Thinking Right

By Ragnar Danneskjöld

October 17, 2008 8:05 AM | Link to this

Good morning all. If I may raise a hyper-technical distinction on military personnel legal exposures in Iraq, so long as we are talking about traditional crimes I cautiously agree. If possession of the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue “defames Islam,” I disagree. I would prefer to see a specific list of such crimes negotiated on the front end. Maybe that’s what they did – I have not heard about this item before today.

I would modify Jim’s assessment of Chauncey: “His empty suit is that he was far wiser yesterday than those who actually had to make decisions.” The man has no prospective capacity at all. Anyone who would increase the tax take during a recession is an idiot. Anyone who even talks about inhibiting international trade is an idiot. (Yes, that includes GWB’s support for steel quotas six years ago, one of his failed efforts to pander to rust-belt democrats.) So far as I can tell, Chauncey is 0-2 on economic matters. And that does not consider his premature withdrawal proposal from Iraq; fortunately the Republicans held the day there, and won the war instead. By the way, did he return the FNMA donations? Has he called for investigation of Raines and Johnson and Gorelick for the millions they looted from FNMA? Obama is as corrupt as the other democrats. “Inflating tires will save as much oil as they are talking about drilling.” “100% of John McCain’s ads are negative.” I cannot determine whether he is an idiot or just a lying crook. And Biden is no better. Anyone who voted against confirmation of Bork or Roberts or Alito is either an idiot or a crook. There is no intelligent alternative view.

The Georgia Budget and Policy Institute is a group dedicated to manufacturing touchy-feeley and cushy quasi-government jobs for otherwise unemployable leftists.

How would one define “children’s health?” Most of the crazy children I have known were scions of the wealthy. Of course, the leftists have just imposed a new legal requirement to include mental health coverage in all employer health insurance programs, at a nominal additional fee of $100/month per the jbmlaw estimate. Thanks, loonies. Just how I wanted to spend my money.

Ok, fun is fun, and I like to mock Fulton County as much as the next guy but really, “A third of recent Atlanta Police Academy graduates have been arrested or cited for a crime.” How many convictions? I think maybe a quarter of the people arrested are not really guilty of anything serious. I suspect that most of those are “personal behavior” matters that presented no meaningful risk to the public. From the jbmlaw view, I like the idea of having policemen who have suffered the short end of justice – maybe breeds some good judgment? We have too many laws regulating too much behavior. And that does not include the criminalization of political differences manufactured by the leftists to condemn conservatives.

I also think it would be useful to abolish the Federal gas tax. Not replace it at all. Abolish road building grants too. And public transportation subsidies. Get the imperial government out of our lives. They screw up everything they touch. Don’t get me started on mortgage lending.

Secretary Brunner is just trying to ingratiate herself with the Obamaniacs, by adopting Chicago-style voting integrity.

By Skeptic Tank

October 17, 2008 8:08 AM | Link to this

John McCain tells us that Obama’s being less than forthcoming about his relationship to Bill Ayers.

Mr. McCain, you are a hypocritical fool.

Joe the Plumber was not an anonymous Joe. He is not undecided. He’s not even a plumber! Turns out that Joe Wurzelbacher from the Toledo event is a close relative of Robert Wurzelbacher of Milford, Ohio. Who’s Robert Wurzelbacher? Only Charles Keating’s son-in-law and the former senior vice president of American Continental, the parent company of the infamous Lincoln Savings and Loan.

Ouch, Mr. McCain. Can’t you even MUCKRAKE without screwing up?

By Frost

October 17, 2008 8:09 AM | Link to this

His strong suit is that he was far wiser yesterday than those who actually had to make decisions

He was wiser when he voted against the IRAQ war, right there on the senate floor, before it happened.

Why are you so blind to facts???

By Just Nasty & Mean

October 17, 2008 8:09 AM | Link to this

G’Mornin Jim, et al,

Obla-bla-ma has shown to be an expert with 20/20 vision looking at the past and the Bush Administration. He can afford to do so since he was on the sidelines, doing virtually NOTHING (but running for President) or voting “present” and taking no position on critical decisions. No spine.

Obla-bla-ma has entered the Ga/Fla water war, siding with Florida. No doubt this is to assuage and pander to the swing-state voters. What an empty suit. Attention Georgia Voters: Obama thinks Florida needs your N. Georgia water more than you!

Kudos to Georgia Sec. of State Handel for holding back the avalanche of fraudulent voters from Obla-bla-ma groups like ACORN and the ACLU. Is anybody stopping to realize Obla-bla-ma campaign is funding-to the tune of $800,000—a concerted effort to interject fraud into the voter system? How come nobody in the mainstream media isn’t calling Obla-bla-ma on this? Could it be BIAS????

Have a nice weekend everybody!

By Skeptic Tank

October 17, 2008 8:14 AM | Link to this

John McCain tells us that Obama’s being less than forthcoming about his relationship to Bill Ayers.

Mr. McCain, you are a hypocritical fool.

Joe the Plumber was not an anonymous Joe. He is not undecided. He’s not even a plumber! Turns out that Joe Wurzelbacher from the Toledo event is a close relative of Robert Wurzelbacher of Milford, Ohio. Who’s Robert Wurzelbacher? Only Charles Keating’s son-in-law and the former senior vice president of American Continental, the parent company of the infamous Lincoln Savings and Loan.

Ouch, Mr. McCain. Can’t you even MUCKRAKE without screwing up?

By Mid-South Philosopher

October 17, 2008 8:16 AM | Link to this

Good morning, Jim

Question…Do you know the difference between a honorable public servant” and a lousy *politician?

In three words…”a third term.”

Have a great weekend.

By Say What?

October 17, 2008 8:18 AM | Link to this

In the aftermath of the Republican massacre on voting rights in Florida in 2000 and Ohio in 2004, it’s especially delicious to hear the cacophony of whines from the right wing radicals.

What goes around comes around.

By Churchill's Mon

October 17, 2008 8:23 AM | Link to this

Jim All is lost I can not find a single Palin editorial, guess The other Jim—Jim the Plumber is getting it all. Well maybe someone will give him a job so he can pay his state income taxes. Think I’ll have a drink & wait on Auburn Football. WAR EAGLE

By Mr. KnowItAll

October 17, 2008 8:25 AM | Link to this

Skeptic Tank @ 8:14

Your reply is a CLASSIC Democrap response to any criticism of the Messiah, the Chosen One, his eminence—Obama.

Personally ATTACK! ATTACK their background, ATTACK their family, ATTACK their positions, ATTACK their intelligence.

This is nothing less than sending 30 lawyers, investigators and other hacks to Alaska to dig up any and all innuendo or personal vendetta ANYBODY (the Waleska librarian for crying out loud!) against Palin.

Want to know why there is so much partisanship in Washington. Just look at your attack on Joe the Plumber—some guy out of the crowd that happened to be thrust into the spotlight because of Obama’s remark.

What do YOU do! ATTACK!

Pathetic!

By JJ

October 17, 2008 8:26 AM | Link to this

If Saxby Chambliss is the model of a small government conservative, then Barack Obama is a moderate. Really, Democrats should love Saxby Chambliss. He has helped bring the big government that Clinton and Cleland promised.

By Analchemy

October 17, 2008 8:35 AM | Link to this

With the GOP challenging every single pre-election registration, we can expect demands for recounts after the election, and supreme court appeals.

The issue may be in doubt weeks after the election.

Shame on conservatives who would put this country through the demeaning gaunlet of institutional hoax out of spite.

By Say What?

October 17, 2008 8:38 AM | Link to this

KnowNothing

It’s all about character, baby. And your boy McCain has a blemished character himself.

It’s hard to assassinate character when you yourself are living a lie.

By ron

October 17, 2008 8:41 AM | Link to this

Good morning,In Islamic counries there are so many crimes that a red blooded American soldier would be executed every minute of the day for some trivial reason.Let’s let the uniform code of military justice prevail.

Obama is a self admitted quick study.They’re people that ask you for an answer today and are self proclaimed experts on the subject tomorrow.I’ve worked with people like this all my life.

Smoking?Let’s not go there.You have a right to smoke and I have a right to breathe.Let’s not get the two confused.Let me sort it out.

Nothing less than $20 a pack cigarettes will have an affect on smoking,so let’s do that and have the smokers pay for the desired reduction in smoking and spend tax dollars for something besides ads.

Karen Hansel says only new voters are checked.Linda Latimore says she sends letters to long time voters.Social Security say 2 million inquiries have been made by Georgia this year.Too much smoke there not to be caused by a fire.

Police today consider every citizen a criminal.Now we know why.

By swolf4810

October 17, 2008 8:44 AM | Link to this

Thanks for providing the Court’s Decision on the Davis case, I had not had a chance to actually read it before. The fact that 7 of 9 prosecution witnesses have now recanted (more or less) does not speak to me at all of Davis’ possible innocence; but rather, smells to high-heaven of an extreme case of pressure being applied to those witnesses… if not OUTRIGHT WITNESS TAMPERING!

By @@

October 17, 2008 8:49 AM | Link to this

No time to respond to your column just yet Jim. Wanted to leave a response to TN Gelding who said this late yesterday.

@@: That would be great and leave a good job for someone who might need it.

You misunderstand. I said I’d give up my pay and perform my duties on a voluntary basis.

Why would an employer opt to pay someone else when I’ve got 12 years of experience and would be willing to teach for free?

It’s obvious you’re a democrat. Looking for a job are ‘ya? Won’t be getting mine buddy.

Off to enjoy my little responsibilities now.

By Rod

October 17, 2008 8:49 AM | Link to this

HAHAHAHA on Good Morning America it was reported the reason Joe the plumber is worried about his taxes going up is because he actually owes 1200 in back taxes. Way to go guy. Complain about taxes you don’t evey pay-lolo

By Rod

October 17, 2008 8:49 AM | Link to this

HAHAHAHA on Good Morning America it was reported the reason Joe the plumber is worried about his taxes going up is because he actually owes 1200 in back taxes. Way to go guy. Complain about taxes you don’t even pay-lolo

By Rod

October 17, 2008 8:49 AM | Link to this

HAHAHAHA on Good Morning America it was reported the reason Joe the plumber is worried about his taxes going up is because he actually owes 1200 in back taxes. Way to go guy. Complain about taxes you don’t even pay-lolo

By Mr. KnowItAll

October 17, 2008 8:49 AM | Link to this

To Say What/SepticTank

So, let me get this straight: You actually believe Joe the Plumber was a “plant” and it was all planned that he would goad Obama into saying * “We’re going to spread the wealth around.” *

You are either sick, gullible or just plain stupid. Take your pick.

By Frost

October 17, 2008 8:51 AM | Link to this

Personally ATTACK! ATTACK their background, ATTACK their family, ATTACK their positions, ATTACK their intelligence

Look who is talking!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By Steven Daedalus

October 17, 2008 8:59 AM | Link to this

Geez know-it all, Joe the Dumber,tax cheat, was a plant by the Repubs. Take a deep breathe, ease back into your nether world.

By Redneck Convert

October 17, 2008 9:04 AM | Link to this

Well, somebody kilt that cop in Savannah and it might as well be this Troy Davis. I don’t care how many witnesses against him say they lied. People just want to strike out at how good conservatives think. If something bad happens we want to take out after somebody we think done it. Kids leaving school dumb as fence posts? Go after the teachers and take money away from the schools. Libruls getting elected? Check all the voter rolls and see how many can be took off of them. Somebody gets kilt? Arrest somebody and try him and shoot him up with poison.

Anyhow, it looks like Wooten is hard up for topics today. But I say get rid of gas taxes and tobacco taxes. Just because I like to drive my F-450 alot and slap in a wad of Skoal once in a while is no reason to tax me on it. Let’s get rid of taxes and then we can complain when the guvmint needs to borrow money and say we need to cut out all guvmint spending on account of we can’t afford it. This Raghead Dunderhead is right.

Have a good day everybody.

By "The Corporal"

October 17, 2008 9:04 AM | Link to this

Mr. Wooten

I am a very conservative, former Marine Vietnam combat veteran and agree with you 99% of the time. However, subjecting our troops to Islamic law in any part of the world is totally unacceptable !!

Don’t forget even their constitution (that we unbelieveably signed off on) states that “nothing in this constituion shall violate the tenents of Islam !

Sick !

By Analchemy

October 17, 2008 9:04 AM | Link to this

Nixon’s first major campaign slogan was, “A vote for Nixon is a vote for change.”

McCain’s tomfoolery set fire to an aircraft carrier during ‘nam. His jet exhaust caused a sidewinder to fire while both jets were waiting to take off. He “wetstarted” his jet. WHich was forbidden but which also was considered hotdoggy, and cool, and I’ll do what I want cause I’m top gun.

Tom Cruise considered including wet starting engines in “top gun” but rejected the idea when someone pointed out that his set would catch fire if he tried it.

McCain’s the type who would smoke a cigar while filling up his car with petrol. Just to make people look in horror. He’s be smiling and really digging the attention.

That’s John McCain to a T.

Know it. Believe it. Vote it.

By Ragnar Danneskjöld

October 17, 2008 9:14 AM | Link to this

Dear Frost @ 8:09, you introduce new information. Exactly when did the junior empty suit from Illinois vote “against the IRAQ war, right there on the senate floor, before it happened.”? The junior empty suit was elected to the US Senate for the first time in November 2004. Most sources agree the war in Iraq began March 20, 2003. Not that facts really matter. Or perhaps it was some vote in the Illinois assembly that led to the war in Iraq?

By Analchemy

October 17, 2008 9:16 AM | Link to this

Corporal: Islam is a beautiful religion. Have you hugged a Mullah today?

WAM

By misterearl

October 17, 2008 9:20 AM | Link to this

Read and Vote

Barack Obama endosed by The Washington Post and The New Yorker Magazine

Irritability, erratic expressions and anger

Intelligence, analysis and calm

You make the call

By Analchemy

October 17, 2008 9:36 AM | Link to this

The Iraq War is at the core of this economic calamity. I cant describe how, except that War invites uncertainty to any plans. ANd something gets unleashed in war that has a karmic ring. Truth is the first casualty of war, and what the world needs now is truth sweet truth.

But jbmlaw cant handle the truth, he’s a lawyer. Truth is kryptonite to a mouthpiece. Maybe if we trick jbmlaw in pronouning his RagnarDanneskjold name backwards he’ll disappear.

If only I had an umlaut key. Oh! If my keyboard could type! What could be!

The umlaut key is wasted on Jbm.

ISAIDWASTED!

By Goober

October 17, 2008 9:53 AM | Link to this

American troops at war in a foreign country are still under the oversight of the military, even if they are on leave by permission for a few hours or days. To abandon a soldier in a foreign land to the nuances of language, culture and laws of that land shouldn’t be done. Guilty or not, they are still a soldier and subject to military disipline. War changes things.

By Peter

October 17, 2008 9:59 AM | Link to this

Joe the Plumber and Sarah Palin……….. Both didn’t pay their taxes……..No wonder McCain picked him………to Peas from the same Pod !

Can someone answer this question……..

Does Sarah Palin wear Pumps, when she is riding around in a Helicopter shooting Wolves, their pups, and Bears ?

By Skeptic Tank

October 17, 2008 10:01 AM | Link to this

Joe the Plumber was trotted out to the American public as some sort of “Everyman” that we should all be able to relate to. McCain KNEW that Mr. Wurzelbacher was a Republican operative, and not some anonymous Joe.

Mr. McCain mislead the public. After 8 years of that crap, frankly, I’m sick of it. I thought John McCain had more integrity than that.

And when the fence sitters find out that Mr. McCain was less than forthcoming, they too will tire quickly of his deceit.

By ron

October 17, 2008 10:04 AM | Link to this

Ragnar—-Stop posting facts about Obama.It only serves to confuse the issue.Obama people don’t like facts.They are content with the myths being spun.He didn’t vote against the Iraq war in the Illinois Legislature either,I think he voted, Present.

By CommunistAJC

October 17, 2008 10:15 AM | Link to this

Searching for Obama’s 95 Percent

Posted by Philip Klein

“We are going to cut taxes for 95 percent of Americans,” Barack Obama’s campaign manager, David Plouffe, said in the spin room here at Hofstra University following the final debate of the 2008 presidential election.

Plouffe was repeating one of the boldest claims made by the Obama campaign. It’s a claim that the Wall Street Journal editorial board dubbed “Obama’s 95% Illusion,” noting that more than a third of Americans don’t pay any income taxes, and that what Obama’s plan does do is offer a raft of subsidies and government payments to individuals and families that he redefines as “tax cuts.” His proposal looks more like a redistribution scheme than an honest effort to reduce taxes — as he revealed on Monday when he told a now famous Ohio plumber that his plan aimed to “spread the wealth around.”

So when Plouffe reiterated the 95 percent claim, I asked him a simple question aimed at clarifying whether Obama’s tax plan was about cutting rates, or merely handing out government checks. “What rates would actually go down”? I asked.

“Middle class people are going to see, systemically, their taxes reduced, and small businesses,” Plouffe responded.

“But what rate would go down for lower-income Americans?” I persisted, seeking more information.

“We’ll have to get you the exact details on that,” Obama’s campaign manager told me.

I followed up, recapping the claim he had just made moments ago: “Well, you said that there’s going to be a tax cut on 95 percent, so what rate would go down?”

He replied, “I’ll have to get you the exact rate differential.”

Given that he wasn’t clear on the actual rate changes involved, I asked, “but which type of tax would go down?”

He insisted that under Obama’s plan, income taxes would be lower, as well as capital gains taxes on start up businesses and small entrepreneurs (though the capital gains tax would otherwise increase).

SHORTLY AFTER my exchange with Plouffe, I was listening to David Axelrod, Obama’s senior strategist, and I decided to put the question to him slightly differently: “Let’s say you’re making $50,000 a year,” I posited. “What taxes would you see go lower under the Obama plan?”

Axelrod replied, “You would get a $500 cut in your taxes. If you’re a couple, $1,000.”

I queried as to whether that money would come in the form of a check, or a lower rate. “You would see a reduction in your taxes, in the taxes that you pay,” he insisted. After further questioning, he added, “The mechanism for it has to do with deferring part of the withholding taxes, but you should talk to our budget folks on that.”

Later in the evening, Brian Deese, an Obama economics adviser, emailed me the following information, at Plouffe’s request:

I could not find a reference to the first statistic after viewing the study cited by Deese. In its analysis, the Tax Policy Center (a venture of the left-leaning Brookings Institution and Urban Institute), sides with the Obama campaign by categorizing as “tax cuts” government payments such as the $1,000 to couples, $4,000 for college tuition, and 10% payment to offset mortgage interest expenses. But the study does not repeat the Obama campaign’s 95 percent claim. (In a late night email, I raised these points with Deese, and also asked him to explain the criteria under which the campaign arrived at the 95 percent number, but did not hear back as of this writing.)

In fairness, politicians long ago began to use the tax code as a tool for crafting social policy rather than merely as a way to raise revenue. Republicans and Democrats alike have abused terms such as “tax credit” and “tax rebate” to make their policy goals more palatable. But Obama is getting away with defining tax cuts so broadly, that future candidates will simply claim any form of increased government spending as a tax cut. Under Obama’s logic, higher food stamp allowances and expanded state funding of the arts could be dubbed “food tax credit” and “arts tax credit” respectively, and also qualify.

If Barack Obama can effectively claim that his plan cuts taxes on 95 percent of Americans, then the term “tax cut” has no meaning.

By Elephant Whip

October 17, 2008 10:18 AM | Link to this

Regarding Troy Davis:

Jim, why don’t you encourage your readers to read the WHOLE opinion? The Davis habeas corpus was a 4 to 3 decision. The writer of the majority opinion, Justice Melton, has ZERO CRIMINAL LAW EXPERIENCE, he has never been a prosecutor, nor defense lawyer. He also has VERY LITTLE TRIAL PRACTICE EXPERIENCE. IN FACT, HE WAS NEVER A JUDGE BEFORE HIS 2005 APPOINTMENT BY GOOD OL’ SONNY. Here’s his bio:

*”On July 1, 2005, Justice Harold Melton was appointed to the Georgia Supreme Court by Governor Sonny Perdue.

Prior to joining the Court, Justice Melton served as Executive Counsel to Governor Perdue, representing the Governor on legal issues covering the entire scope of state government. Justice Melton helped safeguard Georgia’s interests in water rights disputes with Alabama and Florida, and actively participated in administration efforts to advance the delivery of criminal justice services in the State.

Before serving as Executive Counsel, Justice Melton spent eleven years in the Georgia Department of Law under two Attorneys General where he dealt with issues ranging from the creation of the Georgia Lottery Corporation to the administration of Georgia’s tobacco settlement. Prior to leaving to join the Governor’s Office, Justice Melton served as Section Leader over the Consumer Interests Division.

Justice Melton received a Bachelor of Science degree from Auburn University and his Juris Doctorate from the University of Georgia in 1991. He previously served as a Volunteer Leader of Young Life Ministries for 11 years, is currently a Board Member of Atlanta Youth Academies and the Director of Teen Ministry at Southwest Christian Fellowship Church.

A native of Washington, D.C., Justice Melton grew up in East Point and Marietta. He currently resides in Atlanta with his wife, Kimberly, and their three children.”*

The dissent, on the other hand, was led by CHIEF JUSTICE SEARS, who has much more experience (read her bio at the Georgia Supreme Court web page). She thought there should at least be a hearing in court about the new evidence before we kill the man, either to confirm that he is a cold-blooded cop killer and deserves execution, or to make sure we don’t kill an innocent man (that’s murder, isn’t it?) by giving him a new trial. And at that new trial, if he had one, he could be found guilty once again if the facts are so strong.

WHY DON’T YOU ENCOURAGE YOUR READERS TO READ THE WHOLE OPINION?

For those interested, go to the link Wooten gives you and scroll down to where it says “Sears, Chief Justice, Dissenting” (around page 22). Regardless of whether you ultimately agree, read the whole opinion, not just Justice Melton.

By AmVet

October 17, 2008 10:24 AM | Link to this

Any rational American older than the Young Republicans at UGA, and who predates Ronnie, has good reason to suspect the Pentagon OFTEN does not shoot straight with the American public.

YET, allowing just any soldier, marine, airman or sailor to be “prosecuted” by the overseas wackos that we have decided to get in bed with, is unconscionable and dangerous.

4,185 dead Americans, KIA needlessly in that clusterf&ck of a policing occupation, and this yellow journalist wants to hang a few more out to dry?

Support the Troops, my a$$…

By AnonyMoose

October 17, 2008 10:31 AM | Link to this

If John McCain wanted to run against George Bush, he should have done so four years ago.

By Steven Daedalus

October 17, 2008 10:42 AM | Link to this

Harold Melton is the greatest injustice in the justice system.

By AmVet

October 17, 2008 10:43 AM | Link to this

If John McCain wanted to run against George Bush, he should have done so four years ago.

Classic, AnonyMoose!

And he may well have won…

By Jim Wooten

October 17, 2008 10:47 AM | Link to this

Elelphant Walk @ 10:18: Yes, do, read the whole opinion. Everfybody should. It’s the same link, obviously.

By delving into the draft

October 17, 2008 10:49 AM | Link to this

Draft pact sets rules for Iraqi prosecution of troops

U.S. negotiators demanded exclusive jurisdiction over all soldiers and contractors, presumably to protect them from politically motivated charges. But Iraq insisted on a role to convince the public that Iraqis - and not Americans - are in charge of their country.

Under the compromise, the U.S. would have the primary right to try troops and Pentagon contractors for alleged offenses committed on American bases or during military operations, the officials said.

Such language would presumably shield troops from prosecution for accidentally killing civilians caught in the crossfire during authorized combat operations.

But Iraq would have first crack at trying U.S. military personnel and contractors for major, premeditated crimes allegedly committed outside American bases and when they are not on an authorized mission, the officials said.

Military cases — Most of the estimated 147,000 U.S. troops rarely leave their bases except on authorized missions, so it is unclear whether the change would send a significant number of Americans before Iraqi judges.

However, examples of cases that could fall under Iraqi jurisdiction might include the 2006 rape-slaying of a 14-year-old girl and the killing of her family by American soldiers in Mahmoudiya south of Baghdad.

Four U.S. troops pleaded guilty or were convicted in military courts. A former soldier, Steven Dale Green, is expected to stand trial in the United States in April. He could face the death penalty.

By Ragnar Danneskjöld

October 17, 2008 10:50 AM | Link to this

Dear Pofo @ 9:36, “But jbmlaw cant handle the truth, he’s a lawyer.” What do you mean, I can’t handle it? I can twist it every which way but loose. I can spread stuff like Chauncey!

Dear Whip @ 10:18, as a typical cultist you attack the speaker rather than the content of the opinion. “Who says it,” does not matter to the rational mind; only the logic of the argument. If the majority opinion is well-argued, it would not matter if it were written by a plumber. In fact, it might make more sense.

By Vince

October 17, 2008 10:53 AM | Link to this

Jim,

Wanted to address the “Exposing American troops to Iraqi justice”. I absolutely agree with your point, if a military member committs a crime, but what if they are accused of something they didn’t do? As seen in Korea and Japan, there are accusations made simply to discredit the armed forces. I wouldn’t want to spend 3-4 years in an Iraqi prison because someone wants to discredit the US, and after all that time get a “oops, sorry” with no recourse.

By adamatomic41

October 17, 2008 11:22 AM | Link to this

I never comment on these things, but thank you, Ragnar, for setting the record straight on Frost’s claim that Obama “voted against the IRAQ war, right there on the senate floor, before it happened.” I would’ve corrected it myself had no one else.

For someone who criticizes others for being “blind to facts,” Frost sure needs to check them out before posting. It may shatter his/her heroic image of Obama voting against the war in the Senate, but at least the facts are now there.

By Elephant Whip

October 17, 2008 11:31 AM | Link to this

JBMLAW (aka Ragnar):

When it gets to the Supreme Court, there are obviously more than one “rational” argument, and one’s conscience, EXPERIENCE, morals, and philosophy DO influence which “rational” argument s/he supports. Otherwise, why don’t Republicans appoint Democratic judges or vice versa?

Perhaps you are saying that Justice Sear’s dissent isn’t well argued? Or that it is not “rational”?

My main point was that there is a reasonable dissent written by a more experienced judge. And her experience might lead her to a more “rational” conclusion. BUT MY MAIN POINT WAS TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO READ THE WHOLE OPINION.

By Chad Harris

October 17, 2008 11:32 AM | Link to this

It is beyond stupid for this reprehensibly failed Bush administration to enter into a new agreement at the end of eight years of the worst government this country has known in this three trillion dollar hemorrhage and fiasco in Iraq. The Obama administration and the new Congress with a probable 60 member Democratic majority is not going to be bound to this idiotic “agreement” by the moronic Bush administration if it happens.

The Ohio case is far from over—a cert. petition has been filed and it’s pending the outcome of 4 votes for the Supremes to intervene. Wooten neglected to state that fact. It is an en banc decision to reinstate a T.R.O., not a final opinion, anyway but legal details aren’t exactly this column’s forte nor or they the AJC’s. Read the NYT to get decent in depth legal coverage or the FCDR.

he TRO does not require, and the en banc court majority emphasizes, that a county board is not required upon hearing of the mismatch to remove eligible voters from the rolls.

The opinion is now in the hands of Justice John Paul Stevens who oversees the Sixth Circuit. The Republican party had two years to raise these objections, and are now seeking as they always do, to disrupt an election, and this time they are going to lose it and lose it large.

The problem is not voter fraud; the problem is with the federal and state databases, just as the problem exists with the databases of the erratic and poorly eeducated Karen Handel.

From NYT:

*”The stated purpose of the“matching” requirement in the federal law, the 2002 Help America Vote Act, was to accelerate procedures at the polls, somewhat like an E-Zpass lane at highway toll plazas. It was meant to allow voters to avoid showing identification if they had already been screened using database checks.The federal matching requirement, Mr. Tokaji said, was not meant to determine eligibility, deter voter fraud or raise added barriers for voters by forcing some to vote provisionally. “The majority judges don’t seem to grasp this point,” he said.

There is a real risk of large-scale challenges of voters on Election Day, said Richard L. Hasen, a professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, but he added that any effort to use the list to purge the rolls before then could violate the federal provision that prohibits systematic voter removal purges within 90 days of a federal election.”

What Wooten and the Republican knee jerkers now desperate for litigation to undo President Obama who will be elected by a clear majority in 18 days, do not realize is that the vast majority of mismatches if not 98% of them with government lists are not fraudulent voters but in fact, computer and typing errors on the part of mediocre or worse government bureaucrats who are marking time to pick up a paycheck and not interested in quality work.

I also appears that to the extent the mismatch lists are public, it will provide the potential basis for challenges by the ORP on election day.

Quaterbacking what the fiasco of a team is doing right now and did for eight years is crucial, because President Obama and the new Congress is going to have to undo almost all of it for this country to survive.

McCain is absolutely a continuation of Bush; the majority in this country knows this, and we will send him and Igloo moron packing in 18 days.

Cranky, erratic, and senile with not a clue of how to govern, McCain has already been defeated in this election. If Wooten wants to do another snoopy dance about his fantansies in this election, bring it on.

Georgians will continue to smoke in droves, and even if they did not have lungs there is a classic NEJM article that shows that above 40 men have 8 times the number of MIs and CVAs and women have 4 X the number if they smoke 2 PPD. Combined with the Southern company’s pollution this assures that the CCUs in Georgia will be at full capacity forever while the tobacco related funerals continue to increase.

It’s amusing to see Wooten proposing a solution to encourage marriage when Republican divorces are at an all time high as are Republican extramarital affairs.

The number and quality of the recantations in the Davis case are sufficient to halt execution, but that ship has sailed legally and it is tragic. Wooten doesn’t have a clue what happened.

By getalife

October 17, 2008 11:34 AM | Link to this

In times like these, we need good comedy and both candidates gave it to us at the dinner in NY. Clinton was LOL.

Too bad his campaign is still slinging hate and mud but think Biden is right.

John is a better man than his failed campaign.

Keep the comedy coming Jim. LOL.

By PinkoNeoConLibertarian

October 17, 2008 11:36 AM | Link to this

How interesting it is that many are the times that Mr. Wooten has cried foul when people mention the party affiliation of those they disagree with while neglecting to do the same for those of a like mind. Yet here we see he is guilty of the same offense:

“Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, a Democrat”.

Later in the same paragraph:

“Secretary of State Karen Handel”.

Notice the lack of party affiliation.

Mr. Wooten, “the apology window is now open”.

By Republicans R Crooks

October 17, 2008 11:36 AM | Link to this

Let vote? All American citizens over the age of 18 who are not in prison have the right to vote, and only lying, theiving scum like jimmy the idiot would try to play “gotcha” by denying them that right with red tape like voter registration questions. I would like to play “gotcha” with the stinking repukes, but tomahawking has been outlawed since the 1600….Still, there is always my happy thought as I fall into a deep peaceful sleep each night…..

By Ragnar Danneskjöld

October 17, 2008 11:39 AM | Link to this

Dear Whip @ 11:31, “there is a reasonable dissent written by a more experienced judge” – there you go again, persisting in your cult mentality. “Experience” does not matter in a battle of opinions. Were you not a cultist you would have left the argument at, “there is a superior argument in the dissent.” I have made that same observation myself on this blog, as with Justice Scalia’s recent concurrence in Kennedy v Louisiana. The language I quoted then was not brilliant because Scalia wrote it; it was, simply, brilliant.

Great thoughts can make the reputation of the speaker, but the speaker’s reputation does not enhance the quality of the thought. That is the point I was attempting to teach you.

By Elephant Whip

October 17, 2008 11:45 AM | Link to this

JBMLAW (aka Ragnar):

As an aside toward your ad hominem ‘cultist’ remark; art thou not a hypocrite? And I quote from your first post:

Anyone who voted against confirmation of Bork or Roberts or Alito is either an idiot or a crook. There is no intelligent alternative view.

This presumes there’s no “rational” reason to vote against these nominees, cultist?

By Ragnar Danneskjöld

October 17, 2008 11:47 AM | Link to this

Dear Whip @ 11:31, an additional point on experience. No Supreme Court justice has more experience than John Paul Stevens, but if you ever read one of his arguments, odds are your eyes will glaze over. Experience is simply a non-factor. Give me the enfant terrible anytime.

By Ragnar Danneskjöld

October 17, 2008 11:49 AM | Link to this

Dear Whip @ 11:45, ok, I’ll bite. What is the rational view that Bork or Roberts or Alito is unqualified for the court? I’ve never heard it, but I’m always ready to learn. Unlike you?

By Country First

October 17, 2008 11:58 AM | Link to this

John McCain hit hard at the debate when he told Obama, “I am not George Bush. If you want to run against George bush you should have ran against him four years ago.” That was a powerful statement to let people know that John McCain is his own man.

ACORN needs to continue to be investigated by the FBI and whom ever else to stop voter fraud in its track. This election should be done fairly and not favoring Obama fraudulently in any kind of way.

McCain has been gaining in the polls in the last couple of days. This is very good for McCain and it helps to know that people are paying better attention to the issues and where McCain wants to take this country. It is very clear that John McCain will fight for this country to make it great once again.

By Republicans R Crooks

October 17, 2008 12:00 PM | Link to this

The supreme court has just told Jimmy the Idiot that he is, as usual, wrong. ”
High court rejects GOP bid in Ohio voting dispute

Oct 17 11:54 AM US/Eastern Write a Comment

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court is siding with Ohio’s top elections official in a dispute with the state Republican Party over voter registrations. The justices on Friday overruled a federal appeals court that had ordered Ohio’s top elections official to do more to help counties verify voter eligibility.

Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, a Democrat, faced a deadline of Friday to set up a system to provide local officials with names of newly registered voters whose driver’s license numbers or Social Security numbers on voter registration forms don’t match records in other government databases.

Ohio Republicans contended the information for counties would help prevent fraud. Brunner said the GOP is trying to disenfranchise voters”

By Ragnar Danneskjöld

October 17, 2008 12:01 PM | Link to this

Dear Whip @ 11:31, I think you operate with one factually errant predicate: “When it gets to the Supreme Court, there are obviously more than one “rational” argument…” I think that is not the case. There is a theory of jurisprudence, the “living, breathing Constitution” rooted in emotion rather than rationale. The contrary theory, the “unchanging bedrock of our nation” is the view normally preferred by conservatives.

By Carolyn

October 17, 2008 12:02 PM | Link to this

Anyone that thinks Joe the plumber just happen to be at the rally has to be an idiot. He was a plant. It later came out that he did not have a business and did not even have a licence. John McCain only looked foolish again. All Barak Obama has to do from now on it to mention Joe Plumber and it will make the poor sap, JMc, look like a clown.

By Republicans R Crooks

October 17, 2008 12:09 PM | Link to this

I want a debate between Joe the Plumber and Jimmy the Idiot….

By Elephant Whip

October 17, 2008 12:13 PM | Link to this

JBMLAW (let’s skip the AKA):

Three points, then I need to work-

1) You cut my quote; complete it before you argue: “My main point was that there is a reasonable dissent written by a more experienced judge. And her experience might lead her to a more “rational” conclusion” (emphasis added). Thus I acknowledge someone might not agree with her and let them draw his/her own conclusion.

2) You divert attention to an argument not made and skewer the straw man. You state “Great thoughts can make the reputation of the speaker, but the speaker’s reputation does not enhance the quality of the thought.”

MY POINT WAS THAT EXPERIENCE CAN MAKE GREAT THOUGHTS. Great thoughts may or may not make a reputation for the speaker. The Georgia Supreme Court provides biographical information to establish EXPERIENCE, not reputation.

3) You state “experience does not matter in the battle of opinions.” Perhaps this is true in the abstract (which courts refuse to deal with unless there are facts at issue that address the abstract). But experience does provide knowledge about context and the impact of opinions on the real world, and this experience might lead to the preference for one of several “rational” positions.

By hillbilly ragger

October 17, 2008 12:17 PM | Link to this

An agreeable enough column, Jim. One question, maybe one of the commenters would like to speculate in your stead: How would a conservative propose to encourage marriage?

As a progressive, I happen to agree that encouraging stable homes for children would make a big difference in kids’ health overall, and if the government encouraging marriage is a part of that, I’m ok with it.

But how to do it? Just throwing the question out there.

By Elephant Whip

October 17, 2008 12:33 PM | Link to this

JBMLAW:

As for “biting” on my assertion about the Justices you supported: it was not the fact that you supported them, or the unmentioned reasons for your support. It was your use of the very tactic that you critically accused me of using in my assertions about the justices involved in the Davis case.

As for Roberts and Alito, I agree that both are qualified. I don’t remember Bork (too young at the time).

Now I really must go…

By Andrea

October 17, 2008 12:37 PM | Link to this

Hey Wootsie, I hear that Colin Powell is going to endorse Obama so you are going to need about 2 more nails for the Republican coffin.

Thank you Republicans for being so shady because KARMA is a…..

Just Nasty & Mean, you have a FABULOUS weekend as well!

OBAMA/BIDEN BABY!!!

By BS Aplenty

October 17, 2008 12:48 PM | Link to this

Come on, Jim, “encourage marriage”? You mean like when people actually commit to take care of each other and bring themselves out of poverty? without government? That’s just crazy talk.

Next you’ll be suggesting that the obese should exercise and lose weight as a means to control soaring healthcare costs.

Never fly. Makes too much sense.

By JLK

October 17, 2008 1:01 PM | Link to this

Mr. Wooten, once again we see your boring, regular, predictable finger of blame pointed at unmarried parents. Married people leave too, hence the thriving prosperity of soul-less divorce attorneys. Unless you’ve invented or hold stock in (like Rumsfeld in the bird flu vaccine) a true “love potion number nine” that you can mandate, by theocratic law, married people to injest weekly to stay together, then you have no point. None.

By hillbilly ragger

October 17, 2008 1:06 PM | Link to this

BS, how would you encourage marriage?

By getalife

October 17, 2008 1:07 PM | Link to this

Joe the wingnut’s fifteen minutes are up like Palin:

So today, Joe, who said he makes much less than $250,000, reluctantly admitted Obama would lower his taxes.

“I would, if you believe him, I would be receiving his tax cuts,” Wurzelbacher said.

So, he is tossed under the bs express bus:

“Last night, Sarah Palin said she didn’t want to talk about Wurzelbacher. “I begged our speechwriters, ‘Don’t make me say Joe the Plumber, please, in any speeches,” she said. After failing to properly vet Wurzelbacher’s situation, the McCain campaign is apparently now throwing him overboard and moving on.”

Yes, lets move on from gop failed leadership Sarah.

By Republicans R Crooks

October 17, 2008 1:09 PM | Link to this

rather than encourage marriage, we should encourage prostitutiion, thus forever free men of alimony, child support, and worst of all, eternal nagging…

By Ragnar Danneskjöld

October 17, 2008 1:13 PM | Link to this

Dear Whip @ 12:33, I realize you cannot read or respond now, but I’ll show you the flaw in your arguments.

1) “You cut my quote; complete it before you argue: “My main point was that there is a reasonable dissent written by a more experienced judge. And her experience might lead her to a more “rational” conclusion” (emphasis added). Thus I acknowledge someone might not agree with her and let them draw his/her own conclusion.”

Your point is irrational, due to your acknowledged contingency. “Experience” might lead to an irrational prejudice. Experience is thus an unreliable basis to choose between competing arguments.

2) “You divert attention to an argument not made and skewer the straw man. You state “Great thoughts can make the reputation of the speaker, but the speaker’s reputation does not enhance the quality of the thought.” MY POINT WAS THAT EXPERIENCE CAN MAKE GREAT THOUGHTS. Great thoughts may or may not make a reputation for the speaker. The Georgia Supreme Court provides biographical information to establish EXPERIENCE, not reputation.”

My point is that experience can make great prejudices, and that experience alone is an unreliable basis to choose between competing arguments.

3) You state “experience does not matter in the battle of opinions.” Perhaps this is true in the abstract (which courts refuse to deal with unless there are facts at issue that address the abstract). But experience does provide knowledge about context and the impact of opinions on the real world, and this experience might lead to the preference for one of several “rational” positions.

Experience conceals prejudice about context. “Impact of opinions on the real world” would hold meaning only for those who subscribe to the “living breathing Constitution” which I condemned as “emotion based” rather than rational.

4) As for “biting” on my assertion about the Justices you supported: it was not the fact that you supported them, or the unmentioned reasons for your support. It was your use of the very tactic that you critically accused me of using in my assertions about the justices involved in the Davis case.

Thus because I notice and criticize leftists for their scurrilous lies about honest jurists, I am a “cultist.” A curious argument indeed. My rationale-based criticism is “cultism.” Purely Orwellian.

Dear Andrea @ 12:37, you may recall that, on this blog last March I suggested the best way for Obama to win the presidency would be to name Gen Powell as his VP. You may also recall that I observed that Gen Powell had no future in the republican party due to his cowardly cover-up of the Plame revelation by his aide, and which cowardice led directly to the conviction of one who was not guilty of exposing the duplicitous CIA employee.

By hillbilly ragger

October 17, 2008 1:21 PM | Link to this

I’ll try one more time to get some kind of an answer. I sometimes hear 1380 WAOK, a predominantly african-american AM station on my afternoon drive. They ran a PSA about family stability and it was a pretty powerful piece of audio. Wish I had a link, but in essence, you have three regular-guys (presumably black, based on their dialect) joshing around a bit, and then one of them realizes how good he has it, since his kid’s in college, and how staying married and working at the relationship made all the difference in his life.

And there are “attaboys” of encouragement from his regular-guy friends.

And maybe I’m not the target market—I’m not likely ever to leave my wife and child for any reason, they mean too much for me and I want more than anything for our family to be strong and intact. Maybe the radio spot stinks. But I liked it.

I don’t know how you legislate that, though.

I now return you all to your regularly scheduled backbiting and nitpicking.

By findog

October 17, 2008 1:23 PM | Link to this

Jim,

Troy again, when I we going to stop whipping this dead horse issue?

Assignment: next Thursday get a copy of your paper, I’ll send you the 75¢, and report the number of fulltime jobs listed and then the number of pages of foreclosure notices. Here in Gainesville there are fewer jobs versus pages of foreclosure. Then we can debate who is best to reverse this if elected…

The ARC has proven it is a joke. A forty-ton tractor-trailer [or Hummer] and a Yugo driving the same miles have vastly differing effects on the roads. The Yugo gets better gas mileage primarily due to its lesser weight. The per gallon tax rate therefore taxes the usage fairly; the per-mile is another attempt to keep soccer moms in their mini buses happy.

Explain the difference between the officers augmenting his pittance to the free stadium in Gwinnett County for the team owner? Both are for the public good, like making sure the congregates running late will make the sermon and not the news.

By Republicans R Crooks

October 17, 2008 1:32 PM | Link to this

I keep getting mail from John McCain asking for money…I send the prepaid envelope back empty…just to cost them some more money…

By Jason

October 17, 2008 1:33 PM | Link to this

Hmmmm…

BOSTON (WBZ) ― Police are investigating a burglary at the Boston offices of the community activist group ACORN.

Boston police told WBZ Friday that three Dell laptop computers were stolen from the group’s Dorchester office around 10:15 p.m. Wednesday. According to police, the alarm had also been ripped from the wall and wires had been damaged.

The police report says two downstairs offices also were ransacked, two vending machines were damaged and change stolen from them. A representative from the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now said he did not know if the break-in was politically motivated, but called the timing “suspicious.”

Yeah I’d say that was suspicious alright. ACORN under investigation for fraud around the nation and then a mysterious “break in” occurs at one of their offices and laptops are stolen with probably valuable information for the investigation. ACORN is around year round, yet only now they got broken in to. Hmmmmm indeed. It stinks to high heaven.

The funny thing is that liberals think that it is the neocons trying to steal this election — as the last two — when report after report after report of dead people registrations, illegal felon vregistrations, multiple registrations, Mickey freaking MOUSE registrations, and registrations that can’t even be validated are being passed off by ACORN and others for Democrats. And then for icing on the cake, the Democrats and ACORN yahoos wail that any investigation into these matters means 1) racism, and 2) attempts to prevent people from getting registered and voter intimidation (like voter ID I suppose), which means an attempt to “steal” the election. Who the hell are the real thiefs here again?

Of course, this should come as no surprise to anyone who has been watching those fascist left wing marxist psychopaths known as the modern liberal Democrat party.

By JLK

October 17, 2008 1:36 PM | Link to this

Mr. Wooten, WHY DO YOU HATE POLICE OFFICERS? I’ll bet if your car is taken at gunpoint, your house is broken into, or the greens at your country club are defaced the night before your tee time, you expect the local law enforcement officers to respond immediately and treat your case with the utmost importance, stopping for nothing until it’s resolved. Am I right?

Police officers put themselves between US and the human garbage and unfortunate nastiness of our society. They face the ugliness so YOU don’t have to, risking their own lives every single day for YOUR comfort and safety. They do it wearing hot, synthetic blend uniforms and bullet-proof vests — even in the Summer! They do it for pay SO LOW that you’d never even consider it as a career. They do it despite the scorn they receive and having their burger spit on at the drive thru.

Most of them work two, three, or four jobs just to keep their head above water and pay their child support, since most of them divorce due to job stress and never being home. And you have the nerve to complain about the caliber of applicants for the job?

If anyone deserves a “company car,” it’s police officers! So what if they drive to their second job in a patrol car? That car helps them respond faster to emergencies, and don’t think for a minute that off-duty cops don’t jump in where needed every single day. The presence of my neighbor’s patrol car on my street while he sleeps a few hours a day is a great comfort to me, as is his tireless commitment to his community for low pay and little appreciation. That the car is with him saves him time on his shifts, and he maintains it with the utmost care. (I should know, I smacked into it once. Ooops.)

Here’s an idea: revoke the officers’ use of patrol cars off shift, and DOUBLE THEIR PAY! Then require them to pay for their off-duty transportation. Those criminal-record goons down at the Academy can work security at restaurants and concerts at night, and our valuable police officers can see their families once in awhile, be in a better mood, and let you out of that speeding ticket you so deserve. Think about it.

By Republicans R Crooks

October 17, 2008 1:37 PM | Link to this

Yo Jason: Hatchet Jack is watching you..boy…..

By Chad Harris

October 17, 2008 1:37 PM | Link to this

Wooten seems to block facts that he doesn’t like even when true but the Sixth Circuit’s terrible TRO has now been removed by a full Supreme Court to whom Justice Stephens referred the case, and now those voters will vote and elect President Obama in Ohio and the US.

By Chad Harris

October 17, 2008 1:40 PM | Link to this

News flash for Jim Wooten and the Merry Wootinistas:

The US Supreme Court this morning sided with the Ohio Democratic Secretary of State making Wooten’s columns a bit curious—but Wooten always Snoopy dances before a defeat. Jim—you’re becoming as reliable as the Sports Illustrated cover curse we all grew up with that has plagued some Georgia Bulldog teams in years past.

**The justices on Friday overruled a federal appeals court that had ordered Ohio’s top elections official to do more to help counties verify voter eligibility.

Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner, a Democrat, faced a deadline of Friday to set up a system to provide local officials with names of newly registered voters whose driver’s license numbers or Social Security numbers on voter registration forms don’t match records in other government databases.

The ruling could make it easier to vote for thousands of Ohioans whose voter registration information did not match up with other government records.And the McCain campaign has already responded. On a conference call with reporters just now, campaign manager Rick Davis said: “If you look at what the ruling said, it said that the Republican party didn’t have standing in order to bring the suit, it didn’t make a decision on the merits of the case.” Davis added: “I think that the Secretary of State ought to do her job.”**

The Supreme Court said it was not expressing any opinion on whether the state official had violated any duty under federal law. But, it said, it was not persuaded that the federal law gives a private party — like the state GOP — a right to go to court to enforce those provisions in the Help America Vote Act.

The Supreme Court, acting on the case after the Circuit Justice, Justice John Paul Stevens referred the matter to the full bench, not only granted the secretary of state’s plea to stay the federal judge’s temporary restraining order, but actually vacated it, thus removing any legal obligation spelled out in that order.

The Sixth Circuit Court in a 9-6 ruling had refused to stay the order.

The Ohio Secretary of State doesn’t take orders from illegal lobbyist Rick Davis and neither do we. The only one I know is Moroncuda Palin who reads whatever he writes for her because her brain no workee in spontaneous situations requiring a thought process and the functioning of healthy Betz cells.**

By hillbilly ragger

October 17, 2008 1:40 PM | Link to this

“Mickey freaking MOUSE registrations,”

Jason, do you really think Mickey’s going to try to vote?

Do you guys have any idea how lame this “ACORN registration fraud” meme of yours is playing out?

It’s the sort of thing you needed to time, say, three days before the election. Once people have a chance to think a little bit they say “well jeez, obviously this isn’t going to effect the outcome of the election.”

Admit it—you hate ACORN because they help legally eligible voters to vote. Come on. Give it a try. Confession’s good for the soul.

Try winning a race on the damn merits of your party’s arguments for a change, instead of flinging poop everwhere and hoping something sticks. Does your party have ANY issues that really resonate with the public any more? ANY at all?

By Liberal Children

October 17, 2008 1:42 PM | Link to this

You’d have to be the queen of immaturity and selfishness to think marriage is only about that emotional-chemical-lust thing called “love” by the immature.

That type of “love” is, more recently, a product of the 1960’s free-love movement. A kind hedonism that requires little commitment to anyone other than self, no responsibility for anything other than self, is self-focused, self-indulgent and self-absorbed. A world where there’s only me, myself and I.

Fortunately, many people recognize a responsibility to the larger American community. These are the people who see the bigger picture and take personal responsibility for their country. They maintain their freedom to choose but also take responsibilty for making their community properous and healthy.

That type of patriotism is rarely celebrated but is vital to the country.

By towlie

October 17, 2008 1:43 PM | Link to this

By Republicans R Crooks

October 17, 2008 1:32 PM

I keep getting mail from John McCain asking for money…I send the prepaid envelope back empty…just to cost them some more money…

Well, I guess that’s at least better than Obamassiah fundraisers stealing funds from the credit cards of Republicans. And you thought Republicans were the true crooks, you left wing ignoranus moron.

NORTH KANSAS CITY, MO. — A North Kansas City couple has been left scratching their heads after they became the victims of a political scam.

Steve and Rachel Larman say a strange credit card charge appeared on their statement this month — a $2300 donation to Barack Obama’s presidential campaign. The Larman’s say they don’t want this to be about their political affiliation, but they say they’re not about to give the Obama campaign any help from their pocketbook.

They said they notified Chase, their credit card bank, to report the fraud.

By Liberal Children

October 17, 2008 1:43 PM | Link to this

You’d have to be the queen of immaturity and selfishness to think marriage is only about that emotional-chemical-lust thing called “love” by the immature.

That type of “love” is, more recently, a product of the 1960’s free-love movement. A kind hedonism that requires little commitment to anyone other than self, no responsibility for anything other than self, is self-focused, self-indulgent and self-absorbed. A world where there’s only me, myself and I.

Fortunately, many people recognize a responsibility to the larger American community. These are the people who see the bigger picture and take personal responsibility for their country. They maintain their freedom to choose but also take responsibilty for making their community properous and healthy.

That type of patriotism is rarely celebrated but is vital to the country.

By Jason

October 17, 2008 1:48 PM | Link to this

Yo Jason: Hatchet Jack is watching you..boy…..

Are you threatening me, crook, little girlie man? Do tell.

Do you guys have any idea how lame this “ACORN registration fraud” meme of yours is playing out?

Yes hillrag, it’s so lame that the FBI is involved with the investigation, isn’t it?

By findog

October 17, 2008 1:52 PM | Link to this

Hillbilly @12:17

Tax breaks. Unfortunately a gang banging street corner pimp putting another jewel in his crown does not file a tax return so it falls short where needed most.

By BS Aplenty

October 17, 2008 1:55 PM | Link to this

Why Barack Obama Should Not be President

Barack Obama attended the Trinity United Church of Christ, Chicago, Illinois, for almost twenty years. Attended, taught, learned, worshipped and sang along with his wife and children until his abrupt resignation in May 2008. That resignation was brought about due to heightened national awareness of the “nature” of Obama’s congregation. A nature that was further brought into focus by unsavory sermon tapes of former TUCC minister, Jeremiah Wright. But for all the bluster and ignorance reflected in his sermons, Wright’s ranting from the pulpit only hinted at a deeper, more troubling truth about TUCC and Obama.

What is it that made TUCC such a political liability to the first African-American nominated by a major political party? The answer to that question lies in the doctrine and teachings of TUCC. In short, this congregation, unlike ANY other United Church of Christ church in the United States, adopted, endorsed and promotes the doctrine and teachings of one James H. Cone. Cone systematized what has been called black liberation theology as outlined in his two books, the first entitled, Black Theology and Black Power and a follow-on, A Black Theology of Liberation. These are the only two books sold by the Trinity United Church of Christ on its website. TUCC doesn’t sell or give away the BIBLE on its website – a circumstance I find very telling.

The two books mentioned are, to say the least, “interesting” reads. Black Theology and Black Power is the seminal work on black liberation theology and A Black Theology of Liberation is a follow-on. Cone viewed his theology as, “…complete emancipation of black people from white oppression by whatever means black people deem necessary. So-called (white) Christianity, as commonly practiced in the United States, is actually the racist Antichrist.” “Theologically,” Cone affirms, “Malcolm X was not far wrong when he called the white man ‘the devil’.” And, there’s more – much more - but you get the picture.

So there you have it, the principal doctrine endorsed and promoted by the Trinity United Church of Christ teaches the overtly racist sentiments of James H. Cone. The preaching and “ignorance”, as some say, of Wright is shown to be symptomatic of that larger racism and neglects to see that the entire TUCC congregation accepts the doctrine of Cone under the guise of a Christian church. Wright was just a mouthpiece, it’s the congregation, including Obama, which endorsed and promotes this racist doctrine.

ANY person or group that attempts to systematically demonize another group because of race is, by definition, RACIST.

Needless to say for Obama and his presidential campaign by May 2008 the ‘cat was out of the bag’. And, after twenty years of commitment to TUCC, Barack Obama finally, cynically made a decision to leave. A decision his avid campaign supporter, Oprah Winfrey, made several years earlier as she cynically managed a business agenda of her own. One would have to be patently naïve not to understand the motivation behind both departures. Nor is it much of a political stretch to acknowledge the release of these sermon tapes focused attention on the fall-guy, Wright, while diverting a direct, and potentially, campaign-ending blow to Obama.

What one is left with after all the media lights have dimmed is this unsettling fact. For twenty years Barack Obama accepted the racist doctrine of his church – twenty years. And, only when this inconvenient truth was brought to national light did he decide that maybe that doctrine was no longer acceptable.

TUCC recently responded to pointed observations about its racist doctrines and renovated its website removing the racist James H. Cone texts and other Black Liberation rhetoric. Previously, the Cone texts were the only doctrines sold on the TUCC website, but, during this political season, the congregation substituted other texts for sale that do not mention Black Liberation Theology and its unsavory message.

That “bump-bump, bump-bump” you just heard was the sound of James Cone being thrown under the political bus to provide cover for the Obama campaign. TUCC has a way of casting out doctrine and preachers faster than Jesus could cast out demons.

Can you feel the power of their political, er, religious conversion?

By hillbilly ragger

October 17, 2008 2:02 PM | Link to this

Jason, the FBI looks into a lot of stuff. Presumably this agency has its share of partisans doing the Bush Administration’s political bidding; in any case, at least one former Bush Justice Dept. official considers this investigation to be outrageous—a fishing expedition to find a “boogeyman”.

Findog, I expected someone to say “tax breaks.” Don’t you think the work needs to start sometime before this imaginary “gang banging street corner pimp” (how many do you think there are?) is beyond reach?

By Chad Harris

October 17, 2008 2:02 PM | Link to this

The Acorn junk is one more example of desperation. Again, as long as the Republicans have Sarah Moroncuda making an idiot of herself the more votes you lose by the second. You should have had the sense to get her out of the limelight on day one. McCain couldn’t make the base happy with the “soon to be kicked off every committee” Joe Lieberman or Tom Ridge so he showed his contempt for voters by making an idiot his running mate and voters are going to show McPalin the door very decisively.

I can’t wait for the Wooten column on Friday November 7—I have the popcorn. The registrations for individuals like Mickey Mouse and Darth Vadar are always thrown into a suspicious pile. And unless something has changed in the last few minutes, Voter ID rules have been upheld by all state and appellate courts thus far, meaning that Mickey and Darth, would have to prevent a mandated valid ID in order to vote with their picture. If Mr. Wooten has examples of said Driver’s licenses or other legal ID that he has not photoshopped, please bring ‘em on.

1) Most Republican voters don’t know about and care about Acorn or have a clue what it is.

2) If they did take time to read (many are worried about staying afloat financially), they would realize that Acorn is not a mechanism for voter fraud.

3) Republicans have beat the bushes for voter fraud that is so rare it is not going to be near enough margin for them to beat Obama or win in key Senate races I have pointed out and just for anyone’s education let me show you the races where Republican Senate candidates are on the ropes as of this moment:

Dems tied with or beating Republicans in Senate besides the 14 easy slam dunk races:

Franken Begich Merkley Hagen Shaheen Udall

Lunsford tied with Mitch McConnell

Jim Martin closing on Sax (Ahm Bush whatevah) Chambliss

Saxby Chambliss’ son is serving in Iraq by going to black ties at DC Country Clubs. Saxby is one of the many Republicans who faked a knee injury to get out of Nam.

A comprehensive knee exam on young Saxby would have sent his butt to Nam.

By findog

October 17, 2008 2:11 PM | Link to this

Hillbilly,

I kept it singular to keep from offending some thin-skinned blogger’s.

The answer to your query was tax breaks in three ways: dependant deduction(s), earned income credit, and the thousand per child added to Bush’s first round of conservative tax cuts to make them compassionate. Any: family, job, organization, institution, or child that is based on a government subsidy is doomed to failure…

By hillbilly ragger

October 17, 2008 2:17 PM | Link to this

fair enough, findog. Maybe a little extra for deductions might help, but is there any statistical evidence to suggest it? Have we seen marriage rates rise or fall proportional to the dependent deductability? Just wondering.

By Ragnar Danneskjöld

October 17, 2008 2:19 PM | Link to this

Dear Ragger @ 1:40 and Chad @ 2:02, within four blocks of Marta Five Points you can get a good looking Georgia driver’s license with the name “Mickey Mouse” and any address you wish. If you wish, I will connect the remaining dots, too.

By Tom

October 17, 2008 2:26 PM | Link to this

Ragweed Hammerhead: In contrast to that coward Colin Powell, thank you so much for providing all of us a much-needed example of your dauntless courage in a pseudonymous blog posting. It. really does bring a tear to the eye.

By Peter

October 17, 2008 2:31 PM | Link to this

Hey…………..By BS Aplenty ………. Your comments…….

“Why Barack Obama Should Not be President”

HA HA HA………. Funny Stuff………

Ever hear of Separation of Church and State ?

I know REPUBLICANS do make that their “Special Theme”……..

I am sure Colin Powell, is going to consider that when he backs Barack Obama…….. But I am sure that won’t be his biggest issue…….

The HOT HEAD McCain, and Zero Qualified Sarah Palin, probably scares the Living Crap out of him……. as a guy who knows what to do in times of WAR…..he most likely does NOT want to see a trigger happy OLD Guy running the show !

By hillbilly ragger

October 17, 2008 2:31 PM | Link to this

Ayn Rand Blow-up Dollboy: You really, really want to believe there’s “voter fraud” going on with people voting multiple times. I know it’s a part of faith system.

But can you explain why, with all their resources and time, the Bush Justice Department couldn’t find anything that passed the laugh test on this subject after all these years?

(I ask that a lot. I never seem to get an answer.)

By Analchemy

October 17, 2008 2:35 PM | Link to this

That’s correct, Umlaut Waster, and guess what? A GOP stooge can phony up a democratic registration too. I mean, didn’t we dress up as Indians to throw the tea into boston harbor. Doing stuff and blaming innocents is hard core american play.

However, dig this: It all started with the Swallows of Capistrano. Then, it was Bookman’s Libyan Parrots.

But now, it’s McCain’s Magpies! Who is that creature in the Munsters, or the Adam’s Family? Didn’t the hag from McCain’s townmeeting look exactly like that? Turns out that the woman isn’t legally a blonde, and she owes back dues to Jenny Craig.

bwa haw

By Redneck Convert

October 17, 2008 2:37 PM | Link to this

Well, I see the Supreme Court that My President worked so hard to make conservative done let us down again. I bet the 200,000 new Ohio voters is all librul Democrats and Those People that will vote for this Obama. If alot of them was Republicans it would be OK, but this takes the cake.

Speaking of cake, I just reminded myself that the missus wants me to pick up a dozen low-cal cakes and pies on the way home from work today. She’s bound and determined to get down to 315 lbs. even if her bones stick thru her skin.

Have a good weekend everybody and all you good conservatives get out there and vote for old man McCain three or four times if you can. I’m getting scared this Obama will win GA and I will have to move to a real American state like Alabama.

By hillbilly ragger

October 17, 2008 2:40 PM | Link to this

[Digby explains it simply enough.]http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2008/10/hot-potato-by-digby-supremes-wisely-and.html

“I love the theory of this conspiracy. People are registering voters with names, addresses, ages, drivers’ license numbers or last four digits of their Social Security numbers, which are very close to real voter’s information. (So close they appear to be data entry typos.) And then these 200,000 fraudulent voters, all of whom are in on the secret plan, vote under their own names and later come back and vote again under the closely matched phony information. (Either that or they all have such an elaborate second identity which includes phony ID and social security numbers.)

“If the Democrats can pull this off, I think it’s clear they should win the election just for their supernatural ability to get hundreds of thousands of people to keep such a secret.”

By Goldie

October 17, 2008 2:41 PM | Link to this

Why John McSame Should Never Be President:

McCain: Sunni and Shia No History of Disagreement

John McSame — Bad Judgment, No Foresight, and Unfit To Lead.

By Goldie

October 17, 2008 2:44 PM | Link to this

Who is that creature in the Munsters, or the Adam’s Family?

Analchemy — was that Cousin It from “The Addams Family”? He was my favorite idiot on that show.

By Dusty

October 17, 2008 2:46 PM | Link to this

Dear Jim Wooten,

Please excuse me for still laughing over your new title “Wootsie“by Andrea @12:37

That is poetry inspiring!! I tell you.

*Wootsie, tootsie, puddin’ pie,

Stuck his finger in a lib’s eye,

Made them all whine and cry.

Wootsie, tootsie, puddin’ pie.*

Well..sorry, Jim..I do not agree with you on military justice in a foreign country. They are our soldiers. We give them our justice.

Lib “latitudes”and limericks here today:..Joe the plumber is a “plant”…ACORN back in court AGAIN…200,000 people in OHIO don’t know how to spell their NAMES…. Dim Dem (revenge?)sends prepaid empty envelope to McCain.!!!…PoFo is an umlaut..and Chad Harris declare Wooten always Snoopy dances before a defeat!!(He’s got you pegged Jim. How about a video?)

Last but not least…thanks to Hill Billy Ragger(1:21) for a fine statement on marriage and the love of family. Way to go, Hill Bill. Way to go..

By Mr. KnowItAll

October 17, 2008 2:52 PM | Link to this

Let’s look at Obama:

1) Stanley Ann Dunham Obama Soetoro (November 29, 1942 - November 7, 1995), also known as Ann Dunham and Stanley Ann Dunham, Obama’s mother attended, Mercer Island (Washington) High School, a hotbed of pro-Marxist radical teachers. John Stenhouse, board member, told the US House on Un-American Activities Subcommittee that he had been a member of the Communist Party USA and this school has a number of Marxists on its staff. Two teachers at this school, Val Foubert and Jim Wichterman, both Frankfurt School style Marxists, taught a critical theory curriculum to students, which included; rejection of societal norms, attacks on Christianity, the traditional family, and assigned readings by Karl Marx. The hallway between Foubert’s and Wichterman classrooms was sometimes called “anarchy alley”. Obama Jr. calls “ the dominate figure in his formative years, was a long-term cultural Marxist, a member of the Communist Party USA, and radical leftist, and met Barack Obama Sr. studying Russian in Hawaii.. Quoting Obama, “The values she taught me continue to be my touchstone when it comes to how I go about the world of politics.”

2) His father, Kenyan Barack Obama Sr. converted from Christianity to Muslim, He studied at University of Hawaii where as part of a program supported by leftist Harry Belafonte, Jackie Robinson and Sydny Poitier. He married Barack Jr’s mother in spite of the fact he had not divorced his 1st wife (Kezia) in Kenya with whom he had 4 children—all of whom he abandoned. He left his second wife, Ann Dunham and Barack Obama Jr. when he was only 2 years old and only saw him one more time when Barack, Jr. was 10 years old. He later had several children with a Kenyan woman, only known as Jael. Obama, Jr. has had limited, and in fact no contact with several of his siblings. Obama has twice met his youngest brother, George Hussein Onyango Obama who still lives in rote poverty in a 2X3 meter mud hut in a ramshackle town of Huruma on the outskirts of Nairobi Kenya on less than a dollar a month. Obama claims his favorite Bible verse is ““Whatsoever you do to the least among your brethern, you do unto me”-Matthew 25:40”.

3) Combine these with Obama’s decades-long associations with Rev.(G.D America!) Jeremiah Wright, (unrepentant confessed Pentagon and US Capital bomber and NY police precinct cop-killer) Bill Ayers-who got off the charges on an evidence gathering technicality), and (radical racist preacher) Michael Pfleger,

4) For 7 years while teaching at University of Chicago School of Law, Obama focused on rights, race and sexism. During this extended period, he was never recognized for publishing a single item of law interpretation, position, or thesis. Obama’s teaching career was distinguished by how little he accomplished outside the classroom. His law license expired in 2002 due to inactivity.

5) Obama won a contract and cash advance to write a book about race relations. The book evolved into a personal memoir. In an effort to recruit him to their faculty, the University of Chicago Law School provided Obama with a fellowship and an office to work on his book He originally planned to finish the book in one year, but it took much longer. In order to work without interruptions, Obama and his wife, Michelle, traveled to Bali where he wrote for several months. The manuscript was finally published as Dreams from My Father in mid-1995. Even though he received a grant for the book, none of the royalty proceeds of the resultant effort was returned to the university.

6) Obama has had several business dealings with indicted/convicted Chicago slumlord Tony Rezco, for political corruption, who stood to gain millions from several bills Obama introduced in the Illinois legislature intended to benefit “senior housing”, that provided taxpayer-funded grants funneled to Chicago landlords. The Obama’s home was purchased at a significant discount— just coincidentally and simultaneously—on the same day Rezco purchased an adjoining lot from the same owner for an inflated full price.

7) Obama’s time spent as a so-called ‘community organizer’ was primarily served under ACORN, a socialist-left urban organization with ties to the American Communist Party (who recently endorsed Obama), best known for running illegal voter registration drives, and under indictment in two states. Obama had a close relationship, recruited and a mentorship by Sal Alinsky, author of the book Rules for Radicals, A Pragmatic Primer for Realistic Radicals, dedicated to Satan, was a document outlining views on organizing for mass power and backyard revolution in the cities. Sal Alinsky was the subject of Hillary Clinton’s senior thesis at Wellsley College, but the White House asked for restricted access once she became 1st lady for fears of an association with Alinsky. Nothing of note or of specific significance accomplishment was credited to Obama’s during this extended period of time.

8) Consider his wife, Michelle, who studied African-American Studies at Princeton where her senior thesis (1985) concerned the plight of blacks at the university. She complained that the college’s “Afro-American studies” program was “one of the smallest and most understaffed departments in the university” and further complained that only one major university-recognized group on campus was “designed specifically for the intellectual and social interests of blacks and other third world students.” At Harvard Law, she protested for the hiring of more minority professors. On the campaign trail, Michelle blurted: “For the first time in my adult life, I am proud of my country. On the campaign stump in 2008, she described America as “a mean country”. Also quoted as saying: “The life that I’m talking about that most people are living has gotten progressively worse since I was a little girl.”

That’s just Obama’s close associates. It doesn’t include his radical positions to nationalize the world’s best healthcare system, his naive notions on the war, on meeting foreign America-hating dictators, increased tax and spend positions during a weak economy.

Combine them, and the picture of who Obama REALLY IS emerges. His campaign is based on Change. The open question is Change to what?

After only 143 days in the Senate before declaring for President, predicting where Obama will take the country is just too unknown to be the leader of the free world.

He’s just too radical and not qualified.

By Analchemy

October 17, 2008 2:54 PM | Link to this

Dusty that was pre K poetry at best. YOu’re a disgrace to the American People, and an insult to blogdom.

Goldie, no, there was a hag woman with wirey hair on either adams family or munsters. That was a woman, wasn’t it? She hardly ever got any scenes. Her hair reminds me of the McCain Magpie who said Obama was Arab.

I guess I could google it. I thought it was in the Lexicon, but i guess not.

By Tom

October 17, 2008 2:59 PM | Link to this

Thanks Mr. KnowItAll, that was absolutely hilarious. His father “converted from Christianity to Muslim.” Please come back anytime! Pure comedy gold!

By Mr. KnowItAll

October 17, 2008 3:08 PM | Link to this

To Tom

Sorry, dipChit—Obama’s daddy converting from Christianity to Muslim is straight out of Wikipedia.

Feel free to dispute it with them.

Suck it up—dude. The whole article is FACT.

By Tom

October 17, 2008 3:17 PM | Link to this

Well, gosh, Mr. KnowItAll, if you saw it on the internet, it must be true.

By hillbilly ragger

October 17, 2008 3:28 PM | Link to this

Tom @ 3.17, did you know that the Internet says “Mr. KnowItAll was arrested for distributing kiddie p0rn?”

(well, it does now.)

By Analchemy

October 17, 2008 3:31 PM | Link to this

I wish Obama WAS a muslim. A shia muslim, so that AMerica could grow up and learn that a man’s religion is his own biz, and that if you mix politics and religion, you’re abusing both.

I wish Obama’s name was Osama Hussein Nixon. The three most virulent criminals in the past forty years. Then we could really be afraid of words and names.

Would not Groucho be as funny with any other name? Curly? Surely it canst be doth name which tickles, but rather thine countenance. Oh, to be the creme on that pie, that curly throws so adroitly at moe…..

By Tom

October 17, 2008 3:34 PM | Link to this

Thanx Hillbilly, I’ll be sure to add that fact to Mr. KnowItAll’s Wikipedia page.

By Tell It Like It Is

October 17, 2008 3:56 PM | Link to this

Mr KnowItAll,

You are truly a work of art. I don’t know whether to laugh, get mad or get scared. I think I will laugh. HA!! HA!!

By Devastator

October 17, 2008 4:01 PM | Link to this

Thirty-six hours ago, John McCain said to everyone watching the debate, “I don’t care about some washed-up terrorist” and “every time there’s been an out-of-bounds remark made by a Republican, no matter where they are, I have repudiated them.”

A few hours later he was saying something very different to voters in key battleground states.

A new “robocall” paid for by McCain-Palin 2008 tells voters who answer their phones that Barack “has worked closely with domestic terrorist Bill Ayers” whose organization “killed Americans.”

In the past, these “robocalls” — phone calls where a machine delivers the message over and over — have flown under the radar. The McCain campaign expects them to go largely unnoticed by the mainstream press, but thanks to the Internet, reports and records of these underhanded tactics are popping up all over the country.

Will you listen to McCain’s “robocalls” now, and donate $25 or more to show our opponents we’re ready to fight back?

We knew things were going to get uglier, and now they have.

These attacks aren’t coming from a fringe outside group or a rogue Republican with a bone to pick.

They’re paid for by John McCain and the RNC. The “robocallers” even say, right up front, “I’m calling on behalf of John McCain” before they launch into false and discredited attacks.

We’re hearing reports of calls like this from all across the country. It just shows how much we still need to do — reaching out to voters with the truth requires twice as much work as flooding homes with “robocalls” filled with lies.

There are only 18 days left, and Barack needs your help to fight back.

Take a moment right now to listen to these truly vile McCain “robocalls” then make a donation of $25 or more to show our opponents that there’s a cost to this kind of negativity:

https://donate.barackobama.com/fightback

These tactics are all that the McCain campaign and their allies have left.

We’re fighting back, but it’s going to take all of us working together to keep these lies from taking hold.

Thanks for your support,

David

David Plouffe Campaign Manager Obama for America

P.S. — Will you help keep us aware of these underhanded tactics? If you receive an offensive “robocall” or a mailing that uses these kinds of false, negative attacks, please share it with our campaign. Upload photos or an audio recording at http://www.fightthesmears.com/report.

By AF

October 17, 2008 4:18 PM | Link to this

Jim,

One of your bullet points: “John McCain did make a good point when he said to Barack Obama in Wednesday’s debate: “I am not President Bush… Obama is a Monday morning quarterback, an expert on what the team should have done yesterday.”

The reason Obama gets away with that constant comparison is that McCain’s economic policies are Bush policies. His approach to solve the economic crisis right now is - surprise - more tax cuts for business. McCain’s solution to the health care problem - tax individual’s employer provided health insurance (when he said he would not raise our taxes (???), give tax payers a tax credit insufficient except for those young and healthy to replace employe provided ehalth insurance, and set insurance companies free of state regulations to sell their products in any state and not proposing any kind of federal regulation.

Sounds like more of George Bush to me.

Obama is not just criticising past decisions, he is proposing a different approach. The one stuck in the past is McCain - he cannot see any possible solution except to try failed Bush policies all over again.

By Chad Harris

October 17, 2008 4:21 PM | Link to this

By Mr. KnowItAll

October 17, 2008 2:52 PM | Link to this

Let’s look at Obama:

Keep on Keepin’ on Mr. KIA—because this desperate fiction is losing you independent and swing state votes. Maybe you can get onto the arm of Sarah Moroncuda and spew this ignorance.

McCain wants to make Mrs. Annenberg an ambassador and since her husband appointed Bill Ayres to his commission that means he wants to make Raegan’s homegirl an obvious known terrorist one of his appointees right? Duh!

I could use some help in making links. When I put parentheses on the url it doesn’t seem to work, so can someone literally show me how they make a successful link—I imagine that you [name the link in brackets]and then just type the url enclosed in parentheses but what do you do if you just want to put in a straight url as a link?

*By Ragnar Danneskjöld

October 17, 2008 2:19 PM | Link to this

Dear Ragger @ 1:40 and Chad @ 2:02, within four blocks of Marta Five Points you can get a good looking Georgia driver’s license with the name “Mickey Mouse” and any address you wish. If you wish, I will connect the remaining dots, too.*

No doubt you can get plenty of fake ID Ragnar. There is a corridor on Buford Hwy that cranks it out right and left. But that’s not the point as to the whole last minute ACORN and other futile litigation.

And BTW, I can’t help saying that for Jim Wooten and his congregation, it’s always hilarious to see them call courts that rule in a way they don’t want “Activist Judges” but courts that rule the way they want “appropriate conservative panels.”

Activism has been in the eye of the beholder ever since 1789 in this country.

And now apparently McPalin thinks Joe the Plumber is his new running mate. Who the hell brought up Joe onto the national stage organizing his debate around him anyway? Duh that’s right. It’s the loser McPalin ole Republican Rickles himself.

McCain didn’t vet the idiot Palin and he didn’t vet ole Joe did he? And now it’s crashing and burning for McCain.

Obama=Offense McPalin=Defense and Losing Badly

I know Sarah the Moron is screaming about Acorn. I’d trust Sarah the moron to be President or VP about as much as I’d trust her to do brain surgery.

ACORN breathlessness like Jim Wooten’s and Eric Johnson’s is the familiar Republican usual last minute confer chaos when we’re loosing badly voter hysteria.

Like most Republican initiatives, and most of the points Jim Wooten makes, it calculates that the reader is pathetically stupid.

The Republican initiative, Wooten’s, Handel’s and Eric Johnson’s familiar refrain on voter fraud is the usual strategic ruse.

Voter supression is a cottage industry and an illegal one for Republicans in the great tradition of Hans von Spakovsky Karen Handel’s siamese twin homeboy now under DOJ invesatigation for a pending indcitment.

By AF

October 17, 2008 4:23 PM | Link to this

Jim,

One of your bullet points: “John McCain did make a good point when he said to Barack Obama in Wednesday’s debate: “I am not President Bush… Obama is a Monday morning quarterback, an expert on what the team should have done yesterday.”

The reason Obama gets away with that constant comparison is that McCain’s economic policies are Bush policies. His approach to solve the economic crisis right now is - surprise - more tax cuts for business. McCain’s solution to the health care problem - tax individual’s employer provided health insurance (when he said he would not raise our taxes (???), give tax payers a tax credit insufficient except for those young and healthy to replace employe provided ehalth insurance, and set insurance companies free of state regulations to sell their products in any state and not proposing any kind of federal regulation.

Sounds like more of George Bush to me.

Obama is not just criticising past decisions, he is proposing a different approach. The one stuck in the past is McCain - he cannot see any possible solution except to try failed Bush policies all over again.

By Republicans R Crooks

October 17, 2008 4:34 PM | Link to this

McClown is not good enough to be George Bush, and that is a very low standard, one even that puttie Jason could met. Keep a tight grip on your hair Jason, ah hear Hatchet Jack likes to take scalps….

By Ragnar Danneskjöld

October 17, 2008 4:35 PM | Link to this

Dear David Plouffe, per your request, “Will you help keep us aware of these underhanded tactics? If you receive an offensive “robocall” or a mailing that uses these kinds of false, negative attacks, please share it with our campaign.” we have been victims of a repeat spammer, who constantly cuts and pastes from your beg-letters. Tell her to cut it out. Thanks, Ragnar.

By Dusty

October 17, 2008 4:57 PM | Link to this

Dear Ragnar, 4:35

There’s only ONE spammer here who constantly cuts and pastes? I thought there were several.

We’ll see if Plouffe is worth his souffle!

By Devastator

October 17, 2008 5:00 PM | Link to this

Ragnar,

That’s tell HIM to cut it out.

By Keep it real!

October 17, 2008 5:00 PM | Link to this

Rags you have provide some of the best comedy this presidential period of time.

It is all about the power Republican want to maintain being in power to continue growing their millions while the vast majority of Americans get all their dollars sucked right out from under them!

A very conservative REPUBLICAN once told the America people after a devastating tragedy to go and show and spend your money!

THAT SHOULD BE ALL SHE WROTE for anyone who is not rich. You should never again vote REPUBLICAN!

Our national debt is growing by the trillions and our children will one day be required to pay the bill. Our kids will work for CHINA one day!

On free trade I for am tired of these cheap products on our shelves I am going to start my own business of AMERICAN MADE PRODUCTS.

We are the best producing country in the world we need our CORPORATIONS to stop selling out AMERICA for cheap products!

By @@

October 17, 2008 5:00 PM | Link to this

Alrighty “Thinking Right” with my comments.

Exposing American troops — Dadgum Jim! Murtha and the leftists wanted to prosecute our troops themselves. The ones they haven’t prosecuted already that is.

Running behind a bush — OBlahMa, The Oneday morning quarterback. By all means, stand up and be counted Senator! Your mere “presents” are all that’s required to keep the waterboys OR girls happy.

Smokin’ — The CDC IS a democrat’s vice, spending millions of our dollars to babysit the uneducated who suffer from selective hearing. CIGARETTES KILL! it’s that simple. ACORN passes ‘em out to the poor and disenfranchised for a dem vote.

Police Academy graduates — Shirley Franklin (D), promoting rejects. Okey Dokey!…sounds like a plan albeit one that may have unintended consequences. When the consequences present themselves, the left will be the first to holler. Then when they’re incarcerated by invitation of the Mayor, the left will holler for mercy in their sentencing. With liberals we’re damned if we do and damned if we don’t.

Alpharetta’s patrol cars — Heck! charge them for maintenance costs too. Lawd knows I’m being taxed on the high-maintenance costs of liberal policies.

Ohio — Well there you have it! The difference between a democrat and a conservative. The democrat must be told what to do, the conservative knows what to do.

BTW, did ‘ya see McCain at the Al Smith dinner last night?

Sssssssss…..izzling. OBlahMa was……well……cool?

I read that when asked to attend, McCain did not hesitate. They had difficulty coercing OBlahMa. Wonder why? Could it be that the Foundation has raised millions of dollars for healthcare causes.

No doubt he (OBlahMa) doesn’t welcome the competition to his GOVERNMENT SPONSORED HEALTHCARE plans. Psssst! for OBlahMa it’s a privacy thang.

Stop by and visit us more often Jim. Bookman stops in to scold me at his site — claims he’s the only one allowed to taunt over there. Your scalding humor is always appreciated by @@, Jim.

By Ragnar Danneskjöld

October 17, 2008 5:10 PM | Link to this

Dear Devastator @ 5:00, to the extent you deem it appropriate, I apologize for guessing wrong on your sex. I will endeavor to not repeat the error. If nothing else, I suspect friends Dusty and @@ are insulted that I would attribute you to their fairer sex.

By TW

October 17, 2008 5:10 PM | Link to this

Obama is a Monday morning quarterback, an expert on what the team should have done yesterday.

It’s called learning from mistakes so they don’t happen again. It’s what separates one from being an idiot. To the other extreme would be the urge to run the same plays that brought about the loss - a la McSame.

The rightwing’s war on the educated is a real mistake, Jim.

By Devastator

October 17, 2008 5:14 PM | Link to this

The reality of this election is that the status quo will not go quietly, and it will require unprecedented resources to mobilize voters and get out the vote.

We cannot let up in these final weeks. Will you make a donation of $25 or more today?

One of John McCain’s senior advisers said they’re going to keep attacking Barack, because if they talk about the economy, they’ll lose.

No wonder 100% of their ads are negative. And no wonder smear campaigns from fringe groups have added fuel to the fire of McCain’s attacks.

Our opponents have repeatedly proven that it’s easier to spread lies and fear than truth or hope.

That means we have to fight harder if we’re going to win:

https://donate.barackobama.com/hardfacts

Thank you for your support and your dedication,

David

David Plouffe Campaign Manager Obama for America

By Chad Harris

October 17, 2008 5:39 PM | Link to this

@@ glad to try to educate you (I realize reading is not a favorite pastime of knee jerkers) on the “present votes.”

You don’t have any grasp of what a present vote means in the Illinois legislature. It has considerably more meaning than you want to assign it which is to conflate it with “can’t make up my mind.”

*”Unlike Congress and the legislatures of most other states, each chamber of the Illinois Legislature requires a “constitutional majority” to pass a bill. The state Senate has 59 members, so it takes 30 affirmative votes. This makes a “present” vote the same as a no. If a bill receives 29 votes, but the rest of the senators vote “present,” it fails.

In Congress, in contrast, a bill can pass in either the House or the Senate as long as more people vote for it than against it. If 10 people vote in favor and nine against, and the rest either vote “present” or don’t vote at all, the bill passes. It can actually pass with just one vote, as long as no one votes no.

In the Illinois Senate, there can be strategic reasons for voting “present” rather than simply no. A member might approve the intent of legislation, but not its scope or the way it has been drafted. A “present” vote can send a signal to a bill’s sponsors that the legislator might support an amended version. Voting “present” can also be a way to exercise fiscal restraint, without opposing the subject of the bill.

I recall voting “present” on many bills when I was in the Illinois Legislature. In the 1960s, for instance, I voted “present” on the annual highway appropriations bill. Like many of my fellow senators, I thought some of the money being allocated should have gone to public transportation. Still, I didn’t want to vote no, because I did not want to stand against the basic principle of maintaining our public roads. So I voted “present.”

It never occurred to me or to any of my critics that I was ducking responsibility for a making a decision. Mr. Obama was an outspoken member of the Illinois Senate, and not someone known for dodging questions, whether they were on ethics, police responsibility, women’s choice or any other hot-button issue.

Even if Senator Clinton does not remember the constitutional majority requirement in Illinois, one of her advisers might have explained it to her. When I was White House counsel, President Clinton frequently reminded me that he had taught constitutional law before he ran for public office. I would hope that he would assume that another constitutional scholar — Barack Obama — would be aware of his voting responsibilities as a state legislator.”

Abner J. Mikva has been an Illinois state legislator, a United States congressman, a federal judge and, from 1994 to 1995, White House counsel. He now directs the Mandel Legal Aid Clinic at the University of Chicago Law School. Mr. Mikva serves as an informal adviser to Barack Obama’s presidential campaign.*

By Butch Gaddy

October 17, 2008 5:42 PM | Link to this

Let’s go over this one more time so I can make sure I know you know who you are voting for. Obama has ties to Acorn, Aires, Rezco and Reverend Wright. O’yeah, and let’s spread the wealth around. Yep, step right up and vote for this Socialist/Marxist. Damn everything you know and vote Obama????? What the heck are you people drinking? UNBELIEVEABLE!!!!!

By Keep it real!

October 17, 2008 5:51 PM | Link to this

Hey I want to state George W. Bush is not John McClain.

W did push to have more allow more people to purchase homes. This was a good economic and wealth building idea. People just got greedy!

Also I want to thank our defense and intelligence departments for protecting America we have not had anymore attacks on our soil!

Also why is any woman sleeping with Malhoney? He is not the best looking chap!

Butch grow-up! Can you name something good Mr. Obama has done?

If you cannot name the good and the bad then grab your 6 pack of beer and have a good weekend!

By Ragnar Danneskjöld

October 17, 2008 5:55 PM | Link to this

Dear TW @ 5:10, “It’s called learning from mistakes so they don’t happen again.” I think Chauncey will have to repeat class, as he does not seem to have learned anything about the series of government mistakes from 1930-1937. (I know Joe Biden says he could have watched FDR on television in 1929, but I suspect Obama did not.) The mistakes made then, that turned a minor stock market upset into a full raging 20% unemployment depression for eight years were, in order, (1) interfering with international trade, (2) raising taxes on corporations and the highest income individuals, and (2) a large expansion of regulations over business. If you get a chance, whisper in The One’s ear, get him to pull back from the precipice.

By Chad Harris

October 17, 2008 6:02 PM | Link to this

Colin Powell will be endorsing Obama on MTP Sunday as McPalin loses his grip on the George Bush states (although he vamps he isn’t Bush but has voted with him 95% of the time over all 8 years and 100% of the time over 2007 as has Chambliss.

I know exactly who I’m voting against Butch. I know exactly who I’m voting for. If I were dumb enough to believe Ayres, Wright, or Tony Rezko had anything whatsoever to do with cleaning up the cascade of messes Bush, Cheney and the Republican Congress in control for so many years and narrowly in the minority now but soon to be less narrowly in the minority, I’d give up.

Hint: The smears are losing votes for you and McPalin. People don’t want to vote for the same moronicity. I can get better spontaneous answers on any foreign or domestic issue from the 15 year olds who say “Welcome to Chick Fil-a” in the malls on afternoons and weekends than I could from Palin.

And btw why is it that if Palin is reading her Rick Davis script from the paper in front of her at all times and demanding answers that she is afraid to take any spontaneous unscripted questions. It’s because she’s explicitly ignorant when it comes to any issues a VP or President would be expected to handle.

Again, your candidate Moroncuda said when off script that she knows foreign policy because you can “see Russia from Alaska.”

Palin’s hate message is spawned from ignorance. It’s regrettable to say the least that an employee of Cox Newspapers has swallowed the pandemic of cool aid.

I know that most of you were brought up as Southern White boys and girls to quake with horror that a black man will be President. I’ve got four words for you:

Get Friggin’ Used to It.

It’s pathetic that so few bigots want to discuss policy and want to grossly exagerate the completely harmless serving on a committee with Ayres 40 years after the mistakes he made and Ayres wrote newspapers saying he thought the 911 attacks were reprehensible.

The conflation and exaggeration of Ayres isn’t going to stop Obama from taking the White House. I’m really enjoying the last ditch despearate cry baby pleas including the now failed Voter Registration challenges that the Supreme Court shot down this morning. They’re so typical of a party who knows a clear majority of voters reject them on the issues, the wiretapping, and their Patrician attempt to crush the little guy.

Palin is one long Saturday Night Live skit. She’s now in the hooker business purporting she wants $15 million for the emails between first dude and first moron Todd Palin and her appointed officials.

By Ragnar Danneskjöld

October 17, 2008 6:02 PM | Link to this

Dear Real @ 5:51, oooh, me, me, me. Barack has Michelle locked in motel room now to keep her quiet. That was a good thing.

By Analchemy

October 18, 2008 5:43 AM | Link to this

Bookman is a child.

By Dave

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

Joe never said he was rich today. He said he wanted to try to buy the business he worked for and wanted to know how Obama would tax that company. Look out Joe. The Stalinist are coming for you. You will not be allowed to critic the Messiahs tax plan.

Question for those who still cling to the charade about Obama’s tax plan not being a massive welfare distribution. When the workers who don’t pay income taxes get their Obama “tax cut” check on top of their EIC “tax cut” check is that a “double tax cut”. When they start receiving the SS benefits they didn’t have to pay for what do we call that? A “triple nipple double bonus TAX CUT”?

The 7% of S corp small businesses whose owners will be hit by Obama’s tax hikes represent 70% of the total gross income. And they pay 68% of all payroll reported. (IRS stats)

This is just the same old tax and spend, back doored off budget through the tax code via the refundable tax credit and lipsticked “tax cut”. Might as well replace the voting machines with ATMs.