Thinking Right

By Mid-South Philosopher

May 30, 2008 8:05 AM | Link to this

Good morning, Jim,

The Texas State Supreme Court, hardly a bastion of liberal thought, has ruled that the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services overstepped it authority in seizing over 450 children from their parents in the Yearning for Zion polygamist compound near Eldorado, Texas. While there may have been incidents of child abuse (as there are in almost every religious sect…even among Presbyterians) the preponderance of children seized appeared not to have been in danger.

It would take blind person to not see through the cloud of conspiracy motivating this event.

The polygamists, who appear to have been quite successful in their compound lifestyle, have been in the thorns in the side of the pseudo-conservative society of the west Texas community. By their own admission, local authorities have been seeking a way to bring charges against various individuals in the compound for years.

The opportunity to launch an investigation and to seize the children came two months ago, when an alleged 16 year old teenager named Sarah called authorities and stated that she was being held against her will and sexually abused. The Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, together with law enforcement officers, swooped down on the compound and took the kids.

What has emerged as fact in the court actions is that the Protective Services over-reacted. Most of the children were seized just because their parents were members of the Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints.

Incidentally, Sarah was never found and there is some strong evidence that she never existed. Suspicion is that the telephone call was made by a middle-aged lady (not a member of the sect) with a history of making false reports to the police.

The Texas Supreme Court has acted correctly in this matter. When dealing with alleged crimes, we must act on EVIDENCE! If we are going to act on whether or not we LIKE the live style of the alleged wrongdoer, then look out. YOU may be next!

By Rod

May 30, 2008 8:06 AM | Link to this

You said: “The left is determined to destroy the tobacco industry in America.” All the more reason to vote for them!!! This country would be a lot better off without all the health insurance problems caused by idiots who smoke. So, you’re admitting that Republicans support the tobacco industry and higher health costs for everyone?

Why should Barack Obama invite the college-educated to consider a career in uniform? Please, the military is mostly made up of high school graduates and college drop outs. Folks with college degrees don’t go into the military anymore. Why should they?

I noticed how you didn’t mention former White House press secretary Scott McClellan’s statements that Bush made “decisions” on gut-instinct, rather than on facts. We all know that his guts were abused by alcohol for years. By the way, exactly where are those weapons of mass destruction? Huh?

By Curious Observer

May 30, 2008 8:10 AM | Link to this

When dealing with alleged crimes, we must act on EVIDENCE!

How strange that the Georgia legislature was unable to cite a single case of voter ID fraud before passing the photo ID law.

By jbmlaw

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

Good morning all. The greatest fellow I know is a Lieutenant in the US Navy. I wish you all the benefit of knowing someone similar.

I would like to take the CRC test, just to form my own opinion. Is that possible?

My older son, despite his pallor, smokes mentholated cigarettes. I do not approve of smoking. My disdain of nanny government is even greater. Typical leftists. These behaviorist solons are the idiots who give leftism its deserved reputation.

If you loved the anti-consumer effects of Certificate of Need, foisted on the American public a generation ago by leftists, wait until you get a load of carbon credits, now wending its way through the leftist Congress. Yes, I know the otherwise respectable Joe Lieberman is pushing it. Why don’t leftists ever do anything to increase supply instead of inflicting demand-restrictions on their constituents? Answer: voters are stupid and elect the overlords, who take the vote as a ratification to enslave us and manage us. Hitler’s national socialists were popularly elected too.

As to the “Big Brother” immigration note, I respectfully suggest we not waste taxpayer money with enforcement of such uneconomic laws. Immigrants come when there is opportunity, and stay away when opportunity dries up. With this Congress, the economy will continue to grind to a halt, and the immigration “problem” will dissipate.

By AmVet

May 30, 2008 8:24 AM | Link to this

The ever growing desperation in the once Grand Old Party, as evidenced by these “conservatives” and the right wing lunatic fringe, is getting pretty pathetic, isn’t it?

It is damn near palpable.

A sure give away is when one of the “faithful” trots outs the old “libs hate rich people” nonsense.

Ask the richest man on the planet, Warren Buffett why he thinks the misnamed conservatives in the GOP are a train wreck.

Hint: it’s got very little to do with anyone being rich or not.

Another is when the Friends of Cancer come to the defense of the poor misunderstood, upstanding, forthright and sorely abused tobacco industry.

What a crock of misguided “free market” “smaller government” “conservative” (did I forget any other inane labels?) BS.

And for one of the funniest men I have seen - RIP Hedley…

By jbmlaw the idiot

May 30, 2008 8:28 AM | Link to this

So, jbmlaw, you have a disdain of government and blame the leftists? So, I assume you wouldn’t want the government to prosecute the bad guy when someone comes into your house and rapes your wife? Would it also be alright with you if a foreign nation was to bomb Atlanta (and your family) into oblivion?

Idiots like you who are against government have no clue on reality.

By shibuii

May 30, 2008 8:32 AM | Link to this

How strange that the Georgia legislature was unable to cite a single case of voter ID fraud before passing the photo ID law.

Why are you against making sure that those people that come and vote are actually authorized to do so?

I don’t understand the uproar over producing photo ID. You can get them for free, they will come to you to make it…..so what’s the big deal? Afraid of THE MAN?

By Redneck Convert

May 30, 2008 8:32 AM | Link to this

Well, I felt sorry for that poor woman that spent all those years in a iron lung and then died when the power went out. Its too bad she spent her whole life thinking everybody was good. If she had of got on this blog she would of thought a whole lot diffrent when she saw TFTT cussing the libruls or Glenn in a bad mood when his alimony check is due.

The whole thing sort of reminded me of some deaths down at the hospitle a few years ago. Nobody could figure out why so many people on life support were dying in the same room at the same time over several weeks. They thought the room was jinxed or something. So they set up a secret watch on the room. Sure enough, along comes old Clem Clinkscales with his vacuum cleaner. They watched as Clem unplugged the life support stuff and plugged in his vacuum cleaner. They figured out the problem.

Wooten must be scraping the bottom for material today. His column is as dull as dishwater. But leastwise he got me to thinking about that boy that kept biting the butts of women. I kind of figured he was a weirdo. It just never come to me to think how tall he was.

Well, pray for me everybody. Its Friday and the day most people get fired. The boss down at the warehouse is still looking at me funny. He don’t like the gas bills for the truck and I ain’t hauling near as much beer as I use to. People ain’t buying much beer these days, I guess because they can’t put it in the gas tank. Its all Clintons fault anyway. Have a good day.

By George Washington

May 30, 2008 8:33 AM | Link to this

Tobacco has been good to me: it has killed many of my enemies, and without a trace of evidence leading to me….What more can a man ask for? Reliability would be good….Yo woodenhead, mindless saving does not always work….Review Post wwI Germany, hyperinflation destoryed the lifesavings of millions of Germans…Hyperinflation can happen here in America…the odds increase every year…

By Maniac is accurate

May 30, 2008 8:34 AM | Link to this

I used to like me some Newports, both mentholated and strong. Gave me a deep, strong bass for singing. What brand does Obama smoke?

The main writer of the “Branded,” television series wound up in an iron lung, according to Walter Sobcek.

I’ve never – ever – heard a school teacher, administrator or school board member who didn’t try to make their listeners dizzy spinning their bad test scores.

Thanks to the 3rd ID and welcome back to Camp Swampy.

What was the name of that hospital that’s out of business now off I-75 inside the perimeter, Paces? West Paces?

I keep tellling my 17-year-old daughter to be like her grandfather and not her parents. Save 15-20 percent of everything you earn and retire at 49 like he did. He’s 84 and going strong.

By jack

May 30, 2008 8:37 AM | Link to this

Yay! jbmlaw figured out a way to mention Hitler in his post! Good Job!

By jbmlaw

May 30, 2008 8:41 AM | Link to this

Dear braindead @ 8:28, you are why everyone equate leftists and morons. You are unable to distinguish Nazi-like behavior control from prosecution of violent crime,and you regard those as equal good works by government. Instead of continuing to give good Leftists like Shar and Southern Democrat a bad reputation, I urge you to break your computer.

By jbmlaw

May 30, 2008 8:43 AM | Link to this

Dear jack @ 8:37, it’s easy. With the resurgence of the national socialists, you can get a valid Hitler analogy out of almost anything they propose in Congress.

By George Washington

May 30, 2008 8:45 AM | Link to this

Hitler is widely hated not because of his crimes, but because he failed: had he won, we would all be speaking German, and walking around in cities full of statues honoring him…Yuck, but then again we have ugly statues to General Sherman in some yankee cities…..In such a world, Roosevelt would be the villian….

By Taxpayer

May 30, 2008 8:52 AM | Link to this

Good morning, Jim.

I hope you are doing well on this fine day in Georgia. I have a question, or two, for you regarding saving and getting rich. First of all, can you quantify rich for each and every person in any given location? How about for a certain demographic? If so, for what time span would it be valid? Also, assuming you can successfully define rich, how many people can theoretically be rich, per this definition, at the same time? By the way, one of my alter egos, MissionImp, says good luck with that and have a nice day.

Any other takers for my questions? BY the way, these are not trick questions — I truly want to see what answers people have come up with. I’ve already read about many different retirement calculators and other articles regarding one’s financial needs. They all fall short due to the assumptions one must make. For example, I wonder how many people using such calculators were able to make the correct assumptions regarding health care costs, food costs, transportation costs, etc. What about assumptions on return on investments or taxes or even bank interest rates? Does anyone even have the slightest idea what impact the financial sector’s involvement in real estate and derivatives have had on the average American’s financial status? Does anyone know how many people must remain in poverty — or other financial status — in order for one person to remain a billionaire? By the way, I am not a liberal.

By Copyleft

May 30, 2008 8:54 AM | Link to this

JBM: You’re mistaken. The Socialist Party of the U.S. is barely registering in the polls, and the National Socialists (aka, the American Nazi Party) is still stuffed to the rafters with ignorant RIGHT-wingers, not leftists.

You’re not really dumb enough to think the Democratic Party is anywhere CLOSE to ‘socialist,’ are you?

By George Washington

May 30, 2008 9:03 AM | Link to this

If everyone is rich, then we have the right condition for hyperinflation: the guv can make everyone rich just by printing and giving away money or services, but the guv cannot creat real wealth to go along with the funny looking green paper…..a Normal distribution of wealth is required for a society to function properly..what we have today is not a normal distribution, rather it is skewed toward the top 1%…how does this happen…financial manipulation using other people’s money to enrich the top 1%…

By MADMOMMY

May 30, 2008 9:06 AM | Link to this

First things first. ROD, how is smoking different from being overweight? I think we are spending just as much if not more on weight issues, so give it a rest. I hope they don’t drop your insurance do to your weight.

Thanks to the 3rd and God Bless you all.

CRCT-I wouldn’t mind taking the test either to see what it’s like and how much more I learned in school almost 15 years ago than the kids are learing today. I just wish someone would take a stand and give parents the truth, rather than just smear answers and jerk us around. What do they think this is, an election?

Hospitals are where people go when they are in need of serious help, or atleast that is how I was brought up. If you weren’t bleeding, not breathing or nothing was broken you waited to see your general physican. Let’s start having that critera at the entrance and see how things change.

Well, I think that is enough from me for today other than talking about gas, food, and the increase in everything except my paycheck. I pray for us all and I think it’s time to start working in the garden and going hunting.
Happy Friday!!

By George Washington

May 30, 2008 9:07 AM | Link to this

Copyleft is absolutely correct: Hitler can from the far right wing german political spectrum, not the left, that was the hated communists….

By The Beat

May 30, 2008 9:10 AM | Link to this

“The Socialist Party of the U.S. is barely registering in the polls, and the National Socialists (aka, the American Nazi Party) is still stuffed to the rafters with ignorant RIGHT-wingers, not leftists.” - by Copyleft

What bunch of bullsnot from a typical azzhole liberal. The SOCIALIST PARTY has WAY more in common with you pathetic leftwing nuts than ANYTHING right wing. One other thing you Wile E. Liberal Coyote, SUPER GENIUS: The “Nazi” party stood for government equality for all and state managed and owned corporations. Socialized business, socialized health care, socialized education, and socialized retirement. Sound familiar you idiot lib? God how pathetic can these jerks on the left get?

On another topic, why is it always the dumbazz liberal democrats who hate voter ID law?

By Get Real

May 30, 2008 9:14 AM | Link to this

Digging the bottom of the barrel today eh Wootie? Nothing really to talk about, and you had to actually RIGHT something huh. I guess since cigarettes kill only liberals and blacks, no use in making the tobacco industry change their ways right? What if it was young white kids from North Fulton? Maybe your pants would be in a bunch then. Nothing to say about Scott McClellan’s book either Wootie? Wouldn’t want to open that can of worms I bet, so you speak about being financially sound!? You’re a card, and I didn’t mean the race card which you so aptly bring up all the time.

By Thor

May 30, 2008 9:15 AM | Link to this

I hope none of you people vote. Seriously… you’re nuts and are part of the problem.

By jbmlaw

May 30, 2008 9:15 AM | Link to this

Dear Maniac @ 8:34, you touch on what ought to be the issue of the day, Obama’s medicals. He is a smoker, and evidently a pretty heavy one from the language in the medical release. Who knew?

Dear Taxpayer @ 8:52, fair questions. “Can you quantify rich for each and every person in any given location?” I also address here your immediately-subsequent queries. I assume you intend to limit your question to financial wealth, and exclude spiritual matters that use the same language. No, “adequate” is too individualized, and similar comparables as “rich” and “poor” and “fair” are also effectively meaningless. Those are all mere debating points. However, there is no reason – save the politics of envy - that 100% of a population cannot be “rich” or “poor.” It is a state of mind.

“How many people using such calculators were able to make the correct assumptions regarding health care costs, food costs, transportation costs, etc.” Almost none. Few among us forecast both the collapse of real estate values and the increase in the costs of commodities even one year ago. Projecting such over a 40 year window is nothing but an exercise for a rainy Saturday.

“What about assumptions on return on investments or taxes or even bank interest rates?” Actually if you plan to invest in stocks, you can use 8% as a pretty reliable long-term rate of return. Just a magic number, don’t know why it works. As to forecasting taxes, it would never be wise to bet against the overlords finding a way to separate you from your industry.

“Does anyone even have the slightest idea what impact the financial sector’s involvement in real estate and derivatives have had on the average American’s financial status?” Probably a slight net positive, in that it monetized some previously illiquid entities.

“Does anyone know how many people must remain in poverty — or other financial status — in order for one person to remain a billionaire?” Yes, zero with a qualifier. “Economics” is not a zero-sum game, and “must” is the operative word in your question. “Politics” is a zero-sum game. Thus my comment much earlier today on carbon credits. The solons are taking a free economy and turning it into a zero-sum game, an unbelievably stupid act.

By ron

May 30, 2008 9:15 AM | Link to this

Obama filled in for Ted because he’s Ted’s golden boy.They don’t think college grads should lower themselves to military service.The ones that got drafted when I was in served though.

No one in the schools had seen the new CRCT test so we have a large number of failures.It will be better next year.They’ll have the test to teach to.

Or if the women were all standing in the bed of a pick-up.

I personally don’t who,or what,destroys the tobacco industry.

Hooray for The Vanguard Group.Been with it for years.

In my 65 years my entire medical history is the taking of maybe 3 aspirins.How very,very lucky I’ve been.Thanks for reminding me Jim.

By Brian

May 30, 2008 9:16 AM | Link to this

Copyleft is wrong. Hitler had nothing in common with the conservative right today, and, unlike the left in this nation, do not hate the Jews and Israel. What political group representatives on this blog always refer to stopping support for Israel and blaming Israel solely for the instability in the Middle East? Yep, the left. Ignorance is one thing, but flat out falsehoods by boneheads representative of the left here are unacceptable.

By jbmlaw

May 30, 2008 9:19 AM | Link to this

Dear Copyleft @ 8:54, “You’re not really dumb enough to think the Democratic Party is anywhere CLOSE to ‘socialist,’ are you?” If it waddles like a goose, and honks like a goose, and leaves droppings everywhere like a goose, I may reasonably infer it is a goose.

By Aquagirl

May 30, 2008 9:26 AM | Link to this

The “Nazi” party stood for government equality for all and state managed and owned corporations.

And yet they never figured how to outsource half their war. Our Republicans have proven themselves far superior in that department.

By R U Kidding

May 30, 2008 9:30 AM | Link to this

Hey* Curious Observer*, let me sell you a clue, how would you site voter fraud when there are no laws and nobody was looking, or checking ID’s? Did you go to a government school? I bet you are a democrat.

By Copyleft

May 30, 2008 9:32 AM | Link to this

JBM: Thanks for answering… so yes, you really ARE that dumb. Good to know.

(snicker)

By peter

May 30, 2008 9:40 AM | Link to this

Poor Jim, wanting the tobacco industry to do good.

Makes one wonder about all those “Family Values”, with Jim today wanting to help the tobacco industry create more cancer, as our health care cost rise.

Do YOU smoke Jim Whooten?

Another topic Jim mentions is young folks not signing up for the military, and Obama not mentioning they should.

Since suicides in the service is at an ALL time high this year, he is a funny guy writing about that.

Jim if we didn’t have the unnecessary and “MADE UP WAR”, perhaps kids would start to enlist again on their own.

Jim has never written that I can remember, about the number of suicides in the military, or how badly the bases are being taken care of.

Jim has never mentioned so far (12) soldiers have been killed in their shower over in Iraq, yes electrocuted to death. These soldiers died taking a shower, not killing our “Supposed” enemies.

With that info out there, I am sure folks are just”Dying” to enlist.

I guess Jim didn’t notice how the Bush administration has broken the LAW yet Again!

Seems they have failed to produce a mandatory report on Global Warming.

Not only have “Wrong” ignored the Ecology while wanting to blow up the world, they have failed to report the findings.

The report that came out yesterday was a bad sigh for the US, but hey what we don’t know will KILL us.

Gee Jim if we failed to report our taxes for 4 years we would be in trouble, but King George, failed to let the American public know, just how badly we are doing on Global warming.

This is just another case of the “Republicans” avoiding their responsibility to Americans, and another case of King George, not following the laws of America.

Makes you wonder how many other LAWS that have been broken, and the MESS that will have to be cleaned up when they are ousted.

You are a funny guy today Jim, lot’s of fluff!

By WFC

May 30, 2008 9:44 AM | Link to this

JBMLAW: glad you are well this morning! Continuation from yesterday.

• I’m hardly a “liberal” so please don’t sling that mud hoping to discount my arguments.

• Comparing Iraq in 2008 to Switzerland or the U.S. is spurious. The democracy in Switzerland (culturally German, French and Italian) is a fluke of geography, the Alps. Americans in 1776 shared a common heritage in spite of political diferences. Yes, it took a horrible civil war 80 years later to create the USA we know today. At least there were no “W’s” in Britain or France who thought they knew better what we needed.

• STUDY HISTORY! Vietnam is NOT about some mythical “cultural divide” in America in 2008. It was about our government’s (Demo and Rep) miscalculation that the conflict in Nam was about the spread of communism rather than Vietnamese nationalism. Ho Chi Minh didn’t give a rat’s a* about communisn. He actually came to us first and we blew him off. We still supported French imperialism. 58,000 Americans paid the price.

STUDY HISTORY!

By Abomi Nation

May 30, 2008 9:46 AM | Link to this

Take a good look at the Georgia Young Republican website.

Not one mention of serving your country in the military. Nothing on joining the military. Nothing that even acknowledges our troops at war. No links to the recruitment center.

There is a link to the side of the main page however that is interesting. It says “Call Talk Radio.”

I guess that is where Young Republicans are supposed to call Rush and Sean and tell them how we need to “fight them over there so they won’t fight us here.”

I guess this is why Obama wants peace. All our “warriors” are on the phone.

By Thor

May 30, 2008 9:47 AM | Link to this

How many soldiers have died due to the mistakes and errors made by Rummy and Bush? No plan for post invasion - how many soldiers have died because of their errors?

Don’t tell me “oh well, mistakes happen in war” - disgusting.

By George Washington

May 30, 2008 9:48 AM | Link to this

jmb, dirt ball, glenn, and woodenhead all have far more in common with the nazi’s than the democrats have: The Nazi’s WERE the military-industrial complex of Germany….Germany today is more like a Marxist state than Russia or China ever were: the average german worker labors only about 1,400 hours per year and is well compenstated for his efforts, while corporate management (the hired help) reaps only a fraction of the compensation their lying, thieving, and poorer performing amercian hired ceo clowns steal…..So as you clowns work your 1800 hours per year for what passes for a living wage, just remember the german worker is doing much better than you are….your efforts go to enrich the top 1% unfairly….

By Ricky

May 30, 2008 9:52 AM | Link to this

RU Kidding, I went to government school and I really don’t believe a photo ID at the polling place is unreasonable. However, what I do have a problem with it that there was no demonstrated rash of in-person voting fraud in Georgia, though there is tons of absentee ballot voter fraud. Go to Hancock County where it’s been a way of life for decades to see a good example. And, our brilliant legilators did nothing to address that.

By Taxpayer

May 30, 2008 9:53 AM | Link to this

I think george washington has the better grasp on the issue of being rich, jbmlaw. Of course, I was talking about financial wealth — in line with Jim’s comments on the subject. Our government has done an excellent job of printing money in their vain attempt at creating the image of wealth. Their lowering of interest rates has done nothing good for anyone attempting to actually save for their future. In fact, it has had the opposite effect. As for the stock market’s historical returns — a matter for the history books for it now suffers the same fate as the dinosaur. There has been no net positive return for the buy and hold investor for about the last ten years. As for derivatives, I’ll sum it up by saying that we need to include more on finances in our education process such that high school seniors understand what a derivative is and how they are currently used. We desperately need more people understanding just how (and, from whom) many of the people in “finance” acquired their wealth. Then again, there’s a new sucker born every second these days.

By jbmlaw

May 30, 2008 9:53 AM | Link to this

Dear WFC @ 9:44, I agree with one point in your short polemic: “Vietnam is Not about some mythical “cultural divide” in 2008.” Vietnam is about a real cultural divide in 2008. Today’s democrat party is the legacy of that horrific event, which has shaped every aspect of the left’s mindset.

By lazermike

May 30, 2008 9:57 AM | Link to this

Can’t spell “cite”? Nice job, private school Republican.

By AmVet

May 30, 2008 10:01 AM | Link to this

While the hyperbolic and partisan pandering plays on (and on and on and on…) here, from many angles, to me it is always interesting and illustrative that the posts most juvenile, fanatically enraged, epithet-filled and bereft of lucidity, clarity and relevance almost always comes from the dwindling “conservatives”.

See the post at 9:10 for yet more evidence.

Doe anyone here think that perhaps this enormous anger problem and arrogance found so heavily in the far right is a tiny part of the reason they are getting absolutely pummeled these days?

News flash neo-cons!

Most decent, caring American people don’t like mean, self-righteous little pr!cks. (Excluding here in Georgia and a few other backwater outposts)

Isn’t it time the GOP FINALLY got that message?

By YouGottaBeKiddng

May 30, 2008 10:15 AM | Link to this

So here you go again defending your drug of choice—the Republican drug tobacco. It kills 425,000 Americans a year and this is the drug you defend against the “nanny state.” I have no use for tobacco, having quit cigarettes twenty years ago, but I don’t want armed men bursting into the homes of tobacco users and throwing them into jail—as you right-wingers insist upon doing to those you choose some drug other than tobacco or alcohol. Oh yes, I forget: tobacco and alcohol aren’t “mind altering” drugs. Where do you people get this nonsense?

By Shar

May 30, 2008 10:16 AM | Link to this

Dear jbmlaw @8:18 - When I was president of our PTA, I too wanted to take the Criterion Referenced Competency Test to be able to better answer parents’ questions, as well as for my own personal curiosity. Problem is, as the name suggests, the test is built on certain criteria, namely specifics information from the Quality Core Curriculum (QCC) and skills specified in the Georgia Performance Standards (yes, GPS). The teachers get something of a head’s up on which elements the State will be emphasizing during their work period prior to the beginning of the school year, and they adjust lesson plans accordingly. Beginning after Christmas break, practice tests are given to prepare for the process of taking the test itself. The test is given in March amid great secrecy, with test materials witheld until the last possible moment and kept under lock and key, then collected the day of the test and returned to State custody.

If you called the State DOE or, better yet, had an amiable conversation with the principal of your local elementary or middle school, you might be able to get a copy of an outdated test which would function as an amusing (or embarassing) trivia quiz of what you recall from the spectrum of your education. Or you could do what I did, which was to go through the current curriculum and the practice test materials, but you can’t take the test which is ‘referenced’ to them.

According to those who have examined both the QCC/GPS material and the CRCT, the reason for the tank of this year’s social studies scores was that the two parts didn’t match. Simply taking the test won’t let you see that.

Oh, and by the way, I am offended by your implication at 8:41 that someone else is giving me a bad name. The circumstance of my being a mother of three, reasonably professional, involved in such groups as the PTA, as well as une femme d’un certain age does NOT preclude my ability to give myself a bad name. In fact, it is my unshakeable intention to run wild in the streets as soon as my maternal and professional responsibilities ease enough that I can fling off the mask of respectability. While I have no intrinsic objection to having company in this endeavor, I vehemently reject the notion that I cannot handle it on my own.

By Maniac is accurate

May 30, 2008 10:28 AM | Link to this

Shar excites me.

By jbmlaw

May 30, 2008 10:30 AM | Link to this

Dear WFC @ 9:44, I may owe you an apology. I think you earnestly wish a thoughtful discussion, and my initial response to your post reflected my distraction with other matters. As to whether you are a “liberal,” you surely note that I rarely use that term in my posts. It is because I regard myself as a liberal, and I do not so-regard 95%+ leftists. Second try at your argument, with your permission:

“Comparing Iraq in 2008 to Switzerland or the U.S. is spurious.” Ok, different strokes for different folks. I thought the history of religious strife made the analogy apt.

“The democracy in Switzerland (culturally German, French and Italian) is a fluke of geography, the Alps.” Bizarre, I would have thought a nearly-impenetrable isolation would engender a dictatorship or similar monarchy, as the populace is trapped and has no alternatives. Democracy is normally a function of alternatives.

“Americans in 1776 shared a common heritage in spite of political diferences.” That statement is invalid when applied to 1900. As of 1900, most Americans did not have a common heritage. Even now, however, our Iraqi brothers have at least as much “common heritage” as did the religious New England immigrants of 1620 vs. the Virginia economic immigrants of 1607.

“Yes, it took a horrible civil war 80 years later to create the USA we know today.” Actually it took a horrible socialist government in the 1930s, followed by another in the 1960s to create the USA we know today. We have yet to recover.

“At least there were no “W’s” in Britain or France who thought they knew better what we needed.” If you don’t count Locke or Rousseau.

“STUDY HISTORY! Vietnam is NOT about some mythical “cultural divide” in America in 2008.” I already answered. To the extent that Vietnam has any relevance to American history, its legacy – the moonbat control of the democrats – is all that Vietnam is about.

“It was about our government’s (Demo and Rep) miscalculation that the conflict in Nam was about the spread of communism rather than Vietnamese nationalism.” I do not understand why you suggest it was one or the other; it was both.

“Ho Chi Minh didn’t give a rat’s a* about communism.” You err. He called himself a communist.

“He actually came to us first and we blew him off.” As we usually do with extortionists.

“We still supported French imperialism.” I think most rational people appreciate the virtues of “imperialism” in the capacity to kick-start the cultural development of a nation. Indeed, could we not cite the premature termination of British imperialism for the horrific repeating legacy of genocides across Southern Africa?

“58,000 Americans paid the price.” The cause of that unreasonably high bill was not that the military miscalculated, but rather it was central control of the specifics of war by the oval office. Had LBJ simply said, “wipe ‘em out and use any weapon in your arsenal to accomplish the goal” the war would have ended in 1966. Micromanagement always carries a high price. If you loved Vietnam, “carbon credits” will excite your soul.

By jasper

May 30, 2008 10:31 AM | Link to this

Jim, this all plays out perfectly in an Obama presidency:

He will save the tobacco industry by getting cozy with their lobbyists in return for them giving a portion of all menthol cigarette sales to reparations, and him a free lifetime supply. However his lethal habit proves costly to his health and relegates him to an iron lung existence for the remainder of his second term. The black middle class of Southwest Atlanta Hospital convince him to stay there for a few weeks to bring attention to their struggle. But while he is there a Hezbollah terrorist, who is actually a Wesleyan graduate, disgruntled by being declared unfit for US military service, takes all of the proceeds from his Vanguard trust fund to purchase explosives and blows up the power grid that controls the hospital. Meanwhile at Southwest Atlanta Hospital, the maintenance man who is an illegal alien, can’t read the instructions in English to turn on the backup power generator and Obama’s iron lung shuts down at the very same time that an orderly on work release due to a life of crime at an early age because he failed the 8th grade CRCT, takes advantage of Obama’s helpless condition and bites him on the buttocks.

By AmVet

May 30, 2008 10:33 AM | Link to this

Peter at 9:40 and Thor at 9:47, good points. VERY good points.

Anyone who has read my posts knows that I was against this deceitful bungled invasion/occupation of Iraq from before the beginning. The reasons were both numerous and very obvious.

And I have repeatedly indicted the numerous lap-dog Democrats who for political expediency went merrily along to give you-know-who the power to do you-know-what.

And still hold them culpable.

But pragmatically all of the lockstep Republican apparatchiks’ blunders and “conservative” chicanery are water under the bridge now.

Nonetheless, we, as a nation, are tragically saddled with this sandy clusterf&ck and an abysmal presidential legacy almost certain to be viewed as the most incompetent and corruptable in our long history.

But here’s where we separate the wheat from the chaff. And be forewarned, where applicable neo-cons, this is going to sting some.

Had Kerry, Gore or any other Democrat unleashed this deadly disaster in Iraq, I would have clamored for their heads with no less fervor than I have for Bush/Cheney/Rove/Rumsfeld/Rice et al.

NONE.

But I truly, honestly believe that given their hubris-filled hypocrisy and utter lack of credibility on so many other issues, most of those who call themselves conservatives (or just as inanely quaint now - libertarians) would somehow see the exact same, but Democratically led, invasion to “free the people of Iraq” (or insert one of five other “reasons” here) as misguided and unworthy of ANY support.

Though impossible to prove, I could almost assure it.

Most of us non-Republican semi-hawkish types know it, though few of these chest-pounders would have the courage to admit such “traitorous” beliefs.

It doesn’t matter though, because come November the people will speak. And it is again going to be VERY ugly for the neo-cons…

By jbmlaw

May 30, 2008 10:38 AM | Link to this

Dear Shar @ 10:16, I plead guilty to sloppy short-hand language, and beg the mercy of the court. I truly believe that you can and will do anything your heart desires, but I suspect you are unlikely to devote significant time to useless exercises. You may be one of the few souls I envy, and I mean that only in the most positive way. Have a great weekend.

By Shar

May 30, 2008 10:43 AM | Link to this

jasper @ 10:31 - And the superintendent of the orderly’s former school denies all responsibility for his broken life, blaming instead the budget cuts which precluded the school from serving pear halves at lunch, thus depriving the young eighth grader of a healthy way of biting into spheres.

You are a poet with a keen analytical mind. Proceed without delay to the employment office of your periodical of choice. The world needs your words.

By deegee

May 30, 2008 10:44 AM | Link to this

R U Kidding, I’ll give you a clue for free. Voter fraud is a headline grabbing issue that republicans use to rally their base after successful voter registration drives. Republicans will launch an investigation to see if there are any problematic registrations. What they uncover are unintentional errors committed by honest people that made clerical mistakes in filling out their registrations. These mistakes are typically corrected as a part of the cross-checking that takes place during the voter registration process. Republicans, threatened by the prospect of a few thousand new voters, will scream “voter fraud” when they know that this is a lie and that no fraudulent ballot was cast. Herein is the scandal of the “voter fraud” fraud which the Republicans have been trying to use to help promote restrictive, disenfranchising voter i.d. legislation.

By WFC

May 30, 2008 10:47 AM | Link to this

JBMLAW: thanks for your reasoned response. Some good points even though I disagree with some. I’ve got to go run errands so, hopefully, we can continue in the future.

By George Washington

May 30, 2008 10:51 AM | Link to this

Voter fraud, ha, that is a Republican speciality: I once knew a fanatical Republican female federal employee from Ohio who had lived in Georgia for some ten years: She voted every election here in Georgia, and also voted an absensetee ballot via mail in Ohio where she was still registered, and continued to be registered as they took a vote in an election to be renewal of registration. Ya gotta wonder how many lying cheating Ohio Repukes were voting in two or more states in the same federal election….

By Abomi Nation

May 30, 2008 10:55 AM | Link to this

I owe this blog a huge apology. It seems I underestimated the Georgia Young Republicans. I totally underestimated their commitment to national security. My 9:46 was out of line.

It seems the Young Republicans phone skills are of vital importance to national security. They have rooted out a terrorist. Exposed an evil. They have completed a daring mission.

Yes folks, the Young Republicans are responsible for thousands upon thousands of calls to the Dunkin Donuts corporate office. It was the Young Republicans who discovered that scarf wearing Rachel Ray is a terrorist.

Thank you for exposing the evil Rachel, Young Republicans. Your bravery has just saved America. I believe a search of Rachel Ray’s home found the existence of many weapons of mass destruction. Yep, lots of kitchen knives in various shapes and sizes were found hidden in the drawers of her kitchen. Oh the humanity.

Everyone, our Young Republicans are armed with mobile phones. Beware terrorists, we have your number!

By Believer

May 30, 2008 11:03 AM | Link to this

My fellow Americans,

We must join together and push for legislation that requires each and every American to obtain a federally issued ID. This ID must have a photo that fulfills the requirements for a passport photo. Additionally, this ID must contain a unique identifying number. This number should be the card-holder’s social security number or else be uniquely linked to the social security number. This card should also be linked to a government bank account that can then be utilized by the card-holder for all their financial needs including tax payment, social security deposits (after retirement), etc. No one should be allowed to conduct a financial transaction that is not linked to individual and/or corporate ID cards. These financial transactions should include everything from a cup of coffee purchased at Starbucks to a salary from Bank of America. After all, why should all this data be the sole property of the companies that currently collect and utilize it — spread the wealth. Give this information to the government instead of allowing corporations and private companies and others to hoard the information and use it for their own gain.

By Shar

May 30, 2008 11:04 AM | Link to this

Maniac @ 10:28 - I confess myself to be circumstantially tamped down, but potentially scintillating. I abide, breathless.

You, however, seem to have a suspiciously low threshold for excitement. I believe there are specialists who can help you.

Jbmlaw @ 10:38 - The Court is merciful, if depressingly sedate. How kind, yet peculiar, for you to say you envy me when we have never met. Sort of makes me feel like Britney, but “only in the most positive way.”

I shall kick up my low, sensible heels this weekend and secretly scheme of stilettos. I wish you similar enjoyment and anticipation.

By Maniac is accurate

May 30, 2008 11:06 AM | Link to this

Rachel Ray is America’s Sweetheart and not a terrorist. She uses her blinding cuteness only for good. I blame the insane for this slanderous accusation against a person who symbolizes the best in apple pie Americana.

By Maniac is accurate

May 30, 2008 11:13 AM | Link to this

I can’t picture jbmlaw in stilettos.

I will vote for whichever presidential candidate vows to make sure Mike Woodson is removed as coach of the Atlanta Hawks.

When you grew up literally in the middle of nowhere, and a trip to Willachoochee was viewed as exciting, well, then, yes, my threshold is very, very low.

By AmVet

May 30, 2008 11:25 AM | Link to this

As much for a chuckle as anything else, I decided to check out the Georgia Young Republicans web site.

What a hoot!

There was in fact a link to volunteer, but alas and mysteriously it did not take me to any of the military services sites!

Who woulda thunk it?

The epitome of arm-chair warriors!

There was one fairly hysterical link though - reprimanding Pretty Boy Sean, Rush Limberger, Laura Ingrahambone and Mann Coulter among other “pundits” for “viciously attacking Republican candidates” and “spreading disunity”!

And howz bout this for a real rib-tickler:!

Whereas: Despite all of these pundits invoking the greatness of Ronald Reagan, none of them have paused for a second to remember Reagan’s 11th Commandment;

Living in the Past Conservatively!

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

By deegee

May 30, 2008 11:39 AM | Link to this

Fear not the black and white paisley, fear instead Michelle Malkin. Dunkin Donuts have experienced shock and awe after an IED lobbed by our notorious homegrown terrorist exploded in their cauldron of steaming hot java. Oh, the humanity!!!

By Taxpayer

May 30, 2008 11:47 AM | Link to this

When I have a passing thought about people who “belong” to groups such as the young republicans or young democrats (if there is such a group), I cannot help but also reminisce about snipe hunts — they were a good initiation into the world of Scouting.

By Dusty

May 30, 2008 11:49 AM | Link to this

I’m not in the mood to refight the Viet Nam War, retake school exams, read the run down by liberals about how rotten is our government & our fight for good ol’liberty, how only “dumbos” serve in the military, how government actually spends time on cigarettes, and the rejection of family values consigned only to family loving Republicans.(Democrats have no family values!?)

But I did get a couple of laughs other than the rear end booboo biter. AmVet, of course, in comments on “mean, righteous little pricks” as he names conservatives in his totally sweet and complimentary liberal license to deliver lies.

And I am sure Shar is writing a book entitled “The Profligate PTA President” in which she dreams of fun and the “Empty Nest Syndrome”. How cool is that?!! Probably more interesting that McClellan’s “Lost Job Syndrome” book botch..

So I may just lean back and continue reading Boswell’s “Life of Samuel Johnson”. Now there’s two men who could read and write with consummate intelligence and reason, something seldom found here. (But, of course I love YOU anyway….well, sometimes!)

By AmVet

May 30, 2008 11:55 AM | Link to this

Malkin couldn’t carry Rachel’s thong.

She’s probably jealous that the perky epicurean has some curves.

BTW, is there some rule I never heard of, that states that all of the far right wings’ more rabid attack b!tches, posing as ironing boards, all have to be bulimic?

By Jim's a Cherry Picker

May 30, 2008 11:57 AM | Link to this

Hi Jim,

Fantastic Cherry Picking today!

How ironic is it that conservatives seem to place such a high priority on military service, yet their own icons have virtually none?

And not only that, when given two that had distinguished military careers (Powell and McCain), Conservatives sluffed them both off like yesterday’s news.

So you can take that military service thing and stuff it. If it’s not a requirement for your leadership, it shouldn’t be a requirement of Obama’s.

By Just Nasty and Mean

May 30, 2008 12:00 PM | Link to this

Good morning, Jim et al.

I wonder if there were some way to get this blog to stay on topic? I mean, the common bloggers that visit this site routinely start rambling and babbling on any subject that comes to mind—even so far as carrying on a conversation calling each other names. Is this ADD, boredom, schizophrenia , what????

Why not have conversations—-like educated adults—and comment on the topics Jim presents and try to keep this interesting for everybody—as opposed to the 1/2 dozen or so that tend to dominate and dilute the subject(s) at hand?

Huh?

By Jim Wooten

May 30, 2008 12:09 PM | Link to this

Just Nasty and Mean, welcome. Missed jumping in on your earlier posts. Good to meet you in Columbus.

By Jim's a Cherry Picker

May 30, 2008 12:14 PM | Link to this

Hi Jim,

One more think I just couldn’t pass up. Regarding your buddy from Vanguard’s advice about how to get rich…by saving your money?

What was GW’s advice to the country immediately after 9/11?

Go out and start shopping.

That’s what he told everyone. To spend money.

Not to save. Not to think about what has happened and reflect. Not to conserve energy or gas or anything practical.

The sage advice he gave was to spend money.

What an idiot. Jim…c’mon! How can you not see that????

Oh…it’s because you’re a Cherry Picker!

Dummy.

By George Washington

May 30, 2008 12:17 PM | Link to this

Dirt ball, shouldn’t you be working and not reading anything, let along posting on the internet? How many women have you killed with your misread pap smears? oh well, as long as they were all repukes, go on reading and passing those unlooked at slides Hag…..

By time for the fair and menacing truth

May 30, 2008 12:18 PM | Link to this

just nasty and mean. cheers, mate. that said, all the pandemonium is what makes this blog fun, so STFU and GFY.

HUGE LEFTIST HATING SMIRK

By George Washington

May 30, 2008 12:24 PM | Link to this

Actually Fake Lawyer and Failed Historian, Chairman Ho only became a communist after his plea’s to the West to allow Vietnam to remain free were REJECTED in the interests of fighting communism….At the end of wwii, Vietnam was a free united country, having faught off the japs. The Frogs wanted to re establish their old colony in vietnam, to harvest the rubber and extract the natural wealth of the country. The coward truman refused to meet with the Chairman, rejected his plea for continued freedom, and gave the frogs permission to re colonize vietnam, all in the interests of keeping france out of the communist circle. Chairman Ho was forced to seek aid from anyone willing to help, and Ivan was more than willing. Frankly, Chairman Ho was more compassionate to the Frogs that I would have been: I would have killed ALL their soldiers at Dien Bien asskicking. Chairman Ho let them go….and his reward was another 20 years of war with the cowards in the west….

By Jason

May 30, 2008 12:27 PM | Link to this

Jim, do you seriously want a military full of Wesleyan grads?

http://gawker.com/search/wesleyan/

By moM

May 30, 2008 12:39 PM | Link to this

!neam si TTFT

By jbmlaw

May 30, 2008 12:40 PM | Link to this

Dear Maniac @ 11:13, the biggest problem is finding an appropriate dress. Don’t want to show too much.

By JK

May 30, 2008 12:41 PM | Link to this

What? The Young Republicans aren’t directing their members toward military service in this war they claim to support? Shocking! Does Mr. Wooten know about this? He is, after all, a good friend of theirs, called to speak and inspire. I suspect he’ll be hopping mad when he finds out this whole “Support the Troops” motto is merely lip service.

By George Washington

May 30, 2008 12:51 PM | Link to this

Repukes are all cowards, especially the political types, and the ceo thieves….bbiitch slap them at every opportunity….ah hear all their wives are ugly and stupid….their daughters pull trains…of equally ugly young repukes…from election to election….

By Believer

May 30, 2008 12:55 PM | Link to this

I believe Dusty speaks not the truth. Dusty loves it here otherwise Dusty would not be here talking about not loving it here. Admit it, Dusty. You love it here.

By Reality

May 30, 2008 12:56 PM | Link to this

Racism requires power and ignorance, prejudice only requires ignorance. African Americans, American Indians, Hispanic Americans, and Asian Americans, have no historical connection to the traditional power base in this country therefore they cannot be racist, however they can and many are prejudice which is just as distasteful but in no way as socially destructive. Prejudice is not precluded by a sense of entitlement, however Racism is.

I don’t think the only recent HRC felt entitled to the presidency was because she was white, that was probably the least important factor, but she had to feel as though being the spouse of a former president was a plus, as well as the fact that she is a multi-millionaire, with many multi-millionaire friends, not to mention that given the status of the former whitehouse family, every power base in the nation maybe the world knew her and her family by name. Come on 24 months ago who was Barack Obama.

Have any of you ever voter for a black presidential candidate? I haven’t.

12.5% of the population is not a majority, in this specific case the balance of power is clear, and remember

PREJUDICE+POWER*(SENSE OF ENTITLEMENT) = RACISM/ SLAVERY/ GENOCIDE/ JIMCROW

Black people cannot be racist for voting for Barack Obama because he’s black.

(All the black people in this country can’t elect Sen Obama into office.)

but guess what

12.5 % of racist white democratic voters can keep Sen. Obama from being elected into office, hence the power component of true racism.

White people voting agaisnt Barack Obama because he’s black is racism

(Prejudice + Power = racism.)

This isn’t just in America people

ie. Germany Example: How was Hilter able to convince a nation that Jews deserved to driven from Germany or exterminated?

Answer: To some degree the basis of Hitler’s premise was generally accepted by many German citizens?

Maybe some Germans felt that they were entitled to certain aspects of the German state which Jews were not.

(now, I am certain that Germans did not know to what extent Hitler would take this atrocious ploy, much like many whites in the early days of this country its likely that many had never seen any African Americans- though they weren’t call that then) but the point remains

THERE SENSE OF ENTITLEMENT LEGITIMIZED THE PREJUDICIAL TREATMENT OF JEWS.

The same thing legitimized slavery, jimcrow, poll tests, red-lining, segregation, the manhattan project, etc, etc.

We are just getting to the point where blacks and other progressive thinkers can’t honestly express there opinions of historical race relations in this country without threat of murder or assassination.

Isn’t that what it means to be an American I personally feel that during the beginning stages of this nation certain group benefited from the racism in this country, your family may not have been in that group

But it wasn’t because of prejudicial treatment, thats another conversation in regards to socio-economics and classism

What motivation did the KKK have to terrorize new black voters?

ENTITLEMENT

What motivation did states have to enforce separate but equal?

ENTITLEMENT

What motivation did states have to enforce Jim Crow laws?

ENTITLEMENT

Your outrage is complicit with your ignorance in your Racism, denial is a disease.

How can a White Catholic Priest be a Racist while expressing his opinion of white supremacy in this country. That doesn’t make sense.

And to someones point about HRC family beginnings. Sir its not about what white people owned slaves, it was and is still about their ability to access everything America had to offer, while other selected groups could not do so, your family didn’t have to own slaves to benefit from racism, although many did.

The notion of reverse racism is a conservative ploy which attempts to legitimize a sense of entitlement in (you guessed it) white uneducated blue collar workers AKA Reagan democrats.

The truly elite get rich while us lowly Americans argue with each other over racism and reverse racism, prejudice and reverse prejudice.

History is History POWER STILL HASN”T CHANGED

If I offended any of the posters I do apologize. History is History

By GOPs got to go

May 30, 2008 12:57 PM | Link to this

Please, please, please, all you arrogant know it alls, keep smoking. you are bound to Cancer or COPD. Either way, we will not have to suffer your diatribes any longer.

By Abomi Nation

May 30, 2008 1:09 PM | Link to this

Lets try and help the Young Republicans out.

Does anyone know of a picture of a yellow ribbon on the internet that they could link to from their website?

And while we’re at it, I couldn’t find any references at all to our great President George W Bush on the Young Republican website. There’s gotta be something out there nice they can say about him. How about that great story of President Bush giving up golf as a sign of his support for the troops?

That would be the type of sacrifice a Young Republican could relate to.

By Dr. Craig Spinks

May 30, 2008 1:22 PM | Link to this

Not Charlie Nagle, SOS in Columbia County: Charlie didn’t whine, Jim. He said about CCSS students’ CRCT Math results that “it is what it is” and we have to deal with it. I’m proud of Charlie for that attitude.

P.S. Did you get my e-mail about Felix’s and Annette’s in New Orleans?

By jbmlaw

May 30, 2008 1:22 PM | Link to this

Dear Reality @ 12:56, “Have any of you ever voter for a black presidential candidate?” Yes, twice, Republican primaries in 1996 and 2000, for Alan Keyes. I understand leftists do not accept any conservative as a “black” candidate, without regard to skin color, but I think such prejudice is irrational.

“Black people cannot be racist for voting for Barack Obama because he’s black.” That’s a silly statement; of course a black person can be racist, especially is he is voting for Obama because he’s black. That is the definition of racism. If a person votes for (or against) Obama without regard to his race, that is the antithesis of racism.

“We are just getting to the point where blacks and other progressive thinkers can’t honestly express there opinions of historical race relations in this country without threat of murder or assassination.” No hyperbole there. G*d help the 75 year old white woman who says publicly that she gets nervous around a group of young black males; her grandson may throw her under the bus. I think the opposite of your statement is closer to true, the politically-correct muzzle prevent an honest discussion of crime originated by young black males, and subsequently prevents efforts to cure the problem (short of arming the population.)

“How can a White Catholic Priest be a Racist while expressing his opinion of white supremacy in this country. That doesn’t make sense.” I think I figured out the problem; you keep saying “racist” when you intend “bigoted.” To paraphrase the Clintons, “It’s the vocabulary, stupid.”

“If I offended any of the posters I do apologize.” Highly unlikely that anyone is offended. Derisive laughter is more likely. I believe your argument is likely