I love fiscal responsibility. Yet I loathe the Moral Majority. I loved Libertarians until they stabbed me in the back with a pointy-headed Bob Barr. The current NeoCon group doesn't care about cutting taxes, they just want the taxes to go different places. I could at least appreciate Reagan's fiscal policies (even if I snickered at Nancy and her 'Just say no' campaign).
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I wish Obama would pick General Petraeus as his running-mate. Or Fox Fallon. Someone to give him some military credibility. If he picks "just another" liberal senator, he leaves us an election in which old-school fiscal conservatives have no one to vote for.
I agree. I've been cringing every time I hear the name of any Senator tossed around. Adding some military strength to the equasion would feel like a much better move.
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I wish Obama would pick General Petraeus as his running-mate.
I wish he'd pick Wesley Clark. (I don't think a *current* general can serve as VP, can he? Petraeus might have to retire to be eligible, and given the appalling opinion of him that Generals like Tommy Franks have, I'm not sure I'd want Petraeus anyway...)
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I wish Obama would pick General Petraeus as his running-mate.I wish he'd pick Wesley Clark. (I don't think a *current* general can serve as VP, can he? Petraeus might have to retire to be eligible, and given the appalling opinion of him that Generals like Tommy Franks have, I'm not sure I'd want Petraeus anyway...)
I think he should pick George Clooney. Not only has Clooney played a soldier (foreign policy experience), a doctor (medical industry experience), and a thief (political experience), but he's also a celebrity with valuable insight into the human psyche. Think of the parties they'll throw.
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I think he should pick George Clooney. Not only has Clooney played a soldier (foreign policy experience), a doctor (medical industry experience), and a thief (political experience), but he's also a celebrity with valuable insight into the human psyche. Think of the parties they'll throw.I wish Obama would pick General Petraeus as his running-mate.I wish he'd pick Wesley Clark. (I don't think a *current* general can serve as VP, can he? Petraeus might have to retire to be eligible, and given the appalling opinion of him that Generals like Tommy Franks have, I'm not sure I'd want Petraeus anyway...)
I think you might have a good point here. Lets extend the idea. Perhaps McCain could run with Ann Coulter. She's plays a woman on TV, and the rest of her 'expertise' is about as real as Clooney's. now THAT would be a cool campaign.
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I think he should pick George Clooney. Not only has Clooney played a soldier (foreign policy experience), a doctor (medical industry experience), and a thief (political experience), but he's also a celebrity with valuable insight into the human psyche. Think of the parties they'll throw.I wish Obama would pick General Petraeus as his running-mate.I wish he'd pick Wesley Clark. (I don't think a *current* general can serve as VP, can he? Petraeus might have to retire to be eligible, and given the appalling opinion of him that Generals like Tommy Franks have, I'm not sure I'd want Petraeus anyway...)
ROFLMAO!!!!! I'm a dapper dan man.
I had no idea that so many posters here have such drastically different opinions and values from me.
There's people here that I've joked with and smiled at. Now when I see their posts, all I'm gonna think is "Your political beliefs are naive and abhorrent to me."
I wish I hadn't read this thread.
Oh well, no going back now.I tend to agree with you. It disturbs me that there are those that think Carter was a worse President than Bush. I don't think I could be friends with someone if I knew they felt that way. Because if they felt that way, they probably feel torture is okay in the name of defense, that illegal wiretapping is cool, that pre-emptive war is the way to go and that it's okay to hire cronies into positions of power no matter their qualifications but because they voted Republican. I find these beliefs abhorrent and why would I want to overlook these things just because the person was a good gamer or told funny jokes? Who you consider heroic and who you consider a villain say a LOT about who you are and what you stand for. I would do my best to be civil to these folks on the internet, but I wouldn't want to eat dinner with them or be buddies with them. Dubya is not a good man; he's not a role model; he shouldn't be remembered by history with fondness and smiles. Carter may have been an inefficient, wallflower of a president that made a lot of mistakes, but he didn't cost us thousands of American lives for a lie; he didn't ignore the will of the majority of the American population; he didn't act so arrogant as to think he knew better than the people he served what was best for his country. He tried to do a good job; he didn't have an agenda.
I'm sure everyone on this site are cool people in their own ways; maybe it makes me less of a person. I can live with that. I know what I hold to be dear and true; and I want people close to me that share my values. Does that make sense? Is that a crime? We used to be a country where we valued life and civil liberties; can we...
So you're saying that because people like Bush, they have to be a 'monster' like he is? Is that what you're trying to say or am I misunderstanding you?
Who you consider heroic and who you consider a villain say a LOT about who you are and what you stand for. I would do my best to be civil to these folks on the internet, but I wouldn't want to eat dinner with them or be buddies with them.
Which is why I am always amazed to find peaceniks (not saying you are or are not one, just your comment brought this to mind) playing role-playing games. I mean in most role-playing games you do all of the things these folk claim is so bad in RL. "But it is just a game." they say, but as you pointed out "Who you consider heroic and who you consider a villain say a LOT about who you are and what you stand for."
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I think you might have a good point here. Lets extend the idea. Perhaps McCain could run with Ann Coulter. She's plays a woman on TV, and the rest of her 'expertise' is about as real as Clooney's. now THAT would be a cool campaign.I think he should pick George Clooney. Not only has Clooney played a soldier (foreign policy experience), a doctor (medical industry experience), and a thief (political experience), but he's also a celebrity with valuable insight into the human psyche. Think of the parties they'll throw.I wish Obama would pick General Petraeus as his running-mate.I wish he'd pick Wesley Clark. (I don't think a *current* general can serve as VP, can he? Petraeus might have to retire to be eligible, and given the appalling opinion of him that Generals like Tommy Franks have, I'm not sure I'd want Petraeus anyway...)
Naah, Ann is too much of an angry beeyotch to run. He has to get some suave and sophisticated Hollywood-type for it to work out. Can't be Arnold - he's foreign born. Maybe Bruce Willis - he's a badass anti-terrorist expert, and he's already saved the world on numerous occasions.
I am a llamatarian and abhor what the neo-alpaca party has done to this country.
I would just like to chime in here and state that I am utterly, without question, the most politically asinine and flippant person any of you can or will ever know.
This is why I do not put my 2 cents in on these threads.
Because you'd all hate me.
Even more than you already do.
Sorry Fatespinner, i would beat you at this game.
If i would mention my opinion about american politics, economics, culture or whatever, i would be lynched by the mob.I am french ;)
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Personally I can't wait to see what paranoid drivel Stone put on the screen...and I'm a Democrat!
I would just like to chime in here and state that I am utterly, without question, the most politically asinine and flippant person any of you can or will ever know.
This is why I do not put my 2 cents in on these threads.
Because you'd all hate me.
Even more than you already do.Sorry Fatespinner, i would beat you at this game.
If i would mention my opinion about american politics, economics, culture or whatever, i would be lynched by the mob.I am french ;)
You are a brave, brave man....
You are a brave, brave man....
Indeed. I live in the US :)
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You're giving me flashbacks to undergrad. I had a very PCU-ish college experience. It was horrible and painfully stupid. The funniest thing was how I went from being the most liberal douchebag in my small town in Western Michigan to the Rush Limbaugh of my college campus. Note that my political positions hadn't really changed that much, just my environment.
I've been there too. I went from being a goose stepping Nazi to being a commie spy just by moving from southern California to southern Utah.
I am french ;)He likes Mimes!
GET HIM!Q: Why do cannibals never kill mimes?
A: Because a mime is a terrible thing to waste.
Taste?
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There has been a lot of discussion about what this person or that believes based on their support of one president or another. I know that those of you who believe that I am a racist, sexist, homophobic Nazi who enjoys torture and would like to turn this country into a police state, simply because I don't believe that the current president is an abomanation will never be convinced otherwise by anything I say. However I would just like to go on record as articulating what I believein my own words, so you can all judge for yourselve. I wrote this piece back in January for my blog, but I will share it with you here. It is called the Articles of Conservatism.
I) We believe that America is the greatest country in the World, because of the efforts of its people.
II) We believe that everyone is capable of great things.
III) We believe that the best solution for anyone’s problems are the ones they come up with themselves. Americans are smarter than government when it comes to their own individual needs.
IV) We believe that everyone is responsible for their own actions.
V) We believe that the greatest asset America has is freedom and it should be exported at every opportunity.
VI) We believe that government’s role is to create a climate where everyone can achieve their greatness and then get out of their way. As Thoreau said “That government is best that governs least.”
VII) We believe that the Constitution is an inspired document and the best source of knowledge about government.
VII) We believe in the rule of law and in the existence of right and wrong.
IX) We believe that taxes serve as a roadblock to economic growth and that lower taxes result in more money for the government.
X) We believe that all people have the right to worship or not worship God as they choose. Government should not dictate how or where a person may worship. A person should not demand that government or private individuals change the way that they act to accommodate that person’s beliefs.
XI) We believe that a person should be judged on their own merits and not on biological factors like gender or race that they have no control over. This applies to both good and bad judgements.
XII) We believe that everyone has the right to think for themselves and to rethink their beliefs when confronted with contrary evidence. Many great conservatives began their lives as liberals.
If you would like to read more, you can find my blog here. Enjoy.
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Because you'd all hate me.Even more than you already do.
Impossible.
The power of my hate for you is capable of boiling lead. If sheds light that is visible up to a mile away. It actually powers the entire western seaboard. My hatred for you sings me to sleep at night, with lyrics describing your painful death. If I were to hate you any more, I would redefine hatred into a new emotion never before witnessed by mankind.
Dude... that was almost poetic. *applause*
--- Magis, long time lurker
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Sorry Fatespinner, i would beat you at this game.
If i would mention my opinion about american politics, economics, culture or whatever, i would be lynched by the mob.I am french ;)
Speaking as a 'Damn fine 'uh-Merahcan! (as I've heard it pronounced about these parts of Texas)", I love the French. You gave us Voltare and Gaston Leroux, Claude Debusy and Bizet, a-frickin'-mazing cuizine, Degas, Cezanne, and Rousseau. You gave us Jacques Tardi and Moebius, Métal Hurlant and Asterix. You gave us Le Théâtre du Grand-Guignol, so ya got that twisted thing going for ya! You didn't invent mimes, but you did turn it into a raised artform that gives us a commonality of loathing, so that actually works to your benefit. You have played very well on the international giving scorecard. I mean, you gave us Laetitia Casta... For that alone, you should all be eternally honored.
Vive la France! Vive la hot supermodel!
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Sorry Fatespinner, i would beat you at this game.
If i would mention my opinion about american politics, economics, culture or whatever, i would be lynched by the mob.I am french ;)
Speaking as a 'Damn fine 'uh-Merahcan! (as I've heard it pronounced about these parts of Texas)", I love the French. You gave us Voltare and Gaston Leroux, Claude Debusy and Bizet, a-frickin'-mazing cuizine, Degas, Cezanne, and Rousseau. You gave us Jacques Tardi and Moebius, Métal Hurlant and Asterix. You gave us Le Théâtre du Grand-Guignol, so ya got that twisted thing going for ya! You didn't invent mimes, but you did turn it into a raised artform that gives us a commonality of loathing, so that actually works to your benefit. You have played very well on the international giving scorecard. I mean, you gave us Laetitia Casta... For that alone, you should all be eternally honored.
Vive la France! Vive la hot supermodel!
And they get 80% of their electricity from nuclear power with no accidents. France is a fine example of the way the U.S.A. should be dealing with the enrgy crisis.
And they get 80% of their electricity from nuclear power with no accidents. France is a fine example of the way the U.S.A. should be dealing with the energy crisis.
Yes! Just opening up some more drilling is like slapping a band-aid on a severed artery.
Yes! Just opening up some more drilling is like slapping a band-aid on a severed artery.
Still I would rather have the band-aid than nothing at all.
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Bella Sara Charter Superscriber
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Yes! Just opening up some more drilling is like slapping a band-aid on a severed artery.Still I would rather have the band-aid than nothing at all.
I don't see why we can't do offshore drilling in conjucture with other long term solutions. That's what bugs me - when it gets framed as an either/or solution (e.g., either do offshore drilling or invest in renewable energy. F!~! that, do both!)
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And they get 80% of their electricity from nuclear power with no accidents. France is a fine example of the way the U.S.A. should be dealing with the energy crisis.Yes! Just opening up some more drilling is like slapping a band-aid on a severed artery.
Given the improvements in modern technology and environmentally safe equipment, NOT drilling is wasting tons of economic growth potential, as well as sending the statement that we'd rather send money overseas than be self-sufficient.
The obvious retort is that alternative energy sources would result in self-sufficiency, but I argue that it will take longer to get alternative energy off the ground (in a realistic, "will replace oil" level) than it will to drill for more oil- why not use the proceeds from the domestic oil production to fund alternative energy? There's nothing that says we need to pursue only one option, and domestic drilling sends the message immediately rather than "Lets hope wind power works" and continuing to send all that money overseas.
--- Magis
Edit: looks like Sebastian and I see eye to eye.
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Sorry Fatespinner, i would beat you at this game.
If i would mention my opinion about american politics, economics, culture or whatever, i would be lynched by the mob.I am french ;)
Speaking as a 'Damn fine 'uh-Merahcan! (as I've heard it pronounced about these parts of Texas)", I love the French. You gave us Voltare and Gaston Leroux, Claude Debusy and Bizet, a-frickin'-mazing cuizine, Degas, Cezanne, and Rousseau. You gave us Jacques Tardi and Moebius, Métal Hurlant and Asterix. You gave us Le Théâtre du Grand-Guignol, so ya got that twisted thing going for ya! You didn't invent mimes, but you did turn it into a raised artform that gives us a commonality of loathing, so that actually works to your benefit. You have played very well on the international giving scorecard. I mean, you gave us Laetitia Casta... For that alone, you should all be eternally honored.
Vive la France! Vive la hot supermodel!
Don't forget the Statue of Liberty, Claude Monet, Paul Cezanne, Alexandre Dumas, Jules Verne, the Curies and chocolate eclairs!
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Yes! Just opening up some more drilling is like slapping a band-aid on a severed artery.Still I would rather have the band-aid than nothing at all.
True, drilling should not be off the table. DYK: It was Jimmy Carter that first proposed drilling in ANWR. However, we should be looking at more efficent and safer ways to generate energy for the long term. Of course if the super collider wipes all out later this month, we won't have to worry about it.
There has been a lot of discussion about what this person or that believes based on their support of one president or another. I know that those of you who believe that I am a racist, sexist, homophobic Nazi who enjoys torture and would like to turn this country into a police state, simply because I don't believe that the current president is an abomanation will never be convinced otherwise by anything I say. However I would just like to go on record as articulating what I believein my own words, so you can all judge for yourselve. I wrote this piece back in January for my blog, but I will share it with you here. It is called the Articles of Conservatism.
I) We believe that America is the greatest country in the World, because of the efforts of its people.
II) We believe that everyone is capable of great things.
III) We believe that the best solution for anyone’s problems are the ones they come up with themselves. Americans are smarter than government when it comes to their own individual needs.
IV) We believe that everyone is responsible for their own actions.
V) We believe that the greatest asset America has is freedom and it should be exported at every opportunity.
VI) We believe that government’s role is to create a climate where everyone can achieve their greatness and then get out of their way. As Thoreau said “That government is best that governs least.”
VII) We believe that the Constitution is an inspired document and the best source of knowledge about government.
VII) We believe in the rule of law and in the existence of right and wrong.
IX) We believe that taxes serve as a roadblock to economic growth and that lower taxes result in more money for the government.
X) We believe that all people have the right to worship or not worship God as they choose. Government should not dictate how or where a person may worship. A person should not demand that government or private individuals change the way that they act to accommodate that person’s beliefs.
XI) We believe that a...
Great stuff! I wish this was taught in American schools instead of the garbage that is taught now. Love your blog. I hope you keep it going.
Carter's underrated. Dude created the Department of Education AND scored himself a Nobel Peace Prize. Learning and Peace are awesome.
Agreed.
I don't know about US, but in Europe Carter is respected for his work about the treaty Egypt/Israel, efforts towards China and USSR, the energy department and his fight against death penalty.
<snip> However as a conservative </snip>What is it with us conservatives and this avatar? I'm also a conservative, BTW...
I swear I couldn't write this stuff...
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Which is why I am always amazed to find peaceniks (not saying you are or are not one, just your comment brought this to mind) playing role-playing games. I mean in most role-playing games you do all of the things these folk claim is so bad in RL. "But it is just a game." they say, but as you pointed out "Who you consider heroic and who you consider a villain say a LOT about who you are and what you stand for."
In what way? I always run 'good'-aligned characters. My PC's never torture baddies. But even if they did; it's just a game. It's a 'safe' place to get those kinds of things out of your system. I'm not saying it's evil or wrong to have daydreams where you torture that guy that cut you off in traffic and almost caused a 10-car pileup; I'm saying it's wrong to follow through on this stuff. It's wrong to do it for real; even in the name of protecting your country. It's the difference between neurosis and psychosis. Hey, I love 'torture porn' movies like Saw and Hostel. Does that mean I go to Rotten.com and get off on pictures of real decapitations and dismemberments? Absolutely not! Fictional violence can be a great form of stress relief. I don't consider myself a peacenik either. I believe that there are some things and times when a country has to defend itself or try to right a wrong. The problem is: our country has become that which we used to fight against. Where does it stop? The current administration isn't trying to hide what they consider to be valid techniques to get prisoners to talk; too bad that it has been proven that torture DOESN't work. Not to mention torturing another human being for any reason in the real world is the very definition of 'evil'. It's just worse that we got into our current situation through a lie. They tried to impeach Clinton for screwing an intern and lying about it. How many lives did that cost us? Bush freely got us into a situation where over 4000 American troops have died and for what? Oil? To avenge his father's failure against Hussein? To forcibly spread democracy into a foreign country that wants no part of it? Because god told him to do so? Wow, why hasn't he been impeached? Which evil is greater: plugging Lewinsky in the Oval Office or plugging the American people with a bait and switch paid for with American blood? And I get called crazy? Wow, what has this world come to? It's gonna suck for a lot of folks when the fever dream of righteous fury wears off and the smoke clears. How many Iraqi children have lost limbs? How many kids have lost parents? How many people have to die or get waterboarded before it's enough? Is it worth it?
Not necessarily meaning to attack you Pres Man; but this crap really pisses me off. It amazes me how many conservatives play D&D. The game is evil, remember? It features pagan gods? You can play evil characters if you want to. Doesn't that fly in the face of the Christian Conservative?
It's bad enough that I've had to live with the atrocities of the Bush Administration; but the majority of people that frequent these boards seem to think that the last 8 years have been pretty good; and that the Carter years were just a leper in the eyes of god. It's deeply disturbing to me, and rather depressing. I just wonder at what point these folks would become disturbed themselves? Public executions? Do you guys think Cheney and Dubya would be big fans of D&D? Hmmm, I doubt it.
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stuff
Depends. DO you think torture is ever justified? What did Carter do that was worse than that? I can't think of many things worse than torture. So if you think Dubya would be a fun guy to drink a beer with than no. If you think that he is a hero because he wasn't afraid to do what needed to be done in the name of national security (ie torturing prisoners to get info); then hey, if the shoe fits...
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There has been a lot of discussion about what this person or that believes based on their support of one president or another. I know that those of you who believe that I am a racist, sexist, homophobic Nazi who enjoys torture and would like to turn this country into a police state, simply because I don't believe that the current president is an abomanation will never be convinced otherwise by anything I say. However I would just like to go on record as articulating what I believein my own words, so you can all judge for yourselve. I wrote this piece back in January for my blog, but I will share it with you here. It is called the Articles of Conservatism.
I) We believe that America is the greatest country in the World, because of the efforts of its people.
II) We believe that everyone is capable of great things.
III) We believe that the best solution for anyone’s problems are the ones they come up with themselves. Americans are smarter than government when it comes to their own individual needs.
IV) We believe that everyone is responsible for their own actions.
V) We believe that the greatest asset America has is freedom and it should be exported at every opportunity.
VI) We believe that government’s role is to create a climate where everyone can achieve their greatness and then get out of their way. As Thoreau said “That government is best that governs least.”
VII) We believe that the Constitution is an inspired document and the best source of knowledge about government.
VII) We believe in the rule of law and in the existence of right and wrong.
IX) We believe that taxes serve as a roadblock to economic growth and that lower taxes result in more money for the government.
X) We believe that all people have the right to worship or not worship God as they choose. Government should not dictate how or where a person may worship. A person should not demand that government or private individuals change the way that they act to accommodate that person’s beliefs.
XI) We believe that a...
So how do you feel about the Patriot Act? It pretty much negates large parts of the Constitution.
There has been a lot of discussion about what this person or that believes based on their support of one president or another. I know that those of you who believe that I am a racist, sexist, homophobic Nazi who enjoys torture and would like to turn this country into a police state, simply because I don't believe that the current president is an abomanation will never be convinced otherwise by anything I say. However I would just like to go on record as articulating what I believein my own words, so you can all judge for yourselve. I wrote this piece back in January for my blog, but I will share it with you here. It is called the Articles of Conservatism.
Oh boy.
As a liberal I agree with a number (though not all) of you assertions. It is about the logical policy following from these positions that we likely disagree.
For example, I do not see the current administration as acting in accordance with your "Articles of Conservatism." Quite the contrary, in fact; from my point of view the President shows disdain for the Constitution and freedom at every turn (Out of curiosity, do you view the actions of President Bush as supporting your Articles?).
And I'm not sure I'd call W an abomination so much as an embarrassment and a disaster, but you're right: I doubt you could say anything that would change my mind on the matter, though I suppose it is possible. That might make me close-minded, though the best practical definition I can find for that term is "someone who disagrees with me."
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stuffDepends. DO you think torture is ever justified? What did Carter do that was worse than that? I can't think of many things worse than torture. So if you think Dubya would be a fun guy to drink a beer with than no. If you think that he is a hero because he wasn't afraid to do what needed to be done in the name of national security (ie torturing prisoners to get info); then hey, if the shoe fits...
I don't think that torture is ever justified, however I do think that you and I have different opinions about what constitutes torture. As someone who has experienced water boarding first hand (as part of my military training) I would disagree that it is torture. Is it disconcerting and upsetting, yes. Does it achieve a level that I would define as torture, no. I have been witness to actual torture as a soldier in Bosnia during the Clinton administration. Based on what I saw there I feel fairly justified in saying water boarding is not torture. Some people in this country (no one on this board that I know of) have even gone so far as to charge that denying prisoners access to cable television is torture and filed lawsuits based on that contention.
Furthermore, I do not consider George W. Bush a hero, any more than I consider Jimmy Carter a villian. I consider them both men who have their flaws and who did what they thought was best for the country. I happen to disagree with Carter's agenda, but that is what America is all about. However, both men should be admired for their willingness to serve the people of this country and accept the slings and arrows of public opinion that most of us are not willing to do.|
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So how do you feel about the Patriot Act? It pretty much negates large parts of the Constitution.Have you actually read the Patriot Act? I have and based on my study of it, there is nothing in the Patriot Act that is not in Rico laws. It is simply applied to terrorism instead of orginized crime.
People seem to forget that the Patriot Act couldn't have been passed without help *far* outside of Bush's single signature. We have this thing called Congress... they pass laws... usually they're called "Acts".
--- Magis
So how do you feel about the Patriot Act? It pretty much negates large parts of the Constitution.Have you actually read the Patriot Act? I have and based on my study of it, there is nothing in the Patriot Act that is not in Rico laws. It is simply applied to terrorism instead of orginized crime.
Which doesn't address the point at all. I wouldn't be surprised to find that chunks of RICO are unconstitutional. The question at hand is: Do you feel that the Patriot act is constitutional?
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And they get 80% of their electricity from nuclear power with no accidents. France is a fine example of the way the U.S.A. should be dealing with the energy crisis.
Yes! Just opening up some more drilling is like slapping a band-aid on a severed artery.
It was this issue that made me stop watching Lou Dobbs. I generally find him an amusing person to watch get all riled up (I don't always agree with what he's saying, but at least he's passionate about it). However, whenever this issue comes up he interrupts and shuts people down before they can actually spew something akin to a FACT, which would probably destroy the whole premise of his show. :)
How many hundreds of thousands of acres of land are already tagged for oil development in the US and aren't being touched? Why not start there?
Do you know what percentage of the US's oil needs would be satisfied by offshore drilling? Especially since it's not going to actually produce anything useable for at least seven years, and perhaps as many as 12 years? It's miniscule. The US will never be self-sufficient on oil. There are only a few countries in the world who can claim that (Canada being one).
The biggest factor in getting fuel prices down is refining capacity. When was the last time a refinery was built in the U.S.? 1976. Why won't anyone build a new refinery? It's incredibly expensive.. and what's the return for the oil company that builds it? Lower gas prices... why on earth would an oil company want lower gas prices? When you live in a "free market society" you end up being at the mercy of corporations that produce *necessary* resources for society. Of course, the necessity is energy... it just happens that so much of it comes from oil that the US (and Canada) is addicted to oil. John McCain has pared this down a bit to only say that America needs to break its dependency on *foreign* oil - missing the point entirely. The US can never do this, even if they tapped every suspect oil deposit within its reach. There just isn't enough oil in the U.S. to satisfy its demands. It's a totally unsustainable situation, and it needs to change. Drilling more oil won't fix it.
In what way? I always run 'good'-aligned characters. My PC's never torture baddies. But even if they did; it's just a game. It's a 'safe' place to get those kinds of things out of your system.
Some might argue that many of the other things that typical roleplaying characters do would be worse than torture. Whether you individual or not do it.
... too bad that it has been proven that torture DOESN't work.
What is "torture"? Is keeping someone for 20 hours straight torture? Police do that and have gotten killers to confess and provide details of their deeds using that. The problem with torture isn't that it doesn't work on the guilty is that it makes the non-guilty lie about things just to get the torture to stop. That is its greatest weakness, not only does it cause bad things for the non-guilty but it also leads the investigators down the wrong track.
Not to mention torturing another human being for any reason in the real world is the very definition of 'evil'.
It might be, but I think seeing entire city of humans killed because investigators were forced to play with the kiddie-gloves on, would be "vile". Now I am not suggesting that tearing out fingernails or something worse is acceptable, but I also don't buy that putting a pair of panties on someone's head is torture. There was this greatline in a Law-and-Order where a military personal said like, "I'll put panties on anyone's head if it means saving american lives." This is just another example of the either/or fallacy in thinking that happens too often. There is a reasonable middle ground that can be reached by ignoring people on either extreme.
It's just worse that we got into our current situation through a lie.
Except it wasn't a lie, it was an error. Unless we also want to believe that former presidents were also lying and other countries were lying and even senators of the other party from the president were also lying. Or we could just accept that all were wrong, but calling it a lie so much more emotionally fulfilling. It doesn't feel good that somethings are just errors, it doesn't fit our thinking that everything happens for a reason so we latch onto conspiracy theories because it satisfies our need to believe that there is an order out there, even if it is an order we don't agree with.
How many Iraqi children have lost limbs? How many kids have lost parents?
Yes the suicide bombers have certainly have had a huge impact on the citizens of that country. One good thing about this is that most citizens are getting disillusioned with these religious fanatics, it might be the start of something that might bring a new age of enlightenment to the arab world.
It amazes me how many conservatives play D&D. The game is evil, remember? It features pagan gods? You can play evil characters if you want to. Doesn't that fly in the face of the Christian Conservative?
Not all conservatives are "christian conservatives", it is an easy mistake to make when we don't bother to look farther than we feel comfortable with.
It's bad enough that I've had to live with the atrocities of the Bush Administration; but the majority of people that frequent these boards seem to think that the last 8 years have been pretty good; and that the Carter years were just a leper in the eyes of god. It's deeply disturbing to me, and rather depressing. I just wonder at what point these folks would become disturbed themselves? Public executions? Do you guys think Cheney and Dubya would be big fans of D&D? Hmmm, I doubt it.
I would hardly call it a majority of the people here. In fact, if anything I would wager that Paizo tends to attract alot more "liberals" than conservatives with some of their story decisions. As for being comfortable with certain things, well I always find it humorous when I see someone with a bumper sticker with something like "America is a Police State!". What is so humorous is that it is because America is not that this person can run around saying such silly things, if it was they'd be headed off to some prison camp somewhere.
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For example, I do not see the current administration as acting in accordance with your "Articles of Conservatism." Quite the contrary, in fact; from my point of view the President shows disdain for the Constitution and freedom at every turn (Out of curiosity, do you view the actions of President Bush as supporting your Articles?).And I'm not sure I'd call W an abomination so much as an embarrassment and a disaster, but you're right: I doubt you could say anything that would change my mind on the matter, though I suppose it is possible. That might make me close-minded, though the best practical definition I can find for that term is "someone who disagrees with me."
You're right, there are many things that the current administration has done that are not conservative. There are many things that Bill Clinton did that were conservative as well. I don't agree that the president has shown disdane for freedom. If you want an example of a president disdaning freedom you should look at Woodrow Wilson's behavior in World War I. My complaints are more about the way the president has been fiscally irresponsible and grown the size and scope of government. It may be suprising to some, but I often find common ground with liberals, when they start to move to the right of course.
stuffDepends. DO you think torture is ever justified? What did Carter do that was worse than that? I can't think of many things worse than torture. So if you think Dubya would be a fun guy to drink a beer with than no. If you think that he is a hero because he wasn't afraid to do what needed to be done in the name of national security (ie torturing prisoners to get info); then hey, if the shoe fits...
The thing is Chucky is that we have not tortured anyone. That is what of the major fallacies that keeps getting pushed by the left wing that is simply not true.