Rex Kickass

They also probably wouldn't work anymore. They only have a shelf life of a handful of years and require regular maintenance.

QUOTE(mmmmmbeeer @ Dec 3, 2006 -> 08:50 AM) If I remember correctly, there were also a small number ( As far Litvinenko, I have no doubt he was assassinated. There is just too much evidence after reading this continuing saga. Do suitcase nukes actually exist?

I just finished "Straight Man" by Richard Russo. Really funny novel about the chair of an English Department in a down at heel PA town, at a time when the University could be slashing a good section of his department. Starting "Our Endangered Values" by Jimmy Carter right now.

You want the upper hand? You call every bluff. Iran says they want talks? Okay, let's talk. When they don't talk, you can say - see they didn't want to talk after all. You can't just assume every promise is bulls*** publicly, even if it is bulls*** and everyone knows it. Because, you always leave the "what if" open. Establishing a dialogue with Iran would be a better policy than the one we have now, which is do nothing and b**** about it. The best part about diplomatic dialogue is it can lead to real change over time - but at a pace in which societies can often adjust peacefully. Don't believe me? Look at the end of the cold war. Had it not been for the detente opened up between the Reagan/Bush administrations and the Soviet politburo during the 1980's, there would probably still be two Germanys. Why? Because unification couldn't happen until there was mutual consent among the powers that be. And the USSR only gave their consent after a lot of diplomatic nuance from the US. Ask our current secretary of state, she was there when the older President Bush basically tricked Gorbachev into agreeing in principle.

QUOTE(NorthSideSox72 @ Dec 1, 2006 -> 11:46 PM) Rex, I've decided to send my one question in this thread to you... First, I must say, I agree with your thought on consumption-based taxes. More use fees in general as part of revenue, putting the burden on users of resources, is a positive thing. But I would like some clarification. You mention a new federal sales tax on cars, based on efficiency, which has merit. But its a new tax. Are you comfortable increasing the tax burden overall by adding this tax, and further by extending the larger credits for hybrids? Is the sales tax to cover the credits? I am just trying to determine if you are talking about a tax increase (in the overall sense), or a tax rebalancing in favor of those buying "green". And as that pertains to your overall tax policy, do you feel that (barring national emergency) the current overall tax burden on the people as a whole is adequate, or do you see need to increase or decrease it? I should be pretty clear here. I do not necessarily think that the overall tax burden on Americans should increase. That being said, I do think there are programs in our country that are underfunded and will remain so until we create streams of revenue dedicated to fully funding those projects. Among those include mass transit. I feel that we can further refine our tax policy by rewarding those citizens who choose to become good neighbors in our society. In situations where consumption of natural resources is an issue, we can definitely use our tax code to do such. This tax would apply to vehicles with less than 15,000 miles on it only. When an American makes a choice to purchase a new vehicle, there are a variety of different options, and at each level of vehicle - from subcompact to SUV, there are more ecologically sensitive choices than others. And choices that will help the US reduce consumption. A consumption sales tax based on the efficiency of new vehicles, will not only encourage Americans to buy more ecologically sensitive cars, but the auto industry to focus their efforts on more ecologically sensitive cars.

The Red Sox: Anything by Boston. Blue Jays: Great White North theme song from Strange Brew.

It looks fine to my colorblind eyes

Personally, I think that standardized testing is a good way to gauge a student's progress - but by no means the only way to do so. I don't know a lot about the education world, but I can say that I think the idea of closing the gap between the schools with better educated students and schools with students facing more difficulties is a noble one. I think the solution to this issue isn't necessarily a federal one though. Perhaps we need to look at how schools are funded and look to make the funding more equitable across the board. Teacher performance evaluation should be an important factor as well. Although I support the idea of tenure in the academy, I'm not so sure that it belongs in primary and secondary education facilities. Frankly, I don't know a lot about NCLB. I do know that it may have created more problems than its worth. When it's up to me, I'm talking to the people that have the best notion about what needs fixing. School teachers and administrators. Parents and students. Those are the inputs that I would value most.

I think that Kerry's comment was unintentional, stupid and yeah, a bit insulting. But it was also a bad joke gone wrong, and I very much doubt a dig at the military.

Thanks so much for coming to my fund raiser, and don't forget your lawnsign, bumpersticker or button! Display it prominently in your avatar or signature! Together, we'll have a kickass presidency! Thanks again for your support!

The Environment is one of the most critical issues America will face within the next twenty years. Although we can't eliminate all pollution - we can cut down on the ones that are most harmful to our way of life. When it comes to things like the environment, we need to be responsible in how we manage our resources. Because without proper care even our renewable resources may become nonrenewable resources. There's a laundry list of policy initiatives that I think America would do well to explore. * Become Energy Independent within 20 years. Wean ourselves from Foreign oil and produce more bio-diesel fuels, as well as focus on hydrogen cell, solar, wind, biomass energy as well as other sustainable, nonpolluting energy production sources. * Offer tax credits to consumers purchasing ULEV and hybrid vehicles. Create a federal sales tax for consumers choosing to purchase less efficient vehicles. This sales tax would go into a fund to boost mass transportation networks. * Better manage fresh and saltwater fisheries in the United States and help prevent any further collapse in sealife stocks immediately. Also make sure that aquaculture fisheries, which should be encouraged, are ecologically sensitive and safeguards established to keep them from further damaging our oceans, lakes and rivers. * Manage our forests in a way that will seek to prevent fires from becoming so catastrophic and so large so quickly. * Develop a federal minimum standard that mine operators will have to adhere to in terms of guarantees for reclaiming lands used as mines for natural resources. Hold successor companies responsible for the damages done by mining companies that have been bought out and have used bankruptcy as a shield for failing to clean up the toxic mess they have left behind. *Expand and repair mass transit infrastructure across the country and fund a better Amtrak and national bus transportation system. *Ask the EPA to review levels of chemicals in groundwater, and land and determine new, stricter standards that would help lead to overall air and water quality improvement. *Vigorously enforce environmental rules on the books and harshly punish companies who blatantly and repeatedly violate them. We expect our people to be good stewards and citizens, and we should expect the same from the businesses that operate in our borders. We face so many environmental challenges these days. America has an opportunity to be the leader in world conservation, and help turn back some of the problems that we now face. I intend to help see us through that.

Hey my inaugural balls are open to all!

How is it anti-union to believe in fair labor practices? If workers choose not to organize, that's perfectly fine. Sometimes, the mere presence of a union tends to better working conditions in non-union shops. Toyota factories in KY can't get union representation because Toyota offers compensation packages comensurate and sometimes better than UAW contracts with other automakers in the US. I have a feeling, if UAW contracts didn't provide for the worker in Michigan, working conditions in KY Toyota plants wouldn't nearly be as rosy as they are today.

Y'all are misunderstanding me. Any diplomatic overture from Iran towards the United States - however insincere it may be, is a tremendous opportunity for the United States' efforts within the middle east. By reacting to this with honest responses to what Ahmadinejad says in this letter, we can increase our standing within the international community. What Iran says or does after this moment, is irrelevant to this opportunity - because it gives the US the opportunity to grab the moral high ground in the eyes of many in the international community who feel that this is ground that we've lost. Is this a breakthrough? Hell, no. Is it a start to creating the dialogue and international cooperation we would need to successfully take care of an Iranian threat on a military level? Hell, yes. And whether or not this is an inevitability is definitely open to question - but the idea of not making a start to finding friends for this potential theater is definitely something that the US, in its current position, should be considering.

I believe in taxation that is progressive rather than regressive. Every American should be able to assume a specific amount of income will be guaranteed tax free from the government each year. I propose that the first 25,000 dollars earned per year be made tax free. Beyond that, I feel that the highest marginal tax rate should be capped at 35%. Further, I feel that the US should explore methods of taxation that are consumption based - especially when it comes to helping to acheive a goal of energy independence. As such, I propose extending tax credits to those purchasing hybrid and ULEV vehicles. I also propose creating a federal sales tax for new cars based on energy efficiency. The lower the efficiency, the higher the rate of sales tax. Further, I feel that those who utilize our public transportation networks should be rewarded as well by being able to write off the cost of a monthly or yearly bus/train pass on Amtrak, commuter rail/bus or city transportation systems.

It's a five head, thank you.

QUOTE(southsideirish71 @ Nov 29, 2006 -> 05:53 PM) Here is another nutjob, a bit before most of our time. He made similiar wonderful nice speeches about being friends of his neighbor, and how he wanted peace. Very similiar to what the Iranian nutjob is doing right now. Honestly, if you think that Adolf Hitler and this guy are anywhere close to being in the same league.... Ahmandinejad is a guy with not a lot of real power, but can be a lynchpin to success for US policy in the Middle East. It's not about how they act or react. It's about how we act and react. If the US government takes the words of this letter seriously, they can enact enough pressure on Iran to act at least a little more responsibly. Given Iran's problems internally, its a possibility. Perhaps enough to allow them to accept the idea of a weak Iraq as a neighbor rather than a failed one or worse yet, an Iranian satellite.

So, he's a nutjob. Established. But he's an established nutjob with a good point in this letter.

Yes he was. The more I study US politics, the less I like any President.

QUOTE(southsider2k5 @ Nov 29, 2006 -> 12:56 PM) Must be a part of the reaching out to work with Republicians... I don't think a part of working with anyone is acting buddy buddy at a cocktail party.

No offense, Yas, but that kinda comes off like a backhanded insult to the military. The military ought to be a great way to better yourself. And if it isn't, then we ought to reconsider how we treat and pay our men in service.

I think talking to all sides always has a chance, and frankly its something that we should have been doing all along. Our only hope for solving the problems that we've created is being seen as an honest broker for peace. This doesn't mean that President Bush meets with Sistani, Sadr or a Sunni leader - but instead that someone representing the interests of our country does. There are lots of different diplomatic options that we can use to get people to talk, and I don't think we've tried many of them. We have to make an honest effort for peace and stability that goes beyond a military occupation, and if our ability to solve the situation in Iraq is that impossible that we can't even engage in discussion, then we have no business being there in the first place. And it means that, in the end, we lost.

Apparently, Webb had been trying to avoid the President for most of the evening.

I think the future of the Iraq War isn't a very pretty one. With us or without us. It's a reality that Americans have to be ready to accept. Too often I hear people who report reality confronted with the - "They aren't reporting the good things that are happening out there too!" People like Sean Hannity might have a point, if they weren't saying it right after 50 people are kidnapped in broad daylight during a full curfew, or when the Iraqi President has to receive our President in Jordan because the situation has become so insecure that the President can no longer safely schedule secret visits in the country. When it comes to the issue of war, I'm no expert. I do know this, however. We are stuck between a rock and a hard place. If we leave Iraq now, we run the risk of an Iranian puppet government coming to power and offering Iran more power in a region where we'd like to see its reach limited. If we stay, we could find ourselves still in the middle of a civil war and losing more American lives. One that could end up with the same feared result of our departure. Iranian influence in an area where we don't want to see it. At this point, despite the frequent and massive missteps that we have made over the last three years, I think that there are solutions to be found. To keep a stable Iraq, and one that is more free than its neighbors. But the solutions are more political than military. We need to open dialogue with the various sectarian powers in Iraq. We need to open dialogue with its neighbors in the region. We need to find their common ground and work to expand it. And we need to do it, quickly. Because if we don't solve our problem soon - it will be beyond our grasp.

Personally I think our society is enriched when people in our country have to sacrifice something for it.