kapkomet

QUOTE(jackie hayes @ Jan 24, 2006 -> 05:42 PM) Obviously you believe there is some other "simplest and most obvious explanation" -- why don't you just offer that instead of trying to sidetrack the discussion? and why don't you mind your own business? I'm asking what I think is a serious question.

QUOTE(WCSox @ Jan 24, 2006 -> 06:00 PM) Given that many people lashed out a Dick Lugar for his similar comments right after 9/11, I can't imagine what the French public will say about Chirac. Moreover, I'm shocked that they're on the same page. Hi Tex (Aggie).

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Jan 24, 2006 -> 04:23 PM) Honestly, Kap, I haven't seen anyone on this board showing indications of thinking that way. I really haven't. The screaming, frothing "leftist" who thinks everything Bush does is evil is, as far as I can tell, a caricature created by paranoid Bush supporters. Oh no... you haven't been reading close enough then. (not trying to call you out, Flaxx... but it serves as an example)... Look at his post that I quoted. And it's some guy saying that It's this stuff that's cited and flamed around here all the time. And my question is why does everything have to have some evil ass intent behind it. Look at the Alito thread as well. Bush is trying to nominate (insert flame here). There's always some 'evil' at work when it comes to this man. Read the stuff that gets thrown around a lot. I'll say this again, for your benefit, and maybe a few others here. I really don't care for George W. Bush as president. I think he's done a lot of BS things. But I also get sick of the 'everything Bush does sucks big donkey turds' schtick that some seem to be intent on throwing out there like a fart in the wind, and it stinks, IMO. I only "defend" some of this stuff because I think there's always a little more to the story then is out there for the 'common public consumption'... that most persons opposed to the current administration does not ever want to acknowledge or admit.

I do know that the loan % increase is going to kick my ass.

QUOTE(FlaSoxxJim @ Jan 24, 2006 -> 01:55 PM) Here's where the former snarky Flaxx of old would say, Yes, only the president can supercede the Constitution. Instead, I'll just add to what Rex said about there being no readily acceptible reason for sidestepping the FISA protocol that was specifically set up to deal with this kind of issue. Atrios very eloquently says as much, alluding to Occam's Razor by stating the point that every single one of us are really thinking: As to how bad the "no good" they're up to, nobody out of the loop can say yet. It can range from not wanting to be bothered with paperwork (unlikely), to trying to use a post-9/11 justification for a pre-9/11 policy, to the fact that they may have actually been using the illegal program to mine for names to submit to the FISA courts in seeking warrants in other cases, to things we haven't even begun to touch on. Regardless of the specifics, the actions are a premier example of the disdain this administration has for the rule of law and for any and all checks on executive power. There is another thread up now along the lines of, "this is why Rome fell." This thread, however, speaks more clearly to the cautionary tale that too many paople refuse to heed. I'm not asking this to be a jerk, I seriously want to know why you (and others) think that there *has to be* evil intent by (almost) everything this administration does. And let's not frame the whole "he lied about the war" argument. Why would this administration be *that* evil to be 'up to something' with every single thing they do?

QUOTE(Texsox @ Jan 24, 2006 -> 03:58 AM) Government? No Employer? No No one is suppose to fund it. And that may be the root of the problem. That's an interesting observation. I've said this before on here, too, and it's a really harsh stance. The little healthcare company I worked for previous (which I left and you will see why in a second) had a CEO who always ran around saying that "people in America need to get over the fact that health insurance is not a God given right"... Of course, he got rich (no one else did in his craptacular POS company) by those same health insurance funds. A wee bit hypocritical, don't ya think? That's one of the reasons, among many, why I left. But, the heart of his argument is somewhat true. The only problem is it splits the 'classes' in the country further apart.

QUOTE(Rex Kickass @ Jan 24, 2006 -> 01:17 PM) There's a specific law. And a specific process to get the warrant. It isn't necessarily a hard thing to procure, and the Bush administration has not been hampered by FISA court restrictions - seeing as in the entire 28 year history of FISA, fewer than 10 warrants have ever been rejected. The Bush administration has said that the law does not apply to us, even though we are doing things specifically regulated to FISA. Yes the fourth amendment may say things, but there's also the matter of this law - designed to protect fourth amendment rights for US Citizens while enabling the government to do its job. There hasn't been a case of a court gone wild, this is an Administration who has said - we aren't following the law, we aren't going to follow the law. And somehow this is seen as legal. And laws passed by Congress do NOT supercede the Constitution.

QUOTE(Controlled Chaos @ Jan 23, 2006 -> 09:12 PM) Of course you have a different definition of mainstream. That has been your argument for ever. You compare Bill O'Rilley and Rush Limbaugh to MSM....which is totally ridiculous. The GOP radio network isn't mainstream. It isn't even close to mainstream. It is listened to by other GOPers. As is Rush, Hannity, etc... CBS, NBC, ABC are mainstream. The Sun-Times, Chicago Tribune, New York Times, LA Times, Associate Press are mainstream. Thats what everyday people read and watch. The guy who has no real party affiliation and isn't really "into" politics isn't flipping to Fox News or listening to Rush. He is watching one of the national news shows at 5:30 or reading the paper and he is getting fed with the lefts view of things instead of a moderate view. Don't confuse this conversation with any facts, Chaos.

QUOTE(Balta1701 @ Jan 23, 2006 -> 08:23 PM) To answer the question posed in the title...this is one possible future for Wal-Mart, if the employer-provided health care system continues in this country, and is mandated by law in states/the whole country for certain employers...and if no government action is taken to reform the health care system to hold costs down at any point...and if people aren't willing to just, you know, fall ill and die. Again, I'll pose the question, is health care supposed to be government funded and/or ran?

QUOTE(Texsox @ Jan 23, 2006 -> 01:47 PM) Not from either party. They all want to cut our taxes and give us free stuff. They want to trample on the constitution. They will also attract enemies as fast as they attract supporters. They would probably be very confrontational. I can think of a couple politicians that could pull it off. Some better than others. I forgot. You're right.

QUOTE(Texsox @ Jan 23, 2006 -> 12:23 PM) While I like both guys, and of plausable scenarios, that would be a great ticket, I think their time has passed. McCain should have been elected in 2000, but an effective Bush strategy kept him out. I think we need more of a Reagan get tough and kick ass around the world guy. These guys are too soft. I really wish we could get a candidate from EITHER party that would take a hard line against terrorism, look at the REAL effects of tax cuts, be a fiscal conservative, and steer the government OUT of our day-to-day lives. Where is that type of candidate likely to emerge from?

QUOTE(FlaSoxxJim @ Jan 23, 2006 -> 02:52 AM) OK, got it. As for the exhibition round, Tex and Kap, here ya go: Dick York or Dick Sargent - who was the REAL Darrin Stephens? I'm uneducated about that topic. But, that genie, she was hot.

QUOTE(Texsox @ Jan 23, 2006 -> 12:16 PM) Always back to Clinton. :headshake People talk about how the left is always after Bush, yet years after Clinton left office, some GOPers are still trying to get him I agree with Evil and others, he could have forgotten. I also think that would be the first line of defense. "Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it".

QUOTE(Texsox @ Jan 23, 2006 -> 03:14 AM) Kap, come on. The press and the public couldn't get enough of the Lewinsky stuff. The Swifties were everywhere. I can't believe anyone can believe there is this great conspiracy to help the Dems by the media. If you are liberal, you see the media to your right, if you are conservative, you see them to the left. If you are a Sox fan you see everytime they are the #3 story on Sportscenter. Anyone notice the media bias against the Colorado Rockies? And where did the "swifties" get thier press? OPINION shows, ENTERTAINMENT shows, that the GOP Radio network decided to put on their shows. (Yes, they can pay for advertisement on the main tv stations, but that's paid advertising... if I had money I could do that too). Those types of programs are certainly not "mainstream" media. Why do they get so much attention? Because they actually somewhat balance the newspapers and the big 3 (or 4 if you count CNN) news networks. However, the newspapers and big (4) claim to be "NEWS ONLY" and not OPINION shows. Yet, through what they choose to report or not report, their bias shows through loud and clear, and that to me is the difference.

QUOTE(Rex Kickass @ Jan 23, 2006 -> 12:23 AM) Why would you respond to a legitimate question when you can bash the media instead? Rex, come on. If this had anything to do with a Republican, it would be front page news the next day. See Tom DeLay. Different circumstances, same point.

QUOTE(Rex Kickass @ Jan 23, 2006 -> 12:21 AM) Cause nobody does that to any Democrats here Kap, you honestly need to get that chip off your shoulder over this. I don't exactly see you acting all idignant anytime anyone mentions Chappaquiddick. No, I don't, because it's the same hypocritical crap all over the place. But you also don't see me going in for the deep dive every single time against Dems, at least not in the same manner.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Jan 23, 2006 -> 12:01 AM) Maybe you two can debate each other in your own in an exhibition bracket. Well, Tex is creating the questions. That might be unfair. It would be kinda fun though.

Hey, wait for me! I guess I'm not loved. I think I forgot to explicitly say I was in.

QUOTE(Reddy @ Jan 21, 2006 -> 06:29 PM) as if you wouldnt have done that I think you have me mistaken for Nuke. And all that had to be said by Balta was "Bill Frist's comments"... but no, it had to have some type of immflamatory comment. I guess I should expect nothing less in this stupid forum.

QUOTE(SnB @ Jan 22, 2006 -> 06:04 AM) Su perro es estúpido Actually he's pretty smart, but he doesn't know what this "rain" stuff is. It's rained I think a total of 4 times since we've had him for a year.

Hey! It's RAINING! First time in three months. My dog barked cause he didn't know what it was.

QUOTE(sox4lifeinPA @ Jan 22, 2006 -> 05:31 AM) Thanks to all for the well wishes. I'll remember that night forever. ....and maybe being engaged will help me be less of a spaz around here somehow, i doubt it

QUOTE(Texsox @ Jan 21, 2006 -> 07:04 PM) Now I guess if y'all would stop all the Hillary stuff and liberal media stuff that is drilled into our heads by 24/7 conservative talk radio, I'd have to follow suit. Oh is THAT where that comes from? I don't need the drivel of Limbaugh, or Hannity, or any other idiot on the radio to think for me. It's obvious enough.

And speaking of "dead"... the whale died. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060121/ap_on_sc/britain_whale

Ohhhh, a Texas reception? That'll be fun.