Author Topic: speaking of stating the obvious.  (Read 30292 times)

Offline Cybersquirt

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Re: speaking of stating the obvious.
« Reply #25 on: July 13, 2004, 06:17:52 AM »
(now that's what I like to hear, Melora.  :))

If there's anything to be learned from Bush, it's that we can take nothing for granted.  When we do.. well.. this is what happens.
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Offline Cybersquirt

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Re: speaking of stating the obvious.
« Reply #26 on: July 13, 2004, 06:19:37 AM »
In February, 2004, President Bush appointed Peter Lawler to his Council on Bioethics. Lawler has written that if the United States does not soon "become clear as a nation that abortion is wrong," then women will eventually be forced to abort genetically defective babies.

Lawler is one of three new members that replaced Elizabeth Blackburn and William May, who were dismissed in February, and who both advocated for research on human embryo cells.

(Source: Rick Weiss, "Bush Ejects Two From Bioethics Council, Changes Renew Criticism That the President Puts Politics Ahead of Science," The Washington Post, February 28, 2004. See article at: www.washingtonpost.com.)
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Offline Cybersquirt

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Re: speaking of stating the obvious.
« Reply #27 on: July 13, 2004, 07:41:42 AM »
The Bush administration has repeatedly declared its intention to go after tax cheats and put an end to a steady decrease in tax law enforcement; in fact, under Bush audits and prosecutions have fallen.

In September 2002, Bush said that the government was sending "a clear message to every dishonest corporate leader: you will be exposed and you will be punished." But according to Syracuse University research, in a fifteen-month period ending on December 31, 2003, the IRS obtained convictions in only one-half of one percent of its cases against corporate officers.

The Syracuse researcher also rejected the administration's claims that audits will increase in the coming year, saying that "the administration has not asked for sufficient money and staff, so law enforcement will continue to decline." Corporate audits are not the only IRS endeavor that is being underfunded — a request for $12 million needed to investigate the financing of terrorist groups like Al Qaeda was also rejected by the Bush administration.

(Source: Johnston, David Cay, "Corporate Risk of a Tax Audit Is Still Shrinking, I.R.S. Data Show," The New York Times, April 12, 2004)
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Offline melora

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Re: speaking of stating the obvious.
« Reply #28 on: July 13, 2004, 05:37:43 PM »
just read in this morning's paper about Bush stating that abstinence is the only way to control HIV, that advocating the use of condoms is just promoting promiscuity..... this guy is really sick and scary. but i loved a letter to the editor today that someone suggested Bush should be recalled to the service since he is so concerned about the shortage of military personnel... i love sarcasm LOL
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Offline Cybersquirt

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Re: speaking of stating the obvious.
« Reply #29 on: July 13, 2004, 06:19:08 PM »
In January, 2003, the Bush administration chose Jerry Thacker to serve on the Presidential Advisory Commission on HIV and AIDS.

Thacker has described AIDS as the "gay plague," homosexuality as a "deathstyle" rather than lifestyle, and explained that, "Christ can rescue the homosexual."

The Presidential Advisory Council on HIV and AIDS provides "recommendations on the US government's response to the AIDS epidemic." Thacker is also an alumni, and former member of the faculty at Bob Jones University, a school known for its ban on interracial dating. In September 2001, Thacker gave a speech at Bob Jones University, during which he spoke of the "sin of homosexuality."

Due to the controversy over his appointment, Thacker withdrew from the Commission shortly after his nomination.

(Source: http://www.pacha.gov/. Ceci Cnnolly, "AIDS Panel Choice Wrote of a 'Gay Plague,'" Washington Post, January 23, 2003.)


On June 16, 2004, the Bush administration's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published new mandatory guidelines for HIV prevention organizations.

Under the new regulations, state and local health departments will appoint a panel to censor the content of HIV educational materials. Any "obscene" or "sexually suggestive" content will not be permitted. Drawings or photographs that demonstrate condom use on dildos or even cucumbers are listed as "obscene."

In addition, HIV educational material must include a warning about the "lack of effectiveness" of condoms. If an HIV prevention center disobeys the new rules, they lose all their federal funding.

The CDC is the government's single source of funding for HIV prevention programs. Julie Gerberding, the CDC's current head, was appointed by President Bush.

(Source: Doug Ireland, "Condom Wars: New guidelines gut HIV prevention — and endanger young people's lives," LA Weekly, July 2004. See article at: www.laweekly.com. Federal Register: June 16, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 115). See article at: www.cdc.gov.)


(let's not forget, that if he get re-elected, he will potentially get 3 (!) Supreme Court nominations)
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Offline melora

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Re: speaking of stating the obvious.
« Reply #30 on: July 13, 2004, 07:05:30 PM »
dear god, help us all, and save us from "good christian moralists"..... so now are they saying if you are gay you DESERVE to get HIV?  as a nurse, this attitude totally outrages me... and as a person, it saddens and sickens me, especially since a young friend of mine just discovered that he is HIV positive.   :'(
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Offline BobTokyo

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Re: speaking of stating the obvious.
« Reply #31 on: July 13, 2004, 07:20:12 PM »
dear god, help us all, and save us from "good christian moralists"..... so now are they saying if you are gay you DESERVE to get HIV?  as a nurse, this attitude totally outrages me... and as a person, it saddens and sickens me, especially since a young friend of mine just discovered that he is HIV positive.   :'(

This is what we get for buying into the "Gore is just as bad as Bush" crap in 2000 (I bought it at the time). Kerry is far from perfect, but he is far, far better than Bush.

Offline Cybersquirt

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Re: speaking of stating the obvious.
« Reply #32 on: July 14, 2004, 05:36:20 AM »
^ I didn't 'buy into it'.  I remembered his daddy.  I knew who Cheney really was because I did a little homework.  And no, I didn't vote for Nader (much as I wanted to, I ..just couldn't, given what was at stake).

Perfect politician is an oxymoron.

Well.. except for Clinton.  Yes, Clinton.

(Melora, they've -been- saying it.  ..since HIV/AIDS was named as such)
« Last Edit: July 14, 2004, 05:46:55 AM by Cybersquirt »
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Offline Cybersquirt

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Re: speaking of stating the obvious.
« Reply #33 on: July 14, 2004, 05:44:45 AM »
The Bush-Cheney campaign is encouraging churchgoers to use their congregations to rally support for Bush's re-election. However, as the IRS reminded Republican and Democratic national committees in a recent letter, tax-exempt charitable groups "are prohibited from directly or indirectly participating or intervening in any political campaign on behalf of, or in opposition to, any candidate for public office."

If religious organizations participate in partisan political campaigning, they will lose their tax-exempt status.

The Bush-Cheney campaign distributed a document to religious volunteers that indirectly involves congregations, rather than individual congregants, in the effort to re-elect Bush. Some instructions include: "talk to your Church's seniors or 20-30 something group about Bush/Cheney '04," and "recruit 5 more people in your church to volunteer for the Bush Cheney campaign."

(Source: Alan, Cooperman, "Churchgoers Get Direction From Bush Campaign," The Washington Post, 7/1/04)


On April 1, 2004 the Senate Judiciary Committee voted 10-9 in favor of President Bush's nomination of William G. Myers to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. Myers has referred to the California Desert Protection Act, which set aside 7.5 million acres of wilderness and 5.5 million acres that helped create the Joshua Tree National Park, the Death Valley National Park, and the Mojave National Preserve, as "an example of legislative hubris." He also called environmental regulation "outright, top down coercion".

(Sources: "Senate Judiciary Committee Sends Myers to the Floor", sierraclub.org, April 1, 2004. "The Nomination of William G. Myers III", civilrights.org, February 3, 2004. Ted Monoson, "Myers' Judicial Nomination Advances", The Casper Star-Tribune, April 2, 2004. http://www.enn.com/)
« Last Edit: July 14, 2004, 05:49:11 AM by Cybersquirt »
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Offline Cybersquirt

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Re: speaking of stating the obvious.
« Reply #34 on: July 14, 2004, 06:08:34 AM »
This is what we get for buying into the "Gore is just as bad as Bush" crap in 2000 (I bought it at the time). Kerry is far from perfect, but he is far, far better than Bush.
I also want to post a reminder that the President still needs the 'help' of Congress and the fear/apathy of the American people.  This is what we get when we get complacent.
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Offline Cybersquirt

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Re: speaking of stating the obvious.
« Reply #35 on: July 14, 2004, 06:23:52 AM »
from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gay_plague
The initial cases of AIDS in Western society were predominantly among gay men. The eruption of previously rare cancers and auto-immune disorders led doctors and reporters to informally call the previously unidentified syndrome the "gay disease" or gay cancer. The Centers for Disease Control classified the disease as GRID (gay-related immune deficiency), until 1982.

As AIDS is introduced into different parts of the world, the initial primary vectors are generally gay men, intravenous drug users, and the sexually promiscuous (such as prostitutes). In societies where such behavior generally deemed immoral (see homosexuality and morality, homosexuality and religion), this has strongly affected the medical response to treatment of the disease, generally in the form of a slow and begrudging effort to treat patients and take steps to halt the spread of AIDS.

A telling example of the slow response of governments to AIDS is that President Ronald Reagan avoided saying the word AIDS in public until 1987, likely because of societal anti-gay prejudice and his own squeamishness.

and

In "Dutch," Reagan's authorized biography, the author, Edmund Morris, writes that Reagan once said of AIDS, "Maybe the Lord brought down this plague," because "illicit sex is against the Ten Commandments."

and I remember the day Billy Graham said something similar.  :(

If you really wanna make your blood boil, read And the Band Played On.

Or lookie here: http://www.americasdebate.com/forums/index.php?s=3e3ddc942b2d6ca17050332a4d204c4a&showtopic=7137&st=15&#entry111878 (this is really cool..)
« Last Edit: July 14, 2004, 06:36:14 AM by Cybersquirt »
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Offline Daerthax

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Re: speaking of stating the obvious.
« Reply #36 on: July 15, 2004, 03:26:17 PM »
dear god, help us all, and save us from "good christian moralists"..... so now are they saying if you are gay you DESERVE to get HIV?  as a nurse, this attitude totally outrages me... and as a person, it saddens and sickens me, especially since a young friend of mine just discovered that he is HIV positive.   :'(

*sigh* I'm going to first off say, don't go off blasting all of the Christians over this (Not saying you are, just don't want it to lead into it), not all of us (yes, I am one) think like this.

This is what I believe: I don't like the gay way of life, I don't like to see them flaunting it in public and I REALLY don't like them, nor want them, to gain an official status of marriage. In this, I agree with Bush, Frist and Lamar Alexander. (Frist and Alexander are from my state). So in other words I want to see the ammendment go through.

However, I won't go off and say that gays as a whole are bad, because I've known some and they aren't. Nor would I wish HIV, AIDS, or any other bad thing on another person. That is just wrong and totally go against the teachings of Christ. Just because some people want to call themselves 'Christian' doesn't mean they live like it.

Now, the wonderful thing about America is that we have the freedom (until some idiot in Washington takes it away) to have an opinion and to voice our opinions. I respect everyone's views and ways of life. Just don't try to push it on my views and my way of life. Whatever you do in private, keep it there, I guess that's what I'd ask the gay community as a whole.

Thanks for hearing me out.
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Offline jester

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Re: speaking of stating the obvious.
« Reply #37 on: July 15, 2004, 04:01:24 PM »
First I must say that Bush should not go back to the military as he lacks the training and woudn't last a day. (He can prove six full days of military service other than playing golf or being on sick leave).

I must say I am mildly protestant with a sprinkle of Buddhism, but I hate gay people too. They should not be allowed in the same places we want to raise our kids. In fact every gay should wear a sign so that the unwary citizen is not affected by some disease they may carry as they are clearly visible from afar. God hates gays and he punishes them every day by just having them created as being gay forsakeing them eternity and the company of the few good men who raise their voices (to rally supporters for donations, sadly they never say anything in courts). Soon this world will be cleansed of heathen and other abberations. I also hate lefthanded people. They stink, they steal and they probably killed Jesus. Don't get me started on blondes or nationalities. I don't want anybody else to see it my way, but this world belongs to my people so it is only the highway for those who impose their views on me by existing right before my very eyes. Human rights my @ss. If you don't like it you can always go back to your country.
« Last Edit: July 15, 2004, 04:03:40 PM by jester »
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Offline Pirengle

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Re: speaking of stating the obvious.
« Reply #38 on: July 16, 2004, 12:06:19 AM »
Now, the wonderful thing about America is that we have the freedom (until some idiot in Washington takes it away) to have an opinion and to voice our opinions. I respect everyone's views and ways of life. Just don't try to push it on my views and my way of life. Whatever you do in private, keep it there, I guess that's what I'd ask the gay community as a whole.

I'm Jewish, I'm bisexual, and I'm against homosexual marriage. I'm also against heterosexual marriage. I believe that marriage has no place in politics, as marriages are a union by G-d. I'm all for civil unions. In France, couples have two ceremonies, civil and religious. Why can't we do that here? Because property rights, insurance rights, inheritance rights, and tax relief are tied tightly to Judeo-Christian ideas of marriage, which specify that man + woman = children and goodness.

I'm going to skip the child argument because I think larvae are to be seen and not had. I'm also going to skip the marriage-worthy argument because I've known straight and gay couples who are all fucked up.

If civil unions between consenting adults became possible and fully legal for same-sex couples, we'd drop off the radar. I guarantee you. It's just blind prejudice keeping people from seeing the truth.
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Offline MyFinalHeaven

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Re: speaking of stating the obvious.
« Reply #39 on: July 16, 2004, 01:46:44 AM »
It saddens me that hatred is still so common in today's society.
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Offline neriana

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Re: speaking of stating the obvious.
« Reply #40 on: July 16, 2004, 05:33:44 AM »

This is what I believe: I don't like the gay way of life, I don't like to see them flaunting it in public and I REALLY don't like them, nor want them, to gain an official status of marriage. In this, I agree with Bush, Frist and Lamar Alexander. (Frist and Alexander are from my state). So in other words I want to see the ammendment go through.

However, I won't go off and say that gays as a whole are bad, because I've known some and they aren't.

Look at what you wrote. You don't like their "way of life" (guys screwing each other in the ass, apparently, or women performing oral sex on each other, and many other variations, all of which you are forced to watch and participate in  ::)) and you want to deny them the institution of marriage because their supposed "flaunting" (i.e. holding hands, and some of them occasionally behaving like they're on MTV in parades which you don't need to see) bothers your sensibilities and therefore you feel they should be denied the fundamental right to marry. Even though the gay people you've known are good people. Because you think it's icky, they should not be allowed to do it.

I think that left-handed people shouldn't be allowed to marry. They will probably reproduce more left-handed children, thus producing more left-handed computer accessories and stuff, which annoy me. Also, left-handed sex: how do they maneuver? I don't even want to think about it. So what if they love each other and desperately want to spend the rest of their lives together, be allowed to see each other in the emergency room, insure each other, raise children together, and generally be accepted by society. That's too bad. My discomfort takes precedence over their love. My bigotry is more important than their rights and, for that matter, the course of their entire lives.

Love is often strengthened by opposition. I am thrilled that this means every person clamoring about how heinous and heterosexual-destroying gay marriage is, makes it that much more likely that gays and lesbians will flourish in the married state.
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Offline Cybersquirt

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Re: speaking of stating the obvious.
« Reply #41 on: July 16, 2004, 07:46:31 AM »
Whatever you do in private, keep it there, I guess that's what I'd ask the gay community as a whole.
Okay, but I don't wanna see any straight action in public either - no hand holding, kissing, or pictures of husbands/wives.  I don't want to be reminded that you have the 'right' to do that but, since I'm some kind of alien that's supposed to remain in a closet, I may never fully enjoy that right. 

And I certainly don't want "my" children to be educated about their natural urges, lest they feel like a normal human being - do you realize it's the #1 reason for suicide among adolescents?  But, that's all I'll say.  These conversations usually go nowhere but bad.  :(

Thank god the ammendment was defeated (or God. yes, God, Jesus, Buddah.. and, you know, all those other folks that preached love and acceptance).  I'm having a problem understanding how one thinks they can incorporate judeo-Christian beliefs  into the U.S. Constitution.. is there ANY republican that remembers SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE?  Or all they all too busy calling us heathens?  Too busy narrowing the focus to one side of that 2-way Separation Street, I suspect, based on the acticles I've seen.

Anyway..

from http://blog.au.org/
July 07, 2004
Senate Confirms Holmes For Federal Bench
Despite strong reservations among civil liberties activists, the Senate yesterday voted 51-46 to confirm the Bush administration's nomination of James Leon Holmes to a federal court in Arkansas, reports The New York Times. The extreme positions taken by Holmes in a number of strongly worded articles raised red flags for defenders of church-state separation about his willingness to uphold the Constitution.

In a 2002 address to the Society of Catholic Social Scientists in Ann Arbor, Mich., Holmes questioned the legitimacy of church-state separation, noting that "we are left with some unease about this notion that Christianity and the political order should be assigned to separate spheres."

(for addtional reading: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Separation_of_church_and_state_in_the_United_States)
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Offline Cybersquirt

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Re: speaking of stating the obvious.
« Reply #42 on: July 16, 2004, 08:04:37 AM »
The Northwest Forest Plan was adopted in April of 1994 to protect the Northern spotted owl and the Pacific salmon as well as thousands of other at risk species from the timber industry. During the last ten years the plan has drastically reduced clear-cutting in Northwest ancient and rare forests.

On March 23, the Bush administration announced two major changes in the Northwest Forest Plan. Firstly, the administration eliminated the "Survey and Manage" program, commonly referred to as "look before you log," which required forest managers to inspect ancient forests for endangered or rare species and establish protective buffers before approving timber industry logging. The Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management estimate that without "Survey and Manage," 47 species are now at high risk of local extinction.

The administration also modified the Northwest Forest Plan's "Aquatic Conservation Strategy," a set of provisions that limits harmful run-off from the logging operations into streams where salmon live.  Under the newly announced amendment, The Forest Service or Bureau of Land Management is no longer required to review and ensure that logging activity does not harm water quality. The changes came just a month before the Northwest Forest Plan celebrated its tenth anniversary.

(Sources: ems.org - "On Eve of Northwest Forest Plan 10th Anniversary, Conservationists Decry Administration Plans to Increase Old Growth Logging". sierraclub.org - "Undoing Important Northwest Forest and Wildlife Protections". about.com - "Bush Administration Lifts Old Growth Protections in Northwest," March 23, 2004)

[and]

In an ABC-TV interview in July 2000, Dick Cheney denied participation in any oil- or other business-dealings between Halliburton and Iraq while he was CEO of the company. He admitted to deals with Libya and Iran, but stated that there were strict policies against dealing with Iraq. The Washington Post later revealed that according to UN reports, Halliburton in fact signed contracts worth $73 million with Iraq while Cheney was its CEO. According to the report, two Halliburton subsidiaries sold materials to Baghdad through French affiliates. The sales took place between the first half of 1997 and the summer of 2000. Cheney resigned from Halliburton in August of 2000.

Three weeks after the aforementioned interview, Cheney was informed that a Halliburton spokesman had publicly stated that Dresser Rand and Ingersoll Dresser Pump (the Halliburton subsidiaries) traded with Iraq. Cheney then modified his earlier response, and claimed to be unaware of these dealings. However, the firms continued trading with Iraq for more than a year while Cheney was Halliburton's CEO.

In September '03, Cheney said that since becoming vice president, "I've severed all my ties with (Halliburton), gotten rid of all my financial interest. I have no financial interest in Halliburton of any kind and haven't had, now, for over three years."

To this day he still possesses over 430,000 shares of Halliburton stock options and a deferred compensation account valued at between $500,000 and $1 million.

As Vice President, Cheney continually denies playing any direct role in the government's awarding of multibillion dollar contracts to Halliburton and its subsidiaries, despite internal Pentagon emails indicating that he has.

President Bush has been quoted as saying Cheney's "doing a heck of a good job. When I picked him I knew he was a fine business leader and a fine, experienced man."

(Sources: "Bush defends Cheney over Halliburton" CNN.com, July 17, 2002. See article at: www.cnn.com. "Cheney's Halliburton Ties Remain" CBS News, September 26, 2003. See article at: www.cbsnews.com. "Halliburton Iraq ties more than Cheney said" NewsMax Wires, Monday, June 25, 2001. See article at: www.newsmax.com.)
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Offline jester

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Re: speaking of stating the obvious.
« Reply #43 on: July 16, 2004, 08:24:59 AM »
By now most banana republics in Central- and Southamerica put the US (one of the oldest democracies around) to shame. One day when you have your corruption as organized as they have, you may even be considered one of their peers. Military spending alone just doesn't cut it.

I am very often reminded of the far famed favour-speech from the beginning of The Godfather. Who needs shares when you have friends who wont't let you down? Friends and shares? Even better! :D
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Offline BobTokyo

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Re: speaking of stating the obvious.
« Reply #44 on: July 16, 2004, 08:36:02 AM »
By now most banana republics in Central- and Southamerica put the US (one of the oldest democracies around) to shame. One day when you have your corruption as organized as they have, you may even be considered one of their peers. Military spending alone just doesn't cut it.

I am very often reminded of the far famed favour-speech from the beginning of The Godfather. Who needs shares when you have friends who wont't let you down? Friends and shares? Even better! :D

If it helps, Bush & Co. are floating the suggestion of "delaying" elections in case of terrorist activity in America.

Not that it's likely. The gay-bashing amendment should be enough to get him a win in the midwest, and Dems have long lost the south.

Offline jester

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Re: speaking of stating the obvious.
« Reply #45 on: July 16, 2004, 09:36:37 AM »
Good for us I think we are not within the next ten countries on the To-Invade-List. Syria and Iran will surely brace themselves after he gets reelected. If he does not 'amend' the constitution,that is.  I still hope that there will be a better president (IIRC correctly he can only be elected twice???  :-\ ). Or he declares himself Emperor of the free world and like-minded client-states and stays with us for the rest of his days.
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Offline BobTokyo

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Re: speaking of stating the obvious.
« Reply #46 on: July 16, 2004, 09:47:50 AM »
Good for us I think we are not within the next ten countries on the To-Invade-List. Syria and Iran will surely brace themselves after he gets reelected. If he does not 'amend' the constitution,that is.  I still hope that there will be a better president (IIRC correctly he can only be elected twice???  :-\ ). Or he declares himself Emperor of the free world and like-minded client-states and stays with us for the rest of his days.

As I understand it, the next in line is Jeb Bush. After he finishes out his eight years, the Bush daughters should be old enough to take he country out for a spin. Our first two female Presidents. Hurrah!

  :-\

Offline Regullus

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Re: speaking of stating the obvious.
« Reply #47 on: July 16, 2004, 12:55:46 PM »

I think that left-handed people shouldn't be allowed to marry. They will probably reproduce more left-handed children, thus producing more left-handed computer accessories and stuff, which annoy me. Also, left-handed sex: how do they maneuver? I don't even want to think about it.

Okay I am getting a little sick of this left handed bashing, I ignored the first two incidences, but the third slam? NO!

 You right handed bastards have oppressed left handers too long! Do you know because of evil right handed domination that lefties die younger? Why?  Because of being forced to live in a right handed world with right handed computer accessories, among other right handed necessities.  >:( >:( >:( BTW Bill Clinton is a lefty.

 As to the marriage issue. I was married in a civil union. I was not married within a church. If you are married by the state, you have entered into a civil union. I am not actually sure of the many beneifits that I gained by entering into this standardised legal contract. Frankly, if individuals wish to be engage in a civil unions then I have no problem. If I had not been allowed to legalize my union with my husband by the state, I would still live with him and I would simply have entered into a custumized legal contract.  I find the whole debate ridiculous. I think we would all be much better off if we entered into custom agreements than standardized state contracts. 

 One other thing, condoms are only 80% effective in stopping stds. I read somewhere that there is a chemical wash that may inhibit 99% of std transmission.

 You may not like it but individual behavior modification would go a long way to inhibiting the prevalence of certain diseases. If people did not smoke there would be a decrease in copds. I would think that everybody would agree that smoking is a high risk behavior and should be discouraged. The implication that there is never individual responsibility is bizarre.

 

 

 

Offline Cybersquirt

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Re: speaking of stating the obvious.
« Reply #48 on: July 16, 2004, 10:43:42 PM »
(To know your rights, by state, check: http://www.law.cornell.edu/topics/marriage.html, look for State Marriage Laws)

...

I've said it before, I'll (just) say again - you don't know what you've got til it's gone.  Marriage grants many (legal) rights.


In 1999, Bush stated that he opposed including sexual orientation in a bill to strengthen and clarify a Texas hate crimes law. The law was already set up to increase the penalty for crimes committed against victims who are targeted for their race or gender, but not necessarily for their sexual orientation.
The then-governor of Texas also stated in 1999 that he was opposed to gay couples adopting children. He supported a bill to block gays from adopting children in the custody of Child Protective Services.
(Source: cnn.com July 2, 1999. "Bush Opposes Hate Crimes Laws and Gay Adoptions," March 23, 1999.)
« Last Edit: July 16, 2004, 10:56:01 PM by Cybersquirt »
Stupid is as stupid does.

Offline Cybersquirt

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Re: speaking of stating the obvious.
« Reply #49 on: July 16, 2004, 10:49:46 PM »
In 2002 and 2003 the Bush administration repeatedly failed to fully fund Energy Star, one of the EPA's most admired conservation programs, after publicizing its intention to do so. The Energy Star program promotes energy efficiency by rating homes and household products and forming partnerships with businesses; it has earned wide praise, and in 2003 it saved Americans who used the program $9 billion in energy costs, and has prevented more than 150 million tons of carbon emissions. But in the same year, Energy Star was forced to cancel some contracts and delay or abandon other projects because of its budget shortfall. The cuts came even as administration officials praised the program and held it up as an example of their action on the environment.

According to EPA officials, the program produces $70 in benefits for every dollar spent on it. And yet, last year the program was quietly given $12.5 million less than what Bush had pledged, and what Congress ostensibly approved. As a result Energy Star had to put off several of its endeavors, such as product testing to verify energy conservation. As a result of funding cuts, in 2003 alone, carbon emissions increased by about 10 million tons. The money promised to the organization was instead used to pay for other programs within the agency, what the EPA described as "pork barrel."

(Source: Hebert, H. Josef, "Touted Initiative's Funds Cut," Associated Press, 8/30/2003)

[and]

During a eulogy delivered last week for Ronald Reagan, Mr. Reagan's son, Ron, censured politicians who use religion for political gain.

He said: "Dad was also a deeply, unabashedly religious man, but he never made the fatal mistake of so many politicians — wearing his faith on his sleeve to gain political advantage. True, after he was shot and nearly killed early in his presidency he came to believe that God had spared him in order that he might do good. But he accepted that as a responsibility, not a mandate. And there is a profound difference."

An anonymous friend of the Reagan family affirmed that Reagan Jr. has deep concerns with the Bush administration's intermixture of religion and politics, and was compelled to deliver this message to the public. The friend said, "I think he was making a more profound statement about style and the danger of religion in politics."

The former president's son has voiced his criticism of the Bush administration in the past. In 2000, at a Republican convention in Philadelphia, he asked of Bush: "What's his accomplishment? That he's no longer an obnoxious drunk?"

In addition, during an interview with Salon.com, he said, "The Bush people have no right to speak for my father, particularly because of the position he's in now. Yes, some of the current policies are an extension of the 80's. But the overall thrust of this administration in not my father's — these people are overly reaching, overly aggressive, overly secretive and just plain corrupt. I don't trust these people."

(Source: "Reaganite by Association? His Family Won't Allow it." Sheryl Gay Stolberg, New York Times, June 15, 2004)
« Last Edit: July 16, 2004, 10:51:28 PM by Cybersquirt »
Stupid is as stupid does.