It seems we are bogged down in the same tired old subjects, has nothing happened worthy of note?

Think on this:

The North Koreans are back to the negotiating table and the US (no less) is talking about building nuclear reactors for them. Now surely this is worthy of comment.

Once again a large part of Australia is flooded, yawn yawn

There are tornado's in the US, what, not again

Terrorists have gone their merry way in various places but then they have done it all before

Some religious artifacts were destroyed in Afghanistan and people died

The North Koreans are back to the negotiating table and the US (no less) is talking about building nuclear reactors for them. Now surely this is worthy of comment.

This is the same foolery that the Clintoons got suckered into when KimJong mentally Il took power. He needed the legitimacy and gravitas of the US engagement brought . So the Clintoons set up a food deal that did nothing for the starving population and a bogus nuke deal that he swiftly violated . That gave him time to copnsolidate his power ;and the nation suffered through his brutal reign for almost 2 decades

So ;who is directing policy now ? Evita Clintoon. This is déjà vu ;and I don't expect a different result. This is the same song and our suckers are falling for it again.

BTW ;did you hear that the NORKS conducted 2 nuclear tests in 2010 for the Iranians ? No ? No surprise there .
Evidence of the 2010 tests was published last month in Nature magazine and is based on the research of Swedish nuclear physicist Lars-Erik de Geer. A German newspaper said that Iranian physicists were at the tests .

Tom as I recall the NK let off a couple of small blasts. More like tests of a trigger which is all you really need to do. I don't doubt there has been cooperation between NK and the Iranians, after all who else are they going to cooperate with, the Pakistanis?

I like to view developments with a positive veiw until I'm proven wrong, so yes we may go down the same path with NK a number of times until they realise that none of us are their enemies and we all have a vested interest in that country emerging from the dark ages of Stalinist communism. If they could be turned what a counter they would be to China with their pool of cheap labour. The US could immediately pour in mega -dollars with no regulation or thought of CO2 and we would also see the same investment flows that Taiwan made in China duplicated by SK in NK

As to the Iranians, I have the same thoughts, stop the argy-bargy and make the same sort of concessions

As to the Iranians, I have the same thoughts, stop the argy-bargy and make the same sort of concessions
Neville Chamberlain would be proud.

Once again a large part of Australia is flooded, yawn yawn

There are tornado's in the US, what, not again

Weather patterns and climate change happen


Terrorists have gone their merry way in various places but then they have done it all before
And we are destined to repeat the mistakes of the 1990s .Here the big news is NYC police dept deciding to be vigilant .


Some religious artifacts were destroyed in Afghanistan and people died

I believe I've addressed this issue before . We are leaving with our tail's between our legs . Before we go I highly recommend the Roman solution to Carthage at the end of the final Punic war.

Once again a large part of Australia is flooded, yawn yawn

There are tornado's in the US, what, not again

Weather patterns and climate change happen

In some places these floods are be Biggest since 1864 in others just the biggest in twenty years, show me where climate change is involved, no just natural variability




and we are destined to repeat the mistakes of the 1990s .Here the big news is NYC police dept deciding to be vigilant .

This is news, I thought it might be business as usual



Quote:
Some religious artifacts were destroyed in Afghanistan and people died

I believe I've addressed this issue before . We are leaving with our tail's between our legs . Before we go I highly recommend the Roman solution to Carthage at the end of the final Punic war.

Scorched earth will get you no where and in any event you haven't conquered the place just dropped in for a visit

Neville Chamberlain would be proud.

No Tom you are applying the Neville Chamberlain solution in NK and yet you are not even handed enough to apply it to Iran. What is the difference? NK is an athiestic state, Iran is a Muslin state, You have already fought NK to a standstill but no victory, you have yet to prove your resolve against Iran who lost a million men in another fight funded by you and are still there.

I'm merely suggesting if diplomacy provides a solution it might be tried elsewhere

and in any event you haven't conquered the place just dropped in for a visit

I actually think we have done much better than most empires who have ventured into the region . We will leave ;the Taliban will take over... there will be the traditional tribal ,ethnic ,and sectional conflicts that the Taliban will not be able to control. And the Pakis will still have their hand full .

But perhaps we have planted some seed corn of liberty in the minds of the people. Just a thought. That is the only positive I can find from it as the President has cast the die that our work there will be incomplete .

Take the radical jihadism out of the equation for a minute and what are the Taliban ? They are ethnic Pashtuns . Perhaps even larger in size than the Kurdish areas ;the Pashtuns could well be the biggest ethnic group that does not have a nation of it's own. This will not stand... They won't be satisfied with keeping on their side of the Durand Line ;not with so much of Pakistan inhabitted by Pashtuns.

I actually think we have done much better than most empires who have ventured into the region . But perhaps we have planted some seed corn of liberty in the minds of the people. Just a thought.

Take the radical jihadism out of the equation for a minute and what are the Taliban ? They are ethnic Pashtuns . Perhaps even larger in size than the Kurdish areas ;the Pashtuns could well be the biggest ethnic group that does not have a nation of it's own. This will not stand ... They won't be satisfied with keeping on their side of the Durand Line ;not with so much of Pakistan inhabitted by Pashtuns.

Don't be niaive Tom Afghanistan will go back to what it was before you came, a Muslim fundamentalist state. It basically is the Nation of the Pashtuns, it is just that they haven't wrested the tribal areas away from Pakistan. You have been at war with the Pushtun nation. Your drones have bombed their settlements in Pakistan, your troops have invaded their homes in Afghanistan. Both Afghanistan and Pakistan are artificial constructs, the legacy of the British leaving with their tail between their legs and you are going to leave having achieved nothing for the Afghan people, nothing for the Pushtun people. You have a small victory you have defeated Al Qaeda in that place. If you had killed OBL ten years ago you wouldn't be there now and you wouldn't give a fig for Pakistan

I don't give a fig about them now.. I've always said our natural allies in the sub-continent was the largest democracy on the planet... India .

You never know what will happen long term. Despite your unfair characterization of our conduct there ,we have done a lot of good. Too bad it will all go to waste with our premature withdrawal.

I don't give a fig about them now .. I've always said our natural allies in the sub-continent was the largest democracy on the planet... India .

You never know what will happen long term. Despite your unfair characterization of our conduct there ,we have done alot of good. Too bad it will all go to waste with our premature withdrawal.

I don't know how you can say you have done a lot of GOOD. Installing a puppet government, alienating the population and bombing a neighbouring nation, a supposed ally, isn't doing a lot of good. Everything you did in the last ten years was undone by one culturally insensitive act and you just don't see it. You see, it is the attitude you display here regarding India that is part of your relationship problems with Pakistan. Pakistan is an undeveloped nation waiting for big brother to take it by the hand, but you look to India and see what a big market. India doesn't need you. You might need India to counter China. Culturally you are miles apart. You should export your industries to Pakistan you would really rival China then. Look at the possibilities, Cheap labour, developed military, a convenient border with Iran, deep water port, airfields, and a massive market right next door. If you put the billions you have wasted in Afghanistan there it would boom

. Pakistan is an undeveloped nation waiting for big brother to take it by the hand,
Ah yes ;we forgot that we are supposed to be paternalistic. Back in the old days they used to call that "white man's burden" . And you say I'm culturally insensitive. .
I look for an alliance of free people and you say all I'm looking for is market share.


You should export your industries to Pakistan you would really rival China then. Look at the possibilities, Cheap labour, developed military, a convenient border with Iran, deep water port, airfields, and a massive market right next door. If you put the billions you have wasted in Afghanistan there it would boom
And some more Cold War mentality . I submit that it was this type of flawed realpolitik logic that led us to ally on the wrong side on the sub-continent . Free countries are natural strategic partners .

Ah yes ;we forgot that we are supposed to be paternalistic. Back in the old days they used to call that "white man's burden" . And you say I'm culturally insensitive. .
I look for an alliance of free people and you say all I'm looking for is market share.

The pakistani are as free as the indians. They have had the occasional dictatorship but they have moved beyond that, unless you push them back. Yes you are looking for market share because the Indian industries will push you out.


And some more Cold War mentality . I submit that it was this type of flawed realpolitik logic that led us to ally on the wrong side on the sub-continent . Free countries are natural strategic partners .

So therefore Pakistan is just as natural a strategic partner, they were good enough in the cold war, but not good enough now. You are truly on the wrong side of the sub-continent if you side with India. What you are saying is that islamic countries aren't natural strategic partners and I would agree with you, but where is there a natural strategic partner for the US in Asia? India wasn't going to fight the soviets for you. Convenience politics, use them then throw them away, it's the american way.

seems we are bogged down in the same tired old subjects

Note that we are the only ones commenting.. that's because the Dems are hung up on sexual issues .

note that we are the only ones commenting.. that's because the Dems are hung up on sexual issues .

Yes thus my original question,
Is there anything current here? because any discussions on those issues are old news.

The reality is they probably are feeling a little left out at the moment, BO is focused on Iran, the only debates in town are republicans doing each other down.

I would have thought the devistation by tornados was a big thing, can you guys do more about protection? I know where they will strike is unpredictable, but it is reasonably predictable that it is going to happen. Over here we have learned about cyclones and the last category 5 didn't do as much damage and certainly less loss of life

The forecasters are pretty good at giving a heads up regarding warnings . But there isn't much you can do about it beyond having an underground shelter you hope doesn't take a direct hit.

The Dems are feeling for a campaign issue and they think contraception is it .Obama must retain the advantage he had in 2008 with women... other than that they could care less about their rights .It's the same thing with immigration issues. The President had a big advantage with Hispanic voters .So ;even though he basically shoved them to the back of the bus his
1st term ;look for him to make some polarizing move on that front.

I note that the Dem chairman wants to add a plank in their platform for so called "gay marriage " . The President has stated he opposes it but to appease the base he says his position is "evolving " . Well it's time for him to put up or shut up. The Dems string their base along and then discard them when not needed. He knows that the majority of the nation opposes 'gay marriage ' so lets see if he will allow the official change in party policy.

Yes thus my original question, because any discussions on those issues are old newsHello clete:

Here's some more old news.. Sarah Palin is going to be at the convention WAITING to be chosen the savior of the Republican Party.

Bwa, ha ha ha ha.

excon

Hi Ex I expect there might be others doing the same act

Speaking of saviors, the Lake County, Florida Democratic Party flew a US flag with Obama instead of stars at their headquarters.

http://media.trb.com/media/photo/2012-03/68785178.jpg

Seems some vets who fought for our flag weren't too happy (http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/florida/os-barack-obama-flag-face-20120313,0,5201506.story). Personally I wish they'd fly one at all his campaign appearances, Flank his podium with them.

Isn't that called descrecrating the flag, I thought such things were illegal but then laws are different in various places

A better question was posted by Loren S Casuto via Twitter; “if liberals burn THAT flag, will they be offended or is that free speech?”

And just so others will know what we're talking about, the Obama flag at a Florida Democrat HQ:

http://media.trb.com/media/photo/2012-03/68785178.jpg

Hello Steve:

You'll be happy to know that when the lady found out it was against the law, she took it down. Like all libs, she is a very reasonable person...

excon

Actually it was when she was confronted by angry veterans.


A short confrontation at the Democratic office ended when party chairwoman Nancy Hurlbert took down the controversial flag, which had been flying under an American flag on the same flagpole.

"It's a cult of personality to show his face, like Stalin or Mao," said John Masterjohn, a former Marine and retired schoolteacher from Leesburg. "It's despicable. They don't realize how sick they are."

But Hurlbert said it was the first time that anyone had complained about the flag, which was given as a gift and had been flying for several months without any response from the public.

"I was surprised," she said after taking down the flag. "No one had called us. We have a phone."

Reasonable? I don't know. Clueless? Definitely.

You mean this dill was actually someone in authority, like you get what you deserve

No authority, Clete, just a shill for the Democratic party in her county.

So anyone can run your party office, nice?

It ain't my party office, but that's how it works in this country yes. I believe they call it voting.

So anyone can run your party office, nice?

It's Florida, the whole state is loony.

Here is something current and right out of the news. Remember SOPA and PIPA. How they went down in flames. It was the people putting pressure in the right places. Well thanks to Obama we now have ACTA. Yet another example of overstepping boundries by this clown in a suit.

Another Obama Administration BYPASS of Congress and The Constitution: Government Control of Internet Privacy and Intellectual Property Rights… Meet ACTA|Liberty News Network (http://www.libertynews.com/2012/03/13/another-obama-administration-bypass-of-congress-and-the-constitution-government-control-of-internet-privacy-and-intellectual-property-rights-meet-acta/)

Here is something current and right out of the news. Remember SOPA and PIPA. How they went down in flames. It was the people putting pressure in the right places. Well thanks to Obama we now have ACTA. Yet another example of overtepping boundries by this clown in a suit.

Another Obama Administration BYPASS of Congress and The Constitution: Government Control of Internet Privacy and Intellectual Property Rights… Meet ACTA|Liberty News Network (http://www.libertynews.com/2012/03/13/another-obama-administration-bypass-of-congress-and-the-constitution-government-control-of-internet-privacy-and-intellectual-property-rights-meet-acta/)This will continue with whoever is in office if you still alllow so much corporate money to run your government.

It's Florida, the whole state is loony.

If they didn't have Democrats like the current DNC chair and those who fly Obama flags it would be less loony.

If they didn't have Democrats like the current DNC chair and those who fly Obama flags it would be less loony.LOL! I don't think so. It's been a magnet for nutcases long before Obama entered the political picture. So much so that FARK gives Florida its own tag for craziness that regularly comes out of there: FARK.com: Links by Topic (http://www.fark.com/topic/florida?hrs=168)

Well, if no less an authority than FARK says so then who am I to question it? Interesting that they don't have their own tag for San Francisco, which by far outdoes Florida in the nuttiness department.

I think they might, if not they should. Fark is funny for the puns they make.

Enough FARK, how about some real silliness? The NAACP is seeking relief from American voter ID laws from the UN Human Rights Council.

Yes, they are going to present their case that U.S. voter ID laws are a "tactic that undercuts the growth of your democracy" to UNHRC members such as Saudi Arabia, (which doesn’t allow women to vote at all), and dictatorships like Cuba and China. No, really (http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/03/14/un-delves-into-us-voter-id-laws/).

It's easy... have a camera at the same day registration places and produce a valid voter id right there . It could be one of them freebies that the libs like to do. My guess is that the real objection to voter id's by the blue states is the expense of producing them.

Saudi Arabia is a theocracy, something I think many americans don't want to happen to their country.

Saudi Arabia is a theocracy, something I think many americans don't want to happen to their country.

I don't know any American that wants a theocracy. Is that what you fear voter ID laws will lead to? Bwahahaha!

Tom, libs LOVE to spend other people's money so that can't be it. Even if you furnish free photo ID and throw a bucket of free condoms their way they'll cling to the ridiculous notion that it amounts to poll taxes and literacy tests designed to stop blacks from voting.

I'll gladly have my tax dollars go to free voter ID and national IDs

Tom are you saying voter ID isn't free?

I don't know... I don't live in a state where it's required . Everyone living or dead can vote in NY .

Research suggests its free except Wisconson might make a charge

I don't know ... I don't live in a state where it's required . Everyone living or dead can vote in NY .

Lol...

I see not a single word has been spoken about the murder of civilians in Afghanistan. The Cone of Silence won't make it go away. There is something very wrong here. It is reported that the soldier involved had a serious head injury in an earlier posting but in any event a man doesn't sneak out of camp and murder civilians without someone noticing that he has a problem. This was not some raw recruit, but a career soldier, what we have here could well be out of the plot of Apocalypse Now, things have taken a turn for the sureil

Under Obama ,the Afganistan theater has become every nightmare Francis Ford Coppola could depict in his fantasy version of war in Dante's 5th circle.
Sec Def Panetta had to disarm the Praetorian Guard before he addressed them.He was almost the vicitim of a suicide /homicide by another of our loyal allies.

Yes it's time to leave and to hell with the President's time table. As I've said previously... leave the place like the Romans left Carthage .

Research suggests its free except Wisconson might make a chargeHello clete:

Nahhh... BAD research, here. Texas isn't free. They had a BILL to make it free and decided, NOOOOO!

excon

But they did offer a religious objection to being photographed. I don't care if they're free or not, I fail to see the big deal about proving you have the right to vote. One Texas woman who was moving was kind enough to point out some of the things that require a photo ID (http://blue-dot-blues.blogspot.com/2009/04/all-things-you-need-photo-id-to-do-in.html):


Shortly after moving in, he called the post office to find out how to get our mailbox key for the community box at the corner. He was told to show up in person with a receipt of sale and valid photo identification. Valid photo identification! What a novel concept.

We have found we need valid photo identification to buy alcohol, adopt a pet, purchase a rifle, write a check at the grocery store, make a credit card purchase at Best Buy, apply for a loan to purchase anything, start a new bank account, get married and receive a marriage license, drive, close on a house, get medical care, and to pick up a mailbox key from the US Post Office.

We'll add to that: to get on a plane, to get insurance, to rent an apartment, to get a job, to get a hotel room, to rent a car, to get into Houston City Hall...

Apparently a significant portion of Hispanics in Texas have never had to do any of those things. Oh, and I would add that banks such as Bank of America will rent a space at say, our civic center, and invite anyone including illegals to come so they can get IDs and become customers.

I don't care if they're free or not, I fail to see the big deal about proving you have the right to vote. Hello again, Steve:

Me neither. We ALL have a stake in an HONEST vote... But, when the laws we make to achieve that goal, DISENFRANCHISE a BIG part of the electorate, and THAT part of the electorate usually votes for the other side, then this, clearly, ISN'T about the vote.

Now, IF and when the states doing this make absolutely certain that everybody they're DISENFRANCHISING get's the proper ID without ANY cost or effort on their part, THEN I'll believe it's about the vote.

excon

Ex, I really thought you were above resorting to the "disenfranchisement" argument. That's just nonsense, you see it as a racist law and we see it as maintaining the integrity of our elections. Everyone should be for that, you only pretend to be. You apparently do think a significant portion of blacks and Hispanics have never done anything that requires them to prove who they are. If you really believe that I've got some nice beachfront property in Arizona I'd like to sell you.

P.S. Even though I would be for free IDs if it would ease your mind, I still think you'd be against it.

You apparently do think a significant portion of blacks and Hispanics have never done anything that requires them to prove who they are.

P.S. Even though I would be for free IDs if it would ease your mind, I still think you'd be against it.Hello again, Steve:

I'm NOT lying. If you guys can SHOW that you're NOT attempting to "SUPPRESS" (is that better than disenfranchise?? ) the vote, and providing FREE VOTER ID would DO that, I'm all FOR the law..

Keep in mind, buying beer, and driving a car, AREN'T Constitutional rights. Voting is. You DO see a difference there, don't you? The state has no interest in making sure you can buy beer. But, it absolutely DOES have an interest in making sure you can vote.

excon

Is there anything current here?

I guess you could talk about how the cadres in Beijing have the long knives out trying to cut the Princelings down to size before they assume control of the country before this years Communist Party conference (current meeting is turning out to be quite a conspicuous demonstration of bling).

So is this alleged constitutional "right to vote" ABSOLUTE?

P.S. You have to prove the law is designed to suppress rights, I don't have to prove it isn't.

Well the answer is no... there are lots of words about who can't be denied the right... but it is not a comprehensive right like the 1st amendment rights . Besides the ones spelled out in the Constitution ,each state has to power to conduct the vote as it sees fit.
You are right that it is up to the accuser to prove that the right is being denied .

Voting rights are enumenrated in Art 1 sec 2 and amendments 15,17,23,26,24

I'm going drinking after work, how about you guys?

Going home to have some wine and grill some pork chops and zucchini. Why?

I guess you could talk about how the cadres in Beijing have the long knives out trying to cut the Princelings down to size before they assume control of the country before this years Communist Party conference (current meeting is turning out to be quite a conspicuous demonstration of bling).

Was there a coup ? There are rumors of tanks on the streets in Beijing .

Tom talking to tom LOL. His best audience so far. :-)

And NK doing what he does best... ankle biting

tom talking to tom LOL. His best audience so far. :-)
I agree sir. You are one smart perceptive person.