in plenty of time for their asinine concerns to be dealt with. The Dems I know and talk to want to know about how we will go about dealing with the real issues that America is facing right now, like ending the occupation of Iraq, fighting the real terrorist organizations & heads of state, creating new jobs for the future, etc.

And if the flag pin issues are important to the few 12% of the still “undecideds”, those non-issues that are re-hashed over and over again by the media every day and night certainly don’t deserve the first hour of a 2-hour Dem debate!

By Goldie

April 18, 2008 10:21 AM | Link to this

{{Obama 08. he’s not the pope, }}

Bear @ 10:14 — oh, so true… America doesn’t need another “blind-eyed pope” who won’t face problems or deal with them head-on. And wouldn’t that make a great bumper sticker: “Obama ‘08— he’s not the pope!” Bound to win over a few more millions of undecided voters!

By RW-(the original)

April 18, 2008 10:24 AM | Link to this

Paul,

I’ll be around late this afternoon to discuss if you want. I gave a much better link yesterday where you can actually read S-22. The fine print gives you a full ride for nearly no service. It should be near the end of the day.

Bosch,

I don’t have a problem with Obama’s first response as to why he doesn’t wear the pin, but yesterday he said he never said he doesn’t wear a flag pin.

By @@

April 18, 2008 10:25 AM | Link to this

Facing Gibson and Stephanapoulis in the Pennsylvania debate, Obama WAS “short” and “to the left”, but then neither candidate is an “Honest” Abe.

So we agree ml…..Barack Obama is the new Stephen Douglas.

Maybe Obama should try to peddle his political “schtick” in London, where Muslims are supporting the Pro-Palestinian Mayor’s campaign. Obama will have a “leg up” since he’s been endorsed by the leader of Hamas.

By I.P. Freely

April 18, 2008 10:28 AM | Link to this

Awwww poor babies. ABC asked a couple of stupid uncomfortable questions??

It was just a test.

I thought Obama was the ‘Grand Orator’?

Obviously he doesn’t do very well when he has to leave the index cards or deviate from the hope and change chant.

Yes, he failed the test.

Hillary showed she can handle the pressure better than Obama.

By IN THE (Hussein) NEWS

April 18, 2008 10:29 AM | Link to this

Paul says:

“ThinkProgress really needs to get a military advisor.”

Take a peak at the experts…

Perhaps Paul, you meant to say they should get an advisor who agrees with your own personal perspective.

By Truthman

April 18, 2008 10:30 AM | Link to this

@@…another religious bigot!!

Gotta love that “christian” love.

By AJC Management

April 18, 2008 10:33 AM | Link to this

{{{{Still, it was a frankly disgraceful performance. Just because Barry attended a church for years without noticing that its pastor was a raving anti-American racist; refuses to demean himself by wearing a flag pin on his lapel; is up to his ears in the Tony Rezko mess; and thinks you yahoos are, well, yahoos is no reason for the media to question either his morals, his beliefs, or his patriotism. Isn’t it enough for him to just say he’s addressed all those issues, and to ask the media to tackle more substantive questions, such as how he’s going to bring hope and change not only to the United States but also to our European allies, fellow leftists such as Angela Merkel, Nicolas Sarkozy and Silvio Berlusconi?}}}}

By IN THE (Hussein) NEWS

April 18, 2008 10:37 AM | Link to this

Little Ricky Duh at 10:28 it’s often the scatological references that your characters use that ties them all to you.

By Goldie

April 18, 2008 10:41 AM | Link to this

Senator Obama has no problem with keeping his perspective about a Dem debate and he showed the proper restraint toward a fellow Dem:

Obama said he knows he will have to respond sharply and crisply to an attack like that, explaining he tried to “show some restraint” because he was debating a Democrat.— “Ill be honest with you –- it’s a little harder to do with a fellow Democrat because you know I’m trying to you know be –- show some restraint. You know, I won’t have this much restraint with the Republicans,” he said before continuing, “If the Republicans come at me I will come right back at them.”

Obama is what America needs for our next president — someone who understands when “force” is necessary and he won’t be taking us into another unnecessary invasion of a foreign country!

By Bosch

April 18, 2008 10:43 AM | Link to this

RW,

“but yesterday he said he never said he doesn’t wear a flag pin.”

That was hard to read - like the Peter Piper picked a pile of pickled …….something.

According to whom? That really doesn’t matter to me. His original statement is fine with me, people get hung up on who said what about whom, when, how, etc. about a (most likely) Made in China flag pin.

In my opinion, a discussion about whether or not Obama wears a flag pin is as irrelevant as a discussion as to whether or not Eve ate an apple or a pomegrante in the Garden of Eden.

I know this is a matter of character for some, but I consider all three candidates to have good character, they wouldn’t have made it this far without it. Also, I don’t question any of their patriotism - I think all three candidates love this country.

In my opinion, people need to quit bickering over this petty crap and focus on which candidate is saying how they will deal with the real issues - the economy, healthcare, education, the war, national security, etc.

By The Devil You Say

April 18, 2008 10:45 AM | Link to this

This is not a matter of using diplomacy. Old Dummy Carter is using his name and prestige as a failed and utter terrible president to gin up a rabid and uncivilized group of terrorists. He is lending prestige to human flotsam. These people have no more regard for human life than Terminex has for termites! That a former United States Chief Magistrate would meet with the leader of such a group is outrageous. Hamas is evil. It is on a par with Chamberlain’s meeting with Hitler at Munich in 1939, the difference being that at least Old Dummy does not have the power of state behind him. Until these thugs can behave like civilized human beings then they should be ignored by the international community and the Israelis should be allowed to deal with them, in the same way we dealt with the Fascists in World War II!!!!!!!

By IN THE (Hussein) NEWS

April 18, 2008 10:47 AM | Link to this

Goldie…

Great post

By RW-(the original)

April 18, 2008 10:47 AM | Link to this

Lucky me that I hit refresh before I walked out the door.

little newsie namejacker,

I see there’s no hope for your paranoid delusions, but at least learn the meaning of words before you try to use them all by yourself.

Here’s some help for you

You’re welcome and goodbye for now.

Later!

By I.P. Freely

April 18, 2008 10:47 AM | Link to this

Hussein@10:37:

You are so wrong and such a dufus.

Now STFU while you still have an ounce of respect!

By getalife

April 18, 2008 10:49 AM | Link to this

The Daily Show ran a clip of just how bad Obama’s performance was. It was the worst performance in a debate and exposed how well he would do if the Dems are dumb enough to run him.

Clinton is the only choice if you want to win. Period.

By Bosch

April 18, 2008 10:51 AM | Link to this

Andy and @@,

Funny how both of you have brought up Silvio Berlusconi in recent posts.

He makes Benito Mussolini look like an altar boy.

But I guess because he’s considered a “conservative” you think he’s a great guy. He’s a conservative in the sense that he doesn’t want things to change in Italy, so he can continue using the government as a front for his illegal activities.

By Book recommendation

April 18, 2008 10:54 AM | Link to this

You folks should all take out the time to read a book which you have to order from Amazon as it has been out of print for about 15 years or so. It is entitled: “A Question of Character” and it is by University of Wisconsin at Madison professor Thomas Reeve. I will not tell you the subject, but only that it is a great work in illustrating why character does matter and why people of low moral and ethical character should not attain high office and how the left-leaning media (print and electronic) have been complicit in covering these things up.

By AmVet

April 18, 2008 10:56 AM | Link to this

Asregards my earlier post: a March 1, 2008 poll by the leading Israeli newspaper - Haaretz - that found 64 percent of Israelis favor direct talks with Hamas. Only 28 percent were opposed.

I knew that 28% number sounded familiar.

What could it be?…

Let me think a moment…

OH YEAH!

That’s the percentage of Americans who don’t think this Bushco administration is a total train wreck!

Ah, it is fun exposing these brain-dead unprincipled principled, non-conservative conservatives!

Even if some are Israeli…

By Goldie

April 18, 2008 10:56 AM | Link to this

getalife @ 10:49 — I recall that John Kerry was also the declared “winner” of the debates of 2004… and that really helped him out a lot, yes???

By Bosch

April 18, 2008 10:56 AM | Link to this

Sometimes I hope there is a hell for people who refer to Jimmy Carter, as “Old Dummy Carter.”

These are the same people who demand that we all respect the office of the President.

Fvcking unpatriotic hypocrits.

By Goldie

April 18, 2008 10:58 AM | Link to this

{{why character does matter and why people of low moral and ethical character should not attain high office}}

I agree with your assessment, Book-blogger… Dubya should’ve never attained the presidency in 2000!

By IN THE (Hussein) NEWS

April 18, 2008 10:59 AM | Link to this

RW Apparently you don’t know $hit!

“excrement

noun waste matter (as urine or sweat but especially feces) discharged from the body [syn: body waste]

Anybody surprised?

Maybe with you we should just stick with tinkles and grunts like with the little ones…

By Bosch

April 18, 2008 10:59 AM | Link to this

getalife,

I saw that clip and I have to disagree. The first hour of whatever you want to call that wasn’t a debate. That clip simply showed what a joke ABC news has become.

By The Devil You Say

April 18, 2008 11:02 AM | Link to this

getalife - again I agree with you up to a point. However, as weak and ineffectual and vapid as Obama is, Hillary has many more problems. People don’t like her. She has been painted (unfairly I might add) by the Obama loving radical-left news outlets such as NBC and (P)MSNBC as being far behind in popular votes and the delegate count. However, they have exacerbated already high negatives. She is a smart woman. She is NOT the smartest woman in the world, though. She makes many mistakes and she is a liar. She is married to an inveterate liar.

Nevertheless, she has won the most significant states such as California, New York, Ohio and Texas. She has won many more Democrat votes than Obama. He has ironically received many more ‘cross-over’ votes than she. Although I disagree with her most vehemently on almost every issue, she would almost have to make a better president than this junior empty suit Senator from the corrupt Chicago political machine.

I just feel sorry for you Democrats. your convention is going to be as nasty as the 1968 Chicago Democrat convention and the 1964 Republican San Francisco convention.

Good luck you’re gonna need it.

By Bear

April 18, 2008 11:07 AM | Link to this

How about Bridget Bardow? Why dont we send Bridget Bardow to Hamas for talks?

By The Devil You Say

April 18, 2008 11:08 AM | Link to this

14% is the favorability number for the Democrat controlled Congress right now.

By AmVet

April 18, 2008 11:15 AM | Link to this

And of that 14% Congressional favorability rating, the Republican members across the board are bringing an already low number down even further!

In other words, for the slow to grasp this concept, their individual and collective ratings are EVEN worse than the Democrats.

Republican Bloodbath, Part Deux. Coming to an election near you this November.

By getalife

April 18, 2008 11:16 AM | Link to this

Here is Obama flipping off Clinton

Sad and embarrassing.

He should drop out.

By Goldie

April 18, 2008 11:18 AM | Link to this

Also, getalife @ 10:49 — the only dumb thing the Dems can do for November is put the Clintons on the ticket, knowing that their unfavorable & “dishonesty” ratings go up every week!

By IN THE (Hussein) NEWS

April 18, 2008 11:20 AM | Link to this

“Democrat controlled Congress right now. “”“

HAHA HAHAH HAHAHA

As Joe Biden says…

“”We do not have control. We do not have effective control of the U. S. Congress,” he said. There are 49 Democrats, 49 Republicans, and two independents who caucus with the Democrats, to give the party a majority.

But, Biden said, “You need 60 votes to proceed and 67 votes to prevail over a presidential veto.” With 51, he said, “we can stop bad things from happening,” but can’t quickly end the Iraq war or set a timetable for redeploying troops.

“It’s an unrealistic expectation that Republicans will give us enough votes to do that,” he said. “”

But the devil never was one for truth.

Makes it look real stupid don’t it.

Seems it don’t know $hit either.

By The Devil You Say

April 18, 2008 11:23 AM | Link to this

AmVet - you are blinded by political myopia and hatred of one man. You folks got humiliated in 2004 because of it. The Republicans lost in 2006 not because people agreed with the Democrats but because the Republicans were stupid enough to lose their base because of unwise spending on SOCIAL PROGRAMS! And I will admit that some of the right-wing are looneys. The trouble is that y’all just embrace your looneys and let them run things. We just bow to ours and then move on.

You will lose in 2008 for the same reason the Socialists lost in Germany in 2006, in France in 2007 and in Italy in 2008 - those ideas have been tried and were left wanting. Freedom and capitalism work every time, so the party that espouses those ideas will come out on top in the end. History is on the side of the conservatives.

By Political Foreskin

April 18, 2008 11:28 AM | Link to this

Brigette Bardot could get in close the Hamas leadership with two thirty eights. Then she’d pull a gun. It……could……..WORK!!!!

By AmVet

April 18, 2008 11:37 AM | Link to this

Here are the irrefutable facts.

in Nov, 2006, political history was made as not one single solitary “open” Democratic seat was lost in the entire US Congress.

Not ONE.

To call that shocking is the understatement of the century.

It likely will never happen again.

And in this election season every single faux conservative (seven or eight?) was humiliated by a maverick who was given up for dead and who is loathed by the GOP’s power brokers.

Yes, McCain IMHO is likely to win the White House. But that is because people perceive him as rational and reasonable, a centrist and hopefully a good coalition builder.

In other words, a RINO.

It is the phony conservative neo-con ideology that is on trial in America now.

And the more one was politically aligned to this worst administration in American history (you neo-cons won’t admit it now, but in a few years when W is at the bottom of every list, you will), the more the chance they will son be looking for work in the “private sector”.

The reasons for this implosion are numerous, and the spin to explain or apologize it away is merely comedic material now.

And lord knows I’ve heard countless times the ridiculous excuse that they are getting shellacked is because they weren’t “conservative” enough!

That is merely going to continue this stunning downward spiral hopefully leading to an explosive “augering in”.

Then the GOP can come to it’s senses anew…

By IN THE (Hussein) NEWS

April 18, 2008 11:39 AM | Link to this

Some history text books may be on the side of conservatives but here’s what liberals have done for amerrica…The GI Bill

Endangered Species Act

Environmental Laws

The Space Program

The Peace Corps

Americorps

The Civil Rights Movement

Earned Income Tax Credit

Family & Medical Leave Act

Consumer Product Safety Commission

Americans With Disabilities Act

Freedom of Information Act

Women’s right to control their reproductive future

Allowing citizens to view their own credit records

The Internet

Balancing the federal budget

The Brady Bill (5-day wait on handgun purchases for background checks)

Lobbying Disclosure Act

“Motor-Voter” Act

The Voting Rights Act

Unemployment Insurance

Medicare/Medicaid

Food Stamps/WIC

Social Security

Peace between Israel and Egypt

Peace between Israel and Jordan

The Department of Education

The Department of Energy

The Department of Transportation

The Department of Housing and Urban Development

Labor Laws

The Marshall Plan

Winning World War II

Food Safety Laws

Workplace Safety Laws

The Tennessee Valley Project

The Civilian Conservation Corps

The Securites and Exchange Commission

Women’s Right to Vote

Universal Public Education

National Weather Service

Product Labeling Laws

Truth in Advertising Laws

Morrill Land Grant Act

Rural Electrification

Public Universities

Bank Deposit Insurance (FDIC)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Public Broadcasting

Supporting the establishment of Israel

The United Nations

NATO

But it goes without saying, every single leap forward over the last century has been the result of Democratic, Liberal and Progressive policies, positions and goals. Every step backward is most assuredly the result of Republican and Conservative policies, positions and goals.

By I.P. Freely

April 18, 2008 11:39 AM | Link to this

Hussein know $hit, he know $hit real good.

Hussein, this is my real name so please quit making fun of it. That’s not very nice.

In the debate, did you see how Hillary was calm, cool and collected with a huge smile in the background as Obama turned and twisted like he had a stick up his azz? She was laughing at him!

When the heat was turned on Hillary, she just simply answered the question.

Hillary rocked.

Obama is like a turn table stuck on stupid. Take those cue cards away or change the subject from “Hope and Change” and he shows the incompetent he really is.

By The Devil You Say

April 18, 2008 11:44 AM | Link to this

The fact is that not everthing can be filibustered and the Democrats do have organizational control and control over spending and what gets out of committee. They have been terribly ineffective and ineffectual. Pelosi is a joke and Reid a study in wussiness. The Democrats have also NOT been very cooperative or willing to work across party lines and with the president. His personal favorability ratings are still above 50%. We cannot say that for many of the Democrat leaders, including one who is runnig for president.

Also, when people start screaming about freedoms being restricted in this country, just look at the stupidity that goes on in other so-called free countries when someone tries to express a politically sensative opinion, especially if it is not politically ‘correct’. Brigitte Bardot will get out of it, as she has 4 times before, but it is too rediculous. Imagine any kind of law like that in the United States? As the French say, ridicule, ridicule!!!

By IN THE (Hussein) NEWS

April 18, 2008 11:56 AM | Link to this

I.P. Daily,

son of Amanda Hugnkiss and Seymore Hymen,

Grandson of Anna Linjection and Jack Koff.

proudly anounces

the birth of triplets

Cody Pendant

Craven Morehead

and

Phil McCracken

What a proud family.

(some times it’s fun to remember being 10 years old, I admit it. But imagine living like that for 42 years)

By The Devil You Say

April 18, 2008 12:00 PM | Link to this

ITN - check your facts now. You again are only right about half the time with your list. Let’s just take a few. Almost all of the civil rights laws were passed either by Republican congresses under Republican presidents or with the the help of Republicans when southern Democrats were opposed, including Clinton’s mentor Fullbright and Gore’s daddy.

George Aiken and Bob Dole introduced the food stamp program in the 1960s. A bad idea, but they were Republicans.

Food Safety laws (the Pure Food and Drug Act and the Meat Inspection Act) and were first passed by a Republican Congress at the behest of a Republican president who also established the FDA.

Women’s right to vote was a Republican issue pushed by Republicans and sent to the states by a Republican Congress. Wilson had reservations. Theodore Roosevelt was all for it. You are just dead wrong on that one.

The Morrill Land Grant Act and the Homestead Act were also enacted by Republicans - The Homestead Act was the brainchild of Lincoln.

Public universities predate the Democrat party by about 30 years and the Democrats were basically opposed to the concept until Wilson came along.

All of these new governmental departments are huge bureaucracies which we really do not need and they only interfere with and weigh down the economy. We don’t need more regluation, but less.

Nixon established the EPA and Theodore Roosevelt and Taft passed the first real environmental laws. Eisenhower was also instrumental in these. Grant established the first national park, Yellowstone.

The Earned Income Tax Credit was the brainchild of Ronald Wilson Reagan. It was first enacted as part of his tax cuts in 1981. That’s Reaganomics to you and me.

I will end my list here, but you really need to do a little more fact checking before you spout off. You need an edjumacation boi.

By N-GA

April 18, 2008 12:00 PM | Link to this

Paul,

I apologize in advance for throwing out this observation when it is unlikely I’ll be able to hang out on the blog today for some reasoned discourse.

Perhaps you may want to more thoroughly analyze why more capital gains taxes are paid when the capital gains taxes are lower. Actually it is because many investors take the opportunity to realize gains (from investments made long-ago) when the taxes are lowered. That does not mean that investments have increased by a single inflation-adjusted dollar.

So the investors are opportunistically cashing in on the tax reduction. Of course they probably turn around and reinvest those funds, thus establishing a new base amount for future taxes.

Take it from this investor.

By IN THE (Hussein) NEWS

April 18, 2008 12:06 PM | Link to this

The devil you say….weren’t we talking liberal and conservative not Democratic and Republican?

keep trying dude…..

By IN THE (Hussein) NEWS

April 18, 2008 12:10 PM | Link to this

Civil Rights, Brought To You By… Republicans?

By @@

April 18, 2008 12:14 PM | Link to this

ToothlessMan @ 10:30:

(((@@…another religious bigot!!)))

How so?

Leftist politicians - Livingstone is one you know! will often use the disenfranchised (London’s muslims) to win power. When Livingstone invited Yusuf al-Qaradawi, an Islamic scholar and member of the Muslim Brotherhood to give a speech at London’s city hall in 2005, I have to wonder how much HE cares.

Yusuf al-Qaradawi has been condemned for his praise of suicide attacks against Israeli soldiers and for labeling homosexuals as “perverts”.

So what do you reckon Livingstone thinks al-Qaradawi can do for those disenfranchised muslims? Get their youth to strap on a suicide vest? Kill the homosexuals in their midst?

Nope! I think it is you who’s lacking in “love” if you think young muslims should be subjected to al-Qaradawi’s kind gestures .

I’ve had the privilege of knowing three Muslim families for years - all the fathers and one of the mothers are doctors in specialized fields here in the states. Should have all blown themselves up when they were young. That would have served a higher purpose.

Get a clue why don’tcha.

By getalife

April 18, 2008 12:14 PM | Link to this

Goldie,

It is Obama’s negatives piling up every day

Did you watch the last debate?

He went down in flames and should drop out.

By Copyleft

April 18, 2008 12:15 PM | Link to this

The Devil: You need some edumacashun too… ITN was talking about LIBERAL advancements, not Republican or Democratic (since those have changed over the years, when all the southern bigots jumped ship to the GOP back around Civil Rights time).

Big surprise that progress…. requires progressives, i.e., LIBERALS. (Or, as you might better know them, REAL Americans.)

By Political Foreskin

April 18, 2008 12:16 PM | Link to this

As an NRA member, my answer to liberal gun control nuts is that if handguns are so dangerous, then show me the bodies. Where are all the bodies, if handguns are so bad? Show me. Where?

‘muff spread

By Devastator

April 18, 2008 12:17 PM | Link to this

Ongoing nomination fight hurting Clinton more than Obama

By CHARLES BABINGTON and TREVOR TOMPSON, Associated Press Writers WASHINGTON (AP) — In a dramatic reversal, an Associated Press-Yahoo! News poll found that a clear majority of Democratic voters now say Sen. Barack Obama has a better chance of defeating Republican Sen. John McCain in November than Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.

While Obama and Clinton are both sustaining dents and dings from their lengthy presidential fight, the former first lady is clearly suffering more. Democratic voters no longer see her as the party’s strongest contender for the White House.

Voters of all types have gotten a better sense of Obama, who was an obscure Illinois legislator just four years ago. As more people moved from the “I don’t know him” category in the AP-Yahoo! News poll, more rated Obama as inexperienced, unethical and dishonest. And 15 percent erroneously think he’s a Muslim, thanks in part to disinformation widely spread on the Internet.

But Obama’s positive ratings have climbed as well, while Clinton — widely known since the early 1990s — has been less able to change people’s views of her. And when those views have shifted, it has hurt her more than helped.

The New York senator’s ratings for being honest, likable, ethical and refreshing have fallen since January, and Obama scores higher than she does in all those categories.