Speak Out 2/24/08

Boring speak out today

Morning Mel, Yes it is nice to be home finally. Was lonely without Twiggy. I just missed the earthquake in Wells,Nv. spent the night there and left right before it happened. then went through a blizzard in Flagstaff. I guess it followed me home, ha-ha. My fault,sorry.

I speed read through some of yesterdays post, and I just don't see universal healthcare a "cure", I like the individual account alot better.

Oh, been missing our Donnie! Hope he can make lunch or a social before he and his family head out-of-town.

Fighting drugs,

The reason you are looked at like you are crazy is because they are aware of the problem. Seems everytime they pull one off the street two take their place. Until the system doesn't offer first/second/third time offenders plea bargins it isn't going to change. And, yes, I know the arguement that our prisons are too full as it is, but there has got to be more time if they are going to do the crime. Just my humble opinion mind you.

Oh and Babe,

I know I'm a die hard liberal, but I have no problem with encarcerating (sp) the little SOB's for drug selling and useing. So maybe I'm not as die hard as I once thought. LMAO

pupslover, I'm a proud die-hard liberal too, but I have no problem with drug dealers getting exactly what they deserve.

We have been fighting this drug war for over 30 years now, and it just get's even worser. Now, our Law Enforcement Officers have to deal with all of these prescription drugs that are hitting the street because we have no one policing the doctors and pharmacys, plus look at all the advertising of prescription drugs on our television sets each and every night. In order to fight this huge war on drugs in america we first must encourage congress to make it illegal for a drug company to advertise a drug for sale over the T.V. start busting and locking up doctors that constanly prescribe dangerous pain killers to patients when they don't need them, and police the pharmacys that disbense these dangerous prescription drugs. It has got where america is not only addicted to illegal drugs they are now addicted to prescription drugs. If we don't start doing what I just mention then the very serious drug problem is just going to continue to get even more worse in our homes and on our streets. We need strict enforcement to clean this addiction up in our country.

swampeastmissouri,

I agree with most of your stance. Very valid points. I was just thinking though, if the stated side effects of the drug advertised on TV wasn't enough to get someone not to take them, I don't know what would be. Ex. the drug for restless leg syndrom (sp) may cause aggressive sexual and gambling urges. Well maybe that wasn't the best example. lol

Fletcher, you should make an attempt to visit us during one of our luncheons to discuss our views in person. Be as it may how opposite we are.

I, for one, would enjoy meeting you. But, I have a feeling you would be a coward and hide behind your pc instead and shoot your big-mouth off.

"No News is Good News"?

Neither the bomb attack upon Sgt. Skelton's patrol, nor, his death was reported on, or, in any national news source. By hiding these daily attacks, which are increasing daily, the Bush regime hopes to fool Americans into thinking that the surge is working, and that nothing took place that day in Iraq worth reporting.

Newscasts are filled with Obama, Hillary, McCain filler crap, so that it appears that there were no events that day in Iraq to report.

The Iraqi Reistance did report the attack in northern Baghdad which took Sgt. Skelton's life. They did not know at that time how many US casualties occured, but they did report the attack.

It is a shame when you have to get truthful information from the people which your neocon-Zionist Empire building regime has attacked, instead of from your own nation's media. The US media is neither biased liberally, nor, conservatively. They are the mouth organs of the New World Order. We ceased having an independent, or, FREE press, decades ago.

Seven GRAD rockets hit the Green Zone, the regimes supposed "safe" area on Saturday morning. US bases are being attacked daily by motars and rockets. The Green Zone is under near daily attack. Seven Rockets landed in the Green Zone on Monday of last week. The Brits down in al Basrah are under increasing attack. Various factions of Shia's are fighting in al Basrah for control of that vital region.

It is important to note. That before the Bush-Cheney neocon, Zionist, corporate war profiteers, and empire builders attacked Iraq without cause, that there was no Al Qi-dah in Iraq. That Shia, Jews, Sunni's and Christians went about their business, intermarried, and did the best that they could under the US forced sanctions against them. There was no major problem in Pakistan, nor, Afghanistan. But, now, since the empire builders, the PNACers, Israeli lobbyists, and the rest of that festering cabal in Washington attacked Iraq and Afghanistan, there is death and destruction all over the Middle East.

You, who have kept silent, or, especially, those of you who ignorantly supported these attacks, along with your beloved war criminal regime, bear the responsiblity for all the American deaths, loss of GI limbs, eyes, and scrambled brains in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Pentagon reports that only 3 to 5% of the Resistance in Iraq, is Al Qi-dah. That means 95%, or, more of the legitimate Iraqi Resistance is made up of good ole boy Iraqi's, who would rather that you had stayed safely home in your barricks and minded your own business. They have a right to resist the forcing of the New World Order upon them. They have a right to kill those responsible for the murdering of their president, Saddam Hussein. It is the US which is in the wrong. The Bush regime is the aggressor, the enemy, not the Iraqi people who legitimately resist the terror that the US brought to their land.

The Iraqi Resistance is not to blame, you and your war criminal friens are.

Thank you, but I prefer to dine with people whom I like.

By " your war criminal friends" I was referring to the Zionist infested Bush regime and their cabal of PNAC empire builders, Zionists, neocons, and war profittering corporate prostitutes.

If you think Cape has/had a drug problem, check this out http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/1994-09-0...

Lets see,,, girl chat bad, posting the same thing over and over and over and over is good???

I personally prefer debate and chat to the constant repeated and repeated and repeated "no news" ramblings of some. And to think, at one time might have agreed with said person.

In 2005, the Department of Homeland Security awarded our good friends at Halliburton, (actually, KBR) nearly $400 million dollars to build concentration camps in the US.

Here is a short segment of an article that was recently published in the San Francisco Chronicle. It is co-authored by a former US Congressman. 02/04/08

"Sect. 1042 of the 2007 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), "Use of the Armed Forces in Major Public Emergencies," gives the executive the power to invoke martial law. For the first time in more than a century, the president is now authorized to use the military in response to "a natural disaster, a disease outbreak, a terrorist attack or any other condition in which the President determines that domestic violence has occurred to the extent that state officials cannot maintain public order."

"The Military Commissions Act of 2006, rammed through Congress just before the 2006 midterm elections, allows for the indefinite imprisonment of anyone who donates money to a charity that turns up on a list of "terrorist" organizations, or who speaks out against the government's policies. The law calls for secret trials for citizens and noncitizens alike. "

"Also in 2007, the White House quietly issued National Security Presidential Directive 51 (NSPD-51), to ensure "continuity of government" in the event of what the document vaguely calls a "catastrophic emergency." Should the president determine that such an emergency has occurred, he and he alone is empowered to do whatever he deems necessary to ensure "continuity of government." This could include everything from canceling elections to suspending the Constitution to launching a nuclear attack. Congress has yet to hold a single hearing on NSPD-51"

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cg...

Given that over 25% of US Marines stated that they would kill Americans if ordered to confiscate firearms from Americans and we resisted, I'd say that we are in for a bit of a problem very soon. Any pretext will be used, perhaps another 9-11 style event, since the last one was so successful for this adminstration, to bring about Martial Law in America.

I am confident that there are sufficent numbers of Americans who are armed with the truth, and with weapons, at least equal to those of any force who would try to take our weapons, or, round up Americans. The Marines have trained for years for gun confiscation. To think that American civilians would be forced to defend themselves from National Guardsmen, or, Marines determined to disarm us, or, ship us to concentration camps upon the orders of the president, is disheartening. However, in some ares of America, the citizen is up to the challenge.

Where the heck is Clif/Klif when we need him to re-post his gallup polls?

Three guesses as to whom the crazy broad is.

To quote the America hating Jerry Fletcher:

"One of the attendees told me that there is a crazy broad whom attends. I try to steer clear of crazy people. Have enough to handle periodically with my wife. Saint that she is."

First of all, it is rather funny you are calling anyone "crazy". Second, you don't have a wife, never had, never will.

SwampeastMo.

There are and have been strict enforcement of drug laws!Where have you been?The war on drugs will never be won!

Prohibition has not, and will never work with us humans.Its high time we step outside the box on this issue and find ways to deal with drugs rather then fill our prisons and jails with useres.

If the black market were taken away from drugs then the money would also be taken away.When big money is removed then pushers will no longer be in buisness.Before any of you debate me and ask what my answer to the drug problem is,I will refer you to the Libertarian point of view on drugs.Which reflects my own views.

Fletcher,

I for one find a good screw every once in awhile improves my outlook on life. LOL

And the only 'crazy' at the lunch was the stalking, neocon calling, Zionist hateing, Anti-US government theroist. IMHO guess I could be wrong, but doubt it.

I appologize for double post, slower pc then normal. And I promise, last post to Mr Fletcher. Guess I'm having a bad day, sorry.

Grey,

I agree that the 'war on drugs' isn't working the way that it is intended to. But, then again, does any 'war' goes as planned?

iago

You missed me? giggle

I lived on the southside of Cape for nearly 3 years and the first couple, it wasn't that bad..toward the end I had to get out of there, it was no place of my kids to be. The police take their sweet time getting to ANY of the calls down there. THANK GOD that none of my family really medically needed them for anything during our time down there or we probably wouldn't be here. I called them on several occasions when there would be 100's (literally) of ppl in and around my house..they would drive by with their spotlights and get out and do NOTHING! They are scared..isn't that what they signed up for? On 4th of July, there was firework wars everywhere, and NOTHING was done..they again rode around and that was it. If they can't enforce the laws on the southside of cape, then I think there needs to be some that can. Thankfully, Im no longer living down there and my kids are in a much better environment.

I feel like I've been teleported back in time...Ralph Nader has just announced he is running for the presidency.

allen

Did you get the link I posted on the 22nd to purchase the movie?

To "making it work"! Glad to hear some of us know how to take care of our self till help comes ( or on this case electric) we also had a great time (it was hard work) as we are elderly BUT we did it and power was out 4days and we also had no water ,as we have a well.Lets all just get along and help one another in hard times...Its a great feeling when its over...YOU DID IT ....taught the grandson some things that may help him some day to survive.

GOD BLESS AMERICA

Pups--

I had noticed that commercial where the side effect was aggressive sex and gambling....I thought....Hrrmmm...LOL

I half wondered if it might increase your luck while betting. LOL

Jerry Fletcher---

I personally believe that if we follow your logic all Americans who believe as you do---isolationist, totally non-interventionist, PACIFIST could be held responsible for all of our citizens and soldiers who have died in terror attacks.

How do you enjoy the blame game when it's directed at you?

Just a point to say that I find your viewpoint ludicrous.

Hrmm....

a "crazy broad" that attends? *raises eyebrow and shakes her whip*

Do you fear that which is different than you? Or are you afraid of needing to produce a spine to back your viewpoints?

Aggie,

I'd put money on a Democrat in the White House come November. Just feel things are swinging back the other direction. However McCain is seen as a liberal within his own party so that may be a swing regardless.

Not necessarily advocating either way just an observation from the middle.

No that is not what I was saying.

There are very legitimate reasons for narcotics as well as benzos. However because of the risk of addiction and abuse (ala hometown hero Rush Limbaugh) docotrs have become more leary of these medications. Also doctors do not want to be labled by the DEA as one of those rogue doctors.

For controlled substances as these as well as stimulant medications for the treatment of ADHD the prescribing behavior is monitored closely. I do not suggest throwing out the baby with the bathwater.

Druggies will continue to abuse medications/drugs regardless if these medications exist at all.

short baldy,

Do you agree, the movement to moniter and control prescriptions began around the late 80's to early 90's?

Aggie,

I am a man of little means so we will keep it a friendly wager for bragging rights of being able to see the future.

Your recent trip to the casinos verify you to be much better gambler than I.

I do know some things to be certain.

1. I have not won in a casino in some time.

2. When I try to predict the futuure I usually screw it up.

However the dog shines on the sun's butt every once in a while....or something like that.

mel,

I think the addictive nature of some of these medications such as Oxycotin and Xanax were not widely known in the years past or, as I suspect, was supressed by the developing pharmeceutical companies. As more and more became know there was more of a crack down by the DEA.

Would you believe that there are non-addictive prescription medications being sold on the street. Antipsychotics such as Risperdal, Seroquel, Zyprexa, and Abilify, generally used in the treatment of schizophrenia/bipolar disorder are being used by meth heads to help stabilize their moods associated with meth use. Basically they will use it to even out their high and make it last longer.

Got to wonder what crazy meth head figured that out.

Ok throw my name out the window for right now...conservababe you have plucked my last nerve with your holier than thou attitude here lately. I have a daughter with a disability and yesterday you insulted me and offended me beyong belief and today you have just really ticked me off. How in the world is someone watching you for your insolent posts threatening? You apparently have a guilty conscience and rightfully so. You live in your own little happy world judging people when you have no right what so ever to do so. Since when did God step down and appoint you the one to take his place. From now on you should really take a good close look at yourself before you go spouting your insanities to the rest of us. Opionion or not you are cruel and a sad little woman who is obviously so unhappy with herself and her own life that she has to belittle others to make herself seem worthy and rightous.

oh and go ahead and report me babe I don't care apparently someone beating around the bush is lost on you so someone had to come out and say it so here I am. I can come back and do it again under another name. You my deah are no better than me or anyone else on here so stop acting like it. Sorry to go off topic but due to the expenses of my daughter's disability in order to gain internet access. And that just really burned my rear when I read it from yesterday and couldn't comment.

mildmannered,

Sorry to hear about your child's health/ disability concerns, and the (unspoken) toll it has/is taking on your family. My heart does go out to you and other families in simular situations.

Hopefully you have been or will soon be granted the grace of understanding, it does NOT matter what other folks think (especially those who just do not "get it").

Aggie & melange, I thought the "broad" attending luncheons might be aimed at me...'cause after decades of desk-sitting...

PUPS, as Bethie might say about comment on improving one's outlook on life... O.O And I suspected you weren't as hard-core a liberal as you might have thought--because you ARE a "thinking person." ;-)

I wonder why the alleged shooter of the woman 'Bre' is still on the run? Surely the LEO's are giving the murder top priority.

Babe I hope you are laughing at yourself because online means on the internet and without that online access how else would one read the ONLINE comments to this section..............

(not refering to speak out comments. refering to the forum)

gurusmom

LOL

Don't ya just love men who call women 'broads'? They're the type who sling their arm around their womans neck and pat her fanny in public while shouting out an order for another long neck beer.

(check your mail)

"Arguing with a fool proves there are two." Doris M. Smith

gurusmom said "I might mention that "in here," we really don't know some of the posters, what various names they may be commenting under, or if their stories are true or maybe just fiction to agitate the crowds."

Very true.

Thanks, babe, I didn't realize that the candidates could pay themselves a salary while they ran for office!

My first impression is that Nader will pull votes away from a Democratic candidate. So is it too off-the-wall to suspect that he is hoping to change the results, one way or the other, that we are seeing in those campaigns now?

conservababe, did I miss you? About as much as I'll miss George W. and his scumbag administration. In case you're having difficulty translating the simile, I'll paraphrase. Not in this lifetime would I miss you.

My only regrets is that I'm not able to vote for GW for anther term. My stomach turns to think that Hillary could be in the white house, leading our country.

iago

You protest too much. giggle

Aggie

I guess I'll have to hold my nose and vote for McCain even though I wish we would have had a better choice. But Republicans are always their own worst enemies. The RNC always gives it to the person who's turn it is, so to speak. But, he does have an 83% conservative voting record.

SWBG

I humbly apoligise for my remark about long neck beers. I really like them myself. What can't stand is to see women drinking beer out of a can instead of a glass. They deserve to be called broads. giggle

Pups

Yes, Ron Paul can run as an idependent or a libertarian but he won't. Yes, I will vote for McCain even though he isn't a candidate that I would crawl through broken glass on my knees to vote for as I would have for Reagan and Dubya. But can you imagine me wanting a no experienced and 'inspired', Obama or a corrupt and tag along woman on her husband's coattails, Hillary?

Right Wing

I think she must have been referring to a heater running on fuel with a battery operated fan. There are plenty of those on the market.

melange:

Thought you might be interested in this article in Feb. 25 issue of Time magazine: How to Make Great Teachers. It's pretty good, I think.

"...I would crawl through broken glass on my knees to vote for as I would have for Reagan and Dubya..." That just about says it all. God, help us! Now my worst fears have been confirmed; this soul (conservababe) just doesn't get it. I cannot wait to cancel her vote on Election Day.

Babe & Guru...

Thanks for the link (bookmarked it for future reference), very interesting article.

Obama won a point over Clinton as he supports increasing teachers' salary's based on merit. I had not read or heard either of their stances on this specific topic.

Babe,

Thank you for your honesty. I pretty much thought as much, and there are Dems that will do the same for the same reasons.

I was just thinking that casting a vote for someone that really can't win (independent because realisticly not enough vote that way)rather then the one that can win, though great in principle, kind of seems wasted. But, I could be wrong.

Aggie,

I don't know about iago cancelling Babe's vote, but I have lived in a household that our votes "cancelled" each other out, but didn't stop us from voting the way we wanted. :-)

PUPS

I grew up with my mother and father "cancelling" each other's votes out! It was awkward at times.

And yes, I hate to say it but I also think that voting for someone who has absolutely no chance of winning is a vote only to prove a personal point, not to help elect a president.

Does anyone know who said (forgive me if the quote isn't exact): "If you are under 30 and are a conservative, you have no heart. If you are over 30 and are a liberal, you have no brain."

I thought it was Churchill, but can't find my way-back-when notes. He did, however, say: "A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject."

Oh! A little out-dated, but here's an interesting site to help people figure out which way they really lean: http://franz.org/quiz.htm

Voting for whom you believe in is never a wasted vote.

Gurusmom: I tried to take the test but they didn't have any choices that suited me.

Ok Lib, wasted was the wrong word to use then. But like I said, it was principle vs practicle.

sorry I left out a initial, George HW Bush

gurusmom

I took the test and my score is 37.

You Know You're a Liberal ....

If you think Rob Reiner had to stretch to play the liberal in "All in the Family"

If you think the answer to ANY crime, infraction, or injustice is counseling.

If you've spent no less than 30 years in the walls of academia and don't see how today could be too much different from the '60s.

If you think the criminal has more rights than the police who arrest this criminal, unless the crime is sexual harassment, or racism.

If you use the term 'open-minded' and don't care that it can't be defined in absolute terms.

If you think only white people can be racist.

If Clarence Thomas made you sick, Bob Packwood made you protest, but Bill Clinton is a victim of partisan politics.

If you think that teenager's sexual behavior is uncontrollable, but hardened violent criminals should be released on parole after serving a cut sentence in a "correctional institution".

If you think Maxine Waters and Sheila Jackson Lee are articulate geniuses but Justice Clarence Thomas, Dr. Alan Keyes and Dr. Walter Williams are dolts.

If you think Rush Limbaugh and Michael Reagan are mean spirited racists and promote hate crime but Maxine Waters, John Conyers and Louis Farakahn aren't and don't.

If you think that the Constitution is a living document and should be changed but the writings of Karl Marx are "written in stone".

If you think that tax cuts hurt poor people and are uncompassionate but taking 30% from their paychecks is compassionate

If your idea of hell is having to mind your own business and not meddle in other people's lives.

If you believe that posting the "Ten Commandments" in schools will hurt the children, but putting "Heather Has Two Mommies" or "Ask Alice" (on the internet) won't.

If you think that the American Dream could have only been accomplished in the '60s.

if you think that conservatives have no sense of humor then shudder at the idea of a Clinton joke.

If you actually do believe that Clinton doesn't know the definition of the words "alone", "is", or "correct".

If you believe that Columbus is a mean-spirit bringer of genocide, and never should have explored to the new world, which meant that no one would have religious or taxation freedom whatsoever.

If you think that the only way the tragedy in Littleton, CO could have been avoided was to restrict the access of the guns, two of which were bought on the black market.

If you actually think the multicultural movement of the '90s works better than organized religion.

If you don't want the Christian Right imposing their morality on you, but you want to impose big government on everyone else because they won't do the right thing.

You're a liberal if you can't see the irony in your own beliefs.

If you believe Peter Jennings is a very educated and intelligent man.

If you can actually believe everyone around Bill Clinton is lying, but Bill Clinton himself is telling the truth.

If you point to God's forgiveness of King David in reference to Bill Clinton but "forget" to read the rest of the scripture about the ruin that he inflicted on his family, his kingdom and himself.

If you think that the only acceptable hate crime is Christian bashing.

If you want to make the rich "pay their fair share" but leave Ted (more people have been killed in my car than in an American nuclear power plant) Kennedy and Dick Gebhardt out of the definition of the rich.

If your idea of compassion is giving a homeless person a shopping cart but expecting them to accept the responsibilities of life is mean spirited, racist, bigoted, etc. ad nauseum.

If you think Princess Diana was compassionate for hugging poor children and children with AIDS (while "forgetting" about her getting in her limo and driving away) but Mother Teresa makes you uncomfortable.

If you think that "dumbing down" America's school kids is compassionate but holding them to high educational standards is "mean spirited", racist, bigoted, etc. ad nauseum.

If you think that people need to be punished for good choices and rewarded for bad ones.

You're a liberal if you think what Hitler did to the Jews is horrible but the "Christian Right" is dangerous and needs to be done away with.

If you don't see the parallel between yourself, Adolph Hitler, Josef Stalin and Chairman Mao.

If you believe that the "700 Club" are a group of fakes or actors but the people on "The Jerry Springer" show are real people.

If you actually refer to the Reagan and Bush Presidencies as one Presidency.

If you think that affirmative action is the only way to solve racial problems in America.

If you think the best way to care about a disease is to wear a ribbon.

If you think that pouring blood on a $1,500 fur coat is a sure-fire way to get your message across, but if anyone protests outside an abortion clinic, they're extremists!

If Sean Hannity makes no sense and Alan Colmes makes perfect sense.

If you voted for Mondale in 1984 thinking that raising your taxes was a good idea.

If you refer to listening to Jesse Jackson or Sam Donaldson as "equal time".

If you make snide remarks to guys for looking at women but champion Clinton's right to do whatever he wants with his interns.

If you think the impeachment vote was 'just about sex'.

If you think all the attacks against Republicans are justified, but got outraged about the Willie Horton incident.

If you actually think Clinton 'only inhaled'.

If the last 'good old president' you remember was Carter.

If you condemn Dan Quayle for misspelling potato and then ignore the witticisms of Al Gore (who are these people?)

If you think Alec Baldwin was justified in his protest on the Jay Leno show.

If you actually think there IS a way that the Republicans can poison the water supply to certain people, and destroy the ozone layer.

If you believe any of the conspiracies such as that the AIDS virus was started by the government or that certain products cause sterility in black males, but think "The X-files" is too far fetched.

If you think that Watergate and Iran-Contra was a travesty of justice, but anything against Clinton is partisan!

If you believe VH-1 when they tell you that warning labels were put on by "Conservatives led by Tipper Gore".

If you believe Clinton's 'change of heart' after the sudden switch in the 1994 election.

If you use the words "right wing extremist" at least four times in any given day.

If you think that bombing on Iraq couldn't have possibly had anything to do with the impeachment vote... then why did they stop as soon as the vote was done?

If you think that the four cops who beat Rodney King should have been thrown in jail forever, but the four thugs who beat Reginald Denny should have fair justice.

You complain that your community has too many white people and the Catholic church you go to doesn't have enough ethnicity, but you're the first one with a for sale sign in your yard when blacks start moving in.

You called Vietnam Veterans "baby killers" but think that allowing a woman to suck her baby into a sink is a constitutionally protected right.

You think that Joe Camel and big tobacco are out to kill your babies, but allowing a babies brain to be sucked out of its skull when it's 1/3 of the way out of the birth canal is paramount to a free society.

You scream if a CEO sleeps with an employee but think that Clinton receiveing oral sex from an Intern is just fine.

You believe that Clinton was forced to lie under oath by the "Vast Right Wing Conspiracy"

You think that Ken Starr is the devil's helper for calling Monica's mother to testify but believe that Ollie North's wife and minister being called before the grand Jury was fair.

You believe Clinton's numbers about the number of jobs created and don't credit it to the businesses given opportunities in the 1980s.

You know no recorded economic history (e.g. the massive stagflation and recession) before the Reagan Era.

You think sexual harassment is rampant, date rape pervasive, domestic violence common and Paula Jones is lying.

You get mad when rape victims' sexual history is plastered all over the news media, but think Paula Jones' sexual history "must be made public."

You hate Hillary jokes.

You hate Monica jokes.

You pale at the execution of child killers, but defend the killing of unborn children as an expression of choice.

You fully support women who have "exercised their right to choose" when they abort in the 3rd trimester, but think Amy Grossberg should get the death penalty before the trial even goes to court.

You think trees have feelings, animals can conceptualize and the fetus is a blob of protoplasm.

You wear a red ribbon to show your support for a cure for AIDS but oppose all animal experimentation needed to find that cure

If you hear a news report of a man beat nearly to death because he is a minority or gay and you rally about punishing the bigot who committed the terrible act BUT, if you hear a news report of a man beat nearly to death for his money, and you start talking about the poor disadvantaged person who is forced to commit such acts to survive.

You are convinced that Frank Capra films and Norman Rockwell paintings are lies and distortions but "Platoon," "Dances with Wolves" and "Thelma and Louise" are realistic.

You thought Walt Disney was saccharine sweet and terminally cutesy-pie - until it made Pocahontas.

You think a moment of silent prayer at the beginning of the school day constitutes government indoctrination and an intrusion on parental authority, while sex education, condom distribution and multiculturalism are values-neutral.

You agonize over threats to the natural environment (acid rain, toxic waste) but are oblivious to threats to the social environment (pornography, promiscuity, and family dissolution).

You are appalled at all the money being spent investigating the alleged illegal activities of Bill Clinton, but insist that investigating 75 charges (74 which were dismissed as unfounded) charges against Newt Ginrich was "the only just thing to do."

You want to outlaw cigarrettes and legalize marijuana

You want to legalize cocaine and outlaw handguns. You think cops are pigs and criminals are products of their environment.

You believe the National Rifle Association helps criminals while the American Civil Liberties Union protects the innocent.

You think Rush Limbaugh is responsible for the Oklahoma City bombing but are outraged by suggestions that Ted Kaczynski (the suspected Unabomber) and Al Gore have anything in common.

You just know that everything Rush Limbaugh says is a lie but you have never listened to him.

Jesse Jackson makes sense to you. Barbra Streisand makes even more sense.

You think Herblock cartoons are funny and Janet Reno is totally hot.

You believe corporate profits are obscene but government spending is too low and the American people are undertaxed.

You see cartoons condemning religions and making fun of Christianity as funny and an expression of free speech, but think the cartoon B.C. should be banned.

You think deficits are caused by tax loopholes.

You think AIDS is spread by insufficient funding.

You consider the Catholic bishops noble and idealistic when they oppose capital punishment and welfare cuts but dangerous fanatics trying to legislate their theology when they defend the right to life.

You are convinced that proponents of welfare reform hate the poor and opponents of affirmative action hate minorities, but AIDS activists who bash the Pope and People for the American Way types who go psycho over Protestant "fundamentalists" are guardians of democracy.

You attribute every minority problem to entrenched, institutional racism and the legacies of slavery and segregation.

You think the black middle class is a myth created by Newt Gingrich.

You view race riots as justifiable expressions of rage over injustice and fail to see the similarities between a black mob burning a Korean store and a white mob in the Jim Crow era lynching a black man.

You don't understand all of the whining about affirmative action and are more than willing to sacrifice someone else's employment or education opportunity to assuage your guilt.

You marched against American involvement in Vietnam, thought the Gulf war was unnecessary but believe 25,000 U.S. troops in Bosnia are vital to our national interests.

You see no correlation between welfare and the rise of illegitimacy, judicial leniency and surging crime rates, or addiction and an entertainment industry that glorifies drug abuse. But you believe Richard Nixon is responsible for everything horrible that's happened in the past quarter-century.

You think those child-abusing, religious fanatics at Waco had it coming but the illegal immigrants roughed up by California deputies - after leading them on a high-speed chase - are the victims of the decade.

You continually say that conservatives have no sense of humor, but after reading this page, think that I am cold and mean-spirited.

dexterite

Hey, it's not as long as the tomes Fletcher posts. giggle

No, Fletcher is on a one-way flight to Cuba!!!!! He is outahere

Interesting! So far, none of us who took the quiz fell way right or way left. Good for us! LOL

If you think conservababe doesn't love stereotypes (as evidenced in her insane, outdated, plagarized quiz), keep reading her outrageous, uneducated postings. The sad part is she believes this venom and thinks she's quite clever.

I fell between Clinton and Powell as well. But I new I was always middle of the road. The fact of the matter is that is where the majority of us (US citizens) fall.

Unfortunately, as it is in most societies, it is the extremes that get attention.

If fajar was on I bet he would agree regarding Iraq. Who gets attention over there. Not the moderates but the extremists.

Look at this blog. Who garners most of the attention...the extremists.

Why is that?

Because it is harder to argue with a moderate. It is not exciting. Life is about moderation...it is boring but effective.

babe,

That is what puts you in the minority. I am not controlled anymore than I allow myself to be controlled.

I make my own choices. You must believe that government controls you. That surprises me given your remarks regarding independence. Must be difficult to feel so helpless.

I made a 35 on the political quiz. Just about where I thought I would fall. Although I consider myself very conservative, I do have so traditionally liberal thinking when it comes to pornography (if you don't like it, don't watch it) and prostitution (if a man and woman agree to a price for sex, that is their own business).

I would have to agree that most Americans are apathetic (my wife included, although I am working on changing that). When Hannity does his man on the street segments, it is amazing the simple questions regarding current events and politics that most folks have not a clue.

Yes I want some government intervention.

I want the government to mandate that the telephone company offered DSL dry loop so I can get high speed internet at a more affordable cost.

I want paved roads.

I want a police department.

I want a professional military to protect my countries interest.

Pillow tags do not bother me. I can cut them off or put them inside the pillow case so as they do not tickle my ear at night. Either way I sleep fine.

Coffee may come from Columbia but since I drink only about 1 cup a month it does not affect me.

I am glad Wal-Mart is there (though I avoid the place to the best of my ability) and bring in products from China because as an individual and a contientious consumer it is cheaper for me.

I am glad the government mandates vaccines for children because it has helped irradicate disease.

But in my day to day interaction...what I have to do to live in the present the government only has so much control.

I will not waste my time with pillow tags (an appropriate metaphore as I think most of what we debate is pillow tags).

I will focus on being a better human being...a better citizen...a better father...a better husband. Those are things the government cannot control.

babe,

BTW if the price of long necks gets too outragous I may change my mind!

Aggie,

Still awake.

You are right. Most junior senators do not have much to put on a legislative resume. He does have a lot of rhetoric. I hope it comes to pass that it is more than rhetoric. Next few months will be interesting.

Aggie

I saw a segment of a TV show the pop had on the other day...Don't know if it was a "man on the street" or who the moderator was questioning. I kept wishing he would then ask the guy what Sen. Clinton had accomplished...figured he couldn't come up with an answer there, either. LOL

That's just one of the problems we have here: Most of us have little or no clue what our Senators are doing/accomplishing (and they probably prefer it that way), unless it's a real "biggie," or something in our own state. Or unless the politician mails out one of their popular Brag Booklets every year.

I keep trying to distinguish between Clinton's rhetoric and Obama's rhetoric. Soon, we'll start hearing McCain's rhetoric.

Oh! Rhetoric: 1. the undue use of exaggeration or display.

2. the ability to use language effectively.

3. the art of making persuasive speeches; oratory.

4. (in classical oratory) the art of influencing the thought and conduct of an audience.

"I will focus on being a better human being...a better citizen...a better father...a better husband. Those are things the government cannot control."

SWBG

Yes your governmnent does have a hand in the above. The term 'human being' is mentioned in the Constitution. Citizenship is bestowed on you by your government. As a father, you must register your child with the state government and get a social security number. As a husband, you must have applied to the government for a license to marry and be married by a state approved person.

babe

It could get really scary if we did start enumerating all the things in our lives that the government controls, and which we don't really even think about usually.

Almost as scary as listing all the assorted taxes we pay (some of which aren't called "taxes" but...a rose by any other name...).

Private Clubs would be a good option if that could happen in IL. I went to visit relatives near Dallas a few years ago. The county where they lived was a dry county (no alcohol) Well, the bowling alley in town made theirs a private club and was allowed to sell alcohol. I had to pay a like $5 membership to get in. I still had that card until the last couple years lol

Oh, the reason IL thought to do that, was surely to make certain that people couldn't opt for going to the private clubs instead of the public bars. The theory cities and states are working under is that businesses won't lose their customer bases as long as smoking is banned everywhere, so customers have no options of going elsewhere.

I'm going to have to monitor my typeing.

James

That did cross my mind, but darn! Guess who the barmaid/waitress/short-order cook/dishwasher would be? MOM LOL

Better mom than dad, if I have anything to say about it.