Printable View
[QUOTE=Jackson]For one thing, Jack was a naval officer and a war hero before he ran for President. Barak has never had a command position and has never had his courage tested under fire.
Thanks,
Jackson[/QUOTE]Neither did George Bush have any military experience (unlike Kerry) but that didn't stop the Republicans from voting for him which shows the hypocrisy of those who imply that military service is so important-yet ignore it when their own candidate is so lacking.
Suerte.
Stowe
"And what's wrong with throwing our weight around and protecting our interests?"
"I disagree, These rabid dogs only respect power, and just like rabid dogs, they need to be "put down" for everyone's safety."
Jackson,
No one debates the US has an important role in the world and in the past the world has looked to it to "do the right thing". There's a wrong way and a right way to these things. The Republican party supported by around 50% of the voting public has delivered 8 years of the most unfortunate show of "the wrong way". How anyone that suppported it has anything to say now is beyond comprehension. Time to take a furlough and let someone else try to fix the mess.
Another 4 years of swashbuckling cum maverick listing to reckless John McCain with his VP Light, "throwing our weight around" and helping the "rabid dogs" in their recruiting drives really is beyond the pale.
Republicans should really call it a day, mow lawns for the summer, sell Christmas trees, take a field trip, check their bank accounts and stay out of the way for god's sake.
[QUOTE=Stowe]Neither did George Bush have any military experience.[/QUOTE]I disagree. As I understand the history, George Bush was a Captian and a pilot in the US Air Force, serving in the Texas Air National Guard, which I believe qualifies as "military experience".
[QUOTE=Bacchus9]The Republican party supported by around 50% of the voting public has delivered 8 years of the most unfortunate show of "the wrong way".[/QUOTE]I disagree. With the exception of some missteps in the prosecution of the post-liberation in Iraq, I believe that Bush and the Republicans in Congress have done an excellent (not perfect) job. Personally, I'm proud of the way we've developed a reputation in the international community that if you fuck with us, we will KICK YOUR ASS!
We are the 900 pound gorillia, so there's no reason for any American Citizen to be intimitated or afraid of any other country or peoples. In fact, it should be just the reverse.
[QUOTE=Jackson]I disagree. With the exception of some missteps in the prosecution of the post-liberation in Iraq, I believe that Bush and the Republicans in Congress have done an excellent (not perfect) job. Personally, I'm proud of the way we've developed a reputation in the international community that if you fuck with us, we will KICK YOUR ASS!
We are the 900 pound gorillia, so there's no reason for any American Citizen to be intimitated or afraid of any other country or peoples. In fact, it should be just the reverse.[/QUOTE]I'm betting Jackson wears a toga around the house.;)
[QUOTE=Jackson]We are the 900 pound gorillia, so there's no reason for any American Citizen to be intimitated or afraid of any other country or peoples. In fact, it should be just the reverse.[/QUOTE]In my opinion, this is the sense of entitlement that is causing problems, not only for our country, but for the world in general. And, in fact, only makes US citizens less safe abroad.
Do you honestly think that if you get shanked in Palermo Viejo that the US Army is going to come and avenge you? Or are you talking domestically? Well, I guess if the borders are closed, then we will be 'safe' but it probably also means it will be harder for the mongering masses to do their deed.
What was your point anyway?
I have to agree with Jackson, we do have to protect our interests around the world and I don't think "talk" is worth much when dealing with Islamic extremists be they in Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, or else where. They only respect force and the willingness to use it. When the shit hits the fan who does everyone come running to, that's right the US. They may not like us but they do fear us and I'll take that in place of respect.
I know the liberals wish to believe if you make nice they will come around. Sorry it does not work that way in the "real world". The "civilized world" you live and debate in is only possible due to our current overwhelming power to protect it. You can debate in your airy realms from now till doomsday but when the rubber meets the road, Mao said it best "political power flows from the barrel of a gun." Ask the folks in Georgia how much talking to the Russians or how much the hand wringing in the West did them. Nada!
My political cast is independent, and I'm not thrilled by McCain but at least he has his head screwed on straight and sees the world for what it is, not what he wants it to be. Obama sees the world through rose colored glasses and I am not sure we will have the time for him to learn on the job while Russia begins to flex it's military muscle again and Iran works on the bomb and intercontinental delivery systems. We had three years in WWII to get it together to win the war and the US mainland was untouched. It might be a little more difficult to withstand three years of nukes taking down cities in the US and still have the will to come back and win.
I spend a little time in our escapade in Southeast Asia and have a daughter in her third year at West Point so guys I have had and now do have a little more on the line with this election. While I have to admit we really don't have much out there to vote for this time, I would rather have McCain leading than Obama.
Rave on guys,
Doppelganger
[QUOTE=Doppelganger]I have to agree with Jackson, we do have to protect our interests around the world.
Doppelganger[/QUOTE]Why don't we just take over the world. Too many Americans just love being the big dog on the block and love to have us (the US) bully others. There seems to be a certain faction within this country that just loves to kill-push others around, etc.
Part of the reason we are so hated around the world is because we have interfered in other nations and their governments:
Nicaragua (assisted in the overthrow of the elected Sandinista gov't)
Panama (1989 invasion)
Cuba (Bay of Pigs)
Dominican Republic (1965 invasion).
Saudia Arabia (prop up unpopular gov't- for the oil companies)
Bolivia (for the oil companies)
Argentina (via the World Money fund -requiring 1 to 1 peso to dollar xchg)
El Salvador (financed an unpopular gov't-thus keeping the civil war going)
Africa (preventing teaching of birth control or lose financing)
Haiti (many times-last was in the 80's when we disposed of Pres. Duvalier)
Peru (we helped prop up the unpopular gov't in the early 90's to protect the rich and powerful)
Honduras (supported the unpopular Honduras military govt so we could station troop there to fight in Nicaragua)
Grenada (1983 invasion)
The damned Monroe Doctrine should have been outlawed decades ago.
This does not include considering our involvement in Vietnam, Korea, Iraq, etc. Some may have been necessary (Korea, perhaps); Kuwait-probably.
Having said the above I do not think the US is ALWAYS bad, evil or wrong-nor am I a bleeding heart liberal. We do more good in the world than any other country but that good is usually done by organizations not the politicians (both republican and democratic administrations) who just want to protect corporate American and the rich.
All our good is lost by all the incidents where we impose our will (economically or militarily) on others.
Of course, there will be those that will either be like Ostriches, or will say; "so what, we are the strongest". Well, we won't be the strongest forever. Like the old saying goes: "what goes around comes around" and I just think much of the world is just waiting for us to be torn down (internally or externally) because of our empirical attitude. I suspect there won't be anyone there to stand with us or help us when we need it.
Maybe it's time we keep our nose out of other people's lives, business and countries!
Suerte.
Stowe
For two hundred years we have been a country split down the middle by our lawyer leaders. Change our leaders, but we can't, because the lawyers, those that we are forced to elect, make our laws. Nothing has changed except the dates.
We need to make a law that no lawyers can be a government official.
My observations.
Jes.
Tejanolibre, quiero comprate una cerveza!
Doggboy,
I hope there's a straight jacket under that toga you surmise Jackson wears.
"I believe that Bush and the Republicans in Congress have done an excellent (not perfect) job. Personally, I'm proud of the way we've developed a reputation in the international community that if you fuck with us, we will KICK YOUR ASS!"
How much glue do you sniff through Jackson in a week on average?
The US has always been strong, it's only been the last 8 years that it's turned stupid, criminal and had to blatantly buy it's allies instead of earn them.
So Doppelganger is that a yellow alert or an orange alert.
It's all so reminiscent of the fear mongering the modern day Goebels used to manipulate the US population after the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center back in the 2002, 2003 and 2004. You know when they wanted to stay in power for another four years.
Keep stoking that fear and adrenaline, it's contagious and you'll bring on just what you say you fear. Like McCain, he likes to excercise that rhetoric and "shoot from the hip". Yeah howdy, head screwed on a little too tight maybe. But he is a POW, so undoubtedly he can point that out in any given difficult situation.
[QUOTE=Sidney]Thank you for interviewing for the President's position at our company. We were very impressed with your oratorical skills. You interviewed well with all the directors. We thought that you were the man that we seek. But our ''backround research'' team discovered problems: 1. You have no business experience. 2. You have no experience managing people. 3. In fact, you have never managed any business. 4. We need a skilled man with the Congress, but you only served a few days there with no record of success. 5. You have no business contacts. 6. Upon investigation, we discovered all your records were missing=strange! 6. You have no international or military experience. 7. Plus many other matters. We respectfully must reject you as a candidate for the President of our company. However, we will offer you a Sales Associate's position in Chicago. Your contacts with the Daley Machine will be invaluable. Could you relocate? Thanks again, Sid XXXXXXX[/QUOTE]He can't do any worse than the war mongering, Vietnam dodging, budget busting, idiot we have now.
And McCain- running on his integrity / honest. Mr. Infidelity - Mr. Keating 5 member? All he thinks about is killing-I quote:
Bomb Bomb Iran - opps! He meant Barbara Ann.
When told that the US cigarette companies are violating our own trade restrictions by sending cigarettes to Iran, his response:
Good, hopefully it will kill them all.
The Iranian people our not our enemy-they don't want the government they have either!
No Bacchus9 this is not a color coded alert. No I don't think we are always correct, but if you think if we leave others along they will reciprocate you are truly a lost sole, because these folks will never leave us or anyone else alone, England, Spain, Italy, France, Philippians, ect.
Islamists believe their "God" empowers them to invade and convert to Islam or slay all infidels (or take them as slaves) in any country at any time, it is their duty. Partner if you are not Muslim then infidel describes you. There is only one way, their way, period.
This has nothing to do with being American, check your history, the Moorish invasions of Spain and Europe from Africa. The Moors were Islamists, same code, same belief systems back in the 12th century and they are still following them today. Guess you would say George Bush and America caused that one too?
Doppelganger
No Stowe the Iranian people by in large are not our enemy, but they lack the freedom to choose their own government. The Mullahs have to certify all candidates and the reformers are always eliminated from the running. Not to mention the Revolutionary Guard Corps over shadows even the military in Iran, these guys make the SS look like Sunday school kids. It will not be the Iranian people who pull the trigger it will be the Mullahs, the people will be the ones who suffer since the Mullahs will scatter like cockroaches when it finally hit's the fan. When they over threw the monarchy they wanted "Change", they just did not know it was back to the 12th Century!
Doppelganger