Margaret did we really expect anything less? Religious intolerance has defined the Republican Party for almost 30 years now. A culture of life. Family values. America’s Christian Heritage. The sanctity of marriage. Gays in the military. Prayer in school. A mosque in Manhattan. For goodness sakes, the current leaders of the Republican Party (Palin, Limbaugh, and Beck) have been screaming about a Muslim family in the White House for months now. It was only a matter of time before someone called for a good ‘ole fashion book burning. Does it really matter if that book is the Quran instead of The Catcher in the Rye?
There is just one thing I haven’t been able to figure out yet. How many more groups of people does the Republican Party have to hate before its members finally call for a new platform? Those signs they carry at their rallies are getting pretty full. The print will have to be pretty small at the next Beck rally to fit God Hates Gays, Jews, Blacks, Muslims, Clinton (him and her), the Liberal Media, Obama, Pelosi, French Fries, Activists Judges, Environmentalists, Feminists, Mexicans, and small puppies. Maybe they can just print up a sign that simply says God Hates Everyone Who Isn’t Like Me.
And trust me Margaret. The minute Matthew puts this on that web page blog of ours, a bunch of jack-asses are going to tell us that God hates us too and we shouldn’t generalize all Republicans like that. Well all I have to say is if it quacks like a Duck and sets a Quran on fire then it must be a Republican.
If you vote Republican today, what exactly are you voting for? It’s certainly not smaller government. If you vote Republican today you are telling “Pastor” Terry Jones that fifty religious fanatics are more important than any chance for world peace. You are telling Sarah Palin that when it comes to the presidency – pretty is more important than smart. You are telling Glenn Beck that honesty isn’t really necessary if you have your own cable news show on Fox. You are telling Michele Bachmann that hearing voices in your head isn’t cause for alarm. Hell, if you vote Republican today you might as well just shove a few more dollars in Rush Limbaugh’s pockets and a few more pills in his mouth. It’s all very entertaining, I’ll give you that. But considering what they did when we gave them the keys to the car the last time, are you really ready to put them behind the wheel again so soon? I’m just not sure there are that many more countries we can bomb, world religions we can vilify and oil wells we can drill before the rest of the world calls us on our bullshit.
Here’s a thought. If Pastor Jones is so dead set on burning a book he should just wait until The George Bush Memoirs come out. After all, everyone knows the only thing God loves more than a good book burning is a burning Bush.
If the Democrats can’t muster enough votes to beat this bunch of yahoos then we deserve what we get on November 3rd. Besides, Harold said we could move to Canada and you know how much I love Anne Murray.
Vote Republican and burn a Quran. Same difference. I mean it really.
Margaret and Helen 
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By: Joe on January 31, 2011
at 6:52 AM
“Well all I have to say is if it quacks like a Duck and sets a Quran on fire then it must be a Republican. ”
This blog could not be more perfect. Margaret and Helen are my new heroes.
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By: sara on October 24, 2010
at 12:45 PM
[…] It’s odd, isn’t it? She and her buddies can’t find separation of church and state in the First Ammendment, yet somehow they’ve found this exact phrase in the Bible “The Tea Party will hate all African Americans, Asians, , gays, Jews, Muslims, Obama, Environmenta… […]
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By: Christine O’Donnell Refudicates Gravity, Atoms, Electricity and Tuesday « Snoring Dog Studio on October 21, 2010
at 7:11 AM
[…] God Loves A Good Book Burning […]
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By: Margaret and Helen | themcglynn.com/theliberal.net on October 9, 2010
at 9:42 AM
[…] old, although NPR is doing a fascinating series on them this week. Fortunately, I’ve got Helen to write about this in a much more effective manner than I […]
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By: Fall and it all « Questions and Anchors on September 19, 2010
at 5:18 PM
Just LOVE you gals!!
Awesome blog as always!!!
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By: Tracy on September 17, 2010
at 7:57 PM
I am leaving for awhile, and I will tell you why after I take a shot at Jean.
Jean, you certainly are accomplished, but if your posts are any indication, your mind has ossified since then. Your perspicacity is lacking, and you should have noticed I had already appollogized to Donna. Your being in a class for talented and gifted doesn’t impress me. I was too, and I’m not that smart.
This is why I am taking a vacation.
Last winter, my wife and I joined the Town and Country Arts organization as part of a voter insurgency to remove the president and board of directors who were alienating members.
This summer, we learned how the Republicans must feel under the Tea party onslaught. The ousted president re- appointed the fired directors and appointed new officers. She announced shadow meetings and gave notice our meetings were canceled. She even canceled our lawn service. It became a battle of public announcements.
Her group declared themselves the true TCA, and served papers firing us from our various offices. Our group changed the locks so hers couldn’t use the old Masonic Hall we own. Her group changed the locks to shut us out. We got an injunction and changed the locks again. They tried to get a court order banning us from our headquarters.
They took over the web site and changed the password. The former president applied and got a new tax free id number which needed to be done to accomodate a new tax law. We had to apply for another.
The ex- president, a retired art professor, is related to the owner of most of the county’s banks. Thanks to that relationship and the TCA’s and shadow organization’s counter claims our bank account has been frozen.
We can’t pay our bills, and have had to cancel two plays and a fall festival. The lawyer donated $700 to the TCA so it can keep functioning.
This will probably go to court, and we may be testifying. The ex- president is dragging her feet because she is running for public office and would rather let it simmer for awhile. There has been little communication with her lawyer.
The IRS and Iowa Department of Revenue are also involved and want an audit.
Our lawyer thinks we will win eventually, but he doesn’t explain what “eventually” means. The leadership change has brought in many new members and association with folks in a Nebraska town. They are furious because the plays are canceled, and it is only a matter of time before county members also get fed up.
My wife and I wonder what possessed us to get involved with this soap opera. We don’t control policy and we shake our heads at how this has gotten so far out of hand.
At least we are getting to know the county attorney and several lawyers better. I also know how it feels to have papers served on me. Maybe we will be on each others’ Christmas lists.
There is a lot more, but I don’t want to bore you more than I already have.
Now, that I am feeling better, I have a lot of work to do around the farm. That also includes a refrigerator filled with pears.
So, to anyone who actually reads this, you understand why I don’t need artificial drama of a message board, when the real thing is all around me. I’m taking a vacation.
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By: James on September 16, 2010
at 1:40 PM
No tearing down today! New post, new day. Like you, my college experience was marketing, albeit many moons ago. I do own a small business. The climate is very tough for a lot of small businesses right now – especially a construction business that isn’t rebuilding someplace we sent all our favorite ordnance in first to pave the way.
😉
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By: poolman on September 16, 2010
at 1:00 PM
Still tearing each other down?
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By: longhorn on September 16, 2010
at 11:05 AM
Princess Donna –
I had a few minutes this morning to briefly scan some old posts; I didn’t realize you were a Jewess! Delightful! I have some observations for you to comment upon when I get the time to put them together. Don’t have time right now, though; big lightning storm just took out my business network and I have a lot to do to get back online, but it appears my offhand comment about your name being similar to my friend, the Real Princess Donna, might have been closer than I thought!
no mas, te
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By: PFesser on September 16, 2010
at 9:47 AM
what an awesome post!
….I think I love you gals… 🙂
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By: ridemybike on September 16, 2010
at 7:26 AM
Hi congenial Gang,
I sneezed this morning – twice.
I got the sniffles this afternoon.
I must be coming down with something dreadful.
Aloha! 🙂 Namaste. Shalom.
Auntie Jean
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on September 16, 2010
at 12:26 AM
Tonight’s my first visit to your blog and I laughed so hard I ruptured something. Keep ’em coming!
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By: Nurse Kelley on September 15, 2010
at 10:50 PM
Oh, Donna ~~ I just realized who the pLesser (yes, that letter “L” is on purpose) reminds me of: the obnoxious personality on the TV show “House”. My own daughter, also named Donna, loves that show. I find his character almost as abrasive as the most “cybervocal” guy on here. (one of them, anyway)
I know he doesn’t get under your skin. Just wanted you to know you’ve always got a friend here……one who has learned to admire you a great deal.
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By: claire on September 15, 2010
at 8:44 PM
I am pretty sure God loves us all. When I read your blog posts, I am pretty sure God loves you just a little bit more each time.
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By: Cindyloo on September 15, 2010
at 8:07 PM
I can handle the concept, pfesser. It’s just that most men who are particularly interesting outgrow that phase pretty early. Someone like jsri who actually has what appears to be a multi-faceted relationship with his beloved wife has much more to him than the superficiality in which you apparently bask.
What is fascinating to me is how when you are asked to give examples, your response is “I won’t do your research.” Yet, when you are told the same thing, it’s “I take that as a ‘no.'”
Oh–and the comment about women in medicine? How is it that your professed comings and goings into medicine are any different or any better?
While you appear to think quite highly of yourself, I have yet to read an observation from you that I thought was particularly trenchant, insightful, humorous, or anything other than self-aggrandizing. It’s just a circle jerk with you and Craig. And the money shot isn’t at all sexy.
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By: Donna on September 15, 2010
at 7:37 PM
PFesser on September 14, 2010 at 9:46 PM You’ll find my responses to your questions in {….} My original comments are in quotation marks “…..”
“given your predilection for making dismissive and patronizing comments”
Can you give examples?
{Go back and read your previous posts}
I’ll take that as a no.
“you are the brightest person in the universe, (you have reminded us of the fact many times over)”
OK – I’ll make it easy: can you give ONE example?
{Go back and read your previous posts}
I’ll take that as a no.
“a few malcontents like you”
You are mistaken. I am perfectly happy.
{It doesn’t show.}
It doesn’t need to show. It’s internal.
“a lot of contributors here think the blogosphere would be better served if you retreated to a cave somewhere.”
Sorry – that’s my call. I decline. Next topic.
{It is also the call of a lot of posters here}
No it’s not. Not in the least. RTFM and guess again.
“to think that you might be practicing medicine is truly frightening”
Why is that?
{Because you remind me of the doc who was doing jail time the last I heard. Same attitude}
Non sequitur. Think! Think! Use your head for something besides a hat rack and try again!
“Your recent offering (PFesser on September 13, 2010 at 1:08 PM) about your history is a case in point. You’re correct, it is not that impressive”
That post was a mistake on my part. I let someone piss me off. Won’t happen again.
{Good grief! I thought you were always in control.}
I am now.
“And I have too much respect for my wife to express a wish for the same carnal desires you seem to be seeking.”
Are you talking about having sex with a hot black girl? Who said my wife wouldn’t be involved?
{There are too many bizarre scenarios to imagine here. Try to be more explicit for a change. Perhaps a picture of your wife?}
Sorry. You and Princess Donna can’t even handle the concept; how could you possibly handle the reality?
“And I have no desire to get involved in the sort of illicit activities that others might find attractive.”
It’s only illicit if you hide it.
{And you are proud of your porn work?}
I am. And I made a lot of money doing it; I like that part, too. Paid for a Caribbean cruise and didn’t even have to dip into my investments. Sex sells. Remember that.
“I’ve done construction work, operated some impressive equipment, driven a truck for a living and raced stock cars in my youth, (racing motorcycles is for potential organ donors)”
I know. That’s what makes it exciting!
{I once dropped my bike when a truck backed out of a blind driveway. Plowed up about fifty feet of pavement with my helmet. Did you do something similar without your helmet?}
No, I’m a better rider than you.
“My most significant failure has to do with my inability, as a premed advisor at the university where I taught, to encourage more women to go into medicine.”
Having taught many student physicians, I have mixed feelings about female doctors. Some are good; some are not; a high percentage are paralyzed with fear at making decisions – like the general surgeon at the hospital where I now work. Most never practice for a full career; kids and family get in the way, and those women take up med school positions that men would have had – and practiced a lifetime. A real waste of State resources in many cases. Some women do just fine, many do not.
{Mine have done fine work}
Some do, many do not. Vide supra.
“She listened and I’m still here.”
You had a life-threatening disorder?
{Yup}
Sorry to hear that. Glad you did well. I mean that.
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By: PFesser on September 15, 2010
at 7:25 PM
jsri, who cares? Nobody cares.
Please, get your own blog.
Take Craig with you.
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By: Ted on September 15, 2010
at 4:16 PM
PFesser on September 14, 2010 at 9:46 PM You’ll find my responses to your questions in {….} My original comments are in quotation marks “…..”
“given your predilection for making dismissive and patronizing comments”
Can you give examples?
{Go back and read your previous posts}
“you are the brightest person in the universe, (you have reminded us of the fact many times over)”
OK – I’ll make it easy: can you give ONE example?
{Go back and read your previous posts}
“a few malcontents like you”
You are mistaken. I am perfectly happy.
{It doesn’t show.}
“a lot of contributors here think the blogosphere would be better served if you retreated to a cave somewhere.”
Sorry – that’s my call. I decline. Next topic.
{It is also the call of a lot of posters here}
“to think that you might be practicing medicine is truly frightening”
Why is that?
{Because you remind me of the doc who was doing jail time the last I heard. Same attitude}
“Your recent offering (PFesser on September 13, 2010 at 1:08 PM) about your history is a case in point. You’re correct, it is not that impressive”
That post was a mistake on my part. I let someone piss me off. Won’t happen again.
{Good grief! I thought you were always in control.}
“And I have too much respect for my wife to express a wish for the same carnal desires you seem to be seeking.”
Are you talking about having sex with a hot black girl? Who said my wife wouldn’t be involved?
{There are too many bizarre scenarios to imagine here. Try to be more explicit for a change. Perhaps a picture of your wife?}
“And I have no desire to get involved in the sort of illicit activities that others might find attractive.”
It’s only illicit if you hide it.
{And you are proud of your porn work?}
“I’ve done construction work, operated some impressive equipment, driven a truck for a living and raced stock cars in my youth, (racing motorcycles is for potential organ donors)”
I know. That’s what makes it exciting!
{I once dropped my bike when a truck backed out of a blind driveway. Plowed up about fifty feet of pavement with my helmet. Did you do something similar without your helmet?}
“My most significant failure has to do with my inability, as a premed advisor at the university where I taught, to encourage more women to go into medicine.”
Having taught many student physicians, I have mixed feelings about female doctors. Some are good; some are not; a high percentage are paralyzed with fear at making decisions – like the general surgeon at the hospital where I now work. Most never practice for a full career; kids and family get in the way, and those women take up med school positions that men would have had – and practiced a lifetime. A real waste of State resources in many cases. Some women do just fine, many do not.
{Mine have done fine work}
“She listened and I’m still here.”
You had a life-threatening disorder?
{Yup}
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By: jsri on September 15, 2010
at 4:14 PM
you need to put a “share” button on this blog so i can share it on facebook! you girls are brilliant!
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By: Shelley on September 15, 2010
at 11:33 AM
Helen, will you marry me? You are a godsend.
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By: Fragrant Liar on September 15, 2010
at 9:40 AM
Hi all –
Interesting take on the primaries from Daily Caller:
“It’s official,” writes The Daily Caller’s Jon Ward. “The Tea Party takeover of the Republican Party is in full effect.” Washington’s Republican insiders can gnash their teeth all they want, but they can’t turn back this tide by working their jaws. ”
I do not think this bodes well for the Republicans in November. Many, many of the TP candidates are really far out, and I don’t think (thank god) they can carry the day in the general election.
It seems to me they never learn. The average American – if there is such a thing – is pretty much middle-of-the-road. They won’t vote for the socialists, but if the only other choice is a right-wing reactionary, they *definitely* won’t vote for *him.*
I may be wrong, but I am in serious doubt about the “rout” predicted for November.
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By: PFesser on September 15, 2010
at 7:29 AM
It really is about the “funny”, isn’t it?
🙂
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By: Victoria M. on September 15, 2010
at 6:42 AM
By: Mark Soberon on September 14, 2010
at 5:42 PM
My god you commentors are a bunch of losers.
COMMENT on the blog. NOBODY CARES ABOUT YOUR LIFE!
Just follow my lead:
GREAT POST HELEN! You rock! I agree with you 100%
Looking forward to your next post!
———————————————————
EXACTLY. If we wanted melodrama we would watch the soaps.
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By: wayside616 on September 15, 2010
at 5:28 AM
Yes Auntie Jean!!!
See Folks…She gets the FUNNY!!!!!
🙂
Brilliant Comment, AJ!
Must be Helen’s soul mate…
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By: Jack H. on September 15, 2010
at 5:26 AM
Auntie Jean:
You can’t even begin to imagine how tickled I am that we share the same opinion of Donna.
Nor can you imagine how I’ve enjoyed every post you’ve ever written on this site: but none as much as the one you’ve just posted!!
Peace ♥
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By: claire on September 14, 2010
at 10:32 PM
Hi Congenial Gang, Pfessor and James,
Gee, when I was putting up my comment yesterday about my laundry list of accomplishments, I failed to mention a few things. Maybe MCI (Mild Cognitive Impairment) is setting in?
Yes, James, I was in “special classes” – for the gifted. I forgot to add that when I went to kindergarten it was at the University of Colorado in 1933. That pesky MCI thingy again.
However, I really didn’t think that this kind of subject matter was either desirable or appropriate for a political blog, obviously frequented by a gaggle of unwashed liberals.
(I did shower, wash my hair and brush my teeth again this morning though!)
I also forgot to mention the years I spent in basic scientific Research in Physiological Psychology at five institutions of higher learning; hunched over and memorizing the three dimensional co-ordinates of the Stereotaxic Atlas and subsequent Stereotaxic Surgery to implant electrodes in the brains of laboratory rats; specifically into the medial forebrain bundle, the dorsal hippocampus and the lateral hypothalamus. And of course, the necessary histologies following the surgeries.
Oops! I also omitted the theory I had developed into the function(s) of the Endocrine Gland, the Pineal Body. (That is the Epiphysis in the brain, not the Epiphysis in the bone.) Some of my colleagues are still working on it gathering data.
BTW, the Pineal Body’s one and only discovered (so far) hormone floating around in the blood stream is melatonin, responsible for possibly a secondary characteristics of its function; that is: the pigmentation of skin, eyes, hair, etc. (A secondary characteristic of the male hormone, testosterone, is facial hair – a beard.) Whatever melatonin’s primary function may be is still somewhat unknown. Further, there may very well be other Pineal Body hormones as well as far as we know.
That one little hormone sure has always caused plenty of controversy hasn’t it.
I did write up my theory along with its accompanying mathematical theory, in lengthy book form and submitted it for publication. It has been reviewed by the NIH. At the time there was not the technology to test it thoroughly. I went so far as to go to Washington in person to have the manuscript copyrighted. I withdrew it from publication because I didn’t have enough hard data to support it. It does have the potential for sensationalism and exploitation that my personal scientific ethic does not allow. Ergo, from Mary Shelley’s FICTIONAL, “Frankenstein” to Michael Crichton’s FICTIONAL “Jurassic Park”. My NON-FICTION original copy, along with several other copies is in our Trust and perhaps my heirs will someday find out if my theories have been supported.
Not many beside jsri on M&H know anything about Rosalind Franklin who did most of the grunt leg work on DNA prior to Watson and Crick stepping up to garner all the credit.
What was that again, James about “small minded women” such as Donna? I personally rank her right up there with Sandra Day O’Connor, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor.
Aloha! 🙂 Namaste. Shalom.
Auntie Jean
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on September 14, 2010
at 10:09 PM
PFesser on September 14, 2010 at 2:20 PM
“given your predilection for making dismissive and patronizing comments”
Can you give examples?
“you are the brightest person in the universe, (you have reminded us of the fact many times over)”
OK – I’ll make it easy: can you give ONE example?
“a few malcontents like you”
You are mistaken. I am perfectly happy.
“a lot of contributors here think the blogosphere would be better served if you retreated to a cave somewhere.”
Sorry – that’s my call. I decline. Next topic.
“to think that you might be practicing medicine is truly frightening”
Why is that?
“Your recent offering (PFesser on September 13, 2010 at 1:08 PM) about your history is a case in point. You’re correct, it is not that impressive”
That post was a mistake on my part. I let someone piss me off. Won’t happen again.
“And I have too much respect for my wife to express a wish for the same carnal desires you seem to be seeking.”
Are you talking about having sex with a hot black girl? Who said my wife wouldn’t be involved?
“And I have no desire to get involved in the sort of illicit activities that others might find attractive.”
It’s only illicit if you hide it.
“I’ve done construction work, operated some impressive equipment, driven a truck for a living and raced stock cars in my youth, (racing motorcycles is for potential organ donors)”
I know. That’s what makes it exciting!
“As for flying , been there, done that. I once held C-ASMEL-I, AGI certificates though I quit flying 35 years ago, before the advent of glass cockpits and GPS to take all the work out of it. I quit because I could no longer afford keep current.”
Yep, the expense really sucks. Talk to your government; they are the ones that make you meet all those ridiculous, expensive requirements. I just did an owner-assisted annual inspection. $350. It was $1250 last year, when the A&P mechanic did it all. And I had to re-do much of his work because he screwed the airplane up so much it was dangerous. I am not exaggerating. Dangerous. My previous experiences that you find “not impressive,” – which included building an airplane, allowed me to find and correct his errors, possibly saving my wife and kids’ lives. Sometimes “not impressive” things really do matter, don’t they?
“My most significant failure has to do with my inability, as a premed advisor at the university where I taught, to encourage more women to go into medicine.”
Having taught many student physicians, I have mixed feelings about female doctors. Some are good; some are not; a high percentage are paralyzed with fear at making decisions – like the general surgeon at the hospital where I now work. Most never practice for a full career; kids and family get in the way, and those women take up med school positions that men would have had – and practiced a lifetime. A real waste of State resources in many cases. Some women do just fine, many do not.
“She listened and I’m still here.”
You had a life-threatening disorder?
“And the doc with the six month waiting list? His most commonly prescribed medication was codeine and he soon lost his license to practice.”
Yep. Happens. A hazard of the profession. That’s too bad. Always hate to hear of that.
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By: PFesser on September 14, 2010
at 9:46 PM
PFesser, I never even noticed that, even after it was posted, I really should check my spelling and punctuation. Now I’ll think plums and PEARS all night.
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By: no one's puppet on September 14, 2010
at 9:24 PM
JSRI,
I agree with you.
“Believe me when I say this, but I am the one who is blessed. My wife is one in a million and I know it. I know a lot of guys never talk about their wives and perhaps I talk too much about her but no one has had a greater influence on me than she has and I’m the first to admit that.”
Regards,
CR
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By: Craig on September 14, 2010
at 9:15 PM
Thanks to TWO Republican senators, a senate filibuster on a small business aid bill has been prevented! THANK YOU, senators Voinovich and LeMieux!
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By: delurkergurl on September 14, 2010
at 8:47 PM
“Poor you Craig, finally figured out who you are, Joe the Plummer. Sorry about those imaginary millions.”
Craig – you stinker! You didn’t tell me you had started picking fruit! I thought you were going to fix pipes!
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By: PFesser on September 14, 2010
at 8:42 PM
Crack ‘er open NOP! I’ll put on more popcorn….want extra cayenne this time?
I’m gonna raise rabbits. Chickens soon! Been saving egg cartons for the past few years instead of putting ’em in the compost pile. Times are tuff here in the valley of the sun!
Don’t think you watched the movie longhorn. 🙄
Got a meeting to attend..guess I’ll check in before I hit the sack!
Peace ya’ll 😀
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By: azgrandma on September 14, 2010
at 7:29 PM
You know Donna, there are people like that everywhere, in my real life, I have to keep a straight face, so I don’t seem like a jerk, but honestly where do they come up with this crap? The “witty” flirting thing was old school, stereotypical of the nineteen-fifties, I seem to remember the same “joke” from black and white TV.
I just can’t imagine a female physician marring down, maybe that’s my hangup, but….
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By: no one's puppet on September 14, 2010
at 7:09 PM
No One’s Puppet: what about how many imaginary men were in Craig’s imaginary wife’s imaginary medical school? Or about the snappy sexual repartee between pfesser and someone 20 years ago? Fascinated by that?
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By: Donna on September 14, 2010
at 6:58 PM
Anonymous
You must have heard that Cuba suggested people without jobs to start raising bunnies!
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By: longhorn on September 14, 2010
at 6:28 PM
I worried all night about the pears.
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By: no one's puppet on September 14, 2010
at 6:04 PM
You didn’t care about the pears?
I am on the floor laughing.
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By: Donna on September 14, 2010
at 5:56 PM
My god you commentors are a bunch of losers.
COMMENT on the blog. NOBODY CARES ABOUT YOUR LIFE!
Just follow my lead:
GREAT POST HELEN! You rock! I agree with you 100%
Looking forward to your next post!
LikeLike
By: Mark Soberon on September 14, 2010
at 5:42 PM
It would seen that Homo Sapiens Sapiens has evolved to a point where we stand on the threshold of destruction of our species if not of the entire planet earth.
The deep devisivness we display is to be expected at a time like this.
I believe we cannot survice another Republican administration. The greed of corporate America is eating away at the very foundations of civilization.
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By: G. G. Vadnais on September 14, 2010
at 5:23 PM
Guess, I’ll just sit here and watch, time and time again some nut shows up to “educate” us, they always fail, and frankly they just plain bore me. Pass the popcorn azgrandma, care for a cold brew?
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By: no one's puppet on September 14, 2010
at 5:12 PM
Delurkergurl
Are you a small business owner?
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By: longhorn on September 14, 2010
at 4:47 PM
Thanks Craig for the salary info.
I keep wondering how these Congressmen (like Charles Rangel) have become millionaires which getting kick backs.
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By: longhorn on September 14, 2010
at 4:46 PM
Fortunately for you hard working, well off, soon to be entrepreneurs, the Democrats feel for your fear of tax hikes impeding your ability to hire once the Bush tax cuts expire as planned by your party. They are proposing tax cuts for small business owners to partially offset the tax increases. It is actually incentive for job creators, unlike the Bush tax cuts which allowed greedy folks to keep more of the profit at the expense of consumers and employees. Not all well-off folks are like that, of course, but EVERY unemployed person I know is a victim of greedy business owners and corporations. They do want to work, but the business owners who have had a nice long tax break aren’t creating jobs despite the tax situation they have had – they are not fostering an economy that is healthy for all.
So do be sure to let your party of NO know how you’ll feel when they filibuster this pro-economy measure.
And PS to JSRI – I really respect sincerely good men like you. You have a great night.
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By: Delurkergurl on September 14, 2010
at 4:29 PM
I’m a bunny rabbit.
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By: Anonymous on September 14, 2010
at 4:25 PM
“Money is key to unethical politicians or in the private sector. Doesn’t mean that capitalism is wrong.”
I’ve always wondered why someone would go into politics..supposedly the pay is so low.
Congress: Rank-and-File Members’ Salary
The current salary (2008) for rank-and-file members of the House and Senate is $169,300 per year.
Members are free to turn down pay increase and some choose to do so.
In a complex system of calculations, administered by the Office of Personnel Management, congressional pay rates also affect the salaries for federal judges and other senior government executives.
During the Constitutional Convention, Benjamin Franklin considered proposing that elected government officials not be paid for their service. Other Founding Fathers, however, decided otherwise.
From 1789 to 1815, members of Congress received only a per diem (daily payment) of $6.00 while in session. Members began receiving an annual salary in 1815, when they were paid $1,500 per year.
***********NOW TODAY********************
Congress: Leadership Members’ Salary (110th Congress)
Leaders of the House and Senate are paid a higher salary than rank-and-file members.
Senate Leadership
Majority Leader – $188,100
Minority Leader – $188,100
House Leadership
Speaker of the House – $217,400
Majority Leader – $188,100
Minority Leader – $188,100
A cost-of-living-adjustment (COLA) increase takes effect annually unless Congress votes to not accept it.
Congress: Benefits
You may have read that Members of Congress do not pay into Social Security. Well, that’s a myth.
Prior to 1984, neither Members of Congress nor any other federal civil service employee paid Social Security taxes. Of course, the were also not eligible to receive Social Security benefits. Members of Congress and other federal employees were instead covered by a separate pension plan called the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). The 1983 amendments to the Social Security Act required federal employees first hired after 1983 to participate in Social Security. These amendments also required all Members of Congress to participate in Social Security as of January 1, 1984, regardless of when they first entered Congress. Because the CSRS was not designed to coordinate with Social Security, Congress directed the development of a new retirement plan for federal workers. The result was the Federal Employees’ Retirement System Act of 1986.
Members of Congress receive retirement and health benefits under the same plans available to other federal employees. They become vested after five years of full participation.
Members elected since 1984 are covered by the Federal Employees’ Retirement System (FERS). Those elected prior to 1984 were covered by the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). In 1984 all members were given the option of remaining with CSRS or switching to FERS.
As it is for all other federal employees, congressional retirement is funded through taxes and the participants’ contributions. Members of Congress under FERS contribute 1.3 percent of their salary into the FERS retirement plan and pay 6.2 percent of their salary in Social Security taxes.
Members of Congress are not eligible for a pension until they reach the age of 50, but only if they’ve completed 20 years of service. Members are eligible at any age after completing 25 years of service or after they reach the age of 62. Please also note that Member’s of Congress have to serve at least 5 years to even receive a pension.
The amount of a Congressperson’s pension depends on the years of service and the average of the highest 3 years of his or her salary. By law, the starting amount of a Member’s retirement annuity may not exceed 80% of his or her final salary.
According to the Congressional Research Service, 413 retired Members of Congress were receiving federal pensions based fully or in part on their congressional service as of Oct. 1, 2006. Of this number, 290 had retired under CSRS and were receiving an average annual pension of $60,972. A total of 123 Members had retired with service under both CSRS and FERS or with service under FERS only. Their average annual pension was $35,952 in 2006.
Sources: http://usgovinfo.about.com/library/weekly/aa031200a.htm
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By: Craig on September 14, 2010
at 4:23 PM
MUFON
The Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) is an American non-profit organization that investigates cases of reported UFO sightings. It is one of the oldest and largest UFO-investigative organizations in the United States.
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By: Craig on September 14, 2010
at 4:18 PM
Anonymous are you a member of MUFON ?
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By: Craig on September 14, 2010
at 4:17 PM
Anonymous
Why haven’t you opened your own practice?
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By: longhorn on September 14, 2010
at 4:13 PM
I’ve been unemployed since the early 80s. Does anyone here know of someone in need of a good ufologist?
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By: Anonymous on September 14, 2010
at 4:09 PM
poolman
Sure money is every important. If people believe their own press, then money, control, and power start to control them. If politicians stay in their offices too long, then they can become more possesses to have all these.
What do you believe causes people to start out idealist then sell their soul for all the above?
I have a marketing degree. All politicians are marketed.
Money is key to unethical politicians or in the private sector. Doesn’t mean that capitalism is wrong. Just means the people who participated in unethical behavior is wrong – in the private sector or government.
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By: longhorn on September 14, 2010
at 4:08 PM
CoalmostNative
1. You are right. Private industries don’t put their budges on the Internet, but they don’t obtain their money from taxpayers. We need some way to hold the government accountable for their spending. The government has failed.
2. Businesses are trying to make a profit. What is government doing? Spending our money?
3. Are we still a democracy? The President is side stepping the Congress on numerous issues. He doesn’t seem to accept the rules of our government, but seems to be above our constitution. We are to have a check and balance system, but it has failed because it wasn’t respected. Where is the transparency?
4. Quick Judgements by the Administration:
a. Shirley Sherrod – fired before checking out the facts
b. Policeman vs Professor – took the professor’s side before knowing the facts
c. NYC Mosque – questions regarding funding now
5. Where are your facts regarding Haliburton and Chaney?
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By: longhorn on September 14, 2010
at 3:58 PM
I’ll make the popcorn for ya Longhorn! 😀
You like it with a little garlic salt and cayenne? 😉
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By: azgrandma on September 14, 2010
at 3:53 PM
jsri,
In 1972 when my wife interviewed for medical school she had to take her engagement ring off.
Then the Old fart doctor propped his feet up on the desk with his orange crush and asked her..
“so little lady why do you want to be a doctor?”
At her Med school where she teaches that’s a thing of the past. I work out there part time and see about equal numbers of opposite sex’s represented.
There are more of is Foreign Residents and medical students showing up. Ask them and they will say that the American license is a ticket for them to print money. At least that’s what two Indian Residents told me two weeks ago.
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By: Craig on September 14, 2010
at 3:49 PM
jsri…
Now after your castigation of the Pfessor for his carnal longings…
Just remember…
Jimmy Carter lusted in his heart…
And Bill Clinton just carried them a lil farther.
Just depends on your definition of “what sex is”.
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By: Craig on September 14, 2010
at 3:38 PM
longhorn,
I’ll give you another chance. I hate no one, only evil. You just seem naive, but that is okay. We have all been there, and really, the intention of the ruling peoples is to keep us that way. Understand first that the battle is for your mind. Once they have your mind, you will be no threat to their prosperity. I mentioned a movie I think would be of value to you. It doesn’t support the right or the left, but shows what marketing has done to us all. Here’s the link: http://www.archive.org/details/Psywar_277 It’s an hour forty minutes that will be a worthwhile use of your time, imo. Once you get past dissin’ the politicians and understand that money controls it all, you’re on your way to enlightenment. Bon voyage!
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By: poolman on September 14, 2010
at 3:31 PM
By: longhorn on September 14, 2010
at 2:55 PM
“wayside616
Actually, I have knowledge regarding contractors and engineering. How many companies were willing to go in and do the job?”
That’s difficult to say when so many Haliburton/KBR contracts were awarded on a no bid basis.
“Whose fault was the overpayment? The government. They should have a check and balance system just like private industry. They should know what is reasonable.”
It’s amazing you see absolutely no impropriety when the Vice President’s former company is caught overcharging you and me by millions of dollars yet you call the Obama administration “corrupt.” You see no double standard there?
“The people being hired by Haliburton were at great risk. To get anyone to even go into the area, you are going to have to pay $$$ for the risk.’
I fail to see what this has to do with anything. What point are you trying to make? A corrupt company hired people for a risky job…this proves exactly what?
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By: wayside616 on September 14, 2010
at 3:29 PM
How about THAT, Mr. Fung!
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By: Anonymous on September 14, 2010
at 3:25 PM
PFesser on September 14, 2010 at 2:20 PM
Almost 60 years ago I learned from my wife that it is possible to disagree without being disagreeable but I have to admit that I have backslid a lot lately. Nevertheless, it is something you might consider given your predilection for making dismissive and patronizing comments to or about those with whom you have issues. There is no doubt that you are the brightest person in the universe, (you have reminded us of the fact many times over), but your condescending attitude toward others is not guaranteed to attract a lot of supporters. If you think otherwise, set up your own blog and see what sort of an audience it attracts. I’d predict somewhere between one and zero followers.
Yes, H&M’s blog is political to its core but, in the past, slack times were filled with other subjects for discussion and, prior to a few months ago, most disagreements were impersonal. However, it could be argued that many people who are no longer posting here quickly tired of the new level of heat generated by a few malcontents like you and simply turned away. It’s pretty obvious that a lot of contributors here think the blogosphere would be better served if you retreated to a cave somewhere. Your social ineptitude is staggering and to think that you might be practicing medicine is truly frightening.
Your recent offering (PFesser on September 13, 2010 at 1:08 PM) about your history is a case in point. You’re correct, it is not that impressive. Though I’ve not mined coal or gone to medical school or gotten another engineering degree, I’ve had complementary experiences just as extensive as yours, some similar some different. And I have too much respect for my wife to express a wish for the same carnal desires you seem to be seeking. I guess that’s why we are still happy in our first marriage 57 years later. And I have no desire to get involved in the sort of illicit activities that others might find attractive.
I’ve done construction work, operated some impressive equipment, driven a truck for a living and raced stock cars in my youth, (racing motorcycles is for potential organ donors). As for flying , been there, done that. I once held C-ASMEL-I, AGI certificates though I quit flying 35 years ago, before the advent of glass cockpits and GPS to take all the work out of it. I quit because I could no longer afford keep current.
My most significant failure has to do with my inability, as a premed advisor at the university where I taught, to encourage more women to go into medicine. It has been my personal observation that female physicians listen more, preach less and are less likely to jump into a diagnosis. When I began having serious medical issues almost 30 years ago, we had just moved to a new community. The first doctor recommended to me stalled me off and said I’d have to wait six months for an appointment with him. A young woman, after a 2 year post doc in research, had just opened a practice in town and took me on immediately. It was the best medical decision I have ever made. She listened and I’m still here. And the doc with the six month waiting list? His most commonly prescribed medication was codeine and he soon lost his license to practice.
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By: jsri on September 14, 2010
at 3:15 PM
no one’s puppet
Bush shouldn’t have started the stimulus program! Once it started ….. it continued to grows and hasn’t finished. Bush and Obama have the same advisors – some have never worked in private industry.
If we had to have a stimulus, why didn’t we help the people keep their houses instead of giving it to big business that should have failed? After all, we let the government give people the option to have 100% financing on their houses. People are going to take advantage. Where were we?
The country didn’t go belly up under Bush. The country is in the process of going belly up under Obama.
Both Presidents are at fault and had bad advises taking care of their friends – not looking after the country.
We don’t have time if China decides to call in our debt.
The question is – why is this country in a mess?
1. Republicans – spent too much under Bush. He should have vetoed.
2. Democrats – are not able to control themselves with our money.
Where are representatives who will actually do what is good for the country?
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By: longhorn on September 14, 2010
at 3:13 PM
Poor who “no ones puppet”
I’m fine with my life.
Just don’t need your ilk spending my hard earned money on those who do not work…and never wanted to.
You on the other hand are upset that you don’t have yours.
Keep getting up and going to work.
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By: Craig on September 14, 2010
at 3:13 PM
You have to start the album when the MGM lion finishes its third roar or it won’t work.
FACT!
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1773/does-the-music-in-pink-floyds-em-dark-side-of-the-moon-em-coincide-with-the-action-of-em-the-wizard-of-oz-em
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By: Anonymous on September 14, 2010
at 3:11 PM
Poor you Craig, finally figured out who you are, Joe the Plummer. Sorry about those imaginary millions.
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By: no one's puppet on September 14, 2010
at 3:07 PM
Craig – I agree.
1. Federal Government is thinking of taxing profits from invests made they told us were not going to be taxed – ROTH
2. Does the Federal Government not want us to invest? Why would govt not want us to invest? If private business fails, then who wins? The government because the only jobs available will be from the government.
3. Why does the government have a right to spend our money on anything other than protection or transportation?
4. I don’t have children, but I don’t want another generation paying for “stuff” and nothing has been produced of value.
5. The rule has been – you only get taxed once on the money you make – right?
6. The government wanted to tax gold purchases. How do you tax money?
I’m trying to start a small business. I don’t know if I will be able to do much business with more taxes. There will be not profit. Why work?
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By: longhorn on September 14, 2010
at 3:06 PM
Longhorn, this country went belly up under Bush, no problem though, if Obama can’t fix it in eight years, I’m volunteering you to go to China to dig ditches. Give the man a chance, it took eight years to get in this mess.
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By: no one's puppet on September 14, 2010
at 3:03 PM
wayside616
Actually, I have knowledge regarding contractors and engineering. How many companies were willing to go in and do the job?
Whose fault was the overpayment? The government. They should have a check and balance system just like private industry. They should know what is reasonable.
The people being hired by Haliburton were at great risk. To get anyone to even go into the area, you are going to have to pay $$$ for the risk.
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By: longhorn on September 14, 2010
at 2:55 PM
As to the Democrats or Republicans discussing the continuation of the tax cuts.
I don’t have to worry..not in that bracket, but close.
I don’t want my son to have to pay taxes on what I will him. I already paid the taxes once.
I don’t want to have to pay exorbitant taxes on capital gains from the sale of stocks. Currently
15-18% is too much.
Why invest? So much for stimulating the economy.
If I’m a small business and make a million but employ 5-8 people, why increase my taxes?
According to the cuts of the Bush tax rates I would have to pay an additional $100K in taxes.
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By: Craig on September 14, 2010
at 2:54 PM
longhorn –
“Is that a problem?
Lighten up, Killer. I’m on your side.
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By: PFesser on September 14, 2010
at 2:54 PM
Longhorn:
You need to go back and verify some of your statements.
1. Haliburton- Cheney (past president)
involved this company in closed door negotiations on the federal energy policy, leading to the rig explosion in the Gulf. Haliburton was a part of the faulty concrete used- also has been indicted on financial cheating in Iraq.
2. Please include facts/numbers to support your #2-5, including proof that this was not done in any other administrations. I’m not saying it’s ok, but you infer that the Obama administration is the only one to do this. By the way, Bush2 spent more vacation days that any other president- most cutting brush on his ranch in Texas.
3. Shirley Sherrod- yes, it was shameful the way the Obama officials acted before they confirmed the facts, but remember who distorted the facts in the first place: a cleverly edited video pushed into mainstream by a Republican political operative known for his dirty tricks. She is suing him, and I hope she wins big bucks.
Finally, as per your statement about taxpayers oking where tax revenues go to, that will never happen- the logistics are impossible. Besides- our Constitution sets up a representative democracy; we elect members to Congress to decide, among other things, where the money should go via bills/laws. The separation of powers gives the Executive Branch the authority to make specific funding decisions.
Oh- most private industries never put their complete budgets on the Internet. They are only accountable to their board of directors and their stockholders. They only care about releasing information to the general public when it is in their best interests to do so- businesses are in the business of making a profit. There is nothing wrong with that, but don’t assume they are benevolent and altruistic.
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By: COalmostNative on September 14, 2010
at 2:51 PM
PFesser
BOB MARLEY seems to be a musician. I have never been able to remember who wrote what song and have other interests. Is that a problem?
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By: longhorn on September 14, 2010
at 2:51 PM
Didn’t Marley have a smoking issue?
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By: Craig on September 14, 2010
at 2:45 PM
That’s pretty much how I knew longhorn wasn’t you, Pfessor.
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By: delurkergurl on September 14, 2010
at 2:44 PM
Poolman,
As to Longhorn..and others who come to visit.
Just because someone takes up a negative stance about issues we are all confronting and they happen to be “talking points” by the left then why not be able to say “bullshit”.
We have had issues with the left long before that “junior senator” became President and began spending us into oblivion.
So coming to this blog site should enable anyone within reason to state their case or talking points without being demeaned just because they differ from the “left”.
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By: Craig on September 14, 2010
at 2:44 PM
longhorn –
For a while there, I was enjoying watching you take on the bigots, but now you say you HAD TO LOOK UP BOB MARLEY? Oh my god oh my god oh my god…
Now I’m pissed.
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By: PFesser on September 14, 2010
at 2:41 PM
No One’s Puppet
Agree the economy needs stimulation, but wasn’t everyone upset with the last president for asking people to go out and spend?
He asked others to spend while trying to save the tax dollars.
Obama is spending our tax dollars – not his money.
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By: longhorn on September 14, 2010
at 2:39 PM
In this economy, no one is asking anyone, least of all the president, to cut back. If you can afford to shop or vacation, please do, what this economy needs is stimulation.
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By: no one's puppet on September 14, 2010
at 2:37 PM
Anonymous
Had to look up Bob Marley. Sounds like he refused medical treatment intially.
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By: longhorn on September 14, 2010
at 2:35 PM
By: longhorn on September 14, 2010
at 2:08 PM
“Haliburton – If you know anything about Haliburton, they were the only company with the ability to do the job.”
The Department of Defense paid former Halliburton subsidiary KBR more than $80 million in bonuses for contracts to install electrical wiring in Iraq. The award payments were for the very work that resulted in the electrocution deaths of US soldiers, according to Department of Defense documents revealed today in a Senate hearing. More than $30 million in bonuses were paid months after the death of Sgt. Ryan Maseth, a highly decorated, 24-year-old Green Beret, who was electrocuted while taking a shower at a US base in January 2008. His death, the result of improper grounding for a water pump, has been classified by the US Army Criminal Investigations Division (CID) as a “negligent homicide.” Maseth’s death had originally been labeled an accident. Bonuses were paid to KBR in 2007 and 2008, after CID investigators had officially expressed concerns about the quality of KBR’s electrical work. For its part, KBR denies any culpability for the electrocution deaths.
Read the rest of the article here:http://www.thenation.com/article/kbr-got-bonuses-work-killed-soldiers
longhorn, I really think you need to broaden your areas of research. If you want I can flood you with facts and details on Haliburton’s inefficiencies, mismanagement and outright fraud.
http://www.dirtandseeds.com
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By: wayside616 on September 14, 2010
at 2:32 PM
Poolman
The church or individuals should be concerned about taking care of people. When Pelosi enters the picture, she brings in government.
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By: longhorn on September 14, 2010
at 2:30 PM
Oh and I suppose the CIA did NOT put that wire in Bob Marley’s shoe that gave him the cancer?!
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By: Anonymous on September 14, 2010
at 2:29 PM
Poolman
If you are attacked, do you just stand there and take it over and over again until there is nothing let of you? Or do you fight back to preserve yourself?
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By: longhorn on September 14, 2010
at 2:22 PM
jsri –
“By “man” stuff, I assume you mean driving after smoking dope, game hunting and abusing women. ”
If I had *meant* that, I’d have *said* that.
Man, you have some really distorted ideas of masculinity. Where do you get this stuff?
(Of course, given the failures of our decaying school system, I’m not surprised by *any* degree of unclear thinking.)
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By: PFesser on September 14, 2010
at 2:20 PM
longhorn,
I thought you came here for reasoned discussion, but now you have shown your true colors. If you truly wanted to learn or teach, then you would not have resorted to the same talking points and rhetoric that the Obama haters have continued to drum up and spew as their prophets dole it out to them in bite-sized sound bits.
Good day.
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By: poolman on September 14, 2010
at 2:20 PM
Anonymous
1. Didn’t suggest defunding the government. The government was created to be our first line of defense in protecting our country. Of course, we need a military.
2. Transportation Systems are needed for commerce and go across state lines, so they are needed. Building new types of transportation – like the fast trains they have in Europe would be great, but leave it to the private sector to find a way to make it profitable.
3. Food Purity – Is the FDA really doing a good job?
4. Medical Oversight – The private sector can take care of that. If the doctor isn’t good, word gets around and he is out of business.
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By: longhorn on September 14, 2010
at 2:20 PM
Deep Blue cheated!
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By: Anonymous on September 14, 2010
at 2:19 PM
no he ditent just try and defend the Haliburto connction???????? LOL
Longhorn, the gop talking point e-mail that you lifted the “Obama” expenses from has been fact checked on factcheck.org
You might wanna take a peek.
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By: lori on September 14, 2010
at 2:19 PM
“Haliburton – If you know anything about Haliburton, they were the only company with the ability to do the job.” – longhorn
Is that the job Cheney made for them? That “job” is a war – the destruction of humans and property.
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By: poolman on September 14, 2010
at 2:16 PM
Haliburton – If you know anything about Haliburton, they were the only company with the ability to do the job.
There has been tremendous waste in the federal government throughout the years – no matter which party was in control. Just as a private company grows, it is harder to control waste. As the federal government grows and grows, more waste will occur because you are building more and more layers of management. As in large private industry, employees take advantage of the company because they think they are entitled or no one will ever know they took advantage of the system. Employees in the federal and state governments take great advantages of the tax payers money because they develop the same attitude.
If you think about it, the government is a socialist society. It never produces any profits/product. The IRS takes our money and hands it out. Did the taypayers ok who the money should go to? I would like to see the budget and expenses like in private industry put on the internet. They need to account for their spending – all parties. Again, the government is too large to catch or doesn’t care in either party what is spent. They didn’t have to earn the money – it is just handed to them.
I don’t think the Obamas respect our hard earned money:
1. Look at the czars Obama has employed.
2. Mrs. Obama with hairdressers, makeup people, etc. She has the largest staff for a first lady ever.
3. Vacations they take which costs security dollars.
4. Air Force One is flying so many places the jet fuel has to be over budget. Have they even considered what they are doing to the environment? No, they just want us to cut back. Not take vacations or use fuel.
5. Flying in chefs for all the parties.
What have the Obamas done to get through this recession with us? I’m not seeing any cutbacks.
Who has lost a job at the government level ? Well, one lady in Georgia named Shirley Sherrod who was accused unjustly by the Obama administration.
Federal Government = Wasteful Spending
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By: longhorn on September 14, 2010
at 2:08 PM
Geez, why would churches be interested in healthcare? Wasn’t Jesus a healer?
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By: no one's puppet on September 14, 2010
at 1:51 PM
There’s one of them now!
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By: Anonymous on September 14, 2010
at 1:49 PM
Anyone can see it’s a fake moon! Wake up people!
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By: Anonymous on September 14, 2010
at 1:46 PM
PFesser on September 14, 2010 at 12:46 PM
By “man” stuff, I assume you mean driving after smoking dope, game hunting and abusing women. Yep. I guess that makes you a real hero.
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By: jsri on September 14, 2010
at 1:43 PM
All that and more, next time on Hatin’ Place.
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By: Anonymous on September 14, 2010
at 1:36 PM
And lets not forget Blackwater and SAIC.
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By: Anonymous on September 14, 2010
at 1:29 PM
“Pelosi is bringing church and state together which she doesn’t want to happen in other situations. Only when she thinks she needs the people support.” – longhorn
Rallying the preachers to support social programs is a far cry from “bringing church and state together”. Telling them how to vote – different story. I am curious what your thoughts are about C – Street or the churches fighting gay rights by WRITING legislation to be enacted in various states like California.
“Your tax dollars and mine are not supporting capitalism because it is private industry.” – longhorn
One very small example – Haliburton. 😉
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By: poolman on September 14, 2010
at 1:20 PM
Oh, and I totally agree with Jack H.
I DO come here for the funny!!!!
And I’m always rewarded. This blog has gotten me through many a tough time.
I’m so grateful for it and I don’t really care if it’s written by two old ladies or a bunch of comedy writers. Knowing the specifics of the author (s) is not necessary for me to hear what they are saying with humor and for “getting it”.
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By: claire on September 14, 2010
at 1:02 PM
Poolman, AZgrandma, Bozly84, and of course, my Donna ~ How I wish you could see me giving you all a standing ovation and shouting: “YIPPEE”!!
Your answers were beyond brilliant, comprehensive, concise, truthful, and right on point. No personal ramblings or ridiculous lies or half-truths.
And Auntie Jean ~ I’ve seen you here many times before, but this time you really brought out the giggles. I can’t thank you enough.
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By: claire on September 14, 2010
at 12:57 PM
FROM LONGHORN: This was not a lecture Donna, but observations of life and people. My point was that I have gone through many stages in life and have seen a pattern. If you look at people’s personalities, some are ruled by emotions and some by their head. All my Dem/Progressive friends only use their emotions to make decisions in their voting – they want to believe the best of politicians and others.
“ALL my Dem/Progressive friends only use their emotions…” Can you get any more condescending? ALL of my Rep/Reactionary friends are racists. I guess things even out, don’t they? Whenever anyone begins a declarative statement with the word “all,” I am immediately suspicious of the facts and motives.
“For example, President Clinton was the best looking and President Obama spoke well.”
Clinton won because George the First screwed up the country so badly that the citizenry wanted a change. Obama won because the first important decision that the Republican Rageaholic made was to select Sarah Palin as Vice Presidential material. “Best looking?” “Spoke well?” How about the facts instead of more reactionary spin?
“Dems get worked up because we put a black man into the presidency, Nancy Pelosi is a woman, Sonia Sotomayor is Hispanic, etc. because it is HISTORIC. Is this the best was to choose who is running the country? What are their qualifications? In the real world vs the government world, these people would not have been given the positions they hold today. It is the Dems/Progressives making a big deal about classifying these people into categories: Black, Woman, and Hispanic (not the Republicans). When I listen to the “news”, I go back and research the material to see various viewpoints. I don’t take someone’s viewpoint as fact.”
I voted for Obama because the thought of McCain and Palin in the White House was absolutely terrifying, and if you were comfortable with the thought of those two in control you’re not half as intelligent as you are attempting to portray yourself.
“For example, George Soros wants to bring down the US economy because he bets against countries. After he brings it down, then he can move on to another country and leave us here to deal with the problems. He hated George Bush because he wouldn’t let him into the White House. He is good friends with the Clintons and the White House now. Soros has been to the White House many times now. Who else takes money from him? Jim Wallis. Now, how can a preacher take money from Soros and not be selling himself out? So many people are connected in the government that you really have to look into their backgrounds and see who they associate with to get the real picture.”
You really don’t want to go here. Do you want me to go into depth about the Bin laden/Bush relationship or the cozy access that Prince Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud had to the White House?
“Our news organizations are not revealing the true facts on how all these people are connected.”
We don’t have “news organizations.” We have corporations that exist for bottom line profit only. Wake up.
” Our government is very corrupt with this administration. Why does Obama think there is too much information in the world? Because if people research, they will find the facts to expose the corruption.”
“This administration?” Once again, do you really want to go there? Dick Cheney was CEO of the largest contractor to the Iraq War and you want to talk about corruption? Bush knew there were no WMD’s and he lied to the country about it. Colin Powell knew there were no WMD’s and he knowingly lied at the United Nations. Corruption? You have got to be kidding me. If you would go to a second source instead of getting all your “facts” from Fox you may have uncovered some of these other facts for yourself.
“I have also seen people who depend on being connected to a party for part of their self- identity. Politicians want you to associate with parties, so they can depend on your vote. If people were more independent in voting, they would care more about what the people want and need because they would actually be representing the people. I hear so many politicians talking about their ideas instead of the people they represent. Politicians are about power and control – they live for it. They are not about the people anymore. When people continually keep politicians in their positions for decades, they accumulate more and more power and control. What about the politicians changing parties after being elected by a particular party? They are changing because of their ideas. – not the people who elected them.”
Can’t argue with that.
“Actually, I haven’t found anything funny about this blog – it just reveals hate.”
Revulsion is not hate. Some people here are revolted by the overt racism. hatred and lies being generated by the Right in this country. Apparently it doesn’t bother you.
http://www.dirtandseeds.com
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By: wayside616 on September 14, 2010
at 12:52 PM
Bozly84 –
I really have to confess ignorance on the 9-11 ATC response specifically, but I have some general information:
ATC of course knows instantly when an aircraft veers off course. High-altitude navigation is done between VORs – which are radio beacons; these courses are called High-Altitude Airways or Victor Airways. The airways are 4 nautical miles wide, and altitude must be maintained within 100 feet, so ATC (air traffic control) knows when you are off even a little.
Totally my conjecture, but I think the problem was two-fold: nobody in the airliner was talking to the ground, so ATC didn’t know what they were doing and the various airliners were in different airspaces, so ATC in one sector didn’t know that the same thing was happening in other sectors, so they just treated it like a single problem. They thought there might be a hijacking, but those always had ended fine if everybody just cooperated and ATC’s job was to keep the hijacked plane separated from others. Nobody dreamed the plane was destined to be a bomb. Just my limited assessment.
As for accomplishments: I had unbounded energy when I was younger. My interests have run the gamut, but mostly math and science and “man” stuff. I was fortunate to grow up in an area where men knew who they were and weren’t in angst about it, and I had many mentors who could do “anything” with their hands. “Metrosexuals” and radical feminists didn’t exist. A great place to grow up; I’ve always felt fortunate. Nearly all gone now. Too bad.
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By: PFesser on September 14, 2010
at 12:46 PM
Okay. Brilliant idea. Let’a defund all government Longhorn. Who in hell needs the military, support and supervision of our transportation systems, medical oversight, food purity, energy production oversight, etc. etc.
Welcome to Somalia.
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By: Anonymous on September 14, 2010
at 12:32 PM
Poolman
Your tax dollars and mine are not supporting capitalism because it is private industry.
They are supporting the government which couldn’t exist without our tax dollars.
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By: longhorn on September 14, 2010
at 12:16 PM
Poolman
Pelosi is bringing church and state together which she doesn’t want to happen in other situations. Only when she thinks she needs the people support.
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By: longhorn on September 14, 2010
at 12:14 PM
Raising a cold Pacifico to you poolman! Take lime salt with that?
Don’t like it here, longhorn? 🙄 ….don’t let the door hit ya on the ass on yer way out! Smooch, bye-bye!!!! 😉
Peace ya’ll! 😀
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By: azgrandma on September 14, 2010
at 12:11 PM
Bozly84
1. Dems may discuss with Dems, but not with Republicans or Conservatives.
2. I have friends on Facebook with Dems spewing hateful things about them, basically trying to shutdown their free speech on their own profile page. This is a really nice person who had to finally defriend because it became so bad.
3. Here again you are spewing hate calling people “frenzied crazies” which I guess you are referring to the Tea Party people which are expressing their views. This should be fine since they have 1st amendent rights also. Of course, the “frenzied crazies” could also refer to the union people sent to Arizonia to protest. Which one?
4. Give me some examples of what is “UN FACTUAL and too, TOTALLY RUDE, OBNOXIOUS and DISRESPECTFUL” from the right?
5. You lost me on most of your argument.
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By: longhorn on September 14, 2010
at 12:09 PM
“why does Pelosi plead to the preachers to talk about healthcare in church before the bill was passed?” – longhorn
Because the church SHOULD be concerned with the health and well being of the people. Otherwise, what good is it?
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By: poolman on September 14, 2010
at 11:59 AM
longhorn on September 14, 2010 at 11:29 AM
Just as I pointed out, he was saying how much harder it was to find the TRUTH in what is out there, not that there is too much information out there. It also points to the constant entertainment we seek, rather than serious discourse.
I previously posted a link to a video regarding the marketing of this nation called “Psywar.” It is a good video explaining what we have been “fed” over the years by the media.
“George Soros is atheist. Why would he support a clergyman?”
Maybe he supports social justice – the cause Jim Wallis supports. I’m a believer, yet my tax money supports capitalism and imperialism. Both are diametrically opposed to Christianity. Yet when I choose to donate, I donate to social causes.
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By: poolman on September 14, 2010
at 11:55 AM
mmm’ers, Longhorn…..”Mindless parroting seems to be coming from the Dem/Progressive side. People need to look deep into issues. People dealing in marketing or promotion love people who only think in one thought pattern – makes their job much easier. I know only one Dem that will address the issues”…..Like,uh REALLY?…you have only found ONE Dem/progressive willing to discuss with civility yet seem to figure those of other persuasions are the ones NOT denigrating or well, etc,etc,etc…..gotta’ admit, you lost me and likely others for the spewings of dissonence and hate has eminated and proliferated far too much from segments of the “right” for far too long where folks choose to ignor and/or just dismiss for the feeling the TRUE majority were not of such ilking/mindset and with an acknowledgement that there will always be frenzied crazies and found on all sides and etc…these days they get center staged and unfortunately, many have orchestrations behind them , willing to feed/fund them and rile them up but NOT with intent of progressing/attempting progress towards the greater common good of ALL …Sad commentary and wonder just how isolated you may be…There are many thoughtful,respectful discussions that have taken place and are attempted and NOT with JUST the intent of finding “like-minded”, but with intent to work things out/etc…It is most unfortunate the times we live in that is supposedly is THE “information age/etc” for far too many are LESS informed . We find we are subject to calculated spinnings…and include some of what you preseted as such as it came off as if you find NO PROBLEM with what the “right” has promoted even when shown to be UN FACTUAL and too, TOTALLY RUDE, OBNOXIOUS and DISRESPECTFUL on so many different levels …you blindeye what emanates forth ,declare it “courtesly/respectful” and but diss others coming from another perspectivity as doltish ignorant sorts who are disregardable for THEIR tactics as far too unworthy and have NO MERIT….REALLY?, unfortunately REALLY and examples the contentious times we exist in and why such a bumpy ride !!!
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By: Bozly84 on September 14, 2010
at 11:50 AM
Poolman – I find many people who say they are Dems/Progressives, but have conservative beliefs. They aren’t informed or didn’t make the change when the platforms of the political parties changed.
If the Dems/Progressives want church and state to be separate, then why does Pelosi plead to the preachers to talk about healthcare in church before the bill was passed?
The church and state issue has been taken out of context. The men who created this country didn’t want a situation like in England where the Federal government controlled the religion. They wanted the states to be protected from the federal government. This is completely opposite of the way church and state separation has been portrayed.
George Soros is atheist. Why would he support a clergyman?
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By: longhorn on September 14, 2010
at 11:38 AM
Huh??
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By: Anonymous on September 14, 2010
at 11:31 AM
Without the communication that we have now, any politician could say something and not be held responsible. We use to listen to three stations for News. Were we naive to just believe this people reporting the news? Could they have introduced bias into their broadcasts? Could they today?
“And meanwhile, you’re coming of age in a 24/7 media environment that bombards us with all kinds of content and exposes us to all kinds of arguments, some of which don’t always rank that high on the truth meter. And with iPods and iPads; and Xboxes and PlayStations — none of which I know how to work — (laughter) — information becomes a distraction, a diversion, a form of entertainment, rather than a tool of empowerment, rather than the means of emancipation. So all of this is not only putting pressure on you; it’s putting new pressure on our country and on our democracy.” – President Obama
Hampton University Commencement Address 2010
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By: longhorn on September 14, 2010
at 11:29 AM
Yo, Pffes
or…being a longtime pilot…commercial?…if so, did you find it normal an aircraft out of Boston goes OFF COURSE in one of THE busiest sky travel times/corridor and NONE noticed or questioned as it surely was trackable as a blip on ‘some’ screen…add NO communication,other sightings and oh, those are TRAFFIC LANES up there..those flite plan ROUTES, used to keep one plane from running into another and etc…THAT particular corridor , heavily traveled and safety was jepordized but NONE NOTICED or were alarmed….BTW, there were actually several more “rogues” aloft…not all carried out due to a number of factors…but then, will WE ever truly know the FULL STORY…not likely in our lifetimes and the rewritings/myth makings began immeadiately.
BTW, any here familiar with the PNAC papers/group ? It USE to be available ONLINE, quite a read…The group had longtime discussed the NEED for a Pearl Harbor event to galvanize the nation so as to enable their concieved agenda of what THEY figured should be the American way to go in various matters..for power and financial reasons…Quite a group of archetechts …many served officially during the GWB years some in front of the curtains, others behind, all well vested ….many remain and remain “vested” and are sure they will have another day.
BTW,that certainly is quite a resume but leaves a semi questionable…rather of “jack of all trade” aspect, master of ALL for real and REALLY ? Find it takes time just to peruse THIS blog let alone respond but you managed pears and corn and then off to fulfill…well, like wow and at that you indicate have accumulated “yeaers” which evidently do not cause any slowing down-ness /etc…Rather remarkable for those of us who HAVE too accumulated years often find the years DO take a bit of a toll in our abilties to accomplish so very much and to do it ever so well even thou we have the best of intentions and expertese/experience that would be nice if able to be so fully utilyzed…Might consider a degree of “envy” if could get past doubts of authenticity to it ALL !! (honest , not meant as disrespect, just find it difficult to blindeyedly ‘accept”, rare are those quite that encompassingly accomplished in such varied areas found…many dabble broadly,some actually able to be so diversified but rare ones only that are truly able to accomplish …well, whatever…without dreams,few would reach much of anything ……..sigh.
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By: Bozly84 on September 14, 2010
at 11:21 AM
Donna
My friends are comprised of Blacks, Whites, Hispanics, Asians, Indians, Americn Indians, Atheist, and Christians. Seems some have socialist leanings. I enjoy being around people who have different ideas. It makes life more interesting. If you compare the people that have been placed into the positions that I mentioned and compare them against others, their qualifications will fall short of others. No hate or ignorance – just fact. I don’t hide my head in the sand or hang around others with my viewpoints because you cannot see reality by surrounding yourself with like viewed people. I haven’t insulted you, but you have tried to insult me more than once. By expressing a different viewpoint, people do become uncomfortable. Dems for Obama wanted change. Change makes people become uncomfortable like different opinions. Change is disruptive. I also don’t dislike people who have different ideas. We should come together to solve our countries problems because a better country will come from combining ideas. There are people out their manipulating both sides. Mindless parroting seems to be coming from the Dem/Progressive side. People need to look deep into issues. People dealing in marketing or promotion love people who only think in one thought pattern – makes their job much easier. I know only one Dem that will address the issues. I wanted to see if anyone here could address the issues instead of tearing down Republican/Independent/Tea Party leaders or voters. I haven’t found anyone yet. It leads me to believe the Dems/Progressives cannot address the issues either because they are not informed or there is not support of the issues.
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By: longhorn on September 14, 2010
at 11:19 AM
The funny, people, the funny!
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By: Jack H. on September 14, 2010
at 10:58 AM
By: delurkergurl on September 14, 2010
at 10:04 AM
“So longhorn, by saying “Dems get worked up because we put a black man into the presidency, Nancy Pelosi is a woman, Sonia Sotomayor is Hispanic, etc. because it is HISTORIC. Is this the best was to choose who is running the country? What are their qualifications?” you seem to be implying that these are the reasons these people were chosen. That’s crap that reveals your hate & ignorance.”
Those are exactly my sentiments when you accuse me and anyone else who disagrees with or criticizes ANYTHING about President Obama of racism. It reveals to me something about you.
You are in the dark about why some people come here. Well, why do you care? That is as much a mystery to me as why “some people” come here is to you. Mind your own business.
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By: Denise on September 14, 2010
at 10:56 AM
longhorn, I know many republicans that vote republican only because of the abortion issue. Many churches in American persuade their congregation that the right carries the morality torch. That doesn’t play out in the real world and it is strictly an emotionally charged decision. It is willful blindness on their part.
I don’t know where you get the notion that Obama thinks there is too much information in the world. There certainly is a vast amount out there, much of which is frivolous and fallacy, making the search for truth more difficult. If he made any statement regarding information available, I’m certain that was more his point. He has made strides to bring more transparency to government and has met with stiff opposition. For anyone to believe he wields the power to change our government on his own or within a few years is naive in the least.
As for George Soros, he does contribute to causes that he supports, as we all do. We vote with our money on a daily basis, whether we realize it or not. He has not been secretive with his donations like many on the right have and continue to be. You claim Jim Wallis “takes” money from him. I know Jim Wallis has a ministry promoting social justice. Could it be Soros is donating to that cause? If you are familiar with his ministry and can criticize any part of it, feel free to elaborate. I find it quite sound and beneficial – more sound biblically than others promoting fundamentalist doctrines.
If you are merely trying to pick apart people that are considered progressive or left-leaning, please make some fair assessments of both parties. The past decade has shown that the right has been the greater offender of truth and justice. With their elevation of corporations to the status of citizen, we have allowed them to erode many of the freedoms we once knew as Americans.
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By: poolman on September 14, 2010
at 10:33 AM
PEOPLE! It is about the FUNNY!!!!!!!!!!
This blog is FUNNY!!!!!! Take what you want from the subject matter…agree or disagree. Don’t lose sight of the HUMOR of these two.
BRILLIANT, FUNNY, FUNNY.
(some of you commenters need to step back and take a moment….re-read a couple of the posts and marvel at the FUNNY!!!!!!!!)
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By: Jack H. on September 14, 2010
at 10:21 AM
GREAT!
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By: Jimbo on September 14, 2010
at 10:07 AM
I have no reason to respond to generalizations by someone who bases his views on his personal experiences with his family and friends and who spouts Fox talking points. I find someone who generalizes to that extent not worth engaging.
Why would you come to this blog? You say you see “hate” here. You obviously disapprove of the host’s post–that was your initial point. And your pronouncements about your personal experiences are hardly going to cause anyone to question anything other than why you are wasting your time and energy.
So, no–I do not choose to “address” any issue that you raise. But that is because mindless parroting doesn’t warrant a substantive response.
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By: Donna on September 14, 2010
at 10:05 AM
So longhorn, by saying “Dems get worked up because we put a black man into the presidency, Nancy Pelosi is a woman, Sonia Sotomayor is Hispanic, etc. because it is HISTORIC. Is this the best was to choose who is running the country? What are their qualifications?” you seem to be implying that these are the reasons these people were chosen. That’s crap that reveals your hate & ignorance.
“Actually, I haven’t found anything funny about this blog – it just reveals hate.”
And yet you have come back repeatedly.
I really do want someone to explain why it makes sense to go hang out with people you disrespect and disagree with. Would you repeatedly hang out on the porch of someone you dislike? Would you show up on my porch just to insult me? And then keep coming back? WHAT FOR? What do (collective) you get out of it? Is it just fun to be disruptive? Is that a quality you admire?
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By: delurkergurl on September 14, 2010
at 10:04 AM
Donna – You have attacked me, but not addresses any issue.
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By: longhorn on September 14, 2010
at 10:02 AM
and you have confirmed that you are someone who accepts uncritically a number of foolish and false suppositions, and generalizes them to a nonsensical degree. Since you find the blog distasteful, perhaps you will avoid in the future.
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By: Donna on September 14, 2010
at 9:49 AM
This was not a lecture Donna, but observations of life and people. My point was that I have gone through many stages in life and have seen a pattern. If you look at people’s personalities, some are ruled by emotions and some by their head. All my Dem/Progressive friends only use their emotions to make decisions in their voting – they want to believe the best of politicians and others. For example, President Clinton was the best looking and President Obama spoke well. Dems get worked up because we put a black man into the presidency, Nancy Pelosi is a woman, Sonia Sotomayor is Hispanic, etc. because it is HISTORIC. Is this the best was to choose who is running the country? What are their qualifications? In the real world vs the government world, these people would not have been given the positions they hold today. It is the Dems/Progressives making a big deal about classifying these people into categories: Black, Woman, and Hispanic (not the Republicans). When I listen to the “news”, I go back and research the material to see various viewpoints. I don’t take someone’s viewpoint as fact. For example, George Soros wants to bring down the US economy because he bets against countries. After he brings it down, then he can move on to another country and leave us here to deal with the problems. He hated George Bush because he wouldn’t let him into the White House. He is good friends with the Clintons and the White House now. Soros has been to the White House many times now. Who else takes money from him? Jim Wallis. Now, how can a preacher take money from Soros and not be selling himself out? So many people are connected in the government that you really have to look into their backgrounds and see who they associate with to get the real picture. Our news organizations are not revealing the true facts on how all these people are connected. Our government is very corrupt with this administration. Why does Obama think there is too much information in the world? Because if people research, they will find the facts to expose the corruption.
I have also seen people who depend on being connected to a party for part of their self- identity. Politicians want you to associate with parties, so they can depend on your vote. If people were more independent in voting, they would care more about what the people want and need because they would actually be representing the people. I hear so many politicians talking about their ideas instead of the people they represent. Politicians are about power and control – they live for it. They are not about the people anymore. When people continually keep politicians in their positions for decades, they accumulate more and more power and control. What about the politicians changing parties after being elected by a particular party? They are changing because of their ideas. – not the people who elected them.
Actually, I haven’t found anything funny about this blog – it just reveals hate.
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By: longhorn on September 14, 2010
at 9:37 AM
“All governments lie, kill and misuse public funds, but these calculated habits are amplified manifold during wars. We’re in two now, aiming for a third. Japan, whose land we’re still occupying 65 years after Hiroshima, has just announced sanctions against Iran beyond what the U.N. mandated. South Korea swiftly followed suit. It’s surprising to see these two countries so in sync, until one remembers that they have become American cheerleaders for decades. Rah, rah, bomb Tehran!”
“Despite being lied to repeatedly, almost daily, Americans are strangely gullible to incoherent, even ridiculous narratives dished up by their government.”
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By: poolman on September 14, 2010
at 9:27 AM
Quack, quack, quack!
You are spot on!
Quack.
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By: sillywhabbit on September 14, 2010
at 9:22 AM
We can only hope….
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By: Amy on September 14, 2010
at 8:25 AM
Good morning, Donna. Thank you. Now, I am gone for the day.
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By: James on September 14, 2010
at 7:25 AM
I always knew Jean was special. She probably was in a “special” class in school too. How did that work out?
Thanks for the toast Clair. Its hard to make amends for my mistakes when I make so many of them.
Amy try to make the oxygen you use worth the effort. Write something.
My wife is my hero for what she and a discrete CLG official did for our 5013c last night. But she learned another one we are associated with is in dire straights. They will be unhappy when we break the news. I hate when people leave loose ends we have to fix.
This evening our friend the economic development director and our historical society will poke at the “Man”. Tomorrow night we have to deal with demented artists and writers.
Now that I have vented, I have to go to Omaha now and act like a grown up. I have to be back in time to set up the meeting, unless I decide to hide in our daughter and son-in law’s basement.
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By: James on September 14, 2010
at 7:09 AM
good morning, James. Nice post.
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By: Donna on September 14, 2010
at 6:49 AM
no one’s puppet, not prepping the pears was a big offense, but I was freezing sweet corn when I wasn’t gone. My wife doesn’t even like pears. Our refrigerator is offended.
We had a Jewish “grandmother” until she died. She survived the German death camps and met Dr. Mengele who sent all of the rest of her family to the gas chamber. She is in the book we are about to get published.
I don’t like porn. Mexican porn cured me when I was in the service.
HoneyjoRumples, yes, the right and left extremes are the same. I met saner people when I was hallucinating two and a half weeks ago. I miss that time.
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By: James on September 14, 2010
at 6:39 AM
Ah, now he repeats the canard about Jewish women being sexually repressed.
Actually, it’s entirely accurate to characterize porn as objectifying people and as superficial and meaningless. The whole premise of it is frequently that–that people are able to vicariously live out sexual encounters wholly apart from relationships or intimacy. Some people want that, some people want the fantasy of that with a true partner.
I distinguish between enjoying porn (which many people do) and participating in the making of it. Sorry–but anyone who would simply have sex for money, on camera or not, or who would facilitate that (as you claim to have done) is objectifying others.
I could have found that mildly distasteful and as part of what is likely a wildly inflated informal “resume” on your part. But then to go on and make the statement that the only thing you still want to do is to have sex with some nameless “hot” black “girl” is what makes me feel like you are a limited, juvenile jerk.
When you started posting here, I was willing to give you the benefit of the doubt. Didn’t agree with much of what you said but you at least gave the appearance of wanting genuine discourse. By now, you have amply proven yourself to be an officious, self-aggrandizing boor (spelling intentional).
You know absolutely nothing about my sexuality or sex life. However, I’m willing to bet it is better than that of someone who has to share with complete strangers what, at bottom, is a racist fantasy.
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By: Donna on September 14, 2010
at 5:52 AM
Helen brilliant!
James, pissfesser, craig bore, bore, bore.
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By: Amy on September 14, 2010
at 5:18 AM
What a brilliant post – and I say that as someone who would vote Republican if I were American. It’s good to see humour making an important point.
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By: tillybud on September 14, 2010
at 4:23 AM
Donna –
You’re not “Princess Donna” of Kink.com, are you?
(That’s a joke. Actually I know her; she’s very cool. To paraphrase Lloyd Bentsen, you’re no Princess Donna.)
“But to have actually participated in the porn industry which wholly objectifies people and then to describe his only “unsatisfied goal” as something so utterly superficial and meaningless?”
Hmm….”objectifies,” “superficial and meaningless”…??? That’s certainly an unusual attitude about porn in this modern day and time. I haven’t seen that kind of prudery in about thirty years.
It reminds me of some conversations I had with a Jewish medical student with whom I spent some time in the early ‘eighties. She rotated through my department and we hit it off immediately. Her father had been a Holocaust survivor; she was brilliant – but more importantly, frank and honest – and she often spoke of that kind of prudery in Jewish women and how it was the “reason all the Jewish guys here in the Med Center are so screwed up.” She referred to it as “beige – I’m definitely going to paint the ceiling beige.” And then she would giggle, and we would go get coffee before starting on the next stack of X-rays…we called it “C & D rounds” — coffee and doughnuts.
Wow. What a trip down memory lane. I hadn’t thought of her in years…what a great gal.
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By: PFesser on September 14, 2010
at 4:13 AM
Jean –
Wow, my apologies. I certainly underestimated your abilities, I must say… Good for you! And with a liberal arts education, too, I’m sure it must have been really tough to accomplish much, but you’re a shining example of how industry and perseverance can overcome even a serious handicap.
I want to say that I really appreciate someone like yourself who has worked hard and accomplished a few things in life. So many jealous soreheads are content to just sit on the sidelines and snipe at successes like you. When I was in college – before I discovered that the world actually expects you to *work* for your daily bread – I used to divide folks into the “haves” and “have-nots.” Now, after a lifetime of hard work, it’s clear that it is more like the “wills” and “will-nots.” I’m glad to see you are one of the “wills.” Welcome aboard! Thank you so much for helping us pull the train for all those who “wont.”
Again, congratulations! (And while I’m thinking about it, it’s really smart to document your accomplishments like you have here; at our ages, one never knows when a little thrombus in the middle cerebral artery could rob one of all memory that it really happened.)
no mas, te
Jim
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By: PFesser on September 14, 2010
at 3:51 AM
I will always bow to royalty.
Bravo! 😉
Good night all. Pleasant dreams.
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By: poolman on September 14, 2010
at 1:10 AM
Hi Congenial Gang, Pfessor and James,
Pfessor and James, I would like to join your exclusive little club. I don’t usually like to toot my own horn and try to impress people with my achievements, but there are occasional exceptions to that rule.
I went to kindergarten.
When I was in first grade, I was Martha Washington in my class’ play. When I was in sixth grade, I played Schubert’s “Marche Militaire” on the piano in the annual Spring Festival and danced in the May Pole Dance.
In high school, I was invited to ride on a fire truck in a bathing suit in the Fourth of July Parade but my dad wouldn’t let me! It may have stunted my sexual and emotional maturation.
I have been nominated for a Nobel Prize and am considered a shoe-in for next year’s Academy Awards for my Lifetime Achievements in the Arts.
Since I have nothing more constructive to do, I like to spend hours and hours at the computer on other people’s blogs in order to inform those uninitiated poor souls that obviously and sorely need the expertise of my vast storehouse of accumulated knowledge.
And, oh, yes, I brushed my teeth this morning!
Aloha! Namaste. Shalom.
Auntie Jean
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on September 14, 2010
at 12:39 AM
James, your biggest offense this afternoon was not prepping the pears for your wife or for that matter, freezing or canning them yourself.
Jeanne Garafalo
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By: no one's puppet on September 13, 2010
at 11:19 PM
To the person who thinks Republicans are more analytical and not emotional about their politics – I work with several conservatives, and you should see the way they shake and quake with anger when they hear things they don’t like, for example, when the president of Mexico said the illegal immigration and drug running problem was partly America’s fault because America provides a wonderful supply opportunity, a co-worker got so livid his face turned red. I found it rather comical, considering he’s an old hippie who has partaken in more than his fair share of illegal recreational drugs. How funny to use an ilicit, illegal, criminal substance, and then bitch, piss and moan about how that ilicit substance is provided. I can think of three republicans off the top of my head who yell and shout, shake and get very emotional when it comes to politics. Liberals don’t have a lock on emotion.
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By: HoneyJorumples on September 13, 2010
at 9:01 PM
BRAVO!! To delurkergurl!!! You made it!!! You got the last word!!
And James doesn’t sound like a bad sort to me. Maybe comes here for some company or to actually unwind from troublesome days.
At least he knows how to learn from his mistakes and never fails to make amends for his errors.
So, I’ll drink to him! As well as to Donna ~~ sorry, but with all the favorites I’ve found here ~ Donna heads my list. Ms. Garafolo would be so proud!
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By: claire on September 13, 2010
at 8:42 PM
DRINK!
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By: delurkergurl on September 13, 2010
at 8:24 PM
Good night Jeanne Garafalo wherever you are.. and to anyone else who thinks I’ve snapped.
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By: James on September 13, 2010
at 8:22 PM
I see why I wasn’t invited to the drinking game! I am a lightweight. I can’t do 2 shots in half an hour and there James was with the last word again. I’ll leave the game to folks with more fortitude than I have.
James, sorry you had a tough day and sorry you decided we should be on the receiving end of your decompression.
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By: delurkergurl on September 13, 2010
at 8:21 PM
Common1, welcome to the blog! I needed some laughs and got me some before slumber comes. Good night all!
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By: Easier on September 13, 2010
at 8:15 PM
delurkergurl, I’m unwinding. I have to deal with bunch of actors, writers, and other creative people one pill away from long term therapy. Its going to be a rough day.
And my wife is going to see five gallons of pears in the refrigerator when she gets home.
Maybe Jim Beam.
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By: James on September 13, 2010
at 8:07 PM
Last word! DRINK!
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By: delurkergurl on September 13, 2010
at 8:01 PM
There you go Donna. That wasn’t so hard was it. You know name calling is a childish game which hurts no one. Might as well have some fun with it.
Janeane Garafalo, Janeane Garafalo
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By: James on September 13, 2010
at 7:48 PM
I wasn’t trying to chide you, Donna. I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t missing out on a good party, LOL.
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By: delurkergurl on September 13, 2010
at 7:46 PM
sigh. You are right, delurker. I have sinned. It must have been one reference to Janeane Garafolo too many…
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By: Donna on September 13, 2010
at 7:37 PM
I’ve been reading your blog for a long time now
and haven’t commented before. Actually, I’ve
been a reader or listener most of my life and not
a talker and haven’t commented on any of the blogs I’ve been reading. But, I had to say how much I’ve enjoyed the last blog. I thought that I was fairly direct in my thoughts about Republicans and what is wrong with things in this country, but your take on Republicans is absolutely the most imaginative and delicious scolding any human could probably have come
up with. Thanks.
By the way, I’ve passed my 80th birthday and I hope I continue to be as active and as articulate as you two as I grow older.
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By: common1 on September 13, 2010
at 7:32 PM
I don’t get it. We all know how last-word James retaliates when people get fed up enough to express their frustration at him, and yet people keep right on doing it. Is this a drinking game I’m not privy to?
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By: delurkergurl on September 13, 2010
at 7:30 PM
“Deep down, James is shallow.”
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By: Donna on September 13, 2010
at 7:24 PM
“James is entitled to be stupid, but he abuses the privilege.”
“James tries to match wits with me, but he comes unarmed.”
These aren’t very good, but they are better than the other feeble shots.
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By: James on September 13, 2010
at 7:21 PM
No he didn’t. Cheap shots are a dime a dozen, and his showed no originality.
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By: James on September 13, 2010
at 7:11 PM
Actually, I thought he did quite well. Terse, clear, to the point. No long-winded carrying on. No need to throw out facts that would be of no interest to anyone else. Nicely done, Steve.
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By: Donna on September 13, 2010
at 7:03 PM
Donna, you have no clue. Stick to something you know. Maybe anger management.
Steve L. are you able to write, or is taking a cheap shot your highest level of achievement?
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By: James on September 13, 2010
at 6:50 PM
Clair, I am preoccupied right now, and I just got home. One of our organizations has a hiring decision to make, and I make the final choice.
I should not have visited this site while someone and I were discussing business. I got distracted.
I already wrote I was unfair to Donna, and I knew I had blundered as soon as I hit submit.
Subtilities of the English language sometimes escape me as they obviously do from you. My unfair insult to Donna had nothing to do with a “little” woman if short stature. It concerned closed minds. This is from memory, so the words may not be exact.
Gene Pitney’s “Town Without Pity” describes “those little minds which tear you in two…” My insult described closed little small town minds, not physical size. My only needed lesson is not to try two things at once.
Harriet, a few minutes before I got home, a stranger stopped me on the street and said she had picked more pears than she knew what to do with. Did I want some? I was too sick to pick our pears, so ours went to waste. Now, I have five gallons of pears. Things like that happen a lot. Why would I change my life?
Wayside616, what you suggest sounds fine in theory, but when our family members and their friends were in Iraq and Afghanistan, we wrote encouraging letters every day and sent care packages. We also found a group sending packages to soldiers, and we filled about twenty of them, each with around $10.00 worth of stuff.
Robbin Williams did a show on our niece’s base and used her as part of his act. It was a great moral booster.
They most need us when they are doing their jobs. Our family does everything we can to support them.
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By: James on September 13, 2010
at 6:46 PM
They’re different, Steve. Pfesser is full of himself–convinced of his own mental superiority. James is more boring than anything else–the sort of person you’d never want to be stuck with at a social function. Craig is simply dumb and looking for any sort of attention. Obviously failed at pretty much everything and really a sad sack.
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By: Donna on September 13, 2010
at 6:43 PM
Pathetic Pfesser….in the words of Helen the Great…I’m calling BULL SHIT! You, sir, are a complete whack job.
Craig too.
Oh, and James as well.
What a waste of food.
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By: Steve L. on September 13, 2010
at 6:25 PM
Donna and “measured response” in the same sentence…
Naw that’s impossible.
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By: Craig on September 13, 2010
at 6:17 PM
Love it. Stole this from austintx @ Mudflatts.
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By: poolman on September 13, 2010
at 3:55 PM
No need to thank me, Donna. You’ve earned my respect.
And, as for Mr. Self-Satisfied (as you so humorously named him), I believe he’s done all those things: every night when he closes his eyes to sleep.
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By: claire on September 13, 2010
at 3:39 PM
delurkergurl –
“Pfessor – snip – Do you sleep?”
Actually, it’s PFesser
Think about it.
And I only sleep enough to maximise energy level versus wasting time.
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By: PFesser on September 13, 2010
at 2:51 PM
Je t’aime! Come on up to Canada.
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By: Natalie on September 13, 2010
at 2:38 PM
Good heavens, Pfessor! You had time to do all that and still had time to participate in those smut forums AND disrupt them much like you try to do here. Do you sleep?
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By: delurkergurl on September 13, 2010
at 1:56 PM
Claire–as for your second post, thanks for the kind words. He did apologize.
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By: Donna on September 13, 2010
at 1:55 PM
Claire: This is someone who actually wants people to believe he was a doctor (not only practicing but teaching), dropped out of that, and now is doing that again? OK–implausible but I suppose theoretically possible.
But to have actually participated in the porn industry which wholly objectifies people and then to describe his only “unsatisfied goal” as something so utterly superficial and meaningless? I think that Mr. Self-Satisfied has definitively established himself as someone not particularly worthwhile. It’s more than just arrogance (which has been displayed at every opportunity). I’d say he’s worth about 1/100000 of you as a person.
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By: Donna on September 13, 2010
at 1:42 PM
And Donna: you have never come across as an “angry little woman” to me. Ever. You come across as thoughtful and intelligent and one who measures their responses to others. And those are all qualities that I respect.
And, as an aside, it really galls me when men use the word “little” to describe a woman. As if we are too “small” to take seriously or to be paid any attention. Take a lesson, James.
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By: claire on September 13, 2010
at 1:42 PM
Well, Pfesser; looks like the only thing you forgot to do in your long life and many years was learn how to speak to others. Or are you just this way on this post? I find you extremely obnoxious and, therefore, all you say and all you’ve done goes right over my head. But then, I don’t profess (pun intended) to be half as brilliant as you.
Just a whole lot kinder; something I’m sure doesn’t impress you, either. But it doesn’t matter. I impress myself and those who actually know me enough.
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By: claire on September 13, 2010
at 1:37 PM
Thank you, teacher for that quote. Wonderful timing. And Tara, I’m with you. I’ve always identified myself as a die-hard democrat, but I have to admire Megan McCain for her candor and what she’s trying to accomplish. The younger generations who have only known an extremely polarized country (politically) have her to look to as a good example.
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By: Txtingmrdarcy on September 13, 2010
at 1:25 PM
Sorry –
Left out a line.
“Very impressive.” That quote should be before “Not that impressive.” &c &c.
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By: PFesser on September 13, 2010
at 1:13 PM
Claire –
““Our” Pfesser seems to be a Jack of All Trades. Previous posts claimed to have worked in healthcare, been a pilot and now, went to engineering school.”
Not that impressive. I’m just old. I’ve done lots of things: mined coal, flown airplanes upside down, raced motorcycles, grown marijuana, got a degree in biology, gone to medical school, taught at medical school, practiced medicine for twelve years and then quit to go back to electrical engineering school, invested, built a cancer treatment center and sold it, farmed and raised cattle, built roads with a dozer, cut timber, scuba dived, built robots, built a plane and flew it, operated a camera at a porn shoot, been a model a soft-core porn, been shot at and seen people shot at, had children, been married and divorced. I currently practice medicine in a rural hospital. The only thing I haven’t done that I still want to do is have sex with a hot black girl. There’s still time.
And I’m not “your” professor. Just wanted to get that straight.
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By: PFesser on September 13, 2010
at 1:08 PM
poolman –
“PFesser, and then, being the pilot you claim, this should be interesting. If you were to cross-check N numbers with the craft in question, it does seem a bit mysterious.”
Now you have my curiosity up. What do you mean by “crosscheck the N – number?”
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By: PFesser on September 13, 2010
at 12:56 PM
Hi all –
A little afternoon amusement: A gay doctor friend in Lynchburg confided that, when a certain famous and notoriously homophobic preacher collapsed and was take to the ER, his Code Blue was run by a gay ED physician.
Unsuccessfully. Whoops!
Oh well, I guess the embarrassment was more than the Right Reverend could bear.
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By: PFesser on September 13, 2010
at 12:51 PM
Oh I AM SO WITH YOU ON THIS wayside616!!!!!!!
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By: azgrandma on September 13, 2010
at 12:29 PM
I’m a bit amazed by folks who are so willing to be critical of our political leader’s lack of backbone when these same folks won’t even stand up for their own principles. When this country is overwhelmingly against the war in Afghanistan why don’t we have the courage to not support our troops? Where is the moral conviction? Now I’m not talking about turning our backs on men and women who come home injured from fighting that war, we can’t, as a society, turn our back on anyone who is in need of healthcare, but to “support” their actions is another matter. It’s simple…most don’t have the courage to utter the sentiment that, “I don’t support the troops.” That means that you don’t support what the troops are doing and you won’t take part in public relations campaigns, such as yellow ribbons and halftime ceremonies, that honor their actions. The prosecution of the war in Afghanistan is morally and legally wrong and those taking part in it are culpable. How do you “support” them? If you don’t have the courage of your own convictions you have no moral ground to stand on and criticize the actions of your representatives. Get a backbone, America.
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By: wayside616 on September 13, 2010
at 11:50 AM
James, you really need to get a life, dear.
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By: Harriet on September 13, 2010
at 10:29 AM
But rumrumm, they’ll have to hit bottom before they are ready.
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By: no one's puppet on September 13, 2010
at 9:51 AM
It’s a shame there is not a 12 step program for stupid. All those Republican pundits and Tea Party members would qualify.
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By: rumrumm on September 13, 2010
at 9:42 AM
Bozly84, thank you for pointing out Colin Powell’s visit to The View. Here is a link to the episode:
http://abc.go.com/watch/the-view/SH559080/VD5583375/the-view-99
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By: delurkergurl on September 13, 2010
at 8:55 AM
I agree, alaskapi. That’s why I wrote “some”.
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By: James on September 13, 2010
at 8:47 AM
James- Longhorn is close to or has fallen into the fallacy of hasty generalization.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hasty_generalization
We all do it if we are not careful enough.
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By: alaskapi on September 13, 2010
at 8:28 AM
Sorry Donna, I shouldn’t have written “little” and qualified with “often.” I sent you a cheap shot.
I still think Longhorn makes some sense.
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By: James on September 13, 2010
at 8:19 AM
Actually, James–I was responding to Longhorn. I do not read your lengthy posts at all. This little short one managed to get past my “oh, it’s just James again” response.
As for your view of how I come across, it’s as irrelevant to me as you apparently view the opinions of others that you selfishly hog the blog.
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By: Donna on September 13, 2010
at 8:15 AM
Shirley, I was replying to other posters. I care.
Who cares or even knows what you think until you actually write something?
Donna, I was extrapolating from people I know, history and what we read in the papers. Pollsters do the same.
If you like humor, why don’t you practice what you preach? You are probably a nice person, but you come across as an angry little woman.
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By: James on September 13, 2010
at 8:12 AM
Poolman,
Thanks for the info you provided.
Confirms what I have suspected.
When you have seen it for yourself with your own eyes, nothing will ever change your mind.
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By: Craig on September 13, 2010
at 7:47 AM
Oh, fer . . .! For the last time, Jones the (Almost) Book Burner is not a real pastor, reverend or even Christian. He is a charlatan! Its just like tht famous “debate” between a Democratic vice presidential nominee (from Texas no less) and the Republican vice pres. nominee, “Senator, I knew Jack Kennedy. He was a friend of mine. And you’re no Jack Kennedy.”
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By: Mageen in Old Virginny on September 13, 2010
at 7:35 AM
James. Who cares?
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By: Shirley on September 13, 2010
at 7:32 AM
I agree, with all of your post, no one’s puppet. No group can intimidate us unless we let them. This is only from memory and I don’t listen to Glenn Beck every day, but I think he also agrees about the Patriot Act.
Hi, Craig.
Wyndwalker, I can’t presume to speak for a political party any more than I can for the Tea Party movement, but since when has that stopped me?
I think the primary directive of Republicans and Democrats is to get and hold power.
Otherwise, I think core values are to keep a strong defense. “Speak softly and carry a big stick.”
Keep government relatively small and taxes low. If you cut taxes, cut spending.
Freedom to succeed and to fail without more than necessary regulations.
Do privately before asking the government to take over.
Local, not central government control.
A safety net for the deserving.
Ronald Reagan.
I’m proud I finished writing this with a straight face. Individuals excepted, both parties stray from their core values.
Honeyjorumples I agree with your last post. However, there is a reason why the press over reacted to the Rev Jones’ threat to burn the Quran and down played insults to Christianity, including the time an artist portrayed the Virgin Mary in urine. What is your guess?
Howard Zinn was a polemiscist. He was a good writer, but a reader needs an antidote to cut through the bias.
I only missed voting in a school board election because I forgot the date. Otherwise, I always vote. Voting is our duty.
My brother and I hiked in the Loess Hills the day of 9/11. I let our VCR tape the Today Show while we were gone. I watched the tape on Saturday. The two towers collapsed from the top down.
I don’t argue 9/11 conspiracies. The Jeanne Garafalo message board has all I and fellow posters had to say.
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By: James on September 13, 2010
at 6:46 AM
Anyone who extrapolates from his family to pronounce how Liberals and Republicans process information isn’t exactly the person to accuse others of generalizing or lacking logic.
As for this blog, a healthy dose of humor often makes a point better than lecturing.
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By: Donna on September 13, 2010
at 6:26 AM
You should welcome some different ideas if you really want to change our country for the better. I have voted for Democrats and Republicans. Growing up in a Democratic household, I can tell you that Liberals are more emotional in the way they approach politicians and Republicans more analytical. Dems believe the politicians are going to have the same values as they do. But look at Clinton, Edwards, and Gore. If they can lie to their wives, how easy is it to lie to the American people? Why would you think anyone else in the Democratic Party is different? Aren’t most politicians only interested in themselves? In college (at a liberal school), I learned about Economics and Financial matters. The more you actually study and learn – you begin to integrate all subject matter – even Biology (the environment) into the equation. World events aren’t as simple as Helen or the Liberals want you to believe. People in this world want to cause Americans to turn on Americans. Blogs like this aren’t helping to unite this country to create a better country. This blog is full of hate – more than what you accuse the Republicans. I have not been happy with some of the Republican financial decisions. Bush and Obama should have taken the bailout money and helped the American people. Both helped the businesses that should have failed because they did not practice what this country was built on – honesty and trust. The only reason the government has to step in and created regulations is because people have lost their moral compass. This country is only 20% Democrat and 20% Republican – the rest are Independents. To lump all the people that you are talking about as hating gays, Muslims, Blacks, etc. as being Republican just is not logical. If a Democrat/Liberal/Progressive could discuss the actual issues, it would be a miracle. Instead they resort to demoralizing Palin, Beck, or whoever they don’t agree with their politics which is the very idea they say they are against – which is hate on their part. It is sad that people have to go so low to degrade others just for power and control. If both sides would stay on the issues, it would greatly improve our country.
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By: Longhorn on September 13, 2010
at 6:16 AM
PFesser, and then, being the pilot you claim, this should be interesting. If you were to cross-check N numbers with the craft in question, it does seem a bit mysterious. 😉
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By: poolman on September 13, 2010
at 12:10 AM
Exactly, Craig……you don’t know any better.
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By: claire on September 12, 2010
at 11:21 PM
Don’t cha just love the arrogance of unbridled capitalism? Home of the free and the brave, oh and the insignificant. Support our troops, my ass.
http://www.sott.net/articles/show/214982-Veterans-Exposed-to-Carcinogen-Shed-Light-on-Secret-Iraq-KBR-Contracting-Deal
“sarcasm”
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By: poolman on September 12, 2010
at 10:04 PM
“condescending”
Claire, If I didn’t know better you would be the living breathing definition of the word.
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By: Craig on September 12, 2010
at 9:52 PM
And lori is an Building Engineering expert…
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By: Craig on September 12, 2010
at 9:50 PM
claire and your credentials are?
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By: Craig on September 12, 2010
at 9:48 PM
“Our” Pfesser seems to be a Jack of All Trades. Previous posts claimed to have worked in healthcare, been a pilot and now, went to engineering school.
All Pfesser’s words, not mine.
Very impressive. But still a condescending snit as far as I’m concerned. Too bad. I could probably have had respect for Pfesser otherwise.
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By: claire on September 12, 2010
at 9:01 PM
PFesser, the pancake theory went away when it couldn’t be reproduced in models by NIST or FEMA. If we want to talk buildings and steel, there is a lot more people with way more knowledge than I that are finally blowing enough holes in the official reports that it may get somewhere.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnw/20100909/pl_usnw/DC61949
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By: poolman on September 12, 2010
at 7:42 PM
WEll no fuel or plane touched building 7…
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By: lori on September 12, 2010
at 7:07 PM
And not to be a nag, but:
“thousand degrees Fahrenheit, yet it takes 2 and a half times more heat (2500 deg F) just to MELT steel.””
Heat and temperature are not the same thing; a boiling teakettle has more temperature (100C) than an ocean at 40C, but the ocean has more heat. Not the same thing.
Secondly, in temperature, 2500F is not 2.5 times 1000F. To compare temperatures you have to use Kelvins. 1000F = 811Kelvins. 2500F = 1644K: about twice as hot. small point.
Thirdly, engineering school was a long time ago, but steel loses about half its strength at about 600C, if memory serves, or about 1100F – well within the heating capacity of Jet A. Then expand the floor truss by heating it, with it bolted into the frame on both ends, and you get a guaranteed buckle. Strength —->near 0. It would seem to me you don’t need any extraordinary explanations.
Also, I forgot – if memory serves, I believe the usual heat-blocking coating was not sprayed on at least part of one of the towers because of environmental concerns? Anybody confirm that? And, if heat has no effect on the trusses, why do they go the time and expense of covering them with heat-protective material?
Sorry – don’t want to beat it to death.
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By: PFesser on September 12, 2010
at 7:02 PM
The FAA is probably one of the best government agencies around. No doubt they were doing their level best that day and would have a vast amount of data to help us, if it wasn’t censored.
As a pilot, you are likely familiar with this data. Click on probable cause for the planes in question.
“The Safety Board did not determine the probable cause and does not plan to issue a report or open a public docket. The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 are under the jurisdiction of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The Safety Board provided requested technical assistance to the FBI, and any material generated by the NTSB is under the control of the FBI.”
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By: poolman on September 12, 2010
at 6:43 PM
poolman –
” Fact: Burning jet fuel CANNOT exceed one thousand degrees Fahrenheit, yet it takes 2 and a half times more heat (2500 deg F) just to MELT steel.”
Actually, the temperature depends on circumstances. Jet A (kerosene basically) can burn in a stoichiometric mixture with pure oxygen to about 3000 degrees C. In air, which is about 1/5 oxygen, it is much less, about 1000 degrees C. I think that is about 1800 Fahrenheit. The idea that Jet A cannot exceed 1000F is nonsense; when I fly I lean the mixture in my piston engine (Continental O-470) to 1400 F on the exhaust gas temperature (EGT) gauge and run it there all day. Gasoline has less heat than kerosene, BTW (Jet A). They usually set the TIT (no, not what you think – Turbine Inlet Temperature) to about 900C on GE engines, I think that is about 1650 if my little whiz-wheel is right. This of course will not melt steel.
But of course, it doesn’t need to melt the steel. Steel softens as it is heated, and it also expands, creating buckling stresses which deformed the floor trusses in the WTCs, causing them to lose much of their strength, which of course depends completely on their maintaining shape.
Best estimates are that the WTCs failed as each floor collapsed, pancaking onto the floor below, with the accumulated weight of each collapsed floor above.
I don’t see a mystery.
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By: PFesser on September 12, 2010
at 6:20 PM
poolman –
As a pilot of thirty years, I can tell you that the way 9-11 was handled was masterful. They had no idea what was going on. There was confusion. Early morning Tuesday. Business travelers everywhere. No way to tell what was happening.
The Big Boss had the authority and the chutzpah: he sized up the situation, consulted with his colleagues quickly and then by god shut down the whole system. With one word he commanded every airplane in the United States to land at the nearest airport. He and his team overcame the unprecedented confusion, came up with a workable plan and put it into effect quickly.
I am no fan of the FAA, but as a very experienced pilot, I have no criticism of the way the system handled 9-11. In my opinion – well done, gentlemen.
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By: PFesser on September 12, 2010
at 5:55 PM
oh dear Glenn Beck’s viewship just dropped by 5.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2010/09/12/2010-09-12_he_cracks_kills_wife_4_more_over_eggs.html
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By: DoverSoul on September 12, 2010
at 5:49 PM
Wanna go back?
http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/StartHere?source=20100912_dp_act
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By: lori on September 12, 2010
at 5:16 PM
“First..who knew the first airplane was to be a bomb?” – Craig
That is a good question. Or a missle, or a weapon? Who did know? And what does that really matter. Rules of engagement? No communication with the cockpit – what are the rules? Or what about after they KNEW the first was used that way? 2, 3, 4… still clueless?
“About the authorities..Did they know if 91 was coming back to Washington?? Yep they had a pretty good guess.” – Craig
Seriously. A guess? That is how we defend our land. A guess? I guess Iraq has WMD’s. How did that work for them? Shoot first ask questions later. That is our MO. Especially over OUR country! Not well thought out there.
If you can dispute the few, simple “coincidences” I stated in that post. Even just one. I’m listening. Otherwise, old news or new, doesn’t change reality.
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By: poolman on September 12, 2010
at 4:45 PM
I meant to write “small-minded” but I guess that “small-mined” could possibly work as well.
Sorry about that!
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By: SagiDreamer on September 12, 2010
at 4:38 PM
Thank you, Helen!
I’ve been travelling – I reside abroad and the last few days have been busy just getting back here and in getting the household back up to speed, mail up to date, bills paid to date, etc. I remember the furore that the MSM was building up to about this idiotic event before I left and am glad that I missed the worst of it.
People: you really cannot believe how silly, small-mined, ignorant and generally bigoted our whole nation looks when maniacs like this are given a national forum to spout their crap.
And yes, given the current circumstances: after all, we are at war in two Muslim countries – one of which did absolutely NOTHING to warrant being attacked by us while the other was merely a safe harbor for those who did attack us and whose leaders had been trained by our own CIA in terrorist tactics (what goes around comes around) – and where much of US foreign policy is seen as adhering to unequivocal support for Israeli expansionist policy, burning the Muslim holy book IS INDEED akin to shouting “Fire!” in a crowded theater. There are those who will disagree but contemporary circumstances are similar and anyone who doesn’t believe that, hasn’t been paying attention. This is not merely protest – it is hatred that is being stoked. Make no mistake about it.
It is a shame, a tragic shame, that the Republican party. which at one time was the MORE progressive of the two political parties, has become such a travesty of itself. In my lifetime, the Democratic Party has been the more progressive of the two by far. But I have good and decent Republican friends and even remember good Republican politicians (think Lincoln, for example, who must be turning in his grave) who cannot believe what today’s party has become. Jesus wept indeed!
*****
If you haven’t already done so, please turn off your TVs and sit down to read Howard Zinn’s “A People’s History of the United States” and, while it is controversial, it explains in large part why we have become the nation that we are today. We need to remember that the MSM is manipulating us (in service to the corporate masters who form the contemporary aristocracy) and we should not always be such dupes.
And please, please, please – volunteer for a candidate of your choice and most especially, VOTE! I voted in the primary of my state before I left and will vote by absentee ballot in the general. And I did and will vote for an entirely Democratic slate.
My vote is my voice! As your votes are yours!
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By: SagiDreamer on September 12, 2010
at 4:37 PM
To: Mary Ann Bleich
Your remarks brought me more Hope for Change than I’ve felt in a long time ~~~ you heard about this blog from your cousin in TEXAS ~ Bush country!!
Thanks for making an otherwise rainy, gloomy Sunday feel bright and gay!
And welcome to our porch ~~ or, as us city folk always called it ~~ our “stoop”!
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By: claire on September 12, 2010
at 4:26 PM
Dear Margaret and Helen: I’ve just discovered you! through a cousin of mine in Texas. I’m in Ohio. Haven’t read all your blogs yet but working through them. I love your slant on politics and life; love your humor and your naughty words. I’ve reached 69 already and have used a few myself, the older I get. I love your COMMON SENSE! Please keep blogging forever.
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By: Mary Ann Bleich on September 12, 2010
at 4:12 PM
Poolman,
Old news..but I’ll play along.
“Ironic that we have the ability to engage any unidentified aircraft within 8 minutes of anywhere on our continental airmass, yet allowed these “hijacked planes” 30 and 40 minutes to achieve their intended destinations.”
First..who knew the first airplane was to be a bomb?
Until the second one hit…
Then the people on Flt.91 had heard from their relatives on the ground that they also would be used as a bomb..
About the authorities..Did they know if 91 was coming back to Washington?? Yep they had a pretty good guess.
But you have already postulated about all this and your mind is made up. And I have my views as well.
To you the whole world..or at least our government is a conspiracy. I hate to look over my shoulders every day. I’d get a crick in my neck.
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By: Craig on September 12, 2010
at 3:47 PM
Don’t ya think that the reason for the networks..Fox,NBC,CBS,ABC and CNN are so all
over the place is not just news but entertainment and almost creating news in order for their ratings…
To soar or for hopefully pull your strings in a way that THEY know you already have preconceived notions… It’s just people look for news they want to hear. They want the facts as they know them and will search out the medium until they find what they want to hear.
To borrow from others who like to quote on this blog I give you the following by Marshall McLuhan.
Although the world wide web came ten years after his death Marshall somewhat predicted it.
“The next medium, whatever it is – it may be the extension of consciousness – will include television as its content, not as its environment, and will transform television into an art form. A computer as a research and communication instrument could enhance retrieval, obsolesce mass library organization, retrieve the individual’s encyclopedic function and flip into a private line to speedily tailored data of a saleable kind (Marshall McLuhan 1962).”
I suggest you read his theories about communication.
McLuhan’s most widely known work, Understanding Media: The Extensions of Man (1964), is a pioneering study in media theory. In it McLuhan proposed that media themselves, not the content they carry, should be the focus of study—popularly quoted as “the medium is the message”. McLuhan’s insight was that a medium affects the society in which it plays a role not by the content delivered over the medium, but by the characteristics of the medium itself.
McLuhan pointed to the light bulb as a clear demonstration of this concept. A light bulb does not have content in the way that a newspaper has articles or a television has programs, yet it is a medium that has a social effect; that is, a light bulb enables people to create spaces during nighttime that would otherwise be enveloped by darkness.
He describes the light bulb as a medium without any content. McLuhan states that “a light bulb creates an environment by its mere presence.”
More controversially, he postulated that content had little effect on society—in other words, it did not matter if television broadcasts children’s shows or violent programming, to illustrate one example—the effect of television on society would be identical.
He noted that all media have characteristics that engage the viewer in different ways; for instance, a passage in a book could be reread at will, but a movie had to be screened again in its entirety to study any individual part of it.”
I suggest you at least read his biography on the web and see how he was so far ahead of us in understanding the media and its effects.
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By: Craig on September 12, 2010
at 3:39 PM
Hello and happy Sunday, everyone. Oh, what to ignore and what to run with….. Hmmmm….
Well first, it IS ironic that we consider “ground zero” sacred ground and so wish no Muslims would live, work, or pray near there, when it WAS happening peacefully WITHIN the twin towers before that notorious day in 2001. That is irony in my book.
Add some other irony, or coincidences. The term “ground zero” describes the location after a nuclear blast, and yet the namers still claim no explosions of any kind were involved, only the two commercial airplanes carrying regular jet fuel – though eye witnesses and evidence PROVE otherwise. Fact: Burning jet fuel CANNOT exceed one thousand degrees Fahrenheit, yet it takes 2 and a half times more heat (2500 deg F) just to MELT steel.
Ironic that no one, not the FBI or the 911 commission has proved OBL, Muslims, or even Arabs, attacked the world trade center, yet most people still accept that CONSPIRACY as fact.
Ironic that the Saudis (15 of the 19) we claim were involved were not true practicing Muslims, since they frequented strip clubs and didn’t follow the edicts in the Qur’an. Yet, in our ignorance we claim they were acting on their “faith.”
Ironic that we have the most expensive and extensive intelligence gathering apparatus and supposedly didn’t know of the proposed attack and that the WTC was at risk.
Ironic that we have the ability to engage any unidentified aircraft within 8 minutes of anywhere on our continental airmass, yet allowed these “hijacked planes” 30 and 40 minutes to achieve their intended destinations.
Ironic that Norad was involved in a war game exercise involving planes hitting buildings at the same time that the real ones were doing just that.
I can keep going, but I think the point is made. I go back to my “willfully blind” post.
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By: poolman on September 12, 2010
at 3:22 PM
( NOT sure if the program, THE VIEW has the C.Powell available for repeat/view online..Think they DO have a website..just not sure what they make available…Did mention here mention of Meghan, happened in other news on air programs as well, mentioning of HER comments/commentary but NONE picked up on Powells appearance or words he had to offer…rather sad but typical of what passes for our supposed fair and balanced MSM outlets…not JUST Fox , the others as well…They skew to what they figure will garner an audience as well as fill the air and print pages with meaningless drivel that really important “stuff” gets little notice and then they have the audacity to tell us all that they are merely giving us what the audience says it really wants…Me, I would prefer some actual REPORTING with the use of facts and FACT CHECKING as well to be able to HAVE information , to be able to BE informed factually…tis a NOT that will happen anytime soon obviously (far too much $$$$ at stake for one thing…little real concern for the importance of a informed citizenry and little matter it is a cornerstone for a functioning democracy at large !!! The medium massages the messages and at large, is so absorbed !!)
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By: Bozly84 on September 12, 2010
at 3:06 PM
What we need is to get rid of this two-party system that polarizes our nation when it is not necessary. Not all Republicans are like this generalization, and to me that means that those who aren’t this “radical” need another party that shows people that not everyone who is Republican in name is like this. My parents are Republican and my dad hates Glen Beck, neither liked Sarah Palin, and both were appalled by the idea of burning the Quran. There needs to be a platform for those who aren’t on the far right, but just don’t agree with everything the Democrat party does either. I, for the record, am a Libertarian. I vote for who is best, even if that means “throwing my vote away”. I want people to know that there isn’t just a far right and a far left. A lot of people fall somewhere in-between.
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By: Aurora on September 12, 2010
at 3:02 PM
Have seen several mentions of Meghan McC and her comments from the RM show..Sad that NONE have mentioned the appearance or more importantly, the comments of Colin Powell who appeared on THE VIEW this past week. Did accidently happen to catch it and was thoughtful and responsible and such great common sense..He told of being at Walter Reed visiting returned troops..he told of walking down the hallway, several “rooms” there, one dedicated to those of Christian faith/prayer, another for Muslim and etc..He told of the disparaging confliction felt by those who do/have/are serving “over there”..they come from all backgrounds, all faiths,various ethnicities and the confliction that arises when our nation is actively denying “INALIENABLE” rights of one group over another, such as in this particular, Christians over Muslims with no matter first/foremost that both AMERICAN…The military folk seem able to COUNTER the abject absurdities overall and WORK TOGETHER ON THEIR MISSION assigned to them..,tis a lesson we civilians need to embrace as well. There have been, are and unfortunately always likely WILL be “fanaticals”…can be found just about in all groupings folks..It is our responsibility to BE responsible, we all have an important role in this.
Presently some are attempting to spin it that the GOP leadership did NOT purposely speak up and out and against/etc as they did not want to “give it undue elevated attention”…..Some are willing to swallow that sales pitch, it fits the mythicals that abound as they attempt to rationalize their own actions and thoughts.
Personally find it pitiful…but find Dems pitiful too for they have not spoken up and out and find it pitiful that REAL RATIONAL MINDED/INTENDED AMERICANS have allowed the IRRATIONALITY to spread even more….to NO ONES REAL GREATER COMMON GOOD but it does “enrich” the more radical forces that thou in actuality are small in number, are allowed the center stages and APPEAR as if THEY truly represent the TRUE majority of us all !!!
Think indeed this November election selections and finals will indicate just how far down we are willingly willing to go…or whether we ARE capable of handling the truthmaticals as well as willing to do OUR OWN fair share even if we think we already have…..Think folks SHOULD think of the children…it IS their future we have in our hands/votes and it does really matter !!!
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By: Bozly84 on September 12, 2010
at 2:56 PM
Craig here!
Hey everyone I’m back.
I know ya have missed me.
Been in Vegas stimulating Harry’s economy.
Actually came back with more than I took.
Interesting discussions around the tables in the casinos about our current state of affairs. Did not hear one single person stand up for the current situation/administration. And you know everyone has an opinion and they were not very favorable for the current White House resident.
That aside, wyndwalkr asked about Republican Presidents..OK..
Here’s my list of reputable Republicans:
Lincoln
Teddy Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Eisenhower
Ronnie Regan
I personally liked Bush 1.
And his son did as good a job as any on 911.
Until your sitting in that seat,you don’t know how one would react. Yes he bungeled Iraq and should have gone for Afghanistan and Pakistan first.
Now I know that there will be a lot of mashing of teeth…about Ronnie and Eisenhower. But that’s my list.
Now as to Democrats..
Jimmy Carter..wow how can the one man and Democrat I voted for, so screw up the country. My first house with 16 plus % interest rates..those were great times. A man who could not make a decision and stick with it and became paralyzed by a Iranian fanatic.
And then there was Clinton. Still wonder about White Water? And didn’t know pizza hut delivered to the White House along with Ms. Monica. Impeached for perjury and obstruction of justice in connection with a scandal involving a White House intern, but subsequently acquitted by the U.S. Senate. The Cole bombing and Mogadishou on his watch as well as the first missiles into Afghanistan and Sudan. Now there is a great legacy.
Now as to Quran burnings.
I have some Amish furniture
and some Mormon underwear to burn.
You never know whats going on in those temples?
Then there are those Scientologist’s jumping up and down on couches..strange people. Don’t understand them. Guess we can throw on a L. Ron Hubbard book on the bonfire. I’m sure there is a Wiccan that we could tie to a center post as well.
So one idiot is getting attention in Florida and suddenly the right,tea partiers ,Republicans and anyone leaning right of center is painted with a broad brush as an accomplice to the nut case.
Geeze, for one weekend can’t you give the right a break?
Glad to see everyone back on the porch.
Hey there Poolman! Perfessor and James.
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By: Craig on September 12, 2010
at 2:22 PM
btw,wyndwalker…have surely appreciated your shared inputs…obviously lived enough to reach wisdomly ranks…Find it regrettable that folks such as Marie are quagmired and unable…The rule of ‘do unto others as would have done unto you” is such a basic truismatical that should be embraced for the real greater common good of ALL but so difficult to accomplish..it would surely level the playing field…….
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By: Bozly84 on September 12, 2010
at 2:00 PM
Yo, rather agree Wyndwalker regarding the actual/factual difficulties of ascertain just WHAT makes up the core GOP values..The group sure has NOT paraded out much of anything descernable and is what is frustrating , is to here they stand a supreme chance of “re-taking” majority control with even the likes of Boehner ( just how does HE get away with the now common pronunciation of his name that has it as IF an “a” where an “O” is so readily /vastly more ap-ropos..mystifying and thensome )..ARR, with the liklihood that HE would replace Pelosi who has been disparaged at every twisted turn…Seems rather inconceiviable that RATIONAL voters would vote to put the reins back in their hands, perhaps bespeaks the irrationality of too many who somehow DID think that Obama could walk on water and things would instantaneously CHANGE and that NO hard times for any or at least not for they,themselves and where are the roses and lollipops mentality which woefully/mistaken as being stalwarted ,ever optimistic Americanism and btw, “WE WANT IT ALL NOW/INSTANTANEOUSLY” …where is the hardwork effort, the sharing of the neccessary sacrifices, the notion that we are in this together and that IF we CTUALLY work TOGETHER and RESPECTFULLY while at such, we could prove we all together are indeed in it to win for the greater common good of all and NOT just the few…Could add some more , but have become rather but bla-ables that get mouthed but not enough “actuable” following thru with so easier to B & M and just roll along ..hoping that indeed there IS someone who will execute THE solution/s…IF the prediction that GOPs are headed for a return as THE majority, seems likely that there are going to be major numbers of “NOSE-LESS” folks becoming even more stranded than they ever imagined possible !!
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By: Bozly84 on September 12, 2010
at 1:56 PM
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/eat-the-press
This is a worthwhile “read”,rather encompasses what those who utilyze basic common sense in these very/extremely bizzarro times we ALL are quagmired in…We allow too many to BE bamboozled and we fail ALL when WE do NOT speak up and out …it IS our responsibility; it IS our obligation if we truly BELIEVE in the “basics” upon which we SAY we treasure in the hows and whys of the very founding and progression of OUR nation.
(yeah, it is from HUFF POST, and yeah, the seem to have a “lefty slant” but in far more truthiness, great deal of common sense factors of TRUE majority rank and file who too hold dear and cling to basic common sense in the pursuit for the greater common good for ALL not just the few…It’s a “do unto others as WOULD PREFER done unto you” thingy..basic common sense for survival and oh, yeah..THERE IS NO GUARENTY THAT LIFE WILL BE FAIR but it is worthwhile clinging to the HOPE that actual progress can be made …worth giving some think time too, worth sharing and etc,etc,etc !!!)
Eat The Press
Quran Burning Story: This Is How The Media Embarrass Themselves
Huffington Post | Jason Linkins | September 10, 2010
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By: Bozly84 on September 12, 2010
at 1:41 PM
Azgrandma, thanks for a good read on a Sunday afternoon. I needed a dose of that wisdom myself, mind you. Sometimes, especially lately, I have been feeling like God’s way is not quick enough and I take matters into my own hands. I need to atone for some of that I imagine. 🙂
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By: Easier on September 12, 2010
at 1:02 PM
Great Post as usual, hits the nail right on the head. hey “teacher” thanks for the quote, hope you don’t mind but I’ve shared it with some other folks. Haven’t been on the porch in a while but it sure is good to be back. How can anyone hate these ladies who make such good pie?
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By: Hillbilly on September 12, 2010
at 10:26 AM
If we can start with they premise, that people the world over are pretty much the same, then all groups have their fanatics. I don’t think Islam has trained us to be hypersensitive, we did that all by ourselves. Evidence the Patriot act. The best thing we could do restore our confidence is to rebuild the Twin Towers on Ground Zero and stop calling it that!
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By: no one's puppet on September 12, 2010
at 10:20 AM
I know the comments have flowed like a wave here as they always do, but I go way back to the first couple dozen where PFessor stated his spinning weathervane of political opinion and the note taken of Megan McCain’s interview on the Rachel Maddow Show.
I have one question: What are Republican core values and how far back do we have to look before we can admire them in a politician?
I’m pretty sure I would not agree with even the core values (if anyone can even remember what they were) but that is neither here nor there. The question stands.
Trolls wearing the ‘R’ proudly often are of few words. They make their jab and then run away like most bullies do. We doubt they even understand the question.
Who remembers the core values and are they worth remembering (or feasible) in today’s society?
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By: wyndwalkr on September 12, 2010
at 9:52 AM
Thanks PFessor, and for posting the letter. The Today Show interviewed the Iman in charge of building the mosque. He also implied not building it would incite Islamic violence.
Wayside616, I already respected you, but knowing you are a fellow veteran makes me think even more highly of you. No one spat on me either, but someone threw a tomato at my brother. He missed. I had a mixed welcome when I came home. I had not slept for twenty four hours when our plane took me home.
I was loopy, and when I met a flight attendant who knew a college friend. We talked so long, she moved me to first class so we could visit during her breaks. I shared some of my adventures which were unusual. At the end of the flight, the passengers gave me a standing ovation. I was numb and dazed.
I couldn’t sleep without a knife under my pillow. I was angry and jumpy. I resented family and neighbors whispers about my cousin as they compared notes on how he had changed. I suspected they might do the same to me. One day my mother said “you never should have gone . They ruined you. You are just some old sergant!”
My younger brother was showing off to his girl friend when he was on leave before his second tour in Vietnam. He was a head taller than I and decided to kneel me. It was just a game, but I dug my bony little fingers in and nearly dislocated his wrist as I slammed him to the floor. It was so fast, I didn’t have time to enjoy it. For a moment, I had wanted to kill him, because he wasn’t my brother any more. That scared me.
I want to grad school and during the first orientation party, people were comparing financial aid. I said I had what was left of the GI Bill. That part of the room became quiet. Someone said “you don’t belong here you fascist. We’ll get rid of you.” Some tried but failed. It is one reason I try to throw in the kitchen sink to defend my views. I had to back then because some students were gunning for me.
I earned a MA with thesis, nine hours toward a PHD, and accreditation to teach in community college in four semesters. A job counselor told a Navy friend if he wanted employment out of the South, he needed to lie about his military service and say he had been on the road for four years.
I asked too, and heard the same thing. I was so furious I wanted to kill someone. I finished the semester and decided to farm. It was a good decision. A farm is a good place to raise children.
I hung my MA on the wall and my father teased me about being the most over -educated farmer in the county.
I belong to the American Legion. I used to ask my friend to join. He is still so bitter his face contorts when we speak of them. They told him he wasn’t eligable because Vietnam wasn’t a real war.
No one spat on me, but people let me know my kind was unwelcome. A writer said the best of my generation was living in Canada. Another predicted the Vietnam War would be the first without a soldier-written literature because most who served were ignorant and uneducated.
I learned to lie to other students about my service. I felt like a coward.
Years later, the University of Michigan, I think ventured into the outer borders of political correctness with a speech code protecting minorities. I think a court threw it out. What attracted my attention was Vietnam era veterans were one of the protected groups.
We visited an office supply store in Omaha ten or twelve years ago. They were selling signs to post. They touted companies’ protections of minorities under a fair employment act. Vietnam era veterans were included in the protected groups.
I understand what Marie is writing. You don’t have to be literally spat upon to feel unwelcome.
Yes, Poolman the psychological damage from any trauma is permanent. I interviewed veterans for our first country history book. A WW1 veteran told me he still had nightmares about a body he had to step on while walking in a trench. A WW11 veteran and his wife slept in separate bedrooms because he tried to strangle his wife when they slept.
For me, this is as good as it gets. My wife said she shudders when she lets me out alone. I can be a polite, but mouthy SOB. FEMA was here in July. It was a big meeting because we didn’t like what they were saying.
Their job was to answer all of our questions. I kept at them so long, everyone else left, and we were locked in the court house. They lost forty minutes trying to get out. I planned it as my revenge. It is a good memory.
Iowa also gave Vietnam era veterans $400. as appreciation for their service. I still have my $400. plus interest. Life is good.
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By: James on September 12, 2010
at 9:28 AM
James and PFessor, I have to disagree with you on the uproar about paster Jones being about how Muslims have trained us to be hypersensitive. I was opposed to Jones because I’m an American, period. We have freedom of religion in this country, and that means all religions. We not only have Christians and Jews in this country, but we have Muslims, Buddhists, Taoists, Hinus, Wiccas, Shamans, atheists, agnostics, and a host of others in this country. I would be just as opposed to someone burning any one of their holy books, or non-holy books, as I would be opposed to someone burning the Holy Bible. It’s just not what we do in this country. I’m also smart enough to know that, just like not all Germans are Nazis, not all Muslims are radical, Western-hating al Qaida members, and it’s wrong to hold an entire people resposible for the actions of a radical few.
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By: HoneyJorumples on September 12, 2010
at 8:42 AM
Well said!
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By: Nichelle on September 12, 2010
at 8:21 AM
Marie,
I have no idea what you are referring to in this statement. Please explain.
“Shercares, wayside616 and others…..
If you were really caring for your brother why did you protest?”
I didn’t protest during my 14 months…I began to protest upon returning home. Why? Just for the reason you stated…I cared for my brothers. If you need further explanation for that I will be glad to provide it to you.
http://www.dirtandseeds.com
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By: wayside616 on September 12, 2010
at 8:13 AM
Thanks Lori. It takes a big person to apologize. I appreciate it.
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By: James on September 12, 2010
at 8:10 AM
I love you Margaret and Helen. I mean it.
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By: Penny on September 12, 2010
at 8:03 AM
no one’s puppet, we were about to leave when I posted my response and didn’t have time to write more. You are right. I have no vast knowledge of the Middle East.
This is mostly from memory so the details are hazy.
I do know that during the era of the Crusades, Jews were often treated better in Muslim countries than in Europe. Crusaders often mistreated Muslims, native Christian, and Jews.
I remember a group calling itself the US Commission on International Freedom asked the Bush administration not to ignore religious abuses and human rights violations as it gathered Middle Eastern allies for the war.
Officers told our niece not to bring a Bible when she deployed to Afghanistan.
I also know that in Saudi Arabia, Christians have been arrested for conducting private worship services in the kingdom. I don’t know about now, but Jews weren’t allowed in ten years ago. A few years ago, it was illegal to wear a cross or utter a Christian prayer.
Saudi’s demanded that Christian and Jewish soldiers not be allowed to wear religious symbols when they were in Saudi Arabia during Desert Storm.
The royal family has supported a fundamentalist brand of Islam in part to keep them from removing the royal family.
Egypt has about six million Coptic Christians. Muslim zealots harass them. When a church burned down in Cairo, the government told church members they couldn’t rebuild. The last I read, they were still trying to repair their church. Conversion to Christianity is considered apostasy in Egypt. Sharia law calls for a death sentence. The Muslim Brotherhood is one group influencing less religious tolerance than in the past.
In June, Pakistani Muslims attacked a Protestant pastor, his pregnant wife and his brother because they were accused of “evangelizing”. In the Punjab, Christians were ordered to leave. Four Christian families were charged with blasphemy because torn pages of the Quran were found in their trash. Much of the new harassment is in Taliban controlled regions.
30 or 40% of Lebanon’s citizens are Christian. I knew a Lebanonese Presbyterian in college. The country has a religious political power sharing arrangement. News week reported two or three years ago that many Christians were leaving because of pressure from Hizbullah.
Time, another magazine we subscribe to reported that Iraqi Assyrian and Chaldean Christians were moving to Lebanon to escape the war and also persecution. Muslims were moving there too.
Iraqi Christians were persecuted by Shi’a and Sunni Muslim groups as well as criminal gangs, according to Time Magazine. Time also reported Syrian Christians were fleeing to Lebanon to escape persecution.
Yesterday, the Omaha World Herald printed an editorial which mentioned Bangladesh which is nearly all Muslim. The country has a female leader and is quietly adopting a policy of legal action to curb Islamic radicals. It’s political elite is guiding the country toward “reinforcement of democracy and away from Islamic rule.”
The Omaha World Herald also described the interfaith work of Dr. Akbar Ahmed of American University. He and his team met “many younger American Muslims who were balancing their Islam with their Americanness and a good grasp of both. He describes African-American Muslim leaders who promote messages of Pluralism in cities such as Dallas, Memphis, and Las Vegas.”
“On the negative side, he notes cases where radical Muslims in this country intimidate and even launch violent attacks on moderates. And in reading about accounts from Europe, one cannot avoid encountering examples of troubling Islamic radicalism.”
“Although our shores have remained free from a new attack, Islamic extremists have exploited opportunities to employ large scale violence in rich countries as well as poor ones… Radical Islam continues to take the lives of innocent Muslims in the developing world from Indonesia to Afghanistan to Yemen.”
One of our son’s university class mates traveled to China twice to help set up clandestine churches. He and his group narrowly escaped detection and arrest. China is of course, a non Muslim country, but Christians are not throwing bombs at Chinese.
My point still stands. Different countries’ cultures influence religious attitudes, and how lines of scripture are interpreted. Much of the uproar over the possible book burning comes from fear of the radical Muslim minority. Christians and Jews don’t react with violence to persecution as radicals do over imagined slights like the shape of a Burger King ice cream bar.
Fear drove the outcry. That minister didn’t deserve his moment of fame.
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By: James on September 12, 2010
at 7:56 AM
James, I apologize for calling you the B word associated with the political group of people who have tea bags hanging from their hat. It won’t happen again.
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By: lori on September 12, 2010
at 7:56 AM
poolman –
““Muslims and Islam Were Part of Twin Towers’ Life”
Oh, the irony!”
Irony? Nonsense. They just didn’t give a rat’s ass who they killed, and there happened to be some muslims in the way. To their warped minds, it was just collateral damage – nothing more.
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By: PFesser on September 12, 2010
at 7:25 AM
James –
I think you are right on the money about why there is such uproar about the Koran-burning. It’s because muslims the world over have trained us all to be extremely careful of treading on islam’s delicate sensibilities, while they couldn’t care less about anybody else’s.
Did you see the letter in the NYTimes yesterday? Let me see if I can find it…here it is. It is ostensibly from someone who spent many years in a “moderate” islamic country. I apologise for its length, but don’t want to cut it:
“joedog46
las vegas
September 11th, 2010
3:51 pm
Having lived in a “moderate” Muslim country in South East Asia for most of my adult life, I believe Muslim sensitivities are part of a belief into action system that is based on the Muslim dogma that all non-muslims are infidels; therefore unworthy of respect or tolerance. How this is presented can be as direct as in Saudi Arabia or less so in the CAIR group. Simply put, their sensitivities must be sacrosanct and our beliefs such as free speech remain in direct competition with their credos. Blow up a centuries old Buddha sculpture, pave over centuries old Hindu temples, deny freedom of worship to others; yet, when a Danish cartoonist draws Mohammed deaths occur as revenge with nary a critic in the Muslim world. From direct experience, I trust them not.”
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By: PFesser on September 12, 2010
at 6:39 AM
wayside616 @ 2:53
Hear, hear!
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By: PFesser on September 12, 2010
at 6:29 AM
lori –
“Jim, your non response spoke volumes. ”
Don’t be lazy. I won’t do your homework for you. Find something to which you object and I’ll gladly comment.
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By: PFesser on September 12, 2010
at 6:25 AM
I have missed your posts. You are a fantastic writer!! Keep it up!
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By: Stacey on September 12, 2010
at 5:24 AM
Michael Moore: If the ‘Mosque’ Isn’t Built, This Is No Longer America
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By: no one's puppet on September 12, 2010
at 2:57 AM
“Muslims and Islam Were Part of Twin Towers’ Life”
Oh, the irony! 😀
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By: poolman on September 12, 2010
at 12:09 AM
Bought my copy of the Qur’an today. (national buy a Qur’an day). Take that, Muslim haters. 😉
Was hard to find, poolman! You’re right, all the used bookstores I called and stopped by had NONE on their shelves.
Had to go to the corporate store, B & N to get my copy. But they had lots of other interesting books I am lusting for now! LOL!
Like a book by a prominant Imam explaing how they have radicalized elements within their faith…just like the christians have radicalized elements within their ranks, that shoot and bomb folks…..they hate.
Imagine that.
“You have heard that it was said to the men of old, You shall not kill; and whoever kills shall be liable so he cannot escape the punishment imposed by the court. (Exod. 20:13; Duet. 5:17; 16:18.) But I say to you that every one who continues to be angry with his brother or harbors malice (emnity of heart) against him shall be liable to and unable to escape the punishment imposed by the court; and whoever speaks contemptuously and insultingly to his brother shall be liable to and unable to escape the punishment imposed by the Sanhedrin, and whoever says you cursed fool! — You empty headed idiot! shall be liable to and unable to escape the hell (Gehenna) of fire.” Matt. 5:21-22 Amp. version
“If possible, as far as it depends on YOU (emphasis mine!), live at peace with everyone. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave the way open for God’s wrath; for it is written Vengence is Mine, I will repay (requite), says the Lord. (Duet. 32:35.) But, if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head. (Prov.25:21-22.) Do not let yourself be overcome by evil, but overcome (master) evil with good.” Rom.12:18-21 Amp. version
“What leads to strife (discord and feuds) and how do conflicts (quarrels and fightings) originate among you? Do they not arise from your sensual desires that are ever warring in your bodily members? You are jealous and covet what others have and your desires go unfulfilled; so you become murderers. To hate is to murder as far as your hearts are concerned. You burn with envy and anger and are not able to obtain the gratification, the contentment and the happiness that you seek, so you fight and war. You do not have because you do not ask.” James 4:1-2 Amp. ver.
“And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is a world of wickedness set among our menbers, contaminating and depraving the whole body and setting on fire the wheel of birth — the cycle of man’s nature — itself being ignited by hell.” James 3:6
“Blessed — enjoying enviable happiness, spiritually prosperous (that is, with life joy and satisfaction in God’s favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) — are the makers and mantainers of Peace, for they shall be called the sons of God!” Matt.5:9 Amp. ver.
Rant done. May God visit you in the night season!
Peace ya’ll 🙂
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By: azgrandma on September 11, 2010
at 10:57 PM
High fiving Clair and saying “Hear, hear”, easier!
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By: azgrandma on September 11, 2010
at 9:32 PM
Thank YOU, Donna…….and also to No One’s Puppet. I love reading what thoughtful, loving people write. And I’ve seen those qualities in both of you.
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By: claire on September 11, 2010
at 8:44 PM
To Marie: My father used to have a collection of Reader’Digest” from the 1950s and 60s that I ripped into when I was growing up. I believed everything I read in these magazines because I was a child and I failed to entertain that there might be other points of view. The main idea was that communists were bad people out to get us and had to be fought to the end of the earth. As I got older, I read books, listened to other schools of thoughts and learned that nobody has a monopoly on foolishness, not the communists, not the capitalists, or even the socialists. I learned that no system is perfect. The last I heard, the Reader’s Digest has folded. It did not evolve with the times, I suppose.
It is about time you start listening to other points of view, Marie. I believe you are a thinking adult. You seem to imply that the current government is dragging the country down? Like you were not here when the two wars started and ballooned the deficit and ill-conceived policies espoused by the free-market anything goes specialists led to abuses on Wall Street that almost brought this country to its knees?
Like Donna stated, why would you come to this blog and pick a fight with people you know would not espouse your views? Most of the posters here are very open-minded and take the time to have discussions with people who bring other points of view to the porch in a respectful manner. The hosts are very much admired by us and we come here in communion of ideas. Unfortunately Marie, many have tried and have not converted any one of us to your type of ideas. I am sure we are not going to convert you to ours either. So spare us your venom please.
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By: Easier on September 11, 2010
at 8:38 PM
Their sign should just say … “God Hates Everyone Who Isn’t Like Me.”
Tru dat.
I have been wondering WHY some really GOOD people I know in real life vote GOP. Because all the hate mongering does NOT affect them. That’s why. So they could simply overlook that element in GOP. They get to focus on this whole “I want to keep my hard-earned money all to myself rather than to share it with those lazy people who just want a handout” and “if I vote Democrats, abortion will continue to be legal and I will help get babies killed and my church is against that”… My MIL, whom I respect and adore, shifted from Blue to Red in 2000. She voted Bush TWICE, and I am convinced, even though we have NEVER talked about this (and never will), she did so because she is a devout Catholic and she totally voted based on the “Pro-Life” agenda.
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By: subwow on September 11, 2010
at 8:35 PM
Thank you, Claire.
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By: Donna on September 11, 2010
at 6:33 PM
Jim, your non response spoke volumes.
Marie… yawnnnn….
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By: lori on September 11, 2010
at 5:45 PM
Even though “pastor” Terry Jones called off his book burning party, he achieved his goal. Now he is a household name.
On the other side of the fence…There has been a sweep on all the bookstores here with people buying a Qur’an. We went in to several that have been cleaned out. Barnes and Noble still has them, but all the used book stores are out. 😉
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By: poolman on September 11, 2010
at 5:21 PM
James, your answer gave me all the information I needed. Even if you have no vast knowledge about the Islam and the Middle East, I would expect you to consider the differences in the histories of the various countries, their cultures, tribal alliances, ethnicities, forms of government, sects, levels of income and education, but you didn’t.
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By: no one's puppet on September 11, 2010
at 5:09 PM
And to Donna: Your name is perfect. It is my daughter’s name, also. And she, too, is just as articulate as you are. And just as caring for those with less. And just as intelligent.
I’m proud of both of you.
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By: claire on September 11, 2010
at 5:09 PM
To Pfessor: Really intelligent people are not condescending or arrogant in their responses to others. You may have a way with words; but, that’s as far as your intelligence goes in my book.
If you need a good role model as to how to be intelligent and still be able to talk to anyone else; listen to President Obama. He’s never disrespectful. You’d do well to emulate him.
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By: claire on September 11, 2010
at 5:03 PM
[…] Helen Philpott wants to know: There is just one thing I haven’t been able to figure out yet. How many more groups of people does… […]
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By: In a Nutshell « From Pine View Farm on September 11, 2010
at 4:05 PM
BFF! (and Sarah Palin IS an egomaniacal, lying bitch).
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By: Donna on September 11, 2010
at 4:03 PM
Donna…will you be my new best friend?…;)
In all seriousness, THANK YOU for that last post, truer words have never been spoken (unless those words were ‘Sarah Palin is an egomaniacal, lying bitch’)
I saw a great bumper sticker that echos your sentiments…
“I was told for 8 years to ‘Respect The President…Now It’s YOUR Turn.”
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By: Kevin Karstens on September 11, 2010
at 3:59 PM
“alsakipi” checking in here Marie…
LOL – I was there for every plane which brought home my cousins and friends and neighbors all right.
Most of them came off in caskets …
The others we carried home to heal.
We had many an argument about the Viet Nam War round dinner tables and diner tables…
but not with our soldiers.
Through the years of holding some while they died of agent orange exposure, others who have battled drunkeness and despair from their experiences in VN, never once have I spit on anyone…
Not even the wacko politicians who were playing games with the lives with real live Americans.
That Florida twit should never have gotten the publicity he did but because he did I’m exercising my right of free speech… the thing the government fooled my friends and relatives into thinking they crawled in those tunnels to defend…
They didn’t die for any real reason, anything which was as valuable to America as they were, but I’m not going to keep my mouth shut
1- because a bunch of scared out of control jerks took their fear of the government war machine on your brother or
2-because of a one-way street notion of freedom of speech which assumes fruitloops like Mr Jones can speak without the community roaring back at them
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By: alaskapi on September 11, 2010
at 3:55 PM
What’s astonishing to me is how people were up in arms about the Dixie Chicks being “disrespectful” of Bush–there was all this noise about how, regardless of your political viewpoint, you needed to respect the office of the presidency. Where is the objection when people say far, far worse things than were ever said about Bush? Instead, you have idiots like Marie–whose I.Q. is doubtless smaller than her brassiere size–feeling free to spout stuff that is both venomous and demonstrably false.
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By: Donna on September 11, 2010
at 3:50 PM
Donna…I KNOW, right??!…;)
Even in times when Obama is PROFESSIONAL enough to use a prompter, at least he doesn’t WRITE ON HIS HAND, LOL…;)
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By: Kevin Karstens on September 11, 2010
at 3:46 PM
Thank you, Kevin. This is the same sort of dolt who’d snipe that one of the most articulate speakers of our time can’t talk without a teleprompter. Delusional.
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By: Donna on September 11, 2010
at 3:43 PM
“If its not a photo op with soldiers standing behind him then you won’t see a parade.”
Gimme a BREAK, at least get your ‘facts’ straight. Obama has attended the return of soldiers killed in Iraq, military funerals, etc…GW sent Cheney to attend, he never went to ONE soldiers funeral, or saw them come home. Obama GIVES A DAMN, Bush never did.
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By: Kevin Karstens on September 11, 2010
at 3:39 PM
How foolish to assume that people have no response to a particular point simply because they chose not to address every one of the foolish, unoriginal ones you spouted. And how arrogant. You this much of a bitch in your personal life or do you just do it from the anonymity of the internet?
The country is not being “dragged” anywhere. It is attempting to recover from eight years of venal, stupid, irresponsible practices. If there’s anything that our President failed at to date, it’s being too concerned with attempting consensus rather than simply doing what needs to be done.
I always wonder why someone who clearly disagrees with the hosts of a blog and the majority of the posters feels the need to come and spew his/her opinions. Think you’re going to persuade anyone of anything, Marie? Hardly–you simply remind me of how many people in this country are ignorant and unpleasant. Hope you have the day you deserve.
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By: Donna on September 11, 2010
at 3:37 PM
Shercares, wayside616 and others…..
If you were really caring for your brother why did you protest?
You had to volunteer to be a tunnel rat.
And now as to my rant it was multi-faceted was it not? But yet people cherry pick their fights and retorts.
Its obvious many did not retort to the ramblings on Barney and circus. Some things you cannot defend.
Yes I can forgive..but how do you look the other way while our country is being dragged down by someone who is hell bent on his way or the highway.
And yes there are “welcome homes” for our soldiers and sailors. I’ve seen it personally as an airplane was drenched by firetrucks on either side and the Captain told our cabin about the welcome being given. And in Dallas as well as other major airports that receive soldiers and Marines coming home, there are welcome groups that welcome home almost daily our heros. So yep your right no parade..probably not on Barack’s “to do ” list.
If its not a photo op with soldiers standing behind him then you won’t see a parade.
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By: Marie on September 11, 2010
at 3:29 PM
Ah yes, James, part of the willfully blind I mentioned earlier in this thread. We all want to think, imagine, dream of the good and better things. But when it doesn’t line up with reality, what good is it? How does it help us to achieve a bettr world?
Even in regard to Vietnam, we can sugarcoat reality all day long. Still, the damage is permanent. We have abandoned many of our “precious” troops there –even to this day.
This “American Dream” is and has been destroying civilization.
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By: poolman on September 11, 2010
at 3:18 PM
Marie,
I came home in 1967…into San Francisco, and nobody spit on me. I’ve heard these stories before but in all the reunions and veterans events I have gone to I have never met a soldier that was spit on. I’m not calling your brother a liar, I would never do that to a brother vet, but I wonder if his anger at having fought a senseless war that killed hundreds of thousands of innocent people and made multi-millionaires out of those who supplied the tools of war is simply tainting his memory. I have suffered more than some and loss than many over that war. For nearly 35 years I never slept more than three hours a night and to this day still have dreams that require medication. 58,000 of my brothers never came back. I could almost accept all this if we learned something from it…but we didn’t. Iraq and Afghanistan are proof of that. This country seems bent on empire building and that provides us with two things…the death of our youngest and finest and the massive accumulation of wealth by those who are involved in the initiation of the conflicts. We are so far from the “American Dream” that it is no longer visible.
http://www.dirtandseeds.com
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By: wayside616 on September 11, 2010
at 2:53 PM
Yes, I know about “people of the book.” It is Muslim recognition that Jews and Christians are part of the same religion as Muslims. They worship the same god.
However, even in Turkey one of the more tolerant Muslim countries, it is difficult to maintain a Christian church. They are sort of grandfathered in and it is hard if not impossible to get permission to build new church buildings.
Other countries make life harder for Christians and Jews. At least in Afghanistan, a man who converted to Christianity was sentenced to death before we talked the government out of it.
Other Muslim sects regard each other as deadly enemies. I view this as a cultural usurpation of Islam.
Poolman, I heard those stories too. Most people didn’t have private cell phones, it is true. However, NPR claimed to have received a cell phone call from someone hidden in the plane’s rest room.
NBC, I think, produced a documentary with tapes of calls, and also of the sound of people rushing the cock pit. The survivors heard the tape, and they agreed the passengers had tried something desperate and heroic. One man in the attempt was a pilot, so they thought they might be able to fly the plane if they could take it from the hyjackers.
It may all be a hoax, but I prefer to believe the passengers went out like heroes.
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By: James on September 11, 2010
at 2:51 PM
“As we know, after they learned what was happening via cell phone conversations, passengers devised at least one plan to rush the cockpit.” – James
That is part of the spin. Actually cell phones could not send or receive messages from planes in flight in 2001. That technology came later. Airfones were available in the backs of seats then. With a credit card you could call, but reception was not very reliable. The operator, Lisa Jefferson, that received that call testified: “I was still on the line and the plane took a dive and by then, it just went silent. I held on until after the plane crashed—probably about 15 minutes longer and I never heard a crash—it just went silent because—I can’t explain it. We didn’t lose a connection because there’s a different sound that you use. It’s a squealing sound when you lose a connection. I never lost connection, but it just went silent.”
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By: poolman on September 11, 2010
at 2:37 PM
Ever heard the phrase James, “the people of the book”?
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By: no one's puppet on September 11, 2010
at 2:07 PM
Katy Did It:
“God does hate you and I’m proud to be a registered Republican’
Firstly: Guess what? According to the ‘moral values’ your own bible preaches, God doesn’t hate ANYONE…but in your case, he might make an exception. Secondly, you are a registered Rep, and proud of it? Well, I’m a registered Dem..my vote just cancelled your hate based vote. Have a nice day!
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By: Kevin Karstens on September 11, 2010
at 2:01 PM
Sherecares, you’re welcome. I wish the best for your brother and your family. Do you think it would help if you told your brother you met a strange man on the internet who respects him for what he did?
I know what you mean about today’s soldiers. With an all volunteer force many of us don’t even know people serving. The war is an abstraction to us. Our niece and her husband have been in Iraq twice and Afghanistan once. One of our daughter’s college room mates drove trucks into Baghdad during the invasion. I don’t know if anyone outside of their friends and families cared.
A job counselor told a Navy friend and me we should lie about and hide our service if we wanted jobs. Say we were on the road for four years. No one wanted to hire veterans back then. At least apathy is better than hostility.
I agree, it is a crushing feeling to contemplate all of those lives taken too soon. They are the tip of the ice berg. Consider the unborn children who never got the chance to live.
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By: James on September 11, 2010
at 1:59 PM
I heard somebody on TV today talk about 9/11. He spoke about how the misery of that day stuck to him, the emptiness in the streets, the people wandering about with pictures of their loved ones in hand, hoping against hope for anything, any news, and about the kindness of people in response to the event: Restaurants feeding rescuers and not asking them to pay, people just being gentler and kinder. How I wish we had kept that perspective brought by that awful event. Life is so precious and so fleeting. Let us value one another and each and every day given to us. The day all of earth will realize that we have a commonality of purpose bound to this blue planet and how each and everyone’s actions affect everybody else, will be the day salvation will come to the human race. Up until then, we are just wanderers in the night catering to ignorance.
That said, it is disrespectful for people to come to this porch and soil it with dung. I have trained myself to step over and ignore it, but sometimes it is difficult not to ask if God gave some people any brains cells at all, based on last night’s troll activity.
Grandma Katie, I remember a while back you gave us that quote from the George Burns movie. Good day to bring it back. Glad you are doing well.
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By: Easier on September 11, 2010
at 1:48 PM
I’m not vilifying anyone.
I am describing people who’s culture may influence how they practice their religion. The cultures of Middle Eastern nations are intolerant to other religions. That doesn’t mean everyone is. Many would like to change the system, and some brave souls have suffered for their efforts.
If someone decide to burn a Hindu holy work, it wouldn’t have named the news cut.
I am vilifying the press and our government leaders who turned this into a world event. As further support of my position, Hot Air reports that the FBI visited the reverend several times. They warned him Muslims might kill him and reminded him of Salmon Rushdie and the Danish cartoonist.
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By: James on September 11, 2010
at 1:25 PM
@James, My Bro never talked about the atrocities he and others committed until two years ago in counsel. He is now dealing with the physical body he has left. Riddled from agent orange, tumors, cancer of stomach and now-we don’t know yet the new physical problems he has. More tests and the like. I am glad he is still alive. Yes, Marie was right regarding how people treated Nam Vets returning. I did not see a big Welcome Home Banner for those that left Irag the other day. Did you? We have become desensitized by War. The realities does not strike those sitting at home. My heart is heavy today and my eyes are full of tears for all those lives lost and those yet to be lost. PEACE! Imagine that? I imagine everyday what it would be like to have a peaceful America where we help each other too. Getting near the finish line I will experience peace in death but here on Earth the Wars go on, and on, and on. Thank you for saluting my Bro. Namaste.
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By: Shercares on September 11, 2010
at 1:17 PM
James, do not vilify a people, a country, or a religion based upon the behavior of its fanatics.
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By: no one's puppet on September 11, 2010
at 1:13 PM
Michelle Obama and Larua Bush spoke in Shanksville, Pennsylvania at a memorial service for the passengers of United Airlines Flight 93. As we know, after they learned what was happening via cell phone conversations, passengers devised at least one plan to rush the cockpit.
As President Obama said ” the men and women on that plane had never met the people whose lives they would save, but they willingly made the sacrifice.”
Sherecares, your brother was a tunnel rat? Did he ever tell you what he went through? Moving through caves and tunnels with God knows what booby traps ahead. It might have been a poisonous snake hanging from the ceiling, stakes, or soldiers waiting behind a dark curve in the tunnel. There aren’t many warriors I feel more respect for.
Marie is right about what the anti- war movement and the rest of the country put us through. However, I agree, forgiveness was liberating. It felt as if I had lost a huge weight from my shoulders.
I salute your brother, a brave man.
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By: James on September 11, 2010
at 12:57 PM
@Marie-How dare you judge anyone! Are you God in human disguise? My Bro was a tunnel rat in NAM and I stood for PEACE every Saturday on a corner until he came home safe in “72”. A broken man for life. They say, “the weak never forgive. Forgiveness is an attribute of the strong. ” After reading what you wrote, I now understand and believe this quote to be very, very true! How sad I am for you and those on here that seem to be so full of hate they will never feel the love. “Forgive and you will be forgiven” ?? Does this seem like a possibility to you at all?
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By: Shercares on September 11, 2010
at 12:33 PM
Any religious group can build a house of worship anywhere it wants as long as if obeys zoning and other rules.
Anyone can burn a book. So why are we in such an uproar because a small-time minister threatened to burn the Quram? We should have ignored him. Instead our overwrought press and government has elevated him into a world figure with copy cats threatening to follow through if the minister fails to.
Muslims burn Bibles, harass Jews and practice religious bigotry. Few react. So why is burning a holy book such a big deal now?
I believe our over reaction is based on fear of what will happen based on past Muslim behavior.
For example: Salmon Rushdie
the teddy bear named Mohammed
The Miss World riots
An uproar in Britain when some Muslims thought the swirl on an ice cream cone looked like the Arabic word for Allah.
Riots in Kashmire when some though a picture on underwear looked like a picture of a mosque.
The Danish cartoon riots.
We are afraid of what the Muslims might do if someone burns their holy book. Our leaders care more about our potential danger than about religious intolerance.
We also turn on one another to score political points.
All of this is on the anniversary of the day when thousands of blameless people died or were injured in what Tom Brokaw called the worst attack on our soil since Pearl Harbor.
I agree with Grandma Katie. There must be days when God wonders if creating our world was worth the bother.
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By: James on September 11, 2010
at 12:32 PM
On a very personal note: YAY, Margaret and Helen!
2 older women who are using their goddess-given intelligence and wisdom to correct the course of the ship of state!
YAY!!!
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By: Matie Leaves on September 11, 2010
at 12:07 PM
Marie? Come on Hannity, it really you isn’t it!
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By: no one's puppet on September 11, 2010
at 11:59 AM
“Sometimes I can be a bit harsh, and that’s not good, but I came here for the exchange of *ideas* with really smart people, and when we spin off into insults and questioning our opponents’ motivations, it completely derails really good argument until somebody can put out the fire. I hate that; I’m getting older every day; I resent that dead time.”
Sounds elitist when one reads this aloud to one’s self.
Shouldn’t the voice and shoulder of any person with endowed mental capacity be allowed to speak and brush up against the likes of all who gather on this porch?
Why state up front that you already deem certain others as unworthy of your engagement or level of intellect?
Quit putting others down and maybe the harshness will lessen.
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By: vgman on September 11, 2010
at 11:58 AM
If they gain control of Congress, the republicans are threatening to shut down government.
That would mean no SS, Medicare and VA services plus paychecks for federal Employee’s
How’s that for an economic policy in the mist of the worst recession since 1929?
Those of you that depend on the above services/money, should start planning now in case these insane idiots really do what they say they will.
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By: Diane on September 11, 2010
at 11:52 AM
Interesting point Bozly84, it is only natural to question other people’s motivations, we do it even in face-to-face conversation, well I do anyway. It is bound to happen here, I think we lay ourselves bare for it if we give out too much personal information. I think over the last couple of weeks, we perhaps have begun to improve. It helps that Helen has presented a weekly subject that we are all interested in, after a too long absence of Helen, everything unwinds. Someone wants to form a circle for the Hokey Poky, someone else wants a slide show and anyway we all go in different directions. And current events and a sense of humor get lost in the fray.
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By: no one's puppet on September 11, 2010
at 11:38 AM
I didn’t spit. But I’ll admit to the toking.
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By: Donna on September 11, 2010
at 11:36 AM
Welcome to the blog, Marie. You got off on rather a poor step, making a lot of assumptions that are wrong, and accusations that are wrong, and finally you wrapped it up by calling the kettle black. I sure hope your day gets better from here.
I didn’t spit on your brother. I wasn’t born yet. I’ve never spit on anyone.
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By: delurkergurl on September 11, 2010
at 11:26 AM
Lordy, Lordy. Every Fox talking point in one post. It’s Choc Full O’ Nuts come to life.
Actually, one of our dearest friends returned from Viet Nam to what may charitably be described as a mixed reaction. And he, a bright, educated, questioning, completely patriotic man, shares my admiration for this President and what he’s trying to do.
As for Rev. Wright, there are many of us who don’t criticize him because there is some real truth in what he says.
Oh, and when did “community organizer” become a term of derision. That’s right–it was when an uneducated, narrow-minded, former-half-term-governor-of-a-state-half-the-size-of-my-city used it. And did so to elevate her “service” as a mayor of a town smaller than my particular suburb, relying on a professional manager and still managing to leave the town in debt.
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By: Donna on September 11, 2010
at 11:26 AM
..pardonome…Have a bit of a problem with is bit where none should question others MOTIVATIONs…Think there IS a reason to delve into such issues as it assists getting at the root “reasonings”…Seems far too great a tendency that should NOT “investigate” or try to ascertain just HOW we get to find ourselves where we are in the various “disagreements” ..To ignor the motivations seems impractibe if seeking resolution for the greater common good. Much of the various bru-ha’s get extended lifespans that investigation of motivation and eamination just might forstall another episode of contention. Instead, to NOT question the motivations seems more like an attempt to not REALLY wanting to get engaged or involved as it is messy so best to blindeye and just move along, ignor if possible at all costs…NOT a great way to learn harsh realities/lessons to keep from constantly repetitiously repeating over and over and over at a cost that NONE “should” have bear “repeatedly”…How and WHEN will we ever learn “better’ ?
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By: Bozly84 on September 11, 2010
at 11:17 AM
I propose that the writer of this blog and those who support it are mostly made up of the same people who spat on my brother when he came home from Vietnam in the San Francisco airport.
And more than likely burning the American flag as well.
So now it’s not OK to burn a Quran? Not that I endorse it or want it, but it’s this two faced bias
that I cannot stand.
The same counter culture hippie generation has made it to its 60’s and 70’s like Helen and company, and it still wreaks. That probably also includes LORI,Delurker, auntie Kate and alsakipi.
So Helen has wrapped herself in her little ole
shawl and is screaming that it is a Republican stunt? Hey ya all..get a life and stop blaming and pointing fingers and take a good look in mirror.
You all elected this young community organizer whose party is drifting along at sea. And now some are attempting to swim ashore, aka Rham
to safe shores in Chicago.
No one of your group ever stood up and said anything about Rev Wright’s rants or Ray Nagin when he said Orleans would be a “choco city” once again..or raise their voices when Barney was bringing down Fannie and Freddie. You can’t lay the whole financial mess on the past Presidency
without including your own fat cats as Frank Pelosi and Reed. How come their IRA’s and pensions were not hit like the rest of us?
How come your Pelosi and Reed and Frankie have not been heard from this week? The Republicans
have not and will not speak about some idiot who is trying to increase his pew attendance.
We are in starting our third year of your President’s command of this country, yet he has done everything in his power to break it down economically and internally. Its more important to get a Peace Prize he did not earn and pass health care first, rather than fix the economy stupid.
Yep you idiots rave against the right and wrap up the independents with them..but its this group which will bring this country back from the edge of a precipice that its hanging on currently.
So the lil group that spat on our soldiers after Vietnam now have a rally against some cockamamey minister in Florida and lay that at the Rights feet? Get a life or are you all going
out to take another toke?
Pick your battles and rants better Grandma.
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By: Marie on September 11, 2010
at 11:17 AM
Thank you for bringing your words to light my world today. I hope others in the dark will see this light and be guided by these truths. May all of everyone’s Gods reflect on love and peace in the world today and everyday with a universal prayer for PEACE and LOVE for all. Thank you again.
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By: lee mattocks on September 11, 2010
at 11:08 AM
Americans are willfully blind.
The American Dream is?
A·mer·i·can (-mr-kn) adj.
1. Of or relating to the United States of America or its people, language, or culture.
2. Of or relating to North or South America, the West Indies, or the Western Hemisphere.
3. Of or relating to any of the Native American peoples.
4. Indigenous to North or South America. Used of plants and animals.
dream (drm) n.
1. A series of images, ideas, emotions, and sensations occurring involuntarily in the mind during certain stages of sleep.
2. A daydream; a reverie.
3. A state of abstraction; a trance.
4. A wild fancy or hope.
5. A condition or achievement that is longed for; an aspiration: a dream of owning their own business.
6. One that is exceptionally gratifying, excellent, or beautiful: Our new car runs like a dream.
It is time to start listening to professionals.
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By: poolman on September 11, 2010
at 11:02 AM
One quote that I always remember.
From the movie “O God” George Burns as God says: ” It’s your world. I gave it to you and now what you are doing to it”
Not exact quote but close. He must be shaking His head and thinking “What have t hey done to my beautiful world” Every one on this Earth is of His Creation. If you believe in Him, you could not hate any yone n this world.
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By: Grandma Katie on September 11, 2010
at 10:31 AM
NOP –
“I apologize for filling in the blanks Pfesser, I should have asked.”
No big deal. Thanks for the apology. FWIW I really appreciate your honesty and fairness, coupled with a tough-minded approach. It’s good to really believe in something – as you clearly do. These things ARE important; one of the reasons I sometimes hate debating Brits or Europeans is that they usually take a “what the hell – who cares, it doesn’t matter” attitude. By god, it DOES matter.
Sometimes I can be a bit harsh, and that’s not good, but I came here for the exchange of *ideas* with really smart people, and when we spin off into insults and questioning our opponents’ motivations, it completely derails really good argument until somebody can put out the fire. I hate that; I’m getting older every day; I resent that dead time.
Hope that makes sense.
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By: PFesser on September 11, 2010
at 10:12 AM
lori –
“You are a good googler Jim, google the former Tea Party leader, Mark Williams, look at his comments he wrote on his blog and tell me if you think they are amusing. Simple as that. No need to bring out the tired ole “straw man” arguement.
‘ll give you the benefit of short term memory loss.
In all honesty I hope your answer is No, you find them incredibly offensive and you whole heartedly denounce such statements and pledge to hold the Tea party people responsible for their leaders.”
I don’t accept school assignments; I give them. I’ve neither the time nor the inclination to search out some fellow’s blog (of whom I’ve only vaguely heard), try to summarize it, and make a general commentary. However, if you have something *specific* you want me to comment upon, I’ll gladly do that.
“I would go back to having some respect for you and your thoughts.”
I haven’t the slightest interest in your approbation; I do think your comments are pretty good, though, and enjoy the give-and-take, so let’s keep it professional, shall we? – and leave the personal stuff out of it.
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By: PFesser on September 11, 2010
at 8:41 AM
Hi all –
As if to prove that one side is not always on the side of the devil, nor the other on the side of the angels, this just arrived in my mailbox this morning, from that hotbed of Conservatism, the Daily Beast.
“Few would have predicted that Republicans would be the ones advocating to overturn “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” while Democrats cowered—including Anthony Woods, who was kicked out of the Army because of the law.
Thursday’s late-breaking federal court ruling out of Riverside, California, carried an element of irony in the struggle for LGBT equality in the U.S.
Judge Virginia Phillips ruled in favor of the Log Cabin Republicans who successfully outflanked Obama administration lawyers by arguing that the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” law violates the constitutional rights of gay and lesbian service members.
When I was kicked out of the Army because of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” in 2008, I would never have imagined that it would be Republicans championing my cause.”
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By: PFesser on September 11, 2010
at 8:26 AM
You are a good googler Jim, google the former Tea Party leader, Mark Williams, look at his comments he wrote on his blog and tell me if you think they are amusing. Simple as that. No need to bring out the tired ole “straw man” arguement.
‘ll give you the benefit of short term memory loss.
In all honesty I hope your answer is No, you find them incredibly offensive and you whole heartedly denounce such statements and pledge to hold the Tea party people responsible for their leaders.
I would go back to having some respect for you and your thoughts.
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By: lori on September 11, 2010
at 7:13 AM
I used to be a republican – then I grew a brain.
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By: charlie on September 11, 2010
at 7:02 AM
Why does this “pfesser” person feel like he/she has to “answer” comments? Someone needs to get a life…
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By: Tom on September 11, 2010
at 6:39 AM
Well said and I agree 100%!
Unfortunately, the Google ad just below your post was a donation request for Tom Coburn (R-OK)
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By: Judi on September 11, 2010
at 6:23 AM
lori –
“You do still support the disgraced Tea party leader Mark Williams and his bigoted racially disparaging rants he posted on his blog?
If I remember correctly you thoughts his words were “amusing’? ”
(“bigoted racially disparaging rants” – that’s funny. I usually pride myself on being able to name fallacies, but that one escapes me at the moment – can somebody help me out? Straw man? Hmmm……) I think it may be a straw man variant, since the premise is given as something unsavory…like, “Were you ashamed after you stopped beating your wife?”….hmmm……Wish Rae were still here; she’d know.
But back to the question: you have to help me out here. Can you help me with an actual quote, and I can respond specifically?
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By: PFesser on September 11, 2010
at 6:13 AM
andrew –
“It’s the dumbest bullshit I’ve ever read. Please tell your followers to keep this crap to themselves.”
Andy, don’t let the screen door hit you in the ass on the way out.
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By: PFesser on September 11, 2010
at 6:04 AM
wayside616 –
“Stop the over reaction…both by the media and by the citizenry.
Good call. I work in healthcare, and I am always surprised by people’s inability to gauge risk. They obsess about plastics and continue to smoke. They seek treatment for their knee pain and weigh 25 stone. If you look at the ads on TV you would think America’s greatest healthcare needs are to have sex and fall asleep.
Fred Phelps and his daughter came to Montcoal WV to “protest” at the mine entrance, with 27? dead miners inside, one of whom was my childhood best friend. He, too, could not assess risk. He has NO idea (nor did I at the time) how razor close he came to being a Good Indian.
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By: PFesser on September 11, 2010
at 6:00 AM
bbgunn –
re: Fla pastor’s right to burn Koran
Agreed. We must never forget that rights trump taste, and if they can stop him, they can stop you. An old professor said that people never want to pass laws they think will apply to *them.* There is a lot of wisdom in that.
The Right Reverend can burn whatever he pleases. I in turn can go and hold signs and scream at him, but I cannot *touch* him. That’s good law.
They can build the mosque on Ground Zero. I can take my little sign and go there, too, but I can’t physically stop them. That, also, seems right to me.
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By: PFesser on September 11, 2010
at 5:51 AM
I absolutely LOVE this blog!
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By: Teresa on September 10, 2010
at 11:52 PM
Helen – I am _so_ glad you’re back. Keep up the great work!
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By: Jessica on September 10, 2010
at 10:11 PM
Is it over yet?
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By: hello kitty on September 10, 2010
at 10:04 PM
Amen sisters! You’ve put into print what my mouth’s been trying to say for days!
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By: Brenda on September 10, 2010
at 9:53 PM
Me neither.
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By: Greytdog on September 10, 2010
at 9:21 PM
Neither am I. What’s your point?
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By: Greytdog on September 10, 2010
at 9:20 PM
Has anyone seen a large gold hoop earring? I lost one and they are my favorite pair.
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By: Karen Kaddel on September 10, 2010
at 9:19 PM
I’m not dead.
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By: Greytdog on September 10, 2010
at 9:19 PM
Helen rocks!
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By: Nathan L. on September 10, 2010
at 9:18 PM
What the hell?
These comments have nothing to do with the post.
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By: HR P N S on September 10, 2010
at 9:17 PM
Dear Helen,
You’re fabulous! I have been reading your blog for more than 2 years now, and I love your post. I am an American married to a Canadian and I have been living in canada for 10 years now (Montreal for 9 and beautiful British Columbia for the last year now.
You would be more than welcome here, that’s for sure! Keep fighting the good fight. I’ll keep voting, as per my right and privilege as an American citizen! Thanks for your doses of wisdom and wit.
Stef
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By: Stef on September 10, 2010
at 9:16 PM
I always forget. Is it God hates Chinks or is it Gooks?
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By: LLT on September 10, 2010
at 9:15 PM
Poolman I type what I feel when the spirit come to me. It is not up to me to determine what the random key strokes mean. Only God knows and that is fine with me.
This blog is a source of evil but I know that some good people come here and I kno my prayers help. The Lord watches over those who watch themsleves. The Lord cries for those who cannot cry. The Lord will run if you can only walk and he will talk when you are silent.
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fdgdfgryuyyuereyuoium,.,.
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By: Colorful on September 10, 2010
at 9:14 PM
Wait until Auntie Chang or Jeanie or whatever hears about all this. Her post will last two days straight.
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By: Nikki T. on September 10, 2010
at 9:12 PM
Make it $3 and you’ve got a deal.
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By: MRC Lou on September 10, 2010
at 9:11 PM
I’ll give you two dollars!
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By: Kevon on September 10, 2010
at 9:11 PM
Is it over yet? It’s beginning to smell in here.
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By: MRC Lou on September 10, 2010
at 9:11 PM
Who just shot their load all over this room?
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By: Harold and the Purple Crayon on September 10, 2010
at 9:09 PM
I’ll post more details once I receive them. I know she had many friends here on the porch.
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By: Anderson on September 10, 2010
at 9:08 PM
Miss me yet?
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By: M. Talley on September 10, 2010
at 9:08 PM
Poor Greytdog. Or Greydog. Or whatever it was. She or He will be missed.
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By: Metro on September 10, 2010
at 9:06 PM
HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHHHAHHAAHAHAHA
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By: Me on September 10, 2010
at 9:04 PM
In coming! Duck and cover everyone.
They’ll be gone soon but not before a whole lot of sh*t gets flung.
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By: Kelly on September 10, 2010
at 9:02 PM
Hi Gang,
Sorry to have to bring sad news to the porch tonight.
I just found out that Greytdog passed away today.
Our thoughts and prayers are with her family.
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By: Anderson on September 10, 2010
at 9:02 PM
The SS Fat Whores.
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By: Tyrone on September 10, 2010
at 9:01 PM
What about me? 😦
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By: Glennis on September 10, 2010
at 9:00 PM
What ship are Margaret and Helen on in the photo at the top of the blog?
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By: Henry R. on September 10, 2010
at 8:59 PM
My unborn fetus hates Sam, Tonja, RRC, Harriet and Sylvan.
Just saying…
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By: Mary Jane on September 10, 2010
at 8:59 PM
I LOVE Cher!
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By: Sarah P. on September 10, 2010
at 8:58 PM
If I could turn back time…
I would go back to about an hour ago before these trolls showed up.
🙂
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By: Cher on September 10, 2010
at 8:58 PM
Oh hang on Harriet,
Come back in an hour so and have some tea and pie…
Somedays the tour bus drops off a lot of out-of-towners…
It’ll settle down in a bit…
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By: alaskapi on September 10, 2010
at 8:53 PM
Matthew, maybe some kind of filter on these late night troll attacks??
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By: Sarah P. on September 10, 2010
at 8:52 PM
Helen’s post is just delightful!
The comments here not so much.
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By: Harriet Potterdam on September 10, 2010
at 8:50 PM
Poolman touches small girls.
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By: RRC on September 10, 2010
at 8:48 PM
I feel blessed. Even the spirit of Sarah Palin came to the porch. I can sense the moosemeat. It will be popcorn tonight instead of pie. 😉
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By: poolman on September 10, 2010
at 8:47 PM
God hates Glennis.
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By: RRC on September 10, 2010
at 8:46 PM
In truth, the debate is not about Muslims, Mexicans, Asians, Blacks or Jews. The debate is about who is hotter – Margaret or Helen.
My money is on Helen cause I like a little meat on the bones. 🙂
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By: Harvey on September 10, 2010
at 8:44 PM
And I’m pretty sure any and all Nigerians. He REALLY hates the Nigerians. I think it was all those emails they send all the time trying to get money into the country.
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By: Tonja on September 10, 2010
at 8:44 PM
Colorful, I knew you were still watching and praying. I can speak in tongues, but never got the gift of typing or translating typing. You might need to enlighten the flock. God bless you and may His Spirit descend on you and fill you with warmth and peace, I pray.
Keep an eye on those money changers. They’re up to their same old tricks. I guess they never really quit, just getting better at it now. They’re sure putting a strain on the people. Justice will have to come soon.
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By: poolman on September 10, 2010
at 8:44 PM
Now what you got here is a good ‘ole fashioned debate. Who does God hate more? Muslims or Mexicans? My money’s on the Mexican’s cause the Muslims got prettier mouths.
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By: Glennis on September 10, 2010
at 8:42 PM
I was wrong….He likes the Eskimos…it is the Inuits that he thinks are thicker than the ice they tried to live on.
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By: Sam on September 10, 2010
at 8:41 PM
Oh my goodness. The trolls are on a roll. Just roll on by folks. Nothing to see here…
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By: Terry on September 10, 2010
at 8:39 PM
But serioulsy folks. All this talk about who God loves and doesn’t love. What’s the point. If you are on this blog, you’re all going to hell in a hand basket anyway. Say hello to the Muslim American President when you get there. And Mary Jane’s aborted baby.
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By: Fr. Tony on September 10, 2010
at 8:38 PM
And Asians. He has an issue with Asians. I wouldn’t say hate. Just a general level of uncomfortableness.
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By: Fr. Tony on September 10, 2010
at 8:36 PM
and the Jews.
Of course.
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By: Sam on September 10, 2010
at 8:32 PM
Oh come on…God does to love Mexicans…but you are right about the Eskimos.
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By: Sam on September 10, 2010
at 8:31 PM
oh for crying out loud!
colorful just did it’s barfo thingo on the porch!
fooey on all this garbage about who somebody thinks their god loves.
I’m taking my chances that treating all humans with basic levels of respect , including colorful who seems to be allergic to pie cuz it always yarfs when it stops by, is going to work out better than anything this hating crap is going to lead to…
And boy- colorful- it’s VERY basic respect for you… don’t wish famine and pestilence or any of that on you… but don’t wish much good on ya either…
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By: alaskapi on September 10, 2010
at 8:30 PM
Thank you Sandra! Sheesh – what a eejit!
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By: Barbara Lake on September 10, 2010
at 8:29 PM
and the Jews.
of course.
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By: Tonja on September 10, 2010
at 8:28 PM
I think God loves blacks. I believe it is the Mexicans and the Eskimos that he has problems with.
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By: Tonja on September 10, 2010
at 8:28 PM
Barbara, there is no dealing with colorful. Many have tried. Just scroll by.
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By: Sandra R. on September 10, 2010
at 8:26 PM
NOP love to your daughter. She rocks! Dave thanks for shining some light, the rest of the porch dwellers insightful.
It’s been disconcerting for me that this one lone dude with his measly 50 parishoners can in one statement UNDO ALL the time effort and energy people have put into bridge building. This “freedom of speech” which I support puts ALL US and NATO soldiers at risk as well as All missionaries, all Aid workers of any sort.
Don’t remember who said it, but karma and a spark to his church from a burning Quran would be such poetic justice.
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By: Dawn on September 10, 2010
at 8:26 PM
Colourful:
God sent His only begotten Son to save the whole world and that my dear friend includes Muslims, Hindus, Seiks, Buddhists, Anglicans, Roman Catholics and every other religion or non religion that you can possibly think of and, non believers together with the person in the backwaters of some country that you’ve probably never heard of and who probably has never heard of God.
How on earth can anyone here who believes in God say that He doesn’t love Muslims??? Did God speak to you? Did the Holy Spirit reveal Himself to you and tell you that? What is wrong with you? God loves everyone no matter what and I suggest you go and read up on His love of all mankind.
I would suggest if I may, in the nicest possible and most Christian way, that you continue to pray and whilst doing so, maybe ask to be released from your ignorance. I’ll throw in a prayer or two for you as well asking that your eyes may be opened because I don’t know how you dare actually write that Jesus is your lamb and your saviour whilst holding such bigoted views.
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By: Barbara Lake on September 10, 2010
at 8:25 PM
What she said…
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By: Tst on September 10, 2010
at 8:25 PM
Blow it out your arse Colorful.
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By: Tst on September 10, 2010
at 8:24 PM
Well I wouldn’t totally agree with Sylvan. God loves everyone including black people… unless they are Muslim. God doesn’t love Muslims becuase Muslims don’t believe in God.
You must believe in God to be open to his love and deserving of his love.
I have prayed on this site before and it seems I might be getting through. Parise Jesus and all who follow him. He is my lamb and my savior.
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By: Colorful on September 10, 2010
at 7:49 PM
As a Canadian, I am spectacularly disgusted with the GOP and the American people who are ALREADY turning on Obama. What’s the man to do? I don’t normally pray, but I am praying that America will not continue to look so foolish.
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By: cate on September 10, 2010
at 7:05 PM
apologies for misspelling–trying to do too many things at once, including entertain dog with tennis ball.
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By: Donna on September 10, 2010
at 6:46 PM
God must have personally told you Sylvan? Do you believe in God? Is your God one that hates his own creations? Do you perform any kind of critical thinking at all? God does not need the likes of you speaking in His Name. You turn people aways from Him instead of drawing them to Him. Think about it dumbo!
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By: Easier on September 10, 2010
at 6:45 PM
Is Sylvan being serious????
I find it difficult to believe that someone could actually make a statement such as that, worse still, believe it.
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By: Barbara Lake on September 10, 2010
at 6:45 PM
Sandra–it’s not just wrong, it’s ignorant. Jesus’ race has been a subject of a great deal of scholarly speculation. In light of where he was born and the demographics of the time, the likelihood is that he was either very Semitic or Black in appearance. European culture insisted on portraying him as European in appearance, which would have been an impossibility.
I’m Jewish but even a cursory knowledge of history, geograpy, and art sufficies to dispell the “Jesus is Aryan” canard.
As far as God hating Muslims, there is no theological support for that at all. Pure willful stupidity.
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By: Donna on September 10, 2010
at 6:39 PM
Great Post Helen!
Sylvan, that is just wrong on so many levels.
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By: Sandra R. on September 10, 2010
at 6:28 PM
Yes, but God really does hate blacks. Especially Black Muslims.
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By: Sylvan on September 10, 2010
at 6:25 PM
[…] God Loves A Good Book Burning Margaret did we really expect anything less? Religious intolerance has defined the Republican Party for almost 30 […] […]
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By: Top Posts — WordPress.com on September 10, 2010
at 6:10 PM
Your truth resonates loud and clear, dear Helen. Those who get all bent out of shape when they read your posts don’t like it when real people see through all their BS. They huff and they puff and they blow all kinds of ill wind, but in the end, those of us with intelligence, compassion and common sense will always know the truth. The truth will prevail. We shall overcome someday!
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By: Tabbie on September 10, 2010
at 5:32 PM
I’m afraid I’m going to have to agree with Helen, here. I think when most of us say things in teh heat of the moment like “ALL” republicans this or that, well, maybe I should only speak for myself, but I think it refers to elected politicians holding office, not necessarily the people who put them there. But even they are condemning this Jones guy lukewarmly, at best. Boehner used it to make political hay by saying “this book burning, JUST LIKE building a mosque at ground zero, just because they have the right to do it, doesn’t mean they should,” comparing a church to use land they’ve owned for years to build a community center to burning a holy book of worship in anger and hatred and vengeance. The whole mosque thing is so stupid anyway. It’s like saying “well, no Germans should be allowed to live near any synagogue because the Nazis were German.” Well, not every German is a Nazi, and not every Muslim is a member of al quida.
I don’t mean to poo poo on right leaning people who are just as fed up with Beck, Palin, Bachmann et al as the left is. I just feel like, well, where the heck ARE you?? If you’re really out there, as passionate, as caring, as organized and in as many numbers as you claim, then why did Sharron Angle get the nomination, and why is Jan Brewer still kicking her opponant’s butt, even after that horribly embarrassing performance last week?
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By: HoneyJorumples on September 10, 2010
at 5:22 PM
Helen, I love and admire you more with every post! You are a wise and wonderful woman with a real gift for stating the truth in a fun to read way.
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By: Theresa on September 10, 2010
at 5:15 PM
Didn’t you go to St. Luke’s Catholic School??
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By: Patty on September 10, 2010
at 3:27 PM
Brilliant! The whole world should read this.
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By: Barbara Lake on September 10, 2010
at 2:39 PM
“if it quacks like a Duck and sets a Quran on fire then it must be a Republican” Oh my gosh! I laughed when I read that. Thank you for providing some humor in the midst of all the insanity and hatred.
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By: Julia Walters on September 10, 2010
at 1:44 PM
[…] Yesterday’s post on this utterly horrible concept of burning copies of the Quran is quite likely one of the best posts they’ve ever written – even better than the Thanksgiving post from last year. […]
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By: Book Burning and Fabulous Old Broads | MissMeliss: Escribition on September 10, 2010
at 1:12 PM
“Here’s a thought. If Pastor Jones is so dead set on burning a book he should just wait until The George Bush Memoirs come out. After all, everyone knows the only thing God loves more than a good book burning is a burning Bush. ” <– Best. Paragraph. Ever.
Or at least on this subject. I have so much love for this post that I can't even begin to find words.
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By: MissMeliss on September 10, 2010
at 1:05 PM
delurkergurl:
Sorry… forgot to add in my nom de plume. That’s me ‘bbgunn’ as Anonymous.
Also, my editing skills today are lousy. The sentence above should read: “Shouting “fire” in a crowded movie theatre that results in deaths due to a subsequent stampede may be classified as a homicide if the context in which it is shouted is unwarranted (i.e., it’s a real fire.)”
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By: bbgunn on September 10, 2010
at 12:57 PM
Oh my gosh, ladies, I was sent an opportunity to read your blog and you are AMAZING. How very common sense your approach is. I must tune in again…
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By: kelly campbell on September 10, 2010
at 12:56 PM
delurkergurl:
Yes. Shouting “fire” in a crowded movie theatre that results in deaths due to a subsequent stampede may be classified as homicide if the context in which it is shouted But as much as I detest this jerk down in FL, I respectfully disagree with you that he’s shouting ‘fire.’
His actions are recognized as protest, and as such, are protected by the 1st Amendment. He is irritating and provocative and maybe touched in the head, but his actions – although disingenuous – are not criminal.
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By: Anonymous on September 10, 2010
at 12:52 PM
Hi Donna, I meant as in protecting air quality, but the reality is the damage has been done, radicals, Christian or Muslim will always find a reason and crazy pastor and the media gave it to them this time.
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By: no one's puppet on September 10, 2010
at 12:37 PM
NOP: Can’t enact legislation/ordinance to stop one person from doing something, particularly when it’s protected expression.
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By: Donna on September 10, 2010
at 12:23 PM
Poolman,
You and I are in complete agreement here:
The issue here is our intolerance of others and respect for those of differing views. The issue is our misguided worship and idolatry of material things and symbols, placing more importance on them than life itself, ie: Ground Zero, the Bible, the Qur’an, American flag, the Constitution, etc.
Unfortunately (or fortunately) intolerance is not a crime. The fact that the demonstration of intolerance by this one man has brought this nation to a crisis on this issue is inconceivable to me. The sole sphere of influence this bigot had prior to the media getting hold of it was 30 people!
I am intolerant of fools. If I were to read a book by a fool I might just toss it in the garbage. If that were worthy of international press coverage I would be shocked…then again, in today’s society perhaps I shouldn’t be shocked.
http://www.dirtandseeds.com
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By: wayside616 on September 10, 2010
at 12:23 PM
The intent is the problem.
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By: delurkergurl on September 10, 2010
at 12:11 PM
wayside616,
Though in theory, I agree with you, I think the issue goes beyond what is or is not permissible. To judge it merely on that criteria is missing the greater point.
The issue here is our intolerance of others and respect for those of differing views. The issue is our misguided worship and idolatry of material things and symbols, placing more importance on them than life itself, ie: Ground Zero, the Bible, the Qur’an, American flag, the Constitution, etc.
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By: poolman on September 10, 2010
at 12:03 PM
What’s the Proper Way to Dispose of a Koran?
Source: weeklystandard.com
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By: no one's puppet on September 10, 2010
at 12:03 PM
Love it.
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By: ereosti on September 10, 2010
at 11:58 AM
Poolman,
Whether or not “Almighty God'” words are or are not in any given book is not the issue in my opinion. It’s of no import what the content of the book is. An individual in this country can burn whatever they want as long as it is not in violation of any local, state or federal ordinances and burning the Quran or King James appears to be perfectly legal in Jones’ location. End of story. Why is it a national incident?
http://www.dirtandseeds.com
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By: wayside616 on September 10, 2010
at 11:45 AM
Intersting..the attempt to claim such as the Pastor or NOT typical of the stble of GOPers…SEMI TRUE, but then there has been such DEAFENING SILENCE from those purported LEADERS of the GOP and even derogatorial statements shouted out and about with INTENDED influence of obnoxiousnous that allows ever more of the same to be spewed with supposed inpunity as they intentional STOKE the “fears”…Wondering WHY GWB himself has NOT stepped forward…keep hearing him PRAISED for HIS attempt to clarify that we are NOT at war with ISLAM but with TERRORISTS who, true , falsely CLAIM to BE ISLAM REPs …Interesting that we have CHRISTIANS that make simiar claims of their own in similar veins that THEY represent TRUE CHRISTIANITY when to many they do NOT…There was a sign at one of the rallys to the effect, “THEY DANCED IN THE STREETS ON 9-11..” …ANY REMEMBER THE CHEERING WHEN BQGHDAD WAS BOMBED or SADDAM EXECUTED even thou we invaded on FALSE PRETENES and decimated a country and etc ?
Now we have the media telling us that supposedly the larger per centage of citizenry find it OBJECTIONABLE to build the Muslim Community center NEAR GZ…the same media helped to trumpet the march to war in Iraq …Do the MAJORITY of citizens actual hold dear to HYPOCRITICAL PREMISES , do they TRULY claim to BELIEVE in our FOUNDING, our CONSITUTION ..but with stipulations that allow them to DISALLOW portions when convenient to their emotional MISGUIDED sensibilties ?
I rather want our/my country back these days where there was “GENERAL” respect for those different than ourselves,where we strove to allow differences and held a common respect tht you were allowed as long as NOT HARMING me or mine and I the same…Where HAS the common sense factor gone ? Seems more and more, the TERRORISTs are indeed winning as we forsake what we THOUGHT were our basic NATIONAL VALUES…Truly trying and SCARY times and to remain DISHONESTLY SILENT makes one complicite and on THAT note, th GOP leadership is found shameful !!
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By: Bozly84 on September 10, 2010
at 11:42 AM
Book burning isn’t anything new.
People have been doing it since books have been written. The organization of the first “Christian” church by Constantine burned plenty, some say as many as 800 writings considered sacred by many. Christianity was then made the “religion of the state” and adherence was strictly enforced.
Even the King James Bible (the only translation accepted by most “Christians”) that is coming upon its 400 year anniversary was subject to the MANipulation of the texts. The book is coded with deceptive words and was written in a language that was limited in scope and not spoken by the common people of the era. It contained the books of the Apocrypha and a revealing preface by the translators. Those were removed and today’s King James Bible with its 66 books is the result of its final editing by the Archbishop of Canterbury in 1885.
The Almighty God cannot be contained in ANY book and certainly is no way limited to any human writings – divinely inspired or otherwise. His truths are universal and not given to merely one person, one group, or one book.
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By: poolman on September 10, 2010
at 11:28 AM
I see nothing wrong with Jones burning the Quran. Then again I see nothing wrong with him burning the old and new testaments. They are legal acts as is burning the American flag. If someone wants to express personal beliefs through such actions they have Constitutionally guaranteed rights to do so…however abhorrent some of us may find such acts. What I find disturbing is this knuckle dragger with 30 other mouth breathers in his congregation has managed to hijack not only the mainstream media, but a section of our foreign policy. Do we realize the precedent this sets? Now anyone can bring this nation to a standstill by threatening to perform an act that angers those that we live in fear of…”radical Muslims.” The U.S. boogyman under the bed. What would have happened if Jones burned the books? What is this great fear of increased hostility towards “our troops” because this backwoods preacher decided to unleash some of his pent up demons on the 30 idiots who listen to his rants on a regular basis. This country has lost all sense of proportion. When he announced his plans we should have just shrugged our shoulders and said, “have at it.” And by the way…if my neighbor wants to burn “Catcher In The Rye” he has every right to. If our government forced him to burn it…well, that’s a whole different matter.
Stop the over reaction…both by the media and by the citizenry.
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By: wayside616 on September 10, 2010
at 11:24 AM
You know all it would take is a local ordinance to prevent burning, so if that particular county in Florida doesn’t have one already, perhaps they should have an emergency meeting. Just saying….
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By: no one's puppet on September 10, 2010
at 11:14 AM
Great post, Helen!
What has happened to Margaret?
We don’t hear from her anymore.
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By: Ted on September 10, 2010
at 11:13 AM
Helen, you’re my hero.
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By: christopher on September 10, 2010
at 11:04 AM
Bbgunn, he has a right to protest but this particular protest seems slightly like “shouting fire in a crowded movie theater” which would not protected. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shouting_fire_in_a_crowded_theater)
If he were to call in a bomb threat it would be a felony, not a free speech issue. Free speech comes with responsibility, which he doesn’t seem to understand as he has absolved himself of responsibility for the results of his actions.
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By: delurkergurl on September 10, 2010
at 10:13 AM
I see this as a 1st Amendment issue. The preacher has every right to protest his views and in the process, show everyone what a idiotic, racist, bigoted and deluded charlatan he really is.
Sometimes adhering to the Constitution is a big pain in the rear. Personally, I’d like to see folks like the preacher gagged and bound (not in an S&M kind of way, of course,) but I’m better off knowing what they actually think by what they say and do. I then know he’s someone to whom I need to give no credence. As much as I hate the vile ugliness of this man’s words and actions, I have to let him perform his little song and dance so that no one later takes away my right to protest.
Instead of painting this guy as a Republican, I think I’d rather paint him up as a ignorant hypocrite with delusions of grandeur and a perverted understanding of his professed Christianity.
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By: bbgunn on September 10, 2010
at 9:49 AM
Andrew, simply unfriend the person who shared it with you. You’ll be doing them a huge favor. 🙂
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By: delurkergurl on September 10, 2010
at 9:36 AM
I couldn’t have said it better myself. Wow. Great post!
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By: Stefany on September 10, 2010
at 9:25 AM
What a crock of shit. You know absolutely nothing. One of your followers posted the link to this rag on my FB page. It’s the dumbest bullshit I’ve ever read. Please tell your followers to keep this crap to themselves. I have no need for it, unless I’m wiping my ass.
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By: andrew on September 10, 2010
at 9:25 AM
“The worst thing is that all this hate is making me ‘hate them all’.
Oh yes, I feel this so often in my day-to-day relationships. In no longer talk at length with a number of people, only shallow social niceities because much beyond that devolpes in to the kind of diatribes discussed here. At present baseball seems to be relatively safe since the Rangers broke their losing streak! This allowed me to talk to Faux News junkie after choir practice in a totally civil manner Wednesday night.
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By: Jerry C. on September 10, 2010
at 9:12 AM
JIm, just to set the record straight . We like to be fair here on the porch.
You do still support the disgraced Tea party leader Mark Williams and his bigoted racially disparaging rants he posted on his blog?
If I remember correctly you thoughts his words were “amusing’?
Do you still feel his words were amusing?
Do you still feel that way?
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By: lori on September 10, 2010
at 9:02 AM
I apologize for filling in the blanks Pfesser, I should have asked.
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By: no one's puppet on September 10, 2010
at 8:50 AM
You’re absolutely correct Jim, I did make a mistake.
I thought you were attempting to add something of importance to the conversation. But nope just another talking point.
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By: lori on September 10, 2010
at 8:49 AM
waving at Tine… how r ur rugrats doing? I have missed your sunny smile here on the porch!
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By: lori on September 10, 2010
at 8:45 AM
Lori –
“Sooo your point was an EX republican governor wanna be 2012 presidential candidate is endorsing the tea party? Ahhhh THAT is head turning news. Thanks for the update.
Sorry, I gave you too much credit I thought you wre speaking of Pateson’s quote.”
No, you made a mistake. Man up, admit it, and move on.
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By: PFesser on September 10, 2010
at 8:44 AM
Frenchie summed it up well. The Republicans painted the self-portrait, all Helen did was put it on the wall. Great statement.
Thank you for your clear vision and ability to call “bullshit” Helen. God bless you.
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By: Shash on September 10, 2010
at 8:39 AM
I’m sorry Jim,
Sooo your point was an EX republican governor wanna be 2012 presidential candidate is endorsing the tea party? Ahhhh THAT is head turning news. Thanks for the update.
Sorry, I gave you too much credit I thought you wre speaking of Pateson’s quote.
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By: lori on September 10, 2010
at 8:37 AM
Khyra’s Mom, thank you for this:
“I let out a big laugh when the intelligent man from MN was captured on the CNN piece about her with ‘that woman is crazy…can you believe the crap that comes out of her mouth’”
There are way more of us in MN like him than like her. Thank you for noticing! 🙂
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By: Tine on September 10, 2010
at 8:32 AM
NOP –
“But it used to be your party did it? It was Sarah Palin for VP that pushed you to go INdy? That is what your own comments suggest.”
I “used” to do a lot of things. I “used” to poop my pants, but I got older and learned better. I *always* reserve the right to change my mind as I get better information.
Hence, I was loosely tied to the Republicans until 1992 but was vaguely dissatisfied with them on many levels – especially censorship and civil liberties. That’s a long time ago. Then I quit the Party and registered Libertarian – where I’ve been since. Mostly I vote Dem, some ReBiblican, minimal Lib.
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By: PFesser on September 10, 2010
at 8:30 AM
[…] God Loves a Good Book Burning – Margaret and Helen Margaret did we really expect anything less? Religious intolerance has defined the Republican Party for almost 30 years now. A culture of life. Family values. America’s Christian Heritage. The sanctity of marriage. Gays in the military. Prayer in school. A mosque in Manhattan. For goodness sakes, the current leaders of the Republican Party (Palin, Limbaugh, and Beck) have been screaming about a Muslim family in the White House for months now. It was only a matter of time before someone called for a good ‘ole fashion book burning. Does it really matter if that book is the Quran instead of The Catcher in the Rye? […]
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By: Friday Favorites, This Week’s Best Blog Links « The Liminal State on September 10, 2010
at 8:30 AM
Absolutely Helen…….your post should be required reading for all Democrats and Independents. Especially the ones who are
now apathetic because their hot button issues haven’t been handled, yet. We can not change if we continue to elect people who will obstruct at every turn.
IT’S THE REPUBLICANS, stupid !!!!
When did we become a country of such flagrantly ignorant, hate and fear mongering, greedy, intolerant bastards??
Unfortunately they have always been with us; sometimes more potent and sometimes less, but the day that little Alaskan tart pranced her trollopy self across the Repub convention stage, the most vile shitstorm of hate in many years began.
Too much pub for the Quran burning jackass. All he wants is some of the attention the other hate maniac Bagger Republicans get thanks to the media. And by the way Repubs……there is no liberal media. Real news has been canceled in favor of the entertainment of hate.
Good luck Megan McCain, there are no moderate Republicans anymore. They have gone home with their tails between their legs, fearing the Teabaggers and unable to fight against them. Your dad has joined the baggers. I heard his political ads on the radio and TV in Phx last spring. And who unleashed the IDIOT Palin on this country?
Moderate Republicans?? Not since Eisenhower and not ever again unless you failed,frightened moderates can figure out how to stuff all the crap back into Pandora’s box, put it on an iceberg and float it on over to Russia !!!!
Hate sells, fear sells and the ignorant are buying, buying, buying……….
IT’S THE REPUBLICANS, stupid !!!!!
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By: Colorado Blue on September 10, 2010
at 8:23 AM
lori –
“pssst Jim, Paterson is the current Governor of NY.”
I thought so.
But I believe the quote was from Pataki, and he’s I think the “former” governor, right?
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By: PFesser on September 10, 2010
at 8:22 AM
But it used to be your party did it? It was Sarah Palin for VP that pushed you to go INdy? That is what your own comments suggest.
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By: no one's puppet on September 10, 2010
at 8:21 AM
Better check your memory Pfesser, I do recall moderate Muslins speaking out after 9-11.
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By: no one's puppet on September 10, 2010
at 8:19 AM
NOP –
“That pfessor could just stand by or quietly go along with the takeover of his party by fundamentalists for years up until 2008, that set me off. Even now he decries the Obama Administration, but takes no responsibility for what his party did and continues to do.”
It’s not my party. Nice try.
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By: PFesser on September 10, 2010
at 8:18 AM
pssst Jim, Paterson is the current Governor of NY.
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By: lori on September 10, 2010
at 8:13 AM
Love you … I wish you werent just preaching to the choir …
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By: Daryl on September 10, 2010
at 8:13 AM
OK, why does this Terry Jones guy remind me so much of the other late Jim Jones of Guyana Kool Aid infamy? ‘Cuz Terry Jones also has a really unpalatable background of fear, terror, intimidation, my way or the highway stuff — sounds rather like the Taliban. He was once active in Germany doing his f/t/i thing. Broke German laws. Their courts were really interested in him. I seriously doubt that he “broke” the Park 51 situation, but what a goldmine of PR! Yuh know, way back in history book burning could glide right into people burning. If TJones does go back on his word (and it ain’t holy) and lights a match on the Kuran, may there be a sudden cloudburst from on high.
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By: Mageen in Old Virginny on September 10, 2010
at 8:05 AM
Dave said:
“WHERE ARE THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP in condemning this man, who is not a christian and therefore cannot hold the title pastor.”
I guess they are in the same place as the muslim leadership after 9-11: tacitly endorsing evil by doing nothing.
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By: PFesser on September 10, 2010
at 8:03 AM
LOL No it’s a guy who is REALLY pissed the Demoratic party isn’t backing him…
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By: lori on September 10, 2010
at 7:56 AM
Refreshing candor. Thank you!
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By: Mother Amelia on September 10, 2010
at 7:55 AM
Hi all –
Interesting quote from former NY governor, George Pataki, on attempts to discredit the Tea Party.
“From the beginning, they’ve tried discrediting,” Pataki told TheDC. “They’ve been pretending that all of those who are so upset with the direction of Washington have somehow been paid to show up rather than being patriotic Americans who are very unhappy with the course of Washington.
“Then they tried to portray it as a violent group when it wasn’t, and now they portray it as a racist group and it’s not. To me it’s sad that they would dismiss what is truly an expression of American democracy.”
Former New York governor. Hardly Mississippi, now is it?
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By: PFesser on September 10, 2010
at 7:52 AM
I’m literally cheering and saying, “Yeah, that’s right”, as I sit here alone @ work and nobdy can even here me! After I was finished cheering, I’m laughing so loud that people in the hallway may think I’m nuts since I am in here alone! Thanks for putting the truth out there ladies! You rock!
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By: Alli Sanchez on September 10, 2010
at 7:15 AM
I am thrilled to have found your blog- love your commentary on this!
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By: Dee on September 10, 2010
at 6:23 AM
Love you girls!!
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By: Deanna on September 10, 2010
at 5:40 AM
The White House and Ed have to be aware of this blog. It holds more truth than most things put out by the media. I certainly respect your messages and have agreed with them.
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By: Lori Skoog on September 10, 2010
at 5:12 AM
Helen, all that hate’s been out there for a long time. At long last, these boner-heads feel free to spew their venom. The Republicans didn’t invent this stuff; they turned over some rocks, found their mouthpieces, and sat back and applauded as the mouthpieces roared.
It makes a nice diversion for those Republicans who are determined to obstruct every move the Federal government attempts to make, including moves the Republicans themselves support.
Watch–as soon as their nasty little avatars go beyond a certain point, the Republicans will kick them to the curb. Then they’ll claim credit for being “reasonable”.
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By: Sandie Abel on September 10, 2010
at 4:23 AM
Oh Helen, please wait until Canada votes out Harper…things aren’t that much more intelligent up there at the moment…
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By: Laura on September 9, 2010
at 11:53 PM
I’ve been sitting on the porch for about 9 months now enjoying all of Helen’s essays. Her wit and ability to get to the truth of the matter has no equal. Helen reminds me of my mother. If she were alive I’d like to think she would love reading her essays.
I’ve also learned alot from all of the posters here. I may not agree with everything but I come from the philosophy that if everyone thinks alike, someone’s not thinking.
I am from Louisiana, and down here we have had our share of nutty politicians on the left and right. Some are in jail, some got committed and some are still in Congress but should be committed.
In Louisiana, the oil industry is the life blood of the state. Many republicans are repub. for business reasons not religious. Please don’t ask me to explain why Vitter is still in office. He is a morally corrupt ass wipe that wouldn’t even stand up against the birthers.
So I don’t feel all repubs are religious fruitloops but, I don’t think they’re doing anything to thin the brushstroke especially when it come to the Terry Jones case. I feel Jones is just a religious nut who is not political, but republican rhetoric of fear and doomsday has fueled this fire. And, where are the Repub. leaders to denounce this. Nowhere. I don’t mean Beck or Palin, they’re not actual legislators. I mean Boehner, Canter, McCain. They’re silent, why, because fear and doomsday is how they keep their base motivated.
Anyway, I’ve enjoyed the many wise words from the forward thinking people who stop by here.
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By: donna54 on September 9, 2010
at 11:15 PM
You’d be more than welcome to come and live up here in Canada, Helen. We appreciate someone who possesses both a sense of humour and common sense. Brilliant post as always!
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By: conventgirl on September 9, 2010
at 11:08 PM
No, no, no… this doesn’t represent terrorism at all.
What are we doing? How can we stop this madness? Civilized, yeah right.
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By: poolman on September 9, 2010
at 11:05 PM
I know Dave, might have to dig up Everett Dirksen just to have one decent Republican these days.
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By: no one's puppet on September 9, 2010
at 10:44 PM
You gals speak the truth! Keep on writing!
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By: Leigh on September 9, 2010
at 10:33 PM
No one’s puppet, you and me both sister. I know its not good for my blood pressure these republicans, but, whattya gonna do. Night, good talking with you all today. Pie was the best Jeanya!
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By: Dave on September 9, 2010
at 10:16 PM
You need to be on a talk show. I swear you have your hand on the Democratic pulse of this country!
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By: Darlene & Lori on September 9, 2010
at 10:10 PM
And I feel that I should apologize for monopolizing the conversation so much today, I can’t remember when I’ve been so pissed.
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By: no one's puppet on September 9, 2010
at 9:21 PM
Thanks Jean, my daughter is a civilian, so she has no tour of duty, she has been there over a year and will probably stay another year, like I said, trying to establish a solid government for that country is very important for the region and for us Americans.
Wow these trolls contribute nothing to the conversation, you’d think they would want to present their case. Not so patriotic are they? If I learned one thing from this pastor issue, it is this, Congressional Republicans are so afraid of the right wing they won’t even speak up to protect our troops. Therefore, I am in total agreement, no question about it, that anyone who votes Republican this year is not in my opinion a patriot. For a long time now, I have questioned what happened to the Party of Lincoln, well it was controlled by politicians so eager for a cushy job, they welcomed this scum into their party. And even those on hiatus from the party went along to get along until 2008, they only saw the problem when the rabble decided they wanted to run to be the candidates. Guess the Christian right got tired of promises, promises to 1. make abortions illegal again and 2. to “defend” heterosexual marriage. Neither of which the Republican power brokers honestly gave two hoots about. They the power brokers only care about protecting the wealth of millionaires and billionaires. That Sarah Palin spoke up still astounds me, but mostly I am shocked that the current officeholders kept their yaps shut. If it isn’t something they think they can knock Obama with, they can’t muster enough energy to even get out of the tanning bed and issue a statement is support of our troops.
Dave welcome aboard, I don’t thin I’ve seen you here before today, you are among friends.
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By: no one's puppet on September 9, 2010
at 9:16 PM
Wouldn’t it be something if a freakish gust of wind came, and set their beloved church on fire? I’d love to see some instant karma. I’m tired of the racist rhetoric and have recently cleaned house of extremist acquaintences because they just deplete you like a bunch of vampires. I’m so glad for you ladies and your posts. There is some light shining somewhere in this madness.
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By: Adiena on September 9, 2010
at 8:40 PM
Thanks Helen! Another gem! Democrats, liberals, progressives are just too meek for the virulent, winner take all mentality of today’s republican party. As long as they get to dictate the agenda, it will be an uphill battle for the democrats to make headways. Common sense has left us really, that this country can’t see through all the shenanigans. Easily manipulated aren’t we? Having lived through GW’s reelection, I am not ignoring the polls. I thought then common sense was going to prevail; but saddly, we know what the outcome turned out to be.
I wish the press would ignore the ” burning pastor” altogether, but it might be too late for that now. No publicity, no coverage, no news!
NOP, tell your daughter any one of us here would be so proud to be her parent. All hope is not lost then.
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By: Easier on September 9, 2010
at 8:36 PM
Hi Congenial Gang, no one’s puppet and Dave,
No one’s puppet, I am glad your son-in-law is back home and I do sincerely wish your daughter the best as she continues her tour in Iraq. They sound like fine young Americans. No doubt they will both have some interesting stories to tell.
Dave, welcome to the porch! You are a refreshing addition. Sit down, have some pie and tea.
This has been quite a news day. First, a fine offering of the open letter from Father Zahlawi in Syria in delurkergurl’s Kitchen, then a great new post from Helen. Now the Koran burning issue seems to be in the process of being defused, somewhat.
But….. as jsri said in the Kitchen, the genie is out of the bottle now and more factions of either side will be inflamed. BTW, thanks jsri, for the background on this ‘pastor’ Jones character. It figures that he is no legitimate clergyman but a con artist, out for attention and publicity and possibly a way to make a buck. Oh yeah, he’ll write a book and probably get his own show on Fox.
As I was scrolling through the numerous comments here at M&H there was one that caught my eye as a great idea – to go buy a copy of the Koran on Saturday. Not only buy it, but read it! In English of course. All of the Holy Books were originally written in Sanskrit, Hebrew, Greek, Latin; any number of languages. FYI Jesus did not speak English! He spoke Aramaic, a Hebrew dialect.
I don’t pretend to be a scholar of either the Bible or the Koran. However, down through the years, I have read them, cover to cover (along with the Book of Mormon.) Frankly, much of the reading is pretty dull, especially all the ‘begats’ in the Old Testament. But you will be surprised at just how similar they are. They all have roots in the history, climate and customs of the times of the Semitic people; Jews, Christian and Muslims We have to bear in mind theses books were written by many different people from many different perspectives, albeit divinely inspired for all we know. Further, they have gone through innumerable translations and revisions.
You will also find that the radical and fanatical elements of each ‘religion’ are mirror images of each other.
In our travels around the world we have certainly found that the average people on the streets of predominately Muslim countries are basically no different than the average Americans we encounter every day and get along with, no problems. I have already written about them extensively so won’t bore you (or me!) with endless repeating.
By the same token we can’t just sit back passively, be nice and let ignorance and skullduggery get the upperhand again. It was done with both of Bush’s terms as well as many times before; here and through the long corridors of time. We can’t let that happen again!!!
Aloha! 🙂 Namaste. Shalom. (Incidentally, the Muslims use the word ‘Shalom’ in the same way as the Jews.)
Auntie Jean
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on September 9, 2010
at 8:27 PM
delurkergurl- while I agree with you about not worrying about the whatever-just-marched-through here , it wouldn’t hurt for someone to check the loo to see if they flushed after using…
🙂
nop-
very best wishes to your daughter, you … the whole family.
Here’s hoping the fruitloop con-man “Pastor” Jones has stood down and that others so inclined slink back into the woodwork…
Thank you Helen and Margaret for having us all in.
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By: alaskapi on September 9, 2010
at 8:26 PM
Dave–I think you are great.
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By: Donna on September 9, 2010
at 8:22 PM
Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell – Unconstitutional:
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/09/federal-judge-declares-us-military-ban-on-openly-gay-service-members-unconstitutional-.html
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By: delurkergurl on September 9, 2010
at 8:11 PM
No worries, Tammy. Each one boosts the google ranking & reach of our hosts.
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By: delurkergurl on September 9, 2010
at 8:09 PM
Well, I’m glad to hear that the bonfire may be called off – if this isn’t another stunt. Claiming a non-existent deal so he can call the other guy a liar makes me suspicious.
Nevertheless, I’m still declaring Saturday ‘International Read A Koran Day’. I just think it would be a good thing if one side in the discussion knew what the hell they were talking about. And you know it won’t be the conservatives – they’re happy with rumor, hearsay, vile innuendo and blatant lies. Makes you think they might know the truth isn’t on their side.
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By: judith on September 9, 2010
at 8:07 PM
It is so easy for us living overseas to see the likes of Beck, Palin and Limbaugh as the archetypal American. Thank you so much for a reference point to show others that this just isn’t so. Love you gals. May you be a shining beacon of truth for many more years yet.
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By: Snowy on September 9, 2010
at 8:00 PM
Geez, a whole pod of trolls just went thru here.
Is everyone okay? Better go check the horses.
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By: Tammy on September 9, 2010
at 7:52 PM
This is some funny shit!
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By: Kevon on September 9, 2010
at 7:50 PM
I 19
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By: M.T. on September 9, 2010
at 7:48 PM
B 32
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By: M.T. on September 9, 2010
at 7:48 PM
O 17
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By: M.T. on September 9, 2010
at 7:48 PM
N 16
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By: M.T. on September 9, 2010
at 7:47 PM
B 49
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By: M.T. on September 9, 2010
at 7:47 PM
Can someone please explain to me what a camel toe is?
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By: Leslie on September 9, 2010
at 7:46 PM
I truly believe the Republicans actually threw the election. There was no way they wanted to be in office after W got through destroying the country. Why not let the Democrats take over and begin a Rovian campaign assigning all the blame of the last 8 years to them? How do they assure a Democratic victory you ask? By placing in nomination a rageaholic phony war hero and a corrupt idiot as the party’s candidates. Stop and think for a minute…does anyone here truly believe that the Republicans that were shrewd enough to get an idiot like W elected really thought they would win with McCain and Palin? Their problem was that they thought they could control W once he was in office. They had no concept of the fact that he would go rogue on them and completely destroy public confidence in the party. After only half his term the Republicans have almost managed to get the citizenry to forget about Bush and place the blame for the condition of America squarely on Obama’s shoulders. It’s as if the previous 8 years never happened. Now they’ve loosed the shock troops…Beck, Limbaugh, the Tea Party…to completely destroy the Democratic base. The problem with this country isn’t solely at the feet of the Republicans…the “progressives” (I use that term loosely as I haven’t seen a true progressive in government in years) just rolled over as soon as the first yellow ribbon went on the first bumper.
Yes…Canada looks really good. I have friends in Brighton who have already scouted land for us.
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By: wayside616 on September 9, 2010
at 7:46 PM
I’m so glad we had this time together.
Just to laugh and sing a song or two.
Seems we just get started and before we know it.
Comes the time we have to say….so long.
(pull ear now)
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By: Carol B. on September 9, 2010
at 7:44 PM
Ahahahahahahahaha
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By: Shirley on September 9, 2010
at 7:43 PM
Any one of the seven will do fine but I like the 5th one the best.
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By: Fr. Tony on September 9, 2010
at 7:42 PM
.
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By: Shirley on September 9, 2010
at 7:42 PM
Evil thy name is Helen.
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By: Tess on September 9, 2010
at 7:41 PM
I’m asleep
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By: Sr. Joseph on September 9, 2010
at 7:41 PM
I’m asleep. I’ll touch yours if you’ll touch mine…
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By: Sr. Joseph on September 9, 2010
at 7:39 PM
First on to the alter gets a special touch toy!
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By: Fr. Tony on September 9, 2010
at 7:39 PM
Dear Helen,
Reading your post (my first) made me a little less sad to live in Texas where so many minds are so narrow you can’t pull a piano wire through them with a tractor. Yes, I know that’s supposed to be about being cheap and the piano wire can’t get pulled through someone’s ass but it seems to work with the brain thing.
My son is in Maine and while he hasn’t been my son as long as you and Margaret have been friends, it will please him to know there is another long-distance relationship like ours.
On the plus side, if you move to New Brunswick, you could be closer to Margaret!
I hope none of us have to move.
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By: snoringKatZ on September 9, 2010
at 7:38 PM
You children embarrassed me! How dare you!
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By: Mrs. White on September 9, 2010
at 7:37 PM
Can’t we just burn Sarah Palin and call it a day?
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By: StanTheMan on September 9, 2010
at 7:37 PM
Harvey Korman was a butt pirate
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By: Pardon the Mess on September 9, 2010
at 7:36 PM
Satan lives…and she drives a scooter on a battleship…with her friend.
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By: Carrie W. on September 9, 2010
at 7:36 PM
What is all this fuss about Harvey Korman????
I didn’t even know he wrote a book.
Let the man rest in peace.
He was damn funny.
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By: Bill on September 9, 2010
at 7:34 PM
Why you be hatin on the BLack Peoples?
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By: In Us not On Us on September 9, 2010
at 7:33 PM
Sorry to hear your unborn child doesn’t have a sense of humor, Mary Jane. It will be even more sad if the baby is ugly too.
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By: Pardey le Ronion on September 9, 2010
at 7:30 PM
I agree with Helen. The Republicans created the current environment of religious intolerance. If you vote for a Republcsn then you are promoting its continuance. We should never mix religion with politics.
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By: Wrunner on September 9, 2010
at 7:22 PM
Welcome Dave, good to “hear” your reasoned comments. Excellent smiting, delurker! You wield it well! Sounds like the the kids are getting off on a new M&H post. Must be future right wingers, practicing their hate-speech.
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By: poolman on September 9, 2010
at 7:21 PM
Oh Happy Day!
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By: Edgar on September 9, 2010
at 7:18 PM
There is no excuse for voting Republican unless you condone the hate speech and untruths that have been allowed to go unchecked by the Republican party.
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By: Tst on September 9, 2010
at 7:12 PM
Faster. Faster. Harder. Slower. That’s it. Just like that…
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By: Jimmy Zee on September 9, 2010
at 7:08 PM
ROFL, you can tell a post here is ON TARGET when the smutty trolls come out to be a distraction.Score yet another one for M&H!
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By: delurkergurl on September 9, 2010
at 7:07 PM
If you know history, you are aware of our secret involvement in Afghanistan to help them defeat the Soviet Union, and you also know we lost all interest in that country after that. Everything we do or don’t do has repercussions. Iraq has a way to go, bad as Saddam was, he was our foil against Iran, this war upset everything, and we can’t know what kinds of problems will result, because of that in the future.
Okay, enough about me and mine, except I want to acknowledge my husband’s first wife, who raised his three children. I simply happened on a wonderful widower a few years ago and had the good sense to marry him.
We do need the “trolls” on here, if only to keep us on our feet. Agree with them when we can and hold their feet to the fire when they need it.
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By: no one's puppet on September 9, 2010
at 7:07 PM
Helen, Helen, Helen…once again you have said it better than I could, or anyone else for that matter. I finally lost it at the “burning Bush!!! Priceless. Truer words have never been written than your post.
If the Dems don’t vote this November we will join you in Canada. Just the thought of seeing orange man as Speaker is enough to get me to send in my money for a passport.
You are a national treasure!!
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By: Corie on September 9, 2010
at 7:02 PM
dlkgurl…sorry, my comment was meant for Coffee and Mary Jane.
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By: Dave on September 9, 2010
at 7:00 PM
Pull it harder. Pull it harder.
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By: Jimmy Zee on September 9, 2010
at 7:00 PM
Mary Jane, that’s probably heartburn you are experiencing. It’s a common pregnancy complication but in the end a healthy baby will make it worthwhile. Best wishes on that.
Debbie and Larry, you might consult the About page of this blog and go read previous blog posts to understand Margaret & Helen. If, as a result, you’re a fan, you are welcome to the M&H fan club!
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By: delurkergurl on September 9, 2010
at 6:58 PM
If you add just a little bit of chloride and iron to the Koran it will burn cleaner.
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By: Dr. John S on September 9, 2010
at 6:58 PM
Thank you delurkergurl. Truth is, been on the porch for almost two years, just kept my mouth closed. This whole thing has stirred me up I guess.
I see the last two posts just go along proving what we’ve all been saying….
Looks like the burn is still on. Following is captured from CNN: A Florida pastor said he called off his plan to burn copies of the Quran based on assurances that a planned Islamic center and mosque near ground zero would be moved — an assertion rejected by the center’s visionary.
WHERE ARE THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP in condemning this man, who is not a christian and therefore cannot hold the title pastor.
Here is a prime example why they should not be given the keys to the car again. Voting Republican is the purest definition of insanity. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting different results.
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By: Dave on September 9, 2010
at 6:57 PM
Who is burning what? I don’t understand. Which one of you is Margaret and which one is Helen? I’m confused.
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By: Debbie and Larry on September 9, 2010
at 6:56 PM
God, bless the trolls.
As a human, it is hard to have compassion for ’em but I will myself to cover them in prayer that their feet will be liberated from the slushy quagmire of hate that weighs down their precious souls and they will be bathed in grace that allows them to use their God-given intellect for good.
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By: delurkergurl on September 9, 2010
at 6:55 PM
My unborn child hates this blog. I can feel it.
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By: Mary Jane on September 9, 2010
at 6:47 PM
God hates you.
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By: Coffee on September 9, 2010
at 6:43 PM
Welcome to the porch, Dave! Your dialog is a superb contribution to our community.
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By: delurkergurl on September 9, 2010
at 6:32 PM
no one’s puppet, I was spitting angry the day GWB declared war on Iraq, he and his ilk turned out to be the bullies in the school yard. The day he was so proud on the ship displaying the banner “Mission Accomplished” as if we Americans were too stupid to breathe let alone understand this mess they called a government, I was furious. 4,500 men and women lost their lives for not a thing, guts me to my core in grief. I thank God and salute you son, home safe and sound.
But when you spoke of your daughter and her mission, honestly, tears came to my eyes. I will say a prayer for your daughter, but tell her this American has more pride in her and her generation than any living legend today. What a concept, an American who believes we should be sure to clean up after our mess, leave no trace, leave it the way you found it.
Always take pride in knowing your children are a reflection of you, I want to thank you for raising two wonderful persons.
I wondered how Barbara Bush could be so proud of W.? Really, don’t you think there were times when she wished she had put him up for adoption or worse?
For all, NOP and I were in complete agreement, she got what I was saying. Sorry for the long post but it seemed necessary to fully demonstrate for pfesser how wrong he/she was
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By: Dave on September 9, 2010
at 6:29 PM
Thanks for another post which reflects what I think but says it better. Your posts are like Hallmark card. I send them on to others because I “…care to send the very best.”
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By: fets on September 9, 2010
at 6:22 PM
[…] it as racism. I hope that you read this blog post by Rasha ,also Margret and Helen or rather Helen spoke this matter today , I used to follow their blog since the American presidential elections, it is very interesting. I […]
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By: Egyptian Chronicles: breaking News : Jones to Cancel Burn A Quran Day on September 9, 2010
at 6:01 PM
Yes it’s iffy at best. We sure did Ahmadinejad a favor by invading Iraq didn’t we?
When we pull out the Sunnites and the Sheites will continue their 1000 year conflict.
The conflict we paid Sadam to squelch a few years earlier, I might add.
and yvw.. 😉 Your daughter sounds like a wonderful lady… just like her momma..
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By: lori on September 9, 2010
at 5:47 PM
As we know Donna, Lori, and poolman, it is iffy that Iraq will be able to sustain their new democracy, I for one think very possibly once we are completely out of their country a civil war will ensue. I am surprised, delighted, and even confounded that so many well educated young Americans are willing to help this young democracy succeed. I thank you for your kind words about my daughter, but she isn’t the one willing to help to rectify our country’s mistake.
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By: no one's puppet on September 9, 2010
at 5:28 PM
You cannot be a member of today’s Republican party and be a moral person. The two terms have become, sadly, mutually exclusive.
http://www.dirtandseeds.com
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By: wayside616 on September 9, 2010
at 5:20 PM
no one’s puppet, bravo for your daughter! She sounds like a very noble individual. I wish more had that level of responsibility. I pray she remains safe and strong. We need to all stand up against injustices everywhere and be defenders of people and peace.
Violent aggressors everywhere need to be challenged.
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By: poolman on September 9, 2010
at 5:12 PM
I love Anne Murray too.
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By: Apple Pie on September 9, 2010
at 5:12 PM
LOL That’s funny Donna because I was confuzzled too. I had to go back and read a post I normally scroll past..LOL
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By: lori on September 9, 2010
at 5:07 PM
Thank you very much, I do too, and there are a lot more like Americans in her generation like her
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By: no one's puppet on September 9, 2010
at 5:07 PM
by the way, I think your daughter sounds like a remarkable person.
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By: Donna on September 9, 2010
at 5:04 PM
OMG PFessor. Get a life and a sense of humor. What a total loser. ((roll eyes))
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By: Apple Pie on September 9, 2010
at 5:03 PM
got it. Thanks. I had scrolled past the other (as is my habit).
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By: Donna on September 9, 2010
at 5:03 PM
Dave didn’t, it was the quote he took from pfessor that set me off. That pfessor could just stand by or quietly go along with the takeover of his party by fundamentalists for years up until 2008, that set me off. Even now he decries the Obama Administration, but takes no responsibility for what his party did and continues to do.
That and the fact that my stepson just came home from Iraq last week and my daughter is still there, by choice I might add. She isn’t there to fight for free speech or freedom of religion, theirs or ours, she is there, because ever since we invaded this country, she has believed, “we break it is up to us to fix it.” Unlike these Republican refugees, she believes in atonement, even though she was against this war, the wrong was done by her country, in the name of all of us Americans. So in my opinion, instead of these neo Independents bashing the liberals, they can take responsibility for what they allowed to happen to their party and this country. That is why I am telling them to own it.
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By: no one's puppet on September 9, 2010
at 5:00 PM
Loved it!
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By: Oswego Eileen on September 9, 2010
at 4:53 PM
no one’s puppet: I normally love your posts. But what am I missing? I didn’t think Dave said anything so objectionable. Is there a history here?
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By: Donna on September 9, 2010
at 4:39 PM
I have one word for Helen and this post:
L O V E!!!!!
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By: Pela on September 9, 2010
at 4:37 PM
Dave, I did know about the Nazi persecution of gays, as well of other minority groups, all of whom were human beings. And know that many Germans were complicit, and I for one, like you, am going to speak out against such weak hand wring by Republicans and some Democrats. So what if after a couple of decades of tolerance of fundamentalist Christians running your party, you finally decide to wait them out. Fix the problem! Speak out against intolerance! Wait them out? WTF, are you crazy? I question, is it the intolerance in your Party that you object to or is it the blatant stupidity of how they spread their message of intolerance?
Helen is a master of satire, there cannot be satire without truth, so what Helen says is the truth in my opinion, and if you can’t own up to it, you probably aren’t very bright and the joke went over your head.
This pastor it seems is canceling, for that I am happy, but he has done a lot damage already.
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By: no one's puppet on September 9, 2010
at 3:49 PM
“Pastor Cancels Koran Burning and Plans to Meet Imam
“The pastor planning a burning of the Koran on Saturday said Thursday he will cancel the event, adding he plans to meet with the imam planning to build an Islamic center near ground zero. ”
Holy moley!
Didn’t think this would happen…
Waiting to see what’s up…
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By: alaskapi on September 9, 2010
at 3:25 PM
Very well said, indeed. Can you imagine what would happen if a group of Muslims got together for a bible burning?
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By: Doug on September 9, 2010
at 3:22 PM
Thank you so much for your blog, Helen! Your writing is absolutely, incredibly witty and spot on! You say it for all of us, and you say it perfectly.
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By: Musings on September 9, 2010
at 3:15 PM
No one’s puppet, point well taken.
You bring up the concentration camps….did you know 6000 gay men and women lost their lives in those concentration camps because and only because they were gay. To tell them apart from other prioners they were required to wear a pink triangle over their left breast. They were supposed to wear it point up, but in an act of defiance, they wore it point down. Tho many have, I refuse to forget those 6000 innocent souls.
Hmmm, wasn’t it the Nazi’s who started large masses of book burnings? Its been said that those that don’t learn from history are condemned to repeat it.
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By: Dave on September 9, 2010
at 3:14 PM
After all, everyone knows the only thing God loves more than a good book burning is a burning Bush.
Helen, you have an amazing wit. Keep it up!
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By: Zooey on September 9, 2010
at 2:58 PM
Brilliant.
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By: Oprah on September 9, 2010
at 2:54 PM
You are just amazing! I wish I had the ability to describe anything the way you do.
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By: chakali pankhi on September 9, 2010
at 2:51 PM
WAY TO GO, HELEN!!!!!!
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By: Toby for Tyler on September 9, 2010
at 2:46 PM
Lord, bless Margaret & Helen and save us all from all these crazy ass yahoos.
Amen.
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By: Tracy on September 9, 2010
at 2:45 PM
Helen,
Your balls are bigger than my husband’s!
Keep up the fight!
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By: Marge N Charge on September 9, 2010
at 2:43 PM
Helen…great post! My jealousy is only exceeded by my gratitude for a sane voice in the wilderness.
You get the #1 spot on my Friday Favorites tomorrow. Thanks for the laughs and the woot, woot, woot’s!
😉
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By: T. on September 9, 2010
at 2:22 PM
Dave, this “You said M&H’s statement “Vote Republican. Burn a Quran. Same difference.” was not helpful. Pfesser, it wasn’t meant to be helpful. It was meant more as comic relief in the face of an unbelieveable act of hatred” isn’t just comic relief, it the truth. It is American and British solders ushering German townspeople through a captured concentration camp, their only sin, looking the other way and ignoring the fact that the smoke smelled like burning flesh. Just like them, it is time that Republicans own it or recant the positions their elected representatives have taken. And those spineless Republican Senators and Representatives haven’t spoken out, yet. How many of their voices are you hearing against the book burning?
Helen is exactly right, voting for a Republican at this point in history makes you complicit!
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By: no one's puppet on September 9, 2010
at 2:13 PM
Dear, dear Helen,
You made my morning! I kinda thought this silly ‘pastor’s’ book burning thingy might get your dander up.
You certainly do energize people! I hope you will keep it up until the November election – and beyond. There is plenty of work to be done.
Aloha! 🙂 Namaste. Shalom. (Incidentally, Muslims use the word ‘Shalom’ in the same way Jews do.)
Jean
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By: JeanΔ ¥ on September 9, 2010
at 2:10 PM
dear Margaret and Helen, i love you. thank you for all your wonderful words. you have used your time here on earth to gain knowledge and wisdom and to share what you have learned with like-minded people like me. i have forwarded this post to my loved ones. keep writing and i will keep reading.
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By: bubbles on September 9, 2010
at 2:09 PM
Pfesser, I am not going to assume you have been a recipient of Republican hate directly, but I have. Being so, I find it harder and harder not to paint them with a wide brush.
I am a gay man.
For two election cycles GWB used the wedge issue of marriage equality for gays and lesbians to help get REPUBLICANS out to the polls. The Republican national platform had anti gay planks in it. So, you’ll excuse me if I don’t buy into your rhetoric that not all Repbulicans are of the same stripe. If they are not, lemme tell you, they don’t roam far from the flock. More, I don’t see or hear very many Republicans standing up in favor of abandoning the most abusive of government policy, Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. Where are these Republicans you speak of? 4,700 US Soldiers died in Iraq. 10,500 gay and lesbian soldiers were separated from the Armed Forces because they refused to be who they were not, during the same period. Where are those lofty “wanna change” Republican’s you speak of Pfesser?????
I see this also with a woman’s right to choose what’s right for her body. I am not a woman, as such I have no business even having an opinion about reproductive choices, its not an issue I would personally ever have to face as a male of the species. Men continue to have full and free reign of their own reproductive choices. But it is the very very rare Republican that is pro choice. And, I assure you, that if forced castration were a viable choice today and maintained by a femal majority in government, the Republicans who are hell bent on controlling our lives, would be singing a very different tune. Again, this has been a platform issue for the Republican party so I am not sure how you can expect us not to see this the GOP with one wide brush.
You said M&H’s statement “Vote Republican. Burn a Quran. Same difference.” was not helpful. Pfesser, it wasn’t meant to be helpful. It was meant more as comic relief in the face of an unbelieveable act of hatred. I noted that every left leaning news programs have stated their condemnation of this act. Not so much the right wing news programs. They havent endorsed it, but they seem pretty quiet about it. We, the people, need to hear from the like of M&H to give us a needed break and reality check from such madness that has gripped this country like never before.
Where did it all start? GWB. Before him I could “hear” the Republican Party. During him and since him, I am repulsed by the party and by anyone subscribing to the planks and the entire platform. And who has fueled the hatred? Your Bachmann’s, Becks, Hannity’s, Limbaugh’s, Cheyney’s, Boehner’s, Canter’s, and what do they all have in common? Why, they’re Republicans. They have never stood up and said that the reason the Republican party does not like Obama is because he’s black. They know it, but they won’t say it, they sure as hell act it.
That said, I will say that there have been times that progressives have hurt me personally as well. In November 2008, here in California, Proposition 8 passed with 52%. This most unjust and flagrantly oppressive law, took away my right to marry the California Supreme Court granted me the previous June. Now, there’s a big difference in passing a law to bar me from marriage equality and passing a law to take away a right already granted. That reality really hurt. But when the dust settled, the real shocker was that the large majority of minorities in Cali., voted to pass Prop. 8, primarily from Afro Americans and Hispanics. When I think of all the times in my life I marched, volunteered time, stood up and stood beside those minorities because as a gay man I knew what it was like to have to experience prejudice, and because these are human beings deserving of equality, complete equality. But when I heard these statistics all I could do was hang my head and cry. Really cry, hard and loud. So, yes, I’ve been there. But, what I have found since then is many of those same people who voted for Prop 8 (based on a great deal of negative propoganda that the Republican party had a major hand in dispersing along, of course, with the LDS), now are working very hard to overturn it as soon as possible, either in court or in the ballot box. So far, Republican’s have only gone out of their way (NOM, a conservative group) to change state constitutions to bar marriage equality.
The wide brush is a badge of honor the Republican Party has worked VERY hard to earn, your little temper tantrum not withstanding. If anyone is out of their league, it’s you. By the way, can you do me a favor? Next time you’re meeting with a group of your Republican friends, can you just point out to them, since clearly they feel they have cornered the market on religion, can you just point out that Christ never took pen to paper. The Bible, as well as the Quran, were written by mortal men who had their say. Sick and tired of the religious right parading around as “christians” when they clearly, like Terry Jones, couldn’t be further from the definition christian if they tried. Just like Al Qada couldn’t further away from Islam if they tried. Also, remind them that 700 Muslims died in the Twin Towers, so that “sacred ground” we’ve heard so much about has American Muslim blood spilt on it too.
M&H, thank you for speaking truth to power with everyone of your posts. Pfesser says she doesn’t think you’re real, jury’s still out. You are more real than most things I read and see today. Love you, I mean it!
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By: Dave on September 9, 2010
at 1:56 PM
fan that NOP
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By: lori on September 9, 2010
at 1:54 PM
Pfessor, you welcomed these idiots and their votes into your party and it had to get this bad before you ever spoke up, because the collective you were afraid of them. Well burn their asses and run them off or form a new party based on better principles or shut the hell up!
Helen wonderful!
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By: no one's puppet on September 9, 2010
at 1:49 PM
Spot on once again! Love your posts Margaret and Helen! I will be sending this to everyone on my contact list. Keep them coming!
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By: MTinMO on September 9, 2010
at 1:23 PM
Great link, Palinshutup! Thank you!
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By: delurkergurl on September 9, 2010
at 1:17 PM
RE: libertine58 on September 9, 2010
at 12:37 PM
Yes, EVEN SARAH PALIN!
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By: delurkergurl on September 9, 2010
at 1:11 PM
Another hilarious post from you, Helen. I sent a link to your blog from my blog and hope you noticed. You should write a book; it would sell faster than the burning Bush.
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By: Darlene on September 9, 2010
at 1:07 PM
I wish we knew a way to get Helen &/or Margaret onto The Ed Show or KO, or….. We need someone to speak straight and intelligently to the issues! I can’t think of a better representative than Helen!! She may not be able to read the future and predict it like so many of the pundits that appear regularly on the “news” shows, but she sure can deliver reality!
I do agree with the PFesser on one thing and that’s that separating into us and them does everyone a disservice. However, I don’t understand the selection of this blog for imparting that wisdom- that’s preaching to the choir. I suggest a swift departure for blogs that would benefit from receiving this sermon/perspective.
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By: Roz on September 9, 2010
at 1:03 PM
I tried to post this earlier and couldnt. Maybe it will go through this time.
The 5% who seem to want to speak for the rest of us.
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By: palinshutup on September 9, 2010
at 12:59 PM
You said it!
And I’ve decided something – it’s time my house contained a Quran, to put with the Bibles (and other such material). I’m buying one on Saturday.
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By: judith on September 9, 2010
at 12:59 PM
Our infamous gal with tea stains on her skirt (ghostwritten by a minion no doubt, since she can’t string 4 words together herself ) has, along with Beck, denounced the book burning.
Excuse me as an Alaskan for running outside to barf in the face of whatzername who still refuses to take any responsibility for the damage her “palling around with terrorists” has done to public understanding of what is or is not terrorism pretending she’s a voice of reason now… just can’t take it…
read the comments PFesser- many are very, very disturbing …
you may be right almost everyone thinks the proposed Dove bookburning is unacceptable- even ol whatzername is playing that it is- but here, as I AM Alaska centric and our what-passes-as-republican-here types , are saying things like this:
“Is it stupid? Yes. But it is free speech, and 100% protected by the constitution – in fact, in the very same section that guarantees Muslims and all other Americans the right to freely practice their religions. I am a non-religious person and I’m very happy to see that Christians have, by and large, adopted a fairly mature response to this kind of immature speech – they condemn it, and ignore it. Muslims need to learn to do the same.
Our troops are, at least in theory, putting their lives on the line to protect American freedoms. Freedom of speech is one of those freedoms, and one of the only freedoms that Americans have shown time and again to be worth dying for. It may be true that the troops lives may be put at greater risk because of Americans exercising their freedom of speech. That is EXACTLY what they bravely signed up to do.”
Read more: http://www.adn.com/2010/09/08/1445402/palin-urges-pastor-not-to-burn.html#ixzz0z3iiCWxE
Here the dingbat in Florida appeals on freedom of speech grounds to what passes for GOP thought .
Here what I said stands.
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By: alaskapi on September 9, 2010
at 12:53 PM
We Canadians would welcome you with open arms. And I would personally rub your feet and serve you pie in thanks for all your wonderful posts! But I’m hoping you don’t leave because America needs level-headed, straight shooting gems like you two.
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By: A Novel Woman on September 9, 2010
at 12:50 PM
Wellllll, to be perfectly fair, I can’t say that this moron is a typical Republican. I think he’s too looney for most of them — he’s more of a Fred Phelps type.
I think most people, except for the furthest right wing are united in condemning what this idiot is doing.
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By: libertine58 on September 9, 2010
at 12:37 PM
“NEW, New Rules:
If you are not for me, you are against me. I’ll get over it. Now kindly return the favor.’
https://margaretandhelen.wordpress.com/2008/10/28/what-was-i-thinking-when-i-called-sarah-palin-a-bitch/
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By: alaskapi on September 9, 2010
at 12:28 PM
reminders for us all here…
Helen has been clear from the beginning that :
“Thanks for stopping by. Even idiots are welcome to leave a comment. I mean it. Really.”
https://margaretandhelen.wordpress.com/2008/11/07/idiots-are-so-easy-to-spot/
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By: alaskapi on September 9, 2010
at 12:25 PM
Another jewel. Thanks, Helen.
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By: 2legit on September 9, 2010
at 12:22 PM
Back’s at ya azgrandma.
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By: Janey on September 9, 2010
at 12:12 PM
“Here’s a thought. If Pastor Jones is so dead set on burning a book he should just wait until The George Bush Memoirs come out. After all, everyone knows the only thing God loves more than a good book burning is a burning Bush.”
Oh Helen, you sure have a way with words. LOL!
Loved this post, so glad you’re on a roll again.
BTW…Matthew, looks like the porch needs a little sweeping.
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By: DoverSoul on September 9, 2010
at 12:12 PM
Lot’s of love your way too janey girl…
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By: azgrandma on September 9, 2010
at 12:10 PM
I wouldn’t worry too much about it Chickenpig. Those posts and posters seem to me to be forced and too convenient to be real.
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By: Janey on September 9, 2010
at 12:08 PM
Perfect, Helen and Margaret! It’s always such a pleasure to read one of your posts. It makes my day, no, make that a week. Your posts, together with most of the comments, confirm that I’m not alone.
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By: laingirl on September 9, 2010
at 12:06 PM
I feel a purchase comin’ on for me come 9/11. Thx for the link poolman and the live U2!
Peace ya’ll
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By: azgrandma on September 9, 2010
at 12:00 PM
I can’t believe the people here that dare to speak for God. I have read the Bible pretty closely and it doesn’t say in there anywhere that God will hate you if you dis the Republican party of the United States of America. It does say a lot about how much God gets pissed off when you commit heresy, which includes pretending to be a god or having the audacity to speak for God. Hate whom you will, but please, leave God out of it.
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By: Chickenpig on September 9, 2010
at 11:59 AM
Wise way beyond your years.
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By: jeff on September 9, 2010
at 11:57 AM
[…] Helen weighs in on the book burning over at Margaret and Helen. Never miss these lovely slices of humor and straight talk. Ever. I mean it. […]
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By: Of Ink and Quills and Parchment « A Feather Adrift on September 9, 2010
at 11:55 AM
Well-written. Great post!
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By: kimkiminy on September 9, 2010
at 11:52 AM
Azgrandma –
Thanks. appreciate that.
FWIW, I have no dog in this hunt, except that it really irritates me to see the demagogues on BOTH sides trying to stir the shit and polarize America into “us” and “them,” when in point of fact it’s all US. It bugs me to see American citizens going at each other’s throats when we are going to all need each other in trying to straighten this mess out, and the more posts like “Helen’s” last one we get, the farther apart we get. I believe it hurts my country, and that pisses me off. Period.
As you may know, there are many who believe “M&H” don’t exist at all, and the whole site is just a shill for the Left. My jury is still out, but posts like the last one are very unhelpful when we are trying to get our country back together after Bush-the-Lesser’s eight-year cyclone.
I’m calm now. Thanks again.
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By: PFesser on September 9, 2010
at 11:43 AM
As far as November is concerned, running on platforms of fear and sanctions of shame are not honorable tactics. Hopefully everyone who engages in these odious forms of persuasion feels the sting of rejection and failure.
The Florida pastor is wrong. It looks to me like most everybody in the nation agrees.
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By: Janey on September 9, 2010
at 11:29 AM
“Into the arms of Amerikkka”
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By: poolman on September 9, 2010
at 11:25 AM
Teacher, I’m posting that quote on my fb page!
Hear, hear dropdeadelegence!!!!
Pfesser, push away from the keyboard, take 3 deep, cleansing breaths, go put U2’s Joshua Tree on the disk player, 3 more deep breaths……and feel better! Sending peace your way! 😉
I’ve got a message from God for the “shepherds” that ain’t been doing what God called them to….but I’ll post it later after I change my avatar to a pig! LOL!
Great day to you all!
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By: azgrandma on September 9, 2010
at 11:18 AM
Alaskapi –
“Pfessor-
I invite you to consider yelling louder than SP, BECK, et al-
At this point in time the GOP is allowing them to set the tone, tenor, and actions of the party.
It will take a lot of work from WITHIN to shake them off…”
Well said. Firstly, I am NOT a ReBiblican, but many of us who sometimes vote GOP *are* trying to dump these embarrassing arseholes – trying like the proverbial hell.
“Vote Republican and burn a Quran. Same difference.” is a sad but all too true assessment of where the GOP has allowed itself to get stuck.”
Nonsense. C’mon man. You are smarter than that. *Everybody* thinks this Florida preacher is a nutcase. Don’t try to hang him around the GOP’s neck or anybody else’s.
“Democrats got themselves stuck a number of years ago in strange stances regarding the looking-down-the-nose-on-blue-collar Americans thingy and it has taken a long time to sort that out some.”
Agreed. It also in many cases happens to be true, but the ReBiblicans are no better, IMHO.
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By: PFesser on September 9, 2010
at 11:15 AM
Doug –
“PS. PFessor. I used to be Catholic. Then they began hating people and molesting children.”
‘they.’ *All* of them?
“So now I am not Catholic anymore eventhough I still believe in God. Does than mean I shouldn’t point out that the Catholic Church preaches hate and allows child molesting within its leadership.”
*All* the Catholic church? Or did you really mean to say *much* of the church and *many* of the higher-ups – say the Poop, for example…
“I guess as along as I don’t go to a Catholic Church anymore everything is OK.”
No – if you are actively trying to *change* your church, THEN it’s OK – for YOU. It is NOT OK for folks to stop you on the street and slap you because you are Catholic, if you have done nothing wrong. Maybe some Repuglicans feel the same way.
“Make sense?”
No.
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By: PFesser on September 9, 2010
at 11:08 AM
Helen I’m with you on this one!
This “pastor” (read shepherd of his flock), may have a little surprise coming when he finds himself standing before the judgement seat in “that” day.
Tweeter and Katy did…. 🙄 …let me direct you to Matthew, chapters 5,6, & 7. Particularly 5:21-24. Myself, I prefer the amplified version, but the Living Bible paraphrase is pretty darn succinct. 😉
There still might be time to undergo a transformation from smelly goat to USEFUL sheep.
Tho’ I must admit, I am mystified as to why you discontents even hang around?!?!
Personally, I didn’t take the pfesser’s post in the same vein as it seems the rest of you did. But I try REAL hard to put myself into all of ya’ll’s thoughts and heart’s! That’s just me tho’…..
Peace ya’ll 😀
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By: azgrandma on September 9, 2010
at 11:06 AM
Peanut
“You are about to sweep in a whole new crop of racists into the US House.”
He who asserts bears the burden of proof. The ball is in your court.
“Based on your argument, the KKK is not all that bad because there might be a few members who really don’t hate blacks as mush as the other members.”
Non sequitur. Try again. (Fair warning: you are in o’er your head.)
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By: PFesser on September 9, 2010
at 11:01 AM
Ballard –
“Pfesser are you rally that stupid? You missed her point entirely.”
Rally, I’m not.
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By: PFesser on September 9, 2010
at 10:56 AM
Tweeter: My copy of the bible says “for
God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son…” I am having trouble finding the pages that say he loves some of us but not others. Perhaps a reread of the Beatitudes might refresh your memory on God’s philosophy.
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By: dropdeadelegance on September 9, 2010
at 10:53 AM
Thank you for this wonderful post. It is so accurate. I love every line. I have already texted my son the last line (and I attributed it to the two of you;he really needs to read this blog). It is unpatriotic of me to hope, sincerely hope, that the rest of the world WILL call us out? I love America, but I don’t like her very much at times and this is one of those times.
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By: daisydem on September 9, 2010
at 10:48 AM
Helen you are priceless. I’m sending this to everyone I know!
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By: Harriet on September 9, 2010
at 10:47 AM
I got a facebook invite to an event.
“Buy a Qur’an Day – 9/11”
Katy and Tweeter, I guess your Bible came without Matthew chapters 5 through 7. But not to fear, with today’s google, you too can be enlightened. Of course, you have to clean your filters first. Well what do you know, they can be renewed every morning…
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By: poolman on September 9, 2010
at 10:45 AM
Helen, you say it so well. Love your blog!
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By: Brenda Zimmer on September 9, 2010
at 10:42 AM
We should ALL be worried about Nov.
That is the point!
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By: Susan R. on September 9, 2010
at 10:39 AM
Wasn’t this blog started round about this time 2 years ago?
Obviously the writer is worried about November.
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By: Janey on September 9, 2010
at 10:37 AM
Atta girl…….
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By: lori on September 9, 2010
at 10:36 AM
Thanks to Helen for so eloquently putting into words what I think!
And this this morning when I opened up email, what did I find but a message from John Boehner urging me to vote Repug. Promptly opened up and went to UNSUBSCRIBE!
Unfortunately there was no place to enter comments.
Just add him to the list of Palin, Rush, BEck and that hate filled pastor.
Pfessor, enough of your animosity . Go away.
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By: Grandma Katie on September 9, 2010
at 10:26 AM
I’m nominating Helen for the Kennedy Center Honors!
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By: Susan R. on September 9, 2010
at 10:15 AM
Please everyone. Ignore Tweetter. Ignore Katy and ignore PFessor. They know not what they do.
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By: Hobbit on September 9, 2010
at 10:12 AM
God loves some people and hates others. You can read all about it in the Bible. I hate some people and love others. You can read all about it right here – I hate you Helen and so does God.
Put a check mark next to R on my ballot!
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By: Tweeter on September 9, 2010
at 10:10 AM
*Applause!*
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By: KVC on September 9, 2010
at 10:10 AM
Another insightful blog. I am so glad you are back!
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By: Sheila on September 9, 2010
at 10:08 AM
German-Jewish poet Heinrich Heine, prophetically wrote in 1821 that “Wherever people burn books, there, in the end, will they also burn people.”
Please consider allowing this quote to become the Democratic chant for the next 2 months:
“If you vote Republican today you are telling ‘Pastor’ Terry Jones that fifty religious fanatics are more important than any chance for world peace. You are telling Sarah Palin that when it comes to the presidency – pretty is more important than smart. You are telling Glenn Beck that honesty isn’t really necessary if you have your own cable news show on Fox. You are telling Michele Bachmann that hearing voices in your head isn’t cause for alarm. Hell, if you vote Republican today you might as well just shove a few more dollars in Rush Limbaugh’s pockets and a few more pills in his mouth. “
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By: teacher on September 9, 2010
at 10:08 AM
Margaret and Helen need to just ride up to that Pastor’s “church” on their scooters. I bet he would change his mind!
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By: Mavis on September 9, 2010
at 10:08 AM
Pfessor-
I invite you to consider yelling louder than SP, BECK, et al-
At this point in time the GOP is allowing them to set the tone, tenor, and actions of the party.
It will take a lot of work from WITHIN to shake them off…
“Vote Republican and burn a Quran. Same difference.” is a sad but all too true assessment of where the GOP has allowed itself to get stuck.
Democrats got themselves stuck a number of years ago in strange stances regarding the looking-down-the-nose-on-blue-collar Americans thingy and it has taken a long time to sort that out some.
Thank you Helen for having us all in. I appreciate that you do allow all to stop by…
Even the katy-don’t-get-its…
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By: alaskapi on September 9, 2010
at 10:05 AM
Helen you are on fire!!!!!!!
🙂
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By: Candice P. on September 9, 2010
at 9:58 AM
Burning down the house…
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By: People Like People on September 9, 2010
at 9:56 AM
PS. PFessor. I used to be Catholic. Then they began hating people and molesting children. So now I am not Catholic anymore eventhough I still believe in God. Does than mean I shouldn’t point out that the Catholic Church preaches hate and allows child molesting within its leadership.
I guess as along as I don’t go to a Catholic Church anymore everything is OK.
Make sense?
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By: Doug in AL on September 9, 2010
at 9:54 AM
You are a Goddess!
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By: Mary Lynne on September 9, 2010
at 9:51 AM
Perfect. Don’t change a thing.
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By: Doug in AL on September 9, 2010
at 9:50 AM
France here. We call bullshit… again.
Your Republican Party has painted that picture with that broad brush for you. Helen just decided to hang it on a wall for all to see better.
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By: Frenchie on September 9, 2010
at 9:49 AM
Hell yes. HELL yes. HELL YES!
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By: Giddy on September 9, 2010
at 9:47 AM
You are spot on with your understanding of what is going on in the USA.
The problem with Common Sense is that it is becoming less common.
Thank you for bringing some Common Sense to what is going on.
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By: Ray on September 9, 2010
at 9:46 AM
I LOVE YOU MARGARET AND HELEN.
Can we feed this into Obama’s teleprompt???????
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By: Tabby Cat on September 9, 2010
at 9:46 AM
PFessor. Exactly who do you think keeps FOX tops in the ratings? Your logic isn’t… get your own grip dude.
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By: Trolling on September 9, 2010
at 9:45 AM
PFessor. Until the Republican Party takes responsibiluty for this mess I am with Helen. Palin leads the pack among all Republican voters for the 2012 White House. You are about to sweep in a whole new crop of racists into the US House. You are the one who needs to get a grip. Based on your argument, the KKK is not all that bad because there might be a few members who really don’t hate blacks as mush as the other members. If it quacks like a duck…
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By: Peanut on September 9, 2010
at 9:43 AM
I get all excited when I hear you have written a new post. I’m never disappointed. Thanks for sharing your wisdom and humor. Love it.
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By: DiAnne on September 9, 2010
at 9:42 AM
I love you Helen!
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By: Lisa Marie on September 9, 2010
at 9:41 AM
Try reading the post again, Pfesser….idiot.
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By: Ted on September 9, 2010
at 9:40 AM
Pfesser, you have worn out your welcome here on Margaret & Helen’s porch. How dare you insult the HOST of this blog!
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By: GramNan on September 9, 2010
at 9:39 AM
Pfesser are you rally that stupid? You missed her point entirely.
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By: Ballard on September 9, 2010
at 9:39 AM
Thank you, Helen! As usual, it couldn’t be more correct or better said. Beautiful!
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By: Bluefrog on September 9, 2010
at 9:39 AM
I Love you, Helen! God bless you.
Book burners – the only light they’ll ever see…
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By: poolman on September 9, 2010
at 9:37 AM
Hyperbole sells, and the me-too-ers pick up the beat.
Now to come down to earth: Please stop painting everybody with the same brush. Many, many of those who once called the GOP home are trying like hell to get the Becks and Palins out, and while in exile they are voting Democrat, which I think says a hell of a lot of good things about them. But denigrating them will do nothing but drive them back to the GOP, so STOP IT.
Describing “all” the Republicans as book-burners is as bogus as describing “all” the Democrats as Muslim communists.
If you can’t calm yourself down long enough to try to help straighten this f-ing mess out, you are just like that goddamned preacher in Florida – you are just making things worse.
Get a grip.
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By: PFesser on September 9, 2010
at 9:36 AM
Katy, since God speaks to you perhaps you could use his thoughts to improve the world, solve world hunger, stops wars and alleviate pain and suffering instead of condemning someone for their opinion. However since God does speak to me as well his message to me has always been to love others, help those in need, to remember others are driven by hate not love and to spread His message of love and acceptance to those in need. I should also respect others including their choices and that includes religion. I realize this is a somewhat foreign concept to you and other Republicans but perhaps you should re-read the Bible and listen a bit more carefully.
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By: MSLemon on September 9, 2010
at 9:36 AM
Katy, isn’t it just a teeny bit presumptuous of you to be putting words in god’s mouth?
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By: Cobwebs on September 9, 2010
at 9:35 AM
Another RWNJ in TN is also getting into burning books.
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20100909/NEWS01/9090347/2067
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By: QED on September 9, 2010
at 9:32 AM
awsome post Helen..thank you…
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By: Star on September 9, 2010
at 9:32 AM
What a HOOT you are! You said exactly what I feel about all of this nonsense.
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By: GramNan on September 9, 2010
at 9:31 AM
Helen, I could not love you more. You are the light of sanity in a dark and crazy world.
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By: Harry Warmer on September 9, 2010
at 9:28 AM
OMG! This is pure gold!
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By: Sarah Anne on September 9, 2010
at 9:25 AM
Fantastic, as usual!!!
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By: HeidiLouWho on September 9, 2010
at 9:24 AM
Katy, Helen said you would show up!
🙂
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By: TLC on September 9, 2010
at 9:23 AM
God does hate you and I am proud to be a registered Republican.
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By: Katy Did It on September 9, 2010
at 9:20 AM
Spot on as usual.
Thank you Helen,Margaret, and Matthew
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By: Daily Reader on September 9, 2010
at 9:20 AM
Somebody get this post to CNN!
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By: TLC on September 9, 2010
at 9:18 AM
A burning bush!!!
AAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Helen you are a SCREAM!!!!!!!!
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By: Harrison T. on September 9, 2010
at 9:17 AM
My favourite line:
You are telling Michele Bachmann that hearing voices in your head isn’t cause for alarm.
I LOVE IT!
I let out a big laugh when the intelligent man from MN was captured on the CNN piece about her with ‘that woman is crazy…can you believe the crap that comes out of her mouth’
Keep up the great work!
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By: Khyra's Mom on September 9, 2010
at 9:16 AM
I LOVE HELEN and MARGARET!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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By: Madge Pittman on September 9, 2010
at 9:14 AM
Thank you, thank you! This is what this country needs to hear.
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By: Carla on September 9, 2010
at 9:11 AM
I love you Helen! And Margaret too!
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By: ManxMamma on September 9, 2010
at 9:06 AM
Thanks, Helen! I don’t think Terry Jones will back down. It will be a really ugly & probably violent scene, which is EXACTLY what he wants. I’m not even referring to the future consequences, but just the day itself!
On my blog, I shared an open letter from Father Elias Zahlawi, a Syrian Catholic priest, to Jones. I don’t have the reach to make an impact but thought I’d draw people’s attention to it because there are some really important things said in his letter. Some of it made me squirm a little but most of it I agreed with.
http://chatterclatter.wordpress.com/2010/09/09/a-personal-message-from-father-elias-zahlawi-a-syrian-catholic-priest-to-pastor-terry-jones/
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By: delurkergurl on September 9, 2010
at 9:06 AM
“If the Democrats can’t muster enough votes to beat this bunch of yahoos then we deserve what we get on November 3rd.”
Helen, you couldn’t BE more correct. But the thought, the mere thought of repugs back in charge gives me the willie-nillies like never before.
What is wrong with this country? I’ve lived nearly 63 years and distinctly recall the “radical” 60’s. But now, during this time, I’ve never seen or heard as much vitriolic hatred as I do now — for EVERYthing. Ugly Americans are everywhere. Racism runs rampant. Somebody, please, what is wrong with this country? I am so very, very scared.
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By: DCH in TX on September 9, 2010
at 9:05 AM
did you see the interview on Maddow with Megan McCain? She loves the Republican party for it’s core values which have been usurped by the wing-nuts. She’s trying to build a moderate movement within that party. They are nuts, and yet they are motivated to votes. Let’s just hope the dems get out the vote in Nov. or we’re gonna lose big.
You gals are awesome.
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By: Tara on September 9, 2010
at 9:00 AM
Thank you Helen! This was spot on and I absolutely love the sentence, “. . . God Hates Everyone Who Isn’t Like Me” [or better, Isn’t ME]. That’s what it all comes down to – no one else is as ‘good’ one of them in their eyes. If we keep going like we are now, there will be no America left. If I could leave America now, I’d be outta here in a NY minute. There is just too much HATE in America so that nothing ‘good’ is left here. The worst thing is that all this hate is making me ‘hate them all’.
Thanks for posting such TRUTH and please don’t stop! Love you!
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By: Disparaged on September 9, 2010
at 8:58 AM
Thanks for posting this! As usual, you are spot on. Unfortunately, fear drives people to do very stupid things…and the Republicans have mastered the art of making people afraid. (And the Democrats have been lax in calling the Republicans on this sort of bullshit.)
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By: Marsha on September 9, 2010
at 8:56 AM