All libery-loving patriotic Americans are "lefties," according to the old political dialogue
Although we don't consider ourselves part of the "American liberal" political blogosphere, we do deem ourselves to be part of the western European liberal tradition, vigorously opposing authoritarianism, and embracing the concept of individual freedom, which ideals were embodied in the American Constitution upon the founding of this great nation.
Listen to "progressive" blogger "Digby," as she proceeds to "out" her long-running national blogger anonymity, and expounds on the great contributions to liberty which American bloggers provide in "The Information Age."
A Tip of the Weber County Forum Tam o' Shanter to the Democracy for Utah Blog for first providing this most excellent link.
Enjoy!
© 2005 - 2014 Weber County Forum™ -- All Rights Reserved
62 comments:
Rudi;
Thanks for the link. Well worth the trip.
But you are in denial, you know. You are a good old fashioned liberal and you are in the wrong party. Time to come out of the political closet and admit it. There are many benefits. Just for openers, once you do, you'll never ever have to explain to anyone again why you're in the same party as Chris Buttars.
You lost me when there was applause for Al Gore!
Geez, Rudi, I didn't know you were THAT liberal!
Words cannot describe the debt we feel to Rudizink for this blog, which I suspect takes a lot of time to produce for the meager ad revenue it produces.
The entertainment it provides us is by itself, a true community asset.
But the value of an open community forum like this is immeasurable. To have a place to go to find expressed views of liberty, and opposition to authoritarianism, is priceless. Wherever I go in my future life, and whatever I do, I will always remember the WCF.
Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to meet the many characters here. But it doesn’t matter. Their words are enough, and more.
Besides, it’s too difficult getting my wife, Donna, and the rest of our Donner family to attend any kind of social functions anyway.
Check this one out on the Utah Amicus site about Steve Olsen. He has now expanded upon his ideas in a new book, “Why you may be a liberal (and why that is okay): The political conversion of a Mormon Utah bishop.” This book is available for purchase at lulu.com.
Steve Olsen doesn’t shy away from tackling the difficult issues. He demolishes the notion you can’t be a good Mormon and a good Democrat while simultaneously and courageously taking on issues like taxes, fiscal responsibility, poverty, choice, the environment, and foreign policy.
Don’t let the title deceive you. While Mormons may find this book particularly interesting because they share a common background or beliefs with Steve Olsen, this book offers a perspective Democrats, independents, and even Republicans will find interesting regardless. Olsen provides thoughtful moral arguments for positions often used to divide voters that should give even the most die-hard Republican pause.
Steve Olsen’s passion for the Democratic Party and what it stands for is contagious. His coming out story as a Mormon Democrat will provide comfort to countless Mormons out there that find themselves uncomfortable with the Republican Party’s marriage with the Christian right or a neoconservative foreign policy that has significantly eroded America’s standing in the world. I highly recommend “Why you may be a liberal” to every thoughtful voter considering contemporary problems facing Utah and America, regardless of party affiliation.
Danny,
Interesting, your thoughts on meeting all the characters who post on this here Forum. I have entertained the same thoughts on occasion. When I first met the late (and dear) Dian Woodhouse, we actually speculated on what merriment a WCForum cocktail party could be!
And yes, hats off to Rudi for masterminding this wonderful asset to the Weber community. My opinion, expressed two years ago, that it's the "hottest blog in Utah," still stands. You can't put a price on the freedom to say what you want to say.
Let's see... how to make the following not be off-topic.... Ah, I've got it: One of the many function of blogs is to call to peoples' notice news items they might not other wise see. Like this up-beat story on the Salomon Center and its attractions in today's SL Trib. Link here.
Glad to have this good-ink for Ogden. And strange things are happening: Hizzonah apparently got through an entire interview with a reporter without once mentioning gondolas or selling Ogden parks to his real estate developer cronies. Will wonders never cease....
Curm:
The mayor knows it is unwise to bring up the g-word in an election year. Notice that his pollsters don't bring it up either. Of course, sometimes in his enthusiasm he just can't help himself and he slips.
As for the selling of Ogden parks, the mayor is well practiced at discussing the "gondola" project for a whole hour without so much as mentioning that aspect.
Rudi, Rudi, he's our guy!
Makes my heart sing, makes me sigh.
Rudi, Rudi, smart guy, Rudi
Also has a cute patootie!
I know that anonymity is useful in the blogosphere (how do we spell this new word?). However, I'm rarely afraid to let people know who I am and would like to meet the interesting people who post here. Although I don't usually post I read you everyday to keep up with is really happening in Ogden!
You are welcome to meet each other during Ogden's next First Friday Art Stroll (July 6) at Universe City (a non-profit art center) to see the very interesting, "Portraits of Ogden." This exhibit features portraits of working class people, iconic buildings and unique landscapes of our town. No developer or mayor portraits can be found in this exhibit. We will also have the Duffy Kane Jazz Duo playing music out on the sidewalk. You can find out more about it in next week's (6/29) "GO" section of the Standard Examiner.
I met Dian Woodhouse at Universe City and she was a regular at every opening. There is nothing like art and a glass of wine to get conversations going. That is how we were able to produce her lovely play, "The Voices." There are many routes for political action!
I don't know how we would identify each other but I'll be the old woman with the bright red hair. If you come, please introduce yourself!
Wouldn't be fun to have a get together and every one wears a name tag with that of which they have posted under. In my case that would be about 20 different names. I guess that is about how many different personalities I have.
but in any case this is the blogg that I like because it is to the point and free. I like to be educated here, it is better than any schooling I would get any where else. I tpye fast and don't check misspelling. so please forgive me.
Just gotta say: Thanks Rudi, this blog keeps alot of us up to date on the going on's in O-Town!
Dan, Assuming you're correct about pinnoccio Godfrey not wanting the GONDOLA brought up so much, Schwebke has truely been a thorn in his side, recently. It's not of Scott's choosing, but the timing of events has just fallen in place that have done two good things for the people of Ogden.Keeping the GONDOLA in the forefront and exposing the little chucky cheeze loo-a-likes' lack of integrety. Thanks for the link, it nice to be be able to select certain snipits for the unbelievable humor one can derive from this little white collared piglets' adlib.
momba -
I will be watching for the GO section.
We came to your production of "Voices". It was magnificent.
"...once you do, you'll never ever have to explain to anyone again why you're in the same party as Chris Buttars."
ROFLMAO!
Good point.
Sharon: If you turned your ears off at the mere mention of Al Gore's name, you missed a very good Digby rant.
Although we at the Weber County Forum Editorial Board certainly do not agree with everything Digby said, we believe her general points strikingly pertain to the political blogs across the blogoshere, our backwater northern Utah blog included.
We have one danged good community blog here, thanks to the 24/7 contributions of our gentle readers.
And one more thing. I know you have Comcast IP service; and I'll speculate that you also access your TEEVEE broadcasts through the same cable source.
Comcast Cable has a channel "blocking feature," Sharon.
I'd suggest you try blocking the Faux News Channel (Comcast Channel 49) for at least a week.
You'd be amazed at how this simple this is.
You have a good soul; and your political instincts are most often right -- locally at least.
Try going "cold turkey" on "Sean" and "Bill" for at least a week.
Try it.
Blogs are pretty cool, despite the mainstream media's thorns and barbs.
Back in best of the the old days, pamphleteers had to crank out their rants on mimeograph machines, in some old garage.
Earlier, pamphleteers had to rely on 400 pound printing presses.
The blogoshere is very cool
It's the best antidote to our current right wing socialist neoCON government.
Personally, I quit watching TV news years ago, and have never watched the news talk shows. These guys spend so much time talking they cannot possibly spend very much time learning. And it seems that way when they talk.
On another point, there is a sense that this WCF blog is biased, but I note the blogmeister always welcomes new people who post blogs, especially those with contrary opinions.
In the absence of contrary opinions, I feel I am not learning. And without learning, what point is there? While I appreciate people who compliment my opinions, I value people who can show me where I am wrong even more.
I see that as a weakness of the Godfreyites. They seem uninterested in the possibility they could be wrong. Therefore, they are unable to learn, and to improve.
Also, I have always wondered if the blogmeister can track IP addresses. He implies that he can, but I don't think he can, because I don't think Blogger gives IP addresses to blogsite owners. Anybody wanna give the straight dope on it?
There is an interesting piece in the Utah Section of the Tribune this morning entitled: "Guv cuts state's lobbyist in D.C.".
Before cutting the lobbiest he apparently cut a regular office that the state government has been supporting for many years in D.C. - Good for the Governor.
His theory is that the state has 5 seperate representatives with full offices each to represent the state's interest before the Federal Government. They are called our Senators and Congressmen.
Maybe the Mayor could take a hint here! Why does Ogden need to pay a lobbiest big bucks out of our tax money to represent Ogden's interests before the state legislature? The city has several legislatures that represent parts of Ogden. They are our representatives in the Legislature! Why doesn't the mayor utilize them? Imagine that, working well with other elected officials!!
So this is a rhetorical question! We all know the truth about why Godfrey unilateraly hired a lobbiest, it was to further his own interests in his pursuit of his idea of pure Republican government. ("this is not a Democracy, it is a Republic", "you elected me to decide, I am the decider")
The lobbiest we paid for was to get emminent domain condemnation powers back in his visionary hands, it was to get legislation weakening the public service employees.
Will the voters of Ogden see the real Matt Godfrey come this fall? Will they fall for the huge sales campaign he will mount to white wash his horrific record of incompetence. Will the voters take the opening of the mall as a sign of his success, or as a huge monument to his failure, and a very large financial mill stone that he has placed around the cities neck?
Interesting campaign coming up.
the other reason godfrey hires a lobbist is so he can control them. With Rep. Hansen representing most of ogden and standing up to godfrey, I would say he would not be able to control the honorable of that house member.
LOL!
We put up the "Impeach Gonzalez" graphic link in the right sidebar yesterday...
And we've already registered a dozen web hits from the Internal Revenue Service today.
Welcome to AmeriKa!
That was Mercy, Rudi.
However, you do cut me to the quick!
I've been known to watch CNN...the guy in the suspenders, MSNBC...Scarborough Country? Guy with glasses who thinks he's a wit and is 1/2 right.
A few more from those TRUE? channels when I'm not in danger of hyperventilating.
Rudi, I even watched the Democratic pitiful presidential hopefuls 'debate'...better than summer reruns.
How do I get the Gonzalez sidebar?
"How do I get the Gonzalez sidebar? "
Open your eyes and check out the right sidebar.
The Gonzalez graphic link is right there.
Sheesh!
You're a hair's breadth away from going to the dungeon, BTW -- Permanently.
The rules are designed for everyone who posts here.
Why is it that one or two self-indulgent types, out of our thousands of readers and posters, think they're somehow "special?"
You're not special, dummie.
You're run of the Gondolist mill.
Don't know what you are talking about.
Was it a judgment error, a typo, bad taste? Why are you so bent out of shape?
Policy violation, mister producer.
Try to keep up.
"Also, I have always wondered if the blogmeister can track IP addresses. He implies that he can, but I don't think he can, because I don't think Blogger gives IP addresses to blogsite owners. Anybody wanna give the straight dope on it?"
Weber County Forum relies mainly on Statcounter, Danny, third-party web stats software that identifies the IP address of everyone who logs in here.
You're right. Blogger.com isn't at all helpful in identifying our readers.
Statcounter, on the other hand is actually quite awsome!
This is the web stats software that I always also reco to fellow bloggers.
All that is going on is someone pointing out hypocrisy.
And that some how is turned into being pro-gondola?
Well! The producer is baaaaack!
What or whom were you flaming that you had to be deleted? I thought you said you were a great guy?
Our regulars on here said they didn't see you or anyone wearing a 'yellow silk shirt' to the Junction Function the other night. Were you a no show, after all?
Three times in my political adulthood, we have seen the exhaustion of a conservative ideology and presidency. Under Presidents Nixon and Bush II, the ingredients were corruption, corporate excess, and overreach of presidential power. During the 12 years of Reagan and Bush I, the hallmark was the failure of conservative economics.
And twice, the electorate ousted Republicans only to get centrist Democrats, who ran more competent administrations but did little to redress the structure of financial inequality in America.
Now, the third era of conservative Republican rule is collapsing — with the most spectacular mélange of overreach, incompetence, economic distress, and sheer corruption of all. But who, and what, will succeed Bush? The forces of privilege and inequality are now so deeply entrenched in America that it will take a Democratic successor at least as bold as FDR or LBJ to change course.
Put down that Jim Beam and go to AA immediately!
Do you think Hillary, Obama and Harry will save America? We'll be the laughingstock of the world just like we were with Carter. No respect anywhere!
You gave:
Like we are so well respected around the world now, right?
No Democratic candidate has to "save America." For a Democratic president to be a net gain for the nation, he or she just has to not screw things up as incredibly [and expensively] --- and at such great cost to American service men and women --- as Bush has.
I'm confident we will be able to do that. Hell, Rudi, me and the first five people we met at random on the street could do that. Provided they are liberals, of course....
It's apparently past your bedtime.
The Republicans sure won't fix Bush's mistakes. They'll just add to it!
I guess you like leaving your kids with 9 trillion dollar of debt that the Republicans racked up.
No doubt; Hillary, Obama, or Edwards will at least try to cleaning up the mess.
No doubt; Rudi, Fred, McCain or Mitt will be just adding to the pile of krap, that your George Bush is leaving us!
"You gave":
I do want to congratulate you for conceding, in your first post, that after six years of Republican rule, the US needs saving. Must have been hard for a Republican to admit that on a public post, right in front of God and everybody. Kudoes for having the courage to do it. There may be hope for you yet....
But at the moment, my main interest is a little more local: it's removing Ogden's Republican Mayor from office this November. No, not as important as removing Republicans from the EOB in DC. But ya gotta start someplace....
Rudi,
I listened to the entire Digby expounding of the left's 'concept of individual freedom'.
Al Gore...is she really grateful to Gore for the internet? Moveon.org?
The only issue I see us ever agreeing on is shutting down Godfrey and his corrupt crew and sending them all to Federal prison.
Don't I wish?
Rudi, me laddie, I never knew ye.
Crum:
I agree with you 99% of the time.
This is why we need Neil Hansen for Mayor!
We need Hansen for mayor and it has everything to do with all of us throwing out that dictator on his high horse.
Go Hansen....Go out on a rail, Godfrey.
Mayor Godfrey is so tall,smart,sexy, and honest.
In the name of bipartisanship:
1. I see that Utah State Sen. Greiner [R-Godfrey Administration] has issued a statement advocating a "no" vote on vouchers on the coming referendum. I was tempted to go all over snarky and say something about even stopped clocks being right twice a day, but decided that was uncalled for. He's right on the issue and said so plainly even though many in his party think differently. Good on him.
2. What passes for the "leadership" of the Democratic party in the US House of Representatives has done one of the things that drives me up a wall [stupidity in high places always does that]. Turns out, members of the House [but not the Senate] are allowed to lease cars on the taxpayer's dime in DC and at home. About a third of the members [both parties] do it, and many rent the most expensive, heavy, gas guzzling SUVs available. A Dem. member wanted to introduce a bill to limit leases to hybrids. [Taxpayers pay for their gas too, by the way.] The leadership refused to let him introduce it.
Republicans are pouncing and well they should, arguing the Dem leadership is being hypocritical on this, talking a good environmental game but not walking the walk. Worse than that. What they should be doing is eliminating the lease program entirely. If members of Congress want to lease cars [any size, green or not] they can damn well pay for it out of their own pockets just like the rest of us.
And yes, moments ago, the House leadership, and the heads of the DNC, DSCC and DHCC heard about this from me. Loudly.
If I were Bobblehead Rob Bishop's [R-Zion] campaign manager, I'd be on the phone to him right now, urging him to introduce a Republican bill to eliminate the House car leasing perk. He's a damn fool if he doesn't grab the opportunity.
Hey Annon, I'm sorry but don't don't quite follow, care to elaborate.
Rudi,
I keep missing all these deleted posts. From Bill's post sounds like the same old thing. Do the LO-LO's purposely flame in order to cry foul over censorship. Sure wish they could contain themselves enough to converse. Surely they must have some point.
Maybe an edit over complete deletion.
Curm,
Utah State Sen. Greiner [R-Godfrey Administration]
Love it!
I have come to the conclusion that it's the person, not the party.
Clinton, in hindsight, was an economic conservative, and far better than either Bush I or II (as were most presidents, maybe even Carter, yeccch.) My view is that in most Presidential elections people choose the most conservative candidate.
What do you think about Ron Paul?
This guy presses a lot of buttons for me on limited government. He was on Bill Maher (saw it on the web) with a panel of Libs and they were falling all over the guy. Right wingers like him too.
Personal freedom and limited government - what's so hard about it?
The problem is the money people don't like those things. And nowadays you need the money to run. Just ask Ron Paul.
Danny,
Clinton was ok as an economic conservative...what does it cost for cigars and taking stains out of dresses?
Ron Paul?? Bill Maher??
It's too early in the day to be smoking funny stuff, innit?
More good ink for Ogden:
IN the NY Times travel section, earlier this week, this story appeared: Link here. Text from the story:
Set in the western foothills of the Wasatch Mountains, Ogden, a city of approximately 83,000 people, is fast gaining on places like Boulder, Colo., as a destination for extreme sports.
Miles of mountain biking wind through the Wasatch-Cache National Forest within minutes of downtown, and the Ogden and Weber Rivers provide ample opportunity for in-town kayaking and canoeing. In addition, Snowbasin Resort, the site for the 2002 Olympic downhill and super G ski events, is less than 20 miles up Ogden Canyon.
Among several new developments in town is the 125,000-square-foot Salomon Recreation Center that will include a climbing wall, a surf rider pool, a bowling alley, a dance studio, a wind tunnel and a Gold's Gym. The center, which is to open this summer, is part of a multimillion-dollar entertainment and residential complex called the Junction that will occupy 20 formerly decrepit acres downtown.
While the 2002 Olympics helped raise Ogden's profile, it is the efforts of city officials, outdoor-company executives and real estate developers that are transforming the town, a former railroad hub.
It includes an interview with Mayor Godfrey, and gives him good marks for sparking the outdoors-based development in the city [and deservedly so] and, of course, it mentions the gondola scheme. But, unlike the earlier Wall Street Jouranl puff piece, the Times reported interviewed and included comments from those who think selling off the city's mountain parklands is not the way to make Ogden into an outdoor destination city. It qutoes Dan Schroeder on the gondola matter, and, on the sale of the Mt. Ogden parklands for residential development it quotes a Mr. Craig Haaser, a middle-aged Ogden potter and kayaker who told the Times reporter that "Ogden is rocking right now." The story adds that "In 2004, Mr. Haaser, the kayaking potter, who lives in Ogden year round, bought a four-bedroom house, which he is remodeling, with views of Snowbasin, for $215,000. He recently received an unsolicited offer of $350,000 for the five-acre property." But Haaser also told the reporter, who queried him about the Mayor's wish to convert "over 200 acres of undeveloped land currently used for mountain biking and hiking — into a private residential community of empty nesters and second-home owners" this: "Ogden is known because of its outdoor recreation,” Mr. Haaser said. “What we have here is wonderful. Let's just keep in that way.”
The story talks about the attractiveness of home prices in OGden drawing people, the growing arts scene as well as about some lingering less-than-tourist-pleasing elements of 25th Street. ["Rising property values aside, it is the revitalization of downtown that is drawing the most attention. Once home to brothels and taverns frequented by railroad workers in the late 1880s, and more recently to transients and prostitutes who moved in after residents and commerce fled the downtown in the 1980s, Historic 25th Street is both a link to Ogden's past and its future as a tourist destination.
Faux gas lanterns and sycamore trees strung with white lights line the wide east-west boulevard. Shaded by striped awnings, the century-old brick storefronts house art galleries, acupuncturists and cafes.
The town's arts scene is anchored by Peery's Egyptian Theater, which is a satellite site for the Sundance Film Festival in Park City and presents theatrical and musical performances throughout the year.
There are still empty buildings and a handful of dank bars on 25th Street, where men in dirty T-shirts call out to women walking by. Near a taco stand on the corner of 25th and Washington Boulevard, a gritty man with a faded blue bandanna around his forehead waited at the bus stop. ]
All told, a lot of good ink for Ogden, amid a balanced story that is positive but not puffery, reporting not pandering. [Maybe there's something sold left in the Grey Lady yet.] If you haven't seen it, it's well worth a look.
Pundit:
Clinton reduced the deficit then turned it into budget surplus. It was no accident. The deficit went down, then the surplus increased, each year of his two terms. Call it liberal or conservative. I call it, “Hooray.”
Bush first reduced the budget surplus, then went further into deficit, each of the first four years of his term.
Clinton reduced the size of government, both military and domestic, as a percentage of the economy. It was a dramatic reduction, both in dollars, and personnel, and it was unprecedented.
Bush has increased the government, both in personnel and in terms of the size of the economy, more than any president since the last great liberal, LBJ.
Why Limbaugh and Hannity like this big government fruitcake is beyond me.
As far as Maher, he is a kook and a liberal. But check out Ron Paul. He is a limited government guy who liberals also like. You may like him too. But he is a constitutionalist who cannot win, because corporate America is socialist, not freedom loving.
Check my facts. They are true. And they are not what you will hear in the media. Ya gotta think more outside the box, bro. And you gotta get your info somewhere else. Me smokin? Never have, pal.
Danny:
You should know by now that knee-jerk Republicans prefer "no facts discussion" and, mostly, refuse to engage in any other kind. Just think of it: these people are proud to call themselves "dittoheads." Go figure....
Ron Paul has been our only hope for a couple of decades. Isn't that how long it's been since his first run as a Libertarian.
He means what he says and has a real agenda for getting the government out of our lives. Wait till you see Michael Moore's new movie. It makes so clear just how broken is our federal government. I don't care about stupid labels. Liberal or conservative, if you haven't just about had it with the federal government you must be living in some kind of hole. The only cure is a libertarian foundation. Those of you who claim to be libertarian, I wonder if you realize the profound commitment you must make to ending the war on drugs, and that means legalization of all drugs. Have we not now seen the growth and entrenchment of the police state as a result. Have we not now seen that terrorist groups are financed by the narcotic trade which has ballooned since the enactment of the various prohibitions. Most everyone admits there is no possibility of enforcement, yet revert to slackjaw law and order conservatism or just plain prefer to act dumb about the reality of prohibition. The supply of narcotics is enhanced by prohibition. Put the black market out of business tomorrow via legalization. Terrorist groups would simply dry up without the kind of cash that the black markewt conveniently supplies by avcting as essentially a government enforced price support system. Narcotics are virtually worthless and cheap to produce like all medications. Drug companies simply do not want on-the-shelf competition from the drugs that quite obviously people prefer.
There is no justification for the drug war beyond the entrenchment of federal power. Wake up people. Take a look at Ron Paul.
Why this is complete nonsense, this idea to make drugs legal and stop the war on drugs!
What about my uncle Ernie? He's worked for fifteen years at a guard at a Federal Prison Camp for pot possesors. The damn place if full of these dope users! Ernie would be clean out of a job if it weren't for the "war".
And cousin Robert (on my mom's side), he is a lawyer defending drug defendants. You want him unemployed as well?
And Dave down the street, why he makes his living on the Metro Drug force. You know, the guys that go around in ominous black night fighter gear with all the latest government electeronic survealance gear. He too would be out of a job if this crazy notion ever took hold.
Judges, lawyers, cops, bail bonds men, jailers, probation officers, drug testing companies, ankle bracelet manufacturers, pee test makers, psychiatrists, snitches and many many others would be out of work overnight if you legalized dope!
A huge segment of our society has grown up around and now totally depends on the war on drugs. If this silly notion were to come to be, it would have the same effect on the economy as stopping the war in Iraq, and you sure don't hear any one in their right mind calling for that now do you?
I just returned from my second flowrider session. I was lucky to get just one other rider in my hour. The manager told me they have had some large crowds including a few private bookings which earns them 400/hr. Thjey had apparently over 20 riders last night at closing. Little crowded for my taste but a great sign of success. There was a pretty sizable crowd watching and eating at Costa Vida. I did not go inside the Salomon Center but I am sure there were plenty being noon Saturday. I am warming up to this place. The floor plan is still atrocious and it is quite irritating that the flowrider is so isolated from the rest of the place. I think the flowrider is a clear winner and will pay for itself along with being a huge draw. it really fits with the mexican food next door. Only wish they'd reconfigure the divider so patrons could eat flowside. i managed to up my skills a bit by drifitng up the wave and carving down to the bottom. There are a few guys who are getting it pretty dialed. You have to be a glutton for punishment to learn like all board sports. Skateboarding presents a little to much risk anymore for my age but I still think a skateboard park would finish this place off nicely and show Ogden's solid commitment to truly high adventure.
Well said, Oz.
I agree with much of what you say, Tec and Danny. But, of course, we are light years part on some issues.
Legalize drugs? You may not smoke, but you're breathing the second-hand stuff.
(Why, Ozboy's whole family and neighborhood would go to pot, so to speak).
I've listened to Ron Paul. This guy will never win! He has some good ideas...but he is not a winner.
Like it or not, we are a Two Party system...and Libertarians, Green Party, etc candidates are not going to occupy the White House.
Ron Paul, like Kucinich, looks about as presidential as a spook.
Did you notice that Kucinich has married? As if that will bring in votes.
You need to get behind candidate(s) that CAN win...to do otherwise, just split votes and no one or the 'wrong' candidate ends up on the ticket.
If I'm lucky, Hillary and Obama will SCREAM in glee, thus knocking both of them out of the park, just like that Oswald Rabbit, Howard Dean.
Pundit,
That is one predictable response which is why the American electorate is likewise so predictable. Youa re in good company. As for looking presidential, just who in recent memory acted presidential? Just when has Bush acted presidential. Voters like you need looks over substance. Of course you are talking reality. I voted for Kerry last time around because I did not want to waste my vote on Nader or Kucinich. What a waste. So my choices lat time around was Kerry and the guy who looked presidential because he was already president. I hope you listen to yourself and realize how lame and hopeless is your position and how lame and hopeless is America because of the prevalence of that very lackluster spirit. Might as well give up and throw in the towel. I'd hate to play on a team with guys like you and damn well wouldn't want to be in life threatening circumstances with anyone holding such a poor sense of survival. Americans have no sense of self governance and responsibility so they hand all there spirit over to "leaders". Save us.
As for legalization, you give the typical uneducated response. I do not mean that to be an attack but if you would elaborate on you lack of position on it maybe we could talk about it or perhaps I could enlighten you.
Tec....you make a lot of assumptions about someone you don't know! I'm probably the best person you could be with in a life threatening situation because I don't run away, lose my head, whimper, or let a friend down!
We need leadership but I don't see it in the democratic party. Be honest, do you?
Pundit,
How is it that intelligent folks like yourself readily slip into "lesser of two evils" mode and wallow in low-concept politics like "looking presidential". Can you define that one? I ask again...When ever has Bush looked presidential. Who ever has looked presidential. I think you would be more comfortable with royalty with all the funny hats and gay robes.
As for the legalization issue, again I have to ask, why is it that obviously intelligent folks like yourself have to resort to dismissive neo-connistic chucklery, when it comes to the single most revolutionary idea since the repeal of alcohol prohibition. Do you not know that the international terror network is financed by the drug trade? Where have you been getting your terror facts? from the Bush league. I'd like to have you on my team but you have no stance and no course of action.
The legalization issue always gets pushed to the cheap seats because it is so trivial to those who live in a vacuum of information. It is the foundation and source of capital for dictators and terrorists worldwide. What is so friggin' hard for the common folk to understand that legalization would have these enemies of peaceful people twiddling their thumbs for lack of anything to do when their primary source of capital dries up. Yes I am saying very loudly...grow poppies for morphine and heroin in America. There i said it. What is the alternative...? That the Taliban grows poppies for morphine and heroin and BIG BLACK MARKET PROFITS in Afghanistan. Some choice. The law and order fools say we don't need poppies. We do. We need Cannabis and we need cocaine. These are god's great gift to man. Natural medicinals that can be grown in your backyard. Are you starting to get the picture? What is wrong with the average individual producing their own medications in their own garden. There is no profit in it for the drug companies. Afraid of poppies? look around, they all all over this area and elsewhere. Real opium producing poppies. Who cares. Do you see junkies trodding through peoples yards to get to it. No.
To be on my team pundit requires the courage of conviction and no friggin fear.
"We need leadership but I don't see it in the democratic party. Be honest, do you?"
I'll admit that there is little leadership shown in the dem crew but a likewise lack of it from the re"puke"licans. Ron Paul has the issues in hand but the insistence on Fred Thompson-like voices, and the need for a "real manly-like guy in the White House" only illustrates the closeted homophobia prevalent in our culture. We applaud the guy with the big chest and muscles but god-forbid he may lilely be homosexual. Most of those muscle heads and their admirerers are just that. I'll take a sensitive gay president anyday over some overcompensating closeted roleplaying overly suited phony.
Jeeze Tec, maybe you ought to toke up and calm down? All this rage could be easily smoothed over with a little pinch of "OhMyGod" in the bowl.
And a fruiter in the White House? Got to admit is sounds better than that dumb assed little bozo who is there now. You know, the one who puffs out his chest and arms when he walks, I suppose to make him look more presidential!
Your right lionel,
Just gets me when the first knee-jerk reaction to legalization is "what are you smoking?". It's just so much aping of Sean Hannity, Bill Orally, etc. Apparently many seem unable to take the root cause of intl. terrorism seriously and approach it from a fragmented and fantasy view.
It's well past 4:20. I'm gettin' busy.
Tec,
Is it too early for you to hibernate?
pundit,
sorry to jump on ya so...
the war on drugs is something that has affected so many friends and fellow citizens. Just poke around google for a few horror stories. I don't take well to making light of the importance of reform. I'm not enraged. Fairly well frustrated though. Having grown up in the 60's and attended college in early 70's I would never have thought that marijuana would still be cause for loss of rights and entanglement in the criminal justice system. Seeing young adults who are otherwise fine citizens roughed up and jailed makes me ill. I've suffered my own indignation at the hands of entrapping and overzealous lazy-ass cops. Guys who otherwise are doing a fine job take glee at disrupting the lives of a casual cannabis user.
I still ask you as you have yet to respond, what is so presidential about our present fool or whoever you voted for last time around?...and what's your solution to terrorism and the illegal drug trade that finances it. We can have a dialogue. It's up to you to say something of substance.
Now I'll hibernate...more yardwork tomorrow
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